In the Closet

Author's Note:There are several line breaks in this chapter for various reasons. Section II which delayed the updating of this chapter and which I skipped over and then went back to, might be expanded next chapter, or done as a flashback later depending on how this goes. I'm really sorry I keep going so long between updates. I haven't been updating anything lately. I think this story was the last one I updated—haven't had a great deal of interest in updating my Harry Potter stories after that last book came out. shakes head Feel free to message me if you want to talk about Potter, Young Wizards, Artemis Fowl, Tolkien, etc. Anyway, I like most of this chapter, I may have spelt one name wrong, but I'm not positive and don't have the book with me at the moment to look it up. The chapter is at least of a decent length, mostly handwritten on the plane home after my laptop died. I hope you enjoy, and…as always, please leave a comment so I know how I'm doing or if I'm writing inconsistencies or anything.

Enjoy!

Disclaimer: The characters in question belong to Diane Duane. I own only the plot.

Chapter 4: Without Rest

Ronan left Dairine's room yawning. He really needed to be getting back home. He didn't want to think about how late it really was. Even so, he could still grab a few hours of sleep before he had to be up in the morning. He knocked on Nita's door to say goodbye. As much planning as possible would have to be done without face to face contact on the part of those long distances apart; after all, traveling was expensive and energy wasn't just lying around.

A voice called, "Come in."

Ronan opened the door. Kit and Nita were lying on her bed. Nita lay on her side, facing Kit, and he lay on his back, hands behind his head, eyes closed.

"Hey, Ronan. Crashing here?" asked Kit, cracking an eye open.

"You know you're welcome to. We'll find a place," Nita told him. They could always dig up a sleeping bag for the floor or send him home to sleep on Kit's couch; Kit's parents would understand. Probably anyway.

Ronan shook his head. "Thanks for the offer but I have to get back tonight or I'll be missed in the morning."

"Come back anytime. I'll visit my Seniors tomorrow if I can't access everything I need to tonight in my manual."

Ronan nodded approvingly. Something wasn't sitting right about this assignment and none of them should jump into it before realizing what they were getting into.

"Kit, you should probably go too, before your mom starts to worry," Nita said, nudging him.

"Nng." He groaned and reluctantly rolled over and got to his feet. Nita started to get up to see him out.

Kit waved her down, "Don't bother. I'm only walking as far as the backyard and I'll be by before school tomorrow." Even so, he leaned back over the bed and hugged her goodbye.

Ronan, still leaning against the door frame, nodded to Kit as he departed and head down the stairs.

Nita pulled herself into a seated position and then leaned over the bed, rummaging around for her backpack as she started to shove her books inside. She might as well have one less thing to do in the morning when she wakes up. As she finished packing up, she was beginning to feel awkward. He still stood in the doorway, unspeaking, unmoving. "Did you want to say something else?" she finally asked.

He almost shook his head—she could feel it without even looking directly at him—and then he hesitated. "Yes."

She waited, settling back on her bed. This hesitation was uncharacteristic of him. It was making her nervous. That was ridiculous. Her friend and fellow wizard wanted to say something to her. What could she have to be nervous about? She almost laughed—was he going to tell her this was a life and death mission? What else was new? Life was their mission, and with Life comes Death. The words echoed in her head, bound irrevocably to the worlds. She crossed her arms and caught his eyes, "Well, are you going to spill or not?"

He bristled a little. He'd been trying to figure out the best way to say what he wanted to say. It wasn't as though he were afraid of her or anything—no need to be—but he was familiar enough with her temper to know that it was best to be avoided if possible. He could still remember her turning him—to quote Johnny—"into a soggy beer mat" not long after they met. He might as well say it and have done with so he could go home; his eyes were beginning to sting a little with the need for sleep. "Be careful, Nita, or it's going to affect your wizardry. His too. You can only deceive yourself for so long, and deceit is dangerous to play with in our Business. Goodnight, Miss Yank." With a nod, he turned heel and walked down the stairs, leaving her with those thoughts before she could argue.

Nita sputtered, about to demand he explain himself. She thought about following him, but he'd probably be halfway through vanishing from the backyard by now. She sighed, left alone to unravel his parting words. She knew the message wasn't buried deep and it wasn't hard to guess who "he" was. As she began to consider the message she groaned, suddenly remembering that she hadn't been done with her Calculus homework when all this started at dinner. She hauled her backpack up to her to get some work done and think about what Ronan had said. It's going to affect your wizardry…

Kit ran into Roshaun in the kitchen, helping himself to something from the fridge. "When'd you get down here?"

"A few minutes ago. Are you departing?"

Kit nodded. "Yeah. It's late and I've got classes in the morning. I've got to get home before my parents realize how long I've been gone." He looked at the ham in Roshaun's hands. That would make a very good sandwich. He had time for a snack. He navigated the kitchen with ease, grabbing knives, bread, plates, mayonnaise, and cheese from the fridge. He set them on the counter and took the ham from Roshaun.

Roshaun, used to having food prepared for him backed away and sat down at the table. He tucked a long forelock behind his ear and rubbed his temples. It had been a trying day and things weren't promising to improve by any great leaps and bounds anytime soon.

Spreading the mayo over two slices of bread, Kit asked, "Any news on your spell?" He wondered if Ronan had been any help whatsoever to the quarreling lovebirds. The thought made him want to snicker a little.

"Don't ask."

"That bad?"

"We seem to be at an impasse. Finally she sent me out of the room and told me she needed to do some work for some teacher. That can't possible be more important…"

He patted Roshaun on the shoulder has he handed him his sandwich. "She's got to keep up with this world too you know."

Roshaun actually looked tired. "I know. It just makes the situation all the more difficult, and—"

"Goodnight." Ronan said, passing through the kitchen.

"G'night, Nolan. Want a snack?" Kit gestured at the ingredients he hadn't bothered to put away yet.

Ronan hesitated. A good sandwich might be just the thing to make sure he was alert enough for his trip back. He looked at Kit and Roshaun…he wanted to laugh and wondered if either of them really knew what getting involved with the Callahan girls meant. He decided to stay. What was a little while longer when it was already this late.

Ed Callahan wracked his brain, trying to come up with something, anything, he could do. There didn't seem to be any sort of way around this. Nothing at all that he could possibly do. His daughters were strong minded individuals, and, while he was still their father and still had the power to ground them or tell them to clean their rooms, they had both made a very important decision completely free of he and Betsy a long time ago, and it was a decision they were not going to change their minds on any time soon.

Betsy.

He rubbed his temples, wishing for at least the hundredth time that night that she were here with him. Somehow she'd know what to do or say, or she'd at least sit here all summer and worry with him and tell him that she was sure the girls would be alright.

Well, that wouldn't be happening anytime soon. He stared at his alarm clock, knowing he ought to go to sleep. Maybe he'd go have some coffee or something. He exited his room, making sure to pass through the living room and make sure Roshaun was asleep on the couch. He was. He sprawled across the couch, blanket half-covering him, a strange nightcap on his head. Ed nodded himself; at least one thing was right. There was a good bit of distance between this boy and his younger daughter. For now at least. In the kitchen he poured himself a cup of coffee from the machine he'd never remembered to empty earlier that day.

"Daddy, what are you still doing up?"

Her father was staring out the kitchen window into the night, a cold cup of coffee in his hand. "Couldn't sleep." He looked at his younger daughter, hair sleep tousled, wearing a Star Wars nightshirt Betty found her three years ago, eyes red. "Shouldn't you be in bed?"

She yawned and went to the fridget, taking out the milk. "Working."

He frowned. "Spell can't wait 'til you get back from school tomorrow?" The coffee mug chinked against the tile counter as he set it down.

Dairine grabbed a glass from the cupboard and poured herself the milk. "English. Essay on the use of magic/fantasy/myth in writing either literally or symbolically."

Ed watched his daughter put the gallon container away, recalling a time that didn't feel so long ago when she couldn't have lifted it, or reach the top of the counter. He mentally shook away the thought. "Is it finished?"

"Yeah, Spot's checking it for grammar as best he can. I'll print in the morning."

He sighed. "Do you have to go back this weekend?"

She looked at him. More gray along the temple than she remembered.Deeper lines on what used to be a tight face. The bags under his eyes told Dairine this wasn't the first night he wasn't sleeping well. "If we have something that might work, I have to go. They are running out of water. Roshaun's kingship still only hangs by a tenuous thread. Unfortunately, that's a problem that needs a functional, long-term solution…but for the present the important thing is maintain order, getting water to the people, and not letting him get assassinated."

"Oh, he isn't that hard to get along with…" he tried to joke. Roshaun seemed to be trying to behave at any rate.

Dairine took a sip of her milk. "The political situation isn't like here. In 200 plus years, two presidents have been assassinated; Wellakh's track record isn't so good."

"Is that the life, the atmosphere you want to be a part of?" Stay here where it's safe…

"I already am. I'm apart of trying to fix it."

"I suppose Mr. Long-Haired, Snub-Nosed, Sun-King saved our world, and you've got to return the favor." He yawned.

Dairine laughed, shaking her head and puttering her empty glass in the sink. "Dad…" She tried to figure out how to phrase it. "It's not a one for one pay system with wizards. It's hard to keep track. I'm not doing this because of what he did here or on the moon. I'm doing this because it's what I need to do. The right thing." She hugged him as she started out of the room. "Good night, Daddy."

He hugged her back, tight. "Goodnight, sweetheart." He watched her leave, drained his coffee cup, and knew, no matter how much worrying they might cause him, his girls were caring, compassionate individuals. He couldn't be prouder. He yawned. Maybe he could sleep for a few hours now.

"Kit?" The word was whispered in the dark. She held still, listening.

Everything seemed still.

Neets?

She smiled sleepily. Hello, Kit. She could sense him now, several blocks away, sitting up in bed.

He felt like smacking himself. She'd been asleep. It was late. He blushed. It's nothing. I'll see you before school. Why'd he even try mind-contact at this time of night? Good one, Rodriguez.

She sat up in her own bed. Kit was hesitating, but something had to be up if he was "calling" at this time of night. Wait. What's up? And don't say "nothing."

He let out a breath. Can I come over?

Yeah, you know that. When?

Now.

I'll meet you by the back door. Nita wrapped a blanket around her shoulders and made her way carefully down the familiar steps and slipped into the kitchen. By the time she turned on the light and made her way to the back door, Kit was walking in, apparently having talked his way in to the lock. He had most certainly meant it when he said "now."

He took a seat at the table and she joined him. "Mars…" He shook his head.

"What?" She jabbed him in the ribs playfully. "Is it so unbelievable that They want to send us to Mars?"

He thought about his answer for a few seconds. "It's the level of alarm around this. Johnny O'Driscoll has seen us in action and knows what we've done…and he doesn't want us to go. Particularly doesn't want Dairine to go and she's got the most experience with aliens I think. And she's youngest. And they've suspended Mars-jumps. You can't get closer than our moon right now."

She gave him a questioning look, eyebrow raised.

"No, I didn't try to make the jump." He paused and looked at her. "I thought about it though. I've been all over the manual. That's how I found out. We need authorization from Tom and Carl. This is locked up pretty tight, Neets. Serious Business."

She put a hand on his arm, trying to figure out what he needed her to tell him, what words she needed to hear herself say for her own comfort. It wasn't exactly her strongest attribute. She usually stuck her foot in her mouth. "Kit, it's always been like this for us, hasn't it? They give us a something to do, we get in, wonder what in the One's name we've gotten ourselves into, try, panic, try again, and somehow pull through." She took a deep breath and looked him in the eye; somehow during her little speech, her gaze had fallen to the table. "Kit, you don't have to do this."

He shook his head once fiercely, mouth set, and once instantly Nita knew she'd once again said the wrong thing, as usually. "Partners."

"Kit,we don't have to do this." She smiled grimly. "I'm still trying to figure out what we're up against. Is it just me, or do we always get more worked up when we work with the Irish?"

He did laugh a little at that. "Maybe we're just not team players." He tried a lighter note. "I got really wrapped up in it. When the manual didn't have anything left to tell me—about this anyway—I went down to the computer and started running web searches. Martians. Mars. Life on Mars." He laughed and shook his head, grinning. He'd eventually given up on the searches and tried to go to bed. "There are some crazy theories out there."

"Crazier than fighting a world of spider-things, having a Christmas tree alien as a house-guest, and having a dog that creates universes?" She laughed; it felt good, natural.

He chuckled. "Well, maybe. Maybe not." He winced a little at the reference to Ponch, he missed him… "You still have time to come with me to the shelter this week, right?"

She rolled her eyes. "Of course I do. No rush to save the world tonight. After school tomorrow, we'll go by the shelter to see if there's anyone you could live with sleeping at the end of your bed for the next decade or so. Then we can stop by Tom and Carl's for authorization; no need to commit before we read the fine print."

He nodded, remembering Peach's advice and feeling as though it was a lifetime ago. Failing to listen had nearly cost Neets her life. If it weren't for Ed…He promptly closed that line of thought. He didn't want to dwell on it.

"You want a snack? Looking a little pale."

Pale…Pale Slayer. He shook his head and stood up. "No. But I could use some fresh air. I should be getting back."

Nita laughed, following him outside. "Oh, yes, because your parents perform 3 a.m. bed checks?"

"Mostly I don't want to fall asleep in Physics tomorrow."

Nita put her palm to Liseud's bark in greeting.

Dai, cousin.

Dai stiho, she replied. She let herself turn, back against the tree. She slowly sunk to the ground, knees pulled up to her chin.

Kit glanced from the open space in the yard used for transport spells to the tree. Dai. He joined Nita on theground and she offered half the blanket to him.

The stars twinkled amongst Liseud's new green leaves. Troubled, young ones?

Nita breathed in deeply, inhaling the fresh green scent of her backyard. The grasses was damp, and the she could feel it through the blanket.Liseud, what can you tell us about those? The stars. The planets?

The sky was just starting to lighten when, stiff, and slightly chilly, Nita and Kit stood, yawning.

"Can you make it back? Or do you want a jacket and shoes for the walk?" There'd be no sense in him transporting himself if he might not get it right.

Kit shook his head as he felt the chill, stepping out from under Nita's blanket. "I can make it. I think I'll and straight in bed though so idon't have to talk to any more locks or accidentally trip over anything."

"Just don't' forget about the—"

"The air. I know. Last thing I need is my parents thinking they heard a gun and wondering why I'm wet and cold and where I've been." He wished Liseud goodnight and gave Nita a hug. "I'll see you in a few hours. Don't oversleep."

"Wouldn't want to miss the exciting world of physics, now, would we?"

She watched him perform the transit spell, felt the silence thicken, pre-dawn world listening in close, and then he was gone. She toddled back to the Liseud. "Thank you." With a brief hug to the Rowan, she went back inside, locked the door, turned off the kitchen light, and changed into dry pajamas, leaving the wet ones in a heap with the wet blanket somewhere in the vicinity of the hamper. Just after four. Peachy. Three and a half hours of rest at a stretch.

She closed her eyes.