Marriage is Murder

Robert attempted to soothe Abbey, but it didn't seem to be working well. Abbey was too upset to really listen to him. She wanted to see her mama. Robert gave in to her and took Abbey to see Khaat.

Khaat saw instantly that Abbey was deeply upset. She reached her good arm out to welcome Abbey to her. Marcus lifted Abbey out of Robert's arms and put her gently on the bed with her mother. Abbey curled tight to Khaat and sobbed, telling her that she was scared of the doggie and didn't want to stay here anymore. Khaat felt her heart breaking. Her child, her first born child, and she was honestly going to have to let her go for at least awhile.

Khaat looked at Marcus, silently asking him if there was any possible way at all that he could take them away--her and Abbey. Marcus didn't know how to do it without killing Khaat. Khaat was just too critical. He didn't want to have to tell her no.

Lee spoke up. "Khaat, you know she'd be safe with me. Maybe you can get this straightened out in a day or so. You're welcome to send anyone you like along." Khaat knew the staff was so divided and thin as it was that she didn't dare pull anyone else away. She nodded very softly, using every ounce of inner strength she had not to cry. She kissed Abbey softly.

"Would you like to stay with Uncle Lee tonight?" Khaat asked. "You can sleep in his big chair with him again." Abbey began to cry, confused, and Khaat soothed her. "Its just another sleep over with Uncle Lee. You had a good time, didn't you?" Abbey nodded.

"Can I take my storybook?" Abbey asked.

"Of course you can," Khaat said. "You and Uncle Lee can pack if you want."

"We get berries?" she looked at Lee.

"You bet," Lee smiled.

"No doggies?"

"I promise," Lee said. Abbey nodded. Khaat nodded. She let Lee take her child from her. Lee picked Abbey up and carried her out of the room. Marcus reached over quickly and took Khaat's hand, feeling that Khaat had been very brave. She had given her lifeblood for Jack and his kids, and now, for Jack, she was giving up her child. Marcus hoped this was only overnight because he wasn't sure how much more strain she could take, as weak as she was.

Robert walked back to his room slowly and shut the door, shutting everyone else out. His grief and sadness was mounting at seeing more and more sacrifice being given. And he had not envisioned that part of that sacrifice would include his precious Abbey. He didn't know how well Khaat would absorb it either, and he didn't want to lose her because of it all. He was helpless to stop any of it.

Lee packed with Abbey, knowing Abbey was packing almost everything because she was frightened of losing any more. He just let her pack it, and he shrank it and packed it. When they were packed, he merely picked her up and left silently with her to avoid upsetting the family any more.

"I...have no choice," she said to Jess. "Our fighters are spread too thin. I don't have another choice to make." She looked at Marcus. "I won't have my daughter away from me for more than a day or so. If Jack can't get his head straight, I am depending on you to find a place for me to go to be with her until that time comes. Understood?"

"You do understand the risk that comes with that>: Marcus asked.

"More than you know," she said. "But that's my choice."

"Alright. I'll start to make a back up plan, then."

"Good." She looked at Jess "If there is anything you know to say to him or do to help him decide if he wants to be a man or a beast, then please do that. If you need to take him away for a day or so, then go do it."

"Its not the only choice," Brian said. "If he is bent on revenge, then he can't do it and work for us at the same time. If he needs a leave of absence to go do that, then he can take it. I need a fighter with his head in the game. If he can't do that, then he eventually will be a risk to us all. Jess, we've bought Jack some time, but that's all. If there is something that you can do, as Khaat said, its time you did it."

"Don't do anything rash," Khaat told her.

"Rash?" Marcus asked. "No offense but it seems that Jack has already done enough rash things. Jess might have to do a few rash things in order for her to get her own family back. If that's what it takes, then its time." He looked at Khaat. "I said I was going to get you something from downstairs. I'll be right back. Give me two minutes."

He went downstairs and brought her up a very carefully mixed drink that had, among other things, just a touch of alcohol in it. He felt she'd had a tough morning so far, and he wanted to help her take the edge off. The drink itself tasted like apricot and peaches and cream. It was delicate and soothing.

"Where did you learn that?" she asked, sipping it. "Its really good."

"A little family place in southern Italy years ago," Marcus smiled. "Well, the drink wasn't quite like that, but it was close. It has enough juice in it to at least pretend to be good for you. Drink it."

She drank all but the last couple of sips. She felt herself growing a bit numb and very sleepy. He took the glass from her hand and set it aside. He pulled the blankets up closer to her letting her drift off.

"What'd you put in that?" Brian asked.

"Just a few drops of a nerve potion to calm her," Marcus said.

"Well done," Brian said. "We'll let her rest. Stay with her, Belby."

"I intend to, Sir," Marcus said. "I'll keep an eye on her, Jess. You mend your family. That's the best thing you can do to help her, anyway."

"Jess," Brian said, "I do try not to meddle, but as a favor to me, please--Jack doesn't need to come around to talk to Khaat. I'd prefer he didn't. The only thing Khaat needs is to have her daughter home. That's all. She needs Abbey to be in her own home and feeling safe. Maybe I'm a bit protective, but I just don't want to stress Khaat any more. If you'd try to keep any more ugly business from her, I'd appreciate it."

He turned and left. Marcus paused before he spoke to Jess.

"He's just tired, Jess," he said. "He had Khaat under his own life support spell, nonstop, all night, while Escobar worked on trying to replace the lost blood with his magic. It looked pretty thin for several hours. Just so you know, I did suggest that they consider a back up healer, but apparently Brian is very stubborn. He wasn't going to turn it over to anyone else. So--since it does seem to drain an energy worker, perhaps you could take him with a grain of salt today. Just a suggestion."

"I'm very adaptable," Marcus said. "If you and I have anything in common, its that that we both are content at being alone. In my line of work, I don't have the time to get attached. And if you had been married to my wife, you'd have enjoyed having a job that took you away from her." He flashed a smile at him.

"However, I have noticed that while Khaat gets along well with a crowd, she also has a strong need to be independent and to be alone every so often. Especially if she's feeling hurt. She pulls into herself. I am a bit surprised she lets me so close to her. I did read in her dossier that she has a long standing habit of ditching her guards. But I've not ever had that problem with her. Not sure why. Luck, perhaps."

"No," Kate said, coming in with fresh flowers for Khaat's room. "That has nothing to do with it. You don't judge her or tell her what to do. You shift to merely follow what she does."

"Isn't that my job?" he frowned.

"It is, but she's not used to getting it. Not like that. You started as her bodyguard, not her friend. Her friends have become bodyguards so they get emotionally protective as well. Its not bad. In fact, sometimes its a very good thing. But, it does mean that your relationship with her at least got started in a different way." She arranged the bright pink and peach colored flowers in a tall crystal vase.

"Unusual color combination," Marcus noted. "It works, though. Its very nice."

"Thank you. I thought perhaps she'd enjoy something a bit different to focus on."