"And I can't have him distracted," Brian said. If Jack thought it wounded his heart to hear Abbey's terror filled screams, then he had no clue what it was like for Brian and Khaat and what it did to them. Brian didn't feel like making it a challenge.
He turned to go upstairs. Lee stopped him. "Don't do anything right now," Lee advised him. "Take your time. Just think first."
"I am thinking," Brian said. He went upstairs with a stride that was much too determined for Lee's liking. Lee followed. Brian went up to Robert's room. Robert was rocking Abbey and just holding her. Her sobbing was slowing.
"I might well be moving her," Brian said quietly. Robert gave him an angry scowl and frowned. He shook his head, adamantly disagreeing with him. "Rob..." Brian began. Robert pointed to Abby and then to himself. The message was clear. He wanted Abbey to stay with him. He didn't want her out of her own home. He wanted her in safe familiar surroundings. Robert pointed at Brian to sit. He motioned Lee to come in and quit standing in the doorway.
Brian sat and looked at Robert. He watched Robert point to him, then to himself and then to the floor. He understood. Robert wanted Brian to stay here, with him. He showed Brian his ring--his Minister of Magic insignia ring and the coin around his neck that set him apart as the leader of his organization. He pointed to himself. Brian didn't respond, not quite getting the message.
"He's saying he's still the leader here, curse or not curse," Lee said. "You're not in this by yourself. You need the supports you have here. So do your children, and so does Khaat." He looked at Robert. "Jack is a tad rattled by James. He's not coping well," Lee told him.
Robert gave Lee a dry look. Lee understood. "Do you really want me to translate that?" Lee looked at Brian, trying not to laugh. "Do yourself a favor and go see your wife, and leave Abbey right where she is."
"I can't," Brian said. "This isn't good for my wife or my kids. I have to consider them first."
"Wait a minute," Lee frowned. "Who's house is this? Why are you running? The house has never been breeched. Let James come if he comes. Stand your ground and fight. Stop running to try to hide them from James and the press and anyone who might be upset. Just stop. Brian, you weren't raised to run. You were taught to fight." He looked at him and made sure Brian was looking at him straight in the eye. "So, let's fight."
Brian was hearing that Robert didn't want to uproot Abbey again. He got up and went across the hall to the bedroom and found Marcus clearing away the dishes. Compared to what she'd been through, Brian thought she had eaten really well. Khaat saw the concerned look on Brian's face.
"Where's Abbey?" she asked, worried and unable to get up when she heard her daughter's screams.
"With your father," He said. "She woke from the sleep spell before I wanted her to. He's got her. Khaat, I don't know if I can do this. Not here. Maybe we need to go to a safehouse. I can't keep letting James get to you, to her, to..."
"Stop," she said to him softly, reaching for his hand. He took it. "This isn't your fault. Its just what comes with being in this family. Like it or not, its what our kids will grow up in. I want you to think twice before we decide if we want this new baby or not."
He scowled at her. "Whether or not we planned it, that baby is here now. We're not turning back. Its ours--yours and mine. And we don't ever give up on our kids. Not ever. I don't care if we have a dozen of our own, just as long as they're safe."
"And that won't ever happen if we run with them every time they get scared. This was the first she had to deal with it. She'll learn," she said softly.
"She's three! She's too little to have to learn to deal with werewolves!"
"There's never a good age for that," she said gently. "But she's got all of us. If we go, where would we go?" He looked at her. She was still critical. It was impossible to move her, and he knew it.
He got up, walked out into the hallway, and ported out. Khaat sighed heavily.