Hunting the Hunter

Angus was ready to take whatever help he could get. He used his wand to set the table and to send the berries and the fruit salad to the table. "We'll be eating in a few minutes, Jack," Angus said.

"Well, I warned him," Marcus shrugged. "Oh, Angus, Khaat asked for you not to send her a breakfast tray this morning. When I get to the bottom of that problem, I'll let you know. I thought I'd try again after she has a cup of fuel."

"She never wants to eat before coffee. I don't think her brain works until she's had a cup or two. Just let me know," Angus said. Marcus took the tray for Khaat upstairs.

Robert and Kate and Michael brought the kids downstairs, and when Robert saw Angus in the kitchen, he stopped short, scowling at him.

"We need to talk evidently," Robert said.

"After breakfast," Angus said. "As soon as Jess has the eggs ready, you'll be able to eat. Need help with the kids?"

"Not from you, I don't," Robert said, helping Abbey and Dakota into their seats. Kate was helping Daniel and Benjamin, and Michael was putting his boys into their high chairs. Khaat's triplets were getting impatient, and Kate handed each of them a strawberry to eat while they waited.

"Brian's late on getting back from his morning run," Kate noticed.

"He probably just got a late start," Robert said, unconcerned. "He'll catch up."

Jess looked up as Robert with Kate walked in with the triplets "Almost ready." she said as she placed it onto the plates and made them float to the table as Li washed his hands from the kitchen sink. Jess placed the things she had used in the dishwasher and turned it on. "Okay, anything else we need?" She asked Angus as she sent the sippy cups to those who still needed them then cups for the rest of them. Picking up the jug of milk she walked back to the fridge just as Jack returned.

"Okay fence on the south needs fixing after breakfast." he said hanging up his coat " looks like some animal pulled it down , I found brown hair and no, its not James its more wolf like." he said as he washed his hands ready for breakfast then pored some coffee. " any one send Khaat her morning Coffee, shes like a bear with a sour head with out it." He chuckled.

"Marcus came and got it himself a short while ago," Angus answered. "And, no, Jess, I think that's everything. Go ahead and go eat with everyone else. I'm going to go wash my hands."

Kate was just going to sit down when she felt a sudden energy surge. It was fear. Panic. She stood up sharply. "I'll be back," she said quietly.

"Kate?" Robert asked, knowing that certain look she got when something was wrong.

"I don't know," she replied. She left the dining room in a hurry.

Upstairs, Brian had apparated home suddenly from his run. He had run into trouble when he'd come across a nest of poisonous adders and had had been bitten by a large angry large one. He was starting to feel sick very quickly, and he'd collapsed on the floor of the bedroom. Khaat flew from the bed to get to him. Marcus had already reached him and was starting to inspect the wound.

"Looks like an adder bite," he told her quietly.

"I know," she said, She took her belt from her bathrobe and tied it to make a tourniquet around Brian's leg. Kate came into the room, unannounced, and saw the emergency.

"Get Daddy," Khaat said. "We need an anti venom potion."

"He'll have to make it, Dear," Kate said. "It's not one he keeps at the house."

"Maybe I can draw off the venom," Khaat said, wanting something to try.

"No, that's too dangerous," Marcus said. "I saw a student healer in Bulgaria die from attempting that. You need the anti venom."

Kate went back downstairs. "Robert, we need an anti venom potion immediately." Robert looked up at her and it registered.

"Brian," he said. She nodded. "Jack, find Brant. Get him to make that potion right now. It will take at least ten minutes to brew, so there's no time to lose. I'll go see if I can stabilize Brian. Jess, some ice packs might help us slow down the circulation of the poison if we pack the area in ice."

Brant woke and sat bolt upright he'd fallen asleep at the desk in the potions lab.. again. Stretching he decided to go for a shower grabbing his small bag of potions he headed out the door but hearing the commotion he headed to that instead.

"Wow, some one call? " He asked putting his head around the door frame and watching. He had heard the word snake and shook his head.

"so what type of snake Brian was it?" He asked rummaging in his bag of tricks. He took out two, One for Adders and one diamondbacks. He waited and held both. In his own mind he put the Diamond back one back in his pouch and handed them his Adder anti venom. " here this should be it." He said " I am like a boy scout, always prepared." He said and chuckled as he shrugged looking to Brian.

As he watched he rummaged again this time taking out a small box of tampons, now his face flushed a bright pink. " oops, how did they get in there." He said quickly putting them back in knowing he'd possibly picked them up after a visit with Chocola.

Robert went upstairs and saw Khaat panic stricken.

"Calm yourself," he said, working steadily. When Brant showed up with the potion, he took it. "Thank you, Brant. I should know to make some to keep it here. Mind making some for the estate supplies when you get a chance, please?"

"Khaat, I'll provide him the support spells, and you follow my directions precisely," he said. He provided a life support spell to try to stop the venom from spreading. He told her to pour a small amount directly onto the bite. When she did, it sizzled and burned, and for Brian, it burned like fire, making him cry out in pain.

"I know that hurts," Robert said to him. "Bear with us. It'll get better. "Now, Khaat, give him a dose of it." She obeyed. The potion made Brian feel even sicker. It was foul smelling and foul tasting. "Give it a moment," Robert said. "Its not a pleasant business. Sorry about that." They had no choice but to wait a moment. Then Brian seemed to black out.

"I've still got him," Robert said. "Don't panic. Give him a bit to regain himself. That was painful." When Brian woke, Robert knew the danger was past. "Now, where did you find this adder?"

"There's a nest of them," Brian said, exhausted. "Its at a one o clock position from the tree house, just about ten steps on the north side of the outer trail. We can't let anyone go out there."

"No, that's not the answer," Robert said. "We have to get rid of them. We don't need them spreading through the estate. Give yourself an hour or so, and you'll feel better, but that ankle is going to hurt for awhile. We'll handle the rest of it." He looked at Khaat and Marcus. "Keep an eye on him. I have things I need to do."

He went downstairs. "Okay, Brian's going to be fine," he told them. "But we have two issues. First, we've got staff dropping like flies. Between Angus, Brian, Khaat, and Belby, we're running short on people to keep the place going. Jack and Jess, how much can you two manage to keep the place going with us being this short? Do I need to bring someone else in, or can you handle it? And, second, does anyone here have any experience in rooting out a large nest of poisonous snakes on the grounds?"

Jess looked up at Robert as he spoke to them both as he entered the room They both looked at each other and nodded as if an unspoken agreement was reached . Brant walked down note book in hand as he wrote a list of things he needed for the potion.

"Robert, your missing a few of the ingredients for the anti venom potion" he said and looked to Jack and Jess "oh I can fetch them myself don't worry." he said then spoke again " unless you need me here for some reason" he asked seeing the serious look on Roberts face as he stood facing them both.

"I'm not surprised I'm out of ingredients," Robert told Brant. "Feel free to get what you need and replenish whatever we're low on."

"I'll take care of the snakes," Angus said quietly, coming in from the kitchen. Robert looked into Angus's face and all he saw was fatigue.

"Lad, I appreciate the offer," Robert began, "but you're not up to it. You're not supposed to be on your feet yet. I can't send you out to hunt poisonous snakes. I just can't."

"And you can't do it either," Kate said. "You're the Minister. You can't take chances like that. You'll have to hire someone to get the snakes. Maybe there's someone in Paris or Colorado who is up to the task. Or maybe Lee knows of someone."

"Give me a moment to rest up and I'll go do it," Angus said, going back into the kitchen.

Jack looked up "Okay, I'll tend to the snake issue and the fence too,snakes are not a big a deal for me if I get bit." He said finishing his orange juice placing the empty glass down on the table. " I'll grab some of the guys, shouldn't take long." He grabbed his coat from a rack near by. Jess looked at him as he passed her by.

" I''ll stay here and look after the kids with Brant and Li" she said as Jack headed out of the door to sort out the snakes and the fence that he'd found down earlier on that morning.

"Thank you, Jack," Robert said. "Stay safe. I don't honestly know that you would have any particular immunity to poisonous snakes. Don't take silly chances. Got it?" He went into the kitchen to check on Angus who was sitting on a tall stool next to the counter.

It only took one look for Robert to see that just cooking breakfast had been entirely too much. Angus was exhausted, sweating, and wasn't well. He saw a potions glass sitting on the counter next to Angus. Robert picked up the glass and smelled it. It wasn't just pain potion. He opened the cabinet and saw the three front potion bottles were pain potion, rejuvenating potion, and a potion for nausea.

"Its dangerous to make these cocktails for yourself, you know," Robert said gently.

"I didn't take much," he said tiredly.

"Its the mixing that isn't good, Angus," he said. "If you need something, just ask one of us. Don't try this yourself. The fact is that you're just not ready for all this. You haven't even been out of bed yet. You're pushing it."

"I have a family to take care of now! I have to be okay!" he said, frustrated.

"And this isn't the way," Robert said in a fatherly tone. "One of the reasons we brought you here from Rome instead of taking you straight to St Mungos was because we could rally around Bella and Rose and make sure they didn't need or want for a thing. Besides, its not as if they haven't been already living here for months. They've been in the guest house on the grounds for six months. You have to know we'd look out for them, and Edward stops in to see her every time he stops to check on you. Now, Jess and Jack have control of estate operations until further notice. Your job is to learn to follow instructions. You're a shitty patient, you know that? I'm going to have Jess help you back to bed, and I'm going to go double check on Brian."

He went back out to the dining room. "Jess," he said quietly to her. "Angus has made his own potions cocktail. He's at least not harmed himself, but I don't want him doing it again. Would you help him to his room? He's just not ready to be up. That's what's caused his symptoms. He was lucky this time, but we need to keep a closer watch on his symptoms so he doesn't feel so driven to try to pick his own potions. Agreed?"

Jack nodded to Robert as he turned to leave to clear out the snakes nest grabbing his thick jacket as he went. Jess sat and watched finishing feeding the children she had the house elves take them up to the nursery to nap or play. She heard Robert talking in the kitchen and walked in as he spoke to her.

"of course, come on" she said and helped him to stand as she walked him up to his room and over to the bed. Pulling back the covers she lay him down and stepped back . Placing her hand on his forehead she drew off some of the pain. "Angus rest please, we'll take care of the supper and anything else until your ready." She said with a smile.