Hunting the Hunter

It took her a moment, but with what her father and Jess were doing, she managed to wake. Michael brought tea and Robert put a couple drops of potion in it.

"Here," he said, "It'll help." He helped her with the tea. "What do you remember?"

"Remember?" she echoed, feeling blank. "Um...James. James was here..."

"He's gone," Robert said quickly, reassuring her. "What else do you remember?"

"I was upstairs...um..."

"Nothing else?"

"No," she said.

On the couch, Kate felt well enough to try to sit up. "Abbey, come here, my darling. Come tell me who you were talking to," she said. Abbey ran over to her gram, and sat down beside her on the couch.

"ReeRee," she nodded.

"That's what I thought," she said. "Was he here because of James."

"He doesn't like them."

"No, I'm sure he would not," Kate said. She looked up at Robert. "That explains it, then."

"You'll be fine," Robert told Khaat. "I wish he didn't tap you so much when he does that."

"You won't keep him away, you know," she told him sleepily.

"Who said anything about keeping him away?" Robert said. "I can't control that, now, can I? He does what he wants. If he came, he came because he thought it was necessary."

"I know how you feel about it," she said.

"No you don't," he frowned. He looked at Jess and Marcus, "take care of her, Guys. She's going to need to get some sleep."

"So..." Marcus began, "let me get this straight. I was protecting a...whatever he is...."

"He was probably protecting you," Khaat yawned.

"How the hell do I know when its you and when it isn't?"

"I don't know," she shrugged.

"There's usually a difference," Kate said. "Its very subtle sometimes."

Marcus shook his head. "I really don't get all this seer's stuff sometimes. It's very weird.."

"Didn't you work for seers before?"

"Yes, and I didn't understand it any better then either," he admitted. "You're just an odd bunch."

"They certainly are," Robert laughed. "You'll get used to it."

"Or not," Michael said. "I don't know that I've ever gotten used to it, as many years as I've been around Kate. It never gets any less strange."

"You might as well get used to it," Robert said, "We've got a whole platoon of them in this house. And by the looks of it," he glanced at Abbey, "It looks like there will probably be more seers in the generation to come."

Brant chuckled as he listened to Marcus then glanced at Jess who stood with her eyes closed as she kept up her stream of energy for a little while longer then stepped back into Jacks waiting arms.

"Hey you think there weird, I actually married one" He said and smiled as Jess drew some of his excessive energy from him. " but I can't complain I'm still happy, oh grounds are secure all wards and spells strengthened and I have men patrolling the perimeter in pairs." He told Brian as he gently kissed Jess on her cheek. Brant smiled and looked to Robert then Brian.

"Glad I'm just a simple poitioneer." Brant said " Now if its all right with you Robert I'll go and check what damage has been done to the potions stock while I've been away." He stood up and looked at Brian. "Oh, just so you know, I have a date tomorrow night, I'm hoping James won't come back here in a hurry as I'd like to have a quiet night with Chocola." He couldn't help but smile " I'm taking her to Paris or may be Venice not decided yet."

"Thanks, Jack," Brian said. "That's fine, Brant. I think we'll manage if James comes back, but I'm hoping that doesn't happen at least for the next 24 hours or so. We need a chance to breathe a bit."

"Brant," Robert said, "I've developed a formula for a High Potency Pain Potion. We had a vial of it, but we've gone through it. The formula is in my most recent potions book, but read it carefully. It's extremely difficult to do, and it needs absolute meticulousness. It takes at least 8 hours to simmer to get to the right consistency and potency. And--you have to put the ingredients in, in exactly those steps and in exactly those amounts or it doesn't become anything more than a standard pain potion. The trick is in making sure you've taken the time to bind each ingredient fully with the last one before you move on to the next. It takes a ridiculous amount of time. But, if you're up for a challenge, you can try it."

"It's a good thing," Brian said. "I don't know if Angus would have survived the first few days of his chest wound without it."

"Indeed," Robert agreed, "And Jess is going to wear herself out trying to stay ahead of Khaat's pain without it. Standard pain potion isn't enough."

"Depends on how much she takes," Marcus said quietly.

"I did notice that," Robert said, with a slight grin. He had noticed that Marcus had taken it upon himself to add more than Robert had prescribed. He was fine with it, actually, because Marcus had stayed within a safe limit with it. "But I really do think we should let the ladies rest a bit. They're tired."

"I understand," Marcus said, knowing that was Robert's way of saying it was time for Khaat to go back upstairs and take care of her leg.

"I have dinner to fix," Kate said.

"Can't Michael finish it? How difficult can it be?" Robert asked.

"Its not difficult," Michael said. "Its just labor intensive. Unless one of you lads know how to peel and chop fruit and vegetables."

"Sounds like a perfect time for them to learn," Robert said, going to Kate. "You need a bit of a rest."

"You need a book, Gam?" Abbey asked. Kate was tempted to laugh. She knew what sort of a book she was about to get.

"I think that would be lovely," she said to Abbey. Abbey dashed off and brought back her favorite thick book of stories about an enchanted porcelain doll. "You want to help me read it?" She asked Abbey. Abbey climbed up on the sofa and snuggled in with her grandmother to "help" her read. "You're a very good snuggler," Kate said to Abbey, kissing her on the forehead and then opening the book.

"Can we try to keep all 42 kids from piling up on her at once, please?" Robert just shook his head. "We might need to have someone else read some stories for the rest of them. There's a new b-o-o-k for them in my lab on the top shelf. Do try not to get them confused, Brant," Robert teased.

Brant listened to Brian and chuckled "Just thought you should know, don't want to turn up all flustered and with lipstick on my collar, I'm still in touch and available if needed " He smiled as he tapped the medallion he still wore around his neck. He turned to face Robert next who told him about the new potion he'd developed and Brant thought about it. "Sure, I'll get on that first." He said looking to Jack and Li as Michael spoke.

"it would be an honer for me to finish the cooking" Li said and moved to the kitchen he picked up the peeler and began to peel the veg left behind. After about ten minuets he rinsed them and got rid of the peelings. "So what should I do with them now?" he asked " are they to be boiled or steamed?"

"Braised," Michael said. "Sear the meat, then add your stock, some good red wine, your vegetables and seasonings and then let it slow cook on a simmer for a few hours. I know Kate wanted noodles, but I think we should screw that in favor of some thick, hot crusty bread. Check the freezer. Angus usually freezes some bread dough to give him a head start. And, if you like, you could use the berries in a cobbler instead of freaking crepes. It would be so much easier. I don't know how much help Jack will be, though. He knows how to eat it just about as fast as Jess can make it."

"A little lipstick never hurt anybody," Brian said.

"Not necessarily true," Michael said.

"He would know," Robert said. "Had to bail his happy little butt out of jail in Barcelona once because of that damned lipstick on his collar."

"You would remember that, wouldn't you?" Michael said dryly.

Li looked at Michael and was about to ask what that was when he continued and told him what to do. Li did exactly as Michale wanted then headed to the freezer. "We have plenty in here." he said as he brought an armful of bread and placed them on the table. Once done Placed the berries in prepared pan. Drizzle with the lemon juice. then whisk together the flour, baking powder, and salt. Set it aside. In a medium bowl he beat the butter, brown sugar, and vanilla until well-blended then added the dry ingredients until mixture resembles crumbs. He then placed it evenly on top of berries. before placing that in the oven." How was that?" He asked Michael.

Brant listened to Robert, Brian and Michael and chuckled, " well this lady is special, very special." His finger played with the ring he wore. "Lee told me about that" he now chuckled again as he headed down to the basement lab to start the potions.

"Good for you, Brant," Brian said. "Hope it works out for you." He followed Marcus and Khaat upstairs to make sure that there was no more bleeding or complications to Khaat's leg after the work out she'd had outside.

"Looks like you did a fine job," Michael said. He took the bread dough out of the freezer, flicked his wand at it to thaw it, and then formed it into a beautifully braided loaf and put it into the oven.

Robert looked over at Kate and saw she'd drifted off in the middle of Abbey's story, and Abbey was just curled up next to Kate, cuddling quietly. He took the book gently from Kate's hands and then reached for Abbey, lifting her up from Kate without waking Kate.

"Papa?" she asked. "What if the doggies get me next time? My rock was too small."

"You," he said, taking her over to the rocking chair, "don't have to worry about that. I'm not going to let that happen. Not ever."

"Can I have a bigger rock?"

"Yes," he laughed, "we have lots of rocks. You want a pretty one?"

"No," she said, curling tight to him. "He don't get a pretty rock. He gets an ugly rock."

"Well, sometime you can go out with Uncle Jack when he goes out for one of his walks, and I bet he'll help you find an ugly rock," Robert said, wanting her to know it was fine for her to be angry about James coming into her yard where she wanted to feel safe. He also wanted her to know that she could trust the grown ups to take care of James.

"Papa, I don't want you to work no more."

"Why not?" he asked, feeling her getting heavier against him as she finally started to get sleepy.

"He scares me," she yawned, her eyes starting to flutter shut.

"I know," he said, softly, kissing the top of her head. He looked at her and saw she'd finally dozed off. At four years old, she still needed a nap during the day, and there'd been too much confusion today. She'd missed it but she had decided she could sleep with her Papa.

"Jack," Robert said softly. "Do me a huge favor. Spend a little time with her so she knows she doesn't have to fight James off by herself, would you? She needs to know she's safe in her own home, even if I'm not here."

Brant smiled as Brian spoke and he nodded "After all the bad shi...stuff I had to go threw, I do to Brian." He said as he made his way downwards. Jack chuckled and shook his head as he followed Robert up stairs so he could shower and change after the fight. Once done he was walking back down when he heard Robert talking to Abby and smiled as he leaned against the door frame of the nursery.

"Sure, well find the ugliest rock we can find, and I'll show you a way to throw it that's fun as well" he said winking to her and smiling as he watched Robert pick her up only to have her fall asleep on him. Moving to Abby's bed he pulled down the blankets for her. " Nap time?" he said softly " she must be exhausted after all that's happened."

"She certainly is," Robert said. "Poor thing. She shouldn't have to know the horrors of our world so early. I had hoped I could protect them from that. I think the rest of the kids are still innocent to most of it, but I didn't want her to have to see so much so soon either." He stood up and took her to her bed and went to lay her there, and she started to fuss in her sleep. He soothed her and then laid her in her bed and touched her forehead, casting a tiny calming spell to soothe her ruffled nerves and hopefully ward off nightmares . She slipped into a deep sleep instantly. Robert covered her.

"I'm really hoping things are quiet tonight, Jack," Robert said. "Haven't slept in almost 72 hours now, and its starting to get to me a bit, I must confess. I'd like to be able to actually sleep in my own bed tonight for a change. Are we going to have enough people to keep us secure tonight, do you think? And are they trained enough for me to actually trust that they've got it in hand? Haven't had time to keep up with who is on the outside crew. Its not that I don't trust that they have it, but I haven't specifically asked for someone to supervise the outside crew or the overnight crew. I suppose I should promote someone to that. Might take some of the load off of Brian and me."

Jack watched as Robert placed in her bed and calmed her. He folded his arms and sighed " He won't come back tonight his pack took quite a hit, by my count over half his pack are dead, Lee's left twenty men to bolster our forces here, I'm taking first night patrol tonight and all wards have been bolstered and spells re-established if not stronger." He told him watching how he covered Abby over with the bedding.

"and I agree." He simply said " Li has agreed to take the later shift and having Brant here will help." He moved to little Micheal and picked up a small dog that had fallen off his bed. " who'd you have in mind?" he asked slipping the toy under the small boys arm where he snuggled into it.