LONDON CALLING

"Go inside, Jessie," Robert told him, not wanting any chance for Jessie's impulsiveness to allow him to interfere. He appreciated Kaden's stopping him, but he wanted to send Jessie a clear message that he was not to interfere in this. If he cold not control himself with a bit of beginner's level sparring, he was not going to be able to handle Ruby going into the field with them. He knew Jessie had more potential than that, but the boy really did need to get a grip.

Brian decided to be a little creative, so he animated a patch of thistles to act like spiders. Then he used an Oppugno spell and sent them scurrying, using their roots like legs, at Ruby. It made Robert try to hide a bit of an amused grin, wanting to look serious, but it still amused him seeing a bunch of thistles rushing at her.

When Ruby fired her relashio spell, Brian fumbled his wand, but he immediately used a nonverbal accio spell to draw the wand back up to his hand.

"Good," Brian told her. "Keep it up. Rictumsempra!" He fired the tickling curse at her, knowing that if she couldn't rid herself of it, either he or Robert would step in before it got out of hand. Not saying a word, Robert looked at Brian, as if to remind him that he would have to release her from it if she couldn't resolve it herself. This was only practice, after all. If she could handle it, then Robert would consider the test over because his need to know her skills would be satisfied.

Brian saw she was ready to fire another spell and thought he would see how she responded if he put up a shield, so he put us a confringo spell to shield or block whatever spell she sent next. When she fired a petrifico totalus, it made him laugh, not because of anything on her part but rather because he had just tossed up a shield on a whim. It had been pure, stupid luck on his part.

"Well done, Ruby," Robert called. "Time. Enough testing, so go shake hands." Brian put his wand away and walked over to shake hands with Ruby.

"You did just fine," Brian told her. "I'd say you're in for tonight's mission, if we didn't intimidate you. Your brother, on the other hand, needs to learn to get a grip. You obviously can't be on the same detail with him, regardless. He would fumble it for certain. I can't let you two partner together. That would be exceptionally bad."

"He'll learn," Robert said, coming over to the two of them. "It'll take him some adjustment, but he'll get it. Brian's right, though. If you want to come with us to Paris, I'll pair you with a partner for tonight."

"That's exactly it," Brian said. "I can't have him distracted or distracting you or distracting anybody else. Robert and I completely understand what it is like to have your loved one in active combat with you. We both have done it and continue to do it on a regular basis, and so do Jack and Jess. We all consider each other family, so every time we go out, we're in that very situation. However, one has to learn to stay professional and to rely on your training. You and your brother both have some training to do, and if we didn't think you would be able to develop into the fighters you need to be, trust me, neither Robert or I would permit you to accompany us on the very first mission."

"I realize you work for the ministry," Robert told her. "But, the private training I can provide you will exceed the training that the Ministry does. Brian is in charge of training for the Ministry, but they do keep some tight limits on him that I never imposed when I was there. I think every ounce of training you can get is just one more piece of insurance that could save your life. You're certainly welcome to continue doing what you do with them, but if you want more, this is the place to get it."

Brian and Robert followed Ruby into the kitchen and helped themselves to cheesecake, and Brian made sure that Abbey got a little piece too. When he sat down to eat his dessert, Abbey left her dessert to climb up on his lap. Brian magically slid her piece of cheesecake to be in front of him so she could reach it

"Yes, Jessie, you're right," Brian smiled.

"Daddy," Abbey said, curling into him to cuddle with him.

"Yes?" he asked her quietly.

"I miss Mama," she said.

"Me too," he said.

"Is she with ReeRee?"

"No, no, Pet. Why would you ask?"

"I no hear her now. She gone and BooBoo Kitty gone."

"I know. You and Gram and Jess all have trouble with that right now, but your mama isn't with ReeRee--not like you think. She's with Marcus. Where's your BooBoo Kitty?"

"I no know. Mama come back?"

"Yes," Brian said. "We'll bring her home--soon I hope."

"BooBoo Kitty come back?"

"I bet Aunt Jess knows where your BooBoo Kitty is. She always knows these things. We'll ask her to help us find him when she has the time." If anyone in the house would know where Abbey's stuffed gray tabby kitty was, it was surely Jess. The floppy stuffed kitty had reminded Khaat of the best parts of a stuffed animal and a ragdoll all rolled into one, and it was Abbey's favorite toy. It was not like her to lose track of BooBoo Kitty.

"I seep wich you tonight?" she asked.

"You want to sleep with me?" he asked. She nodded.

"Alright," he said. It wasn't something he normally did, but he felt like he needed to make an exception. Part of him had not wanted to put Abbey in his bed so he could slip out of the house later tonight and go to Paris on his own to look for Khaat, but Abbey had unwittingly put a kibosh on that by asking to sleep with him.