DAR - THREE DAYS LATER

We're getting ready to go down and question the prisoner. We were going to do it yesterday, but Kerch and Mara arrived yesterday to see the new baby and it got shoved aside. Actually a lot of things have been shoved aside lately now that I think on it. Between making sure Tommy doesn't develop further complications thanks to his reopened wounds and fresh injuries, keeping Zedd from going on a murderous rampage to make certain no one dares think to come after his mate or children again, and convincing Mara Jane that she and her brother are safe, it's been a very trying few days. So trying in fact that with Kira and Pina tending to Tommy, and Zedd taking Mara Jane to meet his parents when they arrived, I'd almost forgotten to feed Jacob, we all got so sidetracked.

Returning my focus on our current situation, I still rather dislike the fact this has become a full on group activity. Not only did Tommy refuse to remain in bed and rest, which he clearly still needs to do by his struggle to walk, Kira also has joined our party. Tommy and Zedd tried to discourage Kira from going with, but she 'objected' - quite loudly. Kerch and Mara are going to stay with the children thankfully as I don't think I could handle their inclusion as well.

We're silent as we enter the cell, Zedd helping Tommy. He's still not fully recovered, but he's as determined as the rest of us to find out what's going on and despite my concern for him I do have to give him credit for his stubbornness. Zedd settles Tommy on a stool before turning to the figure chained against the wall. "Who sent you?"

Not replying, the captive clearly doesn't speak Eltarian as he simply looks confused. Sighing, I try the same question in another language. And another. Finally, he responds, but I don't know the language. Tommy speaks up, repeating the question I guess, in the same language. This time the prisoner answers. Tommy says, "He doesn't know the name. He was brought in by the leader of the attack force."

"Why?"

Tommy asks him, but he doesn't answer. Tommy asks something else and he shakes his head. Tommy smirks a little. "Zedd, show him who you are."

In a moment, Zedd has summoned his staff and transformed. The captive pales and gasps. Either he didn't know or he didn't believe that he was being sent into Lord Zedd's home. He starts speaking quickly, panic in every syllable. If he's telling Tommy everything, it's almost disappointing that we don't get to torture him for information, but he'll still pay for what he's done. Finally, he stops talking and gives Zedd a pleading look.

"What did he say, love?"

Tommy is stone faced as he answers. "The mission was to kill me and take the children. They were to be delivered to the person who commissioned the job. He doesn't know who it was, but he knows that a woman is involved, either as an agent or possibly as the one who contracted the job."

"If he can give us enough information to find the responsible party, he will be allowed to live" Zedd says. Of course, there's no promise of what kind of life it will be…

Tommy relays the message. The prisoner considers the proposal and speaks, more slowly this time. Suddenly, Tommy pales, standing quickly and sounding agitated as he replies back. Another exchange between them, this time with him sounding angry. The prisoner gestures as well as he can given the length of his chains as he continues speaking. "Fuck!"

"What is it, Thomas?"

For the first time in a long time, the former human seems to be unable to speak. He says one more thing to the captive and turns for the door, one arm wrapped around his midsection. We all follow him, each of us shooting a nasty look at him before we leave. Once we're completely out of the dungeon and earshot, Zedd drops the facade and pulls Tommy into his arms. Quietly, Tommy speaks, malice thick in his voice. "I'm going to kill her."

"Who?"

Tommy swallows hard. "Essa. She's involved somehow. She was definitely the leader's contact, bare minimum."

Pina snarls, "That's if she didn't arrange the whole thing for herself for some reason."

"But why?" Kira asks, puzzled and angry. "What would she gain?"

"Zedd" Tommy says flatly. "With me out of the way, she'd go after him."

"I'm gonna kill her myself" Zedd snarls in his turn.

We head for the stairs, Tommy trying to talk his mate down so that he doesn't leave right this second, as I know he and I both want to do. "Zedd I want her maimed or killed at this point as much as the next person but going off without knowing everything isn't going to solve this."

"Maybe not, but the pointed end of my staff shoved through her gut will." Haven't done that in a while.

"That's not a good example to set for the children" Thomas tries once more, surprisingly keeping pace with his mate, despite Zedd's quickened step.

"Yes it is, it shows them that when someone tries to kill their daddy, their father will in turn kill them. Thus Mara Jane can sleep at night, and Jacob, when old enough, won't have to worry about anyone challenging him." Good points.

"Zedd seriously, I just think- ugh." Suddenly stopping, one arm again going to his midsection as his other hand finds the wall for support, Tommy has clearly over done it, however in doing so, he seems to have successfully stopped his mate from taking off on a blood mission.

"Thomas." Quickly returning to Tommy's side and taking his weight onto himself, Zedd checks him over, seeming to only relax when Tommy assures him he's fine. "Love you have to take it easy."

"I can't take it easy when I'm afraid you're going to run off and leave me on some mission of revenge. I don't want you near that psychopath, Zedd, and I sure as hell don't want you away from the children when I'm clearly not able to protect them at the moment."

Seeming torn for only a moment, Zedd however concedes in the end, giving his mate a nod. "All right love, but once you're healed I make no such promises."

"Fair enough, though that does still beg the question of what we do about all this now." As we reach the main floor, we stop, stunned at the laughter coming from behind us. We all turn to Kira, who is laughing hard enough that she can't explain what is so damn funny. "Uh oh" Tommy comments.

Finally, the female settles down. "Oh I know exactly what to do."

"I already promised him I wouldn't kill her at the moment" Zedd reminds the girl unhappily.

"Oh no, I agree, don't kill her, yet" she says, a gleam in her eye. "Let's screw with her first."

Zedd's mouth falls open. "Why in all the hells would any of us want to do that? I have no interest in that female."

"No, mate" Tommy steps in, a similar gleam in his own eyes. Suddenly, I see why Zedd had me research their family lines a while back. They do seem like they are related. "Not screw her - screw with her. She means we should mess with her mind."

Oh, these humans can be far more evil than I ever gave them credit for. Granted, I've seen Tommy evil, but not Kira, not like this. I look at Zedd. "Your parents will take care of the children a little longer. Let's go talk in the kitchen."

Once in the kitchen, she lays out her plan, quickly aided by my mate. By the hells, I'm grateful that I've never pissed her off this much! Pretty soon, we're all adding and changing the plan - to ridiculous proportions actually. If that woman would fall for all the things we come up with, I'd almost have to question Zedd's judgment in recruiting and keeping her as long as he has. However, Pina and Kira assure me that if Essa truly believes herself in love with Zedd, she'll chose to be blind to a lot of the inconsistencies.

Surprisingly, Tommy is on board with most of the plan - or he was until someone suggested that letting her kiss Zedd would draw her attention away from any suspicions that might arise. He flat out refused that - and it's really not all that surprising that he would. Finally, I point out the biggest hole in their plan. "You know, Zedd doesn't cry - at least not on cue."

Zedd frowns. "That's true."

"It's not as hard as you think," Kira responds, smirking.

"You aren't serious, are you?" I ask. "For someone who has suppressed his emotions for as long as Zedd has-"

"Then for him it should be even easier - especially if Tommy helps him."

"How?" I am confused. "Can you do it?"

"Absolutely." And in less than a minute, she's sobbing her heart out, looking like her world has ended. It takes her a bit longer to stop, but she does eventually. "See?"

"So how do I do that?" Zedd inquires.

"Think of the most upsetting, depressing thing you can - either something that has actually happened or not, but a real event would be most effective."

He frowns and Tommy suggests, "Kalleimat, maybe a nightmare or some situation where you were worried about losing me somehow? Or that time you were completely overwhelmed with Mara Jane?"

Zedd nods and turns his thoughts in the suggested direction. He starts to shake, but no tears. Kira says, "Tommy, help him through the bond."

Her mentor nods and his brow furrows. Zedd gasps at the apparent mental and emotional onslaught. Suddenly, I'm subjected to a sight I've never seen - and quite frankly hope never to see again - Zedd completely breaking down in tears. Immediately, Tommy's face clears and he comforts his mate. After a couple minutes, he settles down. Kira nods, satisfied. "And that will definitely mess with her head. A few tears from you - someone she's never seen cry and she fancies herself in love with - and she will feel both horrible for doing this to you and an intense desire to comfort you which will be impossible given the distance. A little 'destruction' to your office wall as a background for the call and you can use the excuse that you've been out of control, thus the reason she should keep her distance."

I nod. "And what about why he's calling her when he's banished her to Pina's and my responsibility?"

She frowns. "I'd forgotten about that. We never did figure out a reason for that."

We all think about this for a bit. I realize that Tommy's looking a bit worn out. Just as I'm about to mention it, his head snaps up. "Got it! She owes him for saving her life." He looks at Zedd. "Remember, less than a year after you brought me here, you had to go help her?"

He shudders. "I do remember and even after all the stress and trouble she's caused you and us, I still don't regret it. I only wish we'd saved her and then I'd sent her on her way, so to speak." He exchanges a look with Pina, who nods.

"Except for the initial injuries, Tommy, it was frighteningly close to what you went through in rehab" she tells him.

Quickly, Zedd pulls his mate into his arms. "I'm okay, Zedd. That was just the last thing I expected to hear."

Kira frowns again. "That could be part of the reason she is or thinks she is in love with Zedd."

Tommy nods. "Confusing gratitude with actual love. Jason's mom suggested that when she first met Zedd - that I didn't actually love him and was just confused. But I don't know if that's just an Earth thing since humans are rather unevolved compared to other planets or what."

"Either way, she's still crossed the line into obsessive and crazy" Pina comments. "And, yes, other species can have that same confusion."

Once more noticing how worn and tired Tommy seems, I suggest, "Tommy, why don't you go lay down for a while? You look like something that Pina's wild darkos would drag around."

Somehow I'm not surprised when he shakes his head. "No, I'm-" He stops. "Yeah, actually, I think I will. Calling her can wait a little longer and Zedd might need me to be available - either to keep him calm or give him a push to cry."

"Come on, love. I'll help you to bed and then I'm going to check on the children before I come back so we can refine the plan a little more."

Once they're out of hearing range, Pina shakes her head and says, "If it weren't for the attack, he'd have been almost done healing by now. This has set him back quite a bit."

"I caught him crying the other day, upset that he can't help with Jacob even as much as Zedd had been able to with Mara Jane" Kira mentions.

"He does seem considerably more depressed after Jacob was born than Zedd was after Mara Jane." I look at Pina. "Is that a species difference?"

Pina shrugs but Kira looks thoughtful. "It's possible. It could be a human thing. Pina and I can check into it later."

I nod. "Right now, we need to punish some people. I'll tell you right now, there's no way I'm letting the prisoner in the dungeon go without a lesson he won't forget."