Marriage is Murder

Jack, Jess, cassidy and Steven all congragated in the living room waiting to find out just what was going on each stood with there partners and each wondering just what was going on. Jim stayed upstairs with Robert staying to one side but being there if he was needed. Steven shifted as he loked at Michael.

" so whats going on why were Kate, Jess and Casidy told to stay out the way surely if he's hurt they could help?" he asked puzzled Jess touched his arm.

"If it was necssecary then it was neccesary." She said softly Cassidy just looked around at every one keeping her face straight as she looekd at Michael.

" let Michael speak" she said and folded her arms across her chest scowling at Steven who sat back quiet once again.

Kate, Khaat and Brian hadn't said a word. Marcus was stationed beside Khaat. Angus and Edward came along and simply watched, observing. Michael seemed to be understanding Robert where the others did not. They took it for granted that either he was influenced by the curse or he was still 'in there' somehow.

"Michael," Kate asked very softly. "I'm his wife. I want the floor first."

"As well you should," Michael said. "You want to know why you're on the list too, don't you?"

"Of course," Kate said. "But first things first. Is that, or is that not, my husband upstairs? Is he still of his right mind? Or is he completely controlled by the curse?"

"I firmly believe," Michael said, "that he's as much himself as he's ever been. His mind works very well. From what I"m seeing the curse has caused him to be mute. He cannot speak. He wants to, but he can't. I also think he's in immense physical pain, but he isn't willing to take anything for it. Not yet anyway.

"I don't know why some of you can't touch him and why some of us can," Michael said. "But he's so sure of himself about this that it definitely either aggravates him or deeply frightens him. So, for now, we'll do this his way. I think what I'm seeing most of all is that he has no control over his emotions."

"He's never been that way his whole life," Kate said, frustrated.

"He is now," Michael said. "He's used control and being stonefaced to keep everyone from knowing how he feels about much of anything, except those of us he trusts. Now, he can't do that anymore. Now, his emotions are magnified by the curse. They're on overdrive. Extreme. If he gets negative about something, he's going to get violent. I don't think the curse will let him control himself, as much as he is trying."

He looked at them. "You lot who can't touch him--we know, at the moment, who you are. I don't know why you can't touch him, but he's adamant about that. I'm getting the feeling he thinks it will somehow protect you. Let's just go with it. I think he's going to try to let you know how close you can come, but don't push it.

"You're all going to have to let me do whatever I can do for him medically. I know I'm not a healer, but he isn't going to let anyone near enough to do it. You'll have to supply me with potions or bandages...I don't know. We'll just have to do the best we can."

Jack looked at Michael "So all that we heard was the curse?" he asked loking at him and Kate. " how we going to cure it ?" he asked " and how did it get on him,was it a touch or words?" he didn't know what to think but Jess touched his arm and made him sit down beside her.

" We'll give you what you need Michael to help him" she said " what are his wounds and how deep are they?" she asked turning to the business at hand " Kate do you think potions would be wise we don't know if they will react with the curse." she said looking at her " maybe muggle options would be better untill we know more about the curse its self." Cassidy nodded and looked back to Kate.

"You need to let me try, Michael," Khaat said quietly. "I don't know what I'm dealing with...."

"We, my darling," he corrected her. "I helped him shower, remember? He has several cuts. Someone has started to, evidently, use a wand to try to stet healing spells into place and they've used some potions on the wounds themselves. I talked to him a bit. He has very little memory of his time in St. Mungos."

"I was with him," Brian said. "But he was violent. Wouldn't let me touch him. Now that you mention it, he was selective on who he allowed to touch him and who he would not. I hadn't seen it before. He has some deep bleeding wounds. Look like they were caused by a wand."

"For now, they've been well tended. I changed the dressings," Michael said. "He's tired of being mucked about with. I say we let him be for awhile."

"I need to try, Michael," Khaat said. "He wont' hurt me. I'm sure of that."

"If you do try, be very careful," Michael said, uncertain. "I don't know why he is keeping you all away. I wish I knew. But until we know, be careful. Distance. Ask him if you can approach. Don't touch unless you get his permission."

"She might be right, Michael," Kate sighed. "If there is one person in this world he'd die to protect, it would be her."

"Be careful," Edward said carefully, not certain. "It might be that is precisely what he's doing. Michael, if his mind does work as it should, then it will be on overdrive right now, as much as he might try to rest. We might need calming potions and sleeping potions and healing potions."

"He did willingly let me add some calming potion to his tea. He knows its in there. He's willingly taking it," Michael said. "So I trust he knows what he can and cannot take. I say we try the potions unless we find out it has an adverse reaction."

"And my children?" Brian asked.

"I don't have the slightest clue," Michael sighed. "I'll try to sound him out. He might not have all the answers right now either. He understands we're edgy. He's edgy too."

"Perhaps, since he apparently trusts you," Belby said, "you need to be his security focus. And let us take our cues from you. If you're willing to let him rely on you like that."

"Without question," Michael said, adamantly. "I think that's a good plan. What about the rest of you?"

The rest listened and nodded they agreed to do what ever it took. " we'll follow your lead Michael" Jack said and Steven and the others nodded. Jess listened and nodded as Michael spoke.

"Thats good " she said looking to kate. " I'm guessing we'll need to work on what potions he can have and ones he can't" she said and looked at Jack who chuckled and sighed.

" I should check the grounds and make sure every inch is being watched and checked." He said as Steven stood up and looked to the green house.

"Okay, those vetables and fruits won't pick themselves." he said and moved to the door. Cassidy stayed and listened to what they were saying.

"So business as usual untill we know more, right?" she asked hoping to have read them right. She knew she would help with teh kids leaving Jess to help with Kate and Khaat inregards Robert's injuries.

"Off the top of my head, I'd suggest no potion that could aggravate the shit out of him, for obvious reasons," Brian said.

"I can try to guide you there," Edward said. "But we probably need to be sure we have more bandages and dressings until the wounds heal. We evidently cannot escalate their healing speed by touch healing. It seems he objects to that."

"Oh, definitely," Michael said.

"Give me one moment," Edward said. "I'm going upstairs."

"Tell me you aren't going to piss him off," Michael said, somewhat dreading whatever Edward had in mind.

"You lot can, and probably should, be afraid of him," Edward said. "I intend to simply go talk to him. If you don't hear an explosion or see my dead corpse roll down the stairs, then do leave us alone."

"Such happy thoughts," Angus sighed sarcastically, at the thought of losing his grandfather.

"Oh, tosh," Edward waved away his concerns. He went upstairs.

"He's either brilliant or crazy," Kate sighed.

"I'm voting for brilliant," Michael said. "I know crazy. That doesn't look like that's it." Brian stifled an urge to smirk at Michael.

Edward went to his room and got a chessboard. He went to Robert's room and looked at Jim. "Stay outside," He told Jim firmly. Robert perked up, seeing Edward enter.

"I hear I'm on your do-not-touch list," Edward said. Robert paused for a long moment, hyper alert. Suspicious. "I have no intention of trying. Relax. However, you have to be feeling rather trapped in your own head, don't you?" Robert didn't move. He just looked at him.

"Humor me," Edward said, pulling up a small table to the bedside and snapping his fingers to get the board to set itself. "Its not wizard's chess, but its chess all the same. Play me a game." Robert frowned. "Oh, its all in good fun," Edward said. Robert wasnt' sure what Edward was looking for.

"I promise to only touch the chess pieces as necessary. I'll move them magically, if you prefer so I don't have to touch them," Edward said. "No angle. Just a game of chess between two old men."

Robert hesitated and then nodded. The game began. Three hours later, the game was still going. There had been no words. Just chess. Robert eventually tired and dozed off. Edward simply got up and left, going downstairs.

"I see you're still alive. That was a long moment," Michael said. "Care to tell me what that was about?"

"He is very much 'in there', as you put it," Edward said. "I just spent three hours at chess with the man. His mind is as sharp as it ever was. He's merely trapped inside himself, and his emotions are unpredictable and right out front. That's the part that makes him dangerous. If he wants some of us away from his touch, then he's got a good reason. We need to try to repsect that until we can figure that out."

Jack and Jess both were sat down in the living room as Edward returned from seeing Robert. Jess stood up waiting to know if he was okay. She listened to what Edward had to say and sat back down relived a little. Jack took her hand in his own and smiled at her. "Of course we will Edward." he said and Jess nodded she agreed and sat with Jack. Jim looked up at Edward as he spoke and listened.

"So your opinion is to let Robert sort this all out?" he asked watching as Jess left to help Cassidy in the nursary with the children. Jack looked at them all.

" so waht can we do I could put out feelers as to what kind of curse this is ?" jack asked as Steven walked in with two baskets, one of seasonal veg and one of fruit that was in season. they headed to the kitchen and settled down on the counter.

" okay Angus that should hold us for a long while" he said smiling.

"Well," Michael said, "there is something I haven't brought back up to Robert. But if those of you who were there when we brought him home this morning should remember. If you recall, I asked him if he knew who did this to him."

"He became extremely violent," Marcus said.

"He knows," Khaat said softly.

"I'm sure of it," Michael said. "One of us needs to try again, when he wakes to ask him. That might give us a lead on what sort of business this was."

"I'll do it," Khaat said. "I know almost everything that he does about St. Mungos and the Ministry both. It needs to be me."

"Whoever does it needs to be very careful," Brian said. "We're not sure how he'll react."

"I have a suggestion," Edward said. "We're going to need a great many more potions than what we have here. Its too risky to allow Khaat to be seen going and getting more. I suggest that perhaps we bring Brant back and have him working on a list of potions. I think it might also be wise to consider moving your little infirmary downstairs to a more central room on this floor while he might need it."

"Or one of us," Michael said dryly.

"Indeed," Edward agreed. "Brian, might we convert your office temporarily? It is right across the hall from the potions lab."

"Wait," Khaat sighed. "I appreciate all this, but I am a healer. Daddy's being here puts everyone in danger and he knows that. Why don't you all let me just take him by myself and...."

"No," Marcus said sharply. She looked at him. She wasn't used to his strong objections. "This is much too important to England's national security to let you do this by yourself. You need all of us."

"I can do this," she said.

"No, he's right," Brian said. "You can't do this alone. Hell, you can't even touch him. No, we'll do this here."

"But the kids..."

"The kids are fine," Brian said. "We have a whole army that are protecting the kids. No one in this room is going to let anything happen to any of the kids. And dividing ourselves leaves us open to more attacks. No. We do what we've always done, and we make our stand here." He looked at the others.

"I think you should prepare for a potentially long siege of it, then," Edward said. "You need to get your own houses on the estate in ready state. We might need to use them to either escape to or to bring in reinforcements. I would double your food supplies and triple your potions ingredients. Any of you have any spare room in your houses here on the estate that we can use for additional storage? And I suggest you make a trip into Ollivanders for back up wands. Or to Robert's cellar for guns if you need them."

"Guns? Whatever for?" Khaat asked.

"A bullet will stop a mad wizard just as easily as a wand if it comes to it," He said quietly, thinking in a way no one else really wanted to consider. There was a pause for a moment.

"Jack and Steven," Brian said, "clear my office to the infirmary downstairs and move the infirmary into my office. Someone send for Brant. Then do as Edward says. Double the food supplies and triple the potions ingredients, and make your houses ready in case we need them for sudden emergency backups. He's right. We don't know how long this will last. But for now, its the best we've got. Khaat, if you got up to see him, for God's sake, be careful."

"He isn't going to hurt me," she said firmly. "I'm not afraid of him. He's my father."

Jack and Steven imidiatly stood and moved to do as requested . Steven moved to write a note and sent it threw the floo to Brant Who imidiatly with both arms full of wooden boxes appeared smiling as he saw Edward. " I brought extra potions, that one you sent with Steven I have safe" he said and looked to Edward. " Uncle, I hope everythings been okay?" he asked setting the crates down for Michael to inspect if he wanted to but he knew he would.  " Any I didn't bring I can make" he said " had a lot of reading time." he added as Tricks stuck his head out of his pocket and looked around seeing the cats he dove back in.   This made Steven chuckle as he looked at Michael.

" Jack just moving the heavy stuff he insisted on moving it by hand" he said as Jack cursed from the other room that he was done. Steven turned and laughed " shrink it!" he called out and watched as a large desk shrank to the size of a small dolls house desk. Brant looked at Edward.

"Im partly filled in half from roomers , Roberts been cursed and won't let people near him" he looked to Khaat,'l work twice as had " Im sorry to here I will work twice as hard to figure out a cure for him I promise." he flicked his wand " well as long as all the potions are in order i'll take them to the lab and start working, Ow here I picked these up too, they were sent to us and not here." he took out several boxes and resized them half were muggle guns and the other half replacment wands for them all " I have two now as well and a small pistol " he said moving his jacket, Owens thought it advisable I learn to shoot among other things, hes a hard task master, in everything, but I learned every thing quickly" he said smiling at Edward, hoping he would no longer was afraid understand he  but now able to be apart of the team.

(ooc: two things. Brant is a nephew to Edward--not a grandson. And the potions lab is on the main floor of the house, right across the hall from brian's office. not upstairs where the bedrooms are.)

Khaat watched the house fly into action at Brian's command. This was his forte. He preferred stepping aside when Robert was around to defer to his mentor, to follow her father's lead, but she had seen him enough to know he could and would come into his own when Robert wasn't taking the authority from him for some reason. She preferred to leave Brian in command. He was right. There was a great deal to be done.

She had her own assignment. She needed to find out who did this to her father, and she needed to try to find a way to help him. Marcus perked up when she got up to go upstairs.

"You are not going without me," He told her quietly.

"You're hovering," she scowled.

"I do it well, and I get paid very well to do it," he said, merely agreeing with her. It was a part of the job to deal with clients who tired of having shadows with them. He wasn't deterred. And she wasn't really aggravated. Not yet anyway.

"You can stay in the hallway," she said. "This is my father. Not his assassin. I will see him by myself."

"Agreed," Marcus said. "For now. So long as you know to get the hell out if he's not very sociable."

"He's never very sociable, but I know what you meant," she said. Marcus laughed slightly and followed her upstairs. Before she reached the door, he stepped in front of her and opened the door. Robert was awake and sitting on the bed, yawning. He looked fairly passive for the moment. He looked up and saw Marcus but didn't move.

Marcus stepped aside and kept a restraining arm on Khaat to slow her pace, stopping her at the doorway. Her father just looked at her.

"I just want to talk," she said quietly. "Nothing more. Might I come in?" He didn't move, didn't bat an eyelid. She went in slowly and shut the door.

"Daddy," she said gently. "I need to know more about this curse. I know you know what's going on. But if I'm going to help you, you have to let me know what you know."

She saw his eyes darken with irritation. Anger. "Look," she said pressing a bit further, taking a few more steps toward him. "I know this has to be incredibly frustrating for you. But I am a healer. Everything I know, I know from you. You wouldn't sit by and not respond if this were me. You can't expect me to just sit by and watch this happen to you and for me to do absolutely nothing...." She was nearly to the foot of the bed now.

He got up off the bed with lightning swiftness and fired a spell at her with the palm of his hand. His tie from his bathrobe wound tightly around her neck, immediately choking her. She fell to the floor, unable to breathe or cry out. She pulled at the belt of the robe, coughing, gasping. It would not yield. He seemed to be pulling on it magically, still controlling the spell.

She struck out in the only way she knew. She hurled a crystal vase at him. He had to release the spell to block the vase. The vase crashed through the window, shattering the window and the vase both. He spun back upon her, with the fireplace poker already in motion towards her like a spear towards her chest.

Marcus heard the huge sound of breaking glass. He burst through the door to see Khaat on the floor, being strangled by a belt and seeing a fireplace poker hurtling towards her chest.

"Arresto momentum!" He fired a spell instantly to stop the poker. He accio'd it to his own hand. Marcus snatched Khaat by the hand and pulled her hard, back away towards the door. He tried to release the spell on the belt.

"Release her, or I swear I'll kill you!" Marcus bellowed. "Its what you hired me to do! I will follow your orders before you were cursed, even if I have to kill you to do it! Let her go!" Robert released the spell but spun a huge whirlwind through the room causing a tornado of damage in the room itself.

Marcus shielded her with his own form and picked her up and carried her out into the hallway. He turned back to shut the door, but Robert slammed it shut himself. Marcus laid Khaat on the floor, knelt beside her, and loosened the tie around her neck.

She immediately began to gasp for air and cough.

"You still want to do this without me?" he asked her. She sat up and curled herself into his chest, horrified at what had just happened to her. He wrapped her into a strong hug. "You're alright," he soothed. "We're here. It'll be alright."