LONDON CALLING

Ruby nodded and chuckled at his words. " um..okay but just a half dose." she said still feeling her self a little rattled at hearing the clock chime she chuckled with him " yeah I didn't realize it was still early." she settled back next to him.

"I don't ushauly use potions on myself but after that nightmare...it started wonderfully we were flying on Swift over the estate, this estate and laughing, happy then something changed dark cloud surrounded us and...we fell but I couldn't reatch you as hard as I tried to grab hold you were always just out of my reatch," she shook her head " probably my brain trying to work threw the things I saw in That estate." she turned to look at him.

"how do you cope with it?" she asked " I mean not once did you let it show that it got to you, but it did, didn't it."

"Hold that thought," he kissed her. He got up and wrapped his robe around himself and let himself into the potions lab. Rifling through the shelves in the potions cabinet, he easily found a wide array of sleeping potions. And then, he found one, way at the back of the cabinet that was not one of Robert's own doing. This one had a different potions maker on the label. Nigel Sigworth. Who the hell was Nigel Sigworth, and how had his potion gotten in here? Angus put the bottle back, and got out the one a the front of the cabinet, one he knew for a fact was a very mild potion. He poured a half a dose, double checked it, and secured the cabinet and the lab again and returned to the bedroom.

"Here," Angus joined her again, handing her the potions cup. "Not that it matters but you'll find this one tastes like strawberries. Robert added the flavoring because we've had to give Abbey some very small doses of this one on a couple of occasions--like after her run in with James. That was really pretty traumatizing for her. What you'll like about this one, I think, is that it is geared to help you put your mind at rest so you can sleep, and once you get to sleep, it stops the dream cycle. You should have a much more restful sleep. When we travel as a group, we take a travel kit of medicines, and this one always is included."

He listened to her talk about her dream.

"I'm no authority on dreams, but it seems to me that what we dream about usually has something to do with unfinished business from the day before. You were tossed, without much training, into a truly gruesome situation. Not that you didn't handle it well. I think you did handle it very well, but if you had had training first, you'd have dealt with some of it a little differently perhaps.

"I can't say it didn't bother me at all because I would be lying. Of course it bothered me. But I've seen a lot of gruesome things over the years. Remember, I was working with my grandfather slaying werewolves while I was still a kid. Certain things, though, do bother me more than others. I've gotten used to the gore pretty much. What bothers me most of all is seeing the trauma that it has caused Khaat and, to a very limited extent, Abbey. Seeing their emotional suffering honestly bothers me far more than all the gore."

Ruby watched him wrap himself in his robe and leave the room. She sat and smiled looking around his room and the glow from the fire place. When he returned she saw the small bottle. Taking it she held it while he spoke " that will help" she said when he mentioned it ws flavored like strawberrys. Taking the top off she took a drink and licked her lips clean of the potion " yum nice" she said and chuckled feeling it already relax her.

Listening to him talk she nodded " I guess it would and Abby's an innocent, she should be running around playing and eating berrys not having to deal with him." she said " but you have me to talk to as well and I know she and the family are important to you, just know I will never get in the way of that." she told him gently kissing him as she then flopped back on the bed smiling up at him.

"Thank you," he said. "I appreciate that." He took the empty little cup and set it on the nightstand. He kissed her. "Close your eyes, and get a little sleep."

He laid back down and closed his eyes and dozed back off for a bit himself. He didn't sleep long, though. Her brain was probably now at rest, thanks to the potion, but his was running. He slid out from the sheets, careful to avoid disturbing her. He showered and dressed and left the bedroom silently. He went downstairs and found his grandfather sitting out by the pool by himself, drinking tea. It wasn't even light yet, but there he was.

"What has you up? I thought you'd sleep in a little," Edward said, as Angus joined him.

"Tell me something," Angus said quietly. "Do you know a Nigel Sigworth?"

"Sigworth? Yes, I know him. We're not mates or anything, but I know him. Why?"

"What do you know about him?"

"I know he's a healer and a potionsmaster, very much like Robert."

"Is he any good?"

"Is he any good?" Edward frowned, repeating the question as if he were surprised that Angus needed to ask it. "Nigel Sigworth is one of the top wizarding healers in the world and has been for nigh onto twenty years. He was lured to the States about 15 years or so ago by Lee Shepherd when the man who was the head of their wizarding government become seriously ill. And the money was good enough that Sigworth stayed. He's a highly reputable man, and, by all I can find, he's completely above board. Now why all the interest i Sigworth when you should be thinking of your holiday and the quite lovely blonde that I'm sure is still keeping your bed warm."

"Because," Angus said. "I found a bottle of a sleeping potion way at the back of the cabinet in Robert's lab, and it was made by Sigworth. The doses on it seemed actually to be for a concentrated potion. Now, where would one get that, and why would Robert have it when he makes his own?"

"Well," Edward said, "it isn't anything he could have possibly purchased at any apothecary. And Sigworth doesn't sell his potion. Nor does he make them for anyone, not like Robert creates them for St. Mungos. The only way anyone gets a potion from Sigworth is to be one of his patients. That's it, period, full stop. So, if he has a Sigworth potion, then he has, at some point, gone to New York and had a consultation with the man. I don't think you have cause to worry. Kate's been after Robert to find a healer he feels comfortable with because of his insomnia. Sounds like, at some point, he's done just that."

"And yet, I still hear Kate, on a regular basis, telling him he still need to find a healer to deal with his insomnia before it strikes again. So, clearly, she doesn't know. Why the secrecy?"

"No clue, except that Robert is a man of many secrets. No one is put in the position of a spymaster unless one is very capable of both making and keeping all sorts of secrets."

"Now why have I not given that thought before?" Angus sighed, frustrated.

"Because you're a nitwit," Edward teased. "My very loveable nitwit. Look, I think you should give this not one more moment's thought. He knows you all have more than enough on your minds with James and Gelding and however many beasties they have on retainer. Clearly, he's doing what Kate asked and is taking care of his health, so you should relax and just presume he's going to be riding your arses about your training for at least another sixty years. That should be good news for you all and a great deal of security, but I think you should very much respect his desire for privacy about it and not spread it all around the entire compound, will you?"

"Alright," Angus sighed.

"Now, go get yourself ready to go on holiday. Don't forget you need to have Robert exchange some of your muggle money from pounds to Euros before you go. I saw him downstairs making some more pocket sized patch kits in the sickbay. Shall I have Kate send up a tea tray for Ruby for when she wakes?"

"Please?" Angus asked.

"I'll go ask her right now," Edward said, as Angus headed to go see Robert about getting some Euros. Edward asked Kate to send up a tray, and Kate promised to send it up straight away and have it put outside the door.

Ruby woke to find Angus not beside her and a tray of breakfast on the floor by the door. Once she ahd eaten she showering and dressed then headed down to the kitchen returning her tray as she walked in. "Good morning" she said seeing Kate alrady in the kitchen.  " thank you for the brealfast, shame Angus disapeared this morning and missed out." she chuckled knowing he must have had something important to do. Placing the dishes in the washer she thought about what she should take on their vacation.

Ruby headed up to Khaats room and slowly opened the door "Good morning Marcus, how is she today?" she asked glancing down at Khaat. Ruby moved to the closet and borrowed a change of clothes all practical and along with two summer dresses and matching shoes she ehaded back to her room to pack a single bag before heading to the potions lab. Knocking she smiled seeing Robert and Angus already there " Morning." she said to Angus lightly kissing his cheek " you missed breakfast, Kate made a mean scrambled egg." she looked at what Robert was doing. " pocket sized patch kits?" she asked

"Good morning," Kate smiled. "You're very welcome. It was my pleasure. Oh, Michael has made some completely luxurious croissants and stuffed them with one of the finest brands of dark chocolate you'll find anywhere on the planet, and then he drizzled more of it on the tops. They 're just now cool enough to eat. Shall I pack a few for you and Angus to take? I was just about to grab one myself with a cup of coffee."

Marcus was alone in Khaat's room, reading the newspaper when Ruby came in.

"Oh, hello, Ruby. Kate told me you and Angus are going on holiday to Tuscany," Marcus replied. "Be sure and try some of Edward's wine while you're there. It is really very good quality. Quite nice. Be sure to take one of Khaat's jackets with you. It can get a little chilly at night if the rain takes the temperatures down. Do yourself a favor and take the lavender anorak. It's really just a spring rain jacket but it is a little longer--in case you find yourself outside and needing a little more coverage--perhaps in covering tailfeathers if you find you should need it." Marcus was a man who certainly knew what happened on a private island with any new couple and he wasn't shying away from advising her on taking one jacket with just a little bit of a longer length. "Hazards of being a bodyguard. We tend to notice everything," he said.

Khaat is doing much better, i think. Robert was here, and he gave her a little bit of nerve potion, and right now, she's showering. I think she has some odd idea that we should ride the unicorns today," Marcus said, with an amused smile.

When Ruby made it downstairs, Robert was assembling a few patch kits, and Angus was putting some Euros in his pocket.

"'Morning, Ruby," Robert said.

"I'm sorry," Angus said. "My apologies. I thought of a couple of extra loose ends before our trip--like converting some cash. And I got a little busier than I had thought I would. You're right though. I do like her scrambled eggs quite a lot."

"We've gone through several of our patch kits recently," Robert laughed. "So I thought I should replenish them while I had the chance. Here's the thing about this one here..." he pointed to Angus. "He's not had a holiday in nigh onto a decade. He's completely out of practice, and he's overthinking everything. I've just been telling him he's not leaving civilization, and he doesn't need to over pack. Do teach him how to do it right, won't you? Still, take a holiday kit with you. That is one thing you should have." He accio'd a different sized kit off a high shelf. It was about double the size of the pocket sized kit.

Ruby listened to Robert and chuckled " ah, thought as much" she said " Im all packed, I did borrow a few things at Marcus sugestion" she told him " oh and a two peice" she winked at him then heard Robert talk of how long it had been since Angus had taken a holiday and she smiled " well Marcus sugested trying some of Edwards wine, we could do that on the cruiser and I agree." she moved to pick up one of the small kits as she looked at Angus " Im sure he'll get it, with time."

When Robert mentioned a holiday kit she looked confused at Angus " whats in a holiday kit?" she asked placing down the smaller kit as he accioed the large one. looking at it she wanted to open it and see what was inside but didn't leaving it to Angus to deal with. " so, is there something for every accident in here?" she joked.

"Oh, I'm glad Marcus offered some advice. He's spent more time on the continent than I have in the last several years--not counting Paris, that is. And I'm glad you found a few things in Khaat's closet. Good. And, yes, Edward's wine is an absolute must," Robert concurred. "He has a good Merlot, but my personal favorite is his chianti."

"The pocket kits are only equipped to deal with the most likely injury a team member might end up with in a skirmish of some sort. Basically a one time use sort of thing, and then I need to replace them. The holiday kit is larger, about the size of a muggle bum bag, and it has the things that one might need on a holiday--bandages, antiseptics, nausea medicines, headache potions, sleeping potions, that sort of thing. Just a little of each, enough that you shouldn't find your trip ruined if you cut yourself or get a nasty headache. Muggles call these things First Aid kits. This is a basic wizard version of it. If you can't manage it with the holiday kit, that's a signal to get yourselves back home to me straight off. Trust me, it isn't the biggest kit we've got. When we all go together, we take a couple of those." He pointed to the messenger bags with shoulder straps hanging on hooks on the wall.

"Those are the medical bags--the real deal," Angus told her. "One is Roberts, one is Brian's, one is Khaat's, and I don't know if Jess has one or not. I presume so. Those are equipped enough that, if Robert would have to, he would have the equipment to do some types of surgery with the equipment in those."

"I don't think you'll need one of those," Robert laughed.

"No. Trust me, nobody wants me to operate on them. I don't know the first thing about it," Angus laughed. Robert picked up an envelope off the worktable and handed it to Ruby.

"Do not go empty handed," he told her firmly. "It isn't a lot, but Angus has plenty. Tuck it in your pocket in case you need it."

Ruby looked at it and went wide eyed " wow I don't think we'll need that muc though it dosn't help to be prepared." she said then glanced at the bags hung on the wall. " good to know." she said then looked back at Robert as he spoke of them being able to opeerate should they need with what was in the bags " Agreed, the only thing that Angus will be operating on will be a perfectly cooked chicken or fish dinner." she spoke with a chuckle as she looked to Angus.

Hearing Robert again she looked at the envalope seeing Angus had one himself she picked it up and smiled to Robert "Thank you." she told him, then walking around she nervusly gave him a hug in thanks. "I probably would have forgot all about it." she said moving back to Angus as she placed the evalope in her pocket. " I'll be in the kitchen when your ready" she said to him lightly kissing his cheek before heading out of the lab and back to the kitchen poring a cup of tea for herself to relax her beore they left.

It was only a couple moments later when Angus came back upstairs. "

"I'll go get our bags," he told her, "and then we can be on our way--unless you'd rather drink your tea." He cast her a knowing smile that he knew she was not all that interested in the tea.

He made sure he had taken Fudge to Kate. Fudge was better off left at home than to be taken with them to Tuscany. Kate promised she would take good care of Fudge while they were gone. Then he took the bags downstairs.

"This time I really do think I've thought of everything," he laughed. "When I was a kid, and I would go on holiday with my grandparents, they would spend days packing and making lists and double checking the lists to be sure they didn't forget everything. And every year, they would forget the same thing. They would forget, every single summer, to take a corkscrew to open the wine with. Every blooming year. So have i packed a corkscrew? Yes. It was the first thing to go in my bag."