What We Do In The Shadows: "Jen..."

Summary: There are unexpected consequences when Laszlo seeks a new human familiar…

Part LV…

Jen, at the Residence now, leaving her parked car, still pondering her strange behavior of a few moments ago…

"That was so weird. You say I just begged some of you to go to Ginny, in a British accent?" shakes head.

"Though, I do appreciate your guys heading over...Just in case. I'm sure she's not up to anything stupid, it just worried me, the way she was talking." presses new alarm code at rear door. "Hey, Martha, guys? It's me, Jen!" calls into new intercom installed with system.

"A little extra protection and a nice selling point..." she nods at alarm.

"Come on in, Jen." Martha's voice over intercom.

"Maybe it's some aftereffect of thrall? A past life thing, pokin' up…?" Jen ponders. "Well, I'll speak to the Master about it later...Don't think it involves Van Helsing though. Say, he'll be interested to hear Davey's explanation on the optics thing, huh? I mean it's sci-fi bullshit but still, it sounds rational…Let me set this stuff down..." she puts a gym bag down on a table just inside the little foyer to the kitchen she's entered and pulls out phone. "Give Ginny a call and tell her your folks are on the way...Getting more background on the minions." smile. "I really do appreciate it, guys, though I know it's part of your job...Hey, Anne! Put me through to Ginny, please?"

….

"My partner...Just a sec...It'll confirm I'm ok." Ginny apologized to Simon who nodded with gracious flourish.

"Jen? What's up? Oh? When? Uh-huh...Yeah. Well, I guess...I know they want complete coverage. Whatever they want, you know?" wan smile. "Yeah, I'm with a potential buyer right now. Yeah, the place in fact. He read it was on the market and came in. Can I give you the scoop a little later? Yeah...Give them my love, Jen. Bye."

Simon beaming at her as she hung up… "Another one of the little minions? And who's girl is 'Jen''s?"

"She's Master Laszlo's servant. The first in our group." Ginny eyes him. "The one who changed our lives forever..."

"Oh, how sweet. I must meet her one day. Jen, you say? And Laszlo's? Oh, she must be pretty, like you. But probably younger, eh?" Slightest flick of cool malice... "Oh, yes…" nod. "That lovely blonde girl...Now I remember her. Excellent choice, Laszlo. Lesley..." He turns to the seated, wan Lesley… "She's a beauty even you don't quite match up to…If she were dressed better. So…Was she relaying orders? No one coming by any chance? I wouldn't want things to get ugly before we even properly negotiate..." cold smile...

"Some of their camera crew are coming...I think you've seen them around...They're documenting your kind, by agreement. They need to do some filming here, regards us and our service. It's not an attack, they're just normal humans." Ginny eyes him carefully.

No, he's right…These two could probably get him to safety before I could smash a window open. No point in dying just yet…

"Oh…!" Simon, eagerly. "Those folks?! Yes…! I remember, just before my place burned down and I nearly burned to death and Laszlo stole my hat...Well, to be just...His hat back. Their own little documentary crew, protected by them… Could you believe it, it was so charmingly vain...I loved it! Lesley?! Victor?!" he turns to them… "Smiles! We're going to be on Candid Camera!" he turns back to Ginny. "How wonderful! Can I be interviewed? I love interviews, with nice people. Say, I could video my negotiation offer...We could exchange tapes. It'll be like one of those Bond films!" he gushes.

"Yes, lets have them! Wonderful! Lesley, be bright and bubbly, I want you to shine like the Broadway star you were, briefly. Victor? Well, just be you. Project that air of menace...Oh, Ginny, this is just so delightful! Say...Could I trouble you for a chair that swivels for me? I'd love to swivel to the camera… Guys…" turning to face his minions. " 'So...We meet again, Mr. Cravensworth...'." he intones. "Good, eh?"

….

"Hey…" Anne eyes Colin who'd carefully left his and Gwen's cubicle to come over to Martha's reception desk by Ginny's office…

Bald, beige, and creepy…She did not say…As he took a seat, smiling at her with his thin smile.

"Ginny asked me to come by, be available if she needs me with Mr. Devious. And to meet with her as soon as he leaves…"

She nods… "I'll let her know you're out here…"

"Well, you shouldn't interrupt them. I already spoke to her before I came over…She knows I'm here…Ready to help."

"Ok, good…" she nods. Slight glance about…

He's just gonna sit there? "Zeller Properties? Uh, hey Jen. I'll put you through…" glancing to see Colin quietly, thinly smiling at her.

"Ginny? Jen on line 2. And Mr. Robinson's here, if you need him. Ok…" Slight yawn…

Colin smiling…

Jen, in her cleaning clothes, jeans and old blouse, lugging a bag from Nandor's crypt…

"So…I spoke to Ginny. She's ok but I got the impression someone's with her and she didn't want to talk. Your guys should be there soon, right?" pause… "I just want to be sure someone in the know's got an eye on her this afternoon. But…Let me just call Anne again…See if she can tell me who's the client…It wouldn't be Mrs. Reynolds, she's at 3:30 here and Ginny said it was a guy. Of course, Erika should be there before she goes to the Meisters'…I'm just…"

"Want a Coke?" Eloise, in dark red T shirt and jeans, hair braided and bunned, offers, entering from the hall to the kitchen… "Hey, fellas. Quiet as a tomb here, huh?" smiles. Jen politely refusing, phone to ear… Eloise passing the extra Coke to a crew member...

"Anne? Hey, sorry, yeah…No, a question for you." Jen holds phone, Eloise eyeing her. "Who's in with Gin now? Oh…Oh…" slight gulp. "Ok…Did the camera crew or Erika get there yet? Ok. Yeah, Eloise and I may come by in a bit…Just to check on something for the sale here. Yeah, busy as Hell. Anne? Is Mr. Robinson in the office? Oh? Ok…Could you put him on? I just need to ask him a question…"

Eloise, alert now at Jen's look…

"Colin? It's Jen. Simon Devious is there, now? Who's with him? Ok…Ok…We're coming asap. What? No, it's too dangerous… Colin, I don't mean to argue with you but…"

Eloise tensing now…Jen waving to her to stand down…

"Colin, I don't care if Ginny and you are prepared. She should have told us, we should be there. We'll be there asap. Take care of her, Colin!" insistent. Closing phone…

"Ok…The Devious?" Eloise eyes her as she comes to her, Jen pondering a moment.

"She didn't say a word…Damn her! We could've been ready. All she's got is Colin there, with her."

"He's helping her…?" Eloise, frowning.

"He says they have a plan… Meaning he knew what was coming, the...I know he's almost one of our Overlords but...Damn him, too!"

"How many? Jen?!"

"One vamp, one thralled human…"

"Well…If he's there…" Eloise nods. "Not too bad, he should be able to drain three down, even the two vamps…But only two in support and one just human? Devious don't have a rep for courage."

"He could have more outside, waiting…" Jen notes. "Why was she so foolish?!"

"She probably wanted a crack at killing him without riskin' any more of you or your guys." Eloise shrugs. "Lets go…Jen?"

"It could be a trick to draw us away…We shouldn't leave them unguarded here…" Jen, wanly. "I don't know..."

"They got Martha and can take care of themselves pretty well. You wanna stay and I'll go? Or vice-versa? If we're going we'd best go…"

"I'll go speak to Laszlo…Wait just a minute." She hurries off, Eloise frowning.

"There's the thrall for you…Screws you up at times like these. I'd say go, if these guys can't handle anything that wuss Devious throws, they're Undead toast anyway, though I'll give it my best. Deal's a deal, after all. Well, somebody had better at least let Erika know what's she headin' into…" Pulls phone.

"What's going on?!" Martha had raced back after Jen hurried past her, a garbled, "It's ok…" from her in transit to her anxious queries.

"Hold on…" Eloise on phone puts up hand. "Erika? Listen…"

"Simon Devious at the office?" a weary but alert Laszlo…He having nearly broke the coffin lid in his start at Jen's and Nadja's anxious pounding.

Nadja, distraught…

"How could she do that? I told her to be cautious with him. She's defied me! That foolish, foolish girl!"

"I think she figured you'd not told her not to meet him alone, she could slip it by." Jen sighs.

"I am so annoyed with her! Laszlo! We have to save her!"

"Just a mo, dear…It's broad daylight outside…" Laszlo points out.

"Eloise and I can go…But…I hate to leave you alone here." Jen notes.

"Go! Now! Laszlo?! We'll come soon as we can…Oh…That stupid girl!" Nadja shakes head. "What about her poor daughters…? Laszlo, get something to cover me…Jennifer? Go!"

"Wait! Jennifer!" Laszlo, anxiously…With some sternness. Nadja glaring at him…

"They mustn't go rushing into what could be a trap Simon's set…"

"I think Ginny intends to trap him, Master. Colin said they have a plan. Though I'm worried they should have more backup."

"Colin Robinson? A plan?" Nadja sneers. "Lovely…He's probably sold us out to Simon…Still…" she eyes Jen.

"No, you wait Jen…Laszlo is right. You can't go right in, even with Eloise to help. Wait for us to get ready."

"Simon might just really want to buy the place…" Laszlo notes. "But even so…" he put up a hand to Nadja's frown. "We can't risk our Ginny…And her humans. Besides, if she attacks him…Even with Colin draining him…"

"Wrap me in the rug there, Jennifer!" Nadja orders, pointing to large imitation Persian rug on the floor.

"Wait, darling… You can't walk like that. Or bat. Jennifer?" Laszlo turns to his anxious minion…

"Master?"

"Tell Eloise to go in. But keep well away, reconnoiter the situation from a secure place outside, phone the office and speak to the clueless ones. Don't risk alerting Simon by calling Ginny again. The same for Erika…Do not engage at this time…Then have Nandor…"

"I have been informed, Laszlo Cravensworth…" Nandor, grandly, in robe, at the crypt entrance…Martha and Eloise by his side.

"And I approve your plan…If Miss Eloise is willing…?" he turns to her. She nodding. "Don't try to engage, as Laszlo says. The key to a battle is good intelligence. Find out all you can and stay in touch with Miss Jennifer. And tell Miss Erika to join you as well… We'll come as quickly as we can."

"Sounds good…But I'm up for a little roughhouse…" Eloise smiles. "Right on the edge of my hormones, so just give me the word when you're ready, guys."

"You are a brave soldier, Miss Eloise." Nandor bows slightly. "Take great care…We will be there shortly."

"Be careful El…" Jen urges, Eloise nodding.

"Thanks you, Miss Eloise…You are a kind woman!" Nadja calls…As Eloise hurries off.

"You shouldn't go…" Martha, plaintively to Nandor. "You'll be hurt, Master. And it's daylight...Let us go..."

"A coward dies the thousand deaths, the valiant…" Nandor, proudly. "'Julius Caesar'…More or less." Laszlo smiles.

"Why not?…I am Byzantine-Roman descendant. Fetch my armor, Martha…!"

"Will you two stop the posing and come?!" Nadja in heavy overcoat. "Jen, Martha?! Get umbrellas and bring the transport van close as you can to the door! Forget the friggin' armor, Martha and do it!"

"You can fetch the armor later, if time allows, Martha…" Nandor, agreeing, a bit reluctantly. She and Jen hurrying off...

"Of course it's still possible he just wants to buy the place…" Laszlo notes, hurrying to grab his greatcoat and hat.

Fedora…No way is he bringing his beloved witch skin…

...