For several days Ian and Jonah had toiled in Ian's workshop and library pondering the possibilities of spells that might have been woven over Betty Jo by their old enemy,  Barnaby Collins. They'd conferred with regard to what they both knew of him individually.  Finally they'd come up with a plan they hoped would work. It entailed casting a cleansing spell within seconds of getting within a few feet of her. It wasn't something they could do from afar, so the next step was to consider how to get close to her again.

Ian, knowing that Collins had been thwarted by his bid to get his hands on the psi-enhancing/dampening hardware Professor Friday was working on at St Michael's University, thought it might be inducement enough to at least tempt Collins to let him get near enough to Betty Jo to cast it.

Over dinner they considered it. Libby, Bobbie, Billie and Leroy were all in residence at Ian's townhouse as they considered their options.

"I think he'd be eager enough to get his hands on it.  Offer him a straight swap. We might have to steal the plans though. And if we have Cal take a look at them, perhaps he can make certain that they won't work as advertised," Ian added, as he nodded a thanks to Janelle as she served him.  She'd stepped right in to help with the household in light of her missing mistress. Ian would have to give serious consideration to increasing the staff at the townhouse if he were to have guests now. Only Withers, Jenelle and Edwards lived in and it was becoming a bit much for the three of them to serve so many guests.  Or, as he halfway planned, moved permanently to the country house and only stay overnight in  London.

"Marc seemed very sure he could get them for us," Jonah said, shaking out his napkin and laying it on his lap. 

"I'll help him," Leroy said. "I was involved in the first heist so I know the layout."

"Well that solves that," Billie said.  "What next?"

Leroy frowned at her. "It gives me something to do that makes me feel useful."

She grinned.  "It's just you make it sound like a cakewalk, in and out, wham bam thank you...well, anyway you get the idea."

"Well, I didn't mean to," Leroy added a bit defensively. Jonah made him nervous.

"Just don't get arrested, okay?" she said, giving him a different sort of smile.

"I'll do my best. I'll see if I can't drag Lisandro out of retirement and get him to help too."

"Oh how is he?" Libby asked.  "He's such a nice young man."

"He's good,  He's gone back to school. He's got a degree in accounting, but always wanted to do something more outdoorsy so he's studying Geology or something like that. He says it gives him an excuse to hike and ski."

"Oh that's nice," Libby said.  "He really is a nice boy."

Billie pressed her lips firmly together for a moment and avoided Bobbie's eyes.  "So how will you contact Collins?"

"I'll call Betty Jo's cell phone. Something tells me he'll pick up," Ian replied. "I just need to convince him he wants it."

"More than he wants to fu...er mess with you," Jonah said.

"Yes, well, I don't particularly care what he thinks at this point," Ian replied. "I just want her home."

Billie Jo was pacing the drawing room, her mother was reading, and Bobbie was on her cell phone when a slight inrush of cold air presaged the arrival of Leroy Saunders, dressed all in black, clutching a leather pouch. He stumbled as he materialized, and was breathing heavily.  He looked around, a grin forming. "Did it."

"And out ran them?" Billie asked, fighting to keep the relief from showing.

"Well, pretty much. Marc and Lis are casting false trails. They told me to get this back here to Ian."

"And you loved it, didn't you?" she said, trying not to grin at him.

He did grin at her. "Interesting being on the wrong side of the law for a change. I might take up a new vocation."

"Come on," she said, taking his free hand and towing him behind her without waiting for a response.  "Ian and Daddy are waiting in the study." When she got him in the hallway, the drawing room door closed she stopped and glared at him.  "If you even try it, Leroy Saunders I'll skin you alive," she said and then moved closer.  "Now would you please kiss me?"

"If I ever try what?" he asked, confused.

"Becoming a crook."

"Oh. You could chase me... " he said as he backed her up to the wall.  "Match wits. Me sneaking up behind you and kissing you silly."

"Shut up, you're wasting kissing time," she said, helping him trap her against the wall.  "God, you're worse than chocolate, you know that?"

"Oh yeah?" he asked, nibbling on her ear lobe. "Can't do without me, huh?"

"Oh God," she said again, quivering against him. 

"You goof," he said affectionately as he stopped. "I missed you too."

"Don't let it go to your head," she said as she kissed him.

"Heh, come on, let's get this to Ian and your Dad. Tell me, does your Dad still wanna castrate me? I swear when he looks at me..."

"He never did, idiot," she said.

"Really?  Why not?"

"It works better if he scares you," she said and knocked on the door to Ian's study.

Leroy's mouth was still open when the door opened and they entered. He snapped it shut and held out the pouch. "Got it. No problem."

Ian raised an eyebrow but took the pouch without saying anything other than, "You've got lipstick on your collar. One hopes it matches what Billie is wearing."

Billie checked and then grinned.  "Yep, sure does.  He gets to live."

Ian took the pouch over to his desk and opened it to spread the plans out on his desk. "Cal will take a look at it first thing in the morning. He'll find something small that we can alter."

"And then you'll call," Jonah said.   "I hope this works."

"It has to," Ian replied. He looked up at Leroy. "Thank you, Leroy. Please tell Lis also that I appreciate the chance you took to get this. I'll tell Marc myself tomorrow."

"Sure," Leroy said, knowing a dismissal when he heard one. He headed on out the door.

"Night Daddy," Billie said, kissing his cheek.  She smiled at Ian and then followed Leroy out.

Jonah watched her go and then looked at Ian.  "I hope you appreciate the irony, Cecil," he said a wry smile on his face.  "You and my daughter."

Ian sat back and regarded Jonah. "It wasn't by choice. I had no idea."

"I know you didn't.  That's what makes it so poetic, don't you think?" Jonah asked.  "Or were you worried I'd take a cue from you?"

"Yes, well, Adele was a good deal younger," Ian countered.

"And happily pulling your strings even then," Jonah said.

Ian smiled. "Yes, very true. She's a far happier personality than I, I'm pleased to say."

Jonah laughed and lifted his glass.  "To daughters," he said, "and all the ways they age a man."

Ian drank with him and then said, "I appreciate that you aren't causing us a problem, Jonah. I do thank you for that."

"Why would I?  She's happy and you'll do it for me if it's needed, knowing you.  Besides, her mother would kill me even if she didn't."

"I wondered what had happened to you. Libby is worth dropping out for."

"Yes," Jonah said simply, his eyes softening.  "And what a surprise she was," he added a moment later.  "I didn't have a prayer."

"Oh? I find that hard to believe. You always had a way with women. One I envied."

"Well," Jonah said, "that's not worth a hill of beans sometimes and I'd say you know it.  They kind of sneak up and the next thing you know...Or are you saying Betty wasn't a surprise to you, from first to last?"

"Oh she was a surprise all right. I'd barely paid her any attention since every other single man in the place was dancing attendance on her and her sisters."

Jonah burst out laughing.  "See, you know more about women than you think."

"The unattainable?" Ian asked.

"No, for them it's about the sensible.  Meaning not noticeably dazzled.  As in Leroy, for example."

"He did seem to be immune for the longest time."

"And now he's wondering if I'm going to come after him with a shot gun.  You've no idea how entertaining it can be."

"Oh, I don't know. I enjoyed it with Adele for a time."

Jonah laughed again.  "I'm sure you did.  And knowing Adele she knew it, too."

Ian smiled. "I'm only sorry I got your girl mixed up in this. I don't mean to sound self-centered, but if I hadn't... well, she'd be safe now."

"You don't know that.  Barney hates me as much as he hates you.  But I appreciate it."

"Well, whatever the cause, let's just get her back."

"Yes," Jonah said and finished his drink.  "Well, tomorrow looks like it might be a busy day so I'll say good night.  And when you talk to Adele next, give her my best."

"I'll do that. Good night." Ian sat back and watched Jonah exit the room. He stayed there for some time, pretending to examine the plans.

"So," Leroy said. He'd been waiting for her in the hallway. "Should we rejoin your mom and Bobbie?"

She studied him for a moment.  "You want to?" she asked finally.

"I don't mind. I like your Mom and Bobbie,."

"Yes, but is that what you want to do?" she asked him again.  "Or are you being polite?"

"Well, I was taught to be polite. Why, you got something else in mind?"

"I'll tell ya what honey, you go be polite to Mama and Bobbie and I'll go to bed."

"Oh wait, I'm with ya," he said falling in beside her as they headed up to their room.  "I don't know how Ian stands it."

"Stands what?" she asked.

"Knowing Betty Jo is.. you know. If someone had you.."

She took his hand and gave it a squeeze.  "I know honey.  I don't know how he stands it either.  He sure is crazy about her, you know?"

"Yeah. I'm pretty sure it's mutual." They'd made it to the bedroom and he closed the door and walked over to wrap his arms around her. "Are you doin' okay? Rimes says you gals should take as long as you need."

"I'm okay I guess," she said.  "I hate waiting like this.  It makes me want to scream or something.  And not being able to do anything to help."  She looked at him and grinned.  "It's why I'm such a demanding woman, I expect."

"I've been meaning to talk to you about that," he said as he began undoing her buttons. "I think you should get help with it, you know? And I'm willing to try to help as much as possible."

"You have a specific therapy in mind?  A treatment plan?"

"Yeah, I do. I move in with you once things get back to normal."

She put her hands on his and stilled his fingers on her buttons.  "You're serious, aren't you?"

"Uhm, okay, maybe it isn't such a good idea. Never mind."

"Damn it Leroy, don't do that.  Don't back peddle just because I'm surprised.  I don't know if it's a good idea or not mostly because I don't know why it's...why you're suggesting it.""

"Okay, well, I'm not really sure why I'm suggesting it either, except, well, it sort of  hopped out of my mouth, you know? I  do that sometimes. I'm ... you make me kinda confused, you know?"

"No I don't.  Can you explain what you mean?" she asked.

"Well, you know. Confused. I can't think straight when I look into your eyes and I see what scares me to death.  Cuz it kinda looks like I just made you cry and oh, geez, I don't ever wanna do that."

She cupped his face with her hands and kissed him.  "You didn't make me cry.  It's just my eyes watering.  Do you think you can tell me what it is that's scaring you to death?  That you're seeing in my eyes?"

"I don't know what it is. But I like it. I guess what scares me about it is that I might not see it any more. Or, see it again when you look at someone else."

"Hmmm.  Well, you're right, you know.  I mean I can see where you might be worried 'cause it wasn't all that long ago I was going off the deep end over a guy who turned out to be a murderer," she said, pulling him so he sat down on the bed next to her.  She turned so she was facing him, leading against the headboard.   "But honey, I get a feeling with you I never got with him or anyone else, and I like it a whole lot better.   I'm not ready to put a name to it and I sure don't want to do anything to mess it up."

"So you aren't mad at me for thinking it?"

She shook her head, her eyes huge and looking into his.  "It's that I...that it wouldn't be something I did lightly, you know?  'Cause I don't want to mess this up."

"Okay, you're right. I've never tried it before either, so maybe we should think about it awhile. It's just that, well, I really like waking up in the same bed as you."

"Me too," she said. "I like it a lot.  I want to keep doing it."

"Okay. So, hey, what were we doin'?"

"Well, as I recall you were taking my clothes off because you like it when I'm naked."

"Oh, yeah. I do!" And he went back to his task with a vengeance.

Later, while he slept next to her she lay awake, staring at the ceiling and thinking.  Thinking about a lot of things, like how, no matter how he fell asleep, he slept with his arm pulling her closer, making sure she was there.  She thought about the way he got tongue tied around her but gravitated to her side whenever he was within sight of her.  She saw in her mind the way he'd run to her when she'd been shot.  She felt again the way it always felt to kiss him, and the way she felt when he smiled at her.  She thought while the moon rose and then set again and the sun began to just lighten the sky in the east.  And then she turned in his arms and kissed him awake.  When his eyes opened she smiled and said, "You should probably pack when we get back, though the lord only knows what we're going to do about closet space."

"Yes, ma'am."