I do not own Daily Life with Monster Girls.

Chapter 22: Convalescent Retreat

Tetra was woken up by someone knocking on her door again.

She grimaced and started to growl as her eyes opened. She immediately shut them again as the morning sun's rays pierced into them. She hissed a little too loudly and speared a leg toward the nearest curtain and drew it closed.

Damn doctors insisting on sunlight.

"Miss Tetra?"

The nurse, she remembered. Professor Holden's assistant. Amanda.

She paused a moment to breathe slowly. "Yes? What is it?" She answered.

"Good morning. I need to take your temperature again."

Tetra grumbled something unpleasant in her throat and then cleared it. "Give me five minutes."

Something shifted and giggled underneath her. She darted her eyes down at Jack's lopsided grin.

"You know, from this angle, you're kinda cute when you're pissed." He noted.

She narrowed her eyes and a little color appeared in her cheeks. "Shut up." She kissed him and pressed into the hammock. "Ow!"

She drew her head back and placed a hand on her throbbing cheek. Her fingers brushed against the bandages. "What? How did?" She recalled being slashed by Marian and her eyes hardened.

"Bitch."

Jack narrowed his eyes at the wound. "She did that to you?"

Tetra gritted her fangs. "Yes."

He glowered. "I hope you got her back for that."

She grinned and faced back to him. She lifted a fist and lightly jabbed right under his sternum and then slid a knuckle along his jaw.

He nodded approvingly. "That's my girl."

She chortled and raised an eyebrow. "Did you just encourage monster violence?"

He blinked and gazed upward. After a second he raised a finger. "Appropriate monster violence." He faced back to her. "Syleris said you made sure she didn't escape."

Tetra closed her eyes. "By nearly killing myself." She shook her head. "So stupid."

Jack reached up and cupped the uninjured side of her face in his hand. "Hey." He stroked it slowly. "You did a good thing." She opened her eyes. "And doing the right thing is almost never easy and usually painful."

She blinked a couple times. "That's twice now."

He cocked his head. "Twice what?"

"That's the second time." She sniffed. "You've called me a good person."

He leaned up and kissed her gently. "That's 'cause you are."

She suppressed a tear and she kissed him back.

"I've gotta say though." He pulled away a bit. "I would appreciate if you were more careful about it."

Her eyes hardened again. "She hurt you Jack." She clenched her hands. "She took you from me and I was going to get a piece of her."

He stared at her. Then he nodded. "Alright, you were angry. I get that." She narrowed her eyes. "But please, don't throw yourself into a death match over me." She was about to protest when he tapped the edge of bandages on her face. "This was bad enough." She held her breath. "I can't have my guests getting hurt because of me." She took a few harsh breaths.

"You. Nearly. Died." He implored. "Please Tetra."

She closed her eyes. "I'll..try to be more careful in the future."

He nodded. "That's all I'm asking." He glanced downward. "Speaking of dying..." Tetra tilted her head quizzically. "Sula's gonna kill me."

The arachne narrowed all her eyes. "What..why?

"I'm uh... in a kinda..um risky position here." He smiled nervously.

She stared dumb-founded for a moment. Then she smirked and stroked the side of his face gently. "Oh Jack. You were hurting, we both were." She shook her head. "I wasn't going to take advantage of you."

He furrowed his eyes in measured shock.

"I'll admit..." She shrugged a shoulder and glanced upward. "The thought crossed my mind more than once." She looked back at him. "But you needed someone to share your pain with." She smiled lightly and leaned down and kissed his forehead. "So did I."

"You..you did?" He stammered.

She faced him directly. "Jack. When Sula figured out that an arachne, one of my people," She placed a hand on her chest. "had taken you on a full moon night," She paused and swallowed. "I feared that you would already be dead when we found you. Or worse."

Jack's eyes wavered. "Worse?"

She waited a heartbeat before answering. "That we'd never find you."

"Oh." He nodded a couple times. "Yeah, that...that's ….horrible."

She tapped a claw on his forehead. "And something not worth spending any more thought on." He refocused on her face. "Just put that out of your mind Jack."

He breathed out slowly. "I'll...I'll try."

"Now come on." She shifted her bulk and threw off her blankets. "You probably should get out of my room before someone starts thinking we got too close."

Jack frowned a bit and sighed. "Yeah." He slid his legs over the edge of the hammock and placed his bare feet on the cool floor. The sensation helped him wake up even more and he stood.

He stayed still a moment as he realized something. "Huh, it worked."

Tetra slighted her head a bit. "What's up Jack?"

"That's the second time..." He turned around and faced her. "That's the second time I've fallen asleep with you and I didn't have a nightmare."

The arachne blinked. "You've still been having them?"

He nodded. "Yeah. But not when I'm with you."

She produced a small smile. She didn't know why exactly. Then her eyes focused on the gauze-covered bite marks on his shoulder and her little joy faded away. "There's a lot I've got to tell you, Jack. About my mother."

He stared at her a few seconds then nodded slowly. "Yeah."

She shook her head a little. "Not right now. I'd...rather get everyone together and have it all out at once."

He regarded her for a few more seconds. "Okay." He sucked in a breath and widened his eyes. "Oh."

She tilted her head. "What's wrong Jack?"

He pressed his lips together. "Sula..she-" He stopped himself.

Tetra lowered an eyebrow. "What about her?"

He frowned. "She...I've got to talk to her about something too." He breathed in and out once. "Something you should know about as well."

The arachne blinked. "I should?"

He nodded lightly. "Yeah. I... want to talk to her first." He glanced up at her. "Is that alright?"

She leaned her head back slightly. "Can I get a hint?"

Jack nodded his head side to side. "She...alright." He glanced down a moment then looked back up at her. "She kissed me."

Tetra didn't react. "I know. I was right there."

He lifted a hand. "No I mean...she..." He closed his hand and let it drop to the side. He looked like a child admitting that he broke a rule to a parent. "She kissed me again. Yesterday."

Tetra didn't react again. "I see."

Jack rattled his head. "Um...why aren't you...angry?"

She smirked. "Oh. You'll find out."

He blinked rapidly in complete bafflement. He lifted his hand to prompt another question. The door behind him knocked and swung open a ways.

"Miss Tetra? It's past five minutes."

Jack stopped and turned around.

"It's alright Amanda." Tetra announced. "Come on in."

The door swung the rest of the way and revealed a human woman in pale blue scrubs and white sneakers.

Her black hair was bound behind her head in a simple pony tail. Her almond shaped eyes were dark brown with a fleck of blue. She had a slightly wide nose and mouth. Her skin was a shade or two lighter than olive oil and a small silver ring adorned her left hand. She was maybe an inch and a half shorter than Jack.

"Oh, Mr Keysman." She scanned him up and down. "I didn't realize you were up."

He nodded at her and lifted a hand in greeting. "I don't believe we've met."

"Oh right. I'm Amanda." She extended her hand and clasped his. "Sorry, I forgot you were out of it when Professor Holden examined and treated you."

"That's alright." He said. "I just wanted to see how my guest was doing." He strode toward the open door. "I should get to my morning chores."

Amanda breathed in apprehensively. "Ah. Mr. Keysman?" He turned back. "Please don't overexert yourself. Professor Holden says that you'll need more bed rest."

He nodded. "I'll keep that in mind." He eyed Tetra briefly. "Take care of my girl there." He smiled. "She's special."

Amanda waved as he left. "Will do, Mr. Keysman." She pulled out a thermometer and turned back to the arachne. "I take it you two are...?"

Tetra smiled and closed her eyes a second. "Yes, we are."

The nurse nodded approvingly. "Well, he seems like a keeper." She handed the thermometer over.

The arachne held the device a moment. "Yes he is." She grinned toothily. "I'm not letting that one get away anytime soon."


Jack went back down to the second level and stood just outside his door. He turned the handle and pushed it open, but didn't take a step inside yet.

Other than his unmade bed, no one would be able to tell that someone was attacked and abducted mere days ago at this very spot. He closed his eyes briefly and let out a breath. Then he took a step forward and turned on the light.

He shed his pajamas and just finished donning some day clothes when he heard something tapping coming from across the room. His nerves jumped and he ducked and scanned around the window.

Two large spider legs flitted by the lower pane. His spine ran along his flesh.

Jack hopped backwards behind his bed. He hastily zipped up his jeans and peeked over the sheets. Not again, not again, not again...

An arachne head was gazing around his room from just outside the window. She seemed a little perplexed. She tapped a claw on the window twice.

"Hello? Mr. Keysman?" Her voice was muffled by the window pane.

Jack narrowed his eyes and recognized something about this arachne. He'd seen her somewhere before...

He swallowed, tried to shove aside his panic and stood up.

"Ah." She waved a stubby clawed hand. "Good morning Mr. Keysman."

Jack blinked once and walked around his bed and hesitated just a moment before he opened his window. She held out her small light brown hand. "I don't believe we've officially met. I'm Agent Serilla."

He waited a moment and then took her hand and shook it. "Hi." He couldn't keep an edge of incensed accusation out of his voice. "What are you doing outside my window?"

She withdrew a bit and held her arm to her chest. "I apologize for disturbing you Mr. Keysman. Sheena told me you must be already up, so I started working."

Jack narrowed his eyes. "Sheena?"

The small breed nodded. "Agent Smythe told you that a member of MON was going to be on the premises didn't he?"

Jack nodded lightly. "If Sheena's here then what are you doing?"

"Agent Smythe has ordered a review of all hosts security systems." She answered. "Starting with your residence."

He sucked in a breath and let it out slowly. "Okay."

"I didn't want to frighten you before I started. So I asked Sheena to check if you were out of your room." She dipped her head. "I didn't expect you to return while I was here."

Jack closed his eyes slowly. "I see."

"I...may I...come in Mr. Keysman?"

Jack stepped back and opened his eyes. "Yes...you may."

The small breed dressed in a MON jacket and modified shorts clambered over the opening and stood before him. Her solid black eyes gazed at him somewhat warily. Her smooth brown carapace flared in the sunlight.

"Thank you for letting me come in Mr. Keysman." She dipped her head. "I... understand if you're not..comfortable around arachne you don't know."

Jack waited a few beats before speaking. "You're going to be the couples counselor for Tetra and I?"

She nodded affirmatively. "That's correct. If you would like to request a different counselor.."

He took note of the sliver ring on one of her fingers and held up a hand. "That..won't be necessary." She blinked and tilted her head. "I'm sure you're more than qualified."

She looked at him askance. "Whether I'm qualified wasn't what I was.."

Jack held up his hand again. "I know." He breathed in and out. "I'm not going to pretend that I'm not still freaked out about it." He let his hand drop. "But I'm also not going to blame all arachne for M-Marian's actions." He grimaced a second at his stumbling of her name.

He closed his eyes. "It also helps that an arachne came and rescued me." He opened them back up and smiled lightly. "I certainly won't forget about that."

She smiled back. "You have no idea how good that is to hear Mr. Keysman."

"Please." He nodded. "Call me Jack."

She kept her smile. "Alright, Jack." She waved toward the open window. "Well, I should get back to work. It was very good to meet you."

Jack nodded again. "Likewise."

He proceeded out into the hallway and closed his door behind him. For a moment he stood still. He wasn't sure what he should do. Then his stomach grumbled and he smirked ruefully. "Breakfast and morning chores it is then..."

He descended the stairs and took two steps into the front room. At that moment the front door opened and a tall woman with a fox-like head walked in. Her uniform seemed to be a size too small. Her lithe muscles and curves pushed tightly at the seams. And several fox tails swished around as she closed the door.

Jack froze. He'd seen her face before but on a smaller body.

She tilted her head as she noticed him. "Jack. Is something wrong?"

She 'sounds' like Sheena.

He gave a weak wave at her. "Agent...Sheena?"

She nodded curtly. "That's right."

He glanced to the side and then back to her. "You uh...seem kinda different."

She smirked. "I'm a Kyuubi no Kitsune, remember? I'm a shape shifter."

He blinked a few times rapidly, then held his eyes closed and tilted his head back. "Oh, right." He shook his head. "Sorry."

She inclined her head. "That's alright Jack. You've had a pretty rough few days."

He opened his eyes back up. "Yeah..." He breathed out. "You're here to protect me."

She nodded her head side to side. "The whole household, technically." She focused back on him. "But yes, you."

Jack shook his head lightly. "A month ago I was just another office rat that shared rent with a couple other guys." He gazed ahead unfocused. "Now I'm being guarded by monsters in a mansion." He glanced down. "Like I'm some end of level boss in a video game." He sighed. "How the hell did this happen?"

She folded her arms. "As I recall, you volunteered."

Jack waved a hand. "Yeah, yeah. I'm not regretting my decision. I'm just..." He gazed upward. "reminiscing about my not so complicated recent past."

Sheena gave him a moment before interrupting his thoughts. "Change can be painful Jack."

He leveled his head and blinked a couple times. Then looked over at her. "You mean that literally don't you?"

She snorted and smirked. "I wasn't referring to my own abilities on that account." She clarified. "But yes, if I'm reckless with my shape shifting..." A small furry arm emerged out of the side of her head. Jack stepped back involuntarily, his eyes tracked the rogue limb.

"Things can get unbalanced." She continued. The arm grew and grew until its base engulfed the entire side of her head and part of her crown. Its knuckles dragged on the floor and Sheena leaned sideways to accommodate the extra weight she conjured.

"Given time, and practice..." Another arm popped out the other side of her head and grew to a similar size. "One can learn to accept change and adapt."

Both new arms held her entire body off the floor a couple inches. She 'paced' a few steps to get a feel for the new limbs. Jack just watched the entire spectacle in mildly horrified fascination.

"I trust I've made my point." She said with a little more volume that was necessary.

Jack nodded animatedly. "Yeah, yeah I got it."

She blinked and leaned forward. "What?"

He held up a hand. "I said I got it."

She narrowed her eyes. "I can't hear you—oh duh." She face-palmed with one of her original arms. A moment later the newer arms retracted into her head and disappeared. She set her feet and craned her neck about. Her fox ears regrew out of the top of her head and they wiggled a bit.

Sheena chuckled. "Whoops. I substituted my ears for that little demonstration. Didn't mean to be that careless."

Jack shook his head in bemused captivation. "Liminals are so freaking cool."

She chuckled lightly and folded her arms. "I see why Smythe recruited you. You're not afraid."

His eyes dulled. "Most of the time."

She grimaced and grunted "Right, sorry" She held out a hand. "That must have been terrible for you."

He nodded lightly. "Yes it was."

"Is there anything I can do for you?" She offered.

He shook his head. "No." I already had a good cry with someone that loves me. "I should try to get back to my routine."

She lowered her hand. "Alright. I'll be around if you need me."

Jack gave a small smile. "That's..good to know, agent Sheena. Thank you." He walked over toward the bathroom on the ground floor and pressed the button to prepare Sula's morning bath.

He stood back and stared at it a few seconds.

Speaking of people who love me...

He rattled his head and composed himself. "You've got a job to do Mr. Keysman." He made a half-hearted attempt to imitate Smythe's usual tone. "Best get to it."

He turned around and walked back into the hall. "Yeah, yeah, boss. I'm on it." He hesitated a moment before giving Sula's door a knock.

You're acting like scared prey. It's not helping.

He knocked and entered after he didn't hear a reply.

For the first time since she moved in, he felt like an intruder. It was always a little awkward entering the woman's room when she hadn't specifically invited him. He told himself that this was part of his job. Lamias don't get up easily in the morning, they usually need some assistance.

This time though, he felt like a rat in a wine cellar. A thief in a king's vault. A spy about to get caught behind enemy lines.

He crossed over to the curtains and threw them open. The bright morning sun immersed half of the room in light. "Alright good mornin-" He turned toward the bed and froze.

She was already awake. Her torso was propped by a few pillows on the far end and she was staring at him. She's been watching the whole time.

"Oh." He stepped back in surprise. "I'm sorry Sula. I didn't hear you say you were up."

Her head inclined a bit. "I didn't sleep."

He furrowed his eyebrows. "You didn't...are you sick too?"

She shook her head. "No..or at least..." She gazed downward. "I don't think so."

Jack scanned what he could see of her and tried to determine if she seemed physically ill. "You look okay to me. You want me to call for a doctor just in case?"

She closed her eyes a moment and shook her head. "No, I'm..fine, Jack."

He looked at her askance. "Then...what is it? What's bothering you?"

She held up her phone's screen to him. It looked like an internet article. "I've been reading."

Jack squinted his eyes and tried to pick up a few words but couldn't make any of them out. "Reading about what?"

"Relationships." She answered. "and love. And how Americans...do it."

"Ah." He held up a finger. "You uh..might need some uh...context for some of that..."

She nodded lightly. "I really don't understand it." She turned the phone to herself. Its glow partially illuminated her face. Jack could just see a little more red around the edges of the whites of her eyes. "It's so confusing."

She held out one hand. "One person says one thing, someone else says another." She lifted her hand higher. "No one seems to agree on a true right way to do things." She thumbed part of the screen and scrolled it. "Several articles even start out saying that." She scowled. "Which is just 'oh so helpful'."

She shook her head. "Back on the island, it was simple." She held up a finger. "I had my husbands. And that was it." She placed her phone on her lap and clasped her hands together. "We had sex, I gave birth, we had sex again. When my husbands would sleep with my sisters and cousins, it didn't make me mad. I didn't get angry or jealous." She looked at him directly. "It made me happy. Because we're all family. We're married to each other."

"I mean, sure." She shrugged one shoulder and gazed toward the wall. "I don't like all my husbands equally. I do have my favorites." She smiled lightly a moment. Then she picked up her phone and waved it. "But some of these people...They talk about their spouses having sex with other people and... they say it's like murder, that they die inside."

She lightly threw the phone on her bed. "And here I am thinking..'why didn't you just marry that person too. Why can't you love that person as well. Who are you to say that the man or woman you love belongs to only you?'"

She gathered up part of her tail and hugged it to herself. "It seems so selfish to me. Keeping one man or woman to yourself, that no one else can express physical intimacy with."

She held out a hand. "But if that 's the way it's 'supposed to be'..." Her tone gained a note of mockery. "then why is divorce so...so.. common." She spat and pounded a fist by her hip.

The lamia gritted her teeth and her eyes focused straight ahead, like she was trying to burn down the opposite wall with heat vision. After another moment she relaxed and breathed out. "I had to relearn that word."

Jack had stayed quiet as she voiced her near existential anxiety. "What word?"

"Divorce." She partly glanced up at him. "I asked my mama if my tribe ever had a divorce."

Jack blinked. "What did she say?"

Sula retrieved her phone and tapped the screen a few times. She held it out to him. He took it and reviewed a text conversation between herself and a 'Mama Daphne'.

The last line from Daphne read: I asked Matriarch Alanis and Senior Daniel to check our records for any case of divorce or a husband running away two hours ago. They still haven't found one."

Jack reread that line half a dozen times. "holy shit."

She shook her head. "It's not definitive, they could still find something."

"That's..." He started. "That's still ridiculously impressive." He held the phone out to her. "It would only take two seconds for me to recall a divorce in my family."

She grasped her phone and looked up at him in mild shock. "What? Who?"

Jack let his hand drop. "You saw my brother Isaac around right?"

She nodded. "Uh huh."

He swallowed. "He and Samantha split up about six months ago."

"Oh goddess." She reached out and placed her hand on his arm. "I'm so sorry Jack."

He closed his eyes and nodded in acceptance. She withdrew her arm and looked at her phone again. "If I may ask..." She looked back up at him. "How did it happen?" Jack didn't answer for a few seconds. "Did she cheat?" Sula's voice took on a prejudiced tone. "Or did..he?"

Jack shook his head. "Neither, as far as I know."

"Wha..?"

He frowned and stepped aside. He waved and indicated a part of her bed. "Can I sit here?"

"Yeah, yeah of course." She answered and slide her tail away from the edge nearest him. Jack sat down and leaned over slightly with his hands on his knees. Sula leaned her human half forward.

Jack stared at the ground a few seconds as he gathered all the details he could remember.

"Isaac and Sam..." He blinked. "gods I haven't thought about her in a while..." He shook his head. "They didn't cheat on each other, they didn't break any of their wedding vows."

He pressed his lips together. "From what I could gather she...just... stopped loving him."

Sula rattled her head and blinked rapidly. "Wh..huh? Say that again?"

Jack swallowed. "She stopped..being in love."

Sula frowned. "You..you humans know that love and marriage takes work right?" She stretched out an arm to the side. "Feelings only get you so far." She made a fist. "Even my Joey can be a pain in the tail."

Jack smirked a bit. "Joey?" He looked over at her. "He one of your preferences?"

She folded her arms. "Uh huh. I've wanted to knock a few of his teeth out when he's being an insufferable smart-ass."

He chortled. "Note to self: Don't be a smart-ass with a lamia."

She grinned smugly. "That's very wise of you Jack." He dipped his head and stifled a laugh.

She relaxed her arms and dipped her head. "Seriously though Jack...she stopped loving him? I don't get it?"

He shook his head. "I don't either." He breathed out. "I haven't asked Sam about any of this. So I don't know all the details. But I know that they'd been seeing a marriage counselor for over a year before they signed the divorce papers."

He shrugged. "They tried. He tried." A pause. "It didn't work."

Both fell silent for a few moments.

Jack raised his head. "Why were you looking for that stuff on the internet anyway?"

She hugged herself. "Well because..because..I.."

He looked at her. "You kissed me."

She nodded. "I know you're with Tetra. But I...Jack I..."

He stared at her silently.

"I...wanted to learn about what your culture thinks of relationships with multiple partners involved." Her eyes hardened. "A few of those opinions I found pissed me off."

Despite the fact that he had a good idea of the answer, he asked. "Why did you want to know about that?"

She pressed her lips together for a good five-count. "Because I wanted to ask you to consider pursuing a relationship that your culture doesn't consider traditional."

Jack gazed into her vulnerable golden eyes. A burning sensation gathered just under his chest. Storms of thoughts and feelings went through his mind.. He tried to settle on a few to form a coherent response.

He swallowed. "You realize...you'd be asking Tetra the same thing?"

Sula closed her eyes a moment and nodded.

Jack lowered an eyebrow. "You're comfortable...with...I didn't think you liked her all that much."

She grinned. "Before the other night, when you were taken...not especially." Jack tilted his head. "But I saw her determination, her desperation to find you." She reached out and laid her hand on his. "And when she got you back, Tetra...she trusted me to get you help."

He glanced upward and recalled that particular event of that night. "That's...right. She..didn't seem to be in full control." He glanced back up at her. "She looked like..."

Sula nodded lightly. "Like she might have hurt you as well." She paused. "I don't think she would have...but." She raised a claw. "she couldn't take the chance, so she trusted that I would get you help." The lamia smiled. "I don't think she'll necessarily throw the idea out of hand."

He dipped his head and studied the floor. "Why me?"

She tilted her head. "I don't understand."

"You said you weren't looking for a husband. That you would never cheat on the ones you have." He reminded her. "Did you change your mind?"

She smiled brightly. "You, changed my mind." He blinked and darted his head toward her. "Jack..." She laid her hand on his again. "You are so much like my husbands. You're kind, compassionate, generous, patient and understanding. Everything that makes you a good host, also makes you an attractive husband."

He opened his mouth to protest. She held up a finger in his face. "And don't deny that you're attracted to me." Jack clamped his jaw shut after a second. She grinned smugly but, sweetly.

He took a heavy breath and let it out. "I'll admit to...flirting with you." She raised an eyebrow slightly and inclined her head.

He sighed. "Yeah yeah, okay. You're right." She smiled brightly again.

Jack leaned his head back. "The first time I saw you, back at the Exchange office...I thought you were an angel." Her eyes glittered. "And not the species angels, but the old term we humans usually use for exceptionally beautiful women."

He raised a hand toward her. "Then there's your self-control and willingness to take responsibility if you mess up something." He glanced at her a moment. "You've corrected me when I handle something about liminals wrong. And you're not mean about it." He chuckled. "A little severe, but not mean." She nodded at his evaluation.

"But then you've have practice at that, being a mother." He blinked and lost his smile. "And...I think that terrifies me the most about this idea."

She gave him a confused look. "What does?"

He gazed downward. "Well, if we pursue this to a certain point... and we really follow through on some things...then I'd be a step father."

Sula tried to read his expression. "Is there something wrong about that?"

His eyes widened as he nodded several times. "Oh yeah. I am nowhere near ready to take on that kind of responsibility." He waved a hand around her room. "Along with everything else I already have to do."

She squeezed his hand. "You wouldn't be alone Jack. And I'm sure the elders would understand if you didn't want to be overly involved in raising the next generation. Not all of my husbands are good at that."

Jack gave her a slightly disgusted and quizzical look. "Really? Your husbands can just...opt out of that?"

She smirked. "I believe you humans have a saying about raising kids: It takes a village." He looked to the side and then back to her and nodded. "Where I'm from," She placed her other hand on her chest. "we take that literally." He blinked a few times as he considered her words.

"Remember what I told you Jack. Just because I gave birth to three daughters doesn't make me solely responsible for them. That's not how we see it. We all share the responsibility." She waved a hand to the side. "But some are better at certain tasks than others."

He nodded a few times as he considered that detail. "And you'd want to make sure that the fathers and mothers with the best parental skills did the majority of the teaching."

Her face brightened a second. "Exactly." Then her expression sobered a degree. "Echidna's are some of the most dangerous and aggressive extra-species on the planet. If we left child-rearing to just the birth parents, we'd be taking a huge and frankly unnecessary risk." She pressed her lips together. "An improperly trained and behaved echidna is one my tribe's worst fears."

Jack nodded in understanding. "Like M-marian's concerns about Tetra."

She drew back indignantly. "W-what? Did you just compare..?"

He shook his head and held up a hand. "Sorry, I probably shouldn't have brought that up..but she said something similar that night." Sula's disgusted expression didn't change. "She was worried that if Tetra hurt me, or worse, that humans would regard all arachne as actively dangerous."

She scowled at him. "I was there, Jack. I heard what she said." She closed her eyes and breathed out once, twice...three times. "I'll acknowledge that species that desire peace with humans have a... concern about being seen as a threat because of the actions of a few of their members." Her eyes flashed open with a fire blazing just inside them. "But that does not excuse what she did to you. At all. Whatsoever."

Jack held up a hand. "Hey, I'm not defending her." He frowned. "She's just...it's been on my mind a lot."

Sula placed a hand on her hip. "Alright fine." She held up a claw near his chest. "But don't you dare equate that bitch to my family."

Jack waved both hands. "Hey, hey, I'm not, I'm not. I just.." He closed his mouth a moment. "Do you remember that first night we spent here."

The lamia blinked and reared her head back. "Uh yeah, what does that have to with..?"

"I had a nightmare remember?"

She furrowed her eyebrows together. "It was about me and Tetra chasing you around the house right?"

He nodded soberly. "Yes, and...I've been having nightmares like that ever since."

"What?" She gasped. "Jack that's...why didn't you say anything?"

He lifted both hands in a helpless gesture. "What could I say? 'Hey ladies I'd appreciate you not tormenting my dreams. 'Kay thanks bye.'"

Sula let out a frustrated grunt. "Well...Maybe you just need...your own sleeping pills. Or something." He raised an eyebrow at her. "I don't know." She looked downward for a few seconds of thinking. "Did you tell anybody else about this?"

Jack nodded. "Smythe already knew." He lifted a hand. "Apparently other hosts have experienced nightmares like mine as well." She hummed thoughtfully. "According to him, it seems to be an unconscious response for being near, well...danger constantly."

"Okay..." She narrowed her eyes. "Why are you telling me this?"

He shut his eyes a moment. When he opened them back up he appeared to be more exposed and insecure than she'd ever seen him before. His gaze shifted to the side a few degrees. "Because after that night with M-marian, it got worse."

She stared at him silently as he continued.

"After you...visited me last, I fell asleep." He blinked once and looked upward. "And she was there. I saw her climb through my window, tear off my sheets, bite me and wrap me up and toss me out my own window. "

Sula's eyes widened slowly. "goddess."

Jack looked forward toward her door. "I woke up petrified. Like she'd actually envenomed me again. I was so scared I couldn't move."

He swallowed. "I really didn't want to be alone in my room anymore. I..don't feel safe in there." He breathed in and out once. "Then I remembered." He looked directly at the lamia to his side. "The night I spent in Tetra's room, the night after we visited the mall, and my friends came over." She nodded in acknowledgment.

"That night I didn't have a nightmare." Her breath caught.

"So this last night, I went to see Tetra again." He smiled a bit. "And she held me. Comforted me." He pressed his lips together. "I fell asleep with her."

He couldn't quite read the echidna's face but he could sense fierce emotions behind her eyes. "And I didn't have a nightmare again."

Her hands clenched and her claws dug into their palms. Her gaze surged with intensity and Jack shrunk away. He looked down at his hands. "I...I'm sorry that I risked my host position again." He clenched his own hands. "I know I shouldn't have done that, but ..I...I.."

She leaned forward and kissed him. His eyes enlarged like dinner plates and he retreated off the bed.

"S-Sula stop! What're you-" He stammered.

She stared at him with wide caring eyes. "Jack. I'd never want you to suffer." He blinked rapidly. "If..if sleeping next to her keeps you from having more nightmares...then..." She hugged herself and gazed off to the side. "I...can..." Those last two words held so much pain she couldn't finish.

Jack shut his eyes hard. His heart pounded in his ears. He took a few steps back and felt for the door. When his hand rested on the cool metal of the handle, he cracked open one eye. "Your bath is ready."

A glimpse of her stricken face stuck in his head as he power walked to the kitchen. He drew out a frying pan and yanked a knob on the stove. He took a breath and accidentally placed half the pan on the surface of the oven. It clattered to the floor.

"Godzdammit." He knelt and picked it back up. He shook his head to clear it and tried to place the pan carefully. A bit of OCD chimed in and recalled that kitchen floors are usually dirty.

He grimaced and tossed the 'dirty' pan in the sink and bent down to retrieve a different pan. Another surge of emotions hit him and Jack lightly pounded his forehead on the lower cabinet door.

"god damnit, god damnit, god fucking damnit."

He stood up. Flipped the oven knob off and stormed out the kitchen door into the garage.

Some time later...

A heavy weight rocked the whole bench table Jack was laying his head at.

"Gu-ah." He reared his head up and darted his eyes to the huge crocodile man in MON gear at the opposite corner. Jack recognized him from the day he dropped off the deed for his parent's house at the Exchange office.

The crocodile man pressed a thumb to a receiver on his shoulder. "Dispatch. Zero Four. Located missing host. Location: Zephyr Park."

The radio crackled back. "Roger Zero Four. Is medical assistance required?"

He thumbed the radio again. "Negative Dispatch." He eyed Jack up and down and lifted his thumb. "Right kid? You're not hurt or nothing?"

Jack shook his head and wiped his face on his sleeve. "No..no I'm not hurt."

The croc-man nodded and pressed the button again. "Confirm dispatch. Will evaluate and report." He jerked his head at Jack. "So what's up kid?" He asked in his gravelly voice. "Why're you out here?"

Jack dipped his head and stared at the table silently.

"Your girls are freaking out. Thought you'd been taken again."

Jack closed his eyes and dug his chin into his chest. "I...can't handle it."

The croc-man twitched an eye. "Four, five at a time." He nodded. "With more coming, the way I hear it. Plus that whole business with that other arachne." He cocked his head. "Yeah, I might need some time away too."

Jack gritted his teeth. "I'm not talking about 'time away' I'm..." He shook his head. "I'm, I'm..I don't know."

He stared at the table a moment. Then casually looked over at his table companion. "It's Cargin? Cragin?"

The croc-man cleared his throat. "Craglin."

Jack paused as he evaluated the other man. "I hope it's not too rude of me too ask but..." Craglin didn't react. "What um...what species are you?"

He nodded politely. "I am a Sobek."

Jack's eyes unfocused as he ran the term through his memory. "Sobek... Egyptian god, represented martial combat and protection from evil magic." He eyed Craglin to gauge his response. "Or something like that."

The liminal's eyes narrowed a hair. "Ah, you speak of the con man who masqueraded as one of my people."

Jack blinked and looked at him more intently. "C-con man?"

Craglin chuckled. "Yep. In my people's history there's a story of a human child orphaned in our territory, back home in what you humans call Sahara. Scouts discovered him and took him back to our home."

He adjusted his seating before continuing the tale. "We raised him, taught him how to fight and hunt and swim as we do." He shrugged. "Well, as much as a human could feasibly accomplish at any rate."

"Our stories are not clear on why, but that man left our homeland and struck out on his own. He gathered a few followers and made himself a mask and armor from a crocodile and called himself Sobek. That, along with his impressive strength and fighting style," Craglin offered a clawed hand. "for a human at least, made him the fiercest warrior in the land."

"He gathered an army and conquered the Nile Delta." Jack leaned forward a bit. History from a liminal's perspective ignited his curiosity.

"The human priests, in desperation, attempted to stop him by casting dark spells and committing blood rituals." Craglin's eyes twitched in amusement. "All of which failed."

"This new conqueror had himself declared a god and statues in his 'likeness' were built alongside the other gods the humans worshiped." He concluded.

Jack absorbed the story and compared it to what he could remember of ancient Egyptian history. He placed a hand on his chin. "How did your people know what happened after he left? Was he followed?"

Craglin shook his head. "No. A few centuries after the conqueror died.." He lifted both hands to make air quotes. "or 'ascended to the heavens', a merchant was exploring a possible trade route through our territory." He dipped his head a degree. "Unfortunately, his caravan was attacked by bandits."

He lifted one claw. "Unfortunately for the bandits, my people had been tracking them." Craglin 'walked' two fingers on the table with his other hand. "When they made their move, we made ours. We followed them back to their hideout and ambushed them." He lightly pounded the table with a fist.

"When the merchant saw my people, he bowed and thanked them for rescuing him. He even called us by the name we call ourselves. "

Jack nodded in comprehension. "Sobek."

"Exactly." Craglin nodded back. "Naturally, we were curious how a human knew of our people and our warriors took him back to the elders. They questioned him and he told the tale of the god 'Sobek.'"

"Our elders consulted the record of the orphaned human we raised and put two and two together." He offered a hand. "They decided to let the merchant go with a warning." He grinned satisfactorily. "They instructed him to tell the other humans to stay away from our territory, lest the judgment of 'Sobek' be upon them."

Jack chuckled in appreciation. "Clever."

He gave a small shrug. "When you're considered a god, one can get away with just about anything."

Jack twitched an eyebrow. "Or if you represent a god."

Craglin inclined his head with interest but Jack waved him off. "Thank you for telling me that."

The sobek shrugged. "Just an old tale. Nothing to quibble over." He pointed a claw at Jack. "That, however, should probably be changed."

Jack leaned his head back in surprise and looked down at his shirt. Then he noticed a pair of dull red spots coming from the wrapping on his shoulder. He sighed. The bite from Marian had been healing, but he probably agitated his wound When he left the house in a fit.

"I don't suppose you have any gauze?" He asked.

"I do." Craglin nodded. "But I doubt you want me to try to apply them." He flexed both claw-tipped hands.

"Oh." Jack stated. "I'm... probably going need someone else to help me with these."

Craglin chortled. "So, turns out you do need medical assistance."

Jack sighed. "Yeah guess so."

"Want me to take you back to your place?" Craglin asked. "Sheena can reapply those."

Jack's eyes furrowed. The thought of going back to the mansion made him feel uneasy. Then he felt guilty, for feeling that way. For trying to abandon his homestays. He dipped his head and sighed heavily.

"Something wrong kid?" Craglin asked.

Jack nodded and looked up. "Yeah." He gazed directly at the sobek across the table. "I know I have no right to ask you this...but can you keep a secret?"

Craglin shifted his seating. "Depends on the secret."

Jack shook his head lightly. "It's nothing illegal..I just.." He looked ahead at some trees in the distance. "I just need to tell someone about the crap going through my head."

A deep rumbling noise, like a growling dinosaur emerged from the liminal. Jack darted his eyes at him and leaned back. Craglin lifted a clawed hand.

"Sorry, just clearing my throat." He coughed and then let out a breath. Jack tried to settle his nerves.

"I'm not exactly the counselor type kid. You might wanna hit up Serilla if you want to talk to someone." He suggested.

Jack shut his eyes and took a long breath. "I don't need any feedback I..need to unload."

The sobek smirked. "Again, I believe that's a counselor's job."

The human narrowed his eyes and Craglin lifted a hand. "Fine fine, I won't repeat anything I hear from you unless it interferes with my duties."

Jack closed his eyes and nodded. "That's fair." He opened them back up and stared ahead again. "You know about the nightmares right?"

The sobek nodded. "You're one of the hosts that experiences them."

"Well," Jack continued. "they've been occurring every night... except when I slept with Tetra."

Craglin tapped a claw on the wooden table. Jack lifted a finger. "I haven't broken the law." He laid his arm back down. "I'm... admitting how close I was to breaking it. Sula...all but reamed me when I told her about that."

"Mmm." The sobek hummed understandingly. "She'd been waiting a long time for a host."

Jack gazed downward. "Yeah...and then the nightmares got worse," He idly studied the grains of the wooden table top. "after M-marian got me."

The sobek curled his fingers in.

"So last night, I slept with Tetra again. I didn't have a nightmare." He lifted a hand. "And this time when I told Sula about that she...kisses me and forgives me." He shook his head. "She asked me to start a relationship with herself and Tetra."

The sobek twitched one eye.

"And I'm like, I can't handle something like this right now. I was just freakin' kidnapped two days ago!" Jack placed both palms on his temples.

"When I woke up yesterday, Syleris was worried that I would quit the program. I told her I wouldn't." He slapped the table. "But now I'm running away from the house and whining about my problems."

He rattled his head. "I... how can I do that to her?" He shot his gaze up at the sky. "And then there's Dawn and Kuro...gods Dawn..." He frowned. "She's a mess already, and she's barely been here three days."

He looked back at the MON agent. "She died you know. Kuro showed me how they got the way they are. Dawn died." The sobek didn't react. "And now she almost kills two people with Kuro..."

Jack lifted his legs over the bench and rotated his whole body to face the other direction. "And Tetra's..." He blinked. "Well Tetra's probably going to be fine." He dipped his head. "But I've run away from her as well." He jerked a hand in the air briefly. "Gods, I suck at this job."

Craglin waited a moment. "Kid, no one expects you to keep on like you weren't bitten and taken." Jack didn't say anything. "You need some time away, that's fine." He waved a clawed hand.

Jack raised his head and turned toward the MON agent. He blinked few times. "But I'm their host. I can't just leave them."

Craglin shook his head. "I didn't say 'leave them'. I'm saying if you need some time away from the house, that can be arranged."

Jack blinked a few times. "What would I do?"

The sobek shrugged. "Whatever you want."

Jack narrowed his eyes. "I think Agent Smythe would disapprove of me neglecting my job."

Craglin inclined his head. "Kid, you've been 'on the job' ever since you stepped into the house." He raised a claw. "I've skimmed the reports. You've been looking after all your homestays constantly and consistently." A pause. "Your allowed to take a break you know?"

Jack's eyes wavered. "Why didn't Smythe tell me any of that earlier?"

Craglin shrugged. "You're supposed to be taking it easy right? Getting bedrest and all that."

Jack opened his mouth and raised a finger to retort. But he didn't say anything. Whatever he was thinking died in his throat.

"I'm sure Smythe would have reminded you if he thought that you needed it." He folded his arms. "The doc gave us the impression that you'd be sleeping through most of your recovery."

Jack glanced down and stared at the table. "I...I can't sleep in my room."

The sobek blinked and leaned forward. "Why not?"

Jack swallowed. "Cause that's where she..she..."

Craglin blinked a few times. "Oh." He nodded lightly a few times. "I see." A beat. "You wanna move to another room?"

Jack grimaced. "I don't know. I just, I don't...I don't want to deal with anything right now." His voice picked up some volume. "I don't want to deal with any chores, I don't want to cook a feast, I don't want to decide anything." He closed his eyes. "I don't know what I want." He dipped his head and breathed out.

"Jack? Are you alright?"

The host rattled his head and spun around in his seat to face the new voice. "Who?"

Mrs. Tam stood a few feet off in the grass. She wore a light blue t-shirt and jeans with white sneakers.

"O-oh." Jack stammered. "Hey." He gave a little wave.

She looked at him askance. "I saw you over here earlier but you sounded upset just now." Her eyes tracked to the sobek a moment and then back to Jack. "Is everything alright?"

He lowered his gaze a bit and thought about her question. "I..I don't know."

She raised a hand apprehensively. "Is..this one of your home-stays?"

Jack gave a light laugh and leaned back. "No." He waved a hand at the sobek. "This is Craglin."

The liminal stood up and gave a little bow. "Agent Craglin of MON, ma'am. Pleasure to meet you Mrs. Tam."

She blinked. "You know me?"

Craglin smirked a bit. "We're very well informed of incidents between our liminal guests and the locals."

She took a moment before she responded. "I see." A beat. "A MON agent? Is Jack in some kind of trouble?"

Jack and Craglin glanced at each other briefly. "He...was involved in an altercation with a homestay guest."

Her eyes widened and she stared at Jack. "Was that just the other night? I heard about that on the local news." She stepped up nearer to him and eyed the gauze on his shoulder. "Are you alright?"

Jack let a breath out his nose and placed a hand on the side of his face. "That's...still up in the air."

"Oh my." She took the seat opposite him and placed a hand on his. "They didn't give a lot of details but...it sounded like it was terrible on the news." The sincere sympathy in her voice was like a salve on his mind.

He nodded lightly a few times. "It was."

Her mouth tightened. "What happened?"

Jack eyed the MON agent. Craglin stood a little straighter. "I won't stop you, but..." He gazed down at Mrs Tam. "The Exchange would appreciate if you did not repeat...certain details."

She turned to the agent and lowered an eyebrow. "I'm a mother, Agent Craglin. I know the value of discretion when discussing terrible things."

The sobek blinked. "I see."

Mrs. Tam faced back to Jack. "So. Tell me."

Jack took a breath and recalled most of the events from the full moon night. Mrs. Tam sat silently through it all. At certain points she squeezed his hand tighter.

When he finished, all three kept silent for a good ten count.

"You have to go back to them Jack."

He lifted his head and stared at Mrs. Tam.

"You have to go back." She repeated.

He glanced down at the table.

"Jack, if one of my children were taken and then brought back." She leaned forward and laid her other hand on his. "I wouldn't let them out of my sight, for anything."

He gritted his teeth and closed his eyes.

"If Calvin or Chloe suddenly disappeared ..." Her grip on his hand tightened. "I would be going out of my mind crazy. I would be searching every possible place, everywhere I could go. I'd recruit everyone I knew to help me and I. Would. Find. Them." Her tone steeled as she punctuated her last words.

She let out a breath slowly. "If your homestays care about you enough to risk being deported themselves to get you back..." She let her hands relax and retracted her arms from the table. "You have to go back."

Jack sucked in a breath and let it out while nodding. "Yeah...yeah you're right." He stood up from the table and faced the MON agent. "Alright Craglin. Let's get going."

The sobek nodded and started walking toward his vehicle. He thumbed the button on his radio and reported in. Jack stood still a moment and looked back down at Mrs. Tam. She looked back up at him. "What is it Jack?"

He lowered an eyebrow. "Why are you here?"

She smiled a bit. "Oh, we come here all the time." She waved toward the playground on the other side of the park. Jack looked over and thought he recognized Calvin and Chloe among the children playing.

After a second he turned back to her. "Who's watching them?"

She smiled lightly. "My neighbor has her own kids. They all attend the same school."

Thinking of children reminded Jack of his conversation with Sula. He shook his head and looked toward the vehicle that Craglin had just entered.

"Thank you for talking with me Mrs. Tam." He took a step but stopped as she stood up. He gave her a curious expression.

"If you would like Jack, I can come by later with Calvin and Chloe. I'll bake a casserole." She offered.

He blinked a few times and then smirked. "Make two of them." He advised. "I've got even more guests now."

She chuckled. "Alright. I'll call you before I start baking and we'll go from there."

He nodded. "Sounds great." He faced ahead, thanked her again and crossed the field toward Craglin's hummer. He hopped into the passenger seat and buckled in.

"Ready?" The agent asked.

"No." Jack answered. "But I will be."

The sobek grunted approvingly as he shifted gears and pulled into the street.

A/N: Thanks for reading.

For anyone who missed it the adept Linda Roze made another commission of Dawn and Syleris.

lindaroze/art/Commission-Dawn-and-Syleris-Gaming-Buddies-792567021