Marriage is Murder

Jack chuckled and packed away the cards “ okay and coming Angus “ he said as he stood up but seeing the kids running down the stairs he picked up two of them and carried them to the table Casidy and Steven came back in Cassidy looking flustered and Jack gave her a look of 'I know what you were doing' Cassidy just blushed and sat to the table with James and Jaylen ether side of them, Jack sat next to Jess who had brought Catlin down with her and placed her into the high chair. Jim stood up slowly and walked over.” smells good Angus” he said and sat down waving his hand the jug pored out juice for the adults and then rested close by him. Jack nodded his thanks to Jim and sipped the juice as did Jess who gave James his sippy cup.

Jim sat and watched every one sit to eat “ Angus you sending up a tray for Khaat and Belby, if she's awake that is, I know Belby won't leave her side just yet” he added with a chuckle. Jack stood up and moved away from the table.

“ I'll take the tray up for ya.” he said “ That way if their not hungry I can bring it back down.” he added smiling at Jess. “ though I get the feeling both of them might be” he said as he moved to the kitchen finding a tray he placed some food on it and headed up to Khaat's room. Knocking he opened it a little “hey food's here” he said softly “ Khaat still sleeping?” he asked with a smile as he moved into the room and placed the tray down on a small table close to where Belby sat.

Brian didn't say a word to Steven and Cassidy but he quickly made up his mind to get back to duty. He didn't take the behavior he thought he'd seen from them as necessarily desireable and then Jack's glare at them to be confirmation of what he thought he knew.  Brian decided a cast would not sop hi from doing what he needed to do. His recovery was over, right here, right now.  He headed to his office to see if he still had a back up wand there.  He could no longer be without one.

"Yes," Angus said to Jack, "Thank you. I have it right here. I put a couple of fruit juice spritzers on there, but if they need their coffee tray warmed up, let me know."

Belby was glad for the food when Jack brought the tray.

"Thank you, Jack," Marcus said. "She's just dozing now.  Unfortunately I woke her a short while ago. I cast a spell to unpack their things, and her want tried to fit into her draw sideways for some odd reason. It seemed to get a bit irked that it couldn't just go into the drawer in any way it wanted. Maybe Ollivander was right and he made his wands to have some personality to them after all. Or maybe her magic is a tad wonky still.  At any rate, I'll get her to eat. Thank you."

Jack chuckled and nodded “ sounds like it is still wonky Belby. “ he said and looked over at Khaat as she dozed on her bed this time. “ Good I'll let Brian and Angus know there worried about her eating” he said and moved the jug to refresh the water in it. Once  done he headed back down seeing Brian in the Office.

“ Everything okay?” he asked standing in the door way noting how Brian was searching for his spare wand . Walking in he opened a draw and took it out walking over he placed it in his hand “This what your looking for?” he asked “ Steven and Cassidy have been working with the outer rim guards to make sure all the grounds are covered, They check the shifts  are on time and get reports ow and the winds picked up” he added not trying to cover for them but to explain how they looked the way they did.

“There just doing their job” he added folded his arms across his chest. “ Jess and I have been co-ordinating with St. Mungos to keep our potions stock and medical stock topped up for your and Khaats benafit, Jess has taking over the roll of administrator for now, just until Khaat is back on her feet.” he added speaking as if he was giving him a full and detailed report. “ ow Brant sent potions from Paris, he's doing well” he said smiling slightly

"Thank you for making sure they got some food," Brian said. "I can't be without my wand forever."

He listened to Jack's report. "I trust that my staff know how to be professional during their shifts," Brian said calmly. "But I'm fine, Jack. Really."

"Jess is taking over as administrator? Where? For St. Mungos? Is there something wrong with Robert? He's the second in command. He always takes over for her unless he's not okay. If something's happened to Robert and you all haven't told me, then you're all fired."

Jack smiled and nodded “ yes they do very much so and nothing has happened to Robert, he's fine relax Brian, Jess has taken on extra paper work and shifts to lighten his load a little, she knows Khaat and yourself as well as ministry duties have taken up a lot of his time.” he said “ She's not stepping on any one's toes, nor taking any ones job.” he said.

“We are all trying to lighten the load on you all.” he added still with his arms crossed over his chest. “ were all just doing our jobs to with a little extra to lighten things of you and Khaat.” Steven had wondered just what was keeping Jack and had left the table he headed up the stairs and to where he could hear voices.

“ Hey, what's keeping you two, foods going cold.” he said and walked in looking at the two of them as they talked. He could see and feel tension and sighed shaking his head “ okay who said the wrong thing ?” he asked and looked to Jack “ guess it was you” Jack looked at Steven and shrugged his shoulders.

“ I guess I did. “ he said “ Not sure what though, was just filling him in on what every one was doing.” Jack looked back to Brian again some what perplexed at how he could have said something wrong. “ you are my boss and captain, I follow your orders and those of Robert, which were to keep this place safe and secure, we did and are doing our jobs.” he said softly Steven nodded he agreed.

“Your word and that of Robert's are our first and last, what you say we do with out question, that was our creed when we joined and we stand by it even now,“ Steven said and looked at Jack and Brian “ well foods ready and it smells wonderful I think Angus out did himself again.” he smiled trying to lighten the mood.

"I really am just getting my wand. No self respecting fighter goes very long without one," Brian told them. "And I merely asked for clarification when you said Jess was taking over the roll of administrator. If you say things are alright, then they are." He pocketed the wand.

"You should go eat before Michael puts the leftovers away. I really do want to see Khaat. The last I've seen of her in the last week was a few moments this morning. I'm not so hungry right now. I'm fine.

"You're doing your jobs, so there's nothing for me to worry about. Its fine. Now, if you'll excuse me," he said, setting the crutches aside. "These things are a pain to apparate with. I'm going upstairs." He apparated upstairs because the stairs were just entirely too difficult with crutches.

He managed to apparate up into the bedroom but hadn't thought through what he would do without his crutches once he got there. Belby saw him apparate in and then not be able to go anywhere. Marcus went over, laughing, and put his arm under Brian's shoulders.

"Where are we going?" he asked.

"We would like to sit down," Brian said.

"They are a pain in the arse, arent' they? The crutches," Marcus laughed, not blaming him. "They're not bad if they're not yours, but if they're yours and you're apparating, they really are a hindrance."

"I end up with more bruises than I had when I have those."

"Me too," Marcus said, sitting him on the sofa with Khaat.

"Do I know you?" she asked Brian softly.

"Not even remotely," Brian laughed, kissing her.

Jack nodded and chuckled Steven smiled and took Jacks arm “ well, we'll let you get to it, come on Jack before you put the other one in it too.” He said Jack nodded and turned to walk to the dinning room where they both sat down and began to eat. Cassidy watched Steven seeing something on his face but she never said a word she knew he would tell her next patrol together. Jess chuckled and lent over to Cassidy as she whispered to her.

“ one foot, one jack insert foot” she said and Cassidy burst out laughing. “ unfortunately my husband has that effect when I'm not around.” she said smiling at him Jack rolled his eyes and smiled as James finished his food and wanted his cup.

“ we all have times we put out foot in our mouth don't we Michael, you very done that?” he asked looking over at him as he continued to eat his food. Steven smiled and ate his giving nibbles to Jaylen.

“ so hows the hospital work?” he asked Jess who smiled as she turned to face him.

“ ow as normal, patients come and go.” she said “ I mean leave the hospital “ she said chuckling at Steven's face as she had worded things wrong. Jess looked at Angus “ what is this?” she asked its wonderful” Cassidy could not stop herself from nodding she agreed.

"Its a new twist on a ratatouille," Angus said. "I was looking for something summery and different."

Khaat wasn't hungry. Belby had offered to get Brian a plate, but he wasn't really hungry either. They ended up sharing her plate and just picking at it.

"I'm sorry," he said to her. "Maybe we shouldn't try to go off by ourselves anymore."

"We're not going to stop having time alone because of this," she said. "What's the point of that? What kind of relationship did you buy into? You knew this was just part of my family. Or are we over?"

"No! Of course not!..."

"You can't have it both ways," she said, angry. "You're either in it for better or for worse or you're not."

"That driver may not ever come out of his coma! I was under a car for 3 days! What more do you want from me?" he was angry now too.

"Belby," she ordered softly. "I want out. Right now."

"Where will you go?"

"None of your business!"

"You're in your nightgown."

"You bought it, you can have it back!" she said, intending to go naked if she had to.

"Wait," Belby said, "Hold on. Just a moment. Can w slow this down a moment?"

"No. We cannot!" Khaat said, fiery angry. "You get me out now or I'll do it myself!"

Downstairs, Robert apparated in very quickly, curls of white smoke whirling up around him from how much energy he'd used to port so quickly. He had felt utter rage from Khaat, and it had fired so large and so quickly for him, that he had dropped what he was doing to head home.

"Smell good, but I think there's something burning upstairs," he said, referring to her temper, "Excuse me." He headed upstairs very quickly.

Jess looked as Robert ported in she nodded and sighed “ yeah and it will only get worse I'm guessing.” she said handing James some toast as he sat next to her. “ I wish she would calm down “ she said softly feeling nothing but anger from Khaat “ I wonder what set her off and why?” she asked as Jack took her hand in his and smiled.

“ Robert will sort it, if he needs us well be here stop worrying.” He said but Jess could not help but worry about both Khaat and Brian. Cassidy looked at Jess and nodded she agreed.

“ Robert and Kate know them better than we do, if your worried go and see what's going on” she said Jess did just that and stood up walking up the stairs to Khaat's room but she said nothing. Pushing open the door she stood in the door way watching.

“It everything okay?” she asked softly looking from one person to the other around the room as she waited. But said no more she could feel the tension that lingered in the room. All she wanted to do now was let Khaat know she would have privacy even in the main house.

Robert had gotten upstairs first. He had simply walked in without invitation, hearing the shouting from the hallway.

"Neither of you need this," he said calmly. "Stop one moment, both of you."

"No," she turned on him, furious. "I'm done...."

"I asked you to stop," he said in a quiet, slow tone. "Just listen one moment. Look, you both have every right to have some raw nerves. I expected a bit of it. I should have kept you both another night at St. Mungos to let you settle. So, let's regroup just a little." He flicked his wand towards her closet. "Pack," he commanded.

Brian was getting hugely frustrated. Robert looked at him with a reprimanding glance to get him to reel himself in a bit.

"Belby, go and pack," Robert said. "You will go with her."

"Yes, Sir," Belby said, leaving promptly for his room.

"Jess," Robert said, "they're still reacting to the trauma. They need some space and quiet before they chew on each other too badly. I knew a bit of this was probably coming. Do ask Michael to pack and go with her and Belby. Would you or Cassidy go along, just for the afternoon, and just help her to stay comfortable, please? I'll deal with the evening and the overnight later."