Chapter 18

7 Months Post-Abduction

After so many months without finding Tina, they all fell into a new routine. Theseus still followed every lead that came in, but they were slim and unreliable. No new hideouts cropped up since the castle in Denmark. Jacob worked, practiced his shooting on the weekends and cooked for them. Newt worked on his book and cared for his animals, like he had before this all started, but much of his enthusiasm disappeared. The placed looked like a messy bachelor pad most of the time. Sometimes Bunty cleaned it up, but it didn't stay tidy for long.

One night, Newt and Bunty worked together trying to patch up a laceration on the Erumpent's back leg. The huge, horned beast, the same one that Newt and Jacob had recaptured in Central Park, got too close to the mommy Occamy's silver eggs and suffered from her aggressive attack. The Erumpent moaned and stamped slightly as Newt examined the wound. Bunty stood at her head, trying to distract her attention with sweet oats.

Newt sighed. "It's too deep. I'm going to have to suture it."

"Think she'll tolerate it?" Bunty shoved more oats at her, but she only took one mouthful before turning her head away from the rest.

"I'll try a numbing spell on it, but she might get agitated by not being able to feel her leg. It's our best option though." Newt cast the spell, which at first seemed to pacify the Erumpent. He hurried with the suturing of the laceration.

Just as Newt tied the final knot, the Erumpent whipped around and attempted to charge him. Newt scrambled backwards. Her horn swiped at him, ripping open his shirt and just barely grazing his skin. She pulled back, preparing for another run at him.

A high-pitched whistle sounded loudly through the room. It caught the Erumpent's attention, and she whirled around.

Bunty whistled again, luring the raging beast back into her enclosure. She threw the sweet oats inside.

The Erumpent charged inside, stopping at the oats to sniff them. She stomped with her injured leg, and Newt had a feeling the pins and needles sensation that tended to accompany a return of feeling had initiated her outburst.

Newt looked down at his bare chest, touching the small, vertical abrasion. Only a tiny amount of blood smeared on his fingers. He breathed out a sigh of relief. She could have impaled him.

Bunty bent down and retrieved something on the ground.

Newt noticed her gazing at it. His stomach twisted as he reached up to his neck, realizing the chain that had been there was gone. It must have caught on the horn and thrown across the room. He walked over to her, his hand out.

She moved a step back. "This is a beautiful ring, Newt. An engagement ring."

"It's for Tina. I'd like it back now." He stuck his hand out further.

"Oh, Newt. No one knows if she is ever coming back. There's been no signs of Grindelwald for months. Theseus thinks she may have turned. She may be lost to you forever." Bunty placed the ring on the chain into his outstretched hand.

Newt didn't look at her as he examined the broken chain. "Tina would never turn. Something's changed. Grindelwald hasn't even had any meetings of his followers. When we find out what's changed, we'll find Tina."

It took a moment for him to realize that Bunty had closed the remaining distance between them. Her nearness unnerved him, backing him into the wall.

"If she doesn't come back, if she has turned, I can help you get past her." Bunty ran her fingers down his naked chest.

He flinched violently, shoving himself away from her. He thrust the ring on the broken chain in his pocket. His voice hoarse, he said, "She has my heart, and I don't want to get past her." He ran away from Bunty and up the stairs.

A/N: I kinda feel bad for Bunty, but nobody who watched the movie can deny she had her eyes on Newt. As far as this chapter, just think of it. You have feelings for a man. He has feelings for another woman. She's been gone for 7 months with no signs of return. Would you make a move to try to get him? In another world, I might have shipped Bunty and Newt but Tina is just so awesome and we all know they end up together.