Clez: You're welcome. Don't worry, I intend to do something really horrible to the *bleep* who killed Jesse and Co. Wait, that was me!

Dorian's: you've got me. The Comlink(s) are based on Star Trek's. Did I ever mention I love Star Trek? I do! Especially Capt. Janeway and crew. Someone remind me to get to write one of those fics one day.

Graymoon74: Thanks for the compliments. It really means a lot to me. As to what happened to my original characters...let's just say that it's supposed to lead to something more. Thanks for the idea about the magic to bring them back. Very good idea, that one. I'll think it over. *puts on indignant face* And I am not clumsy! Well, unless you count tripping over my own feet as clumsy...By the way, the cookies are under my bed, not in the kitchen.

Rachael: Quite simply, ouch. That was one of the hardest kicks to my behind ever. I think you don't like me. What did I do to you? It hurts, you know. I had to bring myself to kill my "Mary-Sues" and now you're telling me to give the League some more action?!  Sweetheart, they're the only ones I can give action to anymore!

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CHAPTER 7

INFIRMARY

NAUTILUS

LONDON DOCKS

            Skinner paced outside the piece of fabric and frame that kept Vicky away from him. He had been there since she had been brought in, which was...he glanced at a wall-mounted clock. About 13 hours. He cared for her, in more than a platonic way. Besides, she was the only link left to the Finder.

           A moan came from behind the partition. Skinner darted behind it and saw that Vicky had woken up, moaning in pain. He helped her sit up as her wings unfurled from around her. They had wrapped themselves around her body throughout the whole healing process, and Mina and Jekyll had some how managed to get them open so they could treat her. They believed it was some sort of instinctual healing mechanism, developed as a survival tool at some point in the Aseyewrn's evolutionary process.

            "Easy there," he said, sitting on the edge of the bed. "You've had a hard knock around."

            "You're telling me," she said quietly. She looked at him, hope burning in her warm amber eyes. "Did any of them — " She stopped short when she saw the grim expression on Skinner's boyish face. She swallowed, then whispered, "Not one of them?"

            Reluctantly, he nodded slowly. Tears welled up in her eyes, but they didn't fall as she closed her eyes to regain her bearings. His heart ached for her. He knew how she felt; Hannah had been his wife, and best friend. He was devastated by her loss. Hesitantly, he placed his hand over hers. She didn't draw back but instead opened her eyes and looked into his own purple and green ones.

            "How bad was it?" she asked. He shook his head. "Please, Rodney. I need to know what became of my friends." He was a bit surprised; no one had called him Rodney in a long time. With the League, it was always "Skinner". He described the scene to her, and when he got to the part about Crow, she looked ready to recycle her lunch. Anger blazed in her eyes, mixed with grief.

            "Do you know who did this?" Skinner asked gently, not willing to push her too far. Her right wing twitched, a habit that kicked in whenever she was very angry or upset. Which, in this case, was both. She shook her head as the door to the Infirmary opened and Tom, both doctors, and Nemo filed in, with them Pike and Mycroft. Mina raised a brow when she saw Skinner and Vicky's hands. They didn't notice.

            "I see you've woken up," Allan said. "How are you feeling?"

            "Alive," she said simply. "And thankful for every minute of it."

            Nemo raised a brow when he saw Skinner there. Vicky saw it and quickly supplied, "He was telling me what you found."

            "Yes. Well," Mycroft finally said, "We believe the people who did this was part of the group who kidnapped the children in the first place."

            Vicky nodded. "The locator spell could have led them to the library. That was part of the risk. Jesse and the rest knew that."

           Skinner could tell she was hurting. Obviously, the five had been through much and were close. She attempted a smile, but it was tight. "It's good to know that they died quick."

            "Well, yes..." Jekyll said. "But the amount of blood there; most likely they inflicted major damage before they died."

            Vicky's grin had some grim humor in it as Tom said, "They went down fighting."

            She nodded and whispered to herself, "As they promised." Skinner was the only one who heard her.

            "Do you know who did this?" asked Tom. Vicky shook her head with regret.

            "One huge guy with a scar and another with a really nice coat that could do with a wash," she replied, earning a chuckle from Tom and a snicker from Skinner. "The one with the nice coat had a gun that didn't need a supply of silver bullets, probably enchanted. He had a sword, too. His friend was using these balls of blue fire. Pretty, really, but destructive."

            Mycroft looked thoughtful. "I'll have to check up on those two; perhaps they are mercenaries or assassins."

            "Up for hire?" Skinner remarked. "Scary what you can get for ₤30 (#1) these days."

            Mina nodded. "What about the children? Did the Finder have any news before you were attacked?"

            Sadly, Vicky shook her head and Jekyll's hopes took a skydiving lesson and landed at the pit of his stomach. "I'm sorry, but there was no news," she said. "But I could always do a spell. It'd tell what the Finder's found and...and..."

            She couldn't bring herself to say it, lest she start crying. Her friends were dead, her life in ruins at her feet.

            "It'd tell us what happened," Skinner supplied quietly. He knew what Vicky was thinking. She nodded weakly.

            "Every single minute of it," she answered, suddenly very tired — both emotionally and physically. She used her free hand and ran it through her thick orange hair, stifling a yawn.

            Seeing this, Mina shooed the rest of them out, including Skinner, who went with many a protest. However, Vicky gave him a smile behind Mina's back, and he instantly shut up.

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 (#1) 30 pounds, in case you can't see it.                                                                                                                       

A/N: My sincere apologies as to why this chapter took so long to be posted. It's just that I've been busy and haven't had the time to work on it. It may be a little short but (hopefully) I can get a longer and nicer one up soon. Hope you liked the Flashback/Interlude thing. By the way, if and when you leave a review, please tell me if you want this relationship between Skinner and Vicky to go further or if I should trash it. Sorry this chapter took so long. Really, very very sorry. *uses frying pan to whack self over head*