A/N: As always,

Enjoy.

Disclaimer: It's not mine, except the parts that are.

CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE: SAFE AT HOME

The first thing Thomas noted when they appeared in the foyer of the Black estate was that Bo was not with them.

The reason for that became clear only a few seconds later when Orion came running into the foyer, follow closely behind by the boggart, who was weaving about him like a great black specter, gesturing frantically all the while.

"Katlin!" Orion stated in alarm, immediately falling on his knees next to them and taking the woman out of Thomas' arms.

"Katlin!" He stated again. "Katlin! Love, open your eyes! Talk to me!"
Since his first day in the house, Thomas had thought of his surrogate father as a man without one honest emotion in him. But the pure pain and fear in the man's eyes was unmistakable. A look that didn't dissipate in the slightest until the woman in his arms gave a soft moan and reached up a hand to touch his face.

Orion quickly hugged her body to him as he whispered several things in her ear and then lightly kissed the side of her head.

Orion quickly turned his attention to Thomas, who pulled back slightly, sure the real storm was now about to break.

But to the teenager's surprise Orion reached over and ran a hand lightly over his cheek.

"Are you all right?" He ask, the same deep worry showing in his eyes as before.

Thomas managed a slight nod, still waiting for the caress to turn to a slap at any moment.

But instead Orion grabbed the boy behind the neck and pulled him into a tight, one armed hug.

"Thank heavens you're both all right! Bo said you were attacked!"

Thomas nodded quickly, confirming what Bo had told Orion. "Back at the lair. Katlin tried to rescue me, and she was attacked by some guy there. Someone named 'Johnathan'."

The worried stare disappeared so fast Thomas barely even had time to note the change when he found himself staring into a pair of cold, dark eyes.

"Treaks?!" Orion stated in a low growl. "Johnathan Treaks did this to my wife?!"

Thomas shook his head. "I never heard his last name. Katlin only called him 'Johnathan'."

Orion paused, then slowly got to his feet with Katlin still in his arms.

Thomas followed behind him as he took her upstairs and laid her carefully on the bed. All of to which Katlin never made a single sound.

Orion quickly pointed his wand at the fireplace.

"Dr. Richard's." He stated.

"Mr. Black." Came the answer after a few moments. "What can I do for you?"

"My wife needs a doctor." Orion replied. "A very discreet one."

Only seconds later a short, portly, red-haired man stepped from the flames. "How fortunate you happen to know one." He replied.

Without any further conversation, the doctor set to his work while Orion stepped over to where Thomas stood and directed him outside the room.

"Dr. Richards will take care of Katlin." He answered the boy's worried look, turning him back to face him. "What about you? Are you OK? Any hits?"

Thomas shook his head. "Katlin held them off." He answered. "She shoved me down a corridor and told me to run."

"And did you?"

Thomas paused, unsure of how to answer the question. But finally he gave a slow nod. "She said I was to do what she told me." Thomas explained. "But I didn't go very far. I stopped after a few seconds and went back. I wasn't going to leave her there to try and fight those guys alone. I knew she was out-numbered, and I had my wand.

When I went back I saw her trying to fight off the others. I guess she was trying to give me time to escape." Thomas looked up at the man with a repentant stare. "Orion, I'm sorry." He stated sincerely. "I didn't mean for any of this to happen. I just thought...I didn't think things would turn out like this. And I never wanted Katlin to get hurt. All she's done is try to be nice to me." He added, staring at the closed door. "And because of me," He finished in a quieter tone, "she was almost killed."

Orion turned the boy back to him. "What she did for you, she would have done for any of you. Without hesitation."

Thomas stared up at the man. "Why?" He ask simply.

"Because she loves you." Orion said. "I wish you could just get that one thing straight, Thomas. Katlin makes decisions about people very quickly. And you and your siblings she couldn't care about more than if you were each her own."

The teenager turned his attention back to the door. "She'll probably never want to see me again."

Orion gave him a small chuckle. "You're probably the first person she'll ask for. And she'll either want to hug you or hit you for not obeying her. So be prepared for either."

At that point, Thomas would have settled for either.

Orion waited outside the door with Thomas until Dr. Richards finally came out, closing the door quietly behind him.

"Well?" Orion ask.

Richards shook his head. "When will this girl understand that if she doesn't start taking things more easily, neither can I?"

Orion shrugged. "She likes physical activity."

"Tell her to join a gym."

"Is she going to be OK?"

Richards gave a quiet sigh. "This time...again." He replied. "She'll have some bumps and bruises, and she'll hurt for a few days. The worst of it was the hit she took from one very nasty spell. But overall she was very lucky this time." Richards gave the man a meaningful look. "But her luck's going to run out one day, Orion. Things are getting more and more dangerous...," He cast a quick glance at the boy standing next to Orion. "...where she works. She needs to exercise a little more caution."

"I'll be sure to tell her."

Richard's gave a small shrug. "Better you than me. I gave her a bit of potion for the pain. She needs to stay in bed for at least tomorrow."

"Give it our best shot."

Richard's gave the pair a parting wave as he headed down the stairs to the front door.

Q&A

ilovesiriusblack:

What is it with Orin's department and dating deatheaters? And why is Orin getting a death eater to confirm a statement, if its not true wouldn't it be safer for one of the good guys to find the file?
Bo is so cool. I am surprised though that he came when Thomas called, I wouldn't have suspected Orion to tell Bo to listen to the children. Thomas appears to be a bit of a power house where did he learn it all? I think Katlin and Treaks are going to have an awful lot of explaining to do and I'm not honestly sure who's in more trouble.
Can't wait to find out how this turns out.

Truly, you are starting to ask the most interesting questions.

And that's a good one. But Connie is not dating Eric. She is, as she said, simply having a friendly lunch with him. The interesting point here, which you are not currently aware of, mostly because it hasn't been entered into the story line yet, is the relationship these three have to each other. But, suffice to say for now that they do, indeed, all know each other very well.

Again, another good question. And even harder to answer, because, again, you don't know the full extent of the relationship between the characters. But in this case, based on the nature of what he wants done and the information involved, there is no one Orin would trust more to get the job done, and done right, than Eric.

Man! You are just batting 1000 here today! First let me say that, indeed, Bo is very cool. And he's just so much darned fun to write about.

Orion has not told Bo to listen to the children. He has told him to watch over them and keep them safe, but not to do as they tell him. (The fun is really going to start when the kids start to realize that Bo can be manipulated based on what he's told, how he interprets it, and what you say to him.) With that said, the fact that Thomas was able to call Bo is very telling in the last chapter. One, it speaks volumes of just how powerful Thomas is, or at least, how powerful he could become. Something even the teenager is as yet unaware of. And second, it raises the question of why Bo answered his call. Something that will come up again in Family Ties.

Again, yes, Thomas has a great deal of potential. Something people are going to start taking notice of very shortly.

Where did he learn it all? Pure natural talent, Dear. That is one of the things that makes him so unique.

And remember that Orion also was doing highly advanced magic for his age by the time he got into Hogwarts. But then, he also had a very good teacher.

Whose been teaching Thomas is a matter dealt with in Family Ties.

Indeed, both have some serious explaining to do. The problem for Treaks is that Katlin is just so much better at it than he is.

Silverfox:

Ah, but there's always the possibility of Thomas having taken a scary tale more seriously than the teller expected. ;)
Well, now I suppose Thomas getting away will be all Treaks' fault and look he damaged the lair while he was at it ...

Which scary tale is that, Dear?

Katlin is in a lot more hot water right now than Treaks. She help a prisoner escape and attacked her fellow Elite in that effort.

Treaks, on the other hand, attempt to stop her, and has witnesses.

The trick for Katlin is how to make the situation work for her, rather than against her.

All reviews are as of 05/04/2008.

And remember;

Why do people keep running over a string a dozen times with their vacuum cleaner, then reach down, pick it up, examine it, then put it down to give the vacuum one more chance?