Nakim fingered the white cardboard square in his hand and watched the two who he'd bought on the orders of his patron, wondering if what he was about to do was wise.  His patron had a way of knowing things that was terrifying and the boy was his only child.  Still he was a man and it was time to act like one, he told himself, not an old woman fearful of the darkness.  With that bracing thought he dialed the number resolutely, and waited nervously until the phone was answered on the sixth ring.  He'd been thinking it would go to voice mail and had been about to hang up when a voice answered with a brusque 'Si'.

Nakim swallowed and identified himself saying, "I am calling as you requested."  The voice hesitated for only a moment then responded with an address and a time and then hung up.  He looked at the clock and realized he had just enough time to made the appointment if he left now.

It was a building that had been bombed by the Israelis and was undergoing reconstruction. He made his way through the construction site and into the building itself. Plastic hung from the ceilings used to block the detritus from the sandblasting of the newly repaired concrete walls. He found the room, one of the few that actually had four walls and a door. Obviously the builders were using it to plan the rebuilding project, as a makeshift table consisting of a wooden door lain across two sawhorses sat in the middle of the room with blueprints laid out on it, rocks around the edges stopping them from rolling up again. He walked in leaving the door open behind him.

His eyes adjusted to the dimness and he saw someone had set a lamp on top of a fifty-five gallon drum and strung an extension cord to it so he turned it on and composed himself to wait, thinking if he survived this he would return to the desert where life might be brutal but it wasn't insane.  He heard steps approaching before he saw them, first the two men from road to Baghdad and then the Prince and his bodyguard.  He straightened his posture automatically and waited while they filled the room, or so it seemed as they entered.  He looked at the Prince and bowed.  "Thank you for seeing me, " he said.

"I am most pleased that I am able to see you. I understand there was some difficulty for you."

"Your men...I must thank you for the care they took to extricate me from the difficulty in which I found myself.  You are graced in those who serve you," Nakim said, bowing again but slightly.

"I am indeed blessed. I expect much of those I trust, but then I give much back so it generally pleases all - so long as we are honest and respect one another."

Nakim, who took his point quite well, agreed.  "Indeed, trust and respect are the only basis for such a relationship."

The prince, who was dressed casually this evening, wore jeans and a black turtleneck sweater. He stood at ease, hands crossed on his chest, still and unconcerned, and unmoved by the shabbiness of their surroundings. He regarded Nakim so long, unblinkingly, that Nakim took a step backwards.

"I wish you to tell me what you know of your patron," was what Carmine finally said.  "I wish to know only what you yourself have seen or learned, not what you might have heard with regard to rumors or third-hand. Do not be concerned that you will tell me too little.  But leave nothing out, no matter how insignificant it might seem to you at this moment."

Nakim glanced from the Prince to the other faces and then returned his eyes to Carmine, gathering himself and his memories. "Two years ago my son did not return from school one day," he began, his voice composed and emotionless.  "So of course I became concerned and went to look for him.  His school told me he had not been there that day, they had had a call from someone, who identified himself as me, telling them that he was ill.  When I returned to my car the driver handed me an envelope saying a boy had given it to him when I had gone in and then run away.  It said that my son was safe and would remain so, for so long as I did what I was told to do.  And it told me to wait for a phone call."

Nakim sighed and went on.  "It did not come for two days.  I thought it was one of my enemies who had done this, from Iraq.  But when the call came it was a voice I did not know, and it directed me to act as his buyer at an auction in Dubai in two days.  If I performed well and obtained what the man wanted then I would be allowed to speak to my son.  If I failed or if I went to the authorities or made any move whatsoever to find my son, he would die.  So naturally I did as I was told, while gathering everything I had hoping to perhaps ransom the boy back.  But he had no interest in money, having he said, enough to burn.  Then he told me where to deliver the merchandise and when, being specific as to the condition they were to be in when I delivered them.

"Since then, it has been the same.  A call, an auction, then another call and I hear the voice of my son.  After I deliver the merchandise I am allowed a glimpse of him."  Nakim stopped and picked a point on the far wall and studied it for a moment, keeping his eyes there as he continued.  "After the second auction, I had some thought to get my son back.  When I got to the meeting place I...my son...I do not know how he knew but he showed me my son...my beautiful son...beaten, his arms broken and his face..."

"My word as prince, Nakim, I will do everything I can to return your son to you and this man will pay for his treatment of the boy. And for other things as well. Now, tell me where you deliver to him your purchases. If they are different places then tell us that as well. Tell me how he appears, how your son appears. What you think of his security arrangements everything you can think of which might help us destroy this monster."

Nakim nodded.  "Of course.  It is always a different place, but always in the Himalaya's, and usually Pakistan, Nepal or Bhutan.  He is only interested in those who are talented, and female of childbearing years.  I do not know how he knows when one is available but he does or so it seems.  He sent a machine, to my house you understand, so that their talent would not work.  And I am told to use it when I transport them.  The meeting place is always high up, accessible only by horse or mule or on foot.  He will give me a set of map coordinates where I am to camp and wait and a deadline by which I am to arrive, but I am not allowed to arrive earlier than twelve hours before time.  Then I wait, as I said, and someone comes and takes the women I have brought.  I know that they are heavily armed, and that I do not see them all, but I would estimate, at least twenty or twenty five men.  When they leave, the route they always take is to continue up the slope, towards the summit.  It does not matter what the season, it is always the same."

"What do you mean you do not see them?" Carmine asked.

"A man who is often in dark places, there is a sense he gets, that tells him he is being watched.  That is the sense I have.  The climb to where I camp is usually two days and by the middle of the first day that sense is there, and remains until I pass that point on my return.  And, when they come," he said, shrugging expressively, "I know that the ones I see are not the only ones."

"I thank you for this information, Nakim, and I understand it must be frightening for you to think this may get back to your patron and put your child at risk. I cannot promise you that will not happen. However, something must be done. A chance taken. I believe you have chosen wisely regarding this and I ask you to have faith that we will do all we can to return your son to you alive and well."

"Prince, I have come to understand that if I do not do something my son will never be free and that he is better dead than in this man's hands.  I am his father, and so I have no choice, I must free him or ensure we both die if I fail," Nakim said finally, his voice unemotional.  He reached into his pocket and pulled out a slip of paper he started to toy with.

The Prince approached him and put a hand on his shoulder. "You are a wise and a brave man. I am honored to know you."

Nakim said nothing to that, he merely handed the Prince the slip of paper.  "The call came before I called you, canceling the the other auction and telling me to be there, at those coordinates, in five days by noon.  I must leave in the morning, at dawn, if I am to be in time."

Carmine glanced at the paper and nodded. "And so you must leave. Do nothing differently than you ever do. We will be with you but you will not see us. Go, just as if nothing has changed. Be of good heart, caro mio. Your son will be with you soon."

Nakim bowed, saying "I thank you." Then without another glance he left the room.

They watched him leave and then zapped back to the ops center, where Laz immediately punched the coordinates Nakim provided into the computer and groaned when he saw the result.  He hated cold weather.  "Bhutan," he said.  "Lahana La, at the summit, about forty two hundred meters up.  That's gonna be a hell of a climb."

"In the winter," added Trevor who'd served her Majesty's Raj in India and knew the the Himalayas far better than he wanted to.  "I'll have the Refuge start getting together the gear we'll need."

"Laz, do your people have experience in mountainous terrain?  We might want to stay off the slopes unless we have to rescue the women and let the dragons track them on the trail until they reach the summit."

"Paul and I do."  He shrugged.  "I agree, given what Nakim said about being watched up and down the trail, if we don't need to risk it let's not."

Marc was pacing again, Carmine watching him thoughtfully.  "Caro Marc, you must remember there are many people there who must be rescued. It will be necessary to contain your energies and aim them only at the man who is doing this. Capice?"

"I will not promise, Carmine, but I will do all I can to see we get everyone out."

"I thank you, caro. I myself will see to rescuing the boy. It is a matter of honor to me."

Laz waited a moment or two, to be sure they'd finished.  Then he said, "If it were me, I'd fly into Thimphu and then drive to Simkotha and pick up the trail to the summit there.  It's about the same climb and a shorter drive than approaching from the southern end.  We can set up shop either place, but it's going to be fairly rural everywhere except Thimphu, the capital."

Trevor nodded. "There will be few Europeans there during the winter. We'll set up the ops center in the capitol. The dragons can begin scouting now and look for caves where we can stash supplies just in case. I don't trust those mountains."

"I don't either and if it blows we'll lose the implants," Laz said, already pulling up the weather forecast and frowning at the weather in the west.  "I want everyone in Thimphu by the time he starts up the mountain, just in case.  We can all play gin or something, I don't care, but I want them there."

"Agreed," Marc and Trevor both said.  Trevor was already calling the Refuge to start arranging reservations and dragons and supplies and anything else he could think of.

"Ian and Julian can be there. Spence will want to be there as well," Marc said quietly.

Anja stood with Paul off to the side listening. Natha was on the comms and was anticipating Trevor's needs before he had to say them.

"I'll want someone to shadow Nakim on the ground until he reaches the trail," Trevor said,  "we can't afford bandits or some dumb villager getting in the way."

"Paul and I will take it," Laz said.  "Then meet you back in Thumphu."  He looked at Carmine and Vitorio. "What about the vamps?"

"I'll bring them in when we know where McNeill is. I'll need underground accommodations for them, or just a cave if the dragons can find one. We are impervious to the cold - so long as we are protected from sunlight that is all you need worry about."

Laz didn't like it but it was Carmine's call, he knew.  "The dragons can scout and if they don't find anything we'll work something out."  Laz looked back at the map.  "The man's a bloody lunatic," he said.

They arranged things as best they could given the information and the timeline and the meeting broke up. Carmine and Vitorio were collected by Nicco.  Trevor and Natha would be on the comms for hours yet. Tobie and Chance needed to hear the news and be relieved.

Laz sent Paul a look and he tapped Natha on the shoulder and said a few words.  She nodded and beckoning to Anja went off to relieve Tobie and Chance, while Laz and Paul in between comms started some serious planning.  Laz broke off briefly and looked at Marc.  "You want to shadow Nakim with us or wait in Thimphu?"

"Fuck waiting," was Marc's response.

"Gotcha," Laz said, grinning.

Laz was waiting in the ops center when Anja checked in after her watch ended on the house.  He kept waiting until she was ready to leave again before saying, "I'm going to get some food before I turn in.  Want to join me?"

"I'd like that," she replied. They walked out of the op center and Anja said, "There is a good restaurant this way."

"Lead the way," he said.  "I'm at your heels."  They walked in silence for a block or so before he spoke again.  "How are you?" he asked, in tone that made it plain he really wanted to know.

"I am well. And you?"  She turned to look at him as she said it.

"Well is a good word," he said, reaching out to hold the door for her.

She met his eyes as she walked past him and led him over to a seat at a table in the back. The waitress smiled at her and then at Laz. She took their orders and hurried off.

"You should know I have mountaineer experience should you have need of it. My home world is cold with many high mountain ranges much like your Himalayas."

He drank some of his coffee and grinned.  "I'll remember that.  I hate the cold, so it's nice to know there's someone around who's used to it, at least.  You never talk about your home."

"No. But then I seldom have reason to do so. I hear you like to surf."

"Yes," he said, getting a light in his eyes that said enthusiasm.  "I love to actually.  I've been doing it since I was a kid growing up in California.  Why do you seldom have reason to talk about your home?" he asked.

She shrugged as she sipped her coffee. "It is far away and of little consequence to what is happening here."

"Do you miss it?"

"I miss the peace of it. It is sparsely populated. I miss the purity of a landscape covered with new fallen snow."  She paused then asked, "What is it you miss of your home?"

"If you mean California, nothing.  If you mean my house, the silence," he said, "and the sound of the ocean.  I never planned to be away so long," he added.  "Why don't you return to your home?"

She smiled. "What makes you think I do not?"

He met her eyes over the rim of his cup.  "Because you're here and not there."

"Home is here," she said, laying her palm over her heart. "I visit it often."

"Home is where the heart is," he quipped before he asked her again.  "But why don't you return to your home world?"

She sipped her coffee and regarded him for some time. "There is not much left for me there, that is all. Why are you so interested in knowing?"

He shrugged.  "Because I'm the nosy sort.  So you've no family there?"

"You are nosy. You are the only one who has asked me such personal things since I arrived here."

"Never occurred to me that it was all that horribly personal" he said, letting the waitress put his plate down.  "But if I've offended, I apologize."

She sat back and began toying with her plate. "No, it is not an offense. It is just that most people here, at the Refuge, seem focused on the present and seldom are interested in learning such things. And I admit I am a bit defensive about my background. I had no family, you see. I was left at a monastery and grew up there.  Well, the monks were my family. I loved them, so perhaps it is not entirely true that I had none."

He concentrated on his food for a bit.  "So you're not used to people just maybe being interested in knowing you or wanting to know more about you?  Or did I parse what you said wrong?"

"You are correct. Perhaps it is because I avoid such discussions, but this is one I seldom have had. Do you speak of your family often?"

"Only in the past tense.  Mine are all dead.  Why do you avoid such discussions?"

"On the unimensional worlds family is everything. I was apprenticed into a Guild, and they adopted me, which should have pleased me. But I did not fit in there. So I am here. It is unusual for that sort of thing there. Family is... more than just genetics there, as you have seen. It is identity and status. I had neither."

"You were apprenticed after you left the monastery and then returned there and left again?" he asked, confused.

She laughed. "No. Not the same one. The one on my home world is very different from St Michael's monastery where I studied. The one on my home world is more like what you have here. It was a place of quiet contemplation and acceptance, not a place of training in the skills of warrior monks.  As you might imagine, I was a trial to the monks at home. St Michael's  suited me better than any previous place had."

He chewed on his food again for a while, thinking about what she said.  "Do you like being a warrior?"

She gave it some thought as she ate. "It suits me. That is the best I can describe it. Is it a matter of liking something? Isn't it more discovering what you are and doing what you can with it?"

"True, but then none of us are just one thing, and the things we do the most, liking them helps."

"Do you like being a warrior?"

"I'm not a warrior, I'm a mercenary and yes I like it. I'm good at it, it has challenges I enjoy and for the most part I have a lot of freedom to pick and chose the contracts I'll accept."

"You're a warrior," she stated as she finished her plate.

He shrugged and drained his coffee cup and then signaled the waitress for the check.  When she brought it he handed her some money and waved away the change. "You ready to head back?" he asked.

"Yes," she replied as they got up and headed for the door.

He didn't speak on the walk back and neither did she.  When they got to the hotel he looked at her as they waited for the elevator.  "I'm gone early tomorrow morning, with Nakim and the women."

She nodded. "I do not need to ask you to be careful."

"The bigger problem will be staying warm," he said as he allowed her to proceed him onto the elevator.

"Do you think so?" she asked. "I'm told you should dress in layers."

"So I'm told," he said.  Then he reached over and hit the stop button on the elevator, ignoring the alarm that sounded and looked her in the eye.  "Why did you go to bed with me in Oman?"

"Because I wanted you.  As I do now."

"Why?"

She looked at him, and said, "Why? What kind of question is that? Why does the sun rise?  There is no why. It merely is."

"So it's what?  You wanted me or you just wanted?"

"Do you want me or do you just want?"

"You," he said, pulling hard against him.  "Now answer the question."

"I wanted you."

He kissed her in a way that made it plain he wasn't playing games, while he slammed the go button. When the doors opened he lifted her in his arms and carried her down the hall to her door where he lifted his leg and kicked it open.  He closed it again as they went in and he dropped her on the bed, stripping her with a thought in mid air, watching her bounce.  Then he took his time with his own clothes, watching her watching him take them off.

She smiled as he put a knee down on the bed and leaned toward her. "I'm glad that you remembered it was to be my bed this time."

"I make it a point to listen to what you tell me," he said, reaching for her.

She pulled him down and kissed him, her legs wrapping around his hips.

"Perfect," he said when he lifted his head, and then he held her gaze as he thrust into her, giving her what she wanted.  Afterwards he set the pace, a slower, more sensual loving that he drew out as long as he could.

When they were both sated they fell asleep in each others arms.

Betty Jo leaned forward and stroked the neck of the shaggy mountain pony she was riding and sat up again.  It had started to snow over an hour ago, she estimated and now it was coming down in earnest.  Nakim had quickened their pace as much as he dared, or so she was assuming, but as the wind picked up the visibility was starting to drop and she was starting to get cold in spite of all the layers she was wearing.  Nakim had been clear about how he wanted them dressed.  Thermal underwear, heavy trousers, sweaters, and then down leggings and parka's, with scarves, gloves and hats.  She felt like Nanuck of the North and still she was cold.

She sensed the connection to Ian though and knew he and the others were monitoring them.

Her pony was trudging gamely along, but it was clear he was tiring, as was Jolie's if the drooping head was any clue.  The trail was already slick, and the snow was drifting as the wind blew it around.  Betty Jo looked ahead to where Nakim was, his pony in the lead, then Jolie's then hers and behind her a pack pony.  They were all roped together so if one went down, they'd all go over the side with it.  On the other hand, this way they stayed together.

When they'd started out from Beirut, Nakim had explained the trip...one day flying and then a day driving and getting their gear together then three days on the trail.  If the storm stayed like this they'd have to stop somewhere and take cover, and then what?  Betty Jo shivered and adjusted the hood of her parka, straining to see through the snow to where Nakim was.  She couldn't.  She could barely see Jolie, huddled over her saddle and scrunched down as small as she could make herself.  Betty Jo shivered again and wondered how soon Nakim would stop.  Soon, she hoped.  Very soon.

Nakim was becoming deeply frightened. He did not know this trail. Damn the man who insisted it always be a different trail. He had no idea where they could find shelter. If they could find shelter. He'd studied what maps he could before they'd left, but now, in blizzard conditions, he was no longer sure how far they'd come. They were, he prayed, still on the trail, but he couldn't even be certain of that. They had to stop soon, or become hopelessly lost. Besides, the ponies were exhausted and if one went down...  He prayed and searched ahead of him, looking for the slightest bit of shelter from the endless wind and the sting of ice crystals against his face.

Behind them on the trail Paul looked back at Laz  and Marc and then tried the radio again.  Still nothing.  The storm had taken out their comms about half an hour ago and now all they had keeping them in touch with Nakim and the women were the two dragons moving back and forth between them, relaying conditions ahead and the signs of the growing distress of the women and Nakim.

Laz listened as Kalie reported and then touched Paul and Marc mentally, conveying the news.  "Any ideas?" he asked when he was done.

"How far are the caves the dragons found when they scouted here?" Paul asked.

"Couple three clicks at least," Laz told him.  "But at the pace Kalie is reporting it'll take them hours to reach them."

Paul scowled and tried the radio again.  When he couldn't raise anyone Laz called Kalie and told her to relay the news back to the ops center.

Trevor listened as the dragons reported.  He looked back at his team. Anja had experience in such conditions so he asked her. "From what you've heard, can they survive?"

"Possibly, if Nakim is very very lucky. But one slip by one of the ponies... It is not good, Trevor."

"Options people?" Trevor asked.

"How close could the dragons get?" came a voice he hadn't expected. Carmine and Nicco had just popped in. So far as Trevor knew, they hadn't been due until Nakim got to the rendezvous point.  It wasn't fully dark either, which made Trevor wonder... But then perhaps blizzard conditions made it dark enough that vampires could awaken.

Morrigan, who'd come to help with the dragons thought for a minute and then said, "Without a place to land, tree top level or the edge of the trail if it's rock face."

"Will they carry vampires?" Carmine asked.

Morrigan looked confused.  "Why wouldn't they?  They're all as curious as can be about you from listening to Briony talk.  They think you're pretty cool, actually."

"Ah, well, horses often have an issue with us, so this is why I ask.  Trevor, see here," Carmine said, going over to the huge map that dominated the wall. It was a detailed topology of the trail where Nakim and the women, not to mention Laz, Marc and Paul, now toiled.   "My people set up a lair here, in this cave. They could make their way to the summit here, if the dragons could meet them there. The winds will be tricky. But vampires can leap great distances, so I think they can do it, leap off here, and the dragons fly up under them?"  Carmine was looking the question at Morrigan.

"It would work, it's real similar to the falling man rescue they practice.  They build games around it," she explained.

"Oh yeah," Spence said. He was looking pale and frightened for Jolie, but wasn't about to be sent off to just pace somewhere else.  "They'll catch them, Carmine, trust me."

"Si," Carmine flashed Spence a smile.  "I remember at Caer Kista.  Then the dragons can fly my people across the pass and drop them near to the trail, as close as they can to Nakim, Betty Jo and Jolie.  If we can get, perhaps six vampires there... Is there a cave the dragons have marked near there? For shelter?  Even if the path is too steep for humans we could climb it, even carrying them."

Morrigan nodded and pointed to a spot on the map.  "There's a honeycomb of them just there, too small for the dragons, but big enough for them and your people from what they told me.  About four hundred yards or so up the rock face."

Carmine nodded. "Si, that will work. And Marc and the others can zap themselves here to be safe?"

"Yeah," Natha said.  "But Laz won't leave if they aren't safe."

"Nor would Marc," Trevor agreed.

The Prince looked down at Nicco. "Go to the cave and explain what must be done, caro.  You may go with them if you like."

Nicco grinned happily, and suddenly looked a bit like a very round bear, in a furry outfit that covered everything except his eyes. He popped out.

"If you will be so good as to ask the dragons to be in position and let me know when they are. It will take perhaps 10 minutes for them to ready themselves."

Morrigan nodded.  "They're already moving and bringing in five more from the lair they made on Kula Kangri.   Be just a couple of minutes," she said.  "They like Bhutan or rather the Himalayas.  They want to know why we can't move here," she added.

Trevor rolled his eyes, remembering way too many freezing nights watching the Khyber Pass.

Carmine had gone still and his eyes were closed. My people are climbing up to the summit and will be prepared when the dragons are ready,"  Carmine reported.

As he said it Julian and Ian winked in and Julian asked, "What's up? Don't much like snow?"

Trevor brought them up to speed.

Julian looked at Carmine with new-found respect. "So, let me get this straight. Your vamps are gonna launch themselves off a mountain, in a blizzard and hope to hell something catches them?"

Carmine opened his eyes and met Julian's.  There was a slight smile on his lips. "Si."

"You like vampire whammie other vampires, don't you," Julian commented.

"No. It is called trust and loyalty. They will do it because I ask it of them."

"The dragons are in place," Morrigan said.  They can see your people."

Carmine closed his eyes again and after a moment said, "They are falling. Although Nicco tells me it is fun."

Morrigan listened for a minute, then said, "All six and Nicco on their way."

Ian let out a breath he'd been holding in and contacted Betty Jo mentally to relay the plan.

Natha, listening from the comms stations said, "You have my admiration, Prince Carmine."

Carmine turned to look at her. "They should have it, Signorina Natha, as they are risking their unlives," but there was a slight smile on his lips.

Trevor was relaying the plan to Laz and explaining that once the three ahead of them were safe in the caves above, they should zap back to the ops centre.

Laz said something unrepeatable and thanked Kalie.  Then he explained to Paul and Marc what was happening ahead.  "Thank god for the dragons and Carmine," he added.  "I don't know if we could have gotten to them in time."  He peered into the blowing snow.  "This is going to make them late to meeting."

Marc nodded. "On the other hand, I doubt Angus's men are going to be able to be on time either."

And ahead of them on the trail vampires were leaping off dragon backs and landing sure-footed on a snowy and icy trail. They wore no heavy clothing, just their normal attire for ops, black leather outfits that provided a bit of protection but moved with them.

It was the ponies that sensed them coming first.

Jolie's pony reared, panic stricken, and threw her to the ground before trying to bolt.  Betty Jo screamed and fought hers, regaining control while one of them leapt for Jolie's bridle and another went to check on Jolie.  Ahead of them she could see one in conversation with Nakim, gesturing to something up ahead while Nakim listened.

Then suddenly the vampires simply took the women in their arms and began climbing a nearly vertical slope with the women safe in their arms. Nakim dismounted and went to the pack pony at the rear with one of the vampires, and the two of them removed the supplies and loaded another vampire with the bags.  He leaped upward and disappeared into the blizzard as he climbed. Nicco captured all the ponies and zapped them off to safety; Nakim, reluctantly, finally allowed a vampire to take him in her arms and he too was carried up to where the dragons had found the small caves.

The entrance they found was very small, but with a few vampire kung-fu type kicks, the icy covering around the cave entrance crumbled and Nakim and the women were quickly carried inside. It was freezing cold in there, but at least it was out of the wind.

Nicco zapped himself and the ponies directly into the cavern once he'd been told it was large enough inside. He struck some magical lights and Nakim, with the assistance of several vampires, one of whom introduced herself as Siena, Carmine's successor, began to arrange a place for a fire. Another checked on the two women, and got the blankets out of the packs and wrapped them both carefully in them.  Nicco helped by magicking up some Starbucks coffee for all involved.

Betty Jo accepted the breve triple shot latte with extra sugar and flashed her dimples at Nicco.  "The perfect choice," she said and then kissed him.

Jolie, bruised and sore, accepted hers gratefully as well and asked him hopefully if his kindness extended to Advil.  He produced it instantly, earning another kiss.

Trevor, hearing the details in the ops center laughed.  And then assured Laz all was well with the three and that he, Marc and Paul should zap in as Julian was currently magicking up lattes all round too, since Nicco's idea had so appealed to all.

"Wanna put in your orders?" Trevor asked.  "Come on down."

Laz just passed the word and then appeared, pony and all in the ops center, looking frost bitten and miserable.  Natha looked at him and explained helpfully to the room at large, "He hates cold weather."  Then she dealt with the pony.  Julian handed Laz the first of the lattes. It's only a triple shot. You wanna quad?"

Tobie, Chance and Anja let out a long breath as they'd all been afraid to breathe until their guys got home, too.

Marc looked furious. Probably that the weather had dared to wreck their plans. Ian just leant against a wall looking thoughtful.

Laz drank some and looked at Carmine.  "Thanks," he said, toasting him with the cup.  "To you and your people."

Carmine gave him a half bow in gracious acceptance. "And to the dragons."

"And the dragons," Laz concurred.  "You know Carmine, you really need your own dragon," he said after taking another drink.  "I think it would suit you."

Carmine raised an eyebrow. "Nicco would never forgive me." Then he grinned. "Nor would Uberto."

"They chose.  It's the dragon code," Laz said.  "Besides, you'd share."

"So I learned," Julian commented with a dramatic sigh.

Natha, having taken care of the pony returned and dropped blankets around Laz and offered Paul one. Marc looked fine, and not suffering from the cold one bit. Perhaps his space time helped.

"You go rest," Trevor said to Laz and Paul. "They'll be stuck in the cave for at least 12 hours from the look of the weather. We've got plenty of time to plan and figure out how we're going to put things back into place before the bad guys can get there."

"Have the dragons fly the trail past the meeting point," Laz said.  "See if they spot anything.  We don't have any heat sensors do we?"

"We have vampires," Carmine said. "They would sense humans, smell their blood."

"Good idea," Trevor said.  "If you'd ask one of your vamps to fly with them?"

"Va bene," Carmine replied and communed with his troops. Morrigan then arranged it.

"If we can pinpoint where they are, along the whole trail, we may be able to move Nakim and the women before they move again, so they won't be late," Laz said.  "Or at least be able to make up some of the lost time."

"Good idea," Marc said, finally beginning to pay attention.   "With luck we can drop them right at the meet site."

"Depends on where they're placed.  If the watchers are along the trail they'll have to do it the hard way, but I'd be surprised if they were," Laz said, finishing his latte and looking hopefully at Julian.  "I'll leave a tip and everything," he promised.

Julian grinned and produced another, in fact produced a tray full, enough for everyone. "Oh, Trev, that one's chai latte just for you."

Trevor shook his head but took it.

"A vampire is aboard Cola, they are scouting the trail," Morrigan reported, between gulps.  "She also says everyone at the cave is fine," she added glancing at Ian and Spence.  Morrigan listened again.  "So far nothing and they're half way to the site."

Spence was in a chair in a corner, knowing there wasn't much he could do, but afraid to leave, yet wanting to be out of the way. Ian had hopes of being useful yet, at least he could contact Betty Jo to relay changes to the plan. Both looked a thank you to Morrigan, even though they'd known the women would be well taken care of.

Morrigan listened again.  "Cola says nothing so far and they're passing the site now and going on."  She  paused and then reported, "He's found them. The vamp I mean. They're in trouble."

Carmine communed with his vampire and then looked around.  "I've asked Ricco to find a cave for them. He can move them where they will survive and then implant a suggestion that they drug themselves there barely in time to save themselves," he explained.

Laz nodded.  "So it looks like we can move them without any trouble."

"Si. Ricco will stay with them to make sure they will remain there until we are ready to release them.  I am sorry to say he will need to feed a bit from them. He will be careful not to harm them. Yet."

"Works for me," Laz said standing and stretching.  He met Anja's eyes across the room and then looked at Trevor.  "I'm gonna get some food and then sleep.  If you need me, you know where I am."

Trevor nodded. "You too, Paul. We'll call if we need you."

"You don't have to tell me that twice," Paul said heading for the door, ahead of Laz who stopped for a word with Natha about the pony.

Anja slipped out the door behind Paul and was standing in the hallway when Laz exited the ops center.

He grinned at her.  "Hungry?"

"Yes," she said falling into step with him. "You are well enough? Do you need a healer for frost bite?"

"No.  But thanks.  What are you hungry for?" he asked, his grin growing.  "Food or...?"

"Food first for you," she replied, her lips twitching.

He backed her against the wall, his palms flat against it just above her shoulders.  "We could eat in bed," he suggested, his lips just brushing hers.  "You could feed me and restore my strength...purely as a humanitarian gesture, I mean."

"I could feed you seal blubber.  It is said to be beneficial for cold weather sports."

"From your hands to my mouth, that would turn even blubber into ambrosia."

"You are crazier than I thought," she replied finally laughing.

"But you like me anyway, I can tell," he said, nuzzling her neck.  "And I like you liking me.  So do we have a plan?"

"We have a plan. You shower and I will bring you food.  And feed it to you if you are awake when I get there."

"I'll be awake, sweetheart, I promise you that.  And when you're done feeding me, I'll lick each one of your fingers clean," he said his voice suddenly low and seductive drawing out the syllables, his breath warm against her skin. "Each one, one at a time, slowly and carefully, until they're perfectly clean."

"Hmmm. Only if I first examine every toe and finger of yours to be sure they're free of frost bite."

"If they aren't" he asked, "will you kiss them until they're all better?"

"I am well trained in treating frost bite. I'll do that. Now go. We can't do it here in the hallway."

"Sure we could," he said, kissing her.  Then he lifted his head.  "But you'll like it more if we don't."  He kissed her again.  "A lot more.  I promise."

"I believe you," she replied, kissing him, it a promise.