Working out Time

Jack woke to a cool day, the leaves had turned a golden color telling him fall was well on its way . Stepping out onto the porch he looked around seeing nobody around he took off at full run towards the obstacle course that sat close to the woods. reaching it he didn't slow down jumping and sliding a s winging on ropes until he had to stop as his muscle's finally burned with use. But he knew he could do more. reaching for a climbing wall handle he began to climb his feet touching and finding each hold point as he went higher and higher up.

At the top he paused and looked back down seeing a figure walking in his direction, now he rolled his eyes and looked towards the horizon as he brushed off some dried mud from off the palms of his hands. " So what its to be this time?" he called down with out even turning his head to see who it was.

"I want you to keep your eyes open," Brian said, walking towards him. "We both know Khaat had to work last night doing an emergency at the hospital, but, I got an owl two hours ago that she was going to be home within the hour. That makes her one hour late. She's not home. Nor has Belby signaled me. I don't want to panic, but this isn't like them. Either of them. Robert's already left for the Ministry, or I'd have had him check on her at the hospital, but he was going to the Ministry first today. I don't want to press the panic button, but, I want you to be ready in case I need you to go find where the heck she is." He was trying not to be an uneasy husband. But--there was one more little piece of information he had for Jack.

Abbey was six now, and her accidental magic seemed to be growing all the time. Khaat and Brian decided to let her grow up comfortably, knowing this was natural. They'd never pressed her about it. This morning, though, he'd given them the "magic" crayons to draw on the walls. Abbey was drawing large brown doggies. Somehow Brian knew that just was probably not a good thing.

"You need to know one more thing. Abbey's drawing big brown doggies this morning, Jack," Brian said. "I still refuse to panic, though."

Jack moved and jumped down crouching as he landed then brushing the dirt off his trousers he walked over to Brian and listened. He took in each detail and nodded " I don't think Belby would let anything happen to Khaat, hes a capable man, as for the doggies I caught a subtle hint earlier , its no stronger so I'm guessing there not interested in us..yet, but I'll alert every one that's needed and get Li to strengthen the wards around the homestead." he finished as he stood looking at Brian.

He could not help smirk slightly "Just like Abby, I pick up on the subtle changes around me, quickly." he stuck his hands into his pocket as he glanced at the woods seeing a wolf poke its nose against the barrier then disappear back where it had come.

"If this is James, I swear..." Brian started. He stopped himself. They'd been down this road before--too many times.

"Daddy!" Abbey shouted out the door. "Mama's home, and somebody's leaking on Aggie's white carpet."

"Leaking. Great," Brian sighed. He looked at Jack. "Should we go see who's 'leaking'? Or do we really want to know? This isn't good, is it?"

He turned and started walking back to the house. As much as he was concerned, he really didn't want to find out that James was running loose again.

Brian went in the house to see Khaat and Marcus were both covered in dust and dirt, but Khaat was trying to mop at a large gaping wound across from the top of Marcus's shoulder and twisting down his arm. His suit and his shirt were cut just as sharply as if they'd been sliced with a razor.

"Do I want to know?" Brian said.

"We're fine," Khaat said.

"Oh yeah. Definitely," Brian said, rolling his eyes at them.

Jack moved to pick Abby up in his arms "Yuck, not really but we'd better, Hey ten says its Belby." He said with a grin to lighten the mood around Abby, as he wondered if Brian will take the bet or pass knowing it most likely it was Belby who was, for lack of a batter words leaking on the carpet. He bounced Abby on his shoulder gently but never once losing his grip on her so she would not fall.

Entering the house he chuckled as he saw Jess heading down the stairs and over to Khaat. " looks like you had a fight with a razor blade" He said still holding Abby even at her age he still could hold her on his shoulder. Jess looked up at Brian and Jack then shook her head.

"Its all flesh and muscle looks worse than it is, I've started it healing." she told Brian " he needs to change and rest.

"No, not a razor blade, but James had a manicure apparently," Marcus said dryly. He glared at Khaat. "Do not think I won't out you if you don't spill it yourself."

"Wasn't my fault," she shrugged. "It was your own fault. All in the name of saving me."

"It did save you. Not my fault you always have to wear stupid shoes, you know. How many times have I told you to wear sensible shoes?"

"Sensible shoes are ugly."

"So, don't blame me if you break your own neck, then," he said.

"What's this all about?" Brian said, trying to find a way to get a word in edgewise.

"He ruined my new shoes and my dress," she said. "I'm going to shower. Thanks, Jess, for patching him up." She headed upstairs. Abbey was frowning towards her mother as she watched her walk away.

"What's the matter, Abs?" Brian asked.

"That's not right," Abbey said.

"What do you mean?"

"It feels wrong. Did Mama just tell a little fib?"

"She told a big fib," Marcus said. "You're getting smarter every day, Abbey."

Jack shivered and then growled at the mention of his brothers name. Looking at Marcus he nodded " looks like he did, just wait till I get my hands on him." he stood quiet as Brian spoke to Khaat.

"Hum, seems Abby's got her mothers smarts" he said lightly ticking her. " we'll keep an eye out for him, Brian if its okay nobody leaves unless there's someone with them that can detect him." he suggested. Watching he saw Jess finish with Marcus. Jack placed Abby down next to him and moved to Marcus.

"okay mate up you get." he said offering his hand to help him to his feet. " bedroom or living room?" he asked as to where he wanted to go.

"Living room, please. For now," Marcus said. "I'm tired. I really would like to just sit with a firewhiskey for a few minutes."

"Understood," Brian said. "If you went a round with James, I'll make it a double."

"Perfect," Marcus said. Brian poured Marcus a straight firewhiskey.

"Now," he said. "What's the fib about?"

"James came at us, and I wanted Khaat out of James's way," Marcus said. "I shoved her behind me but she tripped on that stupidass shoe of hers and fell down an outside set of steps--stone steps. She says she's fine, but I saw her when she stood up. She was hurting and had her hand on her ribs. I think she hurt herself, but she denied it completely to me."

Jack helped Marcus to the living room and into a large backed chair. Stepping back he smiled down at Jess who joined them and shook her head. "There are some good low heeled and flat shoes out there." but she glanced at her own shoes as Jack coughed as she then looked back to Jack. " okay point taken." she said shaking her head. " I';ll check on her." Jess kissed Jacks cheek then left.

" I hope you got him as good as he got you" Jack said as he sat down on the arm of the couch he'd stood by. "and if your gonna go up against him again..please call me, I'd love to rip him a new..." he paused glancing at Abby " um..you know what I mean." He said as he folded his arms across his chest making the muscles stand out showing how he'd bulked out with his extra training.

"Ass, Unca Jack?" Abbey looked at him completely innocently.

"Hey," Brian frowned. "Where'd you learn that word?"

"You, Papa, Aggie--everybody. Why?"

"That's not a word for you to use."

"I am not a child," she scowled at him defiantly. Brian raised one eyebrow and tried hard not to laugh. He wanted to, but he knew if he laughed, he'd have no control of his daughter at all.

"You're absolutely right, Abbey," Marcus decided to help Brian out--or try to. "But, I thought you were a princess."

"I am," she frowned at Marcus.

"But, that's not a princess word."

"Can I say butt, then?"

"Um, yeah. Fine. You can say butt."

"Okay," Abbey said, shrugging. She turned and walked off to the playroom.

"How'd you do that?"

"I'm a dad with four kids that are all older than yours, that's how. You'll learn. We all do. Oh, and yes, Jack, I did get one or two licks in."

Upstairs in her room, Khaat tossed out another pair of shoes that Marcus had ruined for her. When he found her at the bottom of the stairs, he'd snapped the heels off her stilettos again. She had really liked these shoes too. She took off the ruined little black dress and tossed it too. She put on a pair of jeans and a one of Brian's cream colored flannel shirts and put it on. She was aching, but she wasn't bleeding. And that was all that counted. Considering how their encounters usually went the fact that she wasn't bleeding felt like a win for her.