What We Do In The Shadows: "Jen..."
Summary: There are unexpected consequences when Laszlo seeks a new human familiar…
Part LIII…
An empty ballroom of the Gran Ciudal, Mexico City…About 3 am…
"Phyllis…" Guillermo sighs. "I can't believe you did this…"
"Well, I was overdue for a vacation and it was just a plane ticket and a hotel room." Sigh at his stare… "I'm sorry, Gui…Really. Though I was glad to find you had your own bed…" wan smile, brushing back of stray hair to bun. "But I did come clean…I knew I couldn't just keep following you around." Shrug. "Is your aunt ok?"
"She's near death but comfortable…I'll be seeing her today."
"Good…Look, Gui...Darling…" she sighs, hand on his arm as they stood by the ballroom wall. "You know I can't help worrying about you. I was really scared to death you'd been sent or even acted on your own to deal with something for the Overlords regards Van Helsing…Especially with that guy involved, the doc or whatever he is. And that dame you met last night."
"Friend of my aunt's, though I knew her from our place. She's the widow of the vampire who lived with us for a bit, the one I killed accidentally."
She blinks… "Gui…? Why did Sue let you meet her? Is she crazy?" angry tone. "Is the woman out to kill you?"
"No…Phyl, you see she didn't kill me." He shakes head. "She doesn't blame me, he was ill and probably dying."
Stare… "They can die?" she asks, slight broken tone. "I mean, beyond the stakes and sunlight stuff…?"
"Yeah…They can get sick and die, or at least be poisoned sick and die. At least that's what happened to him, I just kinda rushed the process…"
"Wow…" slow shake of head.
"Is she giving you details? Is that why you met her?" shrewd look.
Wait…What was that?
Widow? Of a vampire?
"Well…" Hmmn…Plausible…Guillermo considers…
"Sort of…But she really is my aunt's old friend."
"You're not trusting her…Gui." Stern look. "I know you've a trusting, sweet heart but she might be up to something, even maybe in league with Van Helsing." Shrug. "I know I'd have trouble if someone killed my Mistress, even by accident. She's actually his widow? Human widow?"
"I'm keeping tabs…And Sue is watching over me…"
"So, where is she?" Phyllis notes, a bit sourly. "Out like a light…Sorry." She eyes his slight frown. "I know she's trying, but the kid is clearly not up to the job. You need more protection…Boss." Smile.
Married…? Vamp and human? She eyes him…
If he does get turned, as he's been hopin', courtesy Master Nandor… He would need a devoted human wife to protect him…Beam.
"Well…Maybe…But I also think we need to look into this more. He was a prisoner of the Nazis, Barren Afanas, the husband…"
Husband…She thinks, still beaming…Uh… "Sorry. Yeah, I think you're right, Boss." Narrow look immediately…
"Sue would be good at that, if you're thinking research…She's great with the Internet and researching a title…"
"Everyone has seen Sue, Phyl…" Guillermo notes, rather pleased at his own shrewdness. "But I'm not sayin' you'd be stuck at a computer. I know you want to help protect me and all." Nod.
"Good…" she beams. "I would do anything you asked, Gui. But I really prefer to be where the action is."
"And no one else…So far…Knows you're here…" he notes, cocking head at her look.
Nodding…"I've done my best to keep under the radar. I told my son I'd be out of town for a few days on a big deal for the office but he shouldn't mention it…Top secret…If anybody calls from there or one of my clients…"
"Great…Then you should go on undercover here. Uh…Just be careful, you know, this city has pretty high crime."
"I can take care of myself, boss. Don't you fret…I got too much to live for…" smile.
Cut to picture from the other day, a large burly mugger, dying in alleyway as Phyllis frowns at him… "Son of a bitch, I got no time for this sort of thing, pal." Taking back her purse as he groans out his last…
"What are your orders?" she eyes Guillermo.
"Well…Just keep close, watch over Sue and me…But not too close…And don't try to get into Auntie's place while we're there. And see if you can research Barren Afanas and the Nazis, find out what they were doing…I think Hitler wanted a vamp army or something like that…Maybe you could find out what they did to him."
Couldn't hurt to know, I suppose…He thinks.
"And find out what his lady's game is now…" she suggests. "I mean she could be on the up-and-up but…Revenge, you know?"
"Well, don't confront her…Or Dr. Acura. Just let me know what you find out and try to keep close."
"Close as your underpants, babe…" she beams. "Ok, I can do that. And I'll be there like a blanket over you, from a distance, that is. Thanks, Boss…Gui." She suddenly kisses him. "Gui…I love you so." she pulls back, her face radiant. Slight waving of fingers at his startled jump…
"Uh…Phyl…"
"Just keepin' in the running, Boss." Smile. "Say? Should I check in here? I'm two blocks over…Why don't I move here… I can keep a low profile. Sue and the others won't ever know I'm here."
"Well, Sue should know…I wouldn't want you two to get into a fight her not knowing you're around…And finding someone watching us."
Oh…?
Well, that would've been one way to get rid of her…
Though I guess not while Gui could be in danger, he might need both of us…Especially till I find out what the old dame's game is…And this "doc" who seems kinda vampy but gets around fine by day.
And Gui would be hurt if I took her out…True. Inward sigh.
I can be big about it…I said I can share, if I must, and I can.
If I must…
"I guess, Boss. However you want it."
"Ok…" Guillermo nods. "But Phyl, make sure you keep receipts for this trip. I want you reimbursed. You shouldn't be spending your own money on this. That is an order." Firmly.
"Ok, Boss." Nod. "Thanks. So…I'll get a room here tomorrow?"
"If you think so…I guess so long as Sue knows, it's fine."
Yeah…A room here. Perfect for strategy conferences…Alone…She thinks, happily.
"I think I'd better let Ginny and Jen know you're here. I don't want them to worry." Guillermo ponders. "Don't worry, I'll tell them I asked you to come. They'll probably be glad I have extra help."
"Right, Boss…Thanks." Fond beam. "So…" Coy smile… "It might not be safe for me to go out this late, back to my hotel…Maybe, since you wanna tell Sue I'm here anyway, I could, just for tonight till I can check in…I mean…" she eyes him. "You ought to have an alert guard on hand…Poor Sue being so shattered. And you could bring me up to speed with what you know about the others."
Uh…Guillermo blinked.
"Great! Lets go!" She took his arm, pausing as he hesitates. "I won't press anything, Gui…Much as I'd really love to." Smile.
…
Present day, Zeller Properties…
"So Erika's gonna stop by the Meister place and settle things there, God willing…?" Ginny asked Jen who was packing up her materials to head for the Residence and her guard/cleaner shift.
"God willing…Just the final inspection and closing once Troy signs off on the work. And then, no more sessions for either of us alone with him." Jen sighs.
"That was my fault…" Ginny shakes head. "I'm really sorry, Jen…I was a terrible boss to let him treat you two like this."
"Gin. We both knew what we were getting into, mostly…" Jen shrugs. "It was a little heavy at times, for me at least…But I coulda said no."
"I wouldn't've backed you up, then…" Ginny, forelorn look. "I feel terrible…He got pretty bad, didn't he?"
"It's over now…No worries."
"Damn…We oughta cancel and sue the sob of a bitch. Put him in jail…"
Jen eyeing Ginny's angry look…
Whoa…Now Gin the feminist crusader…That I never expected to see…Though to be fair, I really believe if I'd complained or if it really got to rape…
"Gin…I didn't say no. Well, I kinda tried to back off, especially the last couple of times…"
"Did he actually…?"
"No. No, honestly. Not that bad…" Jen puts up hand at Ginny's stare. "And I think if he'd tried it, you'd've come through for me, even without the Mistress' influence. It's ok, Gin."
"What kind of example was I setting for my own girls, let alone Anne and the younger kids here?…Jesus…Ouch." Ginny, feeling slight burning on tongue.
"Careful…"
"Well, that's over…Thanks to my Mistress…" sigh. "But I am sorry, Jen. Really."
"I'm the one who should be sorry…" Jen shrugs. "I nearly ruined my marriage. If David had ever found out about some of the stuff I pulled. I mean…It was never serious… But…"
"You're sure he never…?" Ginny eyes her.
"I think so…Well…" sigh. "I know he tried to ignore the signs…I guess he put it down to flirtation…And mostly, it was…" anxious look. "I never meant to hurt him…I just crossed a line a few times…Too many…And I'm sure it was a disappointment to Master Laszlo..."
"I don't think it really bothered him. But, I guess it's all water under the bridge now…Thank you for bringing us to them, Jen." Ginny pats her arm. "You really saved our lives, even if we die this week."
Jen nods… "Gin? What happens though…If we live and they don't? Do we go back, as if nothing's changed…Them just dust in the wind? Forgotten? I hate the thought of it. We might even…Resent…Them. After all they've done for us…" forelorn…
"That's Humanity for you. Selfish ingrates, all of us. But I won't live if my Mistress dies." Ginny, firmly. "Speakin' of which, you'd better get along. Martha would do her best with Master Nandor's help but…"
"Yeah…And I want to read to the Master and Mistress. We're on to 'Great Expectations' now." Jen beams. Pausing… "I can't believe that about Phyl and Gui. He really did order her to Mexico to go under cover? Without telling anyone?"
"Our boss…A littler shrewder than we might've thought." Wan smile… "But I hope he's not taking any chances." Ginny notes, anxiously.
"Quite a chance with Sue and Phyl together, fightin' for a piece of him…" Jen grins. "I have to say, kudos to Phyl for taking on Sue. Romancewise, I mean, I'm sure they're keepin' their eye on the ball."
"I hope so…" Ginny frowns. "Say, I wish the Overlords could take Eloise. I dunno know how safe I feel with a werewolf running around the place there, unthralled."
"Master Laszlo and Nandor say it's ok. And the guys sprayed themselves with marker scent."
"Can she even fight? She's just human right now…" Ginny notes.
"She told me if it comes to a fight, hormones will pull her over. If I understand it right, the moon is up somewhere, on the other side of the world, so she can get around as a wolf, if stimulated enough."
"Well, we also don't want her howling her head off. The police have been to the place twice in the last few, thanks to Colin." Ginny frowned. "Last thing we need is either a dead cop mauled to bits and half-eaten, or a dead black relator and mother, gunned down by cops who thought she was a wolf for some strange reason… The press'd have a field day."
"She knows how to handle herself. She was great that night at the Estate." Jen shrugs. "I'll be off."
"Yeah…Lets hope so…Say, Jen?" Ginny, a bit casually. "Jackie won't make any trouble about it now so I want you to know. If anything should happen to me…? Well, I'm seeing to it…Partner. Well done and long overdue." Warm smile. "The legals are underway as of yesterday…"
"Gin?" wry smile… "You sticking me with this shitpile here?"
"Yeah. I can think of no one better to shovel it…" smile. "The girl who changed all our lives, forever…For the better."
"I'm honored…Really. And disgusted. You must be fleeing to Rio, with your boyfriend."
"If I could take them…All…And Rick…" Ginny, wistfully.
"Yeah…" Jen sighs. "Though you know, I'd bet Colin could do the paper on the passports and all. Gin?" frown, careful stare… "All this…? You're not thinking of trying anything? I know the Mistress told you not to kill any of us with Van Helsing inside but…"
"I thought of it…And Martha would do it in a heartbeat the second he took me. But the guys are right, we can't be sure if it would hurt Van Helsing, and losing me right now could screw the deal and would leave you minus one with experience. Honestly…" she shrugs. "I just want things settled here if anything should happen…Just thinking ahead, for our Overlords and you guys."
"Yeah…" wry grin. "Feminist and self-sacrificing heroine, nice."
"Maybe I always wanted to be both…I hope so." Ginny sighs. "It would be nice to think the Mistress just revealed a part of me I'd buried."
"You always put the place and your girls first, Gin. This isn't that different, really." Jen smiles. "But thanks for the faith in me…Much as I hope it won't be put to the test for a long, long time." Shakes Gin's hand firmly. "Well, gotta run. Hopefully mostly just reading and a bit of tidying up." She moves to the office door, opening…
"Tell Eloise thanks for helping out…" Ginny notes as Jen heads out… "See ya…!"
"So…That's settled." She eyes camera…Door closed by a crew member as Jen passes quickly out the office, goodbyeing a few on her way, including Colin who smiles up at her from his desk in cubicle.
"Well…I can't be sure what may lurk in the shadows, threatening my Mistress. But I have to take some action to protect her and our friends…And it's protecting my people and my girls, too." Ginny shrugs.
"Yeah, me the self-sacrificer…Not quite my past, but I hope it was always in me." She picks up phone.
"Hey…Simon. Ginny Zeller. So, are you still coming to see about this great place on the Island or no? Uh-huh… Great. What's best for you? Four? Perfect. See you then."
She hangs up, eyeing camera… "Well, I won't confront him…Exactly…Mistress' orders. But I am gonna find out what his game is here and if he has anything to do with Van Helsing." Pause… "Can I say…Something…To my Mistress? Just in case?" wan smile, nod.
"I love you, Mistress Nadja…If anything happened? Please take care of my girls and I'm sorry if you think I defied you. Oh, and please…I know it's unlikely Mr. Devious turned me, given my thrall and such…But if somehow I didn't manage to die fighting, would you please kill me, if you can? I really don't want to be his siree."
