A/N: YAY! My muses have been freed! Here we get some revelations, some romance, and a new character! [Whom I own, no stealing!] I'm so excited! XD Anyway, now that my muses are free, I can update this a little more often, provided I don't get the sudden, weird urge to write something else… that's been known to happen!
funyun – You can still join Otto's pity-party if you wish! You are bound and determined to hurt Davis in every chapter, aren't you?
Lilren – Perin… Lily… whatever… Anyway, your baby talk was weawy hawd to wead, but it amoosed me anyway!
Cecily Marla Smith – How come I wasn't aware that dating invisible guys was the craze? The magazines I get are not as hip with the trends as they say they are!
Queerquail – I'm so afraid! Aah! Hehehe, j/k! Thanks, glad you liked it!
Chasten-chan – Well, no one was sure if Cabby's parents were alive or dead. I never went into that anyway! You didn't not pay attention! [Whoa, that was so totally a double negative! But it's 1 o'clock in the morning and I don't care!]
Nicky007 – Hehehe, if you think that was emotional, you ain't seen nothin' yet!
elven-emma – Hello, oh she-who-does-not-update-her-fics! [J/K!] Is Cabby allowed to say "mother"?
Crystal Nox – Aw… I'm flattered! ::blushes:: That was very nice! A Skinner plushie for you!
schizomaniax – That was another novel-like review! You're from the Philippines? Neat-o! Hey, take as long as you need, I'm in no hurry! Ooh, I like playing "let's point out the obvious!" Look, a computer! Hehehe!
Hiril Moon – Why for did you change your name? I'm sorry about the whole Legolas thing… we can always share… XD "Mum, Dad, this is my boyfriend, Rodney Skinner. I know you can't see him, but that's OK, since I can't see anything!" That amused me to no end! Hehehe!
C-3POandStickFigureBarbie – Have I mentioned that your penname cracks me up? [I think I did, but oh well!] Hm… what would Skinner say to a lie detector test?
Her parents… after being torn away from them, having no knowledge of their whereabouts or if they were even alive for that matter, they were found – alive and well, and living right in London. There was only one issue that put a damper on Cabrilyn's reunion with her parents: she had no idea where to find them. None. Otto had no idea either, since he'd merely gotten their names and did not bother to ask for an address or anything of the like – and he'd had to tell Cabrilyn that several times already. She constantly bombarded him with questions, and he was getting rather annoyed.
"Otto, you're certain…"
"For the millionth time yes!" Otto snapped, plopping down in one of the battle-scarred library chairs. "How many times do I have to tell you before it gets through your head?" He grumbled. Cabrilyn didn't seem to hear Otto's remark, her own thoughts keeping her far too preoccupied. Skinner, on the other hand, heard it loud and clear…
"Hey now," Skinner said. "Don't talk to her like that." Otto merely rolled his eyes as Skinner chided him for snapping at Cabrilyn. Skinner glared at the frustrated youth. He leaned down, coming eye to eye with Otto. "You're very fortunate Cabrilyn doesn't know you're being so flip to her," he said softly, so Cabrilyn couldn't hear. "Cause if she did, she'd literally take your head off. Believe me, I've been there." Curiosity flashed briefly in Otto's eyes, part of him wanting to know more of the reasoning behind Skinner's words, but he dropped the subject for the moment. There would be time for story-telling later, besides, something told Otto that Skinner meant every word.
"I honestly and truly don't know where they are," Otto said at length. "Probably one of the rich neighborhoods."
It was then that Skinner got a sudden idea. It wasn't an idea he particularly liked since it involved contacting someone from his thieving days, but it was an idea nonetheless. He sighed inwardly, not really believing he was actually about to suggest… "Mortie."
"Who?" Both Cabrilyn and Otto asked.
"Mortie," Skinner repeated. "Mortie Olin, an old…" he paused, searching for the right word, "…acquaintance of mine. If anyone can find your parents, it's Mortie."
It had been a good hour since Skinner had gone looking for this Mortie of his, and Tom had tagged along. Now, Jekyll sat in his room, leafing through the book he'd pilfered from Dorian's library, and trying to ignore Mina and Otto bickering over something or other just outside his door. He was not sure what had started their argument, but he was sure nothing short of Hyde busting down the door would get them to stop – and Hyde had already offered to do so more than once. Suddenly, the door swung open and in stormed a very ticked off Mina. Jekyll looked at her over his book and raised his eyebrows. "That didn't go well, I take it."
Mina glared at him, but her demeanor quickly softened. She couldn't be mad at Jekyll, for any reason. She sighed, "There is something about Otto that's just… I don't know… It's not right. I'm beginning to think…" She didn't finish her thought for either lack of the right words or lack of certainty about what she wanted to say.
"What?" Jekyll asked, setting down his book. "That Otto is the werewolf?" The look Mina gave him answered his question easily. He chucked lightly as he rose from his chair and walked over to her. "I've had the same thought myself. I didn't tell anyone this, but when Agent Sawyer first brought Otto to me, there was a gunshot wound in Otto's left arm."
"Henry…" Mina was taken aback by this new information. Now it suddenly made sense to her why she and Otto did not get along. "Why didn't you say something? He could be dangerous."
Jekyll shrugged. "So could I, but you keep me around."
"Yes, but that's different," Mina replied.
"Is it? I don't believe so."
Mina thought on this for a moment. What he was saying certainly made sense, she supposed. After a while she sighed, "Your compassion is going to get you into trouble some day, I hope you know."
"Yes I know," Jekyll replied, placing a hand on her cheek and kissing her gently on the lips. She welcomed his affection, melting into his kiss.
Unbeknownst to them, Dorian stood in the doorway watching this unfold. He glared at the two, jealousy burning in his gaze. He turned sharply on his heel and strode away, grumbling idle threats and wondering why he felt so jealous… Perhaps he cared for Mina more than he thought.
The dismal alley was rank with the smell of garbage and excrement, mixed with the scent of rain that had been steadily falling for three days since Otto's encounter with the Lynnés. It was in this alley, in the very heart of the most disreputable part of London, that Skinner had said Mortie could be found. A stray cat looked up briefly from its freshly caught meal at the pair making their way down the rain washed alleyway – one seemed a bit more at ease in the current surroundings than the other.
Skinner sighed. "Ah, yes. The good 'ol days." He glanced back over his shoulder, rain spilling from the brim of his hat. "Lower your gun, Sawyer," he said. "The trash cans are not going to attack you, I'm sure."
Tom was about to respond to Skinner's remark when he caught movement in the shadows just behind Skinner. He brought his rifle up, but he had nothing to aim for. Whoever was lurking about did a good job at hiding themselves.
"What on Earth are you do… ah!" Skinner inhaled sharply as the point of a knife was pressed firmly between his shoulder blades.
"State your business," a voice snapped. Much to Tom's surprise, it was a female voice – deep and silky, yet commanding.
Skinner merely smirked. "Mortie, darlin', is that any way to treat a guest?"
The knife left Skinner's back. "Skinner? Is it really you?"
"In the flesh," Skinner replied, turning around, laying eyes on someone he had not seen since he left to join the League. Mortie laughed and embraced Skinner in a full-on bear hug. Meanwhile, Tom stood silent in the background. Mortie was a woman? Skinner soon remembered Tom standing there and wrenched out of Mortie's grasp. "Mortie, this is Tom Sawyer. He's a friend of mine. Sawyer, this is Mortianna Olin, Mortie for short."
Tom tipped his hat politely, sending a small waterfall cascading over the brim. Mortie nodded. Her appearance was shabby, to say the very least. Her dark leather duster was dirty and nearly worn through in some places, and her dampened raven corkscrew curls were in desperate need of a brushing. She turned back to Skinner, coming nearly eye-level with him. "All this time I thought you got yourself arrested," she said, her commanding tone replaced with one that sounded to be almost like affection. "What happened to you?"
Skinner smiled uneasily. "It's a long story, trust me. Right now, I need a favor."
Mortie raised an eyebrow, "Like…?"
"I need you to find someone."
A/N: I'll let you all make of Mortie what you will… Right, I'm going to bed now cause it's 1:40 in the morning and I can't type to save my life right now! Bye!