Escape to Brian Quinn's

steven chuckled and nodded "Yea I know , and something tells me he might just stay" he said and looked back into the house as he saw Robert standing in the kitchen "yeap not to hard ," he said softly "maybe jack could join us , where ever hes disapperaed to" he said shaking his head "hes a strange one one minet hes ok the next blaming himsef for today even thought i was much at fault to "

"Those things are harder to let go of when they feel like family for us. We seem to always take it more seriously the closer to our hearts they are, even though I know we all know better. I will not--not--let this happen again. I promise you that. No matter what it takes. Let's go back in and see how far we can twist Robert's arm."

He walked back inside, believing Steven would follow. He went back into the kitchen and looked at Robert for a moment. Robert saw him looking at him and scowled. "Tonight? Of all nights? You wanna do this tonight?" Robert sighed, rolling his eyes at Brian. "Oh, hell. I guess. Somebody has to take the steam out of you, and you have yet to best me, so I might as well beat the crap out of you to make your day complete. You sure you really want this sort of punishment?"

"I'm sure," Brian nodded. "And I'm betting tonight I beat you and Jack and Steven."

"A bottle of my favorite brand of firewhiskey says you're on," Robert laughed.

"Then, come on. Bring it." Brian said.

steven followed and stood behind Brian and nodded as Robert said Somebody has to take the steam out of him, "he could not hold back teh smirk on his face when Robert agreed he move to Brian and placed his hand on his shoulder "well you got your wish " he said and patted his shoulder before moving back "may be jack could join you later" he sugested "I think we all need to blow of steam, besides never got you back for putting me on my butt in paris" he said smiling.

"So you're in, huh?" Brian grinned. "You know I'll just sit you on your can again, right? Where's Jack? I need to see if he's man enough to get in on this action. I am not going to be buying Robert Lupin any firewhiskey tonight. He's going to be buying it for me."

"It would be a first," Robert said dryly.

""Then go get ready. I know it takes someone your age a little longer."

"Now you're pushing it," Robert glared. "It's just an excuse for you to be late." He apparated down to the gym.

Steven cucked " Humm we'll see if you can" he said but piuled a face when he spoke t Robert calling him an old man "shouldn't have done that " he said with a smirk as he turned and headed down to teh basment taking teh slower route as he felt it would be better for him , giving him time to chuckle at Brians earier verbal attack on Robert.

Robert was already changed and was starting a very physical warm up. He was in superb shape, despite being older than Brian. He had never lost a challenge to any of his men, and he wasn't about to start now. He knew sometime in the future he would be bested, but it wasn't going to be tonight. His bigger concern was that he knew how Brian's mind worked. He knew Brian wanted to either redeem himself for not being able to take the cruciatus earlier in the day or to find out why he couldn't handle it. He knew Brian was going to push him hard tonight. Brian was already looking for blood--his own. And Robert needed to wear him out more than hurt him.

Robert engaged him in, first, a physical fight. He made sure he controlled the pacing of it. He was not going to let Brian get what he wanted too soon. Robert was not holding back on any punches either. When he hit him, he hit him as strong and hard as he would any assailant. He knocked Brian on his butt a couple times, but Brian always sprang back up again. At one point, Robert heard a sickening crunch as one of his punches broke Brian's nose. Brian didn't even seem to feel it. Robert knew Brian's adrenalin and his endorphins had kicked in and he wasn't feeling much of anything. Brian got in a couple of good blows in Robert's jaw, and Robert knew full well it was going to be coal black when it finished bruising.

It seemed like the contest was going to go forever. Then Brian hit Robert right in his cheekbone, and Robert felt pretty sure Brian had broken the cheekbone by hitting it at just the right angle. It distorted Robert's vision for a moment, but he heard Brian coming at him again. Unable to see, Robert fired a wandless stunning spell at Brian. It threw Brian across the room.

Brian rose with his wand in his hand. Robert was regaining his vision in just enough time to draw his wand. The level of danger, Robert knew, just escalated. Now magic spells flew back and forth, and now they were drawing blood. But Brian was clearly getting the worst of it. Robert was using incredible restraint with his friend. Brian had thrown a few sectumsempras, even, trying to provoke Robert into returning deadly fire, but Robert refused. he merely blocked the spells. Finally, with both of them getting exhausted, Robert threw a spell that caused a wound to Brian's midsection. The blood flew everywhere.

"Enough!" Robert roared. "I will NOT use a cruciatus on you, no matter what you throw at me! It's over! I have no desire to operate on you tonight! Stop now while you're ahead." Both men had to now take a moment to breathe.

Steven watched feeling each bruise and cut till Robert stopped it , he could not help himself asn he clapped and walked over to Brian , picking up a damp towel and some damp cothes he moved over to him and started to clean him up looking at each wound " you done now?" he asked " you know your no good if your half dead even with Robert here you'll still feel it , I should know" he placed the towel across brians mid drift and sighed "you proved your pont now stop be fore your dead , do you really thing Khaat needs to hear that you died while she was asleep, I don't think so " he wiped his face and sighed knowing one thing he would feel every ache come day time

Brian looked at Steven, out of breath. The blood was pouring from the wound on his midsection. He sat down silently, starting to come off his body's own endorphins that had prtected him from the pain. "He's good, isn't he?" Brian asked quietly. "I've fought a lot of people. And I've won a lot of them. But I cannot win when it comes to Robert. He always, always wins. Frustrates the hell out of me.

"But you're right. I still have a job to do. And, no. Khaat cannot take any more losses. She's had her limit and then some. Alright. You win." He looked up at Robert. "I guess I'm buying the firewhiskey," he admitted defeat.

"Again," Robert sighed dryly. "After I fix you--again. You got it out of your system for the moment?"

"For now," Brian said. That wasnt' what Robert had obviously hoped to hear. He had wanted to hear, yes, Brian was done with it--because Robert gave a frustrated sigh.

steven lookd at Brian and frowened "what, your gonna do this to ya self again" he said and shook his head "accept it hes a better wizard and always will be, I have and you don't see me going after him , its like watching brothers trying to see whos better " he said now a little annoyed himself at brians actions and the sujestion of it hapening again.

"No," Brian said. "I know he's better. That's why he's the captain and I'm just the first mate." He smiled. "He will always be a better wizard than most men. But I like that about him. I learn a lot from him. But it sure would be nice to beat him just one time."

Robert went over to him and laid his hand on Brian's midsection and healed the wound. He also fixed Brian's broken nose. "You put up one hell of a fight," Robert told him gently. "Good job. But you do need to go clean up and then get some rest. I need you at your best form tomorrow. As for me, I'm going to clean up and go sit with Khaat for awhile." He apparated back up to one of Brians' guest rooms to shower and clean up.

"Well," Brian said, "I guess we're not going to spar tonight, are we?" He was starting to realize how tired he really was. He was hoping that Steven and Robert would handle things for at least a couple hours for him so he could doze for a couple hours.