LONDON CALLING

"In all fairness," Angus said, "as much as I don't have an issue with trashing my father, I really don't want Edward trashed. I don't have any fame to lose, but he does, so out of respect, I would certainly want to talk to him before I did anything like that."

"Absolutely," Khaat agreed.

"And as long as you and Jessie aren't eating people, then you have nothing to worry about," Angus replied to Jack. He looked at Ruby. "I can't say I wouldn't worry if you decided to follow me on a werewolf hunt. You definitely need to do your training first because if you don't, you're just going to look like werewolf bait, I'm afraid. Jack would be the first to tell you that hunting James is one of the most dangerous things we've been up against in a long time.

Brian was just starting to eat one of the strawberry tarts when he heard a splashing sound. He turned and saw Abbey paddling in the pool.

"Dog's in the pool again," Brian said.

"Well, labradors are crazy in love with water, you know," Kate remarked. "Let her go. Its good for her. It gives her good healthy exercise and some training on her metamorph energies."

"I think, Ruby, if you're going to want to go on these missions, we'd better try to fast track some of your training," Brian told her. "There is a brand new 'fast track' daily training course at the Paris office, and it starts at 6 am our time and runs til 8 am. You don't need to do your run first because a run is included. Owens teaches this class, and it's for some of our new operatives that need to be fast tracked into both offensive and defensive maneuvers. Of course, you're still welcome to join the rest of the crew here in anything they do, but this fast track course will provide you some extra skills quickly. I haven't involved Mira in it because Mira is still underage. She has plenty of time yet to become an operative. If you want to try it, I'll send a message to Owens to expect you tomorrow. We can alter your schedule so that, basically, your shift would be five days a week from 6am til 2 pm. That fills your 40 hours and still gives you your afternoons for either practicing your skills or learning whatever you can from Robert or Edward or anyone else you decide to mentor under. And, of course if you do go on a mission outside of those hours, you have the option of either flexing the time or just taking the extra pay in your check. That's up to you. Angus usually has some of the breakfast dishes prepared by 5:30 so you could probably get a light breakfast before you'd go to training, and you'd be back before much of anything got started at the estate."

"Might not be a bad thought," Angus said to Ruby. "And since the fast track is new, you could let us know what you think of it."

Ruby sat listening to Brian and Angus talking and the times she'd have to spend trainning. Now she thought how much time she'd be away from the house and how once she was back she'd have to jump right into her caring duties. When Angus spoke she looked at him biting her lips "You think?" she asked "I guess it couldn't hurt it would mean I could go on missions with you, but could I think about it for a moment." she said heard Abby splashing in the pool and turned to look at her and smiled.

Looking to Marcus she spoke again " um..could we talk a moment" she said to him " out of ear shot" she motioned to Angus as she stood up and walked to some sun loungers and sat down to wait for him.

"Absolutely," Brian replied. He rarely forced anyone into anything, and if Ruby wanted time to think, Brian respected that. Espionage missions were nearly always lifethreatening, and he did not want anyone leaping into it on a whim. Ruby had had a taste of it, enough to know that there could be risk at any second. Brian decided to make use of the quiet time and help Kate clean up the remains of the picnic and put it back in the basket.

When Ruby asked if she could speak to him, he got up and went over to the lounge chairs and sat down on one to find out whatever it was that she had in mind.

Ruby watched Marcus sit down " okay um.. I don't like the idea of Angus being out on missions..." she paused hopful he'd understand when she finished talking."Just here me out ok, I wana get him a reliable pistol, one that we both know suits his style, just so I know when Im not there, this is gonna sound corny but here goes, so that I feel like he has a peice of me with him, kinda protecting him?" she said playing with a peice of hair " And I thought you might know who and where I could get one, or you could sorce it and well I'll pay for it, you know moneys not an problem, i guess I want to treat him like he deserves but in away he'll get what I mean, oh and yes I'll do the exstencive training." she sat waiting for him to reply watching in the back as the picnic was packed away and tidyed up.


"its strange for me, having some one that I want to be with, but at the same time when there not, wanting to protect too." she looked at Marcus "you know what I mean." she lay back on the lounger and sighed " should I toughen up a little, becuse right now my head is spinning." she lookedat him and chuckled " soory, we should get back to chores and I should check on Robert, but could you?"

"Certainly," Marcus said. He did understand. "It makes perfect sense to me. And, yes, he does desperately need another pistol. If Edward knew Angus's pistol was a dodgy gun, then it was bad for some time. It wasn't an expensive gun to begin with, the sort of thing that a young man might give as a gift because it's affordable. But a cheap gun is rarely a safe gun. Its one of the times when you get what you pay for. But, yes, I can get you a very nice gun for him that will be spot on and well balanced so he can aim true with it right from the outset. I'll let you know about cost later."

He listened to her talking about he need to be protective.

"I do understand your feelings," Marcus said. "Early on into my marriage, my wife had the same struggles. I don't have any words of wisdom since my marriage went off the rails years ago, but I do know my children still tend to worry if they know I'm out on a case. I don't know that it is a matter of toughening up. Rather, I think its a matter of not wasting a moment in the here and now. If there is something that needs to be said, say it. Something that needs doing, do it. Its the kind of work where you learn to appreciate how fragile life is and you learn how to savor every moment of it, so that if something does happen, heaven forbid, you have no regrets. Does that make sense at all?"

Ruby listened to Marcus talk and she smiled feeling every word he spoke true in her heart. " yes it does and thank you for understanding, and please do, I trust your jugdment with this becuse I don't have a clue, I can shoot but thats as far as I go." she said with a chuckle and stood up to give him a hug " thank you."

Now smiling she moved back into the house and to the kitchen to Angus " I've decided Im doing the trainning." she told him " Im not wasting time on what ifs or maybe's." she told him before kissing him deeply " now I have to check Edward and Robert then I guess once my shift is done get some sleep, I have a hard day tomorrow." she smiled at him.

Marcus gave Ruby a hug and let her get on with her work. Angus had already headed back to the farm, leaving Ruby to have her privacy with Marcus. He always had tasks to do, and he was, at the moment, checking Kate's larder for whatever there might be to cook for supper tonight. He had all afternoon to get it figured out, since they had just finished lunch, after all.

Marcus and Khaat and Kate decided they would go back to the farm too because there was always so much to be done.  They went together, and then Marcus and Khaat took a quick trip to London to Marcus's favorite weapons dealer so he could get a pistol for Angus. He picked out what he believed was the best for the task, and made sure it was in pristine condition, perfectly balanced and ready for work. He bought a supply of ammunition, knowing that Robert had more of that size well stocked in the armory anyway.

He and Khaat were heading through a section of muggle London and were crossing a street when she got the heel of her high heeled shoe caught in a street grate. Marcus came back, and moved to help her with her shoe when someone scooped her up. She shrieked in alarm and Marcus grabbed tight hold of her ankle to be sure they weren't separated. Marcus was going to hit his alarm, when they were apparated away.

They landed in a woods, in a deep, thick thicket. Marcus hit his alarm now. He hadn't been able to see until now who had taken them, but he already knew. Khaat was still screaming, and Marcus could feel her sheer terror. It was unquestionably James. James kicked Marcus hard in the head with his combat boot, and Marcus was stunned, but still determined not to let go of her.

Jack sat with jess enjoying the last of the warm sun together when Jess froze up grasping Jacks hand. " you okay?" he asked Jess turned and looekd at himterror in he eyes. " whats wrong?" he asked.

"James." she said simply then their medallions lit up. Jess ported both her and Jack to where the alram had come from letting go of Jack she readied her wand as he elongated his claws leaping towards his brother while Jess moved to Marcus. " your ok, were here now" she said hearing Jack give a loud raor as he slashed at James tring to pry Khaat from his grasp.

"let her go brother, you've lost." he shouted to him.

Marcus heard Jack and Jess arrive, and he was relieved there was backup. He heard Jess reassure him, and he did his best to shake off the kick to the head he had taken. And then, beyond all the other howling, he heard another howl--not Jack and not James.

"Since I already have her," James laughed, "I think you're mistaken, Pee Wee." He howled in triumph, grabbing Khaat by her hair and trying to drag her off, and with Marcus clinging to her leg, it hurt to have James yanking her across the forest floor by her hair.

This third howl was much deeper, lower, somoene with a deep and low bass sounding voice, someone bigger, someone far more menacing. He saw something moving in the trees. He pointed to Jess some huge, hulking, dark figure off in the distance who was approaching.

"You're trespassing," the deep voice bellowed fiercely. "You will not come and bring your crimes anywhere near me."

Khaat heard the bellowing and turned and looked to see, of all people, Fenrir Greyback coming through the trees, standing on the far side of the thicket. At the sight of Fenrir, James stopped in his tracks, and from what Khaat could see, James seemed to lose some of the color from his face. So there was something James feared. It was Fenrir.

"She's mine, and you can't have her!" James bellowed.

"You've got entire colonies of bats leaking out of your belfry," Fenrir said. "The human female is not yours! You'll never have her. She's enchanted to not ever belong to our kind! Look at the stone on her neck." James saw the green heart shaped stone, and it seemed like it was angry all on its own. James snatched the stone and tried to yank it off her neck but the chain wasn't breaking. And the stone started to screech and started to shine a blinding green light, and the chain started to burn.

Fenrir crouched down in a pouncing position and then looked at Jack and nodded.

Jack smirked knowing who was aproching he haulted his attack " oh realy" he said to James just as Fenrir appeared. He could not help respect Fenrir for coming to Khaats aid in this battle. Jess quickly placed her hand on Marcus drawing off his pain. Both looked at James as he grasped the gem as it glowed " wrong move brother." Jack called out as he saw him struggle to pull and break the chain with both Jess and Jack knew would not.

Jack looked at Fenrir and saw his nod knowing that would be his cue to grab Khaat when James was made to let go of her. " Lets do this." he growled as he lowered himself into a strike stance now fully in his werewolf form. Glancing at Fenrir he nodded back.