AN: So, I had actually really wanted to get this chapter up over Labor Day weekend, but that didn't happen. Still, this chapter is pretty long, like eleven pages on Microsoft Word! Yay! Thanks for all the wonderful reviews I've been getting so far, they've been insightful and provide excellent motivation to this writer. On that note, my schedule is pretty busy (up at 0430, in bed generally around 2200, yay Army schedules!) so chapters will likely be sporadic. Sorry!

Anyway, this fic is likely to work on a rotational POV basis. Weiss had her POV in Things Lost, which really is like the first chapter of this story. Yang had her POV last chapter, now it's Blake's turn. Until Ruby awakens, you can expect this pattern to continue, but minor characters might have brief moments of POV stardom. These sections will be clearly marked.

My rambling is over, onto the chapter! As always, read, enjoy, and please review!

From the Watchful Shadows

It was always interesting to note how certain parts of the brain simply never turned off. Even before Beacon…maybe even especially before Beacon, Blake had always been hyper aware of her surroundings. And it all kept coming back to how she was a faunus. Her ears let her listen more closely, her eyes allowed her to see more clearly, and it was only the cruelest irony that her keen senses made her more aware of all attacks directed towards her because of her heritage. The very things that kept her safe were the things that brought humanity's cruel judgment and vicious attacks on her.

Of course, back then, when she was still with Adam, if anyone had told her that she'd be dating a human and that she'd be the head of security for the Schnee Dust Company…well, Gambol Shroud would have been very busy, very quickly. And yet, here she was, marching down the corridor at the Vale Medical Center, Surgical Wing, the armband bearing the SDC logo on her trench coat's sleeve announcing to the world quite clearly where her loyalty lay. An orderly walking toward her took one look at her, flinched, and stood aside.

How scary was the determined mask that she wore as a face, that the man didn't even notice Yang just a few steps behind her until they had passed him? They passed a window looking out into the night, the bright lights of the hallway turning it into an effective mirror. Ah! Well, then…maybe she should tone it down, just a tad. Yet as grim and impassive as her face may appear to those who didn't know her, her mind was racing a million miles to the minute, cataloguing intersections in the hallways, stairways and elevator shafts.

It will be expensive, she mused as she ran through the basic calculations. But we mustn't let our guard down, not even for a moment. At the moment, Ruby was just about as safe as she could be, what with three of the strongest huntresses in Vale in the same building as her, especially since all of them were prepared to make the same sacrifice that she had made, if only to ensure that no further harm came to her. But Weiss had the company to run, and Blake…as much as she hated it, her duty was by Weiss's side. She could stand constant vigil over Ruby's bedside, but that wasn't cost effective.

If anyone could be expected to stay here, it would be Yang, but Blake knew her well enough to realize that that wasn't her style. She was a dragon, and dragons hunted down threats, burning them away until nothing but cinders and ash remained. Add another thing to do, she groused silently. Yang was strong, but the Crimson Claw were fanatical and would do anything, bear any price if only to take down Ruby's sister. Here, with team RWBY on the defensive, they couldn't win, and they knew it. But Yang was too impulsive, and the Crimson Claw were smart enough to use that against her. She'd need back up. Blake fought the urge to sigh. She needed to talk to Weiss…where were the waiting rooms?

They turned a corner, and over the whisper of her soft soled boots and the heavier tromp of Yang's combats, they could hear Weiss talking, and loudly. Blake glanced over her shoulder, and Yang met her inquisitive glance with a shrug. Then a door slid open, and the muffled, irate words became clearly understandable as Weiss stormed into the hall, one hand tightly clenching her Scroll. One look at her mad, pinched expression told Blake all that she needed to know. Weiss was talking to her father.

"I don't care what you think, we're going to do it! We have a responsibility to-" she hissed, eyes sparking, but got cut off by a low, dangerous growl on the other end. Her lips thinned to a dangerous white line, a line that softened marginally when she glanced down the hall at the two of them. "Yes, father, I realize that he did not have any life insurance policy, and that he had turned down the policy offered by the company. But that does not change the fact that-"

Once more she got cut off, and as Blake and Yang approached her, her hand tightened more and more on the Scroll, casing creaking ominously. Finally, after listening in seething silence for a long, tense minute, she straightened, subconsciously slipping into one of the aggressive stances of her fencing style. "Mister Schnee," she began in a calm, icy voice that you almost had to strain to hear. Blake smirked. When she started getting quiet was when Weiss was the most fun. The voice on the other line silenced, though whether from the tone that would make a Death Stalker take pause or because of her use of his name, Blake didn't know. But like all master fencers, Weiss took advantage of his misstep. "I am the head of the company! I am the one who makes all executive decisions! When I say that the Schnee Dust Company will honor that man's sacrifice to the company by ensuring that his family will never want again, then by God it shall be so!"

The voice on the other end started to say something, but Weiss drove on. "You have no say in the matter, Mister Schnee, or did you forget that part of the contract when I took control of the company from your inept, greed blinded hands?! You will not speak of this manner to me or any on the Board again, or I will review your separation packet and determine just how much I value your so called contributions as to how I should run my company. Good day, father!" Not allowing him the chance to reply, she ended the call. The three of them stood for a moment in that charged silence, and then Weiss deflated with an explosive, stressed sigh. "They need to make a Scroll that you can slam shut," she griped. "Poking the screen with a furious finger just doesn't have the same effect."

"So, telling off the ol' bastard?" Yang asked with a cheeky grin.

Weiss glanced at her, rolled her eyes, and gave a slight shake of her head, the slightest of smiles teasing the corners of her lips. But the grave reason why they were there ensured that any mirth was short lived. The smile died, and Weiss focused on Blake. "Report?"

"The area is secure. Hospital security staff has been augmented by SDC personnel, individuals that I personally called in. They are trustworthy, and can fight well. Vale has lent some of their police officers and a few of their mechs to watch over the hospital, but they are not likely to stay long. However, by the time that their shifts end, I'll be able to allocate more resources, as is necessary."

Weiss nodded imperiously. "Make it so." She turned once more to the window, looking out into the darkness. With a weary sigh, she rested her hands on the window sill, her shoulders slumping. "How is she?"

Yang joined Weiss at the window, one hand briefly clasping the fencer's shoulder before the pugilist turned and leaned her back against the wall next to the window. "The team in there is good…I don't think that the hospital would offer anything but their very best for Ruby. By the time we left…" She paused, eyes darkening with the weight of memory. "When we left, the amputation had been completed and they were working on her internal bleeding."

The weariness fled from Weiss's face, replaced with a dark, ugly anger. "We'll make those animals pay!" she hissed through clenched teeth. Blake stiffened at that, eyes narrowing. Weiss saw the subtle shift even in the translucent reflection in the window. "Oh, don't give me that look, Blake. I've long come to terms that the White Fang and most fauni want peace just as much as I do." She straightened, turned. "That's why I chose you as my head of security. That's why I started working to make Faunus Equal Works Rights. But those who've chosen to join the Crimson Claw are animals, rabid beasts that are so enamored with their lust of death and terror and misery that they can't contemplate any other course." Then she relaxed, the weariness once again returning. "It's not just fauni who can become animals, but humans, too." She gave a tired gesture with her scroll before pocketing it.

"Yeah, speaking of the old coot, what was that all about?" Yang asked with an inquisitive tilt to her head, arms folded over her chest.

Weiss grimaced. "He heard that I was going to pay the family of the truck driver half again his salary until the wife reached retirement. The lawyers said that she could be a stay at home mother, now, if she so chose. He left behind his wife and three children. Like hell I'm going to let them worry about their future."

Blake tilted her head in recognition of Weiss's generosity. Her years in Beacon spent with Team RWBY and Team JNPR had done much to turn her from an ice queen into someone who truly cared about her employees and subordinates. Far from the self-absorbed and spoiled girl who had first strode into Beacon like she owned the place, Weiss was someone that Blake felt privileged to work for and someone whom she was proud and honored to call her friend. Inasmuch as no one truly deserved to be the target of terrorist attacks, Weiss was still leagues above her father, even at so young an age. How many other twenty-three year old women were CEOs of major corporations, and-

The double doors down the hall burst open, and Gambol Shroud practically appeared in her hands, her reaction time barely beating Yang's as she slipped into a boxer's stance, Ember Celica wrapping around her fists, or Weiss's as Myrtenaster hissed out of its sheath to point down the hall, Weiss's body poised to charge.

"Nora!"

The exasperated and achingly familiar voice had them all relaxing as Nora jogged towards them, Ren struggling to keep up. However, unlike usual, Nora's face wasn't filled with carefree joy, but was instead focused and somber. Before Weiss could react, Nora was on her, enveloping her in a hug. She held her for a few moments before pulling back and holding her by the shoulders. "We came as soon as we heard. Pyrrha and Jaune are on the way from Mistral, they should be here tomorrow morning. Do you guys need anything right now? I'm pretty certain that I could find some pancakes or something really quick…"

"Nora, I don't think they want pancakes right now," Ren gently chastised as he joined them. He nodded respectfully to Blake and then looked to Yang. "How is she?"

How indeed, Blake asked herself as Yang bit her lip, chewing it worriedly before answering. "It wasn't pretty…she's lost her right eye and arm…they had to amputate just above the elbow."

Silence followed that grim statement. Nora was the first to respond, hands covering her heart. "But…her hunting…what's she going to…?"

"I don't know!" Yang snapped, voice tight as her irises started to bleed a furious red again. Blake gently slipped her hand into Yang's, and with great effort, Yang calmed herself down, eyes returning to their lilac. "I don't know. We'll just have to wait and cross that bridge when it comes. For now, she just needs to heal. We're just waiting for her to come out of surgery."

"It shouldn't be too much longer," Weiss murmured. "She's already been in there for three hours."

Yang started at that. "That long? It didn't seem like it when I was in the observation room…"

And no wonder, Blake mused to herself as she gave a gentle squeeze to Yang's gloved hand. She was well acquainted with grief, and knew how it could make moments last an eternity, but could also whittle away hours like they were mere minutes. The amputation alone had taken an hour and forty-seven minutes.

"Yes, well, time pauses for no person," Weiss stated offhandedly. "They should be done soon. Meanwhile, we all have tasks that should be completed, or at least planned for." Blake stood taller at that, releasing Yang's hand and clasping her behind her back as she awaited instruction. No surprise that Weiss be the one to take charge now. "How long are you two in town?"

Nora shrugged. "As long as you need. What do you need from us?" It was a bit unnerving to see the normally bubbly and almost spastic young woman so somber and focused, Blake thought with a shiver as she took in the diamond hard glint to Nora's eyes.

"Right now, do you think you can stay here and act as a boost to security until Pyrrha and Jaune arrive? They're more suited to defense, whereas your skillsets are a bit more…aggressive."

And now that diamond hard glint turned cruel and almost psychotic. This was the same person who had offered to break Cardin's legs, all those years ago, Blake reminded herself. "Oh, the Crimson Claw will soooo regret pissing you off, Ice Queen," Nora practically crowed as she patted Magnhild lovingly, a predatory grin spread across her face.

Weiss smirked at that. "I don't doubt that." The grin disappeared. "Yang, for right now, I want you to start using your contacts from your bar, anything you have with Junior, whatever. They probably don't know anything, but they might know someone who knows someone who does. Find them and ask them the questions that need asking. We will find the Crimson Claw who made this happen, and we will make them pay.

"Blake, do the same with your White Fang contacts. I know that they won't be keen on giving information that will result in attacks on fauni, but the Claw is now threatening the peace that we have so painstakingly built. We must not let them get away with it."

Anger flaring up, Blake held her tongue for a few moments, instead staring at Weiss with cold eyes. Did she really know what she was asking for? Yet Weiss never faltered, no flickers of doubt ran behind her determined expression. Fine, then. "I'll start that tonight, Miss Schnee," she dutifully replied, voice frosty, only betraying a fraction of the anger roared through her. Yes, the Crimson Claw was dangerous. Yes, they needed to be addressed appropriately. She knew that…but asking the White Fang for information that would result in even more bloodshed…

Evidently her formal words struck a chord with Weiss, and her eyes narrowed dangerously. "Oh, don't give me that, Blake!" Weiss snapped. "'Miss Schnee, I don't like what you said so I'll act like it's only because you're my boss that I'll do what you say!'" she simpered mockingly. "It's too late in the game to play that card! Ruby, the girl I…my best friend is lying in surgery, with her bloody arm cut off! I know that you have no great love for humanity and its mistakes, but I thought Ruby was your friend, too!"

Blake frowned, only more in concentration at the strange slip of Weiss's than in anger at her words. She wasn't the only one who noticed. Ren grimaced and fished something out of his pocket before handing it to Nora. Conveniently behind Weiss's back, Nora held up the twenty dollar bill, waggling her eyebrows suggestively at Yang and Blake. Ah. That. Mmm, something to think about later. Anger drained by the truth in Weiss's words, Blake formed her words very carefully before responding. "Weiss, Ruby is my friend, one of the few that I actually have. And what happened to her…nothing has ever made me angrier. Ever. Not the insults and slurs and abuse that I received from your kind, not White Fang's descent into violence and alliance with that bastard Torchwick and that bitch Cinder…nothing comes even close. But what you are asking might be too much. Whatever rapport that I have with the current leadership of the White Fang might be lost if I ask for the location of those that attacked us. Even if they don't know, the fact of the matter will be that I, a faunus, will be asking others of my kind to betray our brethren so that a human may get revenge on an attack on another human."

Weiss flushed angrily, but Blake held up her hand. It was truly a mark of their friendship and trust in each other that Weiss held her tongue, allowing Blake to continue. "Yes, White Fang knows that Ruby is truly a hero, willing to help anyone in need. Hell, she's even helped them when they needed it, and they'll remember that. But her deeds of kindness can't erase decades of bigotry and hate. The peace between humanity and the White Fang is exactly as you described, tentative, and the leadership might not view this logically, instead letting their memories and passions get the better of them." Blake shrugged helplessly. "I can do as you ask, but I fear that it might do more harm than good."

Weiss sighed explosively, leaning back against the wall, arms crossed, face thoughtful as she worried her lip. Finally, she nodded. "Right, then. Don't ask them for any information. Instead, try to set up a meeting between me and the senior leaders of the White Fang. I don't expect it to be in person, as I know that will not happen…not yet, at least. I feel that it is time that I stop relaying my messages through you. After all that we've accomplished, I think that the least that they can do is begin talking directly to me. And that way, any request for information can come directly from the source."

Yang nodded. "Makes sense, and it would be good to set up direct communication. But seriously, what makes you think that they'll give you, a human, information that they wouldn't give Blake?"

Weiss smirked at that. "I'm a master negotiator, remember? I convinced my father to step down from his position as CEO…if I can do that, I think I can manage this."

Blake couldn't help but roll her eyes at that. However, the Ice Queen did have a valid point. "Alright, I'll try my best to set up a teleconference. Anything else?"

"Coordinate with hospital staff, particularly security. It would be a great victory for the Crimson Claw if they managed to finish the job and kill Ruby. We'll see how long Pyrrha and Jaune can stay and help, but start planning in detail. I know I already told you to do all this, but I want to make it crystal clear. I want a detailed report for security measure to be taken by the hospital and by the company for the expected duration of Ruby's recuperation. I don't need names yet, but personnel numbers, equipment needed, anything the hospital might need to augment its forces, how much this is expected to cost, everything you can think of."

Blake patted the pocket that held her scroll reassuringly. "I'll have it to you by tomorrow evening." Weiss smirked, the grin tinged with fatigue, her eyelids drooping slightly, and Blake felt a pang of concern. Some head of security she was…Weiss was strong, but Ruby hadn't been the only one to get hurt today. She glanced at the bandage just under Weiss's left eye. An inch higher, and combat skirts wouldn't be the only thing that Ruby and Weiss would be sharing in common. "Come on, let's get you back in the waiting room and at least sitting down. You need your rest."

Weiss nodded as she closed her eyes, fingers pressing lightly against her temple. "You might be right. But what about you two?"

Yang shrugged fluidly. "Eh, I'm fine. I think I've had tougher days and nights running the bar."

Weiss rolled her eyes as the five of them went into the waiting room. "Of course you would say that. And I suppose it was a silly question. Blake?"

"I'm unaffected, and I need to work on the report. You relax, the four of us will keep watch. Try and get some sleep."

Weiss sank into one of the plush seats, groaning with relief. How much of her composure and poise had come from determination alone? She settled deeper into the seat, eyes drifting shut. "Even a five minute nap would be welcome. Wake me if we get any news?"

Blake laid a gentle hand on Weiss's shoulder. "If anyone in that room so much as sneezes, you'll be sure to find out. But we'll leave you be unless it's big news, okay?"

"Mmm, just what I expected from my personal ninja," Weiss breathed softly before her face relaxed, a soft, unladylike snore sounding within moments.

Personal ninja, huh? Blake snorted softly to herself as she pulled out her scroll and began the work given to her. Worked for her. Fit what she did almost perfectly. Watch from the shadows, ever vigilant and waiting for the perfect opportunity to strike. Ruby's shattered body flashed in her mind's eye, and her hand tightened on her scroll. And when that perfect moment came, the Crimson Claw was going to pay for their crimes…and the price of their heinous acts was going to be steep indeed!