Chapter Ten
The Hallway

Autolycus breathed a collective sigh of relief as the two newcomers to
the library left, closing the door behind them. Thank Gods they had not known he
was in there, and he had not been about to let them know that he was in there!
Instead, he had tried very hard not to make a single sound, not even one of
breathing, while they had debated the ethics of, of all things, mind wiping.

Autolycus had been in the library, going through sex manuals on animal
mating and desperately seeking an answer for Eddie, but nothing had covered the
subject of a donkey and a wolf doing it! Autolycus had shaken his head and had
been about to reach for another book when he had heard voices and had hidden.
Now he checked the hallway to make sure nobody was in it, and he quickly left
the library, heading toward his own room. Never did he hear the voice that
whispered in the empty room behind him.

Autolycus hoped to find Elizabeth in their room. He had almost reached
the safety of his room when he heard some one walking. As they drew nearer, he
recognized the footsteps of his beloved. "Liz?" he called, turning around and
waiting for her to catch up with him. His breath caught in his throat as she
came closer. Her lovely face was a mess. Her long, luscious hair looked as
though she had been tearing at it, and runny makeup and tear stains
criss-crossed over her face.

"Liz!" He ran to her. "What's wrong, darling?" He lifted her chin and
saw that tears still sparkled in her eyes. He kissed both of her eyes and then
the tip of her nose. "Is there anything I can do to help you feel better?" What
had happened, he wondered, to make her so sad so soon when she had just been so
happy with him during their picnic before Eddie had interrupted them?

Elizabeth had been trying desperately not to break down and dwell on
what she now knew had happened to Will. She knew that time was of the essence
for the meeting would soon be taking place and she had to have both men down
there in time, but when Autolycus kissed her, she trembled and finally broke at
his quietly-spoken question. Sobbing, she fell into his arms. "Oh, Toly, it's so
awful! Poor Will!"

Out of all of the things that Toly had expected, this was not one of
them! "What's wrong with Will, sweetheart? Is there something we can do to help
him?" He held her as she cried and stroked her back to try to soothe her
trembling body.

"What's been being said is true, dear. He and Jack are a part due to his
inability to rise, but . . . " She shook like a leaf inside the safety of his
arms. "Dear Gods, the reason why! Oh, Toly; it's so horrible, what that bitch
did! If Jack hadn't already killed her, I'd kill her myself!"

Her words shocked him at first. He had never heard her talk with such
conviction about killing any one, but surely it was only do to her anger. "You
want to tell me about it?" He stroked her hair back from her face, gently
massaging her temples. "What did the bitch do to him?"

"I-I-I only know one thing, but tha-that is so horrible I can not
imagine what could possibly be any . . . any worse!" She looked at the man she
loved through vision clouded by tears that poured like rain for she could feel
her brother's pain almost as strongly as though it were her own. "She cut it
off, Toly!"

His eyes grew large in shock; he stared at her for a moment before
finding his voice. "That?! Oh my Gods! The poor man!" It was almost as though he
could feel his own being cut off in sympathy! Shuddering, he pulled Elizabeth
closer as though she could protect him from the threat of some one cutting his
off. Then a thought besides the pain occurred to him. "How does he . . . go to
the bathroom?" Autolycus queried. {That could really be a problem!} he thought.
{Surely he can . . . ?}

"He was healed, remember? It's intact, but it doesn't . . . it doesn't
work like it should and you know he's never going to be able to forget that! Who
could?" How many other men, she wondered, could have even survived such a
horrendous nightmare?

"We need to get a telepath to help him," he spoke confidently as he
recalled the conversation he'd overheard between Hook and Celina. "We should ask
Rachel for her help. I'm willing to pay her anything she asks. To heal your
brother and make him one with his love again would bring the smile back to your
eyes, my darling; I'm willing to do anything to see you smile again." Looking
adoringly at her face, he traced her down-turned lips with a gentle thumb.
"We'll ask her after the meeting."

"I'm not really sure how these telepaths work," Liz admitted with a
slight frown of confusion. "Could she really make him forget all about it?"

"I'm not sure myself," Autolycus admitted, "but we can't lose anything
by asking. Ray would be the one most likely to help."

She nodded. "We'll do so immediately after the meeting." She smiled up
into his eyes. "You always have a plan, sweetheart, and you never cease to amaze
me!" She kissed him.

"And you look more beautiful every time I see you, darling!" He leaned
down and kissed her gently. "Where were you heading to so quickly? Is it
something I can help you with?"

"I need to sneak into Jack's room and get Will something to wear. Would
you believe he hasn't bathed in a month?"

He sniffed her again. "You'd best change your dress, dear," he advised,
"before you get him clean clothes or they'll smell just like he already does.
I'm afraid he got some on your dress. I'll get him some clothes while you
change."

"No offense, love, but I need to do this. I need to pick out which
outfit he'll look the most handsome in. It needs to be something that will drop
Jack's mouth and leave him begging."

Toly looked at her with eyes of love. "Like I'm begging now,
sweetheart?" He grinned at her. "I can't wait for the damn meeting to be over so
that we can be alone again!"

"That makes two of us, my heart," she agreed, grinning widely for just a
moment before falling solemn again, "but it may have to wait a little longer
than that. We've got to get Will and Jack straightened out first, but then . . .
" She reached over and gently twirled his mustache. "I'm all yours."

"I can hardly wait, my love! In the mean time, I'll be dreaming of every
second we spend together!"



--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Screams made Cole's and James' heads snap up. They looked at each other,
then at a snowy white owl that swooped with a scream through the hall. Both
barely had time to leap out of the way before Delvira would have knocked them
down as she raced after her husband, tossing fireballs ahead of them to try to
slow him down. "Don't you dare continue running from me, Jareth!" she screeched.
"Slow your ass down, and come down here and talk like a man!"

Her only answer was another screech of the owl and an increase in his
flight speed. "Curse you, Jareth! No one blames you! At least, I don't! Why
should it matter if any one else does?! I'm the only one you hurt!"

He would not listen to reason, however, and only continued to fly
faster, cutting increasingly sharper turns around corners and trying desperately
to lose her. She knew he was headed back to his room, but she would let him go
through that door no more than she had the three times he'd headed for it
before. She'd take the whole damn house apart, if she had to, to stop him! He
would not get away from her!

She tossed two fireballs at once, ignoring some bit's nearby scream. She
paid no more attention to Autolycus as he swept Elizabeth into his arms and
pressed them both against the supposed safety of the wall. The next corner,
Delvira knew, would bring Jareth into focus with his room. She had to stop him!

As they rounded the corner, Delvira almost collided with Wolverine, who
was already slapping his arms over his head and bellowing. {Jareth must have
touched down upon him,} Delvira thought, {just long enough to piss him off and
cause me a distraction. Better luck next time, baby. Not!} She did not slow;
Wolverine did not see her. Delvira leapt just before she could hit him and
landed on his shoulders. He nearly toppled beneath her, but as he went down, she
leapt again, her arms reaching out as far as she could stretch.

Her hand touched Jareth's talon. She made a grasp for it and let out a
surprised screech when he scratched her. Her skin ripped, and blood trickled.
Even as she fell, she lobbed fireballs toward his door. She hit the floor hard;
Jareth still did not slow.

Delvira sat up quickly and was startled to hear a voice that sounded
almost next to her ear. "Come inside; meet the Missus." She looked at Worm with
clear surprise shining in her black eyes. His Missus was long dead!

The sound of a slamming door snapped Delvira back to attention. She
leapt to her feet, but it was too late for Jareth was nowhere in sight and his
door was closed. She rushed to it, wondering what had happened to her fireballs
-- had her husband somehow magicked them away? --, and tried to open it. She put
every ounce of her strength into trying to pull the door open first and then
into trying to break it down, but nothing worked.

Then, with a scream of rage, she whirled around. Fireballs glistened in
both her curled, pale hands. Wolverine, who, up until that point, had been
planning on creaing a little Hell of his own, rushed around the corner.
Delvira's eyes searched the wall. There was no sign of Worm, so she settled for
hurling her fireballs at the spot where he had been. "Damn you, Worm! If I ever
see you again, I'm throwing you into a damn tequilla bottle and giving you to
Faith!"

Worm trembled in his hiding spot but dared not show himself. His loyalty
lay to the King. It always had and always would.



--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Derek's Bedroom

"Ow!" Derek cried out as Chong's fist slammed into his nose. He fell
back, holding his nose in both hands. Blood seeped through his fingers.

"Chong," Hansel exclaimed, "look at what you've done!" He turned to
Derek and held his hands gently around his nose. "Let me see, baby," he crooned,
forgetting, for a moment, how afraid he was of losing Chong. "How bad is it?"

Glaring daggers into Derek, Chong exploded. "CAO NI ZU ZONG SHI BA DAI,
CHOU WANG BA DAN YANSE LANG!!!" Hansel looked at Chong with an open mouth; he'd
never heard him cuss like that! Then, in English, Chong continued, "YOU CAN'T
HAVE HANSEL! HE'S MINE!!!" He reached out, grabbed Hansel's arm, and slapped a
handcuff on him.

"Chong!" Hansel protested, trying to pull away, but the angry, Chinese
man would have none of it.

"You're not getting off of there again!" Chong told Hansel as he yanked
him to him.

"You can't do that!" Derek spoke around his bleeding nose. His hands
dropped from his nose and balled into fists. He would fight for his love's
freedom, even if he didn't stand a chance in Hell of winning! "You can't do that
to him! Release him! He's not yours to take! He says he loves both of us, and
I'm not willing to give up my part!"

"I'm not willing to share!" Chong told him, glaring at him. "He is mine!
He was mine first! You can't have him!"

Derek got a hold of Hansel's free hand; Chong pulled at him with the
chain. Hansel's yells went unnoticed by both as they each tried to keep him.

"WHAT THE HELL'S GOING ON HERE?!" James demanded to know, his mustache
bristling, as he came up to the group. "There's a meeting in fifteen minutes!
You will let Hansel go, Chong," James told him. "Hansel will not run off
anywhere. You can't tear him in half and each have half of him! It doesn't work
that way! He's admitted that he loves both of you, and you've got to work a
solution out!"

James had heard most of the conversation and witnessed the war on poor
Hansel's body. Hansel looked as though he had been through Hell that day. First,
Faith had beaten the Hell out of him, and now his aching body felt as though
he'd been ripped in half by his two lovers.

"I'm not going to share him! He's mine!" Chong stated again.

"Actually, Chong," James dared to look him in the eyes, "Hansel belongs
to Hansel, and if I was him, I'd deny both of you." He turned and walked off,
leaving the three behind him with gaping mouths.



--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Jack's Bedroom

Jack threw a pair of pants at Elvira for the fifth time. "I'M NOT
WEARING THOSE DAMN THINGS!" he bellowed. "I DON'T CARE WHAT YOU DO WITH THEM!
GET RID OF THEM, AND GET ME A NORMAL PAIR OF PANTS OUT OF MY CLOSET!" He glared
angrily at her.

"Normal is so overrated." Elvira sighed and shook her head. Then, a
thought crossed her mind. She bent and gathered the pants slowly into her arms.
As she stood, she shook her head again and shrugged her shoulders. "Fine," she
announced. "If you only want to be some of the man you could be for Will instead
of all of the man . . . " She slowed as she headed out the bathroom door.

"I CAN'T WEAR THOSE DAMN THINGS! THEY SHOW TOO MUCH!"

"They only show what they were made to show."

"I'M NOT JARETH!" He thought back to the last time he had seen the King.
That man wore the tightest pants he had ever seen in his life, and now he knew
why. Delvira's taste in pants was definitely . . . lacking.

"No one said you were!"

"I think I look good enough without being stuffed into a can where I
can't move! Now hurry or we're going to miss the meeting!"

"They can't start the meeting without the Captain, Jack; you, of all
people, should know that! And I'm telling you: If you'd just try them on, you'd
be surprised at how well they fit! You can actually get around better in them
than you can in most pants."

"Elvira," he growled out threateningly.

"Oh, don't try to threaten me, little birdie," she told him with a
sashay of her hips. "I've eaten men thrice as big as you for breakfast, but if
you don't want to look the best for Will . . . Well . . . " She shook her head
again. "That's you, but I'd do anything and everything I could to catch my Wolf
again. I've even got a new plan hatching that involves naked breasts and fresh
Spring lamb, and believe me, the thought of young lambs being mutilated for
eating totally grosses me out . . . But, hey, it's all for my Wolfie Wolf!"

"Your Wolfie Wolf?" Jack brought a finger to his lips and looked at her
intently. He then pointed downward to one of the grills in the wall. He hoped
she would understand the message he was sending her.

Wolf was nearby, and he was listening. He licked his lips at the thought
of young Spring lamb, and yet he licked his lips when he saw her even more. He
could hardly wait to hold her yet once again. Then he had to remind himself of
that awful, awful time so recently fresh in his mind that he'd almost killed his
beloved mate. He'd almost eaten her, for Gods' sakes! No way could he get near
her! But he couldn't seem to stay away, either! What was a wolf to do?

Elvira turned back to look at Jack. "I already know, hon," she told him
with a wink. Placing a finger on her nose, she mouthed, "The nose knows."

"Please get me another pair of pants, Elvira," Jack pleaded with her one
more time, "and hurry! We don't want to delay the meeting!"

"Fine," Elvira replied with a shake of her head, "but you're missing a
great opportunity here." Just as she went into the bedroom, however, she heard
the door shut, and when she reached the closet, she found it empty. "Looks like
you've got no choice after all!" she called back.

"WHY IS THAT?" Jack yelled out the door.

"Your clothes are gone!"

"Find out who took my clothes and bring them back! Thieves amongst us?
We're Pirates, for Gods' sakes, and we're a family! We're not supposed to be
stealing from each other, just others! Find out who took my clothes and quick,
Elvira!"

"I thought you didn't want to delay the meeting?"

"I want my clothes! I want a good pair of pants! I can't go out there,
looking like that! Now please hurry; they couldn't have gotten too far!"

"You could," Elvira told him. "You just won't." She made a clucking
noise that sounded like a chicken.

"I'm not gonna do it! I'll wear a sheet first!"

She laughed. "Actually, there is something to be said about a sheet.
Most of them are so sheer that they reveal even more than what these pants do."

"Elvira, what am I gonna do with you?"

Elvira laughed again. "You may not appreciate me now, Jack, but you will
when Will's mouth hangs open and he has to shut it to keep from panting like a
dog in heat."

"Are you going or not, Elvira? And take those awful pants with you; give
them to whoever took my clothes!"

"Fine, fine . . . " she muttered with a roll of her black eyes. "Let me
just locate the scent." It took her less than a minute of sniffing to figure out
who the culprit was. "Huh!" A look of complete surprise flashed over her pale
face.

"Elvira, I can tell you can tell who it is. Go get them, and give them
that pair of pants! I don't know why they want me clothes, but they damn sure
can't have them!"

"That makes two of us," Elvira called as she headed for the door. "I
can't fathom what Autolycus would want with your wardrobe."

"Damn you, Autolycus!" Jack exclaimed, striking the wall. He couldn't
believe the thief was up to his old tricks again! "Remind him to stay out of my
closet if he wants to keep from being marooned! He must have stolen them for
Elizabeth, but I don't care! Nobody messes with my clothes! Go get them back and
hurry, but find out what he wanted them for while you're at it!"

"I'm going," Elvira called as she walked out, "and I know you haven't
eaten in days so feel free to help yourself to the little bug dish I keep in my
supplies. It's on one of the fold out trays." The door clicked shut behind her.

"Bug dish? Do I even want to know?" He looked down at the tray. He
looked a little closer at it. "There's something moving in there," he commented
to the merkitty who was watching him. "I'm not opening that! Euuw! How could any
one eat those things?!" His stomach lurched at the mere thought of devouring
actual bugs!



--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Derek's Bedroom

Hansel quickly remembered how to work his mouth. "James, please, don't
leave me like this! He's still got me handcuffed! They could go back at ripping
me apart, and I'd be helpless!"

"Release him," James commanded as he whirled around to face Chong again.
He raised his hook threateningly, pointing it at the Chinese man's face.

Chong reluctantly released Hansel. "I'm not willing to share!"

"I am!" Derek exclaimed, still not letting go of Hansel's arm but now
rubbing the part that he had been pulling on. "I'll do anything to keep my part
of Hansel!"

Chong stomped angrily down the stairs and into the meeting room. This
could continue forever, because he was not going to give up Hansel and he'd be
damned if Derek was going to get a piece of his man!

It had only been Derek's exclamation that he was willing to share that
had kept Hansel from running. Now he slumped like a pillow that had had the
stuffing beaten out of it against the door; it was all he could do to keep
standing. He looked at James through a swolled, blackened eye. "Thanks."

"I don't know how you got yourself in that position, son, but I don't
have any advice for you. I wish you good luck, though." He continued on his way
to the next room without a backward glance. He was thankful that he was not in
Hansel's shoes. All he wanted was Smee; all he had ever wanted was Smee. He just
had to find a way to win his love back over, and he thought he might finally be
on the right track. He resumed his humming.

Derek shook his head as he looked adoringly at Hansel. "Chong's a fool.
Better to have part of you than none at all," Derek told him. "You're the best
thing that's ever happened to me! I'm sorry I pulled you so hard a while ago,
but I was afraid I was going to lose you! You poor baby!" he cried, looking at
his black eye. "Did Chong do that you? I'll beat him to within an inch of his
life!"

Hansel started to shake his head but stopped as he discovered that that
even hurt now. "No, Faith did that one." He reached up and caressed Derek's
face. "I'm so glad you understand. I really didn't mean for this to happen! I
was hiding out in Tortuga, mostly to keep Faith safe from herself but also
partially to try to figure out which one of you I love the most. You see how
Chong got a hold of me. I felt like I had no choice, that I had to choose
between the two of you, and since he got me first, I felt like I had to choose
him. But then . . . then I was here and seeing you cry . . . Oh, baby, I wish I
could keep you from hurting!" His fingers traced the stains Derek's tears had
made on his face.

Derek gently kissed Hansel. "And I wish I could take your pain away! Let
Chong be an idiot! I'll take care of you and love every minute doing so! Faith
won't hit you any more. If she does, I'll hit her!"

"I love you! I always have, from the first moment we met! It doesn't
matter that you don't love me all the way yet; maybe one day, you will. I'm even
willing to tolerate Chong, if you really want him, but he'll have to make that
decision too." He held on to Hansel as though he was his lifeline, and his hand
ran gently down his back.

"We'd best get down to the meeting. Promise me one thing, though,
Hansel, that you won't run and hide any more and that, if you have any more
problems, you'll come and talk to me. We'll try to work things out."

Hansel pressed his face into the side of Derek's and breathed in his
scent. It felt so good to hold him and be held by him again! "I knew you'd be
understanding," he breathed, "and I promise. No more running, no more hiding.
But if Faith gets back to Tortuga, you know some one's gotta have to keep the
girl from doing herself in."

He pulled back just enough that he was able to place his face against
Derek's. His forehead pressed gently against his forehead, his nose to his nose,
and his lips hovered just a breath away from his. "And I want you to know,
Derek, I honestly do love you! I don't know how it's possible, but I truly feel
like I love both you and Chong with all my heart!"

"I hope we can get to the bottom of this one day soon, weed him out of
my heart, out of my system," he knew he was lieing for he would have told Chong
that Derek was the one he wanted to weed out, "but I just don't know how right
now! And thank you for always being so understanding with me. I love you!" This
time, he pressed his lips to Derek's, gently at first and then with growing
passion.

"We'd best get to the meeting," Derek broke off reluctantly, "or they'll
be up here looking for us. We can continue this later, sweetheart. I can't wait
to delve into your private ocean!"

Hansel took Derek's hand in his and linked his fingers with his. Hand in
hand, they headed toward the family room. {Let Chong fume,} Hansel thought.
Maybe he'd decide he was worth sharing. Besides, it looked like Derek would be
the better choice, after all. He was understanding. He was sweet. He was good to
him.

Yet, then again, he'd always thought Chong to be all of that, and Chong
had never tried to run from the feelings they had for each other, as Derek once
had. He sighed inwardly, but his smile remained in place. The only way some one
could have told he was still sad is if they had bothered to look into his eyes.
It was great to be back with Derek, but oh, how he missed his Chinese otter
already!



--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Jack's Bedroom

"Wolf, I know you're in there," Jack called out to his friend. "Why
don't you come on out of there? We've got to get you back the way you were!
Elvira sure would like to see you!"

"I can't!" Wolf cried up at Jack. "I can't trust myself! I'll eat her!"

"I don't see how."

"But I did . . . almost! One of the tests . . . ! I can't trust myself
around her!"

"So instead you hide in the walls?"

"Yeah, and watch her sleep at night." His tail thumped.

"She knows you're there."

"As long as I'm here and she's there, she's safe."

"Do you want to eat me?" Jack asked him.

"No."

"What about any of the other beings that live in the house?"

"No. Just her!" He whined.

"I'm going to get a telepath to see about your problem."

"Can you make it soon, Jack? I am awfully hungry!" He fought desperately
to keep from licking his lips as he thought of his beloved and quell the painful
roar in his stomach.

"Yeah, I'll make it in just a little bit, Wolf. Damn!" Jack exclaimed.
"We can't have you coming out of the walls and eating your girlfriend! I'll set
something up just as soon as I get down to the business meeting," he promised,
staring at his reflection in the small mirror above the sink. Water splashed
onto him, and he reached a hand down to stroke the merkitty. He was rewarded
with a purr that sounded bigger than the kitty looked.



--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Autolycus & Elizabeth's Bedroom

Autolycus' head snapped up as a knock sounded upon his bedroom door. He
didn't move, didn't breathe. Was it Jack? Had the Captain discovered that he was
the one who had stolen from him?

"I know you're in there, Autolycus, and I know what you've done. Now
open the door."

Autolycus looked at the door with larger eyes. Jack had sent Elvira
after him? Why? Was she going to try to eat him?

"Honey," Elizabeth called from the bathroom door, where she had,
evidently, just finished redressing, "what is it?"

"Keep your voice down," he whispered warily. "It's Elvira. She's come
for the pants!"

"Well, she can't have all of them!"

Elvira looked at the pants in her own hand, her mind swiftly putting two
and two together. "Elizabeth," she questioned through the closed door, "why do
you guys want Jack's pants?"

"Will needs an outfit to turn Jack's head."

"I have just the thing."

"You do, do you?" Liz queried in return.

"I do indeed! Black leather pants!"

"What's so great about them other than the fact that they're made of
leather?"

"They're the same sort of pants Jareth wears. They were bought from the
same designer."

Elizabeth started to hurry toward the door, then slowed and looked at it
in sudden suspicion. "Why would you just give them to us?"

"Because Jack refuses to wear them!"

"Why?"

Elvira rolled her eyes. "Who knows? I never thought of him as a chicken
until a little while ago when he stauntly refused them! They'd be perfect to use
for him to turn Will's head, but since he refuses them, Will can be the one to
make him beg!"

"And you're giving them to us freely?" Elizabeth asked, opening the door
a crack as Autolycus gripped a sword in the background.

"Absolutely," Elvira spoke at first but then relented. "Well, not quite.
More of a trade really. You give me Jack's pants back; I'll give you these."

"Pass them through the door and let me take a look at them."

Elvira handed Elizabeth the pants; she quickly shut and locked the door
in the Vampiress' face. Liz then turned to Autolycus and held the pants out. She
examined them carefully, imagining first what they would look like on her
beloved and then how they would look on Will. A slow grin tugged at her mouth.
"Mmm!" she announced at last. "Got any more of these?"

"I'm not wearing those things!" Toly told her. "Jareth's the only man I
know who can carry that off! I doubt Will will wear them."

"Ah, you're just too modest!" Elizabeth exclaimed. "But you're right."
She frowned. "Will's even more modest than you are."

"Just tell him you don't know what Jack did with the other pants and
that these are all you can find," Elvira advised through the door. "The only
other one you could get clothes from, especially on short notice like this, is
Autolycus, and his simply wouldn't fit him."

"Do you think he'd buy it?"

"It depends. Can you carry off a lie?"

"Of course I can carry off a lie! I'm a Pirate!"

"And a very good one, at that!" Toly complimented her. "The only way
you're going to get those pants on Will is if they're the only pair you carry in
there, and then you're going to have to drag him out of there."

Elizabeth had flashed Autolycus a brilliant smile when he'd declared her
to be a very good Pirate, but now she fell serious again. "Actually, I don't
really think that's going to be a problem. I thought I was going to have to drag
him originally; that's why I went to check on him. He believes he's got to go to
the meeting to stay on the crew, and he's determined to stay on the crew so that
he can at least be close to Jack even if he can't make him happy. However, I
think I may have fixed that problem, too . . . At least I hope I did . . . "
Realizing what she'd said, Elizabeth exclaimed, "And don't either of you dare
repeat that to anybody!"

"Cross my heart, hope to die," Toly assured her with a wink, "if I ever
repeat it. You know what the meeting's about, though? Trying to work problems
out?"

"I know," Elizabeth assured him, "but that doesn't mean Will needs to
know. Elvira?" She looked pointedly at the Vampiress as she opened the door and
Autolycus sat his sword back down.

"You have my word. Besides, I want to see the boys back together as much
as you do, girl! I've been working on Jack practically all morning! Wait till
you see him again; you won't recognize him!" She giggled, wrinkled her nose, and
winked.

"I hope that's good," Liz mused doubtfully.

"It's better than good. It's great!" Elvira grinned. "Now how about
those clothes?"


Chapter Eleven
The Hallway

This was the last door Wolverine had on his end of the hall. He knew who
was behind the door, and he really didn't want to knock on it. He had seen her
earlier and known that she was in a rage. He had no choice. If he didn't tell
her and get her to the meeting, then 'Ro would be mad at him. He couldn't win
for losing. {Damn, damn, damn!} he muttered silently as he knocked on the door.
"There's a meetin' in fifteen minutes downstairs, Kat. Ya need ta be there."

"I di nae need tae be any damn where, Wolverine," Kat snapped back. "Now
gi the fuck away an' leave me be!"

"Can't do that. 'Ro'll have my head if I don't bring ya. If ya won't
come peaceful like, I have ta tell her. But I think ya two almost had a fight
already today, didn't ya?"

"Aye, yer wee bitch 'tis screwed in the head! Ye can gi back tae her an'
tell her I tol' the whole bleedin' lot o' ye tae get fucked an' that I'll burn
whoe'er thinks they're bastard or bitch enough tae take me tae th' damn
meetin'!"

"No problem," Wolverine told her. He figured he'd let the two women
fight it out. He'd had enough fighting for one day. Without another word, he
headed back down to the kitchen, where he'd last seen 'Ro.



--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

As she raised her fist to knock upon the closed door, her mind flashed
back to the images of the women within. Both were beautiful, but it was the
latest one whose image had been haunting her mind while she had been calling
others to the meeting. It might have been her imagination, but she couldn't help
thinking that Tessa had been admiring her just as she had her.

Her fist still raised to knock, Rachel hesitated again. Tessa was
beautiful, but Kitty needed her . . . needed her but didn't want her. Surely it
couldn't hurt to entertain ideas of an affair with Tessa, an affair that might
at least help to dull the pain in her heart? Her fist fell softly against the
wood of the door.

Tessa almost ran to the door. She couldn't wait to see Ray another time!

Janeesa got slowly from her place on the floor and trailed behind her
sister. She wondered if she could get closer to her Golden Angel without him
knowing it. If he said one word about his music instrument, she knew right where
it was and she could tell him. For now, it was her secret. She hid a smile
behind her hand as she slipped closer to her sister.

Tessa snatched the door open. "Hi," she said with a smile. She didn't
know why she was being so bold. Usually, she was very bashful, but Ray just
brought that out in her.

Rachel found Tessa's smile to be instanteously infectious and returned
her grin. "Hey. It's almost time." Her eyes again travelled the long length of
Tessa's body, falling, at last, upon her legs. Most admirers would have had
their eyes returned to the lovely brunette's ample busom, but Ray's green eyes
lingered on her legs. She wondered what she looked like with a tail, and then a
thought crossed her mind that gave her grin a wry twist. How would a human go
about doing it with a mermaid? Was it possible to do it when they were in their
tailed form, or would they have to have two legs in order to mate properly?
There had to be a way . . .

Tessa blushed as Ray's eyes swept her body. She wondered what was going
through the redhead's mind but wasn't about to ask. She glanced at Janeesa
nervously, but Janeesa seemed to be in her own world. She reached out and
grasped her sister's hand. "Time for the meeting, dear; let's go down." She
pushed the door to behind her and then, giving Ray another smile, said, "Lead
on, please."

Rachel took the lead without hesitation and used her best walk as she
led the way. Her hips swayed from side to side, and her head held high but not
too proudly. She knew she was poetry in motion. She was proud, confident, but
not overly so, she assured herself, and she wanted Tessa to know that. She
wondered if she could trust Janeesa enough to get away with questioning her
about her sister.

Tessa followed behind, watching every movement of Ray's. Her walk was so
graceful and exuded confidence and power. She wondered if she was that good in
bed and what it would be like to sleep with a human. Only Janeesa had been
interested in humans for as long as Tessa could remember. Not once had she even
been curious, but now she wanted to know all about them: how they walked, which
Ray was doing a very fine job of, she thought, her eyes not missing a single
movement, and even how they slept. She was determined to find out if a mermaid
and a human could make it as soon as possible.

First, they had this silly meeting to go to. She figured since Janeesa
and she were outsiders, they really didn't need to and would probably be asked
to leave the minute they got there, but every second she spent in Ray's presence
counted. What was it about this one, strange, red-haired girl that made her
heart do flip-flops every time she saw her?



--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Cole knocked on the door yet again. His innumerable knocks had not done
any good. He knew Smee was in there and that he had to come down for the
meeting, but the man simply refused to answer. At last, Cole shimmered into the
room and had to hold his nose at the stench. "Smee, why are you abed? Have you
fouled yourself, man? Are you sick?" Cole peered anxiously at him but did not
approach the bed.

Smee's red eyes flew open at the unexpected sound. "What're you doing in
here?!" he demanded. "Get out! Get Out! GET OUT!" He threw a pillow at him but
was careful not to make it the one beneath his head.

"I will not get out of the room! I have been sent to fetch you, and
fetch you, I will, but not until you have changed your filthy garments! You can
not be seen in public like that! Every one must attend the meeting! We do not
have time for you to get a bath, but at least you can change your clothes!" Cole
dodged the pillow and let it hit the wall.

"I'll do no such thing! What makes you think you can command me as
though you're my C-C-C-C-C-Captain?!" Even saying the word brought a great swell
of pain to Smee's heart, and tears ran down his face yet again. Every time he
thought he was cried out, he discovered he still had more to cry.

"Vang needs your presence downstairs. After all, you are his partner. I
will not allow you to stay up here when you need to be down there. If I have to,
I will drag you out, but I would rather you come calmly along so as not to draw
attention to yourself." He walked across the room to the closet and opened the
door. Grabbing the first set of clothes he saw, he pulled them out. "Put this
on, and hurry, man! We don't want to be late!"

"I'm not changing my clothes, and I'm not leaving this room! I'm doing
all for Vang that I'll do!"

"What do you mean you've done all for Vang that you will do? Until the
test results are in, man, you need to do everything you can! Your fate is the
same as his; you hang on each other. Don't make me have to get you out of this
bed; I can, and will, do it!"

Smee folded his arms across his flabby chest. "That's the only way
you're getting me out of this bed! Who do you think you are to come in this room
and make such demands?!"

Reaching out his hand, Cole snatched the cover off of Smee. "One way or
the other, little man, you're gonna get up. You're gonna get dressed or I'm
gonna dress you myself. You will go to the meeting. I don't care if you sit
anywhere near James Hook or not. You can stand on your head, for all I care, but
you will go to the meeting!"

Smee glared at the stranger who he vaguely recognized as one of Jack
Sparrow's men. "Do whatever the Hell you want to me; you can put me in no worser
Hell than I already am! But I'm not leaving this room!"



--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Brendan's Bathroom

He drove shaky hands through his dark curls and bent his head back
underneath the fountain of pouring water. He had to stop crying, he told himself
sternly yet again. He had to stop crying. Elizabeth would be back soon. He had
to stop crying!

Yet no words of wisdom seemed to do him any good. He could no more stop
the tears that raced down his face than he could quell the pain in his heart, or
a hurricane for that matter, or forget that he was soon going to have to face
him. Elizabeth had given him hope, but now alone again, Will could not help
wondering. He had already failed Jack greatly. What if his love refused him a
third chance? What if a . . . blow job, as Elizabeth called it, would not
satisfy his needs? What if he still failed him? Hell, what if his mouth began to
refuse to work as stubbornly as the pathetic thing that hung limply between his
legs did?! What could he possibly do then?!

Ever since the first moment Will had met Jack, he'd wanted nothing more
than to be in his presence. First it had been to fight him, but not too long
after that and almost ever since up to about a month ago, it had been to ravish
him. Now he wanted to be nowhere near him. It wasn't that he no longer wanted to
ravish him, taste of his sweet, rum-tainted lips, drown in the ecatsy their
loving union created . . . If only things could have been that simple!

He still ached to hold Jack. His fingers burned to caress the Pirate
whose handsome visage haunted his every moment, regardless of whether he was
awake or dreaming! His mouth still thirsted for the Pirate Captain's who had
first captured him all that time ago in the smithy . . .

Aye, he still wanted Jack, still needed Jack, still loved Jack so
intensely that his need to be with him was a physical pain akin to an enoromous
fist clenching tightly around his heart! It had been slowly increasing its death
grip on him ever since the day they'd parted, and Will knew it would be the
death of him yet if he could not somehow find a way to earn Jack's forgiveness
and be with his love again!

But how could Jack possibly forgive him? How could they get back to what
they had been and escape from where they were now? How could Jack possibly
forgive the great failure that he had become? He had failed his beloved Jack,
the one person he'd most never wanted to fail, in the one way he never would
have dreamed of . . .

The blacksmith's muscular shoulders rolled with the heavy sighs he
heaved, and his dark eyes fell to look down upon the thing that had let him down
so greatly and, in so doing, had caused him to fail his love so grievously.
There it hung, limp and oh so lifeless, between his legs. "Maybe I should just
be done with it all and cut you off?" he murmured. "It's not like you're any
good any more . . . "

A sudden knock on the bathroom door startled Will out of his thoughts.
"Yeah?"

"You're not done yet?"

"Brendan, I told you to go on to the meeting without me!"

"You know I can't do that, Will; some one's got to be there to keep me
away from Prue!"

"I'd be right along, and Eddie would be with you in the mean time."

"It's not the same, and you know it!"

"Will," Elizabeth called as she entered the bedroom, "are you done yet?"

"No, I'm not done yet!"

"Well, hurry up, will you? I've got your clothes, and the meeting's
going to start soon! We have to get down there!"

"You could go ahead without me!"

She tossed the clothes on to the bed and turned to the door with her
hands on her hips and a stern expression upon her face. "And leave you here to
return to your bed and miss the meeting, or worse? Absolutely not! I don't know
what's been passing through that head of yours during the short time I was gone,
William Turner, but I have not and will not go back on my word! I am going to
see you and Jack reunited! You can make him happy; I've already told you how!"

"But what if it doesn't work?"

"It will! I even have a few . . . " She glanced in shy embarrassement at
Brendan, who quickly looked away and hummed, pretending not to hear her. " . . .
special techniques I can tell you to amplify the sensations. You can please him,
Will, and besides, just to be with you again will make him so happy!"

"What if he doesn't want to look at me again?"

"But he does!"

"But what if he doesn't?"

"Damn it, Will! Just get finished getting ready or, by Gods, I'll come
in there and scrub you my own self!"

At that warning, Will fell silent and rushed through the remainder of
his bath. Elizabeth was upon the door by the time he turned the water off. "Can
you pass me the clothes through the door?"

Elizabeth smiled. "That's more like it!" As she slipped the clothes
inside, careful not to open the door too wide to reveal Will's naked body, she
called, "And don't even complain about the pants! I don't want to hear it! It's
not my fault they were all that was left, and it's not like you can wear
Brendan's or Toly's!"

Will's mouth fell open when he looked at the black leather pants.



--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

The Meeting Room

Chong sat stiffly in a chair in the family room, his foot tapping the
floor. He made no indication when Hansel entered the room with Derek draped all
over him. What was wrong with the boy? He couldn't make up his mind! Chong
thought. {Maybe . . . }

{There is no need of beating yourself up. You just have to do without
him. He has made his decision. I will not share him!} he told himself. However,
just one look into Hansel's blue eyes made him change all that as he saw such
sadness and heartbreak therein that he could not bare it.

{It's against everything I believe,} Chong reminded himself, but his
heart would not let his reasoning side win out. He could not stand the thought
of the man he loved being in such pain! He did not stand up as he refused to
give in to the point of crawling over to Hansel and Derek with his tail tucked
between his legs, but he did lift his hand out toward Hansel.

Maybe he could . . . ? No, he could not! He must not! {SHUT UP!} Chong
roared at himself. {I will do what is best for Hansel! I love him!} He raised
his hand the rest of the way to Hansel, hoping that Hansel would take it and sit
beside him, even if Derek, too, was there.

{One day, I will get rid of you, you chou ba guai yanse lang!} he
thought, glaring at Derek with such fierce intensity that one might even think
he thought his glare alone could make him disappear. {Wo xi wang ni man man si,
dan kuai dian xia di yu!}

The smooth sensation of Hansel's hand sliding into his shattered Chong's
dark thoughts of condemning Derek to Hell. He looked up, and his eyes met
Hansel's. He melted at the smile on his love's face and in his eyes, that were
now truly dancing. Though every part of his being wanted to scream at Derek to
get his paws off of Hansel, he could not help smiling brightly in return as he
pulled Hansel down to sit beside him. Only some one who really knew Chong, as
Hansel did, would know he was plotting revenge.

Hansel's heart had nearly leapt out of his body, he had been so thrilled
when Chong had actually reached out for him. He had hurried along, pulling Derek
with him, and taking Chong's hand with a true smile that even reached his
now-sparkling, blue eyes. He had kissed Chong's hand before sitting down next to
him, but no sooner than he sat down than he found himself presented with Derek's
hand in front of his mouth. He immediately kissed it, as well.

He knew there was more trouble ahead, but he refused to dwell on it or
fear it. For now, he would enjoy both the men he loved as much as they would
allow him to do, and he would grant them both as much pleasure as he could. He
reached over, kissed Chong's cheek and then his ear lobe, and whispered into his
ear, "I know you don't understand, my sweet, Chinese otter, but I love you! I'll
find a way to prove it to you."

Then he leaned over and kissed first Derek's cheek and then his ear
lobe. "I also love you, my dear darling, and thank you for understanding. I'll
find a way to prove to you that you mean as much to me as you always have and
that you are my world." {Just as Chong is,} he thought, squeezing both of their
hands.



--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

The Kitchen

"Kathleen O'Hara refuses ta come down," Wolverine announced, looking at
Ororo and wondering how angrily she would react. "In fact, little darlin', I
think she's packin' ta leave."

"Well, that's quite lovely, isn't it?" Ororo was already rather ticked
for first she'd been unable to find Dawson and then she'd looked in upon those
gathering for the meeting and seen that her plan to help Chong certainly had not
worked. He had Hansel now, true enough, but Derek was attached to Hansel's other
side! She walked the few paces it was to the family room and stuck her head in
again. "Ace, Kitten, Delvira, I'd like to see the three of you now, please."

No sooner than Ororo had withdrawn from the room than she poked her head
in a third time. This time, she smiled. "Ah, Dawson, I see you've joined our
little gathering. I'd like to see you, as well."

Full of curiosity, Dawson followed 'Ro into the kitchen. Ace was hot on
his heels. Delvira followed Ace, and Kitty trailed behind, muttering to herself
as to how many times she had to remind Ororo that Kitty, or even Katheryne, was
her name but not Kitten. For piracy's sake, she was a grown woman and a Captain
to boot, even if she didn't have a ship at the moment!

Ororo turned immediately to face the small gathering. "Dawson, take this
key," she said, pressing a key into his hand, "and go up to Jack's bedroom.
You'll see what you're there to collect once you see his bed." She smiled. "I
know you'll want it, but be careful. It's a . . . rather dangerous package to
collect."

"Faith?" Dawson asked, scarcely believing that 'Ro was handing her up to
him like that. "How'd you manage to capture her?"

"It was not I, my dear boy, but others of the family and another friend,
or so I've heard. Goddess speed, and good luck."

Dawson was out of the kitchen like a shot.



--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

The Hallway

Janeesa had been walking quietly, lagging behind a bit, but now that
they were almost reaching the family room, she was attempting to go forward
faster. She didn't know which one to sit closest to: the Golden Angel or the
Golden God. She was pulled to both of them and wished that she could put them
close to each other so that she could be the cheese between them.

Janeesa's bubbling thoughts hit Rachel unexpectedly, and she let out a
low whistle and shook her head slightly. She grinned, though, as she thought the
woman had good taste, even if she was looking at men. She could have chosen a
lot worse. She slowed up just a bit so that she could walk beside Janeesa and
whispered softly to her, "Word of advice, girlfriend. There're other telepaths
here. Your thoughts are safe with me, but if you get some odd looks, you might
want to be wary."

Janeesa's blue eyes grew larger as she looked at Ray. "You're not
supposed to read my mind! Why'd you do that? I didn't allow you!"

Rachel had not expected the girl's accusations, but she plastered a
calming smile over her face. "I wasn't trying to read your mind, sweetie. You're
so excited about those two males that I couldn't help overhearing. Your shields
really aren't that good, but I honestly wasn't trying to read your mind." {And
if I had been,} she thought to herself, {it dang sure wouldn't have been about
men!} She would have loved to have known about Tessa, though.

"You don't understand," Janeesa told her. "No one's ever been able to
read my mind, unless I allowed it. You must be really strong. I'm glad you're my
friend; we can talk without any one knowing we're talking. I always wanted a
secret friend I could do that with." She gave Ray's arm a gentle squeeze. {{{Now
why don't you go ahead and ask me those questions you're just dying to ask?}}}

Rachel looked at Janeesa in surprise but barely missed a half-step while
walking. "Xavier always did say I was one of the most powerful telepaths he's
ever come across; I take after my Mother in that way." {{{Am I that obvious?}}}

{{{Not really, but I will tell you that Tessa's extremely interested in
you. She's never had a human before; in fact, you're the first human she's ever
shown interest in.}}}

Rachel quirked an eyebrow, and then a slow, true smile covered her face.
Perhaps she could get something blossoming with Tessa. She really could use a
very special friend right now. {{{Well,}}} she thought back to Janeesa, {{{I've
never had a mermaid before either. Thanks for the info.}}} She winked at her,
still without saying a word aloud.



--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Smee's Bedroom

Cole pulled Smee out of the bed and stripped his clothes off. "Put those
on," he told him as he indicated the ones he had tossed onto the chair that was
by the bed. "I'm going to count to ten, and if you don't start dressing, I'm
going to dress you. Like I said, you're going to the meeting. One, two . . . "
Cole did not make another move on the man, but he was getting ready to as he
approached the final number. He'd do what he'd have to to get the little man out
of there. He was told to make sure every one came, and come they would rather
they wanted to or not.

The very moment the stranger released him, Smee jumped back in the bed.
He left his massive rear end pointed upwards, and his hand slipped underneath
his pillow to close around the butt of the pistol he'd kept hiding there the
entire while he'd been locked inside what he'd thought was the safe haven of
this room. He didn't know who or what this man was to be able to get in this
room when he'd so carefully barricaded it and to be able to manhandle him like
he just had, but he refused to be taken to the meeting or to ever face James and
his lies again.

"I wouldn't do that if I were you, Smee," Cole told him. "I know what
you're reaching for, and the minute you come up with it, I'm gonna shoot it out
of your hand. I can see that you're not going to get dressed on your own. I'm
going to have to do it for you, so stand up here like a man or I'm going to
shoot you."

"You wanna shoot me, go ahead, but I'm not going to that meeting! You
can shoot me! You can beat me! You can do whatever you want to me, but the only
thing of me you'll take to that damn meeting is my corpse! And just to remind
you: if I die, Vang dies." He wasn't scared of being shot, Smee realized.
Perhaps the gun would not harm him? It could him, but if he died, Vang died.
What if he shot off a limb, he wondered, or threatened to do so? Would that get
the damn thing to leave him to his misery? He kept a tight grip on the gun.

Cole let go with a energy ball and hit Smee on the butt. "Off the bed, I
said, and into your pants!" He kept hitting him with very tiny, small, sparkly
energy balls.

With each energy ball, Smee yelled. His yells carried throughout the
house, but still he did not budge.



--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

The Kitchen

"Now, for the three of you," Ororo continued, "we have a situation. We
have one who refuses to come to the meeting, but it gets worse. Delvira, can you
quickly put spells upon a room to lock inside what is inside without being in
the room itself?"

"Yes," Delvira answered her with a nod, "but why?"

Ororo's eyes moved to Ace. She nodded. "Yes, it's Kathleen. She . . .
She plans on leaving, permanently, from what I understand. The plan is this:
Katheryne, if you will, phase Ace into the room; then, as soon as she's out,
Delvira, you put the spells up. Can this be done?"

Ace sat as though he was in a stupor. How could things have gone so
wrong that his beloved Kat no longer wanted him around? "I don't know what I did
wrong, 'Ro! I checked back through; I didn't see a damn thing! Captain said I
didn't do anything, but yet Kat's leaving! I can't take it! Why's she doing this
to me?!" he cried out from the pain he felt in his heart. "What could she have
had in a test that could make her hate me so much?! It won't do any good to
phase me in there; all she'll do is throw fireballs at me! She doesn't want me!"

"Ace," Ororo spoke gently as she laid a reassuring hand upon his thin
shoulder and looked into his despairing eyes, "if she wanted to burn you to a
crisp, you'd be ashes by now."

"But she doesn't want me any more! I'll die without her, yet she doesn't
want me! I'm defeated before I ever start! But I'm willing to go and try."

"At the very least," Ororo tried to assure him, "this should give you
your answers."

"Take me, Kitty; I'll do my best to stop her."

"I'll have one of our telepaths keep an ear open for you, Ace, so if you
get to the point that you can not handle her, though I doubt that shall be the
case, do not hesitate to call for help. Help, I promise, will come." She watched
as they left and wished them the best of luck.



--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

The Hallway

As Rachel turned her gaze back to the pathway that lay ahead of them,
her smile haltered and her heart skipped a beat for there, up ahead, was Kitty.
She breathed a quiet, shaky sigh that she hoped no one else heard, and as their
parties drew closer, Rachel realized that Kitty didn't look happy at all. What
was she doing with Ace? "Kitty," Ray called, "what's up? Where are you guys
going? The meeting's about to start."

"I didn't want to go to the blasted meeting any way," Kitty told her,
"but we've got a pissed off pyrokinetic to deal with."

Janeesa looked, startled, at Kitty. "Who's having a problem with a pyro
. . . what?" she asked innocently. She wondered what that big word meant. "Is
there anything I can do to help?"

"Basically, it's somebody that shoots fire," Rachel murmured to the
merwomen. Aloud, she asked, "Can we help, and what's wrong with Kat, any way?"
She figured that was the only reason why Ace would be involved.

"Ray, half the house is in crisis," Kitty answered as though she was
overlooking the obvious, "but we've got it under control. Thanks." She smiled at
Rachel and Janeesa, but her smile didn't meet her troubled eyes. "Come on, gang;
let's do this." She walked around the others, and as she continued leading the
way, called to Delvira, "You got everything you need to work those spells with?
We don't need her coming out of that room once she's supposed to be locked up."

Delvira knew Kitty was pissed, and she knew that it had nothing to do
with Kat, Rachel, Janeesa, herself, or even Ororo calling her Kitten. She smiled
calmly at the girl. "I assure you, Captain Pryde, that I am more than adept at
fulfilling my part of the plan once we reach our destination. Now I suggest we
hush or else she's liable to hear us coming."

Ace walked on tippy-toes. He had smiled at all three of the ladies they
had encountered in the hall but had not spoken a word. He prayed that this would
work and that Kitty would get him in the room with Kat, even if she fireballed
him when he got in there. She couldn't leave him; he loved her too much!

He had to find out what scum of the earth had upset his lovely Kat and
fix the problem. Thank the Goddess it wasn't him, but he just couldn't figure
out who it was. When he did find out who it was, he'd make them apologize! He
couldn't wait to see Kat's eyes light up again in happiness and not anger. They
reached her room, and he waited for Delvira to work her magic.



--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Jareth's Bedroom

Jareth was still staring in the mirror at himself in between glancing at
a nearby pistol when the knock came on the door. He knew he'd have to get
dressed and go to the meeting soon, or they'd come after him again. These people
never gave up! They kept coming and coming until they finally got you!

"Aw, Hell, why put on clothes?" he questioned his reflection. "I'll just
turn into an owl. I'll swoop down amongst them and fly up high and perch. That
way, Delvira can't get her paws on me. That will be the only thing she has on
her mind: capturing me." He padded over to the door, opened it, changed, and
flew away without a backward glance.

He circled around their heads when he reached the family room. He
finally came to rest on the chandelier, gazed down at them, and waited for the
meeting to start. He did not see his beloved, Delvira, and wondered where she
had gone off to.



--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

The Hallway

Rachel watched Kitty's retreating back and then gave herself a forcible
shake. She turned and smiled at Tessa and Janeesa. "Come on; the family room's
just around the corner here." She walked to the entry way and then stood there,
her arms ushering them gracefully inside.

Knowing her eyes would betray her feelings, Rachel turned her head to
look inside the room. She spotted Lockheed first and smiled sadly at the sight
of the small, purple dragon stretched out over two seats. He had actually dozed
off, probably for the first time in days, and that was why he had not sensed
Kitty's movements.

She knew, too, why he had saved two seats. The other wasn't for Kurt,
though the blasted Priest would have liked to have thought so; it was for her.
Lockheed knew that, unlike most men, she would never try to brush him off or
send him out of Kitty's heart, arms, or even her bed. She sighed deeply;
unfortunately, for the both of them, it would never happen for Kitty was
determined to get stuck with a male who was unworthy of her and would only let
her down in the long run.

Rachel's eyes then sought out the two men she knew Janeesa would look
for. Trent was sitting between his sister and Carlos. Her head jerked back a
little at the sight of the men, and she studied them again. Andrew was lost in
whispered conversation with Trina, their heads nestled close together, as they
indulged some secret fantasy, or so Ray thought, but Trent and Carlos were a far
cry different. They sat with their arms folded, their eyes pointed determinedly
at the front of the room, and frustrated expressions on their faces. At first,
their legs were even pointed in opposite directions until Carlos shifted his
position so that his legs swung toward Trent. It was almost, she thought, as
though they were lovers who had just had a quarrel, but she knew that was
impossible. Carlos loved Trina, who he could never have, and Trent . . . Trent
just needed to get a good sniff of Janeesa.

Unlike Trent, the man Janeesa thought of as a Golden God -- Rachel
chuckled silently at the ridiculous notion -- sat alone. He had clearly cleaned
up after the battle for his appearance was impeccable again. His shirt was
thrown against the back of the chair, and Ray knew Janeesa would probably get a
thrill looking at his bare chest and glistening muscles. The man was solely
intent upon sharpening his sword, however. With a grin, Rachel sought to get a
glimpse of Janeesa's face for when she spotted her interests.

Janeesa's quick eyes went to Carlos and Trent. They were just too close
together for her to ever get a word in edge wise, even long enough for her to
let them know where the music instrument was. She got a weird feeling every time
she looked at the two of them together. Something was going on there. She wasn't
sure what, but she wasn't going to intervene.

Her eyes then darted around the room until they located her Golden God,
and she started heading in his direction. She sat down about three seats away
from him. The chairs were set in a circle so that no one could sit behind any
one. She looked at the front of the room where she presumed the Captain usually
stood, but he was not there. {{{Where's the Captain?}}} she asked Ray. {{{He
should be here by now. Isn't the meeting about to start?}}}

{{{He'll be here,}}} Ray thought assuringly back to Janeesa. {{{This
meeting's too important to miss for him and for most of those in the room.
There's been a lot of Hell raising that you two probably aren't aware of.}}} She
had not followed Janeesa and was instead heading toward Lockheed, whose snores
were now beginning to grow in volume.

"Is he yours?" Tessa asked, falling into step beside Rachel. She would
have liked to have ran forward and scratched the dragon behind the ears. She had
often seen sea dragons playing in their ocean but had never gotten close enough
to touch one.

"No, he's . . . " Thinking better of what she'd been about to say,
Rachel cleared her throat. "He's a friend." She knelt before the chairs when she
reached Lockheed and ran a hand softly down his scaly back. He peeped one eye
open, yawned slowly, his long tongue lolling out, and then suddenly sat up at
attention. Ray shook her head and whispered to him, "It's okay. She's taking
care of business, but she'll be back. Why don't you come sit with us in the mean
time?"

Lockheed looked toward the closed door of the kitchen and then at the
exit to the hallway. He should go after Kitty, he thought, but maybe if he
stayed with Rachel, she'd still sit with her when she got back. "Coo," he
granted his permission and flew up to perch on Rachel's shoulder as she
straightened.



--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Smee's Bedroom

Cole was very perturbed. He didn't know what to do; his plan wasn't
working the way he wanted it to! Grabbing the suit of clothes in one hand and
touching Smee with the other, he shimmered them both to the living room.
Dropping a naked Smee in the midst of the family room so that everybody could
see and letting the fresh clothes fall beside him, he quickly shimmered out.

Connor's mouth flew open. "DAD, PUT YOUR CLOTHES ON, SHITT!" He had
jumped to his feet when Cole had shown up with Smee and was trying desperately
to block the view of his father from the rest of the people in the room.

Frederic raced over and gave him some more coverage. "Dad, get your
clothes on! What are you doing down here naked?!"

Zora ran as swiftly as the boys to Smee's side with Vang loping close
behind her. She whirled around, facing the room with a snarl and green eyes that
were even wilder than usual. "I'll rip out the eyes of any of you who look at
the poor man!" she warned.

"Euuw!! Gods, like any one wanted to see that in the first place!"
Cordelia exclaimed with a shudder. "I'm never going to get that image out of my
head!" She buried her face in Angel's shoulder and shuddered again in revulsion.

"Si! Get that thing covered up before I cut it off!" Roxanne exclaimed.
She placed a comforting hand on Theodora's shoulder.

"I'm with them!" Trina exclaimed from between Trent, who was beet red,
and Andrew, who looked only slightly less embarrassed. "Nobody wanted to see
that thing in the first place!"

"It wasn't my fault!" Smee wailed. "That damn, conivving bastard didn't
leave me a choice!"

"Well, you have one now," Vang's deep voice informed him. "Get dressed
already, man! And what's . . . " Vang's question stopped in his throat, and his
tail slashed the air as he gazed intently at the pistol Smee's shaking hand
still clutched.

James thought it best not to get too close to the crowd of their family.
He didn't want to give Smee more problems. He couldn't see what was going on,
but Vang seemed to be disturbed about something. He wanted to yell across the
room, "WHAT THE HELL'S GOING ON NOW?!", but didn't dare. He watched intently,
hoping that Smee would get to his feet and put his clothes on.

Frederic looked back to see what was taking his daddy so long to put his
clothes on and saw the gun. "Now I wonder how that got here?" he asked the room
in general as he reached down, took the gun out of his father's hand, and
slipped it into his pocket. He wondered how his dad had gotten the gun in the
first place. He didn't dare contemplate what his father might have been trying
to do with it.

James saw Frederic pocket the gun and sighed with relief. Even across
the room, he could tell that it was one of his old guns. He didn't dare let his
mind go where Smee might have been going with the gun but breathed a sigh of
relief because Frederic had got it.


Chapter Twelve
Jack's Bedroom

Dawson took the stairs two at a time and raced to the Captain's room. He
encountered no one on the way, but when he went in the room, he saw Teak and
Trely sitting, waiting, holding each other, trembling, and looking as though
they were lost without a friend in a world that was coming to an end; Clyde, who
was keeping watch over them; and, miracle of miracles, his beloved Faith chained
to the bed and his for the taking! He approached the bed as carefully and
quietly as he possibly could. Still moving with as much careful silence as he
possibly could, he removed one handcuff from the bed railing and hooked it to
his own arm. He then unchained Faith the rest of the way, still expecting her to
explode at any second.

Trely, who was watching the young boy's maneuvers with the girl called
Faith through big eyes, called out, "Faith knock Faith out."

"Faith knocked her own self out?" Dawson questioned in disbelief. "Why'd
she do that?"

"Hit big board hard."

"Are you two okay?" Dawson queried. "Go downstairs to the big room.
We're having a meeting."

"Teak and Trely wait on Master Ace. Where Master Ace?"

"About to be in the meeting room," Dawson reassured them. "Give us a
break for now, and we'll be in the room shortly. I have to take care of Faith."

Nodding obediently, Trely took Teak's hand and began to lead him out of
the room. "Clyde come too."

Clyde got up and followed along behind, never letting the two out of his
sight. If he lost track of them, Ace would kill him! He wondered if Ace had
managed to get any closer to Kat yet.

Dawson pulled Faith up into his arms and carried her downstairs to the
meeting. He did not wake her up. He expected her to wake up at any moment,
however, so he was prepared for her sudden attack, if, and when, it came.



--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

The Kitchen

Cole reappeared beside Piper. He sat down beside her. "I'm glad that's
over with," he told her. "That awful, little man wouldn't help in any way! He
left me with very little choice. He had to come to the meeting, though! I had to
drop him in the middle of all those people in there! He just wouldn't put any
clothes on!" Piper blushed seventeen shades of red and Phoebe and Paige started
giggling like mad. Cole decided it would be best to change the subject. "Can I
do anything to help you?"

Swallowing her embarrassment and glaring at her little sisters, Piper
placed her hand over Cole's and gave him a gentle squeeze. "I know it was hard
on you, darling," she spoke soothingly even while trying to get the image his
words had painted in her head out and make her face color return to normal, "but
some one had to get Smee in there. His is one of the most dire problems."

Ororo nodded and placed a reassuring hand on Cole's shoulder. "You did
well, Cole, as best you could given the circumstances." She wondered why he had
not called her but did not ask as she could tell what had happened had taken a
toll upon the poor man.

As Ororo headed over to the door to look for a telepath, Piper surveyed
the situation. "I think we have everything here well under way. Why don't you
just rest for a moment, love?" Blue was steadily reheating the food while Crys
and Lorne made the drinks. She had just finished gathering the plates,
silverware, and napkins they'd need and had a moment or two free. She slipped
behind Cole and began to rub his tense shoulders.

At her touch, all his tenseness went away. "I just feel so limited
sometimes!" he confided in Piper in a quiet but emotional whisper. "I can only
throw energy balls and shimmer. If only I had a magic where I could make people
do things I wanted them to do! I could have forced him to dress his own self in
the room before hand-delivering him downstairs. I only hope he had enough sense
to put his clothes on when he got down there." He lifted her palm to his mouth
and kissed it gently.

A delightful shiver swept through her at his gentle kiss; her other hand
continued to rub his shoulder. "I imagine we would have heard more yelling if he
hadn't," she told him, "especially with Roxanne being in there." She shook her
head as she thought of the angry Latina. The woman carried more baggage and
hatred than possibly even Faith.

Ororo had barely began to study the room when she noted that Smee, now
dressed in a striped shirt and baggy shorts, was slipping toward the door. She
stepped out of the kitchen, shut the door behind her, and promptly whipped up a
few winds. "Smee," she told him, "you will remain here for this meeting, one way
or another." Smee kicked and swung at empty air as the winds carried him over
the heads of many and dropped him into an empty chair beside James. "Now you may
stay there of your own free will or otherwise, but you will stay there."

James looked over at Smee and then adverted his eyes. He didn't want to
make him feel self conscious. He was glad that others were taking an interest in
their problem. Maybe they could come to a solution? In the mean time, he had to
hold down the fort, keep his constitution up, he kept telling himself, and not
let Smee know how upset he was by his sudden, naked appearance. James had tried
everything he knew to try and still had not been able to get in the room. He was
thankful that Cole had delivered him, despite the fact that he had arrived
naked. He wished that he could slip his hand over and touch Smee.

Connor had slipped back to sit beside Zora and hold her hand. He knew
that they didn't have a problem and that she no longer had a problem with her
father. They were merely there for moral support for Smee and James. He wished
he had an answer for them. Maybe a telepath?

He returned part of his attention to feeding the cub he held. They were
growing by leaps and bounds but still needed some help or, at least, he and Zora
were both eager to grant them as much help as possible. He hated he'd missed out
on a month with them, but he was glad that they had missed him. He smiled at the
memory of the fuss they'd put up when he had carried Zora into the room. He had
yet to show her exactly how much he had missed her, but they had certainly been
having a delightful time with their cubs! His grin grew even larger as he
thought of the cubs as being their children.

Frederic was also contemplating seeking help from a telepath, but he had
no idea of who to ask. Celina's ethics kept her so uptight that Frederic didn't
understand how she had ever come to be a Pirate. He knew little of her sister,
but Katrina was constantly helping others and did not seem to have as high and
mighty ethics as her sibling. There was also Rachel, who didn't seem to be
bothered in the least by ethics. She hated males, though, and might well slap
his face for his impertinence or worse. Smee's unusual burst of colored language
broke off Frederic's thoughts.

Smee was fuming, but Ororo ignored the muttered words of fury, even the
uttered oaths he swung her way, and let her eyes encompass the room. She
considered each of their best telepaths. Katrina was too tired and needed a
chance to rest; even now, Tom held her while she continued to slumber. Celina's
empathy may cause her too great distress to keep watch over the happenings
between Ace and Kat. "Rachel," Ororo spoke as her blue eyes settled upon the
redhead sitting next to two women she didn't recognize, "may I see you for a
moment?"

"Sure, 'Roro. I should be back soon," Ray told Tessa only as she knew
Janeesa's mind was elsewhere. She headed toward the African woman with Lockheed
still perched upon her shoulder.

Now who to set in charge of watching Smee? Ororo wondered. "Angel, would
you do me a favor?"

"Of course, 'Ro. What do you need?"

"Keep an eye on our dear Mister Smee over there, and if he moves, call
me." She smiled.

"Is that all you want? Shall I not put him back in his seat?" He grinned
impishly as he looked over at Smee. He hoped the threat might cause him to stay
put.

"You may if you wish, but if you should not want to handle it, call me.
He's not to leave that chair."

"No problem. I'm on it." Angel grinned at her, his fangs glistening.
"Between Cordelia and me, we'll keep him in there."

"Thank you." Ororo smiled warmly at Angel, who she knew was one of her
son's best friends, and slipped back into the kitchen with Rachel. "If you
would, Rachel, I'd like you to keep an ear on something for me."

"Anything."

"Kat's really quite upset, and you know how she can be when she's
upset." At Ray's nod, 'Ro continued. "Ace has gone to talk to her, with help
from Kitten and Delvira, but if things should turn deadly . . . "

Rachel nodded in understanding. "If crap hits the deck, I'll yell. Is
that all?"

"For now, my dear, and thanks." Ororo stepped with Rachel back to the
meeting room and took note of exactly who had yet to arrive before returning to
the kitchen. Rachel and Lockheed retook their seat beside Tessa.



--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

The Hallway

She came to slowly to the rocking of the waves. She opened her eyes and
groaned as she was hit with bright light. "Fuck," she muttered. At least, it
wasn't a storm for Apollo was still shining far too brightly.

Dawson realized he would be in trouble if Faith figured out what was
going on before he could get her to an area where she could sit down, at least.
He knew she was going to be pissed. He didn't say anything; he just walked a
little faster. He kept talking to himself, {Calm yourself, boy. You're almost
there.}

{There's the room!} Then he was into the room and heading for where he
could see Derek, Hansel, and Chong sitting as though Hansel was the cheese
between the bread. If any one could calm Faith down, it would be Hansel if he
could only reach them. He hated to rely on the blonde, but he knew he needed
help if he wanted to keep Faith without losing a limb.

"Hey, Birdboy, can't ya steer any fuckin' better?" Her eyes opened again
as she called out the words, and this time, she could make out the blurry forms
of people. "What the fuck?"

From across the room, Hansel's brain slowly came out of his daydream,
and he realized that Dawson was carrying Faith toward them. His hands froze on
Chong's and Derek's legs, where he had been massaging and stroking their calves
in promise of things to come, if they would only let him. "Oh Hell."

Chong, too, saw the coming tidal wave. "Ta ma de!" he agreed.

"Hey," Derek demanded, tired of Chong's Chinese insults that he knew
must be terrible yet had no idea whatsoever what they meant, "if you're going to
say something, at least have the decency to say it in English so that the people
around you can understand you!"

"Derek," Hansel spoke warningly and nudged him.

Derek looked in the direction Hansel indicated. "Oh shit! Don't bring
her over here!" he told the blonde boy whose name he thought he remembered to be
Dawson but wasn't really sure.

Faith peered downwards and found the floor quite a length away. Then she
saw a pair of legs walking underneath her and realized that she was being toted.
"What the fuck?!" she demanded, her fists striking the back of her carrier. "Let
me down!"

"Ow, Faith!" Dawson groaned. "Don't hit me so hard!" He felt as though
he had been pole-axed, and his head and back began to throb. "You gave me one
Hell of a headache! I'll put you down in just a minute, but you weren't able to
walk and we've got a meeting!"

Faith was stunned to hear Dawson's voice but quickly recovered her own
voice. "PUT ME DOWN, DAMN IT!" she yelled, swinging her knee into his chest. She
had to get away from here! How had she gotten here in the first place? She
thought back and remembered Hansel's betrayal. "Fuck you, blondie! I'll rip your
damn head off and spit down your fucking throat!"



--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Frederic had taken a chair behind his father, Smee. He had been very
intently watching him in case he made another move to do something stupid. Gods,
how he wished he could wipe those memories from his father and that he and his
father, James, could return to the way they had been! He had never seen a
happier couple up until that moment, and he knew that his father, James, was as
innocent as the day was long, just as he also knew his father, Smee, would never
forget it unless . . .

He was intently thinking on what could make his father, Smee, forget
when he remembered Ray. She could wipe that memory from his father in seconds
flat! Maybe both of them? He'd talk to her as soon as the meeting was over and
see what she thought. If she slapped his face, so be it.

He had been surprised to see Rachel come into the room with the two new
women. He had spoken to both of the women, but neither had shown any interest in
him. He smiled at them even though he thought they might not see him. He
definitely did not want to anger Ray when he needed her help so desperately.

His eyes were drawn to the ones now entering the room: Dawson and his
wild woman. He felt the blow when she hit him in the back and then again when
she got him in the chest. {Poor guy! She's going to kill him one day, but what a
way to go!} He wondered if he should rush forward and give Dawson a hand but
sighed with relief when Dawson managed to gain a chair and dump Faith into it.



--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Dawson smiled at Faith and braced himself for the impact of her words as
he believed she would now let go with as much venom as she could, but no matter
what she did, he was not letting her go. She had been gone from his side far too
long, and there was no way she was getting away again, not if he could help it!

Chong happened to be the one that Faith was dumped next to. His wild
eyes fell upon her, and he backed up hard against Hansel. "{{{You should be over
here. If anybody can calm her down, you can!}}}" He was so excited he spoke in
Chinese, which made Derek's eyes go even larger.

It also made his face go red with anger. "I told you to speak in
English, damn it! What's wrong? The yellow dog can't speak English? I know
better than that!"

Chong glared at Derek over Hansel's shoulder. "Qin wode pigu, yang gui
zi!"

"Enough, both of you!" Hansel exclaimed. "Now's not the time!" He
indicated Faith, who was still yelling at Dawson.

Chong and Derek exchanged a silent look, and both decided to put their
problems to the side for the moment. They knew what Faith had already done to
Hansel and feared what she might yet do. Still, Chong knew that Hansel was the
best one for reasoning with the wildest, meanest, and coldest bitch he'd ever
known.

Hansel could feel Derek's protective hand on his shoulder and knew
exactly what was going through his love's mind. After all, his face still stung
from Faith's earlier blows, but he'd rather be the one she beat than Chong. He
got quickly to his feet and swapped places with Chong even as Faith was
exclaiming.

"WHAT THE HELL WERE YOU THINKIN', KID?! WHAT MAKES YOU THINK YA'VE GOT
ANY RIGHT TO BE TOTIN' ME LIKE I'M SOME KIND O' FUCKIN' SACK OF FLOUR?! AN' AS
FOR THIS STUPID MEETIN', I ALREADY TOLD WOLVERINE TO GET FUCKED!"



--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Another newcomer to the meeting paused in the doorway from the kitchen.
He and his love had just finished settling down their children so that they
would be entertained during the meeting and not hear the big talk when he had
heard Faith hollering. Now he looked over at her with concerned eyes. Like many
others, he had been hoping for a reunion between Dawson and her, but whatever
the kid had done certainly wasn't the way to win her back.

"Lex?" Clark called from just behind him. "What's wrong, sweetheart?"

"Faith," Lex answered in a hushed voice, "and Dawson."

Clark's mind immediately flashed back to how angry Faith had been the
night she had slipped, naked, into their room. He had let Lex handle the
situation while he'd been in the bathroom, recovering from the sight of Faith's
nude body, and from what he'd been able to ascertain, Faith felt she was no
longer able to make it with Dawson, had told the kid that she had to use the
bathroom, and had slipped from there to their room to try and gain advisement
from Lex. Whatever his beloved had told her certainly had not pleased her.

Then there had been the time he had tried to approach her in Tortuga.
She had ripped almost the entire tavern apart while throwing everything she
could get her hands on at him. He was stronger than most and recovered more
quickly than many of the others, but he had still had the bruises for several
days thereafter. He had told Lex they were from a fight but never admitted to
them having come from Faith. He had thought they had simply come from fighting
dinosaurs earlier that day, and Clark had never told him otherwise.

Faith had gotten to her feet as Hansel had slipped into the seat beside
her, blocking her from Chong and Derek, and Lex had started forward. She had
heard the rattle of a chain as she started to move away from Dawson, and when
her eyes had fallen upon the handcuffs, her face had slowly filled with fury.
First, she had been unable to believe he would dare be as stupid to chain her,
but now, all those who watched the scene unfolding knew she was simply
thoroughly pissed. "WHAT THE FUCKING HELL IS THIS, KID?! YOU'D BETTER HAVE A
DAMN GOOD REASON, AND YOU'D BETTER SPIT IT OUT FAST!"

Lex hurried his step with Clark just behind him. Clark could have
reached the couple sooner, but he knew Lex would stand a far better chance of
talking sense into Faith.



--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

On another side of the room, another person was getting to her feet.
Theodora looked at Roxanne with concern. "¿Qué?" she asked her. "¿Por qué usted
llegan a estar implicado en sus asuntos?"

"{{{She was a . . . friend, a long time ago. Any male who thinks he has
enough balls to cuff her has to tangle with me!}}}" The last of her words came
out with a growl, and she sprang forward. Clark turned to see the Latina running
toward them, spotted fur growing over her dark skin, and flew to meet her. He
would not allow her to harm Dawson.

Jack walked into the room with Elvira at his side just as crap was
beginning to break loose. His eyes looked quickly around. What in the Hell had
happened now?! He walked to the center of the room. "If every one would please
calm down, including you, Faith, Little Firecracker, we can get to the bottom of
this. I can understand why you're angry, but first, you need to let Dawson tell
why he did it."

A roar of protest sounded from the Werejaguar, drowning out the other
exclamations in the room. Clark caught her wrists as she tried to slash her
claws into his face and held firmly to them.

" -- FUCK YA DID TO YASELF! STAY THE FUCK OUT O' THIS, BIRDBOY, OR
YOU'LL BE THE NEXT ASS TO GET KICKED ON MY LIST! Kid," Faith growled, looking at
him with narrowed eyes, "ya'd better spit it out. I'm not wastin' any more
words, an' I damn sure ain't staying chained! Ya got one second!"

Dawson looked at her and swallowed hard. "I didn't think you'd be that
pissed, Faith!" His voice was high. "You were chained to the bed, so I just
chained you to me! I didn't want to lose you! I love you!"

"I try to the best Pirate there ever was, and you said I'd made one yet
you run away from me! You don't have to be able to do anything you don't wanna
do," he spoke in a much quieter voice, "but you do have to be near me. I don't
want to lose you again!" He tried to give her all the love he could with his
eyes.

The love Dawson looked at her with pained Faith's heart. She wanted to
make him happy. She wanted to be able to love him. But it was impossible, she
knew. She was broken, and as if that was not enough to make her unworthy of his
love, she might well pull him down into a Hell even deeper and darker than the
one he'd known back in Port Royal. Her mouth opened to spit back at him just as
Lex came up to them.

"Faith, try to be reasonable," he spoke calmly. "Just think about this a
moment. You know the kid loves you and you -- "

"Fuck off, Luthor!"

"Faith," Hansel tried, getting to his feet behind her with one hand
raised in a gesture for her to calm down and hold on a minute and the other
behind him, gesturing Chong and Derek to stay still and, more importantly, stay
down. "Chong chained me, too. I wasn't happy about it, but it doesn't change the
way I feel about him."

"Yeah," Derek muttered, "unfortunately . . . Ya know," he said, glaring
over at Chong, "I never would have chained him. He's a free spirit, and free
spirits shouldn't be -- "

Derek's words were drowned out by a ferocious growl from Roxanne, who
was now in complete Werejaguar form. Clark yelled as the claws on her right foot
connected with his groin and sliced straight through his clothes and into his
flesh. In the same maneuver, she struck her head hard against his. He released
his hold and fell toward the floor.

Will, Brendan, and Elizabeth were frozen in the entrance way to the
room. They stared in shock at the scenes unfolding, and their eyes went to
Roxanne. Will pulled his pistol and shoved Brendan and Elizabeth behind him as
the Werejaguar darted toward Dawson and Lex.

"NO!" The yell thundered out from Rachel, who, seeing what was about to
happen, leapt to her feet. Her hands threw out, and Will and Roxanne both fell
backwards. Will's bullet blew a hole through the ceiling as Roxanne landed
against the far wall of the room.

Jack's eyes went from Will across the room to where Roxanne had been
thrown down and then back to Rachel. He had not realized how powerful the woman
was. There lay the answer to so many problems if he could just talk to her! He
had been in the center of the room, spoken, and no one had reacted to him except
for Faith telling him to get fucked.

He knew he looked different. His eyes met Brendan's. How was his brother
taking this? Did he recognize him? Then he looked at his Dad, who was sitting,
laid back, with his arm thrown over a chair and a big grin on his face.

A quietness of shock fell across the room. Not a word was said except
for Lex talking to Clark and trying to care for his fallen love. Then Dawson
held the key out to Faith, his eyes never leaving hers. "I am your prisoner,
madam," he told her. "Do with me what you will."



--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Chong was still glaring angrily at Derek. He wanted to choke the life
out of him. He had not realized that he was chaining his beloved's spirit when
he had chained Hansel. He had only thought of keeping Hansel with him. Maybe the
man was not stupid, after all? His eyes quickly went back to the situation. What
would Faith do now? Dawson was a braver man than he, because Dawson had given
Faith the key.

Jack wanted to run over and help Will up but didn't dare move. Anything
could set the rest of the powder keg off.

Rachel stood in almost the midst of the room, her hands still raised.
Her green eyes were darting steadily between Will, who Brendan and Elizabeth
were helping back up, to Roxanne, who was already beginning to stir again. She
knew that Roxanne's fury was among the last of the things they needed right now
and crashed the woman back into the floor.

"¡CUSTED DEJARÁ SU SOLO!" Ray barely had a chance to recognize the
Spanish words behind her before hands caught her throat from behind and snatched
her backwards over her chair.

Smee's eyes darted around. Every one's attention was focused elsewhere.
This was his chance to escape! He ran for the stairs.

Thunder rumbled outside, and Ororo stepped into the room from the
kitchen. "By the Goddess! What new nonsense is taking place in this room?! We
have called a meeting for the problems to be solved, not to allow them to grow!"

Faith was still staring at Dawson. The look in his eyes made her want to
cry, but she refused the weakness. She took the key, but although her hands did
not tremble as she moved to unlock the bond, her voice did. "I never asked for a
slave." She cursed herself for sounding so close to tears as she slid the key
in.

Tessa jumped immediately, followed by Janeesa, on the Spanish woman who
was attacking her new friend. "Get off of her! Get your hands off of her
throat!" She bit her.

Dawson looked at Faith as he dared to place his hand over her hand that
was in the process of unlocking the handcuffs. "Please don't leave me again," he
pleaded with her. "I am your willing slave. Even if you unlock me, I will always
be your slave, willingly, for as long as there is breath left in my body. You're
in my heart, in my soul. If you leave me, I will die." He didn't stop his tears,
but his eyes never left hers.

Jack didn't know which way to go, who to help to fight. He did try to
stop Smee for James, though. He ran straight into the big, fat fellow and
bounced off, falling hard on his butt. "WHAT IN THE HELL IS POSSESSING YOU
PEOPLE?! MOM, DO SOMETHING!" he called from where he'd fallen on the floor.

Wolf was thankful he was in the wall. What kind of Hell had possessed
his people, his family?! They were going nuts; they were crazy! Women on the
floor fighting, clawing, chewing each other! The Captain was in the floor; he
looked like he could not ever move again! What could he do to help?!

Where was his beloved Elvira? Was she okay? Then he made eye contact
with the most beautiful woman in the world, and his heartbeat quickened but he
dared not go out of the wall. How could Jack help him when he could not even
help himself?!

The grin had disappeared from Wolverine's face. He didn't know which way
to go, either! Should he pull Jack off of the floor, or was he safer there than
he would be standing? Should he knock the woman out again as Ray was no longer
able to help? Should he fly into the bitch who had Rachel by the throat as the
mermaids didn't seem to be getting anywhere and probably couldn't fight to save
their own lives, let alone Rachel's? His mind was made up rather swiftly as
Roxanne stirred to life and headed in the direction of Dawson and Faith again.
He leaped forward and met her before her claw could meet Dawson, and they began
to fight.

{Damn!!!} Jack thought. {All this because of a haircut?!} No one was
listening to him! {What the Hell?! Maybe I should get on a chair?!} He looked
wildly around for a chair but couldn't find one close enough to where he was to
get it. He prayed that his mother could do something to dissolve the conflict
before complete madness had taken every one over.

When Smee had sensed some one coming for him, he had hit the person with
the only weapon he had left: his massive rear end. When he had heard them fall,
he had not paused to look but instead ran even faster. His rear end bumped into
Elizabeth as he ran up the staircase, and the blonde screeched as she toppled
downwards.

"Liz!" Will called but was not quick enough to catch her.

Brendan flew into action. He sprang down the staircase, but as he
reached out to catch Elizabeth as she rolled down the steps, he shouted and
pulled back, looking at his hands in horror for thick, brown fur was quickly
growing over them. "Will," he pleaded, "do something! Get your gun!"

Will did just that.

Ororo stood in the entrance to the room with Prue and Phoebe peering
nervously over her shoulders. She could hear Piper asking what was happening and
knew Crystal and Cole were not too far from joining the tiny group growing
around her. Ororo did not know which way to go until she saw Will pulling his
pistol on Brendan. "GODDESS!" she cried, thunder and lightning filling the sky
outside. A brisk shot of wind knocked Will backwards and whipped his pistol
away.

Prue raced forward madly. She had to reach Brendan. Even as she ran to
him, she pulled the necklace from her neck and threw it around his. "Fight it,
love," she told him, then sank to the floor before him. It had taken everything
out of her to reach him, but there was no way she could have let Will kill him.

From across the room, Jack watched helplessly as the drama with Brendan
unfolded. His heart lurched in his chest, but there was no way he could reach
his brother in time. He had been very surprised to see Prue hurtling herself
through what had appeared to be a very short while and throwing something at
Brendan. What would happen now? Would the wolf take over, or would Brendan win?
He believed in his brother and he didn't think his brother would kill the woman
he loved, but that was what Brendan had always lived in fear of -- killing the
one he loved the most. "APHRODITE, WHERE ARE YOU?!" Jack cried out. "COME TO
YOUR PEOPLE IN THEIR TIME OF NEED!" But he felt as though his prayers landed
upon deaf ears.

Somewhere in the chaos, Jack could hear Kurt's voice. "She vill not
answer, mein freund." Jack called to Kurt, but Kurt did not answer him again.
When Jack spotted him, he seemed to be staring at something invisible. Jack had
heard the rumors of Kurt's insanity a month ago, and now he wondered about them
again.

"Will, get them out of here!" Brendan cried from where he was crouched,
shaking, on the floor. "Don't let me kill them!" he pleaded. "Please!!" Yellow
eyes pleaded desperately with Will from underneath a shock of brown hair.

Will didn't know what had happened to his pistol and wasn't certain
whether or not he should be glad it was gone. Grabbing a hold to the railing, he
pulled himself to his feet and raced to Elizabeth's side. She was unconscious,
and he knew Prue would never leave willingly. He turned and, as he placed
himself between Brendan and Prue, called out for help, "Cole! Cole, I don't know
where you are, but I hope you can hear me!" {The man isn't even here!} part of
his brain reasoned. {How in the world can you expect him to hear you?} But he
had to try! "Cole, get them out of here, please!"

Will had barely finished calling for Cole when he heard fierce yipping
from behind him. He turned his head partially, just far enough that he could
look back at Elizabeth and saw Didymus dancing in a fighting stance before her
unconscious body. The dog Knight's lance was at the ready, pointed at Brendan.
"Come if you must, foul beast, but I shall not let you harm a single hair on
this fair maiden's head!"

Will groaned. Could the situation get any worse?!


To Be Continued . . .

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