Evil Eyes 35
Kate's stomach, along with Rick's, had stopped rumbling even though they were both still a little bit hungry. She had closed her eyes and let her Dragon eat, practically devouring each cow whole that Miles and Mark brought within range of her. She ate one after the other till they were all gone.
They had actually gone to the grocery store and had bought cuts of meat for Rick since they were easier for him to eat. They had been told that the other shifters would be back in a couple of days after they secured more cows for Kate.
Johanna had assured her that the twins would be fine. "I swear you were the most finicky baby. I'm sure Aileen and Aurelia will be fine. They're doing great with the gradual switch over to formula. After all, I got you to eat so I can do the same for them. And besides, I have Allison and Thom to lend a hand." She just knew Kate would be worrying about both of them.
Kate was presently resting with her husband curled up against her. 'That was so embarrassing.' She was sure she would never live that down.
Aidan had struggled to even stand at first and was desperate to get his legs under him so he could run. There was a monstrously huge Dragon with a mouth full of teeth just feet away from him and his mother.
Kate was still reliving the nightmare that her own brother had been terrified of her. She'd watched her mother try and hold him in place while he struggled to get his legs under him. All the while Johanna had softly cooed at him that the Dragon was his sister. That he had seen her countless times.
It wasn't just his desire to get away that had hurt. He had started crying out from his overwhelming fear. The sounds her own brother had made were still playing in her mind, over and over again, his absolute terror of her.
Oscar had arrived and taken over; he'd actually carried him away while still a Foal, a baby Horse. Kate did have to admit that he was beautiful. All soft gold with a solid white mane and tail along with all white feet that almost made it up to his knees. He was a palomino was what Oscar had said.
'He'll adapt Kate, I promise. It was the first time he'd ever seen you like this. If we add him to our family outings he'll get used to you as a Dragon.' Rick did his best to twist and hug what he could. He was learning that his hugs had limitations. He had to hug the entire person, not just one large claw or paw, in Kate's case.
It had only reminded Rick that as big as he was, his wife was even bigger.
'Give him another chance, he'll come around.' But all he heard was Kate moaning about the entire exchange. He tried mightily to get his hug power to work on her in her Dragon shape.
The sound of someone coming got their attention as Kate lifted up her head and Rick stepped away to be ready to rush whomever it was.
A Mountain Lion came bounding into view and quickly shifted into Kimberly. "I have news! Great news! The Dracolich is dead, really, truly dead this time. Joanne blew it into bony little pieces." Kim started grinning. "Oh, and Alexis is with her as are Sam and Ava. The others are listening to the tale Joanne is telling regarding just what happened, but I thought you would want to know. Both Ava and Sam are fine. What little I stayed to hear indicates that both Ava and Sam are the reason it's dead.
I gotta go. Soon as I have the whole story I'll be back. Two days and we'll be back with more food for you. We're thinking of bringing your Jeep to bring a snack tomorrow." Kim quickly shifted and ran off.
Once again, Kate learned that a Dragon could actually cry. Only this time they were happy tears.
She saw Rick rear up on his hind legs; she bent down and let him hug her head. They both silently cried joyous, thankful tears.
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For the third time, Joanne was listening to just what Sam and Ava had done as seen through Sam's eyes since Ava couldn't talk as either a dragon nor yet as a human. She stood there holding what Ava had snapped into two pieces. She looked at it in disbelief. 'This held its soul?' She was still trying to wrap her mind around that part.
"Okay, everyone into the helicopter. Let's get out of here before those F-15s figure out where we are." She worried that it was likely they already had a clue because of that blue light that had shot up into the night sky.
No sooner had Sam climbed into the back when she saw a body in restraints. "What's wrong with her?" She pointed at a still strapped down Serena.
"An Unseelie hit her with one of her spells." Joanne's heart still ached mightily as she stroked Serena's face, wishing that she would just wake up. It had to wear off eventually, right?
Sam saw the hurt look on Joanne's face and transformed. She had done it twice before, maybe she could do it again. She took to flitting around again and zapped Serena's foot with a sparkle-like effect.
The result was instantaneous. Serena reached to undo one of the straps, shot up to a sitting position, and wrapped her arms around Joanne. "OH, MY GOD!" Serena cried out and started crying as each squeezed the other tight.
She pulled back, cupped Joanne's face with her hands, and kissed her soundly. Breaking from the kiss, Serena wiped the tears from her face. "I could hear and see everything but couldn't do anything. I struggled and struggled." She couldn't speak for a moment and continued wiping her tears.
"It was..." Joanne interrupted her. "It was HELL!" She kissed her before they both broke down crying.
"We need to go – right now; we have F-15s inbound," she warned. Serena immediately scrambled to undo the last strap and free her legs.
"Then let's get out of here." Serena swung her legs out but instead of the floor, her feet landed on something odd, something hard. "What's this?" She looked down at the small pile that was taking up space on the floor.
"Dracolich bones." Joanne knew she needed to tell her the story behind them but they didn't have the time at the moment. The look on Serena's face was priceless and Joanne smiled widely.
"We'll talk while flying. Find something for these two to wear and let's get out of here," Serena commanded. She moved toward the pilot's seat, but stopped.
She wrapped her arms around a naked Sam. "Thank you. Thank you so much. I owe you. Anything you want, just ask and it's yours." She dropped a kiss on the girl's head and climbed into the pilot's seat.
Serena didn't wait for Joanne to join her since it sounded like they didn't have the time.
Meanwhile Joanne shook out a pair of thin thermal blankets for Sam and Ava and got to work on keeping Ava in place. "You two watch her. Don't let her roll out and off and fall on the floor. You have an important job." Sam and Alexis nodded.
"Strap yourselves in next," Joanne told them and climbed into her seat.
Things quickly got back to normal with Serena flying virtually between trees to stay off the F-15s' radar or anyone else's for that matter, as Joanne used her screens. "Why were my controls dead?" Serena inquired, puzzled.
"Alexis was sitting there earlier," Joanne replied which suddenly made sense to Serena. "Now talk to me." Serena asked of her. Joanne knew she was good enough to concentrate on them not crashing while Jo talked.
"We're in New York?!" Serena suddenly noticed where they were. "Have we got the fuel to get back to the Rodgers home?" She scanned her screen.
"We have to stop in Rapid City first." Joanne then launched into what had happened since Serena got zapped.
"Both dead? Dracolich and Unseelie?" Serena tried to understand how much had happened while she was trapped inside her own body.
Then Joanne filled her in on Kate and Rick's condition. "Sounds like they're going to be in their beast forms for a while. What about her job and the twins?" Serena saw problems still in their future.
"We need a plan." Joanne was hoping Serena could come up with one, but wasn't surprised in the least when Serena got in contact with Sarah and told the A.I. the parameters of her plan and what she needed from her. Joanne looked at her mate and beamed.
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It took a number of hours, a swap of pilots, along with a stop for fuel and another bathroom break, but they were finally landing outside of the Rodgers residence in their backyard just after sunset.
They were immediately met by Jessica, Mark, Kim, and Miles. They already knew everything and Serena was crushed by each of them followed by Sam getting hugs and kisses which made her blush brightly.
"We were just getting ready to drive the trailer back out to Kate and Rick if you want to come?" Kim invited, knowing they were desperate to see their parents .
"YES!"came from Alexis and Sam at the same time. Ava suddenly got squirmy, clapped her hands, and tried for her first word. All three were looking at Serena with expectations of being included.
"Have we got room for everyone?" was her only question. They were going to use the Expedition to tow the trailer driven by Oscar with Johanna, Aidan, Ava, Alexis, and Sam as passengers. The Jeep was also being taken with Serena, Joanne, Kim and Miles.
Sam and Alexis were bouncing after getting out of the Expedition while looking at everyone. "They're over that way a little ways." Johanna gave them a little push and chuckled when the two of them took off running.
Moments later, Kate lifted her head since she had heard the Expedition that should have a trailer full of food as promised. She felt bad having all these people helping her. She should be able to fend for herself. But she was stuck as a Dragon till she was healed enough to shift back.
It didn't help that her tail and even her back were still causing her pain. However, it was the sound that had her confused. 'What's coming babe?' It didn't sound right somehow.
Then suddenly Sam and Alexis burst into the clearing and ran straight for her. Kate put her massive head back down on the ground and accepted hugs from her girls. Once again she felt Dragon tears rolling down her face. It lifted her spirits into the stratosphere to have two of her girls hugging her.
She so wanted to hug and kiss them, but the best she could do was stick her tongue out and lick each of them. "Ewww, MOM!" Sam complained and wiped the Dragon spit off her face only to go back to hugging her. Kate's heart was in the heavens. Sam had called her Mom and it sounded like she knew she was saying it! God, but she wanted to talk to both of them. Kate desperately wished she could change; she had so many questions that she couldn't ask.
Rick hadn't been left out, though. Alexis rushed over to him and let him envelope her in one of his special bear hugs that helped to take her pain and worry over her parents away.
The next person to come into view had Kate reaching out to within a inch of Serena as she glared at her and sniffed her. 'You're awake! HOW!?' This time it was Kate who wanted the story.
"You are definitely right Kim." Serena agreed somewhat nervously. She found that having giant Dragon head filled with teeth, mere inches away from her, was a bit intimidating.
Kate took exception to that. She snorted air at Serena and moved her head back to Sam so she could be hugged by her daughter.
"I'm sure you're full of questions, most of which are going to have to wait until you are healthy enough to shift safely. Sarah has informed me that there's a shifter who's a healer that we will be flying to pick up in the morning before your contractors show up. She should be able to help speed up your healing.
First off, it was Sam that we can both thank for getting me out of being frozen by that Unseelie. Definitely not an experience I ever want to repeat. It was hell listening and seeing people you love and care about fussing over you. You can't get your own body to do what you want it to do." Serena felt Joanne wrap her arms around her from behind. The entire event had been painful for both of them.
"I'll come up with a way to thank Sam properly. I owe her a lot," Serena said. "We both do," Joanne added. Kate nudged Sam with her nose which caused a blush to bloom on Sam's cheeks as she laughed a little. She only knew she had to help her new mother. She still didn't really understand what she was doing when using any of her powers.
This was followed by Oscar carrying Aidan as a baby while Johanna had baby Ava in her arms. 'AVA!' Kate reached out her head to nudge her baby girl who whacked her on the nose while trying to tap it. It barely registered and it was the greatest love tap Kate could remember ever getting. "MA!" Ava babbled, as tears of joy rolled down Kate's face. Her baby girl had said her first word.
Rick walked over, reared up on his back legs, and reached out with his front paws to Johanna. She took that as a sign to hand over Ava to the giant paws of a Bear. Now it was Ava's turn to bury herself in her dad's arms, to let him hug her and help take any pain away.
Kim spoke up as the others began herding the first cow out of the trailer and tied it off for Kate to eat at her leisure. "We brought another six cows along with some more raw meat for you two when you're ready."
'Our family is alive and well!' Kate didn't think she had ever been this happy in her life. This feeling was so encompassing that even her Dragon was crying. They had a future!
"I've got one more thing for you." Serena brought Kate and Rick out of their thoughts about their family. "If you're worried about your job, don't be. I've taken care of that small detail. You, Katherine Houghton Beckett-Rodgers, are presently on an assignment for the FBI and will not be back for at least a month. The government thanks you and them for the sacrifice," Serena informed her with a smile.
That bit of information only increased Kate's tears. Just how she'd gotten all these friends escaped her. What had she really done to deserve all this? She was determined to find a way to thank all of them the moment she was capable of doing so.
It was hours later and Kate had closed her eyes yet again as her Dragon reached out and almost swallowed each of the six cows whole. It didn't escape her ears that Sam and Alexis each expressed their disgust at watching their mother eat an entire cow.
Still they hugged her after she ate each one. It was the most they were going to get for days, if not weeks.
A while later Kate and Rick were alone in the clearing. It had taken a little convincing to get Alexis and Sam to leave since they had really wanted to stay. 'How do we thank them, babe? What would we be doing without them?'
'Sounds like a challenge and we both know how much I love a good challenge. I'll think of something.' It was a good thing they could "speak" to each other with their thoughts since Rick's mouth was currently full of raw meat that actually tasted pretty damn good. He had already been a Bear for longer than he ever had before at one time and was probably going to be for at least a few more days.
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Every two days Kim and the others showed up with another small herd of cows for Kate and still more raw meat for Rick. He was actually feeling better but didn't want to leave his wife, so he hid that fact from her and just ate what they brought.
True to Serena's word, she had flown out and brought back a healer that also just happened to be a black Bear living in a small shifter community on the eastern edge of South Dakota.
She had been given a room in the Rodgers house and had visited each time they brought Kate and Rick their food. And in just a week she was flown home by Serena and Joanne. After stopping in Rapid City to refuel again, they had just touched down and were met by Allison and Thompson.
"There is something you need to hear and something we need to discuss," Allison told them. They were soon both in the living room with everyone, but that didn't include any of the Rodgers children nor did it include Johanna or Oscar.
"We have a story for you that's quite difficult to believe, however, it fits all the facts as we know them," Kim began and handed over a single sheet of paper for Serena and Joanne to read.
Neither of them understood the significance of what it said. "Ava and Sam went to a home or cabin that was located in the Catskills. They were followed by the Dracolich. According to the story that was told by Sam, Ava broke an old fishing pole. A relic actually." Kim picked the two pieces off of the coffee table and handed them over.
Joanne recognized them instantly since Sam had brought them with her into the helicopter.
"When Ava bit it into two pieces, a brilliant blue light shot into the sky. We surmise that at this time the Dracolich was vulnerable to the missiles that you fired. It may have actually been already dead when the missiles hit their mark and blew it into pieces." Kim paused to let them absorb the incident as Joanne remembered it.
"That old fishing pole is what held its soul, if it ever truly had one. That house where that pole was sitting was owned by the person, or more precisely, the family on that piece of paper," Kim informed them.
Serena and Joanne looked at the paper again as realization dawned on them. The shock of it all was written all over their faces.
Property transfer report
State of New York
State Board of Property
RP-5217NY
County of Schohaire
Date of Deed: July 20, 1982
Location of Property:Hamlet of Breakabeen, town of Fulton
Tax Billing address:1512 Mosley Street S.W.
Deed Property size: 4.65 acres
Seller Name - Moore, Edith
One Family Residential
Sale Information: $245,999
E - Deed type and warranty
J - None
Assessment Information - A5
Name of purchaser – Beckett, James and Beckett, Johanna