THE WALKER RANCH

Steven sat reading in the living room he could hear them talking but not what was being said but he got the feeling it was about him. He just gave a sigh and returned to his book. Picking up his coffee he blew across the top of it. His mind slowly drifting back to the clearing and Janet’s words about he would find some one to take away his loneliness. The more he thought abut it the more he thought it would never happen and he would stay alone, this he didn’t mind so long as he had friends to help him and keep him sane.

He looked down at the page of the book but he found himself staying on the same sentence as he read unable to do much more than read it over and over. Reaching in to his pocket he took out the gold locket he had been given and felt its light and delicate engraving over it the rose that sat in the middle and the leaves that snaked around the case. He held it tight but never looked at it. He wanted to move on with his life but how could he it always came back to this point. He always felt alone even with John. He hoped working might help take his mind of it but it just gave him more time to think about it making it harder. How could he accept the loneliness that now ate at him and every time he was alone.

He stood up and paced, he had to put it aside he knew that. His mind had to be certain and clear to do his job. But seeing Brian with Khaat just brought it all back, how he use to be that way with Janet when she was close to having John.

Brian pocketed the papers Robert had given him. He decided to let Khaat eat and rest. He kissed her forehead. "No more temper tantrums under rotten trees--got that?" he smiled. "Got it. He's such an arse sometimes, though." "You deserve better, Babe, You really do, but I know you. When you fall, you fall hard. He at least better be good looking," Brian laughed. "Almost as good as you," Khaat laughed. "Get some rest and I'll be back." "Thanks," Khaat said.

Brian walked out into the living room and found Steven there either trying to read a book or pretending to--one or the other. "You have time to come see Robert's secret headquarters?" he asked him. "Robert and Kate will watch your boys. There is more to see than you can possibly comprehend."

Steven looked up as he heard a voice pocketing the locket as he saw Brian. He knew he mist have seen it but for now he said nothing. “Sure, not doing much good around here “he said he nodded when he said that Kate would look after John and Andrew while he was gone. “ Really, I’ve seen a lot “he said crossing to the coat rack and taking down his own brown wind breaker and slipping it on the ranger badge still sitting on the lapel. It caught the light as he slipped it on and waited for the say so that they could head out. He wasn’t worried about John or Andrew he knew in Robert’s house they would be safe. He took a step forward to wards him “so, how we traveling?” he asked picking up his hat from the counter where it had been left and slipping it on his head

"Well, probably portkey," Brian said, "It's too far to apparate. I'll get you a portkey, unless you have some personal object you'd always have with you that you wouldn't mind making into a portkey. Khaat has a penchant for using stray socks for portkeys," Brian laughed, "I have no idea why. Robert and I keep telling her she needs to be more imaginative, but her logic is that they have to be used for something, so she tags them with where they go to, and, if I know her half as well as I used to, she probably has a whole drawer of portkey socks someplace." Brian drew out a large ring of keys on his belt and took hold of one with a ruby set into its bow. "If you take hold of me, we'll go."

steven thought for a moment about the necklace but still said nothing. He could feel it in his pocket as he moved feeling alittle akward taking hold of another mans coat. but he did "I'll find something" he said looking at Brian, he thught about his wedding ring but threw that thought out. He promised he would never wear it again, and he was sticking by it. The more he thought the less he found he had .With a sigh he felt them port away where too he didn't know but he knew it was the begining of something that would hopfully keep him sane.

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Brian transported him to a beautiful peaceful street, lined with little trees. A rather elegant neighborhood. They were in front of a very large white stone house--very much like a larger, more elegant version of the Grimmauld Place headquarters, and Brian didn't know whether Steven had ever seen that house or not. He truly had no righ to ask.

"We're in Paris," Brian said quietly, standing under a streetlight on the darkened street. "I wanted you to see the outside of the building so you would recognize it. This is the main headquarters, but it is like the tip of an iceberg. There is so much more than what you see. Let's go in."

He led the way up the steps and into the house. It was decorated, on the inside, like the inside of an elegant sailing ship. As soon as they entered, other men greeted Brian, saying "Evening, COB." "Chief Officer Brian," Brian explained quietly, "A term for First Mate. I just think they think its shorter than Brian. Make yourself at home." He introduced Steven to the men who came forward to find out why Robert had summoned Brian to England so quickly. Brian introduced Steven as a new recruit, and instructed them to make him feel at home and help bring him in.

He showed Steven the massive rooms that were sititng rooms, dining rooms, a huge kitchen, Robert's study that was very much decorated in the elegance of a captain. He took him upstairs and showed him the bedrooms, some of which were shared, bunk style, just as it would be on a sailing ship. Robert's room was very much a captain's quarters. And there were a number of guest rooms. On the third floor was a completely self contained medical clinic and more bedrooms, for either more guests or for the children that were rescued.

From there he took him to the cellar, which was used mainly for storage. However, the cellar also led to a massive network of tunnels and catacombs that threaded through Paris like a spiderweb. It was very easy to get lost down in the tunnels. Brian expressely warned about that and advised that Steven study a map of them enough so that he knew his way. "There are offices similar to this in many different countries, "Brian confided. "But this is the heart of it. "

Steven looked at the very large white stone house in front of him. It reminded him of another house, Grimmauld Place. He had been there only a few times but he could se the similarities but that’s where it ended as he was shown round. This was a much bigger place on the inside. He didn’t’ say much but raised an eye brow as one man called Brian C.O.B and he explained it meant Chief Officer Brian. “Humm, so you have rankings too, will be strange to be back at the bottom again” he said as he was shown the medical clinic, guestrooms and lastly the catacombs “I have a good sense of direction but a map might help “he said looking at Brian as they made there way back up to the main building “so what is it I will be doing, and please don’t say sitting around “he said folding his arms across his chest as he spoke. His hat now slipped to cover his eyes as now all he wanted to do was get working and take his mind off how he was feeling or not as the case may be.

"We have a series of festivals and events here in Paris every year, whether they are muggle or wizard. They draw out wizarding couples looking for romance, who leave their young children at home alone. Or they draw unsuspecting wizarding families who allow their children run free at the festivals to go have fun and play carnival games. That is almost 90% of our child abductions. Parents who just simply leave their children alone believing they'll be safe for a short time by themselves. These traffickers collect statistics on who has had children, when, where they are, and then they send evil henchmen to stake out these kids to find when they are the most vulnerable and they kidnap them. They route them underground and sell them within usually 24 hours to a wealthy muggle family anywhere in the world and force the kids to learn how to do only certain kinds of magic--enough to increase the power and wealth of the muggles, and they keep them captive. THis has been going on for a very long time. Our task is to get the kids back to their parents. We rescue them, ge them cleaned up, fed, treated medically if that is necessary, and get them home. We also provide their parents with training on how to unwind the brainwashing the kids have been through and how to get them back on track they should have been on all the time. One thing I have learned about Robert over the years is that if he dedicates himself to a project, he makes sure all the bases are covered.

"There is a raid being planned on some wizard children who will undoubtedly be at the Paris motorbike races. Its one of our highest loss of French wizarding children every year. I will need every man I can get to thwart that. The raid, I'm sure will come at tomorrow night's huge finale. It's always when they strike. We'll be doing some planning and you can join us at the races if that suits you. Last year we rescued 26 children. We need to do better. Our goal is to keep more kids from being taken,in the first place and to make sure those who were taken get back home. You want to join the planning meeting?"

Steven listened more taking in all that he said and understanding what they were doing. He could not hold back a low growl as he spoke of parents letting the children just run around unsupervised , but then he knew himself eventually john and Andrew would not want him around all the time ether. He sighed folding his arms across his chest.

On hearing Brian offer him an opportunity to be part of a meeting he once more raised an eye brow “does a bear go in the woods? “ he said shaking his head “of course I would “ he finished with a slight shake of his head “ Its what Im here for isn’t it “ his eyes now looking right at Brian. Under the rim of his hat.

"I had to be sure it was your free choice," Brian said. "This work is not without danger. And a lot of it. We put our lives on the line every time each one of us attempts to rescue a child. There have been members killed doing this. Don't fool yourself for an instant in thinking this is easy. I'm not trying to scare you off, and frankly, I don't think you scare very easily. But you have to see it for what it is...."

A bell rang, interrupting him. "Meeting time," He said. "Let's go into the kitchen and we'll get started." He picked up a rolled up map and a magical quill. "Robert has almost always been here to direct this. I hope I do it justice since he won't be here tonight. But he will never leave Khaat in those circumstances. Never. He is smart enough to know his own family comes first. "

He led the way to the kitchen where men were already gathering and passing around tankards of grog. "Don't worry. It's far more fruit juice and spices than alcohol," Brian said quietly to Steven. "We all want to be clear headed about this thing. Its too important not to. Its a tradition for us, though. Sort of a bonding thing. Find yourself a seat and we'll get started. " Someone handed both Brian and Steven each a pewter tankard, and Brian went to Robert's seat at the head of the table.