A Birth day

Jack looked at Robert and nodded "the good thing with this weather, is this little thing might not hold" he said showing Robert his vial. He looked over at Angus and listened to the banter, the more Angus spoke the more it seemed his stomach had started to complain " um..Robert you got that sea sickness potion?" he asked turning somewhat a light green in color.

"I think your about to see one sea-sick werewolf," he said and bolted to the window. After a moment of dry heaving, he sat back down and lay on the sea. " I am never doing this again," he said taking deep breaths as he lay looking at the horizon once more. Hearing Angus mention food again he groaned " first time ever I don't want steak." he groaned.

Robert poured Jack a dose of seasick potion and handed it to him.

"That will take care of it quickly," Robert told him.

"I'll go see if I can help Cutter up on the bridge," Angus said, hoping that there was something he could do to ease things a bit. He went up on the bridge and found Cutter at the helm, battling against the sea.

"You're a brave lad to come up here in this mess," Cutter told him. "How's my boy?"

"Robert says he'll be just fine," Angus said. "He swallowed a lot of sea water."

"He'll be useless to me, then," Cutter sighed.

"I'll help as I can," Angus replied.

"Check our position then, Lad. We should be only about thirty minutes out now." Angus did as Cutter asked and checked the position.

"Captain, correct course seven degrees northwest," Angus told him.

"What? Are you sure?" Cutter frowned.

"Aye, Sir," Angus replied. "The storm has us slightly off course."

"7 degrees northwest, aye," Cutter repeated making the correction.

"You should be there in twenty minutes, I'd expect," Angus replied. Fifteen minutes later, they both saw the triangular obelisk that was Azkaban seeming to appear out of nothingness.

"Well done, Lad," Cutter told Angus. "Man the lines if you can."

"Aye," Angus said, going out on deck to help guide the ship to the dock. He was not optimistic that the skies were going to let them cross back in any time soon.

"We're almost there," Robert told Jack, seeing the prison come into view. Angus managed to keep his footing and he secured the ship to the dock as Cutter managed to get them next to the dock without smashing the ship on the rocks. Angus went back into the salon as Cutter powered down the engines. Angus could see lights from up at the prison building. It looked like they were sending someone down to the ship.

"We're here, and we're docked," Angus said. "Looks like someone's coming from inside."

"Yes. In this weather, they will. They will come to escort us inside. They'll bring lanterns and probably some rain slickers for us," Robert said.

Jack was relived seeing the sea sickness potion as this was the first time he'd actually been seasick. " oh thank you" he said and downed the dose feeling the imideate affects making him relax and breath out in relife. When he heard Angus say they were at Askaban he moved to the window and looked out at the towering obalisk in front of them. " good might get something to eat tonight since I left my breakfast about a mile back." he said and chuckled " but that potions great Im not feling any affects with it." he added as he moved to the door to climb off the ship.

Stepping off he breathed out and slipped on a slicker to keep his clothes dry. He made sure Robert and Angus were beside him and stood waiting leaving the offical stuff to them to deal with.

Robert greeted the two men that had come from the prison, and he and Angus accepted slickers and went ashore while Cutter and his one conscious deck hand started to prepare the ship for a return trip. They made the trip up and into the prison and were escorted through several of the locked gates and into some of the offices to the office of the warden.

The warden told them that Fenrir had not particularly given them any problem--except his refusal to take any wolfsbane. Angus believed he understood that. Fenrir believed that werewolves did not need to submit to wolfsbane to appease a human. And, if he just happened to overpower those who were imprisoning him, well, then that was their just desserts for being a weaker species. The warden was recommending against them taking an unmedicated werewolf on a ship in a storm.

"He is to be freed, though," Robert said. "Since he is innocent, I will assume the risk and the responsibility for him. May we see him?"

"As you wish," the warden said, surrendering, with basic attitude that it was Lupin's funeral when Greyback went out of control. He led them to a room used for questioning. where Fenrir was sitting, waiting. Robert and Angus stood, not moving, until the guards left them alone with Fenrir.

"Lupin--you came after all," Fenrir said. "And I am surprised to see you, young Donohue, and...yes..." Fenrir recalled who Jack was related to but could not most immediately recalled his name. "I know who you are related to, but I will not smudge your name with associating you with him." It was a small respect thing but Fenrir believed it made a difference to recognize Jack as not being the same as his brother. "How is my pack? Have they survived?"

"I took the liberty of moving your pack into hiding," Robert said. "As you probably suspected, they were hunted by the public out of fear and by the ministry for awhile. The pack is alive and well and is most anxious to have you back. We have given your pack abundant rations of meat and other foods and anything else they need while we have them hidden so that they have what they need."

"No loss? No injury?"

"No. None. In fact, we found one of your pack who went missing two years ago. A teen girl. Ginger Russell."

"She lives?" Fenrir frowned. "We believed her dead."

"No, no. She is very, very ill. She was taken and kept all this time, and was highly mistreated. She is under my care, and she is doing as well as we can expect. We have provided liberal visits to her parents and her sister."

"Why?" Fenrir looked at Robert.

"You are innocent of this, and so are they," Robert said.

"The witch is supposed to be here,' Angus told him.

"She is," Fenrir sighed. "Shrieks all day because the dementors are especially harsh with her. So what do you plan to do with me?"

"Take you to your pack," Robert said. "Once you've had a couple of good meals and a decent night's rest, we can talk about you and your pack getting back out on your own in a place of your choosing. Might we request, though, just to keep us all safe on the return trip that you only take enough wolfsbane to keep us safe on the ship back?"

"I suppose," Fenrir said, not liking the idea. Still, he was far more anxious to leave here, so if that was the condition for release, Fenrir was not as opposed to taking the wolfsbane as he was to staying. "Are we going to be able to return in this storm?"

"We will do our best," Angus said. "We have no desire to drown either."

"I do not take it lightly that the three of you have battled the elements to come here to get me," Fenrir said. "I appreciate it, and I know my pack appreciates it."

Jack took his sticker and moved with Robert and Angus staying close as he didn't like the palce one bit. Hearing them talk he looked around at the bare walls and cells that lined them. Once Robert and Angus started walking again they were taken to one cell with Fenrir in . he smiled at his words to him.

Hearing Fenrir's words Jack nodded "Jack and hes my family any more, hes a rouge." he said standing with his arms folded " but thank you, in your own unique back handed way" he said waiting for them to finish talking to him explaining abut the girl and how they had found her. He heard them talk about the jurney back and sighed knowing it would be more of the same " yeah, just don't get washed over board, we've already had one rescue getting here, we don't need another" he said

"I didn't get to be an old werewolf by being foolhardy," Fenrir told Jack. "If we can leave, then let's get out of this foul place."

"Agreed," Robert said. He signed the release papers with the warden, and the guards removed all the shackles from Fenrir. Fenrir took the dose of wolfsbane Robert offered him, and then the prison crew escorted them back to the ship. Angus did not like the skies one little bit. The skies were as black as he had ever seen for a sea storm. Thunder rolled, lightening crackled and the rain fell in waves as fierce winds blew them across the tiny island and the sea. It was dangerous even to be on ship at all in this weather because with these winds, if the ship were to be dashed upon the rocks, then it would be smashed to bits. It was Angus's judgement that they would actually be just a tad safer if they were a distance from the island with it's rocky coastline.

Fenrir boarded the ship without a word, and he found his way to the salon without trouble. Robert followed and didn't see the young crew member there any more. Angus boarded and saw Cutter and the one remaining crew member working up on the bridge.

"Cutter, are we missing one of your crew?" Angus asked.

"No, Laddie," Cutter replied. "He is on the lower deck, resting in the crew cabin. Seems he has quite a fierce headache for some reason. You up to serving on the way back?"

"Certainly," Angus replied.

"Then, if you're all aboard, cast the lines, Boy," Cutter told him.

"Aye, Captain," Angus said. He looked into the salon. "We're casting off. Keep your seats as much as possible. It's going to be a rough trip back. I'd make sure you all got a dose of seasick potion just to be proactive. This is not going to be fun or easy either one."

Jack nodded to Fenrir he understood and headed with the others back to the ship and boarded it. Taking his seat he watched as Finrir sat down with Robert " much appreciated" he said knowing he'd be okay for now but was unsure if the potion he'd had would hold for the trip back.

Jack got comfortable on the couch for the trip back hoping it would be uneventful and they would just drop Fenrir at the camp and get back to the main house intime for dinner. But something inside him said that was probably wishful thinking on his part as he too spoted the dark clouds around them " I thought that the storms were just to keep muggles away." he said and glanced at Robert.

"There are storms that affect the muggles to help shield the muggles from seeing this place at all," Robert replied to Jack. "It works much like their legends of the Bermuda Triangle, and those don't affect this ship. However, the weather is the weather, and there are sea storms here just because it is the North Sea. I'm afraid we can't change that." He took a preventative dose of seasickness potion and offered one to Fenrir who accepted simply to prevent him from being vulnerable due to seasickness.

Angus disappeared back up on the bridge after casting off the lines, and Cutter pulled the boat out of port and back into the sea.

"Can you take the helm, Lad, and I'll go make sure our boy down below is strapped into his bunk so he isn't tossed asunder?" Cutter asked him.

"Aye, Captain," Angus said, taking the wheel. Cutter disappeared down below. Cutter was gone about ten minutes or so, and Angus was trying to find the calmest pathway across the turbulent seas. He glanced behind him to see how they were doing in the salon, and he saw Cutter sitting in the navigator's seat, watching Angus's work at the helm. "Your command, Sir," Angus said, stepping back from the helm.

"I didn't relieve you of the helm, did I?" Cutter scowled. "As you were. You're doing a fine job. At the helm, Youngster. I'm starting to believe you might have your certificates after all." Angus scowled slightly, not accustomed to having to prove himself. A halfbaked thought raced through Angus's mind that if he sank the ship, Jess and Kate would not let him hear the end of it.

"Why is the captain not at the wheel?" Fenrir seemed a bit agitated. From where he sat, all he could see was Cutter, sitting in the navigator's chair. The only other ship hand he had seen looked to Fenrir like the lad was about twelve.

"We're in good hands," Robert smiled. "Donohue is experienced as well. I can't see who is at the helm from where I am, but I know he's up on the bridge. Relax and enjoy the trip."

"Enjoy the trip? In this storm? You're barking mad, Lupin," Fenrir scowled at Robert. He looked at Jack. "Your boss is barmy, Jack."

Jack heard Robert and sighed " wish we could," he said softly " might make this trip bearable" he leant back in the seat and looked over at Fenrir as he spoke making Jack laugh " nope, he just knows to trust Angus, as do I, he's good at what he does, besides he can captain this ship with his eyes closed, He has a yacht with sails, so yeah he's good in my book" he closed his eyes hoping to take a quick nap could make the trip go faster. But he would keep his ears open to listen for any trouble.

Jack kept his head down as he felt the ship rock hoping it would not be much further to shore so he could get back on dry land again. There was not much he could do on a ship but hall ropes. Standing up he moved up to the wheelhouse and saw Angus at the wheel steering the ship " all good?" he asked moving to stand next to him.

"So far," Angus smiled at Jack.

"Your boy's doing a fine job," Cutter told Jack. "I'd take the helm back if I thought I could do any better, but he's doing just fine without me. And, believe me, it takes someone with a calm head and some experience under his belt to deal with this. If Lupin ever sets him out on his ear, I'll pick him up for my crew in a heartbeat." Cutter glanced at his remaining deckhand who was fidgeting with a pencil to try to hide his own fear of sea storms. "Most men his age haven't grown their sealegs enough to be calm in a situation like this. My helper here, has a ways to go before he handles this trip very well, but your friend here is as steady as a rock. If he's lucky, he'll find a woman as steady as he is." Angus laughed slightly, knowing Ruby hadn't managed that quite yet. He didn't think it was impossible for her, unless that wasnt' what she wanted for herself.

"Does anything rattle you, Boy?" Cutter asked him.

"Two things," Angus said. "Newborns screeching at three in the morning, and anyone who comes up against my family." Cutter laughed slightly.

"You can have the newborns. Never had to deal with that myself, and I'm not about to start at my age," Cutter replied. "But, someone attacking your family, yeah, I have to admit, I'd not be very calm about that either. Doesn't even seem to bother you that you have two werewolves aboard."

"Why would it when one of them is family to me in every way that matters," Angus said. "I'm glad he's on my side, and he's mighty handy to have in a brawl."

"I bet you are too," Cutter told Jack with a smile.