Dinner: Interrupted

"Brian will authorize it," Khaat said.  "If you can't find him, I'll authorize it. A great deal of what's in that dossier is about me too. You might as well know what you're up against. Jack, just take him down to Brian's office and get the file. He can't be allowed to be blind.


"There's also a file of our less conventional allies," Khaat said. "We do have a good many friends on both sides of the law. You might as well know who to shoot and who not to. If you see that file in the drawer, go ahead it let him read that one too."


She began to smell the familiar scents of vegetables sauteeing.  "Smells like Angus is at work fixing lunch. Perhaps thats what we need. Something to bring us together and to de-stress over.  If I know Angus, its some sort of comfort food. 


"Oh, and Jack," Khaat said, "The house itself is big enough to get lost in. Make sure someone shows him around the house and the grounds, would you, please?"

Li listened and bowed gently to show he acepted her words. He looked to Jack who nodded and spoke with a smile.

"Of course, I'll show you around until you know where everything is." he said Li tiped his head in aprichation then spoke to Khaat

" I noted that it is bigger on the inside than it apears on the out side." He said with a smile. " and shooting the wrong man will not be good" He said and chuckled. Jack placed his hand on Li's shoulder.

" Nope especialy if its me." Li loked back at Marcus not quite sure if Jack was joking. Jack looked to Marcus and winked while he smiled at him.

"I doubt he'll mistake you for someone else, Jack," Marcus said. "Not likely."


"You'll want to know the daily routine, too," Khaat told him. "If you're on day shift, work out starts at 5 am, then showers, and breakfast before the actual work day starts. Lunch is usually at noon, dinner at 6. Other things are flexible, depending on your shift. I'm sure they'll get you acquainted."


Downstairs, Kate had changed out of her bloodstained clothes and was looking for something to do. She had decided to help Angus with lunch in the kitchen. She was busy cleaning fish for the cioppino Angus was making for the grownups. He was making noodle soup for the kids.  She sent Suki to tell the others that, if all went well, lunch should be ready in about 20 minutes.

Li smiled and nodded to Marcus's words " he is one of a kind" he said then looked to the door " I should change and freshen up it was a long trip even porting." he said and Jack motioned to the doorway where he walked into the hall.

"theres a room next to Marcus's if he ever used it" Jack said slightly louder with a chuckle. " hes abit of a workaholic, takes it serious , we all do but we show it in our own ways." He walked him down to a light coloured door and opened it to a Largeish room with a single bed and night stand to one wall stood a wardrobe.

"Bathrooms two doors down on the left, get it wrong and your in the nursary." Jack said and Li glanced down the corridor then bakc into the room.

"thank you I will change and meet you down stairs." he watched Jack go as he took out his suit case and resized it.Once washed he changed into a tee shirt, over shirt and jeans with a pair of trainers. returnig to his room he found the two files and picked them up to read as he walked down to eat. Entering the kitchen he smiled to see Kate helping.

"Good to see you better Mrs Lupin." he said closing the marked page as he entered.

"I am indeed," Kate said, floating a large tureen of cioppino to the table. Angus brought a smaller one of chicken noodle soup, with his homemade fresh noodles. Suki and Dottie put out fresh salad, baskets of warm and fresh sourdough bread, fresh fruit salad, and pitchers of iced tea


As the others started to come downstairs, Brian saw the cioppino.


"And where did you learn to make cioppino?" Brian frowned. "That's not Italian."


"Italian-American.  Got the recipe the first time I was in the States."


"You've been holding out on me," Brian said.


"I don't tell you all my secrets," Angus grinned. Robert brought Abbey and the rest of the kids downstairs. Abbey looked at the soups and was pleased to get noodle soup, but she was curious about the soup in the other tureen.

"Are those shrimps, Papa?" she asked Robert.


"They are," he smiled. 


"Can I try one?"


"Sure," Robert said.


"Why are there seashells in the soup?"

"Its a grownup thing," he grinned. 


"Its silly," she said.


"It certainly is," he laughed, glad she was starting to feel a bit better.

Li smiled and followed them into the dining room and watched as they took seats. He saw one empty and moved to sit next to Angus. As every one too ther food he then filled his bowl and began to eat but he used his chopsticks to pick out the bits of flesh so he could eat.

"This is very good" he said " you should try Satsuma Age no Nimono, it is a fried fish cake from Kagoshima, Japan. " he said looking at Angus " can teach you how to make, if you wish?" he added He noted how Abby watched him. " they are called chop sticks, where I come from it is like a knife and fork."

"Of course," Angus said. "We have fish several times a week here. The little ones aren't always up for new foods, but the grownups aren't generally very picky."


There was a rumble outside, and Abbey jumped.


"Abs," Brian said gently. "Look at me." She manged, feeling frightened. "Its just thunder, Abs. Its raining outside. You're safe." She didn't speak, looking at her soup bowl.  He just looked at her.  "Abs?"

"Don't like it," she mumbled. When the second rumble of thunder sounded a moment later, she jumped down from the table and ran off.  Khaat wanted to get up and follow.


"I've got this," Brian told her, motioning her to eat. He got up and went and found her.  When they didn't come back in a few minutes, Khaat got up and looked for them. She found Brian sitting with her in the living room, holding her on his lap.  "We're skipping naptime today," he told Khaat softly.  Abbey was getting sleepy already on his lap. Khaat knew all Brian was skipping was taking her to the nursery.  

"I think that's a fine idea," she said softly. "I left a new storybook on the shelf behind you, since you're skipping naptime anyway."


"And that's a good idea too," Brian smiled, reaching back and picking up the book.

Li watched as Abby jumped at the storm he looked to the window and frowned " looks and feels like a bad one." he said and glanced at Jack who nodded as he stood up and walked to the back door.

"You coming? gotta to check the horses and animals in the stables." He said Li nodded and accioed a rainbeater slipping it on he pulled up the hood. Stepping outside he glanced up just as a streak of fork lighting flashed over head.

"stick to the sides of the house , don't wan't us to be hit." He said Jack nodded agreement as they moved down to the barn. Stepping inside Jack moved around the barn closing the window shutters Li walked to the pugmi puffs and knelt close to them.
"it will be fine" He spoke sftly to them as they then filed indie there beds and lay down. He then moved to the hypogrif doing the same he placed his handon a spot on there neck and they calmed.

"how'd you do that?" Jack asked as Li turned to face him.

" Presure points we all have them some give pain others pleasure, some can kill , its knowing where the right one is." He explained taking Jacks arm he found a point and pressed it , jack went down to his knees.

"wow" he said as Li let go " dangerouse stuff in the wrong hands.

"agreed, I only use it as a last resort." he said with a smile.

"Shall I get some tea for us for this afternoon?" Marcus asked Khaat as the elves started to clear the table from lunch. "It would be a good afternoon for a cup of tea and a book."


"Maybe," she said.


"What's bugging you?" he asked.


"Do you know anything about Asian culture? I don't even know enough to know that I'm really not in the know."


He laughed. "I have a little experience," he said. "But they weren't ever on the same side as I was.  I was always on the other side. Thats about all I know.  Oh, and I generally can order Chinese take out without screwing it up. And yes, I can use chopsticks without making a mess.  That about sums it up for me."


"He's apparently Japanese, not Chinese," Angus said, picking up the soup tureen.


"Well, then I've got nothing," Marcus laughed.  "But its generally a better thought to focus on what you do know and not on what you don't.  Angus, can you have a tea tray sent upstairs for us when you get a chance?"

"Certainly," he said.

Li walked back to the main house and into the kitchen and hung up his coat. Walking into theliving room he saw Khaat and bowed slightly to her. He caught the look that sat in her eyes and spoke softly.

"I know about western culture, I learned about it on my journey, I have to admit I do like coffee, I was born in japan, I was raised and trained by monks , then I went to Hogwarts school." He spoke softly.


Jack walked in and droped his muddy boots by the back door. " if this rain dosn't stop were in for a small muddy flood" He said and walked in sock footed into the living room. "Sorry stepped in a rather deep puddle. " he said as he wriggled his toes.

"Maybe you should by those things called waiders?" Li said and chuckled softly as he glanced at Khaat. " are you alright , your looking a little tired?"