Laz woke and eased himself out of bed, taking care to not wake Anja all the while knowing it was probably hopeless.  He went into his room, showered, dressed and then called Paul with whom he spoke for a fairly long time.  After he hung up he went and knocked on Anja's door.

When she didn't answer he poked his head in and heard the shower running.  He pulled the bell rope and waited.  In a few minutes one of the court brought a tray with coffee and rolls and told him Carmine was in his study when they were ready.  Laz thanked him, fixed himself a cup and sat down to wait for her.

She emerged from her room a few minutes later looking much better, and, he noticed, with the last of the dye out of her hair. There were even a few feathers and gems in her hair, but since it was so short not very many. He idly wondered how they were staying where they were put.  She wore her usual togs, soft boots and pants and a tunic.

She smiled somewhat shyly and sat opposite him, accepting with a nod of thanks, the cup of coffee he poured for her.  "Good evening," he said.

"Hullo," she replied, and took shelter in her coffee.  He smiled and let her be.  When they were ready he led the way downstairs to Carmine's study, his mind already focused on what was ahead, here and at the Refuge.

They walked into Carmine's study in silence. Carmine, who'd been reading to Nicco, looked up and smiled. "You are both looking much better."

Nicco ran over and tugged on Anja's arm. "Can I see the feathers?" he begged. She knelt down so he could touch her hair and the feathers. "They are very beautiful. Malachi wears them too."

"I know," she replied with a laugh.

"Niccolo," Carmine said quietly. The boy looked around and then kissed Anja's cheek. He grinned at Laz and ran out the door, leaving the adults in peace.

"Now, what are we about? Have you a plan?" the prince asked.

Laz nodded.  "We put Jolie and someone else with her in the auction and then follow them back to McNeill.  Then we use your vampires and the mages to get in.  After that it's mop up."

Carmine was watching Anja. "I have no objections to the use of my vampires and I'm sure the mages will be delighted to help."

"I am too.  The hard part is going to be making sure nothing happens to Jolie and whoever else from the time we stage Fish grabbing them to the time we go in, but we can keep people on them the whole way ready to step in," Laz said.  "The really hard part will be the waiting."

"More so for some than for others," Carmine commented. "You will ask Marc to agree to this plan?"

Laz shook his head.  "Not right away.  First I want all the pieces in place in case there's a hole I've missed.  Paul is already working on the logistics.  I'll talk to Stephen and then I imagine we'll talk to Jolie and see what she says.  If she won't agree we'll have to find someone else.  After that I'd like to meet with you, and Julian and Ian and the others and work out the details.  If it's still viable after that we tell Marc."

"Si, va bene. Go to the Refuge and do what you must. I will begin preparations here. I might also suggest Nicco for an additional level of backup. He looks innocent and can appear an angel when he chooses. This has often given me a second or so's advantage which can mean the difference between a plan that works and one that fails."

"Good thought.  I was going to ask if we could also use Malachi and Uberto.  This is one time I don't want to skimp on firepower."

"But of course. They are yours for the asking."

"Thanks Carmine.  Now, we need to get back.  I expect you'll get a call from Tommy before morning."  Laz stood and held out his hand.  "Your help has been and will be invaluable."

"You are most welcome. After all, I want my dance partner back."  Then he looked over at Anja. "Take care, cara. You have given enough. Another time will come, and perhaps much sooner than you think."

She nodded, but looked no happier about the plan.  Laz met her eyes, said good bye and then he zapped them back to the Refuge.  They re-emerged in the hall outside Stephen's office.  "You are welcome to join me, and speak you mind as well," he said.

"No thank you," she replied and turned to walk off.  He watched her go for a moment and then went into the outer office.  "Is he available?" he asked Tommy.

Tommy jumped and then just nodded.  "Did you...is there news?"

Laz smiled.  "Some," he said.  "You might want to find Trevor and Paul and send them in," he added walking into Stephen's office and closing the door behind him.

Stephen looked up at the sound.  "Good news?"

"Maybe," Laz said.  Tommy's getting Trevor and Paul.  If you don't mind I'd like to wait on the details until they get here.  How's Marc?"

"As one might expect."

"I figured.  Can I have a drink?" Laz asked, getting comfortable in the chair.

Stephen poured him one and then poured another for himself.  He was sipping as Tommy poked his head in and said Trevor and Paul were on their way.  "Need anything else?"

Laz glanced at Stephen and then said, "Find out where Jolie is and tell her to stay there, also Ian and Julian."  Stephen gave him a look of wild speculation as Tommy left and leaned back in his chair.  Laz answered it with a shrug, drained his glass and refilled it.  He was on his first swallow when Trevor and Paul arrived.

Trevor looked Laz up and down and took a chair.

"Where's Anja? She all right?"

"Yeah.  She's here and she's all right," Laz said as Paul took a chair and met his eyes.

"It's all in the works.  We could move as soon as this time tomorrow if we had to," Paul told him.

"Thanks, Paul," Laz said and drained his glass again.

"And?" Trevor asked pointedly after sharing a look with Stephen.

Laz set his glass on Stephen's desk.  "I don't know where McNeill is, but I've got a way to find out.  The problem is it's risky as hell and not for me but for the bait we'll need," he said bluntly.  Then he took them through it.  When he finished laying it out he added, "I've been thinking about it since last night, and I can't see another way that won't take weeks, if not months and I don't think she has that.  Also, I think the other woman should be one of the Jo's, most likely Betty since she's experienced with undercover and infiltration work.  She's gone into some pretty hairy situations for the DEA and the dumb blond routine has worked every time."

Trevor whistled. "I don't like it, I'll be frank. Too easy to end up with three hostages rather than one.  We need a way to get them out of there if things go to hell, with or without Dinah. It serves no one if they're captured too."

Laz agreed.  "We can put people on them the whole way and use the dragons to monitor them if they get too far out front or we can't stay in close.  We implant them as well.  And I want to talk to Julian and Ian first, but I think it might be possible to rig an emergency eject button they can use."

Trevor frowned, his eyes on the carpet as he thought it through. "Neither Spence nor Ian are gonna like it. I'm not sure Jolie can pull it off. She doesn't have any experience with this sort of thing, does she?" Trevor looked at Stephen who'd been silent.

"Can you think of another doctor who'd be willing, who isn't an Awakened or otherwise psi talented who'd let us muck with her genetics to give her the sigil to dazzle McNeill with on the chance it's reversible if that's what she wants?" Laz asked flatly.

Trevor raised an eyebrow at Laz. "All true, but still just as dangerous. Look, I'm not saying we shouldn't look at this. I'm not even saying there is a better option. But I am saying we need to realize just how much risk we're asking Jolie to face."

Laz started to say something and stopped at a sign from Stephen.  "There's no question she'll say yes, and it's also true we haven't another viable option on the table.  And if it were Doni we were talking about sending in I'd tie her to the bed before I let her.  So what I want to know is how else can we minimize the risk, because until I'm ready to untie Doni we ain't doing it."

Paul cleared his throat and all eyes locked on him.  "We can do a couple of things, I think.  First we do what training we can in the time we have focusing on what will keep her alive.  A few hand to hand moves, some small arms practice, some ugly role play, things like that.  Second, the real risk isn't keeping her alive, or even keeping track of her.  It's what might happen to her at the hands of the buyer.  If the mages can do an eject button they ought to be able to do a blast 'em to hell and back button."

"We'd be better off with a 'don't touch this merchandise or your dick falls off button'," Trevor commented. "Christ. I wouldn't want to send anyone into that hellhole."

Stephen looked at Trevor for a moment and then yelled, "Tommy!"  When he stuck his head in the door Stephen said, "See if you can persuade Mr. Vaurien and Lord Avery to join us.  Make it clear this is one time when sooner is preferable and now is best."  Tommy grinned and shut the door again.  "You're familiar with the hellhole, Trevor?" he asked while Laz poured himself another scotch.

"Interpol spends a lot of time and energy trying to stop human trafficking. I worked that beat for too long and got burnt out. So the answer is yeah. It's bad enough just being on the periphery. I've seen too many broken people coming out of there. I'm not saying we should give up hope on Dinah, I'm saying I'm terrified for what might happen to them between the auction and McNeill even getting them. If he ever gets them."

"Well, at the moment, Doni is still tied to the bed," Stephen said as the door opened and Julian strolled in. Ian wasn't far behind him.

"You don't look happy," Julian observed. "Tell me."

They did. Ian looked astonished at the mere suggestion. Julian had a more thoughtful look on his face. Trevor pointed out his worries regarding the women being treated abusively before they even made it to McNeill.

"Yeah," Julian replied thoughtfully.  "Although Dinah's Daddy's a lunatic he's not, so far as I can tell, a complete sadist. He has a plan, whereas theirs is only pain and misery. Well, maybe us mages can come up with something short of blowing them to kingdom come and closer to your dick will fall off if you touch me.  Hell, we can do love spells. Surely we can do the opposite."

"Ian?" Stephen asked.

"I'm hardly unbiased in this. I'd say no flat out. But then it isn't for me to say."

Stephen sighed.  "Ian, I'm asking you because you are biased.  And because I want to know what it would take for you to say it's risky, very risky, but manageable...if that's possible."

"What would it take for you to feel all right sending Doni in? Let's face it. We're asking Spencer to agree to something that would terrify any of us if it were our women. On the other hand, Marc is a basket case and Dinah needs help. I suppose, if we had a way to extract them if they needed it and they had some way of keeping themselves safe from the maniacs in between, it would be 'manageable.' That doesn't make it much less risky. But it would make us feel better."  Ian was looking at Laz as he finished.

"And can you and Julian come up with something like that?" Stephen asked, looking at both of them.

The two mages shared a look. Julian replied. "Yes, I'd say so. It wouldn't be perfect. But it could give them enough time to figure out a way to survive."

"Trevor?"

Trevor got up and got himself a drink. He filled other glasses as he gave himself time to think. "We'd have to agree to end the op the moment Jolie or Betty Jo got into trouble. That's the only way I'd agree to it, if that matters."

Stephen nodded.  "Oh yeah, I'd say so."  Then he yelled for Tommy again.  "Tell Reno to get him back here, clean him up and get him to my office.  Then find Jolie and Betty Jo and get them here too."  Stephen surveyed the faces in his office.  "Once we tell Marc we're committed.  Back out now or buckle up for the ride."

Reno heard Tommy and stared at the controls for the CE rig. Marc had been gone for several days now, searching for Dinah in the rig. The dragons had been searching Earth's skies and every friend they had had been searching the rest of Earth. So, when Tommy called to say get Marc back, Reno figured it meant news, of one sort or another. He couldn't really tell from Tommy's voice which way it was going to go.

Reno took a deep breath and smacked the dead man button that he and Cal had worked on. They both THOUGHT it might over-ride Marc's controls. On the other hand, Marc had built the damn thing and Reno had his doubts. Still, he'd said, when he left, he'd come back for news.

Reno let out a breath when he saw the readouts change.  The Rig was coming home.

He watched it arrive as it always did, cold as space, vapor swirling off it as it hit the warm air of Earth. The cover slid off and then the helmet hissed, as the needles that penetrated Marc's skull retracted. Marc was sitting up before the needle pricks had healed.

"You're fired," Marc said. He swung himself out of the CE rig and promptly slid to the ground too weak to stand.

"Fine. I'm fired. But I got orders from Stephen who'll hire me back. I'm to get you to his office as soon as anyone can stand the smell of you."

Marc let Reno help him up. "I got up too fast is all. You're still fired. And I'm willing to bet Cal helped figure out how to over-ride that switch."

"You didn't ask about Dinah," Reno commented as he sat Marc down and helped him strip out of the pressure suit.

"Didn't have to. What you know you don't like, it's written on your face."

"Yeah, well, I don't know much of anything, so let's hope they have better news than I'm thinking it is."

Marc showered quickly and thought the clothes on himself and zapped off with his hair still wet to appear in Tommy's office just in front of Tommy's desk.

Betty Jo and Jolie had both arrived moments before, Jolie given a lift by Julian who'd managed, who knew how, to avoid Spencer. Ian had brought Betty Jo.

"You're to go right in," Tommy said to Marc.  "Want coffee, food?"

"Both please," he said and shot a look at Reno who'd just popped in. Marc, drawing strength from his reserves strode in looking pretty good considering, although his eyes were sunken and there were dark circles of fatigue under them.  He looked around and finding Laz there focused his attention on him.

"We haven't found her but we have a way to get to McNeill," Laz told him.  Then he filled Marc and Jolie and Betty Jo in on the plan.

Marc looked at Jolie first and then at Betty Jo. "So? I take it this is as new to you as to me."

They nodded.

Marc closed his eyes and tried to get his brain to engage. "So, we MAY have an idea how to get to McNeill and we MAY have a plan. But it involves putting two more people at great risk. Have I got that about right?"

Before anyone could answer Tommy appeared with sustenance and coffee for all.  He set a tray of sandwiches on the table, then went out and returned with crudites, fruit and napkins.  He sent a glance around the room and then left.  "Can't tell anything," he hissed to Reno as he closed the door.

Stephen rolled his eyes and waited while Marc helped himself.  "Jolie?" he asked, making her jump.

She looked at him, her eyes enormous and then at Julian.  Finally she said, "I'm all in."

Marc between bites looked at Betty Jo. "You've got more experience with this sort of thing. Are you 'all in'?"

"Don't be a jerk," she snapped.

Marc was unmoved. "Tell us what you think, rather than making editorial comments about me. Please," he added.

Betty Jo took her time before answering.  Finally, carefully, she said, "I think it's the sort of thing the government would do with rather fewer safeguards in place."

"With trained agents," Trevor pointed out, looking at Jolie.

"Usually," she observed dryly.  Then she looked at Jolie who was staring at her hands.  She stood up. "If you'll excuse us for a moment," she said, and grasped Jolie's hand, pulling her out of the room.  She looked at Tommy and Reno in the outer office and said, "Get lost."  When they left she closed the door behind them and locked it before taking a seat.  When Jolie was in a chair too she said, "Look, I don't want to tread on your toes but I need to be sure you know what you're agreeing to do."

Jolie folded her arms, holding herself by her elbows, and nodded.  "I know.  I could get killed, raped, beaten up, passed around, turned into a whore, addicted to drugs, mutilated and any one of a number of other things.  I'm so scared I could vomit.  But if I say no I'll never be able to stand myself again."

"Yeah," Betty Jo said.  "Kind of how I feel and she and I aren't nearly as close.  What about Spence?"

Jolie's knuckles went white.  "I know.  He'll spend the whole time terrified.  And that's best case scenario."

"So you're sure about this?  And you're sure about maybe dying trying or being otherwise seriously and maybe permanently damaged and leaving Dinah to deal with that."

Jolie's hands tightened on her elbows and then loosened.  "Yes."

"Right then," Betty Jo said.  "Ready to go back in and give them the go sign?"

Jolie took a huge breath and stood up.  "Don't forget to unlock the door," she said as she went back into Stephen's office, Betty Jo right behind her.

Betty Jo looked at Marc and smiled.  "Deal the cards."

Marc let out the breath he'd been holding. Ian looked a bit sick to his stomach. Spence would have yet to deal with it.

Stephen sighed and yelled for his minion for the third time.  Tommy stuck his head in, Reno's over topping it.  "Julian, you'd better find Spencer, I think.  Tommy, get Prince Carmine and find out if he's free.  Then you and Reno better join us."  Tommy grinned.  "Yes, boss!  Does this mean Reno's not fired?"

"He's still fired," Marc replied, as the two heads withdrew.

Julian, looking thoughtfully at Jolie, winked out to find his minion. Tommy got Carmine on the phone and the prince replied he could be there in 10 minutes.

Ten minutes later, Carmine, having arrived via Briony and Malachi, and Spence having been brought via Julian, they all sat down again, this time with Reno and Tommy free to listen in.  Jolie stood then and grabbed Spence's hand and towed him out of the room and over to Marc's office.

Spence was frowning. "What's going on?"

"They have a lead on Dinah, a way to find her father.  They need...bait...and they've asked me and Betty Jo to do it, but it's dangerous, seriously dangerous," she said.  Then she pushed him into a chair and holding onto his hands she explained the plan.  When she finished she said, "I said yes."

He looked at her and went pale. "Okay," was what he said.

Jolie burst into tears and threw herself in his arms.  He pulled her down into his lap and held her until she calmed down a bit.  "Uhm, do you want me to say no?" he finally asked her.

"No," she said, wiping her face.  "I just feel awful about doing this to you and if I don't do it I'll feel awful too.  I love you, and I love her and now you're both going to be suffering one way or another and I can't stop that."

"Uhm," Spence replied trying to figure out what he could possibly say. "I love you," was all he could think of.

She hugged him tightly, her face against his neck.  "Nothing's going to happen to me, Spencer Smythe 'cause I'm not through with you yet.  So don't go getting ideas," she told him fiercely, willing that it be so.

"You better not let anything happen to you because I'll never forgive you otherwise. You promise me you'll be smart and careful and ...and remember that Dinah wouldn't want to lose you to live."

She nodded against his neck, sniffling hard.  "I promise," she said, her voice muffled.  "I promise."  Finally she lifted her head again, rubbing her eyes.  "Leave it to Reno to not have kleenex handy."

Spence managed a fake laugh and produced a handkerchief. "What? My mother sends 'em to me. I don't have the heart to tell her not to."

"Smart woman you mother.  Now I know where you get it from."

"I'll have to introduce you to her some time."

She nodded and handed him back his handkerchief.  "We should go back in," she said, kissing him.

"Yeah," he agreed when the kiss ended.

He put an arm round her waist and they walked back in.

Stephen gave her a quick glance and then returned his attention back to Laz.  "So you and Anja are going to stay with them, plus two other teams...Paul and Natha, and Tobie and Chance...do I have that right?"

"Yeah.  Once Fish does his fake snatch...we'll need to set that up pretty carefully with Clem's people.  Trevor and his people will be already set up in Oman," Laz said.

Marc looked up and Jolie saw hope in his eyes.  Stephen nodded and waited for Laz to go on.

"Then it will just be a matter of waiting to see where they go.  Carmine, Fish really has no idea even in general?"

"No," Carmine replied. "He's a fairly small time criminal, he wouldn't know that much.  But he is known and there is always the possibility he would be fortunate enough to find highly sought after merchandise."

"Okay.  There's no way to plan beyond Oman except in general." Laz looked around the room and stopped at Jolie who was biting her lip.  "Jolie?"

She frowned and then said, "Is there anyway you can bring stuff with you that I might need?  For Dinah, when we get there?"

"I don't see why not," Laz said.  "Unless you're talking a portable hospital or something."

"No.  If the man's breeding children he'll probably have some sort of medical set up.  For delivery and the like.  I'm just thinking in general.  I'll get with Tabitha tomorrow morning about what she'll need, just in case."

"All right, Ian," Julian said. "Meet me at the R&C and we'll come up with our touch me not juice."

Ian nodded, looking at Betty Jo. Betty Jo looked at Julian.  "Tomorrow Julian, he's busy tonight," she said.

"Ah, right, sure," Julian said.  "Spence, Jolie, want a lift home?"

"Yeah," Jolie said looking at Spence, while Betty Jo looked at Ian.

Julian, Spence and Jolie winked out.

Ian gave Marc a look and Marc's eyebrow rose. There seemed to be an understanding between them.

Ian offered Betty Jo an arm and they winked out.

Marc sitting back in his chair commented, after everyone else had left, leaving him and Stephen alone, his voice dead. "So I have to sit around for what, two weeks."

"Pretty much I'm afraid.  Though anything you can do help get Jolie ready...anything you can think of would be welcome and useful," Stephen said.  "But you know the best thing you can do for her is make sure you're in shape for when you get her back."

"Thanks for that when," Marc replied.

"You have doubts?"  Stephen asked, and then shook his head.  "Dumb question."

"How did you bear it?" Marc asked. "I live in terror of what happens if that tiny spark I feel of her disappears. It's hard to concentrate on anything else."

"I don't know, really.  I spent the first couple of years in a fog.  But I wasn't dealing, or so I thought, with an if.  She was dead as far as I knew.  That, in some ways I suppose, made it easier.  So did routine, doing what was in front of me.  But I do remember I drank a lot.  And stared at nothing but the image of her I had in my mind."

Marc nodded. "I need some sleep. I'll talk to you later. Or should I go somewhere else? Is Christopher still being crazy?"

"Sleep.  Tabitha and the nannies have Christopher under control, but you might," Stephen said, "now that I think of it, if you're willing that is, show him that awareness and see if it helps him."

Marc nodded and winked out.  He arrived at the commune.  Surprisingly there were few residents around. Maybe everyone was getting ready for dinner.  Marc stopped in the kitchen for a bottle of water then, thought for a moment. He turned and walked to the nursery.

Pru was there, trying to sooth Christopher who looked every bit as miserable as Marc felt. "Here, Pru, I'll take him."

She smiled at him and he held out his arms to Christopher who stopped crying and held out his own. Marc scooped the child up. "Come on, let's you and me get a nap," he said as he carried Christopher to his and Dinah's bed.

Marc lay down, and Christopher surprisingly settled down with him. Then Marc let Christopher into his mind and led him down some deep and dark corridors to where a tiny spark fought for life. "Dinah" he explained. "It's Dinah."

"Know," Christopher said solemnly.  "'Inah."

 

Betty Jo looked at Ian and then held out her hand for his coat, hanging it up with hers.  "Want me to fix some dinner?" she asked,  "While you tell me how not okay with this you are.  Or would you rather I poured you a drink and let you have your way with me and we talk later?"

 

"I'm fine with this," Ian replied.

 

"Okay, well then, want me to fix some dinner while I explain that caring about me gives you the right to an opinion and then we talk about you being okay with it, or you want me to pour you a drink, let you have you way with me and we talk later?" she asked.

 

"Talking is over rated," he replied.

 

"Us women, being from Venus, have never understood you men, being from Mars, on that subject.  Me personally, I'm scared close to being witless and would welcome the opportunity to uhm, be that sort of uhm, vulnerable as sometimes happens when I talk about how I feel.  But I'm open to non verbal means of communication, too," she said, getting an owlish sort of look around her eyes.

 

He took her in his arms then and just held her. "Bloody hell," was all he said aloud, as he kissed the top of her head.

 

"Yeah," she said from somewhere around his chest.  "What you said.  And you think I'm not going to worry about you storming the barricades?"

 

"I'm an abject coward. I won't be in the front lines, you can bet on it."

 

"Me too," she said, getting comfortable against him.

 

"You're a lousy liar, Ms Zoo agent."

 

"I really am," she said.  "I just hide it well and once it starts some other person I don't recognize sort of takes over while I'm cowering in my knickers."

 

"You're making fun of me.  You don't even know what knickers are."

 

"Those of us who speak proper English commonly call them panties," she said with dignity.  "And I would never make fun of you."

 

They found their way to the bedroom and into bed. He magicked off their clothes and they just lay there for awhile.  Ian finally offered, "I'm lousy at talking about emotions. Sorry.  But I'm not a complete failure as a listener."

 

"I'm learning to live with it," she said.  "Though it's a skill that can be learned."  She stroked his arm for a moment, thinking about what she wanted to say.  "It's probably going to be harder for Spence and Marc and you than it will be for Jolie and me.  Though having someone there with you, when you're out there, is a luxury."

 

"I can see where that would be true. At least it will help me deal with it, knowing you have someone with you."

 

"I wondered, you know, how you felt about my job," she told him.

 

He pondered that a moment before replying, "I honestly hadn't thought of it until all of this came up. How do you feel about mine?"

 

She laughed.  "It's what you do," she said.  "Beyond that, curiosity but that's really about all."

 

"Ah, well, curiosity on both ends then. I'm also wretched, as you've learned by now, at, uhm, interpersonal relations."

 

"I don't know.  Your relations with me have been generally spectacular as far as I'm concerned, a point I haven't been, er, shy about expressing while you've been, uhm, relating."

 

"Yes, well, that's the easy bit. It's the stating and explaining part I have the trouble with."

 

"Have you considered pantomime?" she asked seriously. "Or a sort of signal system that means it's time for the other to start asking pointed questions with maybe yes or no answers?"

 

"See, I knew you were making fun of me."

 

"No, I'm not.  Merely pointing out that there are alternatives when there's something you want to communicate and aren't able to say," she said.  "Like notes next to the kettle, or as the ad says, say it with flowers."

 

"Ah. I'll keep that last in mind. How do you feel about balloons?"

 

"Warm," she said.  "I have warm feelings for balloons.  I'm also rather fond of singing telegrams."

 

"Do they do those still?"

 

"For enough money, I'm sure they do," she said.  "Nothing's going to happen to me, Ian.  I'm the sort who dies in their bed, in truly boring fashion, making those who love me miserable with my dying demands."

 

"I'll keep that in mind," he said as his hand drifted downward.

 

"Mmmm," she said.  "And what else are you keeping in mind?"

 

"How you like it when I do this, and then this... oh, and this too."

 

"Ahhh, especially that."

 

 

It had all been too fast. The sudden realization that Dinah was gone, the equally sudden discovery, via Stephen, of the beginnings of a bond with Dinah. Without that tiny bit of reassurance that she wasn't already dead... Marc was afraid to speculate on what he might have done. He'd destroyed worlds before, in his anger and fury. He might have been tempted to do it again. As it was it had been a pretty near thing with Reno even.

 

When Reno had pulled him back out of his CE rig he'd been furious enough to wipe Reno's mind, creating another vegetable like at Ocala. But luckily there yet existed one tiny thread of civilization in his make-up and it had been that tiny thread that had saved Reno's life. He was glad the boy didn't realize just how close he'd come to being mind-killed by a thoroughly unreasonable  man.  Angel of the Abyss. Abaddon. Yeah, that was him.

 

His hand shook as he raised it to his forehead, shoving back his too long hair. He stood in the shower, letting the hot water beat on his back. It was more than mere exhaustion. It was more than fear for her. It was an anger so profound and abiding that he could barely think - and he dare not feel.  It was why he'd collapsed in a heap when he'd first heard she'd been taken. The others thought him devastated. Instead he'd been fighting his own inner demons, trying not to aim every bit of power he had in an attempt to rip the world that stood between him and Dinah apart and back down to its basic atoms. How stupid was that? He'd have killed everyone. Her. Himself. Everyone who was now working with all their strength and power to help Dinah.

 

He sighed.   He drug his thoughts to the basics and finished his shower, drawing on clothes, eying himself in the mirror afterwards, barely recognizing himself.

 

He'd give Jolie and Betty Jo the genes this day. And Ian ... He knew and understood the look Ian had flashed at him. Ian wanted, no demanded, that Betty Jo have her magical abilities turned on. He'd wanted her, if she was going into a hellhole, to have every possible advantage she could have, to survive it. Whether or not Betty Jo agreed, whether she was ready for that, well, it was going to happen. He, Marc, would do the deed, and if she were angry, well, she could hate him. He didn't care. He'd take on the hatred and horror of anything at this point to get Dinah back. Or he'd destroy himself and anything else that might get in his way.

 

He was a pretty basic guy, all in all. Sadly, he had more wattage and more ways of indulging his more primitive instincts than most guys, so it made him far more dangerous.

 

 

 

 

They'd agreed to meet at Vaurien. Ian and Betty Jo were there when Marc arrived. Spence opened the door for him, and Jolie was sitting with a glass of something cold, on a chair near the pool, with the others, waiting on him.

 

Marc did his best to attempt a smile. "It won't take long, and it won't hurt. We've done it often enough for those who've joined the House. The only difference is that we're going to have to conceal the sigils better this time."

 

"Better than what time?" Jolie asked.

 

"Well, your palm will look like this, under normal circumstances," he replied, holding out his own, as the sigil pulsed to life. "It remains muted until you think about it, but we can't have it come to life quite that easily for you. Because if you do glance down and think of it... Who knows what Angus McNeill might do? I've no idea what he knows or understands about the genetics of the Houses, how we alter them, how we deal in them. I suppose we should thank the Stars that he hasn't made the leap to go into that sort of business."

 

"And uhm, once you do this we'll be like...talented?" Jolie asked.  "Able to leap tall buildings in a single bound and all that?"

 

"Yes. I'm limiting your abilities, however. We don't want you looking too powerful. Otherwise Angus might be suspicious of why you didn't just get away.  I'm not sure I'll be able to reverse it," he added quietly, meeting both Jolie and Betty Jo's eyes.

 

Jolie and Betty Jo both nodded, almost as one.  "But you can promise me," Betty Jo said, looking at Ian and Marc, "that when you muck around with the way we look you *can* put that back?"

 

Marc smiled. "Yeah, that's easier. The talent thing is more like throwing a switch in your head. The image thing is playing with mental projections and image expectations. It's like... a model, who might be very plain in real life, but struts down a runway as if she were utterly gorgeous. People expect her to be gorgeous, and they have to look around those expectations to note that she looks like the frowzy woman who lives next door."

 

"Oh," Jolie said.  "And here I thought it was all magic."

 

"It is. But basically magic is about confusing the senses.  I'm sure Julian would agree. Like the spell Julian and Ian have whipped up to keep you two safe from those transporting you. It causes others to think of something different than what they want to, yes?"

 

Jolie smiled.  "Yeah.  Okay, so what do we do?  Close our eyes, click our heels together three times and say there's no place like home?"

 

"God," Spence said, "Don't joke like that around Julian. He's done that sort of thing quite often."

 

"For me," Marc replied, "All you have to do is hold out your hand, palm up."

 

Jolie and Betty Jo held out their palms.

 

Marc held out his own palm and his sigil flared. A helix rose and swirled in space, making all those in the room stare at the beauty of it. Then, from each of the women's hands, a similar but different helix rose. Marc took Jolie's first.  He frowned in concentration as hers moved over to turn in sync with his own. There was a bit removed here, another bit removed there. then the helix moved back to hover over her own palm. Then without a sound it sank into her palm and was gone.

 

Marc then turned his attention to Betty Jo's. The process was very like the first. A bit cut off of her helix there, another bit added from his. If there was a difference no one in the room but Marc could see it. Then Betty Jo's helix returned to her palm and sank down to disappear also.

 

"There. Done," Marc announced. "You two can barely see the sigil but I doubt anyone else can, even if you are looking for it."

 

Jolie rubbed her finger over her palm.  "Am I supposed to feel any different?"

 

"No. Not really. Although if you stare at Spencer's belt it might undo itself."

 

Jolie laughed.  "I'll save that for later."

 

Betty Jo grinned.  "And for the next bit?  The emergency eject button and the other thing?"

 

"Ian?" Marc said.

 

"Ah, that's ours. Open up your other palm," Ian said. As Betty Jo did so Ian took her hand in his, He rubbed her palm never looking away from her eyes. "There.   Activated by saying 'Sasquatch.' That gets you out of there. Julian is still working on the keep your paws off me spell so he'll do that soon."  He examined Betty Jo for a moment longer, looking into her eyes. "You feel all right?"

 

She wrinkled her eyebrows together and then relaxed them.  "Well, other than I'm getting a headache all of a sudden, I'm fine."

 

"Good," Ian said. He did the same for Jolie, without asking her how she felt. Both women saw something on their other palm which was even fainter than Marc's sigil.

 

"I don't know how to thank either of you," Marc finally said, when it was all done.

 

"Then stop worrying about trying," Jolie said.

 

"I agree," Betty Jo told him.

 

Marc looked at Spence who'd sat through all this silently.

 

Spence finally said, "I'd like to think someone would be willing to risk themselves for Jolie. So how can I object to her risking her neck for Dinah?"

 

Jolie blinked hard a couple of times and squeezed his hand.

 

"All right, I'll leave you folks," Marc said, looking pretty miserable under the circumstances.  He stood.

 

"It's hard waiting, I know," Jolie said.  "I...is there anything we can do?"

 

"You're already doing it, Jolie. Thanks." Marc winked out leaving the two couples there together by the pool.

 

"Well," Betty Jo said.  "Now what?"

 

"Let's get drunk," Spence replied.

 

 

They didn't actually get drunk.  On the other hand they didn't actually stay sober either.  Well, Spence, Jolie and Betty Jo didn't.  Ian, functioning as the dedicated zapper did.  He made sure Jolie and Spence got home and then, gentleman that he was, he took Betty Jo to her apartment, having ascertained that that was her preference, it being earlier there.

 

She hung up her coat and his and, having slipped off her shoes, tilted her head up at him, a smile tugging at the corners of her mouth.  "Tea, scotch or me?  Or some combination of the foregoing?"

 

"I'm thinking perhaps tea for you. I'll make it, you put your feet up."

 

She grinned.  "Thanks.  I appreciate it.  But that doesn't answer the question of what you're having."

 

"Oh, you. A bit later," he replied smiling and then kissing her before he went to make tea. She didn't hear his barely audible, "I sincerely hope."

 

When he returned with the tea she was curled up on the couch, her feet tucked under her, waiting for him.  "I think you have to be English to ever really make tea right.  Even if I do everything right it still is never as good when I make it."

 

"We English are one with the tea leaves," he replied, setting down the tray on the coffee table in front of them. He wrapped an arm round her shoulders and made himself comfortable beside her. "Are you frightened?" he asked.

 

She gave him a look and then poured for them both.  When she settled back with the cup she waited until she'd taken a drink before answering.  "I think Jolie put it well the other day in Stephen's office when I asked her if she knew what she was getting herself into and she said she was so scared she wanted to vomit.

 

"Hmmm. It has the advantage of being highly descriptive. But with your new found abilities, you'll be able to protect yourself better. There are a few spells you should learn before you go off. Protective things. To perhaps avoid dangerous situations."

 

"Spells?  What do spells have to do with it?"

 

"Yes. I've been considering what might be easiest for you since it is all new to you."  He paused. "It takes some time to understand how things work but there are basic methods that will serve you, Jolie and Dinah well."

 

She set her cup down and turned to face him.  "I wasn't aware," she said carefully, "that telepathy and teleportation and those sorts of things relied on spells for their efficacy."

 

"Yes, well, Dinah's DNA is partially magical, did you realize?"

 

"No, I didn't know that," she said, "But we didn't get Dinah's DNA, per se, did we?  I mean, I thought we got the House DNA and Marc limited that."

 

"Yes, we don't want Angus getting too interested in where you came from, now do we.  But we can talk about all this tomorrow. You look tired."

 

"Ian," she said, "Why are you suddenly reverting to the imperial we?"

 

He smiled. "Upbringing, I'm afraid. I do apologize."

 

She looked at him.  "You're right, I must be tired, because this whole conversation is making no sense to me at all."

 

"Yes, well, I'm not surprised. I suppose I just ought to say it. Your magical abilities have been activated."

 

She started to say something and then stopped, replaying what he'd just told her in  her head.  "My magical abilities have been activated?"  She shook her head slightly.  "I'm really sorry but I must have had more to drink than I thought.  I don't understand.  Are you saying that because of the DNA I got today, they activated them?  How do you know?"

 

"I can sense it. That was why I asked if you felt differently," he replied evenly.

 

"But why didn't...did Marc know?  I mean why didn't he...why didn't you say something?  The DNA did this?" she asked.

 

He sighed. "No. But Marc did it. Because I asked him to. I wanted you to live through this, you see. So I requested he activate your abilities, as he was already altering your DNA, not to mention changing how you look."

 

She took a deep breath, her eyes locked on his.  "Let me see if I've got it now.  You asked Marc to activate my ability.  You did it because you want me alive.  And both you and Marc colluded to do it without even discussing it with me first."  She heard her voice rising as she got to the end of it and stopped.

 

"It probably has something to do with the reversion to the Imperial We."

 

"Is that supposed to be a joke or an explanation?"

 

"A wretched attempt to lighten the moment? Darling, I wanted you to go in with all the weapons you could carry. It seemed like a good idea."

 

"Well if that's the case," she demanded, fury blooming, "why the hell didn't you just talk to me about it?  It probably is or was or something.  But you...why didn't you talk to me first?"

 

"I was afraid you'd say no," he replied simply. "I'm not very good at the whole sang froid thing, as you see. Perhaps Spencer is a better man than I. I dare say he is. I was - no am - terrified for you. I had to do something."

 

"Now I know why Dinah slugs Marc in the jaw."  She collapsed back on the couch, her eyes closed, shaking her head.  She wanted to be angry at him and she couldn't hold on to it.   She opened her eyes again and met his, hers narrowed to slits.  "Is there anything else you've made an executive decision about that I don't know about?"

 

"No. That's it. I confess I did consider locking you in a dungeon, but thought better of it."

 

"And you'd do it again in a heart beat wouldn't you?  Whatever it is, if that's what it took to keep me safe, or just safer...you'd do it," she muttered, almost to herself.  "You're just like Marc."

 

"Yes, he and I and Stephen, we're of a kind, we are. Unreconstructed men."

 

"And I'm the idiot who should have known better," she said, bemused. "But oh no, instead I went blithely ahead and fell in love with you.  I'm telling you now, when I get back, Dinah and Doni and I are starting a club.  We should probably ask Tsura and Irisa to join too."

 

"Oh dear," Ian said, daring to pull her closer.

 

"I want to be furious, I should be furious, I should be screaming at you," she said.  "I can't believe this.  And we all put up with it.  Why, just tell me why?" she demanded.

 

"Because you understand that it is driven by a need we can't really control. And, here's the jaw. Go ahead. Sock it.  I will say I tend to yelp when struck but still, go ahead."  He stuck his jaw out for her.

 

"Oh no," she said, waving her hand at him.  "No, no, no.  I can see where I'd get addicted.  So I'm not even going to start.  Ian, you can't do this, you can't just do things like that.  I need you to talk to me first, at least give me a chance to say no before you go ahead and do it anyway."

 

"Why?" he asked obviously baffled.

 

"Because I'm a person not an object, because if you don't it's disrespectful and if that's not good enough then because I'm asking you to."

 

"Ah. All right. I'll do my best to ask next time. So, am I invited into your bed, or should I just leave?"

 

"Why wouldn't you be?" she asked.  "I at least deserve fabulous sex after all this."

 

"That you do. I understand that with your new abilities it will be quite an experience.  So we'll both be learning."

 

"Learning what?" she asked.

 

"How to make love when you can know your partner's reactions as quickly as he senses them."

 

"Ah," she said, shifting closer to him.  "I guess that means I can't fake it anymore, can I?"

 

"We'll see..." he said as he picked her up in his arms and carried her into the bedroom.