New Friends

Ronata moved to sit down as she listened to Khaat talking the more she said the more she felt she had walked into something but now she had she felt an urge to help "you need steven ... Mr Walker to make sure nobody takes out on you and your daughter, what should be your husbands" she said and nodded "but that would make you more than just a cafe owner" she sat up and looked at her a small smile sitting on her lips as she looked at her "I guess then I should be saying it trully is a peasure working for you" she rubbed her lip "even with actidental hazards" Her cheeks blushed as she thought of Stevens hand against her chin.

'Thank you," Khaat smiled. "Well, I have a couple of other jobs too, and they put me far more at risk than Sparks does. Sparks is just usually pretty routine. But I am the Director of St. Mungos, too., and I am the current Chief Warlock of the Wizengamot. And you may or may not remember Professor Remus Lupin from your Hogwarts days. I am his niece, so..yeah, I can be put into all kinds of situations, and most of my friends and family have learned to be protective out of necessity. But the risk certainly went up when I had Abbey. I don't really care so much what happens to me as much as I care what happens to her. She has an endless list of people who love her, and if that ever did happen, either Brian or my parents would raise her to be a wonderful woman. I hope she grow up knowing her mother, but its good to know she would be well provided for if something ever did happen."

Ronata sat listening her eyes went wide a she told her that she was Director of St. Mungos, and was the current Chief Warlock of the Wizengamot "wow" was all she could say she felt her head spin slightly but didn't know if that was from the hit she'd had or the news she was being given slowly she took a deep breath and sighed looking at her again.

Several hours later Ronata glanced at the clock and then back at Khaat , she sighed now all the informatio sat in her mind she understood Stevens role he was the body guard but she still didn't know much more about him that that , not that she didn't want to know to the contrary she wanted to know more about this Mr Walker her savior from the men in the alley.

Khaat had long since finished her task at Sparks for the day and had gone to St. Mungos and had had an exceptionally busy day. It had been long and hard. She was getting a headache for some reason. It was the second, or maybe third, day in a row she'd gotten a headache at work. Brian had seen it all too clearly when she had arrived home last night and he'd told her she had stepped back to work far too hard and fast after nearly dying during Abbey's birth. She didn't like to talk about that. That whole business had been Rob's fault. If he hadn't chosen then, when he already knew her health was so fragile, to show his true colors, she would not have miscarried. She might have still been carrying Abbey right now. It made her angry that he had had no conscience whatsoever and that he would think nothing of risking her and his daughter for his own selfish immaturity.

But as it was, she figured Brian would not put up with much more of her coming home too tired to eat dinner and with too severe of a headache to care. She figured sooner or later she would have to put up with his choice to take care of her. Not that a certain amoun of that wasn't, secretly, very comforting and reassuring in just knowing someone was there and someone cared. Even if it wasn't one ounce romantic.

Ronata finished up the days work with the last table of the night clearing and wiping it she sighed placing ehr cloth on the tray as she carried it threw to the dish washer. "I'll be happy to soak in a hot tub tonight" she said to lilly as she sat down exausted , a coach load of children had come in and all wanting their food right away,tot she had been totaly run off her feet .

Sitting down on a chair she rested her head on her hand now feeling very sleepy , a she lay staoring at the dishwasher door she listened to the humm as he washed amost sending her asleep. She thought back to steven , she thought he was a curiose one alkways on his own never talking much but always alert . she gave asoft smile as she rembered him in his suit he loked not at all like the man who would wear one , no she pictured him in slacks and a teeshirt or checkered shirt.

Brian arrived in Sparks close to the closing time of the restaurant. He had dropped Abbey off with Katherine so "Grandma" could see Abbey a bit. He was not happy, though, when he got to Sparks and found Khaat still working. The woman was just plain working far too hard. She was doing far too much too soon. As a healer he knew that, and he figured she knew that as well and was just simply ignoring it. When he arrived, he saw Lizzie had already anticipated Khaat would be late and would be tired. She had spoiled Khaat by saving her and Brian a wonderfully made meal of braised lamb shank and all the trimmings. It was exceptionally elegant. And, to top it off, she was just putting the finishing touches on the top of her chocolate orange cheesecake--long graceful strips of candied orange peel as beautiful glistening garnishes--on the top of the cake when Brian arrived.

"I smell chocolate," he grinned, kissing Lizzie's cheek.

"Yes, you do," she said. "You didn't bring Abbey?"

"No, she's visiting Grandma," he smiled, "Katherine hasn't gotten to see her much because of how busy Khaat's become. And by the way, I see she is working overtime again."

"Yes, she is. Brian, can't you have a word with her? There is no earthly reason she has to push herself so very hard. "

"Oh, I know exactly why she's doing it," he sighed as his stomach growled loudly.

Meanwhile, Khaat's headache was becoming almost more than she could stand. She finally forced herself to put her paperwork away for the day. She rose from her desk and gathered up Steven and returned to Sparks. Steven looked as tired as she felt. He was, perhaps, a bit out of practice of working her sort of hours. She had forgotten that he was recuperating, at least emotionally now, from his own near fatal injuries several months ago. "I am sorry, Steven," she said, truly regretful. "I didn't mean to keep you so very long. We can make better arrangements. I know this is tiring." As she passed through to the kitchen she could smell the wonderful lamb and the chocolate dessert. Ronata looked tired too. Lizzie never seemed to tire. Ever.

"I have dinner ready for all five of us,"Lizzie said, "Scoot, you!" she commanded plates into service, filling themselves with her wonderful lamb dinner for the four of them. "Ronata, I included you as well. You did an excellent job today, and our customers already love you. Dinner is my treat. From now on, you can get your meals here on the house, in addition to your wages."

"Brian, after we eat, will you be so kind as to walk Ronata home?" Khaat asked.

"I would be happy to," Brian said, going to Khaat. He lowered his voice and said in a very soft reprimanding tone, "As your friend and as a healer, I have to try to stop you from this. This won't put off your grief forever. You might as well deal with it so you can move forward." He did not ask her if she wanted to be rid of her headache. He laid one hand on either side of her head and drew off what he could feel now was intense, excruciating pain. "Your father would not ever allow you to get to this point, and you know it. Don't you dare think I will hide this from him for one minute."

"No, I know you won't," Khaat sighed heavily, hearing Lizzie sending their dinner plates out to a table in the dining room. She heard glasses filling themselves with ice and with some of her father's iced tea, and silverware clattering into place. She liked dinners here after everything the place was closed. It was quiet and relaxing. Lizzie's food was always some of the best she'd ever eaten, except Rob's, but this smelled even better yet. It smelled like, perhaps, it might beat Rob's best efforts.

"Come and eat, everyone! It's been a long day, and there is no better cure for a long day than a really good meal," Lizzie said. "Come along, Ronata. You have to eat something. You can't work on your feet all day and not eat."

Brian escorted Khaat to the dining room and was gentleman enough to pull out her chair for her and seat her at the table.

Tonat smeld the food and smiled at lilly when she said she could not go all day with out food , though she kne she was ight she also knew she could give it good go. But the rumble from her bellymade ehr think again and when lilly said i t was part of her job she smiled more "your cooking is much betetr than i expected you must teach me how" she said smiling and moved to sit next to Brain.

Finishing she now knew what a good meal was like and Lilly 's was the best, standing she knew she had to repay the kindess and as such picked up the plates moving with them to the dish washer and placing them in. with a sigh she picked up her coat "Lilly I will see you in the morning I must be getting abck to the room" he said sliping off her apron and note pad hanging it on the same peg her coat had been on.

Khaat saw Ronata finally move to leave for the day. Brian rose, touching Khaat's shoulder, "I'll be right back. Steven, don't let her leave your sight while I'm gone. Feed her more coffee or something. That'll keep her captive long enough for me to leave and come back." Khaat raised an eyebrow at Brian, trying not to laugh.

"Goodnight, Ronata," Khaat smiled. "We'll see you tomorrow." She looked at Steven, "I'll fill my own coffee cup, thank you. " She got up and filled a cup for herself. "Steven? Would you like some? Its still hot. "

ronata smiled as she heard steven accept another hot coffee from Khaat "night Khaat " she turned to face steven , smiling softly. "Mr Walker " Slipping on her jacket she moved out the door with Brian at her side "you know Im ok" she said smiling to show the events of that day had not shook her one bit.

Moving into the couldren she covered her nose with the sleve of ehr jacket as she ahd found it deadened the smell so her stomach didn't fel like it wanted to show her lunch again as she moved to the stairs that leand to her room but retching it she frowned "I didn't leave it open" she said loking at Brian then back to the door now slightly scared some thing would jump out at her a she hung back letting brian move ahead of her she held her jacket closed around ehr tight. Why was this hapening to her she knew nobody except Khaat.

Brian frowned. "Stay here," he said in the smallest whisper he could use. He drew his wand and then moved Ronata flat against the wall beside the door to get her out of any sort of firing angle. He motioned for her to draw her wand in case she needed to protect herself.

He listened for a moment, hearing quiet voices inside and things being overturned and gone through. He waited and then, leveling his wand in front of him, he kicked open the door. Two men in long black leather coats turned on him firing at him. He dodged the Avada Kedavra, but in the process was struck with a huge sectumsempra that extended from his left shoulder, down across his chest to his waist on the right, immediately bleeding profusely. He had taken this sort of damage before, and he knew exactly how much time he would have before he bled out and died. He was through fooling around. He instantly fired back at both men, in rapid fire, like a muggle machine gun. He had planned to take them alive, but he did not have that luxury. He dropped the men with two separate Avada Kedavras, and they fell dead to the floor before they even knew what hit them. He checked the rest of the rooms and found them to be clear.

"Pack!" he cast a spell at Ronata's things, and her personal belongings flew into her bags. "Come get your things," he called to her. "We're leaving. Now!"