In Darfur there were many children, some starving, some sick, some dying, some injured or maimed, some orphaned and some, some combination of those things. Liam, changing the dressing on the stump of what had once been the left arm of a four year old little girl, with wide, dark, terrified eyes and ribs practically puncturing their way out her skin had long since passed the stage of anger, as well as despair, hopelessness and all the other points along the way to simply doing what he could do, praying endlessly and letting God handle the rest. The insanity of the average human being had lost its capacity to surprise him long ago.

The brutality of conflict, whether war, skirmish, pitched siege or guerrilla was something he was used to as well, its basics being pretty much the same as they'd been since the dawn of time. The children, the defenseless, the most vulnerable paid the price, and went on doing so for long years after the heroes went home. But he would never, not matter how long he lived, get used to the children and their solemn endurance, their stoicism, and ultimately, for many of then, the passivity that was a prelude to dying.

He'd been in and out of Darfur for Clem many times in the last months and expected to do it many more in those to come. He'd also been in and out of the Sudan, Eritrea, Chad, Iraq, the West Bank and a bunch of other places where people were helping other people die young. This time he was waiting for Clem's contact to arrive, as he'd been waiting for the past two days. In his habit and given his age he was usually welcomed by whoever was there trying to make the horror less horrible when he volunteered his services while he waited.

Today it was something of a surprise to be interrupted in the middle of his task by an urgent mental demand from Tommy that he return immediately to the Refuge for something unrelated to a New One. Garrison, he was told, was being dispatched to take over. So, he finished his task with the child, handed her a lollipop from his pocket, traced a cross on her forehead and then made his adieu's and followed orders.

He reemerged in Tommy's office to find both Tommy and Baz waiting for him, Tommy looking tense and Baz looking the same as always. "Behold, I arrive. What's the emergency?"

Tommy looked at Baz and Baz took over. "I think we should take a walk my friend. I have not yet paid my respects to Clem and to not do so would be most impolite."

Liam, who'd never been held to be slow on the uptake, raised a bushy eyebrow and followed him out the door.

Baz waited until they were well away from the House before breaking the silence. "Yesterday, during what should have been a routine meeting between Stephen and Laszlo as part of an exercise to determine if Adam was a suitable go-between someone stabbed Stephen and came remarkably close to killing him. No, do not stop, we do not know who is watching and this is simply a visit to Clem."

"Well, I see we have our confirmation. How is he? I assume ok or we'd be having an entirely different sort of chat."

"He'll live. He's very weak and when awake in a lot of pain. It will take some time before he regains his strength and longer still while he heals. And, before you ask, we are doing everything that can be done to find out who did it and why. He told us to send for you. He wants you to return Home. He is very worried, and rightly so, about how the Listeners will react to the news that someone tried to assassinate him. He wants you to tell them to do nothing until they hear from him, to take no action whatsoever that might be inflammatory."

"Baz, they won't agree. They will never agree to sit on their hands while someone, probably a member of the Council, tries to kill Stephen. For them this will be the confirmation of everything they've ever thought about what the Council was really up to and what they thought of Stephen and them.

"Besides, what does he think I can do? Go Home, put out an all minds broadcast calling all the Listeners and anyone else who supports Stephen to join me at the Convocation Hall the only place large enough for something like this and then give them a speech urging restraint and calmness while reassuring them Stephen has it all under control when, given his condition, he manifestly hasn't."

"I think, perhaps, a better approach would be to take them a plan that gives them something meaningful to do while doing nothing to make this situation worse. Stephen wants a meeting with Marc, to what purpose I can only guess. But he can't do that until he knows, among other things, that the situation at Home is stable, at least for now."

"Since I clearly can not start cursing Charlie Palmer and his daughters, whom I baptized, for starting all of this in the first place, I suppose that I had better just ask you what it is you have in mind, since it's obvious there's something you've thought of."

"Yes. It occurs to me that if you ask the Listeners to supply you with personnel who can handle the security here while he recovers and possibly after it might go a long way towards placating them. Also, there is almost certainly someone here who is feeding information to the person who did this, otherwise there is no way they would have known Stephen as on Malta soon enough to arrange an attack. We need to determine who that person is, as soon as may be."

"What had Laszlo said? Is he sure it wasn't directed at him?"

"There was an attack on him, but this against Stephen was separate and took advantage of a situation. Laszlo, himself, has not surfaced since he escaped the plaza yesterday."

Liam reached up and rang the bell on the door at the monastery. "I will attempt to sell your approach at Home. There are a few key people who might be able to help. " He broke off as the door opened. "Brother Dominic, good afternoon. Is Father Abbot available to say hello to an old friend?"

"Of course he is, father. Come right in. You know the way."

As they started down the cloister hallway towards the office, Liam asked, "Has Clem been told?"

"No, not yet. That's why we're here. I want his help. I need to know what Laszlo has been up to lately and he's the most likely to know or assist me in finding out, since I've no access to Dinah's network right now. Also it may be that I will need to get word to Dinah and he would also be in the best position to handle that very discreetly."

Liam stopped him with a hand on his arm. "Before we get in there ...What does she have to do with this? I thought you had a man on Dinah, at Stephen's request. So why would you need to do that?"

"It is very possible that when Stephen and I spoke after he first regained consciousness we were overheard by Reno. While it is becoming more and more probable that Marc can at least be eliminated as the instigator of this insanity and also that he is looking for some sort of alliance with Stephen it is not a certainty. Also, as I said, it is now almost indisputable that there is someone at the Refuge, other than Reno, whose primary loyalties, as Stephen so aptly phrased it, lie elsewhere. who may also know Stephen asked about her.

Other reasons include that she is someone who was at the meeting and who is also associated with Laszlo and his work. All very good reasons for wishing to maintain a channel of communication separate from the man I have watching her. A man, I might add, who will supplemented by others, possibly as early as tonight. And, hopefully a very capable other, if he will agree, now that she has reached Amalfi."

"Is there anything else I don't know?"

"Yes, one thing. Reno and Marc knew we were on Malta but don't know why. I imagine that they will be somewhat motivated to learn the reason, and if they overheard, to discover who Dinah is and why Stephen would ask about her. Reno had received word of the incident as he notified Marc from someone else or from Marc, it is not clear which. After reviewing the recording Adam made it is almost certain Marc is or was having Stephen followed. And, Marc, as soon as he heard of the attempt came to the Refuge, somewhat dishabille, and stated in explanation that, `at the moment his life is very important to me.' I have every expectation that he will be returning to the Refuge, very soon, and will be staying, at least for a time. What he will do while he is there, what stance he plans to take, I can not predict."

"How much of that do I tell the Listeners?"

"Tell them that Stephen has requested a meeting with Marc and Marc has agreed, which is true. Tell them also there is no way to be sure, yet, who the attack was directed at, Stephen or someone else, and if someone else then Stephen was, unfortunately, in the wrong place at the wrong time."

"Alright. You don't need me to talk to Clem. I'll leave as soon as we tell him and then you can get down to business. The sooner I get Home the better."

"Oh I agree, because the other question no one has an answer to at the moment is who is running the operation at the Refuge. Once Marc arrives it might be said he trying to take over ,that this was all a prelude to a coup. It becomes more and more urgent that Marc and Stephen have a fairly frank conversation and I do not see that even being possible for several days. Stephen is simply too weak to sustain such a thing, though a brief meeting is not out of the question."

"Have you spoken to Baylee about that?"

"There are things she could do but without a channeller she trusts absolutely she will not attempt them. I do not blame her. It could kill them both, as you know, in normal circumstances. These are hardly normal."

"There is Eli."

"He has said he is not willing to do it unless it were to became a matter of life and death, because he has not worked as a channeller in so long in this type of interaction and has never worked with Baylee. The Council demand that they not use their gifts at the Refuge has come back to haunt us and them."

"So we wait?"

"We wait. Though you might also wish to pray."

Most cities of any size in most any part of the world have places were various sorts of people hang out together in groups defined by occupation. There are cop bars, the joints preferred and kept in business by the firefighters, and the staff's diner near the hospital. There are the places where bartenders tend to drink, and servers prefer to eat. At Home it was no different, so Liam headed for a bar in the northeast section of the city where he would be most likely to find the people he needed and least likely to draw a lot of attention to the fact that he was there.

The Sleeping Giant was a bar like any other bar not aspiring to `club-dom.' They served drinks and simple sorts of food, had televisions in strategic locations, a jute box and some arcade games. There were booths with very low lighting and tables with a bit more, while no one who sat at the bar expected to go unnoticed. It never closed and the only people who went there were Listeners and people they approved of, at least usually. Once the Council had been stupid enough to try to send people there in one guise or another to keep an eye on them and to ferret out the plots they were convinced hatched among them like malarial mosquitoes used to in the canal zone. They were no longer quite that stupid, though most of the regulars felt they were still very close.

The word had started to reach them that someone had tried to kill Stephen almost immediately, since many of them were in daily contact with someone at the Refuge. They had also gotten updates almost as regularly as had Baz and Tommy. Unfortunately for the hopes of both Marc and Liam they had also been provided with an account of the exchange between Baz and Reno and then Baz and Marc by Greer Hannley, a healer on duty in the infirmary at the time that while accurate had lacked the virtue of completeness through no fault of hers, she having patients of her own to attend and so had been in and out of the area. She was also unpracticed in the art of eavesdropping.

So, by the time Liam arrived they'd been simmering for almost a day. He had expected to find a fair number of them there; he had not expected that the house would be packed and he the center of a hundred simultaneous demands for information as he entered; he being the usual messenger Stephen picked when he couldn't come himself. He probably should have but he hadn't had a lot of time to think about it.

Liam was a man with vast experience in any number of volatile situations and certainly not given to swearing. Today, as the conditions registered he gave in to the indulgence, proving that lack of use didn't mean lack of ability or inventiveness. He knew most of these people personally and had worked with a lot of them at one time or another. What struck him most forcefully, as he entered and took the temperature of the bar was the impression that it was too late, there wasn't anything that could be done to salvage the situation short of an order from Stephen in person and even that might not work, the matter being way too personal; an issue of honor in fact.

He walked over to the bar and waited for the noise to subside, ordering a cup of tea from Charlie and looking around for the people he most hoped to see.

Duncan, the first name on his list was in a booth in the center and already rising to join him. Anlyn was with a group by the pinball machine and stayed there. Dillon and Merik, the other names on his preferred list were at the bar. It also looked like most of the people on their teams were here as well. So far so good he thought and added milk to his tea, giving Duncan time to reach him. The crowd took its cue from Duncan and waited.

"Liam, it's good to see you." Duncan shook hands with him, a wry smile on his face.

Liam, beginning to feel as if he were playing the lead role in some Greek play, complete with chorus, responded with a rueful smile of his own. "Surely you expected me? Or has all this soft living here at Home dulled your wits?"

"Well, I'll admit we were hoping, but it was starting to get a mite late for a visit if you take my meaning."

"I do. I was in Darfur. Tommy called me back just an hour or so ago. He waited until he had spoken with Stephen. So it's actually Stephen who's sent me. I assume you know what happened?"

"Aye, we know. We've known since he arrived at the Refuge, bleeding out and closer to dead than I'd have believed a man could be and stay alive. He'd been stabbed, I'm told, by an assassin, and in the back, the bastards. So he's well enough to be speaking to people, is that what you're tellin' me?"

"I won't lie to you Duncan, I haven't seen him. I only know he wants me to be sure that everything stays calm and nothing is done that might make a bad situation worse."

At his words the crowd noise swelled, a sense of barely contained anger and disbelief rising with it. Both he and Duncan waited, letting them react before continuing. He was relieved to see that Merik and Dillon had left the bar and were moving through the crowd, listening to one and saying a word to another. Anlyn was also in motion among them. Lin Ye and Adrianna, the two other Team leaders he was interested in, stayed still waiting, for now; for more to move would have defeated the purpose.

Finally Duncan spoke again, the growing evidence of his origins a sign he was holding himself in. "Yer telling us we're ta do nothing? That the Council can now just out and out try and kill him and we're ta sit here and take it. I'm not calling ye a liar, Liam, but I'm not believin' it either." There was no doubt he spoke for the room.

"No, I'm saying Stephen does not want things made worse. He has asked for a meeting with Marc and until then he himself is waiting. There is still the possibility that the attack was not directed at him but at his companion."

"Don't be tellin' me that. I know what passed between Sutcliffe and Rogatien. He told Sutcliffe Stephen was the target and Sutcliffe, who was there and got Stephen out alive, believed him. So don't be trying ta manipulate me, Liam. We've been friends a long time, but over this that'll mean nothing ta me. None of us here are gonna sit still and just bloody wait. We been puttin' up with it ta long."

"Duncan, it is very probable he was, but it is still not certain. And being the target doesn't mean it was the Council that did it. So what is important now is to give Stephen enough time to recover enough to talk with Marc and find out what is really going on. So, I'm not here to ask you to do nothing and I can promise you," his voice getting hard in a way he himself had never heard before, "whoever did this will not get away with it."

The crowd interrupted again; expressions of emphatic agreement and promises of support easily picked out from the sudden din.

Duncan waved them to silence. "Then what's on yer mind, man? What is it yer askin' us ta do then while we wait with our thumbs up our asses and the Council laughin' up their sleeves at gettin' away with almost killin' the most decent man ever sat down with `em?"

"We're reinstating the security measures implemented by Richard twelve years ago for a start. So I'm here to tell you I need four teams there tonight and two on stand by. We want him protected and the Refuge locked down like it use to be. Cal's set to have the perimeter in place before morning.'

Liam took a long swallow of tea, listening to the silence, then went on in a tone that heaped scorn on them all, "So if you're interested in helping keep Stephen alive rather than sittin' here preferring your anger and making things worse, say so, otherwise I'll go elsewhere. Sutcliffe's people can be there just as fast and they're being a lot smarter about this than you are, a fact I won't hide from you that I find surprising since I can't imagine you want it getting out around here that the Listeners preferred their own macho posturing to making sure Stephen stays alive."

He thought Duncan might go for him for that last and he didn't care. The crowd behind him was on the edge of a riot when Duncan finally took his eyes off of him and turned around and spoke, "Anlyn, Dillon, Merik an' my lot ye got an hour ta pack all yer gear and get yer teams an' yerselves organized. Lin Ya, Elisabeth...yer on stand by. We'll work out a rotation as soon as we can. I would guess none of ye have forgotten the drill Plantagenet carved inta our livers, but if ye have ye best be rememberin' in a hurry. "

Then he turned back to Liam, his face rigid, his eyes like ice, "If ye ever speak ta me like that again, Liam I'll kill ye. Whether ye did it and meant it or did it to get what ye wanted, there was no call for the last an' ta be shamin' me an' the others."

Liam, as dedicated to nonviolence as Ghandi, set his cup on the bar and turned around and let loose with a left that sent Duncan to the floor. "This was never about you or me or anyone else's pride or puling, whining ego and if you think it was you'd better stay here. It's about keeping Stephen alive and not starting a civil war that'll destroy us all."

He swept his eyes over the room. "And the rest of you better have that straight as well. The only thing Stephen ever fought for in his life is the unity and value of the Awakened, every one of them, and the God-given right of all of us to live on earth in the open where we belong. Don't make a liar out of him now."

Nobody answered him.

Not caring if they did or didn't he reached his hand down to Duncan and waited. It took him a minute but Duncan grasped it and came to his feet. Rubbing his jaw he studied the other man. "Fer a man o' the cloth Liam, ye got a remarkable left. Did they teach that with the Latin, then, when ye were still young or'd ye learn it on yer own?"

Tommy was at his desk when Liam returned, just staring at the pile of papers in front of him, his mind clearly elsewhere. Liam, having a shrewd idea where just knocked on the door frame and walked in.

"Tommy where's Baz and Cal? Can you round 'em up for me? I also need you to get Clem over here if you can."

Tommy nodded and reached for the phone, an item rarely used, while also sending for the others. He jerked his head towards Stephen's office. "Use that," he said and then focused on Brother Gerald who had obviously answered on the other end.

Liam lingered until he hung up. "Tommy would it be asking too much of you to have some tea sent over and maybe something to eat. I haven't had anything since dawn and I think it's going to be a long night."

"No problem."

"And you should join us ok?"

"Sure, whatever you want."

"Have you had a break since this started?"

"Last night, for a few hours. I'm alright."

Liam nodded and headed towards Stephen office and the sofa that stood opposite the desk. He put his feet on the coffee table and leaned back, consciously forcing himself to relax. Ten minutes later Tommy tapped softly and then came in, a tray and his pad in hand.

"They're all on their way. Be here in just a minute. Baylee says Stephen's still out and she's hoping he doesn't wake again until tomorrow. Tabitha told her she'd sit with him again tonight."

"She always did, whenever he was sick or hurt, she would be there all night. Even after Doni, she'd do it, to make Doni rest."

"He's been hurt like this before?"

"A couple times, out with teams. It happened to all of us, back then, I guess. Things are a lot better now, but that's one of the reasons the older Listeners trust him. He took the same risks and he fought to make it safer."

"You've know him a long time?"

Liam swallowed, calculating how long. "Close to 1200 years, now, I'd say."

Baz, entering heard the last. "That you've known him?'

His mouth full, Liam just nodded.

"I have only known him about half that. Still it is a long time "

"What's a long time?" Cal asked, helping himself to one of Liam's sandwiches.

"We were talking about Stephen and if you want food, get your own." Liam moved the plate out of reach. "OK," he said, "Before Clem gets here, I convinced them. They'll hold off for now but they are on the edge Baz, they're convinced the Council is behind this, they're ready to blow and won't just let this one go.

"So, there'll be four teams arriving tonight Tommy. Duncan's, Anlyn's, Merik's and Dillon's, plus two on stand-by and we're implementing the security measures we used when Richard was still here."

"The whole nine yards?" Cal asked, somewhat stunned.

"Yeah, so you'll need to be ready to set the perimeter by dawn. Tommy'll get you a list of who's allowed in and who waits at the gate so you can set the patterns. And Tommy?"

"Yeah?"

"Make sure Marc and Reno are on it. After it's up that's it, we stay locked down until Stephen decides otherwise. New Ones stay here and no one in from Home or elsewhere without permission from me or Baz. Also no internal traffic that isn't authorized by Cal or me until Stephen is back on his feet. So no more just jaunting off to wherever for the day. They sign in and out as well so we know where everyone is at all times. When you tell your people Cal, tell `em there's no other way and it won't be for long. I'll handle the teams."

"You want the perimeter like it was last time?"

"I want the whole valley and I want it monitored 24/7 and dedicated. Nothing, and I mean nothing goes in or out or tries to that we don't know about. Just like it was."

"Jesus, Liam! Do you have to go quite so far?"

"They wouldn't believe it otherwise." He looked at Baz.

"Cal, it is necessary. Someone here is feeding information to whoever is behind this. Restricted access like this, as restricted as we can make it, is one way of finding out who that is. Secondly, we must demonstrate to the Listeners here and at Home that Stephen is still in control here, even now."

Cal shook his head. "Why wouldn't he be?"

"Because it is likely that Marc will show up tomorrow or the next day and then stay for some length of time. It must not look like a Council takeover. It has to look like he was allowed to stay, he and Reno. This will aid in that." Baz looked up then as Clem entered. "Ah. Good you are here."

"Clem," Liam said, "We're going to lock down for a while, the whole valley. You'll need to get set over there and make sure everyone knows what that means who weren't here in the day. Make sure, too, that we have everyone listed."

"OK. There are several and the nuns also, but they have always understood the relationship between us."

Baz at a nod from Liam took the meeting back. "Tommy you may now, as soon as you see Reno, tell him Stephen has asked to see Marc. In fact, it might be wise to try to find him when you have some time. Also, it must be clear to everyone both here now and those arriving that Reno, and Marc if he comes, are to be treated with courtesy and respect and not as enemies. You must be sure it is made clear to the teams coming in that Marc and Reno are allowed by Stephen to be here. You three will have to make sure your people understand this."

They all nodded.

"Also, Stephen is never alone; someone is in the room with him and in the outer room also, unless he himself insists otherwise, as he will when he meets with Marc."

"I'll work out a schedule with Duncan when he gets here," Liam assured him. "Cal, for now the four teams coming in are only security and protection."

"OK. But that'll mean a different rotation on the back ups."

Liam waved a sandwich at him, "It'll give you something to pass the time tonight while you're waiting on the perimeter to go up. Clem, once the perimeter is up all regular visitors will need to come through you. Do you want someone there or are you ok as it is now."

"Let's leave it and see how it goes; there's not all that much traffic that way normally, as you know. I assume this means you want the gate closed?"

Baz nodded yes. "Tommy, who'd you put on Stephen's house?"

"Well, I sent Eli and Tabitha over, sortta house sitting, you know? They usually stay here. He also wants the locks used he said. That's on the Ops Center, Cal, and on these offices. Means he doesn't want anyone in there or here who doesn't need to be."

"They aren't gonna like it but they'll get used to it. Anything else?"

He looked around the room and getting nothing stood to go. "If you want a monitored perimeter `round this whole valley in place by tomorrow I gotta get started. Even when himself was runnin' things it was just the monastery and the compound so I hope you know what you're doing there, Liam. That takes a hell of a lot of energy."

"There's a channeller on every one of those teams coming in and on the back ups. Do what you have to do. If you need more we'll find 'em, but keep in mind I'd rather not. We don't want to incite Marc or the Council any more than the Listeners. It's gonna be a fine line for a few days, but it won't be for long. Baz you got everything else under control?"

"Yes."

"Clem?"

"Yes, I got it."

"Tommy?"

Tommy nodded. "Yeah, but I have just one question. Who's tellin' Tabitha she's getting rooms ready for a dozen people who are arriving in about half an hour and who'll probably want dinner too?"

"That would be you. What would Stephen suggest in a situation like this?" Liam asked him, honestly curious.

Tommy rolled his eyes. "He'd just say, 'kiss her for me.'"

"Then that's what you do. We all have to make sacrifices right now, and that is clearly yours."

Tommy had chosen to deliver the news to Tabitha in person reasoning that she couldn't kill him in public and then he'd be able to grab some dinner to take back to his desk. His score turned out to be one for two in the reasoning department.

Tabitha, arms akimbo and with the look Tommy dreaded in her eye said nothing for a moment. Finally, she had pity on him and spoke. "If that's the case then I'll need some help and you'll do for a start." She'd finished by rattling off a list of instructions in a manner that reminded him of Stephen and sent him on his way, already calling for her next victim.

He finished just in time to be handed a list and told to do the room assignments himself, he knowing them better than she, and having more time to spare. He'd meekly taken the list and hurriedly filling a plate had headed back to his desk, forgetting he'd set the lock. So he'd had to set everything on the floor, key the lock and then gather everything up again before he could reach his desk. He studied the floor plan, expected personnel and list of available room assignments while he ate. Then he penciled in names and moved on, reflecting that he couldn't be blamed for the results and if they didn't like it they could deal with it later.

He logged onto his computer and pulled up the current list of personnel and began the tedious process of ensuring it was complete while also updating it to reflect coming attractions. The updated one from Brother Gerald had been in his inbox, waiting for him, along with the promise of any support he could provide. Brother Gerald was another man, Tommy reflected, as he cross checked names, who worked for a Type A personality who made impossible demands. Possibly, with Reno, they could start a club, share tips for coping but he didn't think so.

When he was sure he had a complete list he pulled up the directory where the retina patterns were filed and began to match them. He sorted the now reduced list into his and Gerald's and sent the result off. Brother Gerald would have the needed patterns for him in a few hours. His own list consisted of one name Marc Rogatien. It figured he thought.

He tracked Cal down in the Infirmary, where he'd repaired to seek guidance on a small matter from Liam and explained his problem.

Cal considered for a moment and then grinned. "He was here yesterday, right? Then we got it. We monitor the infirmary just in case there's trouble and we also routinely scan the New One's here as a precaution so we have enough to start with. Just send me the names and we're fine."

Tommy relieved, headed back to his office and checked another task off his mental list and went to the next one.

Meanwhile Liam and Baz waited, for the teams to arrive, for Stephen to wake up, for Marc to show up, for what ever would happen next. What happened next was a message for Baz that Laszlo had surfaced briefly, said it was too dangerous to meet and he'd be in touch.

"Well, what do you think that means?" Liam asked.

"It means what he says, but I do not know. Obviously Laszlo, as he has in the past, has annoyed someone sufficiently that they are taking action in his regard and until he has dealt with it or at least feels the situation is under control he can not risk a face to face."

"Then there is nothing about Stephen?"

"No and I would like very much to know what happened from his perspective and who is after him, since they may be able to help us find the other two."

"Does he even know about Stephen?"

"He might, I don't know. I chose not to risk it in my message to him. But it also is somewhat worrying in regards to Dinah. However I have done all that may be done in that regard and Carmine is the best guarantor of her safety she could have right now."

"Carmine?"

"Ah, that is correct, you haven't met him. Trust me, my friend, when I say that once it is known in Europe she is under his protection there is no one who would dare to touch her. And it will be known before morning, I promise you."

"You aren't going to tell her about Stephen?"

Baz considered that at some length. "No, it would serve no purpose at the moment and she would want to be here which is not wise at this juncture. Stephen does not want her brought to the attention of the Council again, nor to Marc's, I would suspect, at least not now. And I am not going to tell Stephen anything either except that Laszlo has been in touch to say he will be in touch soon and he has things under control."

Sometime later, Baz again broke the silence, this time with a question. "I suppose this is an idiotic question and you are at liberty to tell me mind my own business, but I feel I must ask, as I haven't been able to come to an answer myself. Why Charlie Palmer?"

Liam laughed. "I can only offer my opinion, since I myself have puzzled over it. I am fairly sure it had nothing to do with what happened afterwards; certainly he planned none of it until much later. I think what happened that day happened because Stephen didn't care anymore and the irony of it is it made him care again and thus he was committed.

But Bella misunderstood what he was trying to warn her about when she told him the Council had charged him. Stephen did tell me that much after I finally asked him and then things just escalated, with Marc deciding that Stephen was capable of doing something that would end in the sort of breach he was envisioning. But if you ask me we should be on our knees thanking Charlie Palmer, in spite of all this, rather than trying to figure out why Charlie Palmer."

"I did not see Stephen from the time Doni died until he came to my house about the Malta job. I didn't know it had gotten that bad for him. I wish you had told me."

"Baz, they were bonded, you know what that means, you went through it yourself when Rachel was killed. He had to decide he wanted to go on, that he could go on without her. So forget the rest and be thankful Charlie came along. But tell me, did Stephen tell you about the other one who showed up the same day as Charlie? Did he tell you about the Reverend Daniel Dudley Day, Knight of Christ?"

Baz shook his head.

"Oh, well, you're not going to believe this."

Liam was finishing the story when Tommy came to tell them that Duncan and the teams had arrived and he was needed below, there being a spot of difficulty.

Liam found the main foyer looking like a stand off between two rugby teams just prior to a scrim, Duncan and his lot on one side and Tabitha on the other laying down the law regarding meals, picking up after themselves and laundry, three topics on which she was implacable. Duncan was on the defensive and sinking fast when Liam got there.

"Aye, woman, I hear ye. But what's it ta do with me? I've nothin' tado with how ye run the place."

Tabitha's arms went from folded across her massive bosom to battle stations, with her hands on her hips and a look in her eye that had quelled many before Duncan and would likely quell many after him.

"What's it to do with you, my good man? I'll tell you what it's to do with you. You live in my house, you live by my rules and that means what I just told you. I don't run a twenty four hour catering business so you eat when I say and you eat what's available; we're not here to pick up after you and that includes wet towels, your smelly socks or dirty underwear, and I'm not a laundress. You want clean clothes you do `em yourself. You can't handle that you can sleep in the barn and cook your meals over a camp fire, which as far as I can see, is probably what you've been doing. Now, are we clear?" By the time she finished her foot was tapping, Duncan was stammering his agreement and everyone else struggling not to laugh.

Liam couldn't resist. "Duncan, I am told on excellent authority that the way to deal successfully with Tabitha is to just give her a big kiss," he offered helpfully, which of course did for them all.

After Tabitha had left, dignity unimpaired and peace had been restored, Liam surveyed his troops. "Tommy has the room assignments, and the duty schedule. Six o'clock tomorrow morning we'll be locked down. You have until then to get settled. Duncan, I'd like a word with you, Anlyn, Dillon and Merik before you start getting settled, in Stephen's office if that's all right."

Tommy, bless him, had left coffee on the table and cups, clearly anticipating this gathering. Liam poured some, probably the start of a long series, and waited to let them settle. All of them had been here before, though none had lived there.

"OK, here's where we're at. We're extending the perimeter to include the whole valley. Once it's up it stays until Stephen says it can come down. You know the drill, you were here twelve years ago, so I won't go over that. You are responsible for your teams knowing as well. You are not on the call rotation for the duration. Any questions about any of that?"

"How long do you think it'll be?" Anlyn asked.

"I honestly don't know. Not all that long I hope. Now, the next thing is we are expecting Reno will return sometime tonight and Marc likely will show up tomorrow or the next day. And we are expecting him to stay. So the bottom line is that they are to treated with courtesy and respect. They're here with Stephen's permission, and will be regarded as his guests. You will make sure your teams understand that and behave accordingly. They are to have the freedom of the House just as anyone else does. The only places off limits are this office, the Ops Center and Stephen's room itself unless on duty there or invited and those are off limits to everyone except me, Cal, Lord Sutcliffe and Tommy."

Duncan cut in, "Yer tellin' us we gotta deal with them like we would another Listener while they're here? They're ta be treated equal to everyone else?"

"I'm saying you will be polite, respectful and courteous. You will accept that they are here as Stephen's guests, with his express consent. I am not asking you to be their friends, to play poker with them or even ask `em out for beer. You will take no cheap shots, will make no snide remarks, you will recall that we are all adults and this isn't a schoolyard. Questions?"

"You're serious, then," Dillon asked.

"Never more so. It is absolutely vital that there be no friction between you or your teams, or anyone else here for that matter, and them. If there is you are responsible for eliminating it. If you don't I will and you won't like it. Is that clear?"

They nodded, already not liking it but willing to go along for now. All Liam could think was that the sooner Stephen met with Marc the better. He really wasn't cut out for these types of management jobs.

"Now, I assume all of you know Lord Sutcliffe?"

Receiving four affirmative nods, he continued, "He has Stephen's authority when it comes to dealing with Marc and Reno. He is in charge of all security issues and no one crosses the perimeter who isn't coded without his or my consent. No one leaves, and no communications in or out without that or Cal's ok. He is also handling the search for those responsible at Stephen's request. He has no authority in any Listener matter nor anything to do with the teams whatsoever. Your chain of command there is me, then Cal and then Tommy. OK?"

"We got it. We have no problem with Sutcliffe here. We've dealt with him before and it only makes sense him being here. We'll let you know if anything comes up we do have a problem with. Now who's watching over Stephen?"

"Right now, me or Lord Sutcliffe or Tommy. There is also always someone in the room with him, usually a healer. Starting in the morning one of you will be in both his room and in the outer area at all times unless he tells you otherwise. All that is in the duty schedule. Also, Cal says he'll need a lot of power for the perimeter, so he'll be drawing on you four for that for now. Anything else?"

"Naw," Duncan said, "I think we got the picture."

"Then, if you need anything, I'll be in the infirmary, otherwise I'll see you in the morning."

Baz waited until they'd all left before asking, "Well? Will they do it?"

"For long enough I hope. We only need them to comply until Stephen talks to Marc. A matter of days at the most. Then we can stop worrying about the revolution coming early and find who did this."

"Gin," Baz said hours later, laying his hand down.

Liam counted his own hand up and added it to the score sheet before dealing.

"Liam." A female voice drew his attention from his new hand. "I think they need you out there."

Out there was the hallway, now full of people and Tabitha bearing down on him like a locomotive.

"You're on your own, my friend," Baz whispered.

"Liam, these people say they have been assigned here permanently. Tommy told me twelve, not twenty-one and twelve's what I arranged for."

"Tabitha, I didn't know they were coming. Who are they?"

"Now how would I know that? Go find out yourself. But if you got anyone else arriving tonight you better tell me now or they ain't getting in! This isn't a hotel. I don't do round the clock service."

Liam followed her out and picked the closest face he recognized. "Elisabeth, what are you guys doing here? You're back up."

She reached into her pocket and handed him a piece of paper. "Came down just after Duncan and them left."

Liam took it, already recognizing the look of it. The subject was `Permanent change of duty station.' Then a list of names and `Report Refuge soonest,' followed by the usual details. They were transfer orders, over Marc's authorization. He read that part twice and looked back at Elisabeth.

"We were already on stand-by, me and Lin, so I called over there and spoke to my friend and got `em to change it to us. Guess they didn't care who. They just wanted fast. Somebody must have lit some kind of fire under them. Two teams and three healers." She shifted her gaze then, her attention distracted by someone behind him. "Hey Melly. I didn't know you were here. You staying here?"

Liam looking back saw not just Melly, but Reno also.

"No, I just came to see Tommy after I heard."

Liam cut in ruthlessly, aware that Tabitha was getting ready to intervene if he didn't. "Elisabeth, Tabitha will get you all assigned to rooms as soon as she can. Apparently you arrived before we got notice. So maybe you could either give her a hand or wait in the lounge downstairs. I think the canteen there's stocked if you guys want anything. Dinner is over, I'm afraid."

"Don't you be talkin' 'bout things you know nothin' of. There's still food out for them who want it." Satisfied Liam was back in his place she turned towards the other woman, "Your name's Elisabeth? I'm Tabitha, I run this place. Leastways the housekeeping, so if you and your folks'd give me about an hour I'll have rooms ready for you then. `Til then, you can eat dinner, if you're hungry or use the lounge like he said. I'll come find you when I'm ready. Liam, you'd better let Cal know." Then feeling no need to see the affect of her parting shot she sailed away to her next battleground, leaving Melly laughing and Liam not.

Melly followed him back into the Infirmary, still chuckling. "She's really got your number, hasn't she?"

"Yeah, I guess so. But she's right, can you hold on a minute while I let Cal know. I'll be back. Baz can keep you company."

Baz was already on his feet, his delight at seeing her plain. "Ah, Mellisande, what a marvelous surprise. I see you so seldom and now twice in one week, I am so pleased." He reached for her hands, bowing over them slightly and placing a kiss on first one than the other.

"Very nice, but I'm not fooled you know. You are simply a reprobate who has not had his RDA of flirt today. "

"Mellisande, you wound me, deeply."

"No, but I will if you'd like me too. I assume you are acquainted with Reno?" She gestured behind her to him.

"Yes, I had that pleasure yesterday. I believe Tommy is looking for him, in fact, now that I think of it."

Reno nodded. "I'm off; I know a hint when I hear it. But really, you know, I keep all sorts of secrets, and Marc is always interested in hearing about things here."

Baz smiled that gentle smile of his, "I am sure he is most eager for any news you might have for him, so please don't let our chatter keep you.

"OK, I'm leaving. Thank you for dinner Melly."

"It was the least I could do. Be careful for a few days."

Baz waited until he'd left before turning back to her, drawing her over to the couch with the hand he still held. "I assume you heard and that is why you have come and not as I would have preferred, for the sake of my poor self. How are things there?"

"Too soon to say. I was at dinner after the concert when the word began to spread, like wildfire. Everyone was suddenly talking about it."

"You were dining with Reno?"

"Yes, I oh, I stepped on his foot, not knowing it was him and offered to buy him dinner in recompense for the damage. I didn't realize `tilhe introduced himself. But how is Stephen, that is really why I came, that and to see how Reno'd react at my tagging along with him."

"He is as can be expected right now. Unconscious, somewhat on purpose, and very weak from the blood loss. He was in some pain the last time he woke up. I do not expect him to regain consciousness again until tomorrow sometime."

"Is there anything you need from me in the interim?"

"No my dear but thank you for asking. I would though, stress again what Stephen said. This is now a very dangerous business especially where you are concerned, obviously, and you must be extremely careful. Take no risks you can avoid and if something happens get out and contact us immediately."

"You are staying?"

"For now."

"Alright, you know where I am if you need me or if he wants anything. Until this happened I didn't believe anyone would want to actually kill him. That is a new thing in all this." She signed. "Well I had better get back. I see Liam is returning. I'll only be in the way." She leaned and kissed him on the check and was gone before he could detain her.

Liam, pondering the motives behind Marc's largess with personnel, said, "We have been given two new teams and three healers by Marc's orders."

"Indeed. They will be useful, will they not?"

"You know they will, the question is why, exactly."

"Well, perhaps you might ask Reno that question, whom Tommy is so providentially returning to us."