A knock draws Tori's attention from fussing over Tannr. She finishes adjusting his blanket and crosses the room to open the door. She isn't surprised to see Marc standing behind Rowan. The healer steps past Tori as she tells her "Tannr just fell asleep."

Rowan nods and starts checking tubes. Tori motions for Marc to come further into the room. The Gargoyle looks paler than usual, thinner. Her eyes seem larger and almost haunted. A greyness tinges her pale skin and there are dark smudges beneath her eyes.

"How's Tannr?" Marc looks past her to where his Commander lay sleeping.

Tori looks at the bed, sighing deeply. "Better..."

Marc follows her as she drifts back to Tannr's bedside. He watches as she gently strokes her fingers over the blanket.

"But?"

He moves closer as Tori makes room for him. She looks up at the monitors and shakes her head. "Rowan is better to ask. Tannr is better, but not making as much progress as they hoped." She looks at Marc. "How is everyone else? Tannr will want to know."

Something flits through Marc's eyes and Tori half smiles. She has seen that expression many times in the past. Before marc can say anything, she waves a hand. "Better to report to Tannr. If you wait just a bit, he will wake up. He never sleeps long..." Her words taper off as Tannr groans.

"Like I said, if you are willing to wait, he will wake up soon."

Rowan calls her name and Tori sighs. "I am about to be scolded."

The healer picks up a sandwich that hasn't been touched and shows it to the gargoyle. Tori shrugs. "I'm fine. I am just not hungry."

Rowan looks at Tannr. She takes Tori by the arm and escorts her to the door, saying. "We are going to the kitchen and you are going to eat something more than coffee and toast." When Tori opens her mouth to argue, Rowan cuts her off. "First, If you don't, I will get Stoney to carry you down and sit on you until you eat. Second, Marc is here." She looks meaningfully at Marc as she scolds Tori. "I understand you have not left this room for more than ten minutes at a time. Marc will make sure Tannr does not fall out of bed, or try to walk without help. And third... you need a bath... when was the last time you did more than wash in the sink."

As she pushes a reluctant Tori out the door, she nods to Marc. "I think I can keep her out of here for maybe half an hour. If you need us, just shout. We'll know."

"I'll be fine."

"You're an idiot. That wound is more than a week old and it just keeps bleeding. Where it's located, something could have punctured a kidney or angled down and hit your guts. I'm just a field medic, you need to see a real sawbones." Lily planted her feet and glared. "Or you can do nothing and drop over dead a month from now. Cause of death - stupidity."

Marc turns to glare at Addley, encountering nothing more than a raised eyebrow. He switches to Andy. "Don't look at me, bro, she's the closest thing we have to a doctor. If she says you need to see a doctor, see a doctor."

"Look, we can do this one of two ways," Lily says, eyes hot. "You can either go to the doctor or I can beat the hell out of you and make you go to the doctor. Your call."

Marc's lips twitch and Lily glares back. It's not an idle threat - for all that Lily is five-foot-nothing and probably weighs less than a hundred pounds, her strength is augmented by chaos energy and she's a helluva lot stronger than she looks. As the only woman in the group, she could make his life miserable by passing him over when she chooses her sex partners. After a month, he'd do anything she asks, just to get back in her bed.

So he might as well do what she says now and spare himself a beating and enforced celibacy.

"Fine." He glares, making it clear he's doing this under duress. "Find out who Ob and his people use and set me up an appointment."


Rowan is still up at the Manse, caring for Tannr and Ob. That night Marc makes his first visit to the gloomy old pile, escorted by Stoney. Gnimaor is playing doorman tonight and he lowers the wards when they're within half a dozen steps of the gate. A sylph takes over then, leading the two to the infirmary.

Rowan is there, already gloved, with a lab coat over her jeans and tee. "Take off your shirt and have a seat,"she says without preamble. "I'll be with you in just a minute."

She speaks quietly with Stoney, updating him on Ob and Tannr's conditions, then turns back to Marc. Her eyes flare briefly as she sees his naked chest. "Well," she says lightly, "this job does have some perks."

"Oh? What would that be?"

"I get to see lots of good-looking guys without their shirts." She winks. "And sometimes in less than that."

Marc stares, then laughs heartily. "Well, you have a sense of humor at least."

"Comes with the territory," she says, examining the wound first with a high-intensity lamp and then with her penlight. "Seeing people torn up inside and out, you either learn to laugh or you crack. Well, this is interesting... looks like there's something still in here."

"Can you get it out?"

"Probably. Lie down on the table, will you? Make yourself comfortable as you can... you need to lie still for me."

Marc arranges himself on the too-narrow table while Rowan busies herself with the equipment she needs. "Okay - Marc, is it? This is going to be cold and it might sting, just for a sec." There is the hiss of an aerosol and his skin goes numb. "Okay, now you shouldn't feel much more than pressure... just lie still... there!"

She leans over to look into his eyes. "How's it going? Any pain?"

"No, I'm fine."

"Good. Now we're getting to the nitty-gritty. Just lie still for me and I'll give you a lollipop when we're done." Rowan moves the lamp to focus on the affected area, a deep cut just above the kidney. "You got lucky. An inch lower...." She probes with a pair of long-handled forceps. "Okay... well, you're stuck in there good and tight, aren't you? Easy... easy...." She finds the angle she needs and slowly draws the object into the light. "Ick."

"Something the matter?"

"Just that you've got a nice little infection going where this thing was lodged." She brings the object over where he can see it. It's a steel square, rusty and grimy, garnished with blood and pus. "Want a souvenir?"

"I'll pass."

"Okay, now I need to clean this up and then the worst of it will be done. Stay still...." She cleans and irrigates the wound, repeating until she's satisfied, then packs and dresses the wound.

"You'll need to pack and dress the wound every day for about a week. Come back and see me then and I'll see how things go."

Marc tries to nod, but he's still lying flat. "Oh, sorry... you can sit up now."

By the time he's seated, she's over at the cabinets, putting together a package that rattles.

"Here," she says, handing him a bottle."One a day, every day till they're gone."

"What do I owe you?"

 "Just take better care of yourself. The man who owns this house is paying for everyone's treatment, which is mostly just the meds."

 "Damn good of him." He searches her eyes. "Are you sure there's not something I can do to repay you?"

"Actually, there is. Pull down your pants."

His eyebrows arch. "Excuse me?" She grins and holds up a hypodermic. "Tetanus shot. Drop 'em and bend over."


The injection done, Rowan tells him he can get dressed. For the first time he notices the signs of stress, the fine lines around her eyes and mouth, and he decides.

"Look, how about you let me take you to dinner sometime? No pressure... just a chance to get away from things for awhile, maybe de-stress a little."

She studies his face seriously, then one corner of her mouth quirks up. "I'll think about it."

"Okay, I'll be bunking down at the Tavern if you decide to take me up on it." He scribbles his cell number on the back of a prescription pad.

She hands him a card. "There are numbers here if you run into any complications. The phones here are manned day and night - don't hesitate to call."

He smiles when he sees that one of the numbers is written in ink - and out to the side, one word.

Rowan.

The food is good. At least she knew the food was good... it just tasted like cardboard in her current sensory situation. Picking at the food on the tray, Tori stares at the grey shading of her pale skin. A heavy sigh escapes her lips. She breathes deep and takes a swig of the strong coffee someone thoughtfully provided.  

I will not continue to fall apart... I will not continue to fall apart...

 Her gaze follows Rowan as she moves around Tannr until she intercepts Alise' lavender eyes. They stare at each other for a few moments until Tara reaches up to tug at her mother's hand. Tori lowers her eyes to her tray and takes another sip, making sure her shields are up tight. She feels a nudge at her walls and tightens them even more. Behind her there is a rapid exchange of French and she hides another sigh.

The weight of a hand on her shoulder doesn't surprise her. Rather, she has been expecting it.

 "I am fine."

Her brother bends his knees, lowering his long frame so he is face to face with her. His long black hair is hanging loose, a style he wore when they were nothing but four Gargoyles trying to make it in a Human world. He stares at her for a few moments, tucking it behind his ears. She closes her eyes, fighting more tears.

"You lie. And... you are doing it badly."

"Shut... up."

"Your walls are tight. Your skin is grey. There is grey in your hair spikes... and... Mon Deiu! You cried emeralds! How the hell you cried emeralds with ruby fire lines... never mind that now. But..." he shakes his head, hair slipping out from behind his ears. "You cried gemstones..."

Her gaze meets his for the first time. Stoney stares at her eyes. "Tori, your eyes have grey in them. You are trying to rein in your emotions. Don't. I remember all too well what it was like when that maniac werewolf had Alise. I could only touch her mind to mind. You have Tannr here, right in front of you. Let your human heart help you through this, don't go Gargoyle and block your emotions. True, Alise wasn't hurt as severely as Tannr is, but he is in the best hands. You know that."

He touches her cheek, cupping Tori's narrow face in his large hand. "He will not think less of you for your tears. Neither will any of us. *Petite sœur... He loves you, he needs you. Be true to both of you. Who knows... your tears may be what he needs, or perhaps knowing you cry for him will let him know the depth of your devotion."

She closes her eyes for a moment, reaching out to touch Ob for just a moment before touching Tannr's mind in a caress. "Ob is..."

"Ob lives. He has gone stone, and will probably stay that way for several days. His wing was..." He swallows. "His wing was torn from his back, but they managed to clean out anything not Ob." He grins. "He will not be sporting his long dreds when he wakes. Silk had to break them off to get enough matching gravel to make the healing mud."

Her eyes widen. "How short?" A slim hand reaches up to touch her own spiked do.

"Not as short. His horns are about ten inches long, so his hair will be maybe shoulder length. We won't know until he can change back to flesh." At her nod, Stoney stands up, towering above her. "Eat, get rest, keep yourself open to Tannr. The hell with the rest of us. Tara says... Tara knows too much for a little girl. Tannr will need you to be strong. You keep his will to live alive. Rowan and Mortuis will do their best to keep the rest of him alive."

He leans down to hug her tight. whispering. "And you know we are only a thought away if you need the family's support."

She nods and pushes the tray away. Stoney scoops up Tara and kisses the very tired little girl before taking her from the room. Tori watches them go, then crosses to Tannr's bedside. She leans close, kissing him just below the ear. "Coppertop... you better..." Her voice breaks and a tear slips down her cheek. It makes a pinking sound as it drops to the floor.

He looks up at her, eyes slightly unfocused. "Red... Why are you so... grey?"

His eyes drift shut and Tori kisses his jaw. "Because you are tearing my heart out, you ass. That, and it is getting closer to sunrise. Sleep. rest. When I go stone, I will only be a thought away."

Pandora had awakened when she heard Chloe's chanting start; startled that she was awake... then smiling as she felt the spell and saw the circle of children through her daughter's eyes. A sense of pride swelled in her at her daughter's progress in the magickal arts... and that Chloe and the children had drawn together to weave the healing spell. There was no more gifted group of children in the world than the little ones seated on the floor of the cottage... each with gifts of their own; but also all able to combine their shared love for their family to send forth magick.

Pandora heard Ob's sigh as he felt the spell, and she padded out in her bare feet to sit beside him... her head leaning against his thigh as she relaxed her earlier fears; feeling Ob gathering strength.... feeling the children's spell help relax Tanner's pain.

Pandora sensed another outside in the garden... but far removed; and knew it was someone else seeking solace... she felt better beside her husband, and got up to go inside for her pillow and a blanket. Pandora gently kissed the sleeping dragon's face and laid herself at his feet... her back against his scaled talons as she pulled the blanket around herself and fell asleep as soon as her head touched the pillow... greatly comforted by the children's spell.

Rowan asked Tannr a few questions, checked the machines and vital signs. An injection of pain killer into the IV port and she was ready to start

Raina was watching as Erik turned Tannr a bit to his side so that Rowan could get to the dressings. Tannr moaned and quickly tried to stifle it seeing the look on Toris face. Star and Rowan started to remove the dressings and when the wounds were exposed Raina gasped at the extent of the damage. Tori stood and leaning over Tannr looked too. More tears slipped down her face and Raina took her arm.

“Hey. Its bad, but I have seen worse...” Raina lifts the side of her shirt and tugs her pants past her waist. “You should have seen this, and it's okay now..”

Tori nods, trying to stop the tears, trying to not fall completely to pieces in front of people. She sits and Tara takes her hand, letting her feel the energies and the spell. She watches as between that and the pain medication Tannrs face slowly relaxes and the pain seems to ease. Tori hardly notices when Tara starts picking up emeralds and placing them in a dish she found on a table.

Tannr reaches a hand towards Tori, “Come here Red.”

Tori kneels on the floor, laying her head next to Tannrs on the pillow. Tannr wipes her cheeks and whispers to her. “Shh... this will be fine... we'll be fine... okay? Dont cry, sweetie....”

“Just dont die on me... or anything like that...” Tori tries to smile.

“I wont... remember our date... cant miss that...” Tannr kisses her gently then relaxes and closes his eyes.

Tori has a split second of panic then realizes he has drifted off, the spell and the medication doing its job.

Rowan looks up from her work and smiles at Tori. “While we are here why dont you go wash up and take a little break? This wont take too much longer and I am sure he is going to be asleep for awhile, which is a good thing at this point.”

As if on cue, Alise taps on the door and enters with a tray for Tori. “I brought you some food and do not argue with me or I will get your brother. He is checking on Ob and will be here to see you after a bit. Go clean up and I will set this up...”

With a look at Tannr and a kiss to his forehead Tori does as she told, knowing she would sense any change in her beloved's condition.

Alise sets her tray down on a small table that she could push close to Tori when she returned. As she makes a cup of tea Tara approaches with her dish.

“Regardez Maman...” Tara lifts her dish to show Alise.

 “Mon Dieu! Where did you find a bowl of emeralds?”

“They are Tante Toris. She cried them, like Papan...”

Alise's eyes go wide. “Lets set them up and show papa when he gets here...”

Tomas opens his eyes, looking around the room. He nudges Ryan, nearly pushing him out of the bed they share. Gracie rubs her eyes, as does Chloe. The girls wake Mera as Ryan peeks out in the hall and looks back, shaking his head. They tiptoe into the room where the two youngest boys are sleeping. Both boys are already awake and waiting for their cousins.

Tomas speaks softly. "We gots to be quiet. No wake up Lala and Ramji..."

The oldest girls pick up the infants and the children sit on the floor in a loose circle. Chloe instructs them to hold hands. She tells Mera and Ryan about opening their minds and letting the others help them with their mission. Ru holds tight to Mera and Tomas' hands, eyes wide and solemn. Teri offers his hand to Ryan, taking Gracie's hand as well. Once all have been seated, Chloe begins a chant of healing. She opens her mind, linking with Gracie and Tomas, then Teri, picking up and directing the energy through the others.

Fae magic merges with Chloe's casting as the others begin to chant with her. Light flares and magic surges. This time, instead of bouncing off the walls, the energy shimmers and slips through the wall like water through cloth. They feel the spell tough the Manse's wards, but as the Wards recognize the children's personal energies. the spell drifts where intended. Tannr and Ob both feel the warmth of children's smiles and the ache of little hearts. As the spell settles, a lullaby runs through their minds.

*Codladh, mo chodladh álainn. 
An póga Ghealach amach gach ngortú, 
mar na carraigeacha oíche tú réidh .... 

Codladh, mo chodladh álainn. 
Mo ghrá comforts tú 
mar na carraigeacha oíche tú réidh .... 

The spell wanders, touching others that the children love. In a circle of pavingstones, Keon raises his head in wonder as he hears his daughter's voice singing  the lullaby he taught to her mother as they awaited her birth.

On a stone bench a stone dragon feels the touch of the children and sighs softly as he feels the proud and awed touch of his Witchwife at the children's gift.

Tori looks at Tannr's strained face and cries, knowing Rowan was searching for the cause of his pain. Tara takes her hand and smiles, opeing herself to the spell, sharing with the others how bad their uncle is truly hurt. A fresh surge of power sweeps through and then tapers off.

Chloe has learned much about controlling her magic and the others have learned as well. Tori can feel their touch in any mind that can reach hers. Silently she watches Rowan work, tears slipping down her cheeks, but these tears are of raw emotions instead of fear.

Fire emeralds begin to collect in her lap. Tara picks up one of the stones and hands it to her.

"Tante Tori? You cry tears like my Pa'pan?"

Tori looks at her in surprise. "No, Tara. I am not full gargoyle."

Tara nods slowly, thinking. "Maybe it is only the sadness coming out because of the spell. Better put them in something before they melt."


*Sleep, my lovely sleep.
The Moon kisses away each hurt,
as the night rocks you gently....

Sleep, my lovely sleep.
My love comforts you
as the night rocks you gently....

Tannr tries to open his eyes. They feel like they have been glued shut and when he finally gets them open wide enough to see, the room is dark and his vision is blurry. He tries to blink and focus, and a small lamp comes into his vision. He turns his head slightly taking in the IV pump with several tubes coming out of it, small lights blinking and a soft humming sound coming from it. Leaning his head the other way he can barely make out a form in the dim light, hunched over in a large chair.

One or two people? Damn eyes.... cant see... Where ...? a bed?....

Tara notices the movement and silently slips off Toris lap. She stands right by Tannrs head and leans close.

“Hi Unca Tannr. Waking up now?”

“Hello Sweetness. Where... am I?” Tannrs voice is slow and thick, matching the speed of his thoughts.

“Tante Silks house... you got hurted..”

Tori slips off the chair at the sound of voices and leans close to Tannr, her voice a whisper. “Hey... I'm here...” She runs the back of her hand softly down the side of Tannrs face. “Raina is here too and your brother..”

Tannr tries to nod. “Okay... love you...”

The tears start again and Tori lays her head next to his. “I love you too.”

“Wha... happened? My men?”

Erik, hearing the whispering moves to the bed. He moves a chair over and lowers his body into it. He explains to Tannr that one of the largest creatures in Underdark attacked him. Ob killed it, but was injured. The Ravens had lost one man. Hugh, when he tried to kill the spider.

“One... too many....” Tannrs voice chokes, emotions close to the surface and guilt flooding his thoughts.

Tara feels under the sheet and takes Tannrs big hand in her tiny one. She sends her thoughts, telling her uncle she loves him and so do the other kids. She lets him know that they are all at mamans and papans house, safe behind the wards.

Tannr sends to her, Thank you little one. Love you all too.. 

Raina, awakened by the noises comes to sit next to Tori on the floor. Tannr tries to smile but is overtaken by a sharp pain and squeezes his eyes shut, fighting for control, not wanting to scare Tara and worry Tori.

“Pain?” Raina asks. Tannr whispers “Yes..”

 “Bad?”

“Yes...” Raina and Tori exchange a glance and Raina stands, “I'll get Rowan...”