Jack, Jess , Andrew and the new baby's home

jack walked with him and listened to what he said "no we ate out with the twins " he rubbed the bck of his neck "I don't cook so i took them to sparks for lunch as far as i am aware everything is as she left it " he held Roberts arm "will she be all right, you said no human being as fought it off and servived " he looked at him worried "I don't want to lose her Robert" he said his grip tightening slightly.

"No. I said no one but ME--to my knowledge. I'm sorry my healer is still invading your house, but he knows what he is looking for. I will return anything I can. But I will not return anything harmful, no matter how sentimental it might be for Jessica. What I know is that a delivery of some things that belonged, supposedly, to Albus Dumbledore arrived at the house today. Some of them went to Jess, and some went to Khaat. " He drew the necklace out of his pocket and dangled it in front of Jack. "Don't touch it. I am somewhat immune to it, but you might not be. But when I saw Jessica earlier today, she had it with her and the stone was black. Clearly the black energy in the stone. As you see, the stone was merely a hollow container for the essence of the beast. My guess is that as worn down and out of balance as she is from the birth of the twins, once the essence of the creature was released, it took over her before she had much of any sort of idea it was happening. Khaat and I were with her when it really took hold of her and simply apparated her here. She is under restraint. I don't want you to see her like that. She does not look human in any way right now. She would not want you to see her like that. I can get her out of this, but as I said, it will take time. This creature is powerful and very intelligent. It is a battle of wills, basically. But if I defeat him, he will have no choice but to leave her and return to his master."

Jack let Roberts arm go "when you know who that is let me deal with him" he said coldly "you just get that beast out of her and get her back to me" he said his eyes as cold as his voice he hated the fact that once again she was not with him but trapped inside her own body and he could not help her again " I feel so usless" he said finally sitting next to him his head in his hands.

"She's going to be alright. Here's what I need you to do. Go home. Throw out any and all food that she might have touched in the last 5 or 6 hours. Anything and everything. Throw it out. Don't trust it. That includes baby formula, everything. We can give you more formula if you dont have any more unopened cans. Then, put your energies into doing what would be important to her. Put all your energies into those kids. That would be her top priority. She's a great mother, and she fought too hard to have them for you to do anything less than your best for them. If I find out anything, or if she changes in the least, I will let you know first thing. I promise. And the minute you can see her, I will let you know. I promise. I give you my word."

He talked w/ Jack for a few minutes more and then escorted him back to the emergency entrance and watched him apparate out.

Khaat began to wake very slowly, feeling barely alive. She hurt. Really hurt. Everywhere. Something just wasn't right. It made her cry out because of how strong the pain was.

Robert had been sitting at her bedside for hours, studying what he knew about the creature, and trying to come up with a strategy to free Jessica. He knew he had gotten to Khaat in time. And he knew Abbey was alive. But he didn't know yet if Abbey had been damaged. And Khaat had been critical for hours. He had fought hard to keep her alive. The instant he heard her small pitiful cry of pain, he almost leaped to his feet and went to her.

Khaat felt someone sit beside her on the bed. A gentle hand brushed back the hair from her feverish face. Then it paused and sent a powerful spell through her system to stop the pain. A single tear slipped from her eye onto her pillow. "I'm here, Khaat," she heard her father say softly, "I'm here, Baby. I'm not going anywhere. I promise." He brushed her tear away. "Better?" he asked. The relief was so blessed, she nodded slightly.

"Abbey," she managed. "She's still with us," Robert said softly, not wanting to tell her that Abbey might be damanged. He didn't know she was, and he didn't know she wasn't. Either way, she didn't need to know right now. "Rob?" she asked. "I haven't reached him yet. I was more concerned for you." She nodded slightly. She knew this was a very serious thing. She felt how critical she was. She didn't want Rob put through all that. She just did not understand what had happened. "Daddy?" she asked, frowning, confused. She tried to open her eyes, but they were weak and heavy. She wasn't seeing much, but she wasn't completely blind anymore either.

"You were poisoned," Robert said softly, "I'll explain it to you later, I promise. But we got it in time. That was the cause of that terrible headache you had and the pain you still have. For now, just close your eyes and sleep. You'll feel better in a few hours. You've been unconscious for quite awhile. " She felt him kiss her cheek, and she could stay awake no longer.

Robert sat, standing guard over Khaat all night. Katherine had joined his vigil. As the night passed, her fever from the poison broke while she slept. Katherine took a cool compress and sponged off Khaat's burning body to cool it. In her exhaustion and weakness, Khaat never woke, barely moved all night.

Healers had moved in and out, checking on Khaat continuously, making sure Robert and Katherine had plenty of coffee, tea, dinner, anything they wanted. And Robert was clearly in charge of St. Mungos right from Khaat's bedside. Katherine sat next to him, holding his hand and trying to reassure both him and herself that they would not lose her or Abbey.

Robert was formulating his plan to get Jessica free, and used Katherine as his sounding board, going over and over it until it seemed to make sense. It would not be easy, but it seemed like the best way to solve a multitude of problems.

By the time daylight broke and sunshine started to stream onto his daughter's bed, Robert had switched to her beloved french roastt, needing more a boost than tea would give him anymore. Katherine had switched to coffee in hours before, in the wee hours of the morning. And the staff had lovingly supplied them everything they wanted. Robert and Katherine were seeing that even though Khaat had not been there a long time as the director, she was deeply loved, and the near loss of her had gone through the staff with tremendous fear and grief like a wildfire. He knew he needed to pull them back together and on task.

Khaat woke again, feeling more alive this time. The pain was much less everywhere--except her head. She called for her father, her own voice sounding more like a 5 year old than her own adult voice. "Daddy?" she called. An instant later, she felt one person sit beside her on either side of the bed. "I'm here, Sweetheart," her father's voice came to her softly. "Hi, Khaat," her mother said softly, taking her hand, "Can you see yet?"

Khaat didn't know. She tried to focus. She could see light, but she wasn't sure she could see shapes. "Take your time," her father coached. After what seemed to be forever, she started to see shapes. Sunlight. Morning perhaps? Then her father's face. And her mother's She held onto her mother's hand, and reached for her father's hand.

"Welcome back," her father smiled. "Forgive me for feeding you that truly foul potion, my baby. Forgive me. I had no choice. It saved your life and Abbey's. How are you feeling?"

"My head," she moaned.

"Oh, let me fix it," Robert said. He laid his hands on either side of her head and drew off the pain again. "Better?" he asked. She nodded.

"Daddy, how much time did I lose?" she managed.

"Not quite a day. Its just sunrise," He reassured her. "We didn't tell Rob because..well..we just didn't." She nodded, understanding. To have him here just waiting helplessly to see if she and Abbey would live or not would have been cruel. "Why, Daddy"" she asked softly,"She was my friend." "Baby, it wasn't her. It was the creature. She is posessed by a terrible creature. Jessica is still your friend. Think. Try to remember. She wasn't herself at the coffee shop." Khaat thought hard. No, she hadn't been. "We have to get her free..." Khaat began.

"No," Robert said very firmly, "You are going nowhere near that cell. We might skate by with Rob not finding out that you almost died in the last few hours, but if you get mutilated by a monster, well, we won't be so lucky with that one. Especially in the shape you're in--both with recovering from almost dying as well as being pregnant. No. I forbid you from going there. And right at the moment, until I clear you, I outrank you. "

"Robert," Katherine shook her head, disapproving of his being so strong with Khaat so soon. "Your father wants you here for a few more hours before we decide about releasing you or not," Katherine said softly.

"However, on the up side," Robert said, "A promise is a promise. Here. You deserve this just for the battle you fought." He lifted her head and fed her some tiny sips of fresh hot french roast. Khaat sighed deeply with relief. It made her feel alive again. "Thank you," she said softly, grateful not only for his generosity with the coffee, but also because he saved her again. "Now, will you do me a favor, my dear?" he asked her. "What is it?" she asked.
"You really do have to feed Abbey," Katherine said very gently. "I have some of that slow cooked Scottish oats you like so much, with sugar and cinnamon. Would you try some for us, please?" Khaat nodded, not wanting to fight about anything. Robert rose, "I should not have to say the obvious, but do stay in the bed, please. At least until I come back. You'll just fall and hurt yourself." Khaat nodded. He kissed her forehead and left the room.

Her mother fed her the cereal from a large mug. To Khaat's surprise, she found the cereal soothing and took away an ache she didnt know was there. "Did Daddy put vitamins in this?" Khaat asked. "Of course he did," Katherine laughed. "You know your father. He'd have put them in your coffee too if I had let him. There was also more antidote in the cereal--he reformulated it so that it was not so foul. He might be pursuaded to let you go home this afternoon, he said, depending on how you do by then. But, Khaat, you really do have to agree to take some time off now, and then perhaps work only part time for awhile. It might actually mean the difference between whether Abbey lives or dies. You just came too close. If Rob found out, he'd make you resign completely or take an extended leave until probably sometime in late fall at the soonest. And I'm not so sure he's wrong."

"I'd do whatever he wanted," Khaat confessed softly, "No matter what he wanted." She began to cry, overwhelmed by almost dying such a terrible death. Her mother sat and comforted her untl Khaat fell back asleep..

Robert had spent all mornng doing his own duties and Khaat's, and watching the horrible creature Jessica had evolved into, from a distance where the creature coudl not see him. The creature was screeching, calling for him relentlessly off and on and then, apparently wearing itself out and settling for awhile again. Robert smiled, knowingly. Jessica's severelly weakened body from having the twins would reduce his strength too. If he could tap into Jessica's will, with his strength and his brains added to it, this might not have to be as prolonged as he first thought. That pleased him immensely. And he had deliberately withheld food and water from the creature in order to make it entirely miserable.

It was mid afternoon when he finally got back to Khaat's room. To his tremendous relief, she had dramatically improved. Her mother was sitting in her room, sketching, and Khaat was running the hospital again, from her bed. Healers and assistants were going in and out like they would from her office. Many of them were just stopping by to leave flowers or little gifts or to give her a hug or warm wishes.

"You certainly look better," Robert said, smiling. "You don't know how relieved that makes me. How are you feeling?"

"Much better," she said, getting some strength back in her voice.

"Excellent." Robert said. He checked her completely, and spent even longer checking Abbey. "Khaat, you were damned lucky. She's fine. She's absolutely perfect. You, however, are not. Not yet. If I let you go, that means you go home and go to bed. If you stay on bedrest, you should be back to your normal fiesty self in about 2 more days. Otherwise you can wait that out right here under my very watchful eye. Now, what do you want to do?"

"I'll go home," she said softly. "I should reassure the staff first."

"Already done. Been to staff meetings in every department all day for every shift. They send their love. Go home," he said. He picked up her chart and signed her discharge papers. "Straight home and into bed with her, Kate," he told Katherine.

After Robert left, Katherine helped Khaat dress, and she apparated her home to her bedroom in the Hogsmeade house. Khaat was beyond caring if Rob found out or not. Katherine brought her a nightgown and helped her change and helped her into bed. "You're not on your game, Khaat," she told her daughter. She produced copies of Khaat's discharge papers "You didn't notice the extra form in what your father gave you. She showed her the middle form.

Robert had put in a medical leave form. And while she was still admitted and not in charge of St. Mungos, she had signed her agreement without looking or thinking, that put her on medical leave for at least a two week minimum. The reason cited was severe migraines caused by extreme stress, and dangerously low weight for her pregnancy. Well, that was all true. He had said nothing about last night. And, Rob would be pleased she was actually going to take some time off. Katherine watched her daughter just wave it aside as being of no importance. "It's alright," Khaat said. "It's for the best, and we all know it."

Katherine frowned as she pulled the covers over her. "Where shall I put your copy of this medical leave?" Katherine asked. "Leave it on the dresser. That will give me less explaining to do when I'm already in bed and asleep when Rob comes home tonight. Just--for now--take the discharge paper with you?"

"Of course," Katherine smiled, kissing Khaat's forehead. "Do you want me to stay?" "No," Khaat said, "One of the kids should be home soon. It will be alright," Khaat replied, yawning. "Rest," Katherine said. "Call us if you need us." Khaat nodded, falling asleep almost instantly. Katherine stayed for several minutes, watching her sleep, unable to tear herself away for quite awhile. Then, reluctantly, she apparated home.

jess stood in a darkened place she knew it was her own mind in front of her a black creature its face hid by a mass of black "who are you and what do you want?"she asked the creature just roared at her charging as if to grasp her in its talons ,she dodged it "ow no i am not that easy" she said holding her own as he came at her again "YOU WILL BE MINE BLOOD OF DUMBLEDOOR" it bellowed at her as she moved out of his way again.