A/N: If you're wondering why you are getting so many chapters so suddenly, it's because I'm under deadlines and have put this on a deadline so that it will be finished before I have to go off grid for a month.
The Ranger'sDaughter: Pesky kidnappers.
AER: Uh...
Raider: It probably would negatively affect your immediate future...just make sure you have bail money and you're not relying on a scholarship or anything you have to give your criminal history to for college. Elizabet has a lot of patience. Go her. Dramatic and things explode...like the Testing. Nope...the chloroform in such constant dosages isn't good but it's better than letting her feel pain. Kane and Gabby are my favorite power couple. Will is going to struggle with Maggie a lot. Remember, she's the grandchild that lives closest to him. Max and Jasmine are in Hibernia (where Warden's parents spoil them) and Quinlan doesn't have kids. Daniel took the job as Commandant partly so Maggie could grow up close to his parents. Self defense is important...at least you have the class? Haha...when you talked back to Robin I thought of that scene in Drake & Josh where Crazy Steve talks back to Dora.
Aubrey: Elizabet has grown a lot. She's great :) I miss Halt too, but...he'd just be too old at this point.
Disclaimer: I'm not John Flanagan.
Once her report was finished Elizabet walked back down to the medical wing. Tammy had already been there and was with Carissa helping mind the children. She went to Lorelei first. The physician who took over for Gabby had just finished another round of chloroform after cleaning and putting fresh wrappings on her wounds.
"Has her family been here?" Elizabet asked. The physician shook his head.
"The castle has been closed off until a search can be completed. Your father gave the order, Your Grace."
Elizabet shook her head. "Please, have one of your apprentices go to collect her mother at the very least."
The physician nodded. "I will as soon as we have one to spare, Your Grace."
Elizabet wanted to ensure the medical wing had all it needed before she turned to other matters, like helping her parents sift through final counts and checking in with Neil and Noah. Her next stop was Kane's room. He'd changed out of the bloodied uniform and into a clean linen tunic and leggings. He wore an uncomfortable looking brace over the shirt that kept his torso from bending and was propped up against several pillows. He'd definitely be spending the night there. Gabby sat on the edge of his bed, her left arm set into a proper splint and in a proper sling. She'd changed too, but not into a patient's gown. She'd be free to return to Anne once things settled down. For now she sat with Kane, his arm loosely around her while she outlined his brace with her good hand. She tilted her head when Elizabet came in.
"I'm checking on everyone," Elizabet told them as she crossed over and rested her hand on Gabby's shoulder. She gave Kane a pained look now that she saw the brace up close. "How bad is it?"
"He saved us at the expense of himself," Gabby whispered, tracing her fingers up to his hair. "We'll be here a long time."
"Are you hurting?" Elizabet asked.
"I'll manage," he assured her. "It's only bad when I try to move."
"So stop doing that," Gabby ordered him. Kane laughed lightly and let his fingertips fall down her back to rest his hand on her hip. "Elizabet, were you hurt?"
"No," Elizabet assured her. "I got some lye splatter on me, but it was only enough to irritate my skin. The rash will be gone in a couple of days."
"That was brilliant of you, by the way," Kane told Elizabet. "Melting down the lye."
"That part was Gabby's idea."
"No," Gabby corrected her. "You asked what was available and I told you. You're the one that actually carried it out. Well done, Elizabet."
Elizabet couldn't help allowing a small smile. It wasn't often she was commended on defending herself…and in this case others.
"How bad is your arm?" Elizabet asked.
"I caught it wrong when I went down. It's broken in a couple of places," Gabby grumbled.
"The Hibernian physician gave her nine to twelve weeks in a sling," Kane added. Gabby grimaced. Elizabet laughed. Usually it was Gabby telling an unwilling patient to stay immobile.
"Will you be alright, Gabby?" Elizabet asked.
"I'll be fine," Gabby assured her. "Have you seen Anne? Is she doing alright?"
"She and Noah are both in Carissa's care."
"Good," Kane sighed with relief.
"And now Kane needs to rest," Gabby announced. She stood up and, carefully feeling to find his chin, and leaned down to kiss him. Elizabet suddenly wanted Neil with her.
"Elizabet, would you make sure Gabby doesn't get lost?" Kane asked, rubbing Gabby's back as she straightened up.
"Lost?" Elizabet asked.
"I'm left handed," Gabby explained. "I can't use my cane."
"Not efficiently anyway," Kane added. He stared at Elizabet when he spoke. She got his message loud and clear. He didn't want Gabby alone.
"Gabby," Elizabet began, choosing her words carefully. "Would you and Anne like to stay in one of my guest rooms until things settle down?"
They'd been staying in a room near the medical wing since Gabby took on Lorelei. They had defenses, but not the defenses Elizabet's rooms would have…especially after today.
"They'd love to," Kane answered before Gabby could. Gabby remained quiet. She didn't even attempt to protest.
Elizabet let Gabby take her arm and led her from the room. They went to the room they'd been staying and Elizabet packed the family's things into two bags. She slung both over her shoulder and led Gabby back to her rooms to set them down before going to Carissa's apartment closer to Mason and Scout's rooms.
"Is there anything I should send for?" Elizabet asked as they walked past the guards. "For your arm?"
"I have enough for tonight. I'll restock in the morning."
"What is it? Medicines for pain?"
"Yes," Gabby answered. "And I'd like to avoid taking it as much as possible. Please…don't lead me into anything."
Elizabet opened the door to Warden and Carissa's apartment. Jasmine, Anne, and Noah all sat in the floor together while Carissa busied herself in the kitchen elbow-deep in flour. Nervous baking, Elizabet realized. Max was old enough Warden must have recruited him for aftermath cleanup.
Carissa paused just long enough to stare at Gabby's arm. "Are you alright?" she asked, getting the children's attention.
"Elizabet!" Noah exclaimed. He hopped up and ran, throwing his arms around her. Elizabet had never set out to replace his mother and, though she took an active interest in his life, she'd yet to feel like a parent until now. He typically acknowledged her presence with a nod or glance and saved everything he deemed important for his brother. Elizabet stroked his hair, glancing from Gabby to Carissa for help. Gabby, of course, couldn't see the glance and Carissa was focused on baking.
"Anne?" Gabby asked.
"Mummy?" Anne called out, tilting up her head and peering in their direction.
"Jasmine," Carissa prompted. Jasmine pulled Anne to her feet and led her to Gabby. She stared at Gabby's sling a moment and then joined her own mother in the kitchen.
"Where's Daddy?" Anne asked.
"Dad's going to be fine," Gabby assured her. "He's going to stay in the medical wing for a couple of days. He hurt his back and I hurt my arm. We're both going to be fine."
Anne seemed ready to cry, so Elizabet led both mother and daughter to a chair. She guided Anne into Gabby's lap, making sure she settled against Gabby's good side, and went back to Noah.
"Where's Tammy?" she asked Carissa as she ran her fingers through his hair.
"She went to get more water," Carissa answered.
"Have you heard from Neil yet?" Elizabet asked Noah. Noah shook his head. Elizabet looked to Carissa, who also shook her head.
"Perhaps he's caught up in the lockdown," Carissa suggested. Elizabet nodded.
"Would you mind keeping Noah a little while longer?"
"No!" Noah protested. "I want to go with you."
Elizabet looked to Carissa for help. She wiped her hands on her apron and went over to Noah. She took his arm and tugged him back towards the kitchen.
"Come Noah. You can help with the frosting."
Noah sighed. He released Elizabet and went to Carissa, knowing he had no standing. Elizabet immediately felt guilty but Carissa shooed her off before she could change her mind. Elizabet returned to the courtroom and approached her parents.
"Elizabet," Kineta greeted her. "Are you alright?"
"I'm looking for Neil," Elizabet answered. "Do you know where he is?"
"He hasn't found you?" Sean asked with concern. Elizabet shook her head. Sean and Kineta shared a glance.
"What?" Elizabet asked.
"We haven't seen him either, Kineta said slowly.
"Carissa thought that perhaps he's caught up in the lockdown."
"Elizabet, the lockdown ended hours ago," Sean told her.
Elizabet froze. "But…" she trailed for a moment, looking to each of her parents. "No. No…Neil…he must be in a safe room or something."
Sean motioned for a guard to come over. "Put out a search for Prince Neil. We're still missing him."
Just as he finished speaking, the doors opened. Elizabet took a couple of eager steps towards them, hoping it was Neil returning from wherever he'd been hiding. Instead she found her brother closely followed by Talia. It was hard not to let her disappointment show.
"Where are the others?" Kineta demanded in a panic.
"I'm going to see Lorelei," Gabe mumbled. Elizabet blinked several times. She studied her brother, unsure where his sour attitude came from.
"They went to look into a suspicious person," Talia whispered to Kineta. They all watched Gabe as he stormed away. "His lungs didn't agree with his decision to get out there."
Sean and Kineta both turned back to Talia. "He didn't try to push himself, did he?" Sean demanded. Talia shook her head.
"The attacks came at such…strange times. If he pushed himself it would have been worse."
"It was the traveling," Kineta sighed, looking back to where Gabe had fled. "Being in nature…something must have upset his lungs. I'll go talk to him."
"No," Sean said. He quickly caught Kineta's arm. "I think this is something he needs to work out for himself.
"It's not your fault he has bad lungs," Talia whispered to Kineta. Kineta simply shook her head. She jerked her arm away from her husband and headed the direction Gabe had gone. Sean sighed and got back to work as a new unit came back with reports. Elizabet pulled Talia aside.
"Did you see Neil while you were out there?" she asked. Talia shook her head.
"Is he missing now too?"
Elizabet bit her lip. Talia brought her into a comforting hug.
"He'll turn up," she promised.