Standard disclaimers apply.

Chapter 13

Dave clicked his phone shut, returning it to his pocket and replacing both hands on the wheel. "That was Becky," he said, not taking his eyes off the road as he corrected his course, heading for the Arcana Cabana instead of the hospital. "She said Balthazar's at home."

Veronica closed her eyes, sighing in relief as she leaned back against the seat. "How is he?" she asked.

"Becky said he didn't look too good. He's not injured!" Dave hastened to add as he felt Veronica tense up beside him. "Well, he was limping, but she didn't see any blood or anything. Said he looked tired and...Becky didn't ask, but she thinks he hasn't eaten anything since he's been gone," he explained. "She made him some broth and called me once he got in the shower."

Veronica nodded approvingly. "Broth is a wise choice," she agreed. She glanced up the at the gray clouds covering the sky and shivered, still chilled from being out in the cold weather all morning. "If he has not eaten all week, his strength has surely faded. And, if he were wandering around in this weather..." She shook her head, pulling his large jacket more tightly around her shoulders. "I shall be glad when we are home," she said quietly, her voice full of longing.

Dave nodded in agreement, also eager to see his master and verify Balthazar's well being with his own eyes. The rest of the ride was spent in silence, each lost in their own thoughts. Dave only broke a few traffic laws and he could have sworn that he saw Veronica's ring glow a couple times when a stoplight turned yellow and they were far enough back that they should have hit it red, but he kept his mouth shut.

After what seemed like an exorbitant amount of time, they finally pulled up in front of the Arcana Cabana as the first few snowflakes began to fall. Veronica was already out of the car before Dave had turned the engine off and he rushed up the steps behind her.

Veronica hurried through the store, quickly ascending the stairs to the apartment. The thick carpet muffled her steps and she paused as she rounded the corner of the living room, just staring.

Balthazar was sitting in the recliner, blanket wrapped securely around him and his head leaning to one side as he slept. A few damp curls clung to face, standing out against the pale skin. His eyes looked like they had sunken back into his skull, dark rings lining them and his cheekbones stood out noticeably more than they should. But, he was here. And that was all that mattered.

Veronica crossed the room in a few long strides, her hand already reaching out to cup his cheek. She pulled back just shy of touching his skin, studying his features. Even asleep, he looked tired and worn. He needed his rest more than she needed the physical reassurance that he was really home. She knelt at his side instead, moving the cane and resting her hands on the armrest as she stared up at his sleeping face, letting her eyes roam where her fingers could not. Balthazar sighed in his sleep, his head shifting a little more to the side. One of his curls fell over his eye and Veronica's hand twitched, her automatic reaction to brush it back behind his ear. She clasped her hands firmly together instead, knowing even that gentle a touch could wake him from his much needed slumber.

Soft footsteps padded up behind her and Veronica turned when she felt a hand on her shoulder. Becky was there, silently offering her a steaming teacup. Veronica accepted it with an exuberant smile. She turned back to Balthazar, her ring glowing brightly as the air around his chair seemed to shimmer. She pushed herself to her feet, setting her teacup on the coffee table as Becky returned with a chair from the kitchen. The blonde had barely set it down when the sorceress embraced her, hugging her tightly.

"He has returned to us, Rebecca!" Veronica cried, unable to contain her elation any longer. "He is all right!"

"Veronica, keep your voice down!" Becky whispered, trying to calm the sorceress. "You're going to wake him up!"

Veronica laughed. "Fear not, Rebecca. I have placed a sound barrier around the chair. He shall not be bothered by our words." She looked at her husband before laughing again, the sound full of joyful abandon. "Mere words cannot fully capture my delight! Oh, to have him home again!" Veronica released Becky, taking the blonde's hands in hers. "I cannot thank you enough for everything you have done this past week," she said, earnestly. She held one hand out to Dave, who stepped forward and took it. "The two of you have aided me so much..." She hugged them both, still smiling brightly. "I could not have asked for better companions."

Becky shrugged, a little uncomfortable. "I didn't really do that much," she said. "Dave was the one who helped with everything. I just cooked."

Veronica shook her head adamantly. "No, Rebecca. You did not 'just cook'- You looked after Dave and I when we were too preoccupied to do it ourselves, you were always ready with a supportive word or gesture when I needed it, and you were here when Balthazar came back. I cannot thank you enough for that." Her gaze slid to her husband, a bit of sorrow clouding her features. "He told me, once, that one of the most difficult things to bear throughout the long centuries was that, no matter where he went, he always returned to an empty house. That is why I have always made an effort to return before he does, but today..." She let the words trail off, her eyes meeting Becky's once more. "You may think it a simple thing, even silly, perhaps, but it is important to me. And, I cannot thank you enough for being here when I was not."

Becky blinked in surprise before returning the smile. Dave was staring at Balthazar pensively, a memory from shortly after he had met the older sorcerer [again] playing through his mind. In an effort to get out of training, Dave had callously asked if Balthazar had any friends or family. Balthazar had answered honestly to both questions (no and no) and then made light of his situation before distracting Dave by changing the subject back to training. Dave hadn't thought anything of it at the time, but looking back on it now...

Dave's musings were interrupted when Becky linked her arm through his, pulling him over to sit on the couch. Veronica positioned the wooden chair closer to the recliner so she could remain next to Balthazar.

"So, what happened today?" Becky asked. "How'd you end up with Balthazar's coat?"

Veronica looked down at herself, noticing she had yet to remove the leather jacket. "It has been an eventful day," she said, her hand gripping the arm of the chair to keep her from reaching for Balthazar's. "We had spent the majority of the morning searching before fortune smiled upon us and I saw this coat," she said, gesturing to it. "Unfortunately, it was not Balthazar who was wearing it and we began negotiations for its return. The final price was my jacket with a spell."

That made Becky sit up. "What do you mean, a spell? I thought regular people weren't supposed to know about magic!" Her eyes widened a something else occurred to her. "Was it someone Horvath left behind? They had to know you were coming... What spell did you give them?"

Veronica held up a hand to stall the questions, a patient smile gracing her features. "Calm yourself, Rebecca. It was not like that at all."

"A homeless person found the jacket discarded in a dumpster," Dave added, his voice soft. He had basically been running for the last week and now that he had time to just sit back and relax, everything was starting to catch up with him. He couldn't help but think Balthazar had the right idea.

Veronica nodded. "A warming spell on my jacket made it the more desirable of the two and a trade was made. She also led us to where she found the jacket- a decrepit dumpster a little ways from an abandoned harbor. Dave and I began searching at once. We were able to locate Horvath's trail, following it to a building with a great many crates stacked in it. And, in the back, we discovered one of the crates seemed to have been pushed off the others and was lying in pieces on the floor."

Veronica looked back at Balthazar, her expression unreadable. "The fact that there was no blood was a cold comfort. Balthazar was already gone. Whether under his own power, or spirited away to a different location, we knew not." She sighed, looking back at Becky. "The warehouse was old and the dust on the floor indicated it had not been used for some time. It appeared as if someone had been dragged from the wreckage, but the tracks told us little more than that."

"Dave and I were still discussing what course of action to pursue when I received the call stating Balthazar had been found and had been taken to the Emergency Room. Oh, Rebecca, I feared the worst," she confessed, shaking her head as she remembered the call. "Balthazar would not consent to treatment at a public facility unless he was certain death would follow if he did not. Dave and I quickly made our way back to the car- we had entered through a hole in the fence, and the car was parked some distance beyond that. I'm afraid I got a bit turned around in there, and we had some difficulty locating the hole to get back out. We had almost reached the hospital when you informed Dave that Balthazar was here, instead."

Becky shook her head. "Talk about an emotional roller coaster," she said. "You must be exhausted."

"I am tired," Veronica admitted, sighing heavily. "And I shall retire shortly, but for now, I should like to remain here." Her eyes slid to Dave, who'd been oddly silent during her recounting of events. She smiled, not surprised when she noticed his head lolling to the side at an uncomfortable-looking angle. He was slumped against the corner of the couch, one arm hanging limply over the side. His mouth was hanging open, a bit of drool seeping from the corner as he slept.

Becky followed her gaze, chuckling at the sight. "Dave's not the most graceful of sleepers, is he," she noted, grinning. "Even exhausted, Balthazar managed to fall asleep in a much more dignified position."

"I've had a lot more practice," a tired voice agreed.

Veronica's head whipped around, meeting Balthazar's blue gaze. The blanket fell to his lap as he leaned forward, freeing his arms and she eagerly accepted the embrace, neither seeming to mind the armrest between them. Balthazar pulled away first, one hand cupping her cheek as the other brushed a stray lock behind her ear. "Are you alright?" he asked, his concerned gaze searching her face.

Veronica laughed, leaning into his hand. "It should be I inquiring about your health, love," she said.

Balthazar's expression didn't change. "You have my jacket," he continued. "Did you see Horvath? Did he come after any of you?"

Veronica shook her head. "I spoke with him, but he has made no move against us." She cupped her hand over his, pressing it against her cheek. "He told me you were dead, but I did not believe him. I could not."

Balthazar closed his eyes briefly. "I'm sorry I couldn't make it back sooner."

Veronica laughed. "You are here with me now. I am content." She studied him, taking in his half-lidded eyes and slumped posture, even as he leaned against the side of the chair for support. "But, you are yet exhausted," she continued, rising to her feet. "Come. There will be time enough for talk later." She helped him to his feet, holding onto his arm in case he wasn't quite as steady as he should be.

Becky reached over to shake Dave's shoulder. "Leave him be," Balthazar said softly. "He must be tired if he can actually sleep like that."

Becky nodded, picking up Dave's and Veronica's teacups and taking them back to the kitchen.

Balthazar stared at his apprentice and then at the blanket at his feet. Exhausted though he was, he couldn't help the grin that stretched across his face as the blanket obediently jumped off the floor and glided gently through the air to settle snuggly around Dave.

Veronica turned to Balthazar, her eyes wide with wondrous surprise. "Has your magic really...?"

Balthazar's expression was answer enough, his tired eyes dancing as he stifled the urge to giggle madly. Giddy as a schoolboy or not, 'giggling' was not something a master of the 777th degree did. "As a wise lady once said, there will be time enough for talk later," he said teasingly, raising her hand to his lips and kissing the back of it.

Veronica laughed again just for the sheer joy of it. "Come along then, my lord," she said, pulling his arm around her shoulders while hers went around his waist. "Your bed awaits."

Balthazar chuckled softly, leaning on Veronica as he limped to the hall. "And, will my lady be joining me?" he asked.

"I'm sure she can be persuaded."

Balthazar paused as they passed the doorway to the kitchen, watching as Becky busied herself washing the teacups. "I'm sure you've been staying in the guest room, Rebecca," he said. "But, if not, feel free to make use of it tonight."

Becky nodded over her shoulder as Veronica gently pushed against Balthazar's back, prompting him to keep walking. "Come along," she said. "Rebecca knows her way around the apartment. You should focus more on tending your own needs."

Veronica helped Balthazar into bed before she went through her nightly routine: braiding her hair, brushing her teeth, washing her face. She was a bit surprised to see Marvin sitting in the middle of the bathroom floor and stuck him under the sink, where he'd be out of the way. After she had changed into her nightclothes, she walked to the window, lifting the heavy curtain to see outside. The snow was really coming down now, the street below already blanketed in a layer of white. The wind hadn't let up, driving the snowflakes past her window. She shivered, still able to feel the phantom fingers of the icy wind raking across her skin. She glanced back at Balthazar, picturing him stranded out in this weather in his weakened state. A shudder ran through her and she dropped the curtain back into place, firmly putting the thoughts out of her mind. He was safe. He was home. She did not need to dwell on what might have been.

Turning off the lights, Veronica padded softly across the room on bare feet, slipping beneath the covers. She felt for Balthazar's hand, interlocking her fingers with his as she closed her eyes and drifted off to sleep.

. . .

If he'd been asked the night before, Balthazar might have guessed that the first thing he would notice upon waking would have been the soft mattress and pillow he was laying on, or perhaps the warm blankets wrapped securely around him. Maybe it would have been the fact that he was fully stretched out or it might have been that he could clearly see the outline of various objects in the room, despite it still being dark outside. Whatever he thought it might have been, difficultly breathing would not have made the list.

As Balthazar awoke, the first thing that registered in his mind was the heavy weight compressing his chest, making it almost impossible to draw a deep breath. This was shortly followed by the sound of breathing and the alternating warm and cold air on his cheek. He opened his eyes, turning his head to find Tank's face scant inches from his own. The dog sighed, shifting slightly on the sorcerer's chest and Balthazar turned his head away again as the dog's morning breath caught him full in the face.

"Ugh, Dave needs to get you some breath mints or something," Balthazar muttered. His stomach growled and he rolled the dog onto the comforter between himself and Veronica. He bit back a groan as he pushed the covers aside and sat up, his aching muscles protesting their use. The little bit of broth he'd eaten yesterday (or was that still earlier today?), as well as the sleep seemed to have done him a world of good and he stood up straight without any ill affects for the first time in what felt like ages. Smiling at the minor achievement (though he was still quite sore), Balthazar quietly limped out of the room, the cool air prompting him to grab his robe and slippers as he headed to the kitchen.

He opened the fridge, locating the plastic container Becky had put the broth in and poured some into a bowl. He opened the door of the microwave and stopped, hesitating for a moment before closing it and sitting down at the table instead. His ring glowed, and steam slowly began rising from the broth as Balthazar smiled. His ring continued shining as he looked at the cupboard, the door obediently opening as a couple of saltines danced out of the bag of crackers, which closed behind them. They gaily floated through the air, spinning and circling around each other until they reached the table, crumbling into pieces over the bowl of soup. Balthazar briefly entertained the idea of levitating the spoon to his mouth but decided against it. Though he was ecstatic to have his magic back, using it to eat felt a little too much like being an invalid and his low level of energy already had that covered.

Once he had finished, he washed the dishes and left them in the drying rack. He raised an eyebrow at the hurried but quiet footsteps in the hallway as he wiped his hands on a towel.

Veronica appeared in the doorway, her worried face relaxing when she saw him. "What are you doing up at this hour?" she asked, moving over to his side. "You should be resting."

"I was hungry," Balthazar explained, motioning to the dishes in the drying rack as he wrapped his other arm around her. He glanced at the digital clock on the stove. "And you?" he asked. "What are you doing up so late?"

"I feared the worst when I woke and you were not at my side," she admitted, ducking her head a little. "I feared it may have been naught but a dream."

Balthazar squeezed her shoulders reassuringly. "Forgive me, beloved," he apologized, pressing a kiss to her forehead. "I did not mean to worry you."

She shook her head, leaning against him and relishing his solid presence at her side. "Tis fault of my own," she replied. "Rest is not all you require to recover and I should have realized those needs would drive you from bed long before dawn." She pulled back slightly, studying his face. "Will you be coming back to bed?"

Balthazar nodded, turning off the light as he followed her out of the kitchen. He paused in the hall, glancing at his apprentice in the living room. Dave had shifted so he was lying more fully on the couch, his feet dangling over the far armrest. The blanket had mostly slipped off and was half on the floor underneath his arm, which was hanging off the side of the couch. His head was scrunched up against the opposite armrest and he was snoring softly. All in all, he didn't look much more comfortable then he had when Balthazar had gone to bed the first time.

Chuckling softly at the sight, Balthazar's ring glowed as he covered his apprentice with the blanket once more. Turning his attention back to Veronica, he took her hand as they continued walking quietly down the hall. Tank was unceremoniously kicked off the bed (Balthazar much preferred sleeping next to his wife over Dave's dog) and they climbed back under the covers, snuggling together and simply basking in the other's presence as they drifted off to sleep.

. . .

Dave woke for what seemed like the umpteenth time that night, shifting until he found a more comfortable position on the short couch. The arm that he'd been using as a pillow was almost completely numb so he rolled onto his other side, restoring circulation to the limb. He fidgeted for another moment or two, unable to find a truly comfortable position after sleeping on the couch every day for the last week. He sighed, opening his eyes as he dragged his arms up to check the time. The neon light from the watch was almost blinding in the darkened room, but his eyes adjusted enough to read the time before the three seconds were up and the light switch off again. "4:43," he mumbled, dropping his arms over the armrest above is head. "It could be worse, I suppose."

"Yes. You could have woken with a dog inches from your nose."

Dave jerked in surprise, his entire body whipping towards the unexpected voice. He gave a startled yelp as the sudden motion sent him tumbling off the couch, painfully whacking his elbow on the coffee table.

"Not one of your more graceful landings," was the bland observation.

Dave closed his eyes, recognizing the familiar voice. "Baltha~zar," he groaned, gingerly pushing himself to a sitting position. "Don't you have anything better to do than watch me sleep?" he asked, glancing toward the voice. He was just able to make out the silhouette of his master in sitting on the loveseat in front of the window. "That's just creepy, even for you," he said, hissing softly as he rubbed his tender elbow.

There was a faint clink of porcelain on wood. "This is my house, Dave," Balthazar pointed out. "The fact that you are sleeping on my couch is not going to stop me from enjoying my tea in a comfortable chair."

"Tea?" Dave repeated. "It's before five in the morning! What are you even doing up?" He paused, his mind finally realizing that Balthazar, who had been missing for the last week, was sitting two feet away from him as if Dave sleeping on his couch wasn't anything out of the ordinary. "Balthazar!" he cried, elbow forgotten as he turned toward his master. "You're back! And, you're awake!"

Balthazar snorted. "I thought we'd already established that," he drawled.

"That's not- I mean, I didn't-" Dave stumbled over the words, his tired mind trying to process too much too quickly. "Shouldn't you still be in bed?" he asked at last, trying to make out his master's face in the dim light. The soft glow from the window behind him only served to darken the shadows covering Balthazar's face, making it impossible to tell if he looked any better than he did last night. "You know, resting?" he pressed, climbing back onto the couch.

"I was," Balthazar replied. "I slept off and on most of the night."

"Off and on?" Dave questioned.

Balthazar shrugged. "My sleep schedule hasn't exactly been as regular as it could have been this past week," he explained. "It'll be another day or two before it sorts itself out."

A door down the hall opened and both men looked towards the faint light coming from that direction. Veronica's steps were quiet on the carpet as she approached, holding a lit candle so she could see. Her wet hair gleamed in the light, indicating she had recently showered. "Oh, I see you're up early, Dave," she stated pleasantly before turning her attention to Balthazar. "Are eggs and hash browns all right for breakfast, my love?"

Balthazar considered a moment before nodding. "That should be fine," he answered.

She nodded, taking his empty cup. "Would you like me to prepare some for you as well, Dave?" she asked.

"Uh, sure."

Veronica nodded again, heading into the kitchen.

Dave flinched back into the couch as she turned on the light in the kitchen, its beam falling directly on him. "First you, and now Veronica," he complained. "Does no one actually sleep around here anymore?"

"Rebecca was still asleep last I checked," Balthazar remarked offhandedly.

Dave frowned. "Were you watching her sleep, too?" he asked, looking a little disturbed at the prospect.

Balthazar rolled his eyes. "One does not step into a lady's room uninvited," he informed his apprentice. "I merely listened at the door, nothing more."

"Oh," Dave said, a little embarrassed by his initial reaction. He pushed himself back to a sitting position as his eyes adjusted to the light, turning so he could fully face Balthazar. He studied his master's face carefully, relieved to note how much better he looked than the previous night. "I'm...I'm glad you're back," he said. The words were a bit awkward as they fell from his tongue, though his tone and expression were sincere.

Balthazar dipped his head slightly in acknowledgement. "As am I," he agreed, a smile lighting his features. "It's good to be home."

"So," Dave began, a bit hesitantly. "Are you really okay?" he asked, glancing at his master.

"Nothing a day or two of R&R can't fix," Balthazar said dismissively.

"Are you sure? I mean, you looked pretty rough last night."

"I'm fine," Balthazar assured him. "Horvath's never been one to get his hands dirty if he can help it."

Dave blinked. The few encounters he'd had with Horvath had left him with a very different impression. After all, the threat of being 'ground into chunks and fed to the cat' sounded pretty hands-on to him. "What do you mean by that?" he asked carefully.

"He opted for psychological torture rather than physical."

"Psychological?" Dave repeated.

"Yes." Balthazar didn't elaborate as his gaze drifted to the tabletop, some of the worst case scenarios produced by his imagination replaying in his mind's eye. He shook his head minutely, banishing the thoughts back to his memories. "He actually left me alone after shutting me in a crate that first night."

Dave debated asking what Horvath had said or done, but quickly decided against it. The brief exchange on the train and the taunting letter with the picture showed the Morganian was quite adept at psychological torture and knew exactly how to cause the most suffering.

The topic was dropped as Veronica stepped out of the kitchen, carrying two plates while the third floated in front of her. "Here you are, my love," she said, directing the floating plate to land on Balthazar's lap.

He thanked her, taking a moment to appreciate the delicious aroma wafting from the generous portions Veronica had given him.

"And, for you," she continued, handing the second plate to Dave before sitting next to her husband on the loveseat.

Balthazar took a bite, savoring the taste of real food. Broth was better than nothing, but still didn't compare to an actual meal. "Mm. Mmm! This is excellent, beloved," he enthused, breaking one of the yolks and using his hash browns to wipe it up. "The best meal I've had in a long time."

"It's just eggs and hash browns," Dave said, giving his master an odd look.

"When you've had nothing but water for a week, you can argue with me about what makes an excellent meal," Balthazar quipped good-naturedly.

Dave dropped his eyes back to his plate, a little ashamed of his slip. He had forgotten what Becky had said last night.

Balthazar saw the reaction and almost rolled his eyes. They would get nowhere if Dave were constantly walking on eggshells around him. Time for a bit of a curve ball. "So," he drawled, keeping his voice casual as he cut off a bit of egg with his fork. "Have you been practicing while I was gone?"

Dave blinked, glancing at his master in surprise. "I, uh..."

"Just because I'm not here it doesn't mean you get to slack off," Balthazar continued, the corner of his lip quirking upwards teasingly as he took another bite.

Dave just gaped at him, not entirely sure how to respond to that.

"Dave has been working on tracking spells," Veronica stated, just a touch of disapproval in her voice.

"Oh?" Balthazar asked, unsurprised by his wife's intercession. Her tone indicated that she didn't approve of his teasing. "And how is that going?" he asked.

"I would say he's done quite well, given the circumstances," Veronica replied.

"Only if 'quite well' means 'totally failed,'" Dave muttered.

"What makes you say that?" Balthazar asked.

"Because nothing we tried worked. Even when we used that Doyle guy's spells with your DNA, we still couldn't find you," Dave admitted dejectedly, moving his eggs around on his plate.

Balthazar chewed thoughtfully, wondering who 'that Doyle guy' was and how his spells figured into the search. "What did you honestly expect? I've spent centuries making sure I was completely untraceable," he stated, cutting a piece off the hash browns and popping it into his mouth. "That doesn't just disappear overnight."

"I know that," Dave said. "But Veronica said that the spells may have weakened since you lost your magic."

Balthazar nodded. "That's true. Spells like that would start to fade in time once the sorcerer lost his power. However, the spells I used would take several months, maybe even a year to weaken to the point where a tracking spell would be able to show my exact location."

"So, we basically wasted our time by trying to find you," Dave summed up sullenly.

"That depends. Veronica says you did well, which means the spells were preformed correctly. Could you do them again, if you needed to?"

"I don't know." Dave shrugged. "Probably."

"Then, the time wasn't wasted." Balthazar set his fork down on his plate, leaning back into the couch as he sighed in contentment. "That really was excellent, beloved," he repeated, sliding an arm around her shoulders.

"Are you unable to finish it?" Veronica asked, noting he hadn't eaten even half of what she had given him.

"Sadly, yes," he said. "But it was delicious."

"So, what are we gonna do about Horvath?" Dave asked. "He's in custody now, but he'll get out sooner or later. What's to stop him from coming after you again?"

"Horvath...has been disadvantaged," Balthazar stated quietly.

"What do you mean?" Dave asked.

"That night... Do you remember what happened when you first arrived at Battery Park, Dave? The very first thing you did."

Dave blinked. "I...used my Tesla coil to zap Horvath," he said slowly.

"And how does a sorcerer lose his powers?"

"His magic is gone?" Veronica asked, stunned.

"No way..." Dave muttered, just as shocked by the revelation.

Balthazar nodded. "That is why you couldn't track him, beloved," he explained. "He simply couldn't cast any spells for you to follow."

"Is anyone else worried that he was able to do all this without magic?" Dave asked. "I mean, he found Balthazar the one time he was alone and vulnerable!"

"That wasn't the first time I'd gone somewhere by myself, Dave," Balthazar pointed out dryly. "But I'm sure Horvath was watching the store for a week or two, waiting until an opportunity presented itself. He may have tried to kill me, but I'm actually in his debt," he said, chuckling. "Irony abounds."

Dave looked at him as if he'd lost his mind. "If you make some joke about having needed to go on a diet..."

"Really Dave," Balthazar drawled, moving his plate to the coffee table via levitation. He grinned as Dave's eyes about bulged out of their sockets. "When have you know me to have such a poor taste in humor?"

"Your magic!" Dave all but gasped, his mouth hanging open in surprise. "It's back!"

"Yes," Balthazar agreed, his teasing grin turning into a content smile. "It is."

Dave was suddenly full of questions. "When did this happen? How did that happened? Is that how you were able to escape?"

Balthazar laughed ruefully. "That would have certainly made things much easier," he said. "But, no. I discovered my magic was back after I escaped."

"Well, what happened?" Dave asked again.

"I am also curious," Veronica added. "You were so certain that it was lost at the second month mark."

"I'm fairly certain that was a big part of the problem," Balthazar stated. At the blank looks, he elaborated. "Dave. Do you remember what I told you after the mop fiasco?" he asked.

Dave blinked, not expecting that question. "Uh, being electrocuted is how a sorcerer loses his powers?"

"After that."

"You had a couple different mottos for me. I don't really remember what they were now..."

Balthazar just smiled, half expecting that response. "I said you needed to stop worrying and start believing in yourself."

"And what does that have to do with you getting your magic back?" Dave asked.

"A large portion of being able to perform magic comes from the belief that it can be done. Well, an apprentice's belief, a master's knowledge," he amended. "Think of it like the foundation that everything you do in magic is built on. An apprentice's foundation is very unsteady and can crumble easily, but becomes more stable as he progresses in the art. A master's foundation is a solid rock, steadfast and unmoving." He dropped his gaze to his ring, staring at the darkened diamond. "I've been using magic for a very, very long time. Trying to cast a spell only to have nothing happen cracked my foundation in half. Every subsequent failed attempt broke off another piece until there was nothing left but a pile of rubble. I began to believe instead that my magic was gone for good. It no longer matters if the ability to perform magic returns at that point. It is useless without the belief that it can be done."

"Wait, are you saying that you've had your magic back for awhile and just didn't know it?" Dave clarified.

"If my magic had only just returned, levitating that plate to the table would have taken a tremendous effort," Balthazar explained. "I've spent most of my waking hours trying to pinpoint my current level of skill, and I've yet to find my limits." He smiled wryly. "Given that, I'd say I regained the ability some weeks past."

"How did you discover it had returned?" Veronica asked.

"I was in a...compromising position and let my emotions get the best of me," Balthazar admitted. "I didn't even realize I had reflexively used my magic until the entire room had frozen."

"What kind of 'compromising position?'" Dave asked, curious.

Balthazar gave him a look. "Let's just say I don't like hospitals and leave it at that."

Veronica chuckled softly, setting her plate on the coffee table before snuggling closer to her husband. "I was very worried when I heard you had been taken there," she admitted. "Are you certain you are uninjured?"

"Just some bruises, beloved," he assured her. "Nothing more."

"Just some bruises?" Dave repeated, looking a bit skeptical. "Are you sure you didn't reflexively cast a spell or something when you escaped? Because that crate looked pretty smashed to me."

Balthazar's head jerked towards his apprentice. "You found the warehouse?" he asked, surprised. "How?"

"Veronica hired Doyle to find Horvath," Dave explained. "Then she got his shoes and we tracked where they had been back until we found you."

"That's the second time you've mentioned 'Doyle.' Who is he?" Balthazar asked.

"He's a Merlinian supporter, love," Veronica answered. "But he also works as a private investigator and agreed to locate Horvath."

"Earlier you said he was in custody," Balthazar continued. "How did that happen?"

"Detective Hoyt mentioned something about your credit cards?" Veronica said questioningly, as if asking how that was relevant.

Balthazar threw back his head and laughed. "No doubt he thought spending my money would only add insult to injury," he said, still chuckling. "Credit cards leave a paper trail that is easily traced," he explained. "I assume you reported my abduction to the police, then?"

"Dave recommended it. And although I have my reservations about their...methods," Veronica stated, a bit of disdain coloring her words, "they did manage to locate and detain Horvath."

Balthazar nodded. "I'll head down to the station later and take care of it. As a general rule, it's best not to involve civilians in sorcerers' affairs."

"I thought it was a good idea at the time," Dave said, a little defensive. "You were gone, no magic was used, the tracking spell didn't work, no one in the neighborhood saw a single thing-"

"I'm not saying what you did was wrong," Balthazar interrupted, his tone placating. "In fact quite the opposite, given that you managed to find the warehouse with so little to go on. I'm merely pointing out that there are loose ends that still need to be taken care of."

"What do you intend to do?" Veronica asked solemnly.

"Horvath has proven too dangerous, even without his magic, to be left to his own devices," Balthazar said, sighing heavily. "I'm going to see to it that he will never trouble us again."

Veronica nodded, acknowledging Balthazar's right to dole out whatever retribution he saw fit. She laid her head on his shoulder, only to raise it once more when she felt him flinch. "I think it would be best if I took a look at those bruises first," she said, meeting his blue gaze. "Have you had the opportunity to go over the basics of healing with Dave yet?"

"No," Balthazar said, shaking his head.

"Would you mind if I..."

"Not at all, beloved. You always were the better healer."

Veronica smiled at the compliment. "Dave, would you fetch the Encantus from the basement please?" she asked.

Dave nodded, heading downstairs.

Balthazar also stood, retrieving the cane from the side of the couch as he limped back to the bedroom. "I'll go change into something more suitable."

. . .

Becky stood in the bathroom, leaning over the sink as she carefully applied her mascara. Once she had finished she surveyed her reflection in the mirror with a critical eye, nodding sharply as she deemed herself ready to face the day. She had heard voices down the hall before she'd taken a shower, so she headed that direction. She stopped short when she reached the kitchen, blinking at the odd sight before her.

Balthazar had his own sense of style. Whether because of poor circulation or simply because he liked the look, she had never seen him without several layers on. In fact, he was generally so bundled up that she had only ever seen the skin on his face and the tips of his fingers. Now, he was sitting next to the kitchen table wearing only a white undershirt and a pair of gray boxers, his lanky limbs bare in all their emaciated glory. Veronica and Dave were sitting on either side of his right arm, the sorceress holding the limb up between them. She was pointing to various places on the massive bruise that stretched from elbow to shoulder as she explained the flow of energy through the body to Dave.

Balthazar noticed the blonde standing in the doorway first. "Good morning, Rebecca," he greeted, inclining his head slightly to her.

Dave glanced up, his eyes going to the doorway. "Hey Becky," he said. "We didn't wake you up, did we?"

"No," Becky replied, shaking her head. "I went to bed early last night, though not nearly as early as you guys."

"I made breakfast earlier and set a plate aside for you in the microwave," Veronica said. "It should still be hot."

Becky nodded, moving across the room to retrieve the plate. Tendrils of steam curled lazily from the food, as if it had just come from the frying pan. She took the remaining chair, sitting across from Balthazar at the table. "Are you feeling any better this morning?" she asked politely, noting he had a matching bruise on his left arm as she took a bite.

"Much better," he replied.

"That's quite the bruise," she said, gesturing with her fork.

"Yes," he agreed, glancing down at his arm. "Turns out it's not as easy as you might think to roll a crate from the inside."

Becky blinked in surprise, not quite sure what to make of that statement. She wanted to ask about what happened to him, especially after a comment like that, but was unwilling to overstep her bounds. Deciding cautious was better than callous, she turned her attention back to her plate and busied herself with another bite instead.

Balthazar could see the curiosity in her gaze and decided to answer her unasked question. "Horvath shut me in a crate after he shot me," he explained. "Fortunately, it was stacked on top of several other crates and I eventually managed to roll it off the side, breaking it enough that I could get out." He tensed suddenly, shoulders going rigid.

"Are you alright?" Becky asked, concerned.

"Yes," Balthazar reassured her, trying to keep his arm still. "You know that 'pins and needles' feeling you get after restoring circulation to your leg?" he asked. "And how much worse it is when you move?"

"Yeah..." Becky said, thrown by the abrupt question.

"Well, Dave hasn't completely synced his energy to mine, because that feeling is racing up and down my arm right now."

"Sorry," Dave apologized.

"Just find what you're looking for and get out," he said tersely.

"Don't rush him," Veronica chided gently. "It will only make things worse."

Balthazar closed his eyes, taking a deep breath. "Where was I?" he asked Becky, trying to distract himself from the feeling of Dave's energy writhing beneath his skin.

"Uh, the broken crate," Becky supplied, taking another bite.

Balthazar nodded. "I managed to escape with only a few cuts and bruises, although I had no idea where I was. It was a warehouse in an abandoned port along the coast. Once I got outside the compound, I headed back into the city. A couple of friendly officers even stopped to give me a ride at some point, although they were of the opinion I should stop by the ER first," he said, visibly relaxing as Dave withdrew his hand. "Fortunately, I was able to persuade them to bring me here, instead," he continued, the corner of his mouth quirking up in a smirk at an inside joke.

"Very good, Dave. Now, I want you to pay attention to what I am doing," Veronica instructed. "Are you ready, my love?"

The smirk fell from his lips as Balthazar nodded, his shoulders tensing once more.

"Does it hurt?" Becky asked.

"No," Balthazar said, twitching slightly as Veronica began. "Veronica is just accelerating the healing process and bruises generally itch as they heal. Condense a couple weeks worth of healing into a few seconds and, well...it feels like a there's a colony of ants dancing inside my arm," he explained, twitching again despite his best efforts to hold still. "Intensely unpleasant, but not painful."

"Oh. Well that's good...I guess," Becky said uncertainly.

"Better than the alternative," Balthazar agreed. "So, what have you been up to?" he asked, trying to focus on Becky and not on his arm.

"I've just been watching the store," Becky answered, cutting off a piece of hash browns as she tried to pull up details from the last week to help distract him. "There were mostly window shoppers, but I sold a few items as well. That turquoise necklace with the matching earrings wasn't cursed or anything, was it?" she asked, taking another bite.

Balthazar shook his head. "I make sure all the dangerous spells have been removed from an item before it goes on sale," he assured her.

"All done," Veronica announced. "Would you mind turning around, my love?"

Balthazar rubbed the newly healed limb briefly before standing with a sigh. Grabbing the back of his chair, he flipped it around so it was facing the opposite direction and sat so they could access his right arm.

"All right, Dave. Now it is your turn," Veronica said. "Find the most injured points and start with those, just like I showed you."

"Okay," Dave said.

Balthazar squirmed slightly as the 'pins and needles' sensation raced up and down his arm. "What made you think it might be cursed?" he asked, forcing his attention back to Becky.

"Well, when I pulled it out of the display case, I could hear...a soft murmuring, almost like a chant," she said a bit hesitantly. She stood, taking her dishes to the sink and rinsing them off. "I could only hear it when I was touching the necklace, but the woman buying it didn't seem to hear anything at all."

"A turquoise necklace? Did it- Easy, Dave!" Balthazar cried, wincing as he glared at his apprentice. "You're healing a bruise, not growing an arm!"

"You're doing just fine," Veronica assured him. "Balthazar is always a bit cantankerous when he has to be healed."

Balthazar grumbled something unintelligible under his breath as he turned back to Becky. "Did the necklace have an eagle pendant?" he asked, his voice taking on a sharper edge as he tried to ignore Dave's ministrations.

"Yes," Becky answered, running some hot water to wash her dishes.

"It just had a protection spell on it. As for the murmuring..."

The hair on the back of Becky's neck rose as Balthazar trailed off and she turned around to find him staring at her intently. She froze in place, surprised by the intensity of his gaze and struggled not to fidget under the scrutiny.

"Your bracelet," he said after a long pause. "Let me see it."

Relieved to have his attention diverted from her, Becky slipped off the bracelet and handed it to him. She wasn't sure she'd ever get used to the full weight of the sorcerer's gaze. It almost felt like he was staring into the very depths of her soul.

Balthazar accepted it with his free hand, inspecting it closely. It looked like a typical charm bracelet that was popular with teenaged girls, except for the collection of charms on it. There was a horseshoe, a four-leaf clover, a wishbone, the number seven, a pair of dice and a few other widely regarded symbols of luck hanging from the silver chain. "Dave gave this to you?" he asked.

Becky nodded, turning back to the dishes in the sink. "He said it would keep me safe."

"It has a few different protection spells on it," Balthazar explained. "One of which is the same as the one on the necklace. The 'murmuring' you heard was the two spells resonating." He visibly relaxed once more as Dave finished with his arm. "Good job on the bracelet, by the way," he commented over his shoulder. "Not the charms I would have used, but the spells are working properly."

"Didn't you say like symbols would increase the potency of the spells?" Dave asked.

"Civilian superstition, no matter how wide spread, doesn't necessarily mean any of these are actual symbols for good luck," Balthazar explained. "But the spells themselves should be enough to keep Becky out of trouble, unless she really tries hard."

"Move your chair over here, Dave," Veronica instructed, scooting around until she was sitting in front of Balthazar. "The muscle placement on a leg is a little different than an arm, but that should not hinder you."

Becky set the dishes in the drying rack, glancing over her shoulder curiously. She remembered Balthazar had been limping last night, but he'd neglected to mention how he'd injured his leg.

Veronica watched as Dave carefully examined the wound, shifting his hand slightly so it was positioned directly over the worst part of the injury. He glanced at her and she nodded, indicating he should heal the bruises there.

Balthazar gasped as a sharp pain shot through his thigh, his body jerking as he reflexively tried to curl around the injury. "What are you doing, Dave?!" he bit out through clenched teeth, his hands tightly clutching the arms of the chair.

Dave jerked his hand back as if he'd been burned. "Sorry!" he hastily apologized, not entirely sure what he had done wrong.

Balthazar felt Veronica's energy spreading over the area like a cool salve as she took a look. It wasn't really soothing, but was still far less jarring than Dave's attempts.

"Forgive me, Dave," Veronica apologized. "It was not your fault. I should have examined the wound first."

Balthazar did not like where this was going.

"It seems you have underestimated the severity of your injuries, my love," she continued, her dark eyes meeting her husband's. "You have broken your leg."

That wasn't quite what he had been expecting her to say. "I know what a broken leg feels like," he said, his voice flat. "My leg is not broken."

"Perhaps 'broken' is too strong a term," Veronica agreed. "You have a very slight crack in the bone."

Balthazar just stared at her for a long moment, quickly going through what he knew about hairline fractures. Symptoms were localized soreness/pain and swelling. Check. Symptoms become worse after using the affected area. Check. Hairline fractures were most often caused by repeated stress or a forceful impact. Thinking back to the broken board pinning his leg in the warehouse, Balthazar had to grudgingly add a third 'check' to his mental list. He closed his eyes, letting out an irritated huff as he was forced to concede Veronica was right. He really hated broken bones.

Becky stood by the sink hesitantly as Veronica started explaining the difference between healing bruises and bones to Dave. She knew from experience that bones hurt when they healed. Balthazar had said that Veronica was accelerating the healing process, which made the itching of the bruises intense. If the scowl on his face was anything to go by, Becky figured the same was probably true of healing bones. She suddenly realized she really didn't want to be in the room for this part and cast about for an excuse to leave. Balthazar caught her attention as he shifted, resting his hand on the table once more. The light caught the green diamond just right to almost make it look like it was glowing.

A sudden crash from downstairs made Becky jump, glancing past the sorcerers toward the doorway. Veronica and Dave also looked up while Balthazar just sighed.

"It sounds like your cat knocked over that suit of armor again," Balthazar said, his voice irritated. "Playing with the plume on the helmet, no doubt. Would you go see if she broke anything, Rebecca?"

Becky nodded, a bit surprised but grateful for the timely interruption. She left the kitchen, opening the door to the stairwell and heading down to the shop. Balthazar had been right, the old suit of armor that had stood regally in the far corner was in pieces on the floor. The sound of metal scraping and sliding against itself indicated Arista was still stuck in the pile. Becky quickly moved forward to free the cat, stopping short when she realized it was the individual pieces of the armor itself that were moving and extracting themselves from the pile.

As she watched, the wriggling pile of metal separated and sorted itself before rebuilding the suit. The metal shoes hopped into place first, followed by the greave that protected the shins, then the joint over the knee and so on all the way up. The helmet turned as if to regard Becky before the visor snapped shut as it faced forward once more.

Becky stared at the armor for a little longer, but it remained still. Abruptly remembering why she was down here, she looked around to see if anything had been damaged. The armor was standing between a bookcase and a glass display case, but seemed to have almost fallen in on itself. Shrugging, she turned her attention to finding the cat instead. A quick look around the store didn't reveal her location and neither did she come when called. Figuring Arista was probably scared and hiding, Becky headed back up to the apartment. She could hear the conversation from the kitchen before she reached the top of the stairs.

Veronica was talking. "...and it will still be sore for a day or two."

"Veronica, this isn't the first time I've broken my leg," Balthazar replied, his voice more gruff than usual.

"Are you sure you're alright?" Dave asked.

"I'm fine."

"I don't know, maybe you should staying sitting down for a-"

"I said I'm fine, Dave," Balthazar ground out.

"...okay."

Becky reached the top of a stairs as Balthazar limped out of the kitchen. He was paler than he had been a few minutes earlier and was breathing a bit more heavily than before. He pinned her with his gaze (not quite a glare, but close) and waited, as if daring her to trying mothering him as well.

"Nothing was broken!" Becky blurted, not even attempting to match his stare.

Balthazar waited a few seconds more before nodding curtly. Without a word, he turned and limped down the hall to his bedroom.

Becky heaved a sigh of relief as soon as the door clicked shut. Her eyes fell on the recliner or, more specifically, the cat draped over the back of it. She blinked, wondering how Arista had gotten up the stairs when the doors were closed.

"You will have to forgive him, Dave," Veronica said, stepping out of the kitchen. "The residual pain has not yet subsided, which is why he wished to be alone. He does not want to say something he may regret later."

"No, it's fine," Dave assured her. "It looked like it hurt a lot."

"Yes," Veronica agreed. "But it will not be long before he returns to his usual humor. Is all well in the store, Rebecca?" she asked, turning her attention to the blonde.

Becky blinked, pulling her gaze from the cat. "Huh? Oh, yeah- nothing's broken and the armor put itself back together."

"That is good," Veronica replied. She paused as there was a thump and a muffled curse from down the hall. "Excuse me," she said, heading towards the bedroom. "Dave, I think Tank needs to go out. He's scratching at Rebecca's door."

"Oops," Becky murmured, ducking her head. "I forgot he was in there."

Dave hurriedly grabbed his shoes from where he'd left them by the couch, shoving his feet in them and grabbing Tank's leash. The dog was eager to get outside, all but dragging his owner down the stairs.

Becky found herself alone in the living room with only Arista for company. Her gaze was drawn back to the cat, noting her legs were hanging limply over the back of the chair. Becky moved over, running her hand down Arista's back. The cat jerked awake at the unexpected contact before deciding all was well and started purring at the attention.

"I don't think you knocked over the armor," Becky said quietly, continuing to stroke the cat's fur. "You weren't even in the store. But I also don't think it would have just fallen over on its own." She paused, remembering the way the light had seemed to catch Balthazar's ring just before the crash. Thinking back, she realized Veronica and Dave had both looked towards the noise while Balthazar hadn't been surprised. "Did he really...? But how could he have..." Becky trailed off, remembering Veronica's excited question about Balthazar's magic last night. It seemed Balthazar had created a ruckus downstairs as an excuse for her to leave while they healed his leg.

Becky laughed, picking Arista up off the chair. "Your master is a sneaky one," she said, scratching behind the cat's ears. "If I hadn't seen you lying here, I wouldn't have had any idea he did that for me." She shook her head, smiling as she looked down the hall. "Even if his rougher moods still scare me, I'm glad he's back."

Arista only purred in reply.

. . .

To Be Continued

Please sign in if you would like a response to your review.