Title: Love on the High Seas #5: "To Mend and Defend"
Authors: Pirates Sparrow and Turner
Rating: NC-17
Feedback: Yes, please!! Seriously, we, like all other fan fic writers, thrive on
feedback. However, flames absolutely will not be tolerated.
Warnings: Abuse, Death, Lemon, Nudity, Sex, Torture, Violence, Language, Slash,
Femmeslash, and Het
Fandoms/Characters/Pairings: (Ace Ventura) Ace/OC (Original Character);
(Angel/BtVS) Angel/Cordelia, Faith/CC (Crossover Character), Lorne/OC,
Wesley/OC, Connor/OC, Spike/OC, Kennedy/Willow; (Barbie's Princess and Pauper)
Wolfie; (Charmed) Cole/Piper, Prue/OC, Phoebe/CC, Paige/CC, Kit, Sam Wilder;
(Dawson's Creek) Dawson/CC; (Disney) Jack Sparrow/Will Turner, Hook/Smee,
Sebastian, Elizabeth Swann/CC, Salem Saberhagen; (Elvira) Elvira/CC, Gonk;
(Excalibur) Kurt/Kitty, Rachel/OC, Lockheed; (Generation X) Sean/Emma; (Harry
Potter) Dumbledore, Snape, Minerva; (Labyrinth) Jareth/OC, Didymus, Trely/OC,
Worm; (Peter Pan) Hook/Smee; (The Pirate Movie) Frederic; (PotC) Jack/Will,
Elizabeth/CC; (ReBoot) Bob, Matrix/AndrAla, Ray/Mouse, Frisket; (Sabrina) Salem;
(Shrek) Donkey/OC; (Smallville) Clark/Lex; (Sons of Thunder) Trent, Carlos;
(Starsky & Hutch) Starsky/Hutch/OC; (SU2) Carl/CC; (10K) Wolf/CC; (X-Men)
Logan/Ororo, Morph/OC, Sean/Emma, Kurt/Kitty, Charles/Magnus, Rachel/OC,
Joseph/Rogue, Bishop, Lockheed; (Xena) Aphrodite/Ares, Hercules, Xena/Gabby,
Joxer/CC, Autolycus/CC; and (Zoolander) Derek/Hansel/OC. Sooner or later,
there's a pairing for every character, but if they're not listed here, the
pairing simply has not yet happened. Other established characters may come
and/or go, as well.
Summary: After going through many deadly trials, the Pirates were tossed back
upon the island without as much as a glance at the Wizards. A month has now
passed, but still many questions persist, many lovers are seperate and residing
in their own personal Hells, and the Wizards have yet to appear. Who made it
through all their trials, and what hardships have the trials caused? Why do
broken hearts and shattered souls abound, and where are the Wizards? What
judgment was cast upon the retrial, and what punishments will be doled forth
when the Wizards finally return? Or have they had their fun with the Pirates and
have no intentions of returning, but if they are not returning, what enemy lurks
among them, attacking them while never being seen? What evil lurks amongst them,
causing them to attack each other, and with several new faces, can all be
trusted? Huge multi-crossover with such fandoms as Ace Ventura, Angel, BtVS,
Charmed, Dawson's Creek, Disney, Elvira, Excalibur, Generation X, Harry Potter,
Labyrinth, Peter Pan, The Pirate Movie, Pirates of the Caribbean, ReBoot,
Sabrina, Shrek, Smallville, Sons of Thunder, Special Unit 2, Starsky & Hutch,
10th Kingdom, X-Men, Xena, Zoolander, and more!
Disclaimer: All established characters; all TV show, comic, and movie titles;
and the Black Pearl are © & TM their respective owners and are used without
permission. Crystal "Snowflake" Frost, Katrina "Firestar" Lewis, Celina
"Pantheria" Lewis, Tom Ballard, Meesy, Brendan Richards; Urianotalon; Janeesa;
Tessa; Herbert; Robbie; and all other original characters are © & TM the
authors, Pirates Sparrow and Turner, and may not be used without permission. The
Sea Witch and everything else are also © & TM the authors. No copyright
infringement is intended, and no monetary profit is made from these tales.

Chapter Thirteen
The Hallway

Memories played through Kitty's head as she led the way to Kat's room.
She couldn't believe how her life had been turned upside down, yet again. She
had not lost Kurt to death, as she'd feared she would, but she had lost him
nonetheless . . . in a way she would never have thought possible. She had failed
him and almost caused both his and Rachel's deaths. They should hate her. Kurt
did, but yet Rachel still refused to turn away from her.

How could she have done it? How could she have even considered doing it
for a split moment? Kitty wondered, looking down at her up-turned hands. How
could she have not known when Rachel was swallowed into the earth? How could she
have thought, at any time, that Kurt's death might truly allow either of her
dead husbands, let alone both, to live again? If she truly loved Kurt, as she
thought she did, how could she have considered taking his life? If she did not
love Kurt, why did her heart ache so for him, for his touch, for his love?

How could she have . . . Kitty's thoughts broke off at a low, shrill
whistle. She looked angrily back at Delvira and only then realized that the
Vampiress and Ace Ventura had both stopped walking and were looking at her as
though she had truly, at long last, gone nuts. Kitty glanced at the door behind
them and saw that she had just walked past Kat's room.

She did not speak at first, and she never spoke a word of apology. She
refused to be embarrassed over her mistake. It didn't matter. Nothing mattered
any more except for what had already happened and had come so close to
happening. "Delvira, get your spell ready."

"Not yet," Delvira reminded her. "First, you must take Ace into the
room. Go now, and as you go, I shall start."

Shadowcat grabbed Ace's arm and yanked him after her as she headed
through the closed door.



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

The Meeting Room

Rachel's throat burned for oxygen. She was barely aware of Tessa and
Janeesa trying to fight the Spanish woman, but she could feel the thin fur
growing on the hands that clenched her throat. The woman yelled in Spanish that
she could not understand as she tossed Janeesa off of her first.

Rian's attention had finally been pulled from cleaning his blade, and he
leapt into the air as he saw Janeesa be thrown. He sheathed his blade as he
jumped and then caught Janeesa in his strong arms. He landed on his feet, gently
sat her in a nearby chair, and turned his attention to the beast who had thrown
her. Pulling his sword, he spoke to Tessa. "Move out of the way, fair maiden. I
shall take this filthsome beast for harming fair lady Janeesa!" He struck out,
careful to keep the blow well away from Tessa.

Janeesa was finding it hard to breathe. The unexpectedness of being held
close to the Golden God's heart had made her own heart beat in an answering
rhythm. Confusion flooded her mind. How could she feel so strongly led to him
when he had barely spoken to her and he had not been her first choice? Yet she
was more strongly pulled to him than she had ever been, looking at Trent.

What was he saying? He was going to kill the filthsome beast for harming
her? She wasn't hurt, startled and scared perhaps, but not hurt. She tried her
voice and found it hard to speak. Finally, she managed to gasp out her sister's
name. "Tessa, come to me!" She spoke more with her mind than with her words.
{{{I feel so strange! It's though . . . }}} She didn't dare speak or even allow
herself to think the words. Why was her heart betraying her?

Tessa moved over to look at Janeesa's pale face. She spoke to her in her
mind. {{{He will be all right. I don't think he will kill her, just make her
wish she was dead. Why do you look at him so strangely?}}}

{{{He is the One!}}} Janeesa exclaimed simply. {{{Our hearts beat in
rhythm!}}}

{{{Are you sure?}}} Tessa asked even as she tried very hard not to hear
the blows the Golden God was inflicting upon the creature he was now fighting.
She wasn't sure that she liked the idea of her sister being with him instead of
the much quieter, milder one that she called the Golden Angel, but she would not
make her choice for her sister. {{{Be very sure, my dear, before you say
anything to him. Perhaps you are only enamored of him because of his poetic
words and his actions? You know very little of the man. You don't even know his
name!}}}

Janeesa nodded. {{{It doesn't matter what his name is. Our hearts speak
as one!}}} She continued watching the man she was talking of with stars in her
eyes. She would never have expected it to be him. She knew she had best keep her
own counsel and never let him know unless he showed some interest in her other
than defending her. She must keep it Tessa's and her secret until she was sure
of him.

Should she make the first move on him? That was not in keeping with
being a Princess, but when had she, or Tessa, ever done the Princess thing? They
both had trouble keeping their mouths shut; that's why they had gotten into so
much trouble growing up.

She felt herself grow even warmer watching him. His muscles rippled as
he fought, and even his face seemed to shine. She gripped her sister's hand so
tightly that Tessa thought she was going to break it. {{{Janeesa,}}} she warned,
{{{ease up please.}}}

{{{Sorry,}}} Janeesa told her back. {{{I forget my own strength!}}}



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

Cole appeared in the midst just as Autolycus arrived on the scene.
Elizabeth had not waited for him. He had had to pay a visit to the bathroom and
had come out to find that she had already left. Why couldn't the woman wait? Now
she was unconscious! "Elizabeth? Liz, wake up!" he called while shaking her.

Cole looked at the confusion going on. "Autolycus, get Elizabeth out of
here. You," he said, looking down at Didymus and picking him up by the lance
that he swung at him, "go find your King. Protect him from this madness!" He
glanced around until he saw Jareth. "See? There's your King! Go now!" Didymus
ran, yipping all the way.

Cole turned to look at Prue; Prue shook her head. "I'm not leaving him!
It's long past time!"

Cole looked at Brendan. "I will not force her. Do as she told you. Fight
it, man; you have the power within you!"

"No . . . not alone, he can't," Prue told him. "It's around his neck."

Cole's eyes went immediately to Brendan's neck. The necklace glowed as
though it was a live being. He didn't know what it was that Prue had given
Brendan, but he could feel the power radiating from it. "I'll stay, but I think
you can win. I believe in you, Brendan."

"I believe in you, too!" Prue told him. "Fight it, love!"



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

The Hallway

Ace was terrified of what they were about to do. He had never literally
walked through a wall before. He tried using Zen to blank his mind so as not to
hinder Kitty. Before he could even register that they were doing it, he was
inside the room. In that split second, he knew Kat knew they were upon her and
that a fireball was about to come. He pulled from Kitty's grasp and somersaulted
through the air, landing on Kat.

Kat had barely shut her completed trunk when she had turned around and
saw Kitty Pryde leading Ace into her room. She had shouted out in Gaelic,
cursing both of them and raising her hands, but had not had time to form a
fireball before Ace had jumped on top of her. "GET THE FUCK OFF O' ME, VENTURA,
OR BY HEAVEN AN' HELL, I'LL BURN YE OFF!"

"Kat . . . " Ace was breathing hard. "I'm not letting go of ya! I'm not
that stupid! If ya can't get your hands up, you can't get me! Now I don't know
what I've done to make you hate me, but I've got to apologize to ya."

"I can't lose you! You're my heart and soul, woman! Whatever grievous
thing I have done to you, tell me and I will do my best to make it up, but don't
leave me!" His voice was full of unshed tears as he pleaded his case. If she
left him, his world would not be worth the living.

Kat glared up into his eyes, doing her best to hide the tears that were
in her heart. She would not let them come to her eyes; she would not let him
know she was hurting. "There's nae a damn t'ing ye can di 'bout it! It's o'er!
Now get off o' me, Ventura, 'fore'n I have tae make ye!"

"I'm not letting go of you, Kat, not until you tell me that you don't
care anything at all about me, that you don't love me! Tell me what's wrong!
We've never had any secrets before, love. Why do this now?" His eyes never left
hers.

Kitty wiped a tear from her brown eyes as she turned her back to the
scene. The couple's emotions were so strong that she could almost feel them, and
their pain reminded her far too much of her own. She barely glanced at Delvira
as she walked out of the bedroom, leaving Ace to fend for himself. "It's done,"
she murmured and then walked, as if in a fog, back to the meeting room.

Delvira finished her spell, gave the door one last look, checked her
spell one last time, and then followed Kitty.



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

The Meeting Room

Spike sat, leaning forward in his seat and at full alert. He could not
believe the chaos that was breaking out. This room was worse than any tavern
he'd ever been in; it was even worse than being with Angel at Tortuga's tavern!
This was pure insanity, and yet his beloved was sleeping peacefully through it
all!

As Spike glanced to Kyna and called her name yet again, she slept on. He
was not aware of the trembling that was happening inside her body for he was not
touching her and her outward appearance remained as calm and still as a statue.
Spike was just beginning to lean toward her when he felt swift movement coming
from behind them. He ducked and started to pull Kyna down with him but was not
in time as something struck the back of her head.

"BLOODY BOLLOCK-LICKING ARSEBREATH!!!" Spike roared as he snatched the
silver disc. It was almost in the shape of a boomerang yet both ends turned out
into daggers. His arms went around Kyna, and he checked her over as he laid her
back into her chair. Her head was bleeding, yet still she slept! He had never
known her to sleep so deeply, but his attention was called to a running form. He
looked up just in time to catch a glimpse of Carlos before he disappeared into
the crowd.



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

Roxanne yowled as she fought with Wolverine, and at last, her jaguars
sped into action. Sasha darted around and came in at Wolverine from behind even
as Yasmine raced to join Theodora, who, she knew, was already protecting her
mother. Ororo saw Sasha leaping with fangs gnashing for Wolverine's rear end and
used her winds to snatch the big cat down.

The sight of the cat crashing into the floor brought a yell from Zora.
She took a split second to carefully lay the cub beside her in the chair. The
blonde then leapt to her feet, her wild, green eyes cutting daggers into the
African woman who controlled the winds. "Ya didn't have to hurt her, bitch!
Connor, see if she's all right!" Zora ran at Ororo as Gaelic cursing sounded
from upstairs.

Connor raced over to check the beast who was unconscious. He looked up
to tell Zora he didn't think anything was wrong with her except that she was
unconscious, but he never got the words out as he saw Zora and 'Ro erupt into
battle. He had left the cubs with Vang, and he could hear Sebastian and Wolfie
trying to get the cubs under cover for protection.



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

Dawson's words of taking his life and dying echoed in Faith's ears as
she stood in the midst of growing chaos, trying desperately not to give in to
the tears that swelled inside her dark eyes. Lex was gone, caring to Clark.
"H-Hansel, you -- ya can't let him." But she could not stay and condemn his
life.

"I can't let him?" Hansel questioned. "You can't let him! You know he
loves you, Faith; stay with him!"

Her glare cut into his heart. "Damn you, blondie; you know I can't!"



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

"What's going on?" Carlos wondered aloud.

"Yeah," Trent agreed, looking at his sister for an explanation. "What's
got them all nuts? I always knew Pirates weren't the sanest group of people, but
this is ridiculous!"

Trina was about to answer them when she sensed some one approaching them
from behind. She turned in her chair and looked back to see Spike stalking
toward them, a dark cloud of fury upon the Vampire's pale face. "Spike!" she
called. "What in the world's . . . "

Trina's words froze in her throat as Spike raced over the short distance
separating them, leapt over Carlos' and Trent's chairs, and snatched Carlos up
by his throat. The Mexican tried to holler but could get no words out for the
fist cutting off his air. His brown eyes went wide, their expressions demanding
an answer and pleading for sanity to return to their First Mate. "YOU BASTARD!"
Spike roared. "HOW DARE YOU HURT HER!! I'M GOING TO CRUSH EVERY ONE OF YOUR
BONES, TEAR YOUR FLESH OFF, SEND YOU TO HELL, AND THEN RESURRECT YOUR SORRY ARSE
AND SEND YOU BACK AGAIN!!!"

Carlos' companions had leapt to their feet the instant the attack had
happened. Now, Trent grabbed Spike's arm. "LET HIM GO!" he demanded. "He hasn't
done anything! He's been with us the whole time!"

"LIAR!" Spike threw Trent against the wall.

"HE'S NOT LYING!" Trina yelled. "HE'S BEEN WITH US THE WHOLE TIME! THEY
BOTH HAVE! SPIKE, WHAT THE HELL IS WRONG WITH YOU?!"

"I SAW HIM WITH MY OWN EYES! HE HIT KYNA IN THE HEAD WITH SOME KIND OF
SILVER WEAPON MEANT FOR ME!" His black eyes glistened at Carlos. "But silver
doesn't work on Vampires," he hissed, his fangs showing.

"No," Trina agreed, "you need a stake." Where the Hell could she get
one? She turned, picked up her chair, and crashed it into the floor.

Spike, meanwhile, eyed Carlos. "I'm not going to break your neck right
away. That's too good for you." He released his hold on Carlos' throat and hit
him. Carlos was slung several feet away. Spike leapt after him, picked him up,
and promptly hit him again.



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

Kat's Bedroom

"Ye would nae knae if'n I had any secrets from ye, Ventura! I could ha'e
a world o' 'em, an' ye'd ne'er be the wiser! We're done, an' there's nae a t'ing
that can be done fer it! Now get off o' me!" Her knee slammed up into his gut as
she tried to roll him off of her.

Ace was just as determined not to let go of Kat as what Kat was to get
rid of him, but he knew an empass when he saw one. "If you're so determined to
put a fireball into me, Kat, then go ahead and do it! But know this: I have
never loved any one more than I love you and I would do anything to help you! If
you don't want me any more, I have no reason to live!" He let go of her and
stood up. "Go ahead and do it if it's what you want to do."

Kat stared up at Ace in disbelief. Captain was also staring at the lad,
but the old, tabby cat swung his head back to look at Kat. "{{{Din't di it,
darlin'. Ye knae ye din't really want tae.}}}" He remained ready to run
underneath the bed should she change her mind, however.

"Cac, tá tú glan as do mheabhair!" were the first words out of Kat's
mouth once she managed to move it again. She shook her head slowly, still
staring up at him. For once, his craziness was not a good thing. Her emerald
eyes glared at him as she got slowly to her feet, but she never raised a hand to
him. Instead, she turned her back to him, still fighting tears, and reached for
her suitcase.

"You think I'm just going to let you walk out of here? Then you're the
crazy one! The only way you're getting away from me, Kat, is to kill me! Our
destinies are together! Our hearts beat as one! Can you deny that?! Look me in
the eye, and tell me that you don't feel for me what I feel for you, that you
can just shut me out of your life as though I mean nothing!" He reached out and
lay a hand on the trunk, trying to keep her from being able to take it.

"Manual strength was ne'er one o' yer qualities, Ventura," she snapped
at him as she yanked it out from underneath his grasp. As she turned around to
leave, however, his gaze caught hers. For a moment, she was frozen to the spot,
staring at the eyes that spoke such truth and felt every inch of emotion that he
declared. She raised her chin and forced herself to speak. "We have destinies,
true, but they di nae lay together. I thought, at one time, that they did, but
then I found oot better. An' aye, I can, an' I will . . . " {I must,} she
thought sadly, her heart breaking more with each passing moment. " . . . leave
ye."



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

The Meeting Room

Dawson threw himself at Faith's feet. He hugged her legs, and then he
kissed her feet. "Don't leave me again, sweetheart," he begged her, "and
whatever it is you can't, it doesn't matter! I can't either!" He refused to let
go; if she was going to run away, she was going to drag him with her!



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

"I had no choice," Ororo tried to reason with the angry teenager as she
slowly walked out to meet her. "She was about to attack Wolverine!"

"Ya didn't have to snatch her down so hard!"

"Perhaps not, but I am certain she will be fine!"

"That's beside the point, bitch! Ya don't go around hurtin' animals!"

"I would never -- "

"I won't let ya!" Striped fur was quickly covering Zora's body, and her
two sets of deadly claws had already grown from her hands. She leapt, her claws
reaching out for Ororo, just as Wolverine roared in pain.

Ororo knew the Weretiger would be upon her at any second, but still she
glanced in her love's direction. Her heart chilled at the sight of the
Werejaguar swiping her claws through his stomach. She could see something pink
and bloody on the creature's claws and shuddered at the sight of her beloved's
entrails.

Zora released a roar of her own as she began to drop on top of the much
taller woman. Her claws were less than an inch from making contact when Ororo
let out a scream. "BY THE GODDESS, I REFUSE TO STAND HERE AND ALLOW HIM TO BE
KILLED!" As she screamed, her hands flew out at Zora, briefly touching the
Weretiger's claws, and winds assaulted the younger woman.

Ororo took to the air as Zora fell backwards. The Weretiger hit the
floor and skidded, coming to a halt only when she connected with the unconscious
jaguar's body. "ZORA!" The cry of concern came from Connor as Vang roared, but
Zora paid them no mind.

The young Weretiger was beyond angry now. She was furious, and her
glowing, green eyes turned upwards as the Windrider flew over them. She snarled,
her transformation completing, and flipped upwards.



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

Andrew reached out and grabbed Spike by the shoulder. In a very calm,
quiet voice, he said, "I don't know what you saw, William, but it was not
Carlos. He's been sitting quietly here, with the rest of us, waiting for the
meeting to start. You know who I am and what I am. Do you really think I would
lie to you? Release him, and let him go. He's innocent."

Spike snarled as he snatched his arm out of Andrew's grasp. "Keep your
hands off of me! You're all with him! No wonder you claim him to be innocent
when I know he's not! I saw him with my own eyes! NOW STAY OUT OF THIS!!" He
backhanded Andrew, knocking him away.

Trina ducked under Andrew's flying body and sprang from there into the
air. She now had a stake in her hand. She had it aimed for Spike as she came
down over him, but as she fell, he knocked Carlos further across the room,
turned, and grabbed her throat. She kicked and struggled but could not reach
him. His fist gripped her wrist, but she clung stubbornly to the stake. She did
not know what had happened to their leader's lover, but she had to stop him, at
any cost, before he could kill any of those she loved!

Angel had just pulled himself back up after being knocked down by Smee's
rear end when he heard the commotion happening with Spike. He watched the scene
for a split second, then sprang across the room and grabbed Spike by the throat
from behind. "LET GO OF HER!" he snarled even as he Vamped. "The man is
innocent! You will let him go, and you will let the woman go, as well, or you
and I will fight!"

"Yet again you turn against me, Angelus?!" Spike had already been in
full Vampire form when he'd first attacked Carlos. Now he threw his head
backwards against Angel's. "You want to rumble? We can rumble, but I'll never
let them get away with harming Kyna! Don't tell me you'd let them get away with
harming your precious Cordelia!" he snarled.

Spike had yet to release Trina, who finally managed to connect her
booted foot with his knee. Still, he held to her. She could feel the bone in her
wrist beginning to break, and her lungs burned for oxygen. She did not know how
long she could hold on but struggled to do so with every ounce of her strength.
What had happened to Spike to make him so insane?! She had not the first clue.
All she knew was that Andrew, Trent, and Carlos were depending upon her!

A shrill scream reached their ears from across the room. Trina could not
turn to see what was happening, but Spike witnessed it and roared. "THERE! There
you go!" he exclaimed even as Cordelia fell to the floor and a blonde man who
looked almost identical to the woman whose throat Spike still gripped ran in the
opposite direction.



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

Kat's Bedroom

"Then go if you can, Kat, for I do not have the strength to hold you! My
love is not a prison." His heart broke on those words.

Her heart ached so that she found it hard to breathe. Her free hand
flexed, aching to touch him, stroke his face, and wipe his tears away despite
the hole that remained in the middle of it. She coughed, almost choking on the
tears that welled in her throat, and looked away before he could see the ones
building in her eyes. She'd hoped she wouldn't have to say the words, but now
she had no choice. "Good-bye, Ace." Her voice cracked; her throat burned. She
headed for the door.

"{{{NAE!}}}" Captain screeched, leaping from the bed and racing across
the floor until he stood beside Ace. "{{{Damn it, Kat, I win't let ye di it!}}}"

She stopped and glanced back at him. Tears sparkled in her eyes but did
not fall.

"{{{I win't let ye! I refuse tae allow ye tae kill the both o' ye! Ye
still love him; I knae it! That 'twas nae yer grandfather that said those
t'ings; it 'twas a mirage, a hallucination, a fake!}}}"

"Capt'n," she said, her words barely audible as she shook her head,
"silence yeself. Ye knae not what ye say."

"{{{I knae purrfectly well what I say, lass, an' 'tis the truth!}}}"

"Even if it 'tis, it 'twould nae matter. I'm leavin'. Now are ye comin'
wit' me or nae?"

Captain looked from his beloved mistress, the woman who was almost like
a daughter to him as she had been the granddaughter of his previous master, to
Ace, who looked as though his whole world was shattering which, Captain knew all
too well, it was. "{{{Nae.}}}" His head drooped; his tail fell to the floor and
sucked between his legs. "{{{If'n ye leave him, ye leave me too.}}}"



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

The Meeting Room

Angel's eyes quickly darted to the wall where he had seen Trent knocked
while he was still upon the floor, trying to figure out what to do. The man was
still laying in a crumpled heap. Angel growled again at Spike. "Look! How can he
throw something at Cordelia? There's something amongst us, and it's not who you
think it is!" Angel dropped Spike and raced to Cordelia's side, his dead heart
in his throat. She had to be all right!

Trina's eyes went wild as Angel fled the scene to see about his woman.
She wanted to cry out for him not to leave, but she could not get a single word
out. It was all she could do to gasp for air. Left to his own devices, Spike
growled at the blonde that he had once called friend, gnashed his fangs
warningly at her, and then hit her. She flew across the room, hit the wall, and
slid down to fall on top of her brother.

Spike chased after Carlos.



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

The Kitchen

Piper had witnessed Cole shimmer away and Prue break into a run as
though her very life was in jeopardy, and she could stand still no longer. She
joined her little sisters in the doorway but was barely beginning to look out
over Phoebe's shoulder when she heard a loud sound behind her and a sharp intake
of breath. Blue roared even as Piper whirled around. She stared at Lorne, who
had fallen face-forward onto the table. "Wha-?! What happened?!"

"That bastard!" Crystal exclaimed, slamming her fist into the table.
"He'll pay! I knew he had a problem with Supernatural beings, but poor Lorne has
done nothing to him! I could understand him wanting to hand me over, but Lorne
has never done anything to any one who did not deserve it!" The blonde had
already leapt to her feet, but as she headed for the door, a new being appeared
right before her.

Crys took no notice of the newcomer or of Piper's reaction to the
person. She simply walked around him and continued on out in search of the
person who had snuck into the kitchen and struck Lorne when they had all had
their heads turned. Piper, meanwhile, stared at the man in shock.

As he turned to look at her with adoring eyes, Piper backed up so
swiftly that she tripped over her own feet. He rushed to her side, but she beat
at the hands that offered to help her. "Get away! Get away from me! What are you
doing here?! You're supposed to be dead!"

"But I'm not," he told her with a warm smile that she might have once
found charming, "and now we can be together!"

"Never!" she cried, slapping his hands away and stumbling to her feet.
She backed up and threw her hands out. She stared in stunned silence at the
little bits of the man that exploded everywhere.



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

Kat's Bedroom

Through his tears, Ace looked at Captain in surprise. "You can not stay
behind, Captain! You have to go with her! She won't let me go, so you have to!
You have to protect her! You have to protect her from herself! She is her own
worst enemy!"

Ace could not look at Kat. Of all the things he'd thought would happen
to him, this had never occurred to him: that she could walk away from him
without a backward glance and that he meant nothing to her. His whole world was
coming to an end, and she cared not! How could she be so cold-hearted?! He had
never thought her to be so before.

What could he possibly have done to really piss her off this badly, and
what did Captain keep jibbering about? He knew that her grandfather was dead. He
had been dead many years, long before Ace had ever met Kat, and yet it was as
though Kat had seen him recently. Ace had often wondered if he had met the old
man, if the old man would like him or not. He would have loved to have been able
to get his approval, but alas, that was never to be! All Ace had ever known of
him was what little Kat said and the tales that he had heard of his exploits.

"Before you leave, Kat, you at least owe me an explanation for what
Captain keeps trying to tell me. How did you see your grandfather when he's long
dead, and just what did he say to make you turn against me? You owe me that much
at least, Kat, so come clean. Speak the truth!"

She had never known such pain as that that now welled in her heart and
almost drove her to her knees; her heart had not even ached so terribly when her
grandfather had passed. "I owe ye nothin', Ace. Ye've taken me whole life.
E'eryt'ing I thought I had is gone. E'ery one I e'er loved . . . I've lost. Even
ye, traitor," she said, looking at Captain through her tears. "Besides, I'm sure
he'll fill ye in on all o' it."

She turned to the door and grasped the handle. Her knees were weak. Her
whole body, heart, and soul ached and screamed for her to turn around, run back
to him, and kiss all their problems away, but it could not be. Her grandfather
was right: he, and her love for him, blinded her to caring for the animals to
the utmost of her ability. That was what had always been most important, and
that was what had to always be most important. He could no longer matter to her
and never should have to start with.

She was a warrior put upon this earth to save animals. She had to do her
duty. That was what she was made to live for, not for the love that burned so
deeply within her for this one man who shared her dream. She had to leave; she
did not have a choice. Even if it killed her in the long run, she had to walk
out this door and never return to him. She turned the knob.

The door refused to open. She tried again and again. Upon the fourth
try, she attempted to break it down and threw all her strength and weight into
it. Still, it refused to budge. She couldn't look at Ace. She held to the knob
as she trembled, tears now running down her face. "What ha'e ye done?"

"If you have no answers for me, Kat, then I have none for you. Burn it
down, if that be your desire." He wished that he could get out of the room, go
somewhere, hide, and lick his wounds, but Kitty had abandoned him in there. Kat
no longer wanted him. He was very surprised that Captain wanted Kat to stay with
him, as well. It must be true, then, he told himself, that it wasn't something
he had done. But, still, he had no answers.

{{{If some one can hear me,}}} he thought loudly, {{{get me out of here!
Please, get me out of here!}}}

The fireball glistened in her crying eyes as it grew rapidly in the palm
of her injured hand. She had to bite down against the pain she felt to keep from
crying out; she bit so hard that her tongue bled. Finally, with a cry of rage,
she threw the fireball at the door. It bounced off. With a Gaelic scream, Kat
turned, ran, and managed to knock Ace to the floor just as the fireball passed
over their bodies. It exploded into the bed.



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

The Meeting Room

Andrew got shakily to his feet. He felt something sticky running down
the back of his head. He pressed his hand to the back of his head and then
brought it back to his face. He was shocked to see that his hand was covered in
blood. {I can bleed!} he thought. {He's going to kill Carlos! I've got to reach
him, but I've got to reach Trina first!}

He tried to take a step forward but was unable to. He crawled to Trina's
side. He had to touch her. She had to be alive! Zeus wouldn't cheat him this
badly, would He? He prayed. His fingers sought the pulse at her neck, and he
breathed a sigh of relief to know that she lived.

"Carlos! God save you, my friend! I can't reach you!" His weary body
sagged against his beloved's.


Chapter Fourteen
The Hallway

The minute his father, Smee, had started moving, Frederic was on him,
but he still couldn't catch him. He could hardly believe how fast Smee could
move despite his size. He watched in shocked amazement as his father's butt
knocked Captain Jack to the floor. He continued on, despite Angel's angry roars
and his chasing him. Even Angel could not catch Smee!

Where was his father running to in such a hurry? Then Frederic saw him
run straight for the stairs where another group of people were knocked into. He
saw a woman go down and heard a man's voice raised in anxious words. That was
when he realized that it was Elizabeth, Brendan was wolfing, and Will was lost.
He didn't have time to stop and help him, however. He continued chasing after
his father and hoped that no one else would get in the way.

He heard a manner of yipping behind him and never looked back to see
what it was. No matter how hard he ran, he still couldn't catch his father.
Where was his daddy going, and what was on the little man's mind? Frederic knew
it would not be good. Most likely, his father would now try to do himself in
again, and he knew that if he didn't catch him, he might succeed this time.



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

Kat's Bedroom

"We're in trouble now, Kat. We have nothing to put the fire out with.
That is what your anger has done; it will be the death of both of us! I fear not
death!" he told her as he rolled out from under her, trying his best not to
touch her any more than he had to. He would not inflict himself upon her nor
would he allow himself a single touch of some one who no longer loved him.

"Captain, you get yourself out of here. Go into the bathroom. It will be
the safest place if the bed burns down. It may take the entire room with it."

"{{{I will nae leave,}}}" Captain told Ace even as Kat, now on her feet
again, stared at the bed. "{{{She can put it out if she concentrates hard
enough, but I will nae leave regardless. Look at 'er face, Ace; she's cryin'
even now.}}}"

Kat hissed at Captain in Gaelic but did not move her eyes from the bed.
She did, however, give Ace her back.

"{{{She still loves ye,}}}" Captain continued. "{{{She t'inks she has
tae di this tae fulfill 'er duty. She believes 'er grandfather denounced 'er
because she chose tae save ye o'er the animals.}}}"

"We couldn't save the animals, Kat! We tried! They were too heavy to
swim! We were in the middle of an ocean, for Gods' sakes! How was either one of
us to get them from there to the land? It's the hard truth, but truth it is
nonetheless! It's neither of our faults!"

Her voice and body shook as she answered him. "If'n I'd nae been wit'
ye, I would nae ha'e been on that bloody ocean tae start wit', an' me first
concern would've been the animals, nae ye." The fire on the bed was now
diminishing, but she could not stay. She could not listen to Captain's betrayal
and Ace's lies, lies she knew he believed. She turned and headed for the window.

"Go, Kat. I will not try to stop you again. My love means nothing to
you, and I mean nothing to you! I can not release you from the room, nor can I
release myself until they come for us. We're stuck here!" He was relieved to see
that the bed had now stopped burning and that nothing else had taken aflame.

She tried not to listen to his words or the emotions that she could hear
in his voice. She concentrated on doing what she knew she had to do. She had to
leave him and return her mind and her life to serving her dutiful position in
the world, saving those who could not save themselves. She slid the window open
and threw her suitcase out. Then she climbed up into it, but when she jumped,
she was thrown backwards. She hit the wall and slumped to the floor.



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

The Meeting Room

Janeesa let go of Tessa's hand with a rueful smile. "Sorry," she said as
she watched her sister rub her hand to get the feeling back into it.

"It's okay," Tessa told Janeesa. "Stay here out of the way. I've got to
see to Ray!"

Her words were the first time that Janeesa's eyes sought to find out
what had happened to Ray. With a gasp, Tessa ran to Ray's side and pulled her
new friend close, willing her to open her eyes. Janeesa slipped quietly to her
side, making sure that they all stayed out of the way of the Golden God's
battle. Janeesa's hand reached out and stroked Ray's hair, as well. "Ray?" she
whispered the girl's name.

The Werecreature growled, but as she moved her head to look back at her
victim, Rian whipped out his morning star and twirled it around. He struck the
beast's neck with it, bringing her attention back to him. Just as she looked
back, he darted forward with his sword again. He hoped the women would get the
fallen lady out of the way but kept his attention rapt upon his enemy.

{{{We have to move out of the way, Tessa,}}} Janeesa spoke. Tessa nodded
even as she picked Ray up and carried her as though she didn't weigh anything.
Janeesa followed close behind. It seemed that the whole room was ripped into
chaos, and there was nowhere safe for them to hide.

Tessa walked into the front of the room, carrying Ray close to her
heart. She finally found a spot that seemed safe. She knelt down and laid her on
the floor.

Janeesa was looking backward, still watching the Golden God fight. Why
were the people all crazy? Even as she watched, she saw another fight break out,
this time between a blonde man and their friend, Carlos! What had happened to
cause that? she wondered but had no way to find out. She glanced back at Tessa,
making sure that she and Ray were okay. {{{Is she unconscious?}}} she asked her
sister, praying that that was all it was.

{{{I'm not sure, but she is breathing. We need a healer. I pray that her
lungs are not damaged! That creature did have her really hard about the
throat!}}}

Another noise was heard from the center of the room. A dark-haired man
was fighting what seemed to be his pants. Janeesa wondered what could be wrong
with them. He pulled as hard as he could and a dark-haired woman was helping
him, but they couldn't get them to come off of the floor. Janeesa listened
intently.

How could pants be glued to the floor? What is glue? she wondered, but
the couple were not doing any explaining and she did not want to bother her
sister unnecessarily. After all, it was not something that was bothering either
of them, just curious and curiouser. Where would a healer be in all this mess?
she pondered.

Her eyes finally spotted another friend. {{{Morph,}}} she spoke to him,
{{{we need a healer. Ray is hurt!}}}



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

The Kitchen

Tears had barely began to form in Piper's big, brown eyes when the man
rematerialized before her. Her mouth fell open at first, but then she had to
clutch both hands over it in order to keep from screaming. "That wasn't nice,
Piper," he told her. "Come on! I know you've missed me! Are you that afraid of
me?"

Her trembling fingers slowly lowered from her mouth. "Get. Away. From.
Me!"

"Piper!"

Piper's head snapped, her long hair whirling about her, as she looked in
surprise at the sudden exclamation that came from the doorway. "Paige, get out
of here!"

"Paige!" the man smiled, calling the redhead's name at the same time her
sister did. "How great to see you again!"

"Paige," Piper repeated sternly, "get out of here!"

"No way!" She looked at the man. "You're supposed to be dead! What are
you doing here?" She eyed him suspiciously. "Are you a Zombie?"

Phoebe leaned against the doorway, holding an arm across her middle and
moaning softly to herself. Ororo, Piper realized, was gone. Judging from the
fresh roars, thunder, and lightning she could hear, she figured 'Ro had gone to
meet Zora head-on.

"Paige," Piper demanded, "get out of here!"

"No! I'm not leaving you, Piper! I don't know what he's doing here or
what he wants or even what he is, but I'm not leaving you! As for you," she told
the man, "Piper doesn't want you any more. She's in love with some one else. Now
leave us alone!"

The man looked at Piper in hurt. "In love? But you and I were supposed
to end up together!"

"I never wanted you!"

As he looked at her older sister in an expression even more deeply hurt,
Paige screeched, "Leave us alone!" She had been about to step back to the
meeting room and order a sword when Carl came out of nowhere, running at his top
speed and barrelling into the man's legs. They were tied up, brawling, on the
floor before either woman could do anything more.



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

The Meeting Room

"You know you want to eat them."

The voice that whispered sounded within his own mind, causing Brendan to
cry out. "No, I don't want --! I won't! I won't!" He sobbed and shook all over,
his words becoming howls.

Will turned to Prue. "You know he isn't ready yet! You've got to get
away from here!" At least, Autolycus had taken Elizabeth to safety, but how in
the world was he going to get Prue and Cole away from here?!

Shaking and trembling all over, Brendan slowly raised his head. He had
broken out into a heavy sweat, and the glistening eyes that looked up from
underneath his shaggy, brown bangs at Prue were yellow and slanted. They flashed
even as he roared, his fangs showing. "I WON'T!" he howled. Despite his words,
it was a different mantra that repeated within his head. He couldn't. He
couldn't. He couldn't harm Prue. Or Will. Or Cole. Or anybody here. These people
were his family; he could not harm them! "I WON'T!" he howled again.

"Keep fighting, Brendan," Prue said in a very calm voice, calmer than
she felt. She prayed her sisters were safe and looked at Cole. "You must get
Piper; something awful's going on in the kitchen."

Cole drew his attention away from Prue long enough to listen to the
kitchen. "We've got to go, Prue. Leave Brendan to Will."

"But he'll never trust if I leave him! Trust the necklace, Brendan." She
knew she couldn't fight Cole and Brendan. She also knew she had to get to the
kitchen to help Piper fight whatever was in there. Even as she was telling
Brendan to trust the necklace, she felt Cole reach out and touch her and they
shimmered.



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

Morph's head had already been snapped to attention as he had been trying
to make sure his family stayed out of the way of all the other lunatics in the
room when he heard Janeesa's voice within his mind. He looked to his beloved
wife and found her with her claws embedded in the seat beneath her and her cream
and chocolate fur sticking out at all ends. Her tail struck the air, moving
swiftly back and forth like a striking snake. Wild, angry hisses were spitting
out between her clenched teeth as tears poured down her furry cheeks. She was in
no position to help any one, so who did that leave?

Katrina was still asleep. Brendan was fighting his wolf and failing,
once again, it looked like as Morph glanced back in his direction. He couldn't
see Gabrielle, and the only other doctor they had was battling Wolverine,
meeting the short but fierce man claw for claw and tooth for tooth. Who did that
leave? "SAM!" he bellowed out.



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

Despite the chaos, Delvira's one thought upon returning to the meeting
room was finding her husband. Her keen eyes had swept the room before finally
spotting him where he was perched on top of the chandelier, and her black eyes
had remained fixed on him while she waited for the right moment.

She had waited for him to become thoroughly enthralled in what was
happening around them, and now she struck. She slipped from her chair, ran
across the room, passing Elvira who was pulling some one who could only be Jack
to his feet, leapt up into an empty chair, and sprang from there into a flip
headed for the chandlier. She reached one hand out for the chandlier and the
other for her husband.

Jareth struggled mightily, his wings flapping at Delvira. He didn't want
to hurt her, but there was no way that he could go where she was and be with her
again! He had betrayed her, and he couldn't bare to dirty their love by
attempting to give her his love again! {{{Let go of me; I do not deserve you! I
should disappear and die and never sully your beautiful form again! Let go of me
at once!}}} He flapped his wings wildly.

Yasmine, meanwhile, had come up behind the struggle raging between
Theodora and some human man. She made no sound of warning as she leapt forward
but roared in pain as a gust of fire blasted into her side, knocking her well
away from the fight.



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

James played on, oblivious to his surroundings. His despondency after
having seen Smee flee the room was evident in his strong voice that carried
throughout the room. James had finally given up, and as he so often did, turned
to his music.


People just ain't no good;
I think that's well understood.
You can see it everywhere you look.
People just ain't no good.
We were married under cherry trees.
Under blossom, we made our vows.
All the blossoms come sailing down
Through the streets and through the playgrounds.

The sun would stream on the sheets.
Awoken by the morning bird,
We'd buy the Sunday newspapers
And never read a single word.

People, they ain't no good.
People, they ain't no good.
People, they ain't no good.



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

"GET OFF OF ME!" Faith demanded, trying to kick Dawson away from her
feet. She didn't want to hurt him, but she couldn't allow him to hang on to her
feet either! She had to get away from him before she truly did end up hurting
him!

Dawson did not let go of her feet; he continued to hold them as tightly
as he could. He was living on limited time, and he knew it. Soon, Faith would
kick him away, and when she did, he would be lost and she would be gone. This
time, he wouldn't be able to get her back for she thought that even Hansel had
betrayed her.

But what could he do? Had he not already tried everything? What was
there left to try? There was no hope, nothing else he could think of . . . His
despairing, pleading eyes turned to search for help. Lex was still caring for
Clark, his hands upon his groin, of all places. Dawson didn't look any closer;
instead, he turned his tear-filled eyes in search of Jack.

Chaos filled the room with many different sets battling, but he saw Jack
nowhere. He did, however, take note of a strange, oddly familiar man laying on
the floor with Elvira messing with his rear end. He wasn't sure what they were
doing or who the man was, but he knew two things. The man wasn't Wolf who the
Vampiress claimed to love, and he would receive no help there.

Wolverine was locked in battle with a Werecreature, and Angel was
fighting . . . Spike? Celina looked as though she was in need of being locked
up, and there was simply no one anywhere to help him think of a way to keep
Faith. Salem did not even seem to be anywhere in the room. There was one, he
realized suddenly, even if he was one he hated to turn to . . . Dawson swung
questing eyes toward Hansel, who had been gazing at the couple the whole time.

Despite the worry and sadness in his eyes, Hansel grinned when the kid
finally looked at him. He had an idea he hoped and believed would help.
"Challenge her," he mouthed in a rush before Dawson could turn his gaze away.
"Dare her. Triple-dog dare her, if you have to, boy, but dare her!" Faith had
never been able to pass up a dare.

The chords of James' forlorn song played through his head as Dawson
contemplated Hansel's words. Dare her? But how could he dare her without making
her even angrier, without making it seem that he was forcing her, with the dare,
to stay with him? He reached deep down inside of what was left intact in his
heart and soul . . . and began to sing.


She said, "I've gotta be honest;
You're wasting your time if you're fishing 'round here."
And I said, "You must be mistaken,
'Cause I'm not fooling. This feeling is real."
She said . . . She said, "You gotta be crazy.
What do you take me for? Some kind of easy mark?"
"No, you've got wits; you've got looks.
You've got passion, but I swear that you've got me all wrong."
All wrong.
All wrong.
But you got me . . .

I'll be true; I'll be useful.
I'll be cavalier. I'll be yours, my dear.
And I'll belong to you . . .
If you'll just let me through.
This is easy as lovers go,
So don't complicate it by hesitating.
And this is wonderful as loving goes.
This is tailor-made; what's the sense in waiting?

And I said, "I've gotta be honest;
I've been waiting for you all my life."
For so long, I thought I was asylum bound,
But just seeing you makes me think twice.
And being with you here makes me sane.
I fear I'll go crazy if you leave my side.
You've got wits. You've got looks.
You've got passion . . . "

Faith could not believe that Dawson was singing, let alone the words he
chose to sing now when the world was falling apart around them and everything
seemed to have been turned upside down. She stared at him in shock, and when she
found her voice at last, she started shouting at him to shut the Hell up. Yet he
continued to sing, gazing at her with such love and adoration that she could not
bare to face him.

Why couldn't he just let her go? He'd be so much better off without her
in his life! They all would, except for Salem who she was bound eternally to . .
. unless the Council decided otherwise when they finally turned their sorry
asses up. Didn't he understand what had happened back at the trial? Didn't he
know what he was asking for, or did he not realize that he might only be with
her a short while before she was turned into a cat or worse?

There was no end to what might yet be done to her for standing up for
Salem, and whereas she did not regret standing beside him and fending off the
Wizards the only way she could, she knew Dawson deserved better. He was so
sweet, romantic, and valiant, even if he did have a long way to go to being a
good fighter. He deserved a better life and a better woman than a bitch who
could not even please him.

She did not realize when the tears began to fall, but she screeched at
him through them. "DAWSON, PLEASE, JUST SHUT THE HELL UP! YOU DON'T KNOW WHAT
YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT, WHAT YOU'RE SINGING ABOUT! YOU DON'T UNDERSTAND WHAT'S
HAPPENING, WHAT YOU'D FACE IF . . . IF . . . ! I JUST CAN'T BE WITH YOU, AND
THAT'S IT!"

Dawson gently lifted Faith's chin and wiped her tears away with his
thumb. "But are you brave enough to be with me tonight?" he sang.

"It doesn't have anything to do with bravery, damn it!" Faith realized
that she was crying and reached her hands up toward her eyes to tear at the new
tears that fell. Dawson caught one hand before she could scratch at her eyes,
but before he could let her chin fall, another hand grasped her free hand.
"BLONDIE, STAY OUT OF THIS!" Faith roared.

"No," Hansel said simply and quietly, never seeing the new danger that
was swiftly approaching.



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

Ororo flew, wishing for all the speed of the Gods, as she headed to save
Logan. Her eyes remained on him for nothing else mattered now. He was stumbling
beneath Roxanne's blows, but then she noticed a very subtle change in his
stature that told her he was far from done.

Wolverine's cuts had been healing almost as quickly as Roxanne made
them. The Werejaguar's brain could not even begin to understand what was
happening, but Logan trusted his healing factor. He had waited until she'd
thought she had him, and now he struck. His claws drove upwards, one set slicing
through the Werejaguar's wrist and the other connecting with her stomach.

As Wolverine swiped his claws through the Werejaguar's body, the
Weretiger made her connection. Her feet slammed upwards into Ororo's chest,
sending the African woman spiralling sideways. As she flew out of control, Zora
landed smoothly. She watched as the Sorceress struggled to regain control of her
winds, and just as her body was straightening out, flipped upwards again.

This time, Ororo was ready for Zora. As thunder rattled the windows and
rain pelted the house, she summoned lightning. She pressed her hands together,
and just before Zora could reach her, she threw all the lightning she had at her
command straight at the Weretiger. Zora's anguished roar turned to an injured
mewl. This time, when she hit the floor hard, she did not move again.


To Be Continued . . .

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