Chapter Thirty-eight

Brendan was leaning against the ledge of his window, looking out at the world through thoughtful eyes when a knock came at his door. He glanced at it before striding over and opening the door. He'd expected the caller to be Jack but found Morph standing in his doorway instead.

"Trouble," Morph told him simply. "Wolverine."

"What about Wolverine?"

"He's . . . He's dying, Brendan."

Brendan's heart felt dead in his chest at those words, but he fought his panic down. "Where's Jack? Does he know?"

Morph nodded. "We're to meet him at the Sorceresses'."

Brendan did not speak another word. Instead, as Morph moved back, he raced from the room and leapt over the stairs.


Jack had been listening to the conversations and wondering how long it was going to take the Sorceresses. It seemed that two lives hung in the balance, and yet if they disturbed them, at least a third life would be endangered. He wanted to walk over and pound on the door, but he knew that they could not be disturbed.

He had been about to ask Vang a question when he heard a change in the air currents and looked up even as Brendan came barreling straight down and landed on his feet, mere inches from Prue. The startled look on Prue's face was amazing; Jack almost laughed to see it. He figured she'd throw her arms around Brendan, but instead she moved over closer to her sisters.

Piper put a reassuring hand on Prue's shoulder even as Brendan blushed and moved quickly to Jack. His eyes met his brother's, but he didn't speak.

The waiters looked around at each other in a deathly silence, each one hoping that the door would open. The silence was only broken by the two cubs rolling around, wrestling with each other, right under Zora's nose.


Will paused just inside the kitchen and took stock of the room. Chong was busily teaching Lorne and Cole, but Crystal sat silently to the side of the table, her eyes focused on the animals around her. He was surprised to find Donkey there.

Donkey grinned when he caught sight of his boy. "Hey! Look who's here!"

Crystal glanced up, and he was surprised to find her smiling. "I've been meaning to talk to you."

"You have?" It was only then that he remembered Donkey's attempt the previous day to get him to talk to her. "Why?"

Crystal reached out a hand and gently stroked Donkey's neck. "This fellow right here."

"Donkey?" Will asked in surprise.

"That's precisely the problem."

"What is?" He was growing more confused with each sentence out of the blonde's mouth.

Crystal's eyes met Will's. "He deserves a name."

"A name?"

"Yes."

"But he's a -- "

"He's your friend! He has a good mind and a good heart, and he deserves a name!"

Donkey's ears had been perked forward ever since Will had come in the room. He now gave him a pleading look even as his tail swished nervously. He hoped Will would give him a name.

Will looked from Crystal to Donkey. Always before, he'd only thought of Donkey as a donkey, but a talking donkey with a personality like his certainly was not any ordinary beast. "I guess you do have a point," he admitted, a slow smile creeping over his face. He moved closer and reached out to gently scratch the side of Donkey's face. "What about it, fella? You have any ideas?"

"No. I want you to name me, Will!" Donkey said, bobbing his head. "I don't wanna be any Prince Charming, but I'd like something special! I know you don't know anything right now, but would you at least think about it? Maybe we could work on it together?" He grinned up at him.

Will smiled as he continued scratching Donkey. "We will," he told him, but then a shadow fell across his face, stealing the smile from his lips and the light from his eyes. "But right now, we . . . " His eyes turned back to Crys. "We need your help."

"What's wrong, Will? Do ya need my help?" Donkey asked hopefully. He was always ready to do something to help his boy!

Crystal, too, looked at Will in concern. She didn't speak, however, as Donkey had voiced the same question that was on her mind.

"Wolverine and . . . the others who went after the food . . . They ran into something deadly."

Crystal's eyes shone with concern. There was something the boy wasn't comfortable admitting to them. "They're dying?" she asked softly.

Cole walked over and looked at Will. "I can take Crys there, but we need to know what's going on."

Lorne moved over to stand beside Crys, listening to see if there was anything that he could do.

Chong continued cooking but also kept an ear open. Then he stopped, the spoon slipping from his hand, and his head snapped up, his brown eyes widening, as he remembered that Kitty and Kurt had also gone. He was instantly torn. He wanted to be there for them, but he couldn't leave the food unguarded either.

"We're to meet Jack and the others at the Sorceresses' room," Will told them. "Everything will be explained there." He paused a moment, thinking, before adding, "Jareth's also in trouble."

Cole nodded gravely. "I feared as much. He's long overdue. I'll be there and do anything I can to help."

Will nodded and was just starting to lead the way from the kitchen when Chong called out to them. "If there's anybody who could take over on watching the food . . . "

Will nodded. "We'll find out." He wondered why the stranger was so concerned and did not yet remember him as being one of Kitty's men.

Lorne looked at him. "I won't be much use in the rescue attempt, but I can stay and watch the food," he volunteered. "I'd like to be with Crys, but if we can't get somebody else to watch the food, I'll do it."

Chong's worried eyes met the Demon's. "Thank you. I . . . I just want to be able to be there for my Captain."

Cole reached out a reassuring hand and touched Chong's shoulder. "You'll be there, my friend. We'll get them out of it." Turning back to the others, he spoke, "Let's go meet Jack." They followed Will to the meeting.


Morph stood, nervously eyeing the last door he had to knock on, before reaching out to it. He grimaced even as he knocked. Before he could be blasted, however, he called out, "There's a meeting."

Faith had been deep in thought when a knock had cut through her meditation. She reacted before thinking. "I'M BUSY!" The very second the words left her lips, she realized belatedly that she'd shouted them and looked nervously down at Dawson.

Dawson opened his eyes and yawned large enough that he could swallow Faith. He smiled at her. "Hi, beautiful. What's going on?"

"Nothing for you to worry about." She rose her voice so that Morph could hear her as she continued, "Just some damn shapeshifter who's ass I'm gonna kick!" She started to slip from the bed, but Morph's next words stilled her.

"Faith, it's Wolverine."

Her dark eyes shot toward the door. "What about Wolverine?"

"He's . . . He's in deep trouble."

Faith's brow creased as she considered the situation. There was something Morph wasn't telling her, but . . . Wolverine was in trouble? He never got into any trouble that he couldn't handle, so whatever it was must be really big.

"Jack's holding a meeting at the Sorceresses'."

Faith sighed. "I'll be there."

At her affirmation, Morph raced from the door.

Dawson sat up on the side of the bed before realizing he was naked. "Where's my pants, Faith?"

"Bathroom floor," she told him as she strode over to the fireplace. "You can stay here, kid."

"Why? He's part of my family! I'm worried about him! I wanna help! Why don't you want me to come?"

His reaction surprised her, but she shrugged it off as she pulled her pants on. "Didn't figure ya'd be up to it."

"I feel stronger now than I did before. Thank you for saving me. I thought I was going to drown. I promise not to fall out on you again. I can't help it, Faith, if I'm not as strong as you are."

She glanced over her shoulder to where he sat on the bed. "Nobody expects ya to be."

"Doesn't mean I don't want to stand by your side and do my best to fight whatever comes our way." He got up and walked across to the bathroom, but his pants were still soaking wet. He knew if he put them on he might catch his death of pneumonia. Remembering the closet in the bedroom, he walked back over and looked into it. He pulled out another pair of pants and shirt and put them on. He kept glancing at Faith, because she wasn't talking but just standing there and looking at him. He was encouraged, however, because she didn't leave the room.

Faith watched him as he got dressed, then reminded him, "Don't forget your sword."

For a moment, he did not remember where the sword was and then figured it might be in the bathroom. He walked back into the bathroom for a minute and then returned, carrying the sword. He was relieved it had been still in its scabbard and belt lying by his clothes as he was afraid he had lost it. He knew Faith would never have forgiven him if he had. He did not feel comfortable carrying it but instead held it back out to her, realizing that he had not seen her with any other weapon.

She looked at him in surprise. "You need that more than I do."

"Why? If we're attacked, I don't know how to use it. You haven't taught me yet. I'd only get us killed. It's better you have it."

She raised a single brow. "What's gonna protect you if you get lost?"

"I don't plan on getting lost, Faith. I plan to stick very close to you." He smiled at her and continued to hold the sword out to her.

"All right," she said, at last accepting it and putting the belt on. Looking at Dawson again, she added sternly, "But you'd better glue yourself to my ass when we go out there, not to Jack's. He's gonna be too busy protecting Will's."

"Faith," Dawson looked at her nervously, "I still don't understand why you're so resentful of Jack. You're the one I want. You're the one I trust the most. You're the one I love," he said simply.

She hadn't known how to react to him until he spoke the last sentence, the one she'd both hoped and dreaded to hear coming from his lips again. "Don't . . . Don't say that," she told him. "Ya only think ya do. I'm just your first, Dawson; that's why you're confused."

"I'm not confused, Faith. You're my first and my last and the only one I want. I know I'm not real good about showing it. I've never had any one before I could count on, not even my Mother, and you know about my Father already. Heck, you took care of him. I was glad I wasn't there. I don't know how my Mother would have taken it, but I think she would have been relieved. He beat the crap out of her all the time until she finally ran away. I don't blame her; I just wish she'd have taken me with her. So, you see, I don't know anything about love, but I can't call the feeling in my heart for you anything else. I feel all warm and fuzzy when you're near. It feels good to be close with you even if we aren't doing anything, and when we're doing something, it's like being in Heaven or flying too close to the sun. You simply take my breath away, but you make me feel alive for the first time in my life."

His words blew her away and brought tears to her eyes that she wouldn't admit to. She reached out a hand, cupped his cheek, and softly drew her thumb across it. "Dawson, I . . . " She what? She loved him? She wanted to let him get close to her, to hurt her? She shook her head slightly. "Jack needs us; we'd better go."

Dawson nodded and headed for the door. Once there, he opened it and waited for her to come. "I know you don't love me now, Faith, but just to be close to you is worth the wait. I hope you will one day."

"Dawson," she spoke quietly as she reached him, "you're more than just a fuck buddy to me. I was just . . . I tried to make myself think that so it wouldn't . . . so it wouldn't hurt as bad. But I don't . . . I'm just not sure I'm ready for that yet."

"That's okay," Dawson told her, "but we are friends and family, and that's very important." He reached out, hugged her, and then closed the door behind them.

Friends. Family. Both were words that had come to mean a lot to her, but neither was what she wanted them to be. She shook her head. What did she expect, though? He'd just revealed his deepest feelings to and for her, and she couldn't even tell him that he was the most important being in the world to her, that he meant more to her than she'd ever thought anybody would ever be able to? Just leave it be, she told herself, shaking her head again and heading down the stairs.


Jack paced the floor. If they didn't soon come out of there, he knew he was gonna scream. The tension was killing him! He was just about to stop and ask Vang again what they could do to get in there when he heard the door open and turned eagerly toward it.

James Hook walked out of the room, his eyes downcast and the tiredness showing on his face. He felt like he had walked across the desert without water. He glanced around at all the waiting people and knew that it had nothing to do with Frederic.

Zora growled and shoved her way past him to get to Connor, but Salem answered him in a grave voice. "Jareth," he told him, "and some others are in trouble."

Hook's hand went immediately to his sword. "I am ready to do whatever needs to be done. We must go to his rescue."

The door opened wider, and Smee walked out, catching up to James. Seeing the look on James' face, he knew there was more trouble. He didn't know what it was, but whatever it was, he'd stand by his love's side through it all. He waited, looking expectantly at James.

"Jareth's in trouble," James told him. "Don't know what kind yet."

Jack walked into the room. "Katrina," he called, "we've got more problems." He glanced toward the bed in the center of the room where Frederic, now untied, seemed to be asleep. "Is he . . . ?"

"Sleeping," Katrina assured him. "It will be a while before he wakes up. What kind of trouble?" She reached out and touched Jack's arm reassuringly. "We can take care of it."

"But you're exhausted and need to rest," Jack told her.

Celina's blue eyes turned thoughtfully to Jack. She could feel the pain radiating from him and knew that only three beings could bring that much heartache. A quick scan of the hall outside affirmed that both Brendan and Will were well. "It's Wolverine, isn't it?" she asked quietly.

Jack nodded. "The people that went to collect food got into some kind of deadly disease. We don't know what caused it. Kitty swears that they're contagious and that they're dieing."

Tom spoke up from where he stood just behind Jack. "It came from some kind of flowers they found, and they swear they won't be coming home."

"Then we'll have to go to them," Katrina told Jack. "We have to at least try."

"Only a few of us can go," Jack told the people who were listening. "I won't allow it. I'm the Captain even if I don't have a ship right now. I know you all want to go, but if we all catch it and we all die, then there'll be no one to take care of Sarah and Julian. We've also got other problems. I'm not sure exactly what's happening, but I believe the Halliwells have some information they need to share."

Prue stepped forward. "Delvira, your Goblins have gone nuts. Not too long ago, they attacked Carl in one of his tunnels and then attacked me as well! We have them tied up in my room. Carl is with them."

Delvira had thought that all her Goblins had followed Xena but was not that much surprised to find that a few had dared to disobey her orders and managed to sneak away from the Piratess. "How many were there?"

"There were six of them, and then there was the one that looked like a Scarf. It almost bit Phoebe!"

Phoebe stepped forward. "I reached out and grabbed it, and then I had this awful vision!"

Delvira's face had already gone an even paler shade of white, and she sat down on the bed beside Frederic, not even taking notice of the boy.

"Delvira?" Ororo asked in concern, her attention being taken away from Logan and her goddaughters for just a brief moment.

"Those," she announced in a quiet voice, "should have been with Jareth."

"I saw Jareth in my vision!" Phoebe told her. "He was beaten and chained, and his clothes were rags!" Her voice had grown high. "I don't know where he was, but he was a prisoner!" She dared to reach out and touch Delvira's arm. "But, at least, he's alive!" she reassured her.

Delvira's mind was thinking swiftly. If the Goblins had reached the house, that must mean that Jareth's duty was over. They already knew there to be dinosaurs on the island. Could there be something else? There had to be, she thought. Neither dinosaurs nor whatever bit he'd been sent after could capture her husband, nor would they have the brains to chain him.

She reached out, took Phoebe's hand, and squeezed it gently. "Thank you for telling me, Phoebe." She removed the girl's hand and stood. "I'll find him, but first, Prue, I'll take care of those Goblins."

"Before you go, Delvira," Jack told her, "I know that you've got it in your heart to go after Jareth on your own, but we don't know what we're facing out there. I would rather you take a team with you."

James was quick to stand by Delvira. "My dear lady, you know he's like a brother to us. We wish to go with you." He hoped she would not tell them no, because even if she did tell them, they'd follow her.

"James, I know Jareth means a great deal to you, but you don't need to feel obligated . . . "

A calm but determined voice broke Delvira off as Salem strode through Jack's legs and into the room. "Jareth is a good man, and whereas the others may not know him that well, we do. Time has not changed the way we feel about him, Delvira. He is one of us, one of our family, and we will go with you after him not because we feel obligated to do so but because we want to be there for our own."

Delvira's black lips turned up into a slow smile. "Thank you," she spoke quietly.

James patted her on the hand. "You take care of the Goblins in Prue's room, and we'll get some supplies together. We'll be ready when you come back down."

Delvira nodded. "We don't know what has taken him prisoner, so know that you do not know what you will be walking into. However, if you wish to come . . . not because you feel obligated to but because you want to . . . you may."

James smiled at her. "Thank you for letting us come. I do not feel obligated to my brother, but I do love him. My sword is at his disposal."

Zora growled from where she sat, still in tiger form, next to Connor. If Connor's father was going, she figured he was too and, thus, so was she.

Connor reached out and stroked Zora between the ears. "Thanks for being there for me. I think Frederic's gonna be okay once he wakes up. Somebody's gotta stay with him. I want to suggest that Smee stay, but I can't. If I do, it might hurt his feelings. I'll let Dad handle that. Are you gonna stay in tiger form all day?"

She cocked her head to one side as she looked at him. Was he complaining? She wasn't sure, but as she moved out from under his hand, she turned her head and licked his fingers.

"Zora, I like your tiger form, but I like your girl form even better," Connor whispered to her. Though he didn't admit it, he liked the feel of her tongue on his fingers.

She was swiftly demorphing even as he whispered to her. Standing in her leather-clad human form again, she announced, "We're gonna need a cubsitter." Then remembering Wolfie, she added, "And somebody to watch a cat who ain't sure what the Hell he is."

"Let me talk to Dad. See if he'll get Smee to stay behind. I'll be right back."

Zora nodded. "Sebastian needs to keep his crab butt here too."

Connor slipped over to stand beside James. "Dad, I need to talk to you a minute."

"Sure, Connor," James said. He smiled at Samuel. "Be right back."

As soon as they got out of earshot of Samuel, Connor asked, "Dad, don't you think Smee should stay here? It could get very dangerous out there. Some one needs to watch Frederic. You could make it sound real important to him. I know he wants to come, but what would happen if something happened to him?"

"I had thought about that, Connor," James was quick to reassure him. "I just couldn't think how to get him to stay behind."

"Well, be truthful and tell him some one needs to stay with Frederic. Tell him that some one also needs to watch the cubs and my new cat."

"You have a cat?" James asked in surprise.

"Actually, the cat adopted me, Dad. Strange cat."

"How so?" James queried.

"Thinks he's a dog. His name's Wolfie, and he barks instead of meowing."

"You mean that little brown and white cat that thinks he's as big as the cubs?"

"Yes, sir."

"I saw him out there playing with the cubs, and he looked like he was the boss."

"Well, somebody needs to watch them. That way, if you give that job to Smee, he'll think twice about going out there although I know he's gonna give you a hard time as he will want to be with you."

"I'll get him to stay," James told Connor. "Don't worry about it." He winked at his son.


Jack was walking back and forth between the room and the hallway, looking at the others. "I know all of you want to volunteer, but like I said before, we can't all go. I'm going to take the Sorceresses and Crys with me. That will cut down on the amount of people being contaminated."

Several mouths started to fly open, but Jack's look silenced them. Ororo had been one of those, and she had also noticed Tom among their number. She had heard that he was a telepath and proceeded to attempt to catch his eye. When she finally did, she tapped the side of her head and was rewarded with his voice within her mind.

Yes, madam?

Tom, I know you and Morph do not wish to be left behind. Katrina and Celina are your wives, after all. I love my girls, but I refuse to not be there for Wolverine when he needs me. Brendan and Will also have a right to be . . .

He cut her off hopefully. What are you thinking?

If we reach there first, we can find out just how bad the situation is before Captain Sparrow ever arrives.

Direct disobedience . . .

Family comes first, she replied. Do you not agree?

Hey, I already got into trouble with Jack for doing something like that . . . She'd thought he was about to rebuff her idea when he told her, I'm there, and I'll let the others know. It was then that he noticed Xena, Sean, Wolf, and Elvira coming onto the scene. And Xena.

Xena? Why . . .

Her beloved is Gabrielle.

Then, yes, include her.

They parted minds, both appearing completely innocent.

Jack looked around the room. They were much too quiet. Something was going on, but his mind was disturbed from that thought when he saw Xena arriving. In a straight line behind her walked the Goblins he had seen her with earlier in the day. As soon as they were in the room, they ran straight for Delvira. They gathered around and set down like little stones around her feet.

Delvira looked down at the Goblins, then up at Xena. She was impressed and would have normally smiled. "Good work."

"They were quite a handful," Xena told her. "After almost drowning today, I took a nap. I woke up, and they were all gathered around me, sitting quiet as little statues, staring at me. The little buggers give me the creeps, but otherwise they've been very . . . behaved. I have no idea where the Fieries have gone."

"Probably partying," Delvira replied. "I'll take care of them later."

"Don't know how you put up with them all the time. I just don't like people staring at me, no matter how big or small they are."

"Just be glad they didn't decide to latch themselves to your boots."

"Don't you dare," Xena commanded through gritted teeth as she looked at them.

The Goblins didn't move but continued to hover at their Queen's feet. One of the little fellows looked up at Delvira. "Jareth?" he asked hopefully.

Surprise flickered in her black eyes as she returned the Goblin's gaze. Could they actually care? "We're going to get him shortly," she told them. "You are to stay here."

"King need us. We wanna go. We can fight. We not like those no-good Fieries. All they do is play. We hard workers." He looked hopefully up at her. If the King was in trouble, they would all do what they could to help.

"I'll . . . think about it. Now be quiet."

He immediately hunkered back down and grew very quiet.

"We'll be waiting for you," Salem told Delvira, "ready to go when you return from upstairs."

"Why's every one gathered up?" Xena asked.

"More trouble," Jack informed her. "The group that went after the food is in big trouble. They've come across something that's given them a disease. They say they're highly contagious and are dying. I want you to come with me."

Gabrielle? Gods! She had best be all right, or Xena would be calling Aphrodite! Xena nodded. "Ready when you are."

That was one step too far for both Brendan and Will. Tom had managed to reach Brendan's mind in time but had not yet talked to Will. The boy now stepped up to Jack, and Tom stopped himself from reaching out to him just in time. "Jack, I'm going."

"Will, you're not going. In fact, I want to leave you in charge."

Will shook his head. "Jack, I have just as much right to go as Xena does. I love you, and the only other person I care deeply about is also there."

"Will, I don't want you to get out there and get that disease. I don't want to think about losing you. I'm not planning on dying. You know Jack Sparrow. I've gotta live to Pirate another day," he said almost jokingly, "but I want you to be safe."

"Jack, if you're not safe, I'm not safe," Will attempted to reason with him. "I love you, and without you, there's nothing left for me in this world. Now I'm going, with or without your permission."

Jack laughed. "It's a wonder I can Captain anybody, Will! It's a hard thing being over your family when not a single one of them will do what you tell them to do! Okay. You can come, but you can't get close to them. I want you to give me your word you won't go rushing up to them."

Will thought a moment, knowing he had to make his promise as carefully as possible. After all, knowing Jack's way of thinking, if he were to contract the disease, he'd become one of "them". "I'll promise you this, Jack. I'll stand beside you -- no closer or further."

Jack had to think about it. He knew Will was pulling the wool over his eyes somehow, and he wasn't too quick to agree with him. "If I tell you to stay put and go ahead without you, will you stay put?"

"No."

"Figured as much! There just ain't any winning with you, and I know you're in on it too!" He looked at Brendan. "If I don't take you with me, you'll follow me!"

Though Brendan was already in on Ororo and Tom's plan, he knew that if he did not play the role he would have otherwise, he would give them away. "Jack," he told him, "Will's got a point. Hear me out just a minute, okay? You know I put everybody's lives in danger, and that's just because of what's inside of me. If I go with you now, the only change is that I'm in danger too."

"Who's going with Delvira's group?" Jack called out.

"I'm going," Faith spoke up, her eyes on Jack, "but if I get back and your Pirate ass ain't here, I'm coming after ya."

"Be careful out there, Faith. I don't want anything to happen to your Pirate ass either," he told her. "Don't take any chances out there. There's no telling what you'll encounter. Remember there's dinosaurs out there somewhere."

Of all the people the others may have expected to speak up, the one that spoke up next was nowhere on that list. "I'm going." Ororo and the three Halliwells turned in shock to look at Phoebe.

"Phoebe?"

"I have to. I had the vision for a reason, and I want to follow it through."

Piper nodded in understanding and hugged her sister gently. "Then count me in too."

Jack looked at 'Ro. "You don't have to tell me. I know you're going, but which way are you going? Are you sneaking in behind me, or are you going with Delvira?"

"I'll take care of my family, Jack."

Jack shook his head. "That's not an answer, 'Ro. Even I'm smart enough to know you're not telling me where you're going."

"I need to discuss the situation with Prue first, Jack," Ororo replied calmly, "as she is the oldest of her sisters."

That was enough. Jack knew what she was up to. He didn't say anything as he knew it wouldn't do any good. Hard-headed woman! he thought. He knew that little talk with Prue would be to put her in charge of taking care of her sisters in case she didn't make it back. Just like dear old Dad! What thick skulls! There would be no reasoning with her.

"Get it over with. I'd rather see you than have you sneaking in behind me," he told her, "and I suppose that means you two as well are going to be sneaking?" he asked, turning to look at Tom and Morph but finding them nowhere to be seen.

"Jack," Ororo informed him, careful to keep her voice calm, "you may be my Captain and the son of my lover, but what I talk to my girls about is between them and I. I have no intention whatsoever of sneaking in behind you. You are, after all, the Captain, and I know when and how to follow orders."

He nodded in acceptance, confident that he'd taken care of the matter and wondering where Tom and Morph had gotten to. At least some of his people would follow orders even if he couldn't get Will and Brendan to do what he told them to do.

Ororo turned her attention to Prue. "Prue, I need to talk to you, and I believe Delvira has a matter to take care of in your room?"

"Yes, ma'am," Prue said and led the way to her room.

The Goblins were still tied up, and Carl called a greeting. "Still out cold," he told Prue.

Delvira walked past Prue and headed straight for the Goblins. "All right, you flea-bitten idiots, open your eyes!" When they did not respond, she knelt and began untying them. She ignored Carl's questions as she yanked one up and shook it. "Wake your butt up." Still, the Goblin didn't stir as he'd been knocked so thoroughly unconscious by Prue. "Very well," Delvira announced. "You leave me no choice." She squeezed him until he screamed, waking the others.

Ororo was watching the Queen with intent eyes. "Prue," she reached out, placing a gentle hand on her goddaughter's elbow, "will you step with me outside for a moment? I'm sure Delvira can handle this perfectly well."

Without a word, Prue went out the door. She didn't want to watch whatever the Queen was going to do to them. She now felt sorry for the poor little buggers.

Carl beat both of them outside. He kept running all the way down the stairs till he got to where Paige was and hid his face in her skirts, trembling. He wasn't sure what the Queen was doing to them, but he knew it was messy and had seen some kind of green liquid oozing out of the Goblin she'd squeezed.

Salem took one look at the Gnome and shook his head. "She must deal with her subjects like Jareth used to deal with our captives."

"What did he do?" Faith asked.

Salem looked from her to the others around them. "I'll tell you later." The room breathed a collective sigh of relief.


Ororo made certain that no one else was in the hall before turning her full attention to Prue. "I noticed Phoebe's come into her powers?"

"We all kinda did," Prue told her. "I . . . opened the Book, trying to find a spell to help Piper and Brendan. I haven't found anything for Brendan yet, but Piper can see again."

Ororo smiled gently, though her heart was not in the notion. "I thought as much," she told Prue. "Prue, it's exactly that kind of thinking that your sisters will need from their leader -- the ability to make decisions not based on orders but whether on one's own heart."

"You sound as if you're going away, Auntie 'Ro? You are going to disobey the Captain's orders, aren't you? You're going where Wolverine is!"

Ororo cupped Prue's face in gentle hands. "I am, my child, but I know things that the Captain does not. I have every intention of returning to you, but I know that you will be going with Delvira. Listen to her, Prue, but make the decisions for your sisters and yourself."

"If they'll listen to me. Most of the time, they don't. I don't think that Paige and Piper should go. I could go with Phoebe, but if I tell them that, they're only going to argue and go any way."

Ororo nodded. "If you go, you need to go together for your greatest strengths lay within one another. However, for anything else . . . You could enlist Cole's help."

"That's true, and he is a very smart man. He won't let Piper do anything foolish." She hugged 'Ro. "Take care, Auntie 'Ro. I don't want to lose you."

"Nor I you, my child, but I must be there for Wolverine when he needs me, as well, and I can not be in both places. Should I . . . Should I not return, there is some one I want you to contact for me. There may be a spell in the Book for reaching him, but if that does not work, Delvira can probably do so. Be sure, when you contact him, to tell him that I sent you. He will be able to save us if the others can not."

"Who is he, Aunt 'Ro?"

"Professor Charles Xavier."

"Sounds important. Who is he?"

"A dear, old friend," 'Ro told her, "who will be there for me or for you and your sisters when he is truly needed. He's also one of the Council members."

"The Council members? The ones that condemned Salem?"

"They rule by majority's vote, my dear, and I am certain that Charles did not vote against them. He's not like that, but he does have only the one vote."

"I promise to try my best to contact him, but, Auntie 'Ro, you have to come back! We can't lose you too!" Prue clung to her.

Ororo hugged Prue and pressed a gentle kiss on the top of her head. "I will, Prue. I promise you that, and in fact, that's the very reason why I am telling you about Charles."

"You think Charles has a cure for the disease?"

She nodded. She'd only been with the man once, but she still completely believed in him. It was then that Prue's door opened, and she looked up to see Delvira wiping her hands off with an odd expression on her face. "Delvira," she called, "do you know Charles Xavier?"

"I do." She eyed Ororo, wondering why she'd have need of the old, bald bastard.

"If Prue should ask you to, could you help her contact him for those who are going for . . . "

Delvira shook her head. "You don't need to say anything more right now, Ororo. I will want to know why you want Charles later, but for now . . . I understand. You need to be with Wolverine just as I need to be with Jareth."

Ororo stroked Prue's hair. "Prue?"

"Yes, ma'am?" Prue asked.

"We need to go our separate ways for now, my dear, but I promise you I will return and I will keep an eye on Brendan for you."

"Thank you. I know he's going. Even if he'd had to have snuck behind Jack, he would have went."

"Of course he would have, my child, for Jack and Wolverine mean as much to him as your sisters and I do to you."

"Take care of him. Don't let him take any foolish chances. I wanted to tell him not to, but I couldn't get him alone."

"My dear, should he attempt anything foolish," Ororo assured her, looking down into Prue's face with a gentle, reassuring smile, "I'll have his little wolf rear snapped up into my winds and away from the danger before he can even blink."

She hugged her aunt one last time. "He doesn't want me near him right now, and I won't push him. Thank you for taking care of him for me."

"Thank you," Ororo replied, "for understanding and . . . taking care of the rest of our family for me."

Prue released her and headed down the stairs, not glancing back to her room a single time. She hoped it would not be messy in there when she returned.

Ororo looked back to Delvira. "The Goblins . . . ?"

"Burned to a crisp."

'Ro bit back her shudder. "Delvira, would you . . . ?"

"I'll protect them for you." The women parted ways, Ororo going to meet with Tom and Morph and Delvira heading back to her room and those who awaited therein.


When Delvira returned to her room, she found a rather large group of people waiting for her. She was careful not to let her surprise show and certain to keep from allowing herself to think that they might actually all care about her husband. Instead, she turned her attention to James and found a man standing beside him and holding Salem in his arms. She quirked a brow in question. "One of yours?" she asked the black cat.

Salem nodded, and his tail swished in the air. "Delvira, meet Sean Cassidy, another of my," he coughed, "good men."

Sean made a slight bow at the waist. "Pleased tae meet ye, ma'am. I'm lookin' forward tae rescuin' me ol' pal, Jareth." He winked at her when he stood back up.

She smiled even as she wondered what it was she sensed about him. It was something akin to the Goblins and Gnome yet also very different. "Thank you, Mister Cassidy. I've dealt with the Goblins in Prue's room." She glanced at the girl. "They won't be bothering any one again."

She frowned slightly. "But that reminds me . . . " Her black eyes peered down at the Goblins milling about the floor. "You," she pointed to one with a long, black fingernail. "You're the one who spoke up before, aren't you? The one who appears to at least have a bit of a brain on your tiny shoulders?"

The Goblin approached cautiously. "Yes, missus." He bowed down instantly on the floor, hoping she wasn't about to smite him with one of those nasty fireballs.

She was thankful he didn't attempt to kiss her feet. "We need a new scarf and new idiots for the bit's closet. You pick them and have me an answer by the time I return."

"An answer, missus?" He did not raise his face.

"The new ones to take the place of the old ones. That, or I'll just barbecue you and pick another."

"Yes, missus!" He trembled all over and still did not raise his face. "Teak will have you a group picked when you return! Missus going after Master?"

"Shortly," Delvira replied and then promptly dismissed him. Looking back up to the men, she found Salem watching her with a smile.

At Delvira's questioning look, the cat replied, "I like the way you handle them. Reminds me of me."

Faith grinned. "I'm beginning to think all bitches remind you of you."

Salem chuckled, and the tip of his tail twitched.

"Missus," Teak called her name again, "can Teak go?"

"I told you," Delvira reminded him, "I'd think about it. Now be a good Goblin and shut up." Returning her attention again to Salem and the two-leggers, she announced, "The Goblins were no help in finding out what happened, so I'm going to need to do a locating spell before we can depart. May I use your room, James?"

"Of course, Delvira. May I be of any other assistance?"

She nodded. "Find out exactly who wants to go and keep an eye on the Goblins for me. If they give you any trouble, just gut them."

Faith's grin grew. This woman was right up her alley!

"Will do," James told her and watched as she left the room.


Angel watched the backs of Jack's group as they left to rescue the food gatherers. He had wanted to go, but Jack had not even asked him to, just told him that he was in charge of those at the house. The first thing on Angel's mind was to send new guards out. He needed something to work his anger out on and decided to take the next watch himself. He called to Cordelia, "Guard duty."

Cordy had already been watching him with concerned eyes. She knew he wanted to go with Jack and Crystal but that Jack hadn't given him a choice. Maybe now he'd begin to realize that not all of Jack's decisions were fair? She knew the Captain didn't want to endanger the others, but she also knew that several of them had just as much right to go as he did for their family members were in as much danger as his. She didn't let any of those thoughts show, however, as she smiled to him. "I can come with you."

Angel glanced around, hoping to spot some one who could go on guard duty. Knowing that Lorne would be just as pissed as he was about not getting to go and had his hands too full to return to the kitchen with all four animals he'd been left in charge of without causing more trouble for Chong, he called to him. "I need you to take Crys' babes," he could see Donkey staring at him and added, "and Donkey and do the next four hours' guard duty. Cordy and I are going to take the other watch. See anything, sound the alarm. It gets too close, let Blue blow them away."

Blue cooed at that, asking if he could do whatever was necessary to handle the situation.

"Whatever is necessary," Angel assured him. "And Donkey?" Donkey's full attention turned on him. "You must be quiet as a mouse!" Angel whispered to him. "Can you do that?"

Donkey's mouth started to fly open, but Elvira placed a gentle paw on it. She looked back up at Angel and whined gently to him, assuring him that Donkey could.

"Don't take unnecessary chances. I'll send some one to relieve you when our time is up."

To Be Continued . . .