Iron Kissed Part Five

"Hey." I said as I answered the phone. It had been days since I'd seen Warren though he'd been sure to call regularly and let me know Mercy was doing. Including the part where she'd snuck back home as a coyote, Warren had spent the next twelve hours curled up in bed with her as a wolf. Or at least that was what Honey had told me when she'd called, obviously Warren hadn't been able to make his usual daily call and had asked her to take care of it. "How is everything?"

"I think things are alright." Warren told me. "But if you want to come and see for yourself I've volunteered to take Mercy to church on Sunday, you are more than welcome to come."

"How come you're going?" I asked, I don't think I've ever known Warren to go to church though he grew up in a time when Sunday attendance was pretty much mandatory.

"Short straw." He told me. "Darryl is doing Sunday brunch with his wife and Ben doesn't have much faith in anything anymore."

"What about Adam?"

"He's in Washington, someone sent a senator the recording of what happened, edited to make it look like an unprovoked attack." I could clearly hear the anger in his voice and I shared it. "Adam and Charles are dealing with it." And no one was going to argue with Charles Cornick, I suspected Adam was only along because video was of him. "Besides Adam hasn't been big on religion since he was changed, he says he lost all faith in God during Vietnam."

"Well I can't say I have much faith in organised religion in general." I told him. "Since most of it condemns how I live my life but for the chance to see Mercy I can put up with it for an hour or so."

"Thank you, and from what Mercy's told me the church she prefers is pretty liberal so long as it's the usual minister there."

"I'll still avoid holding your hand during the service." I said drolly.

"That might be a good idea." Warren agreed. "Do you mind picking us up? My trucks not that big and Mercy's car is out of commission thanks to a Fae."

"So I heard." I told him. "Of course I'll pick you up, whose house are you at and what time?"

"Mercy's and can you pick us up about ten?"

"Of course." We talked for a while longer before hanging up.

Without Warren there my house seemed empty. It wasn't that he was a loud slob who took up most of any room he was in, unlike one or two of my ex-boyfriends, but he was still another presence in the house. And without that presence the house was just a little too empty for my liking.

That really was a scary thought, that in so short a space of time I had become so used to having Warren in my house. To having it be our home. It had been less than two months since Mercy had called me to tell me he was so badly injured they feared for his life and in that time he had become so permanent a fixture in my life that it was hard to imagine him not coming back again.

Not that I intended to let him go without a fight. Unless he started lying to me again, and about things more serious than what I was getting for Christmas and until then I would fight tooth and nail to keep him. And shoot anyone who tried to take him away, with silver bullets if need be.

Sometimes I worried that Warren didn't get how serious I was about us. For the past two months he hadn't been using his place for more than storing stuff, and there was less and less there as time passed and it migrated to the house. Yet he keep paying rent on the place rather than giving it up which suggested he wasn't as committed to us as I was. Still, he was attentive enough that I didn't think he was planning on leaving me.

Which raised the question of why he kept it, unless he didn't think I was fully committed to us. Unless he thought I'd change my mind about him. But I'd proved that I really loved him, before we'd broken up I'd all but abandoned my nice big comfy house so that I could live with him and nothing had changed since then.

Except that something had, I'd found out he was a werewolf. That might be the issue, not that I had a problem with what he was but maybe he thought I did. Or I might in the future and he was keeping his apartment so that he'd have somewhere to go if or possibly when in Warren's mind, I kicked him out. It was a stupid idea but then fear and love tended to make people stupid and if my reasoning was right then Warren had both.

I sighed, this was a good reason for Warren to move in; I thought too much when I was alone. For now though he was needed by Mercy and Adam, and that came above us when Mercy had been hurt. For now I would say nothing to him, there was too much going on with the pack and Mercy to pile this on him as well.

I would wait until after Christmas, by that point I would have known what he was for over a year and maybe that would get it through his thick skull that I was in this relationship for the long term. In the New Year, if he was still keeping his apartment then I would bring it up, and no doubt we would have a fight or two about it, hopefully followed by make-up sex, and eventually he would see things my way.

" "

The next morning I pulled up outside Mercy's house just before ten. Warren met me at the door before I could knock, knowing him he'd recognised the sound of my car or something like that. I knew Mercy could tell cars apart by the sound of their engines but Warren wasn't nearly as mechanically inclined. Whatever the reason he greeted me with a hug that I was very happy to receive. Even though I'd only seen him a few days ago it had been the longest we'd gone without seeing each other since we'd got back together.

"Mercy's just finishing her shower." He told me.

"Of course." I told him, his tone told me to act as if everything was perfectly normal. "Is Samuel around? That is his car out front right?"

"Yes that's my car." Samuel said as he stepped out of his bedroom and into the lounge. "Thanks for this Kyle, I'd go with her but I have work this morning."

"It's not a problem." I assured him and, knowing Mercy had hearing as good as the two wolves I mouthed 'how is she?'

Samuel shrugged and rocked his hand back and forth in a gesture I interpreted as 'so-so' and then mouthed; 'she'll be ok'.

I nodded just as Mercy walked out of her bedroom. "Are you talking about me?"

"Would we do that?" I asked her. "However your taxi service is here since I hear your car is out of action."

She hugged me and kissed my cheek. "Thanks Kyle."

"It's no problem, as I keep telling everyone, now your chariot awaits milady."

I held out my arm in the direction of the door and Mercy laughed while Warren snorted. "We're restricting your viewing." Mercy told me. "Where did you steal that line from?"

"Every medieval film he's ever seen." Warren muttered as he followed us out.

" "

I had to admit, church wasn't as bad as I'd expected. Mercy had been right when she'd told Warren it was a pretty easy going minister and congregation. That said, we sat on the row behind Mercy and I wasn't sure if the looks in our direction were for her or us, but I suspected it was mainly for Mercy. She'd made the front page of the local paper after all.

When we followed Mercy out of the Church the minister stopped for a few words and afterwards gave Warren and I a look that said he knew we were there to protect her and we better do a good job or he'd personally see we got the fire and brimstone he'd left out of his sermon.

Mercy hadn't looked pleased when he'd asked her if she was alright but her response had made me want to laugh, fortunately I managed to contain it until we were back in the car. It wouldn't do for the minister to think I was laughing at him, I might not be particularly religious myself but I had respect for people who were At least when it wasn't shoved down my throat.

"Foam at the mouth?" I asked, turning in my seat so I could see her in the back.

"You remember, we watched The Exorcist a couple of months ago." We had and I remembered it been a bit boring truthfully, I really wasn't sure why it was considered such a classic.

"I know a few good counsellors, too," I told her because I felt like I should make the offer and then because I knew that she might not show the restraint she had with the minister I continued before she had the chance to say anything. Or change and bite me. "So what are we doing this afternoon?"

She sighed. "I don't know what we're doing, I'm going to see if I can get my Rabbit running again." So that meant it was back to Mercy's then. Given what Warren had let slip about the 'guard Mercy' rota they were currently running he was due to stay with her until the evening which meant I was staying too since it would mean I could spend time with both of them.

"So back to yours then?" I asked and started the car without giving them much of a chance to say anything. "You do realise it's about a hundred degrees out there?" I pointed out. "It'll be like working on your car in an oven."

"You don't have to come out." Mercy told me.

"I do." Warren told her, twisting round to smile at her so she would know he didn't mind.

"Well would either of you mind if I stay in the relatively cool house?" I asked. "It's not like I'll be that much help, either as a mechanic or a body guard."

"I have cookies that need eating up." Mercy offered.

"Perfect." I grinned. "Though Warren would probably be happy to help you with those as well." I grinned and took his hand with the one I wasn't using to drive, thank god for automatics.

" "

Once at the house Mercy changed out of her 'good' clothes, defined as not having any permanent stains, and into something she could work in, which was pretty much everything else. Then she presented me with a plate of chocolate chip cookies and the TV remote. "You're a darling." I told her and kissed her cheek. "Have fun with the car."

While she and Warren went out to deal with her car I settled in front of the TV, being a Sunday there was precious little on and I ended up channel surfing while I munched on the cookies. I'd barely picked up my second when the backdoor opened. "Was it that easy to sort out or just that hopeless?" I shouted to them.

"Probably hopeless but that's not why we're back in here." Mercy said as she walked in, clutching a silver walking stick. Under other circumstances I might have wondered why she suddenly had such a finely crafted walking stick but I was far more concerned by Warren who was behind her. He was pale, soaked to the skin and being supported by an older man I didn't recognise.

"Warren, baby what happened?" I asked jumping up and rushing to him.

He coughed. "Think Fideal really has it in for werewolves now." I wrapped my arm around him, not caring that it would soak my shirt too.

"He sought to follow an order without care it had been rescinded." The man said, German I though by his accent and guessed that this was Zee. "Nor did he remember that Mercy is under my protection, unfortunately Warren got in the way."

"Always playing hero." I said with a shake of my head. "Whatever am I going to do with you?" I asked sarcastically and then turned my attention to Zee. I knew he was the reason that Mercy and Warren were both safe and I wanted to thank him for that but I knew better, never thank a fae. "I'm glad you were here to stop him from harming Warren or Mercy." I told him instead, it was close enough to a thank you without actually using the words. "I assume you're Zee."

"I am." He agreed. "And you must be Warren's Kyle."

"For my sins." I told him. "Right you need a shower because even to my nose you smell like the sea, and not the nice parts either." I told Warren firmly. "I'm sure there's something you can put on while we get your clothes washed."

"I have clean clothes at Adam's." Warren reminded me.

"Yes you do." I smiled. "I will go get them while you have a shower."

"And I will have a look at your car Mercy." Zee told her in a no-nonsense tone. "I do not think the damage will be fixed without a little magic."

"I'm not sure even that will do the trick." She said with a sigh.

"You underestimate me; there is nothing to do with cars that I cannot fix." He told her. "I will show Kyle your short cut to Adam's house and you can make sure Warren doesn't drown himself in the shower."

I followed Zee out of the back door. "You are a good friend to Mercy." Zee told me. "It was you who found her that lawyer ja?"

"It was." I admitted. "I know she's not the most likeable person, especially for people like you but I was counting on that. If it made it as far as a trial the very fact that a known fae-hater was defending you would have made many believe that you were innocent."

"It was a good plan." Zee admitted. "But I would prefer to never see the woman again."

"I don't think she'll accept my calls anymore." I told him. "Warren suspects that she knows what he is and may know his tie to me."

"That might be true." Zee agreed. "It was good of you to go to so much trouble for a friend."

"We would not all go to such trouble for Mercy?" Talking with a fae was like being in court, I had to mind every word and in all honesty I think I was starting to talk like Zee. "It was a good thing you came when you did."

"Ja." Zee agreed. "Or you might be looking for a new boyfriend." I had feared it had been that serious and Zee had just confirmed it. "I had heard that Fideal might choose to continue his hunt of Mercy but it is no matter now, I do not think he will bother anyone for quite some time."

"Good, I better go get Warren some clothes before he gives Mercy's neighbours a shock." Zee laughed and pointed me in the direction of the slightly lower section of fence that was easiest to jump.

When I knocked on Adam's back door it was opened by Ben. "What do you want?" He snapped at me, always so refreshing Ben.

"Clothes for Warren." I told him. "He said he has some here, now are you going to go fetch like a good puppy or do I have to get them myself?" Whenever I saw Ben or even heard his name I couldn't get the imagine of my sister's little puppy out of my mind, though they has very little in common personality wise.

Ben growled at me but Darryl's voice from the kitchen commanded his obedience. "Why does Warren need clean clothes?" He shouted at me

"Because his are soaked in salt water." I called back pleasantly.

"How?" It really was a little rude of him to not invite me in or at least come to the door to talk to me but there was every chance it was those werewolf politics or dominance games. Again.

"Oh he had round two with that fae that nearly drowned Adam the other day because he had decided to come kill Mercy."

Oh that got Darryl's attention, suddenly the doorway was very full of the pack Second and behind him I could see I had caught the attention of several other members of the pack. "What happened?" He demanded.

"I don't know the details." I kept my eyes away from his as a precaution but I wasn't pack and I refused to lower my gaze for him. "Mercy went out to work on her car with Warren. They were attacked and the only reason they're still in one piece is Zee came and saved them." I spotted Ben. "Oh good Ben's back." I reached around Darryl to take the bag from Ben. "I'm going now because if I'm missing Warren parading around naked I'll be very disappointed."

I turned and headed back towards Mercy's, I heard Darryl shout to his wife to turn the cooker off and then his footsteps behind me, did that mean Darryl was actually domesticated enough that he did his share of the cooking? Somehow it was hard to believe.

"I don't suppose you've brought breakfast with out?" I asked without turning around.

"How does Warren put up with you?" He growled out.

"I could ask your mate the same thing." I told him. "I can only assume you have really good blackmail material on her." He growled again and I decided that I'd pushed him far enough, despite what Warren may believe I do actually know when to quit. "Or she really loves you."

He snorted. "Must be the second." He said as we passed the pole-barn where Zee was cursing in German. At least I assume he was cursing, I don't speak German but I heard Fideal's name in there and he didn't sound happy.

"The gremlin doesn't sound happy." Darryl muttered.

"He's trying to fix Mercy's car for her." I told him as we reached the house. "He though it might take magic." I opened the back door and found Warren sitting at the table dressed in just a towel helping himself to the plate of cookies that Mercy had topped up.

"I should have figured you'd be over." Warren said when he saw Darryl was with me.

"Kyle says you fought a fae, why didn't you call for backup?"

"I did." Warren defended himself, not looking Darryl in the eye but equally not quite lowering his eyes. I was guessing they still hadn't quite sorted out who got to boss who around.

"He did." Mercy backed Warren up. "We tried to phone Adam's house and when that didn't work he even resorted to howling, I guess Fideal blocked that too." She smiled at that. "Then he got knocked out but Zee arrived before Fideal could eat me."

"Zee said he's heard that Fideal might still be hunting Mercy and came to see her." I told Darryl but my eyes were firmly on Warren's naked chest, it had been days since I'd seen him and I think it would be safe to say I was a little frustrated.

"Warren I want at full report so I can relay it to Adam when he gets back." Darryl told him. "But put some clothes on first before he starts drooling."

I wasn't drooling, I had more dignity than that, but if we'd been alone I wouldn't have kept my hands off him. And Warren knew it, he gave me a small smile as she took the clothes from me and then proceeded to get dressed while he gave Darryl a rundown of exactly what had happened with Mercy taking over at the point he was knocked out.

I knew the other three in the room were shapeshifters so maybe talking like that was normal to them but it certainly wasn't to me and I paid little attention to what was said and far more to Warren.

"I'll let Adam know." Darryl said, finally pulling my attention from the now fully clothed Warren. "Do you two think you can keep your hands off each other long enough to actually do your job?"

"Hey." I objected. "Let's get your wife in here and see much attention you pay!"

Mercy laughed and so did Warren. "We'll be fine." Warren told him. "Mercy has lots of cookies that need eating."

"I'll send Ben round later." Darryl promised. "You probably need break."

"I don't mind." Warren said but, I noticed, he didn't argue.

"You know I'm not totally helpless." Mercy protested.

"But we will be if Adam finds out we didn't take the very best care of you while he's away." Warren told her. "And personally I've rather attached to all my limbs."

"Me too." I added and Darryl nodded.

"So I'm afraid you'll just have to put up with us been protective for a while." Warren finished as if I hadn't said anything.

"Fine." Mercy said flopping down on the sofa though I don't think she was as annoyed as she made out and might even have been pleased that people worried about her. "How about a bad movie afternoon, I'm sure there's something on."

"I passed plenty of bad TV earlier." I told her as I sat down next to her. Warren settled on her other side as Darryl made his escape back out of the door. "I know it doesn't count as bad but I think I saw an advert for Doctor Who on sometime this afternoon."

"Good choice." Mercy said, flipping through the channels until she found BBC America. "Oh yeah, it's on in half an hour and look, Torchwood is on afterwards."

"I never object to pretty boys." I agreed. "But I still think I prefer Warren to Jack Harkness." Warren snorted like he wasn't sure whether to be insulted or not. It was a good afternoon, though Zee looked at us like we were crazy when he walked in at exactly the wrong moment. He stayed just long enough to tell Mercy he'd covered her worked at the garage Friday and Saturday, then he made his escape before he had to risk finding out if insanity really was contagious.

" "

When I went home that evening I went alone. Warren still needed to stay at Adam's. "You don't mind too much do you Kyle?" He asked me as we were standing next to my car. "But with the Boss away he needs someone to watch Jesse as well as this." He waved his hand in the general direction of Mercy's house.

I kissed him. "I don't mind." I assured him. "I told you to stay here as long as either of them need you." I stroked the side of his face. "Doesn't mean I don't miss you and I do want you home as soon as possible."

"I will." He promised and then whispered in my ear. "Now go home before I find a bedroom to haul you into."

I laughed. "Love you too." I gave him another quick kiss and climbed into my car. Warren watched me drive away with a smile on his face that made me feel happy in spite of everything.

AN: Sorry for the delay but in honour of getting half of my assigned work done, here's the last chapter for Iron Kissed. Now the bad news, it may well be Easter before I get Bone Crossed done as it's only half written at the moment and I have a heavy work load with assignments and my dissertation project. Sorry but I will put it up, eventually