SMOKE AND ASHES
Gold, along with Belle, Emma, Archie and Jefferson embark on a trans-Atlantic flight to the mysterious, little known kingdom of Avonleigh, Belle's homeland. Gold reveals that he struggles to cross open water, despite his history as a sailor when he was younger – his now dark-aligned character is restricted from crossing such barriers without discomfort. He self-medicates with alcohol and Dramamine.
Once the group has arrived in Avonleigh, they are immediately confronted with a larger-than-life banner of Princess Belle. Gold, recovering from his self-treatment, is confused, hurt and angry that she has not shared her status with him; he feels even more now that he is not worthy of her. Hearing Belle's story of how much she was afraid and unable to trust anyone, Gold readily forgives her and proceeds to lavish his attentions on the now dowdy Miss Belle. Their amorous progress is interrupted when Belle realizes they are on level with her father's study in the adjacent royal castle. Gold (who is evidently still timid about pursuing the fae-princess) pulls away and they spend the night wrapped in each others embrace.
Meanwhile Emma who has been debating if she should intervene on Belle's behalf, decides that Jefferson is just the ticket to resolving her pent up stress level and invites him into her quarters.
Chapter 20
The Library
Yet another uncomfortable morning. Gold was having a lot of these since becoming semi-involved with Miss Belle. Waking with the half-naked little princess wrapped around him was both a blessing and a curse. He stretched and gently untwined the sleeping little princess from her death grip on his body. She was certainly stronger than she looked.
He smiled at his own thought. In so many ways she was stronger than she looked.
But then he sighed.
So, she was a princess! A half-fae princess! A half-fae virgin princess! What had he gotten himself involved with? In how many ways was this relationship not going to work!
None of her relatives would approve of him.
For that matter, none of his relatives would approve of her.
Well, fuck 'em.
What was he to do? Did he go with his base desires, throw caution and sensibility to the wind and just bed the little Empath? She certainly seemed interested. What then? He looked over her sleeping form and his heart contracted.
She was so astonishingly beautiful - in all ways a woman could be beautiful.
He didn't want something cheap or trivial with this woman. He already had more with her than with any other woman he'd ever been close to – although he acknowledged he had never really been close with any other woman.
But he didn't deserve her.
And she didn't deserve the life he would be able to offer her.
If he didn't need her for the scrolls . . . well, he'd likely be trying to convince her to come clean with her father and return to her royal life. She understood herself now. She wasn't crazy. She could take care of herself. He'd just be a selfish cowardly bastard if he tried to keep her by his side, keep her for himself.
He glanced back down at her.
He was such a selfish cowardly bastard.
+ + + + Rising
Wanting Belle to be thoroughly rested, Gold had shaved and quietly dressed himself and left the room to go down to the little restaurant that was in the hotel. As he went down the hall towards the stairs, the door to the room that belonged to Emma and Belle opened and Jefferson stepped out. The two men stopped and looked at each other. Gold was as dapper as ever, even dressed as the intense, single-minded professor. Jefferson looked like hell, unshaven and dressed in yesterday's travel clothes.
Finally Jefferson spoke up, "You're not supposed to know," he said to Gold.
Gold shrugged. "I don't see why not. Seems that everyone knows what I'm doing," Gold said disgruntled.
"Ah, that's because you're mysterious and interesting. I'm just a flake," Jefferson told him.
The two men went on down the stairs.
"So what's on tap for today, boss?" Jefferson yawned and asked Gold as they were seated in the formal restaurant.
Gold was glancing over the menu, written in French and English. "Library for me. I'm expected at ten o'clock."
"Sounds good." Jefferson looked over the menu and pulled a face. He ordered coffee, eggs, bacon and toast. "No grits, I see," Jefferson told the older man.
"But they have seabass!" Gold noted.
Jefferson made a gagging sound. "I don't see how you manage to eat fish for breakfast."
"I came from an island known for its world class fishing. Salmon and trout and then what all could be pulled from the ocean. It seems natural to me," Gold told him and then ordered the seabass with a croissant, eggs and tea for breakfast.
When their waiter had left the table Jefferson leaned in. "Have you been feeling anything unusual?" he asked and made a vague gesture all around them.
"The ambient energy strings? Waves and waves of them?"
"Yeah, this place is even stronger in energy than Asheville. I've never felt anything like it." Jefferson sat back in his chair. "And looking around, just about everybody here has some level of Talent; although nearly all of it is undeveloped or just marginally working."
Gold stilled his own vision and looked out. Jefferson was a natural at detecting psychic energies; although Gold was capable he had to concentrate to do what Jefferson did automatically. Yes, of course Jefferson was right – the man saw things as they really were. The waiter was a latent telekinetic. One of the bellboys was a potential firestarter. The concierge was an undeveloped telepath. "So our Miss Belle isn't the only talented Avonleigh-ite."
"Not hardly, if everyone else in town is like the people in this restaurant. The Talent in this place is epidemic."
+ + + Another Rising
Belle stirred and reached over. The bed was empty. It was cold. She stretched and sat up, embarrassed at her lack of clothing in the light of the morning. She looked around. Her clothes had been picked up and set on one of the two chairs in front of the window. She crept out of the bed and dressed herself, put her lenses back in and left to go down the hall.
She tapped on the door of her room, not wanting to walk in on Emma unannounced and not entirely sure if Emma might have a guest with her.
"Come in," Emma shouted back.
Belle cracked the door opened and saw that Emma had already dressed. Emma looked over her roommate closely. Belle looked well-rested but she didn't have any special after-glow. Either Gold was a dud in the sack or they hadn't consummated.
It was Belle who spoke. "You look perky," she told the pretty blonde. "Almost a little glowing."
Emma blushed. "Yeah right," she said slowly. She'd forgotten Belle had that empath -thing going 24/7.
Belle smiled but didn't say anything. She grabbed a quick shower, ran a brush through her unruly hair, and dressed in another dumpy outfit, this time a ratty blue jean skirt and an old sweatshirt with fraying cuffs. She put on fresh socks and the clunky brown shoes.
Emma had waited for her. She wore her usual outfit of jeans, a tank top and Doc Martins. They rapped on Archie's door but there was no answer.
"Archie and Jefferson must have already gone down," Belle said. And the two women joined Gold, Jefferson and Archie (who had joined the other two men earlier) in the restaurant for breakfast and ordered food for themselves.
"We'll get my paperwork ," Gold told the group as they were finishing up. "Miss 'Dupont' and I will attend the appointment at the Library. We'll meet back here at four."
"You want me to go with you to the Library?" Belle asked, the fear spiking in her eyes.
"Yes, I need your help in finding the scroll. It's a big library. I can't just go in, find it, grab it and run," he spoke kindly but firmly, reaching over to grasp her hand in a comforting gesture.
Belle closed her eyes and nodded. "All right," she agreed not wanting to disappoint him.
By nine thirty the group had dispersed. Emma and Archie decided to go around on foot and explore the city. Jefferson shared with them that he was picking up a great deal of latent talent and suggested they watch themselves. Jefferson then shared that he, himself, was going upstairs to take a nap.
Gold asked Belle to (please) get his briefcase from the room and bring it down with her own materials. While she was doing this, he stopped by the desk to ask if they could have his baggage moved to a different room.
+ + + The Library
The library was a marble wonder with polished white and black marble floors and white stone carved columns rising to a high ceiling, a kind of professional building meant to intimidate and subdue any brave enough to come inside. Gold thought the place more reminiscent of a mausoleum than a library.
Belle murmured to him as they entered the imposing building, "It will behoove to be nice to the staff here. You have to get through them to get to the Archive Room."
Gold acted offended. "I'm always nice," he protested. He thought about it a moment. "Well, most of the time." Belle was looking at him and although she did not quite look like his Belle, there was the same tilt of the head, the same sweet half-smile, the same sparkle. "All right, all right. I'll try to be nice."
They were met with an initial barrier consisting of a young woman dressed in black with her black hair pulled back into a severe bun. She was sitting behind an imposing dark wooden desk. Gold handed the young woman his invitation from Luminere and gave her his most charming smile. She took the information from him without changing her expression and, pulling up some reading glasses, she read through them. She gave Gold and Belle a cool glance and picked up the phone receiver. She spoke in French and then listened. She set the phone down and looked back at Gold.
"Doctor Luminere will call for you shortly," she said, still obviously unimpressed and turned back to the paperwork on her desk.
"Thank you, Mademoiselle . . . " Gold looked at the woman's name, "Fifi." He again smiled at her, but she just gave him an impassive, bored glance.
Belle had stood by during this exchange, keeping her eyes down, making herself breathe deeply as she stood in the entry hallway of her oldest, most favorite haunt. She stopped a moment after going over the threshold, allowing the smells, the sounds, the sights, the feel of the place to wash over her.
Belle knew that most people would find this place cold and uninviting, but to her it represented peace and quiet. It was predictable and orderly. To her it felt welcoming, forgiving, as if it wasn't angry that she had abandoned it.
Belle closed her eyes and suddenly, for the first time, she was able to give a name to the forces that were scurrying around her. They were lei lines, magical energy lines. She had learned about them from some of the Gold's books and had felt the same energies in Asheville. The energy lines wove in and out and around the library. This place was a vortex, a focal point for magic.
No wonder it had spoken so loudly to her.
The phone on the desk rang and Mademoiselle Fifi picked it up. She listened and then hung up.
"Doctor Luminere will see you now. You are to go to the right, up the stairs, turn left and go down the hallway to the Archives Room. The guard will let you in. You will be searched before you are allowed to enter. You are to wear these badges at all time," the young woman said handing them off two bright yellow badges without making eye contact.
Gold effusively thanked the young woman and he and Belle put on the badges. They proceeded to the Archives Room as per Fifi's directions. Belle followed at a short distance behind the wizard who struggled just a bit with his leg getting up the stairs. Belle remembered to walk by shuffling along, keeping her eyes down and trying to remember to keep slumped over – all part of her disguise.
Gold stopped as they approached the Archives Room and turned to Belle. "Are you doing all right?" he asked her kindly. He knew this was the most difficult step she had yet to take. She had known the Archive Supervisor, Doctor Luminere. She had to be concerned that he might recognize her.
Belle looked up at Gold, her eyes widened with fear. "He was very kind to me. I know a lot of people think he is a pompous flirt, but he was always nice to me. He broke the rules for me. I think he felt sorry for me."
"Just stick to the background, Belle. I'll have to treat you as a lowly grad student, barely worth any attention. I'll get you to fetch and carry for me. Do you think that will do?"
"I do," she agreed.
"You know I'll be pretending? How I'll be treating you is not how I feel about you."
She managed a smile, "Of course I know. You're protecting me."
He gave a sigh of relief and they approached the (armed) guard with their badges. The guard had them empty their pockets and their briefcases. He then ran a wand around them. Satisfied, he returned their possessions and unlocked the heavy door to let them in.
The Archives Room was cool and dry, as befitting a place that rare fragile documents were stored. Doctor Luminere was waiting for them. He was a slender, lanky man, with long reddish-brown hair pulled back in a ponytail. He was dressed in plain brown pants, a cream shirt and a brown vest. He rubbed his hands together and graciously greeted Gold with nervous energy and a French accent.
"Dr. Gold. I'm honored, so honored that you've come to us to do your research." He held out his hand to Gold.
Gold immediately took the hand and shook it. "I'm humbled you agreed to have me here. This library has an extraordinary, exclusive reputation. It's world-renown."
"Oh, you are too kind. You will be our guest while you are here. Allow me to show you to the particular manuscripts that you expressed interest in." Luminere gestured toward one of the vaulted rooms. "Of course we don't allow food or drink in the vaults. You understand. We supply cotton gloves while you are examining the manuscripts. Some, as you certainly are aware, are quite fragile. We have some that are kept under glass to protect them."
Luminere led the way, still talking, "We are in the process of taking pictures of many of these manuscripts so that we can make them available to many scholars, instead of just the ones who are able come here. Knowledge should be free." Luminere stopped to unlock one of the vaults. He lowered his voice before opening the vault. "Of course, there is also the ever-present concern for mold contamination on some of these old documents. We have masks if you have any concerns and there are some vaults that a mask is required for your own protection."
"Of course. I very much appreciate your precautions," Gold told him.
The vault opened and Luminere and Gold stepped in. Belle held back.
"The mademoiselle can come in, but of course," Luminere smiled at Belle, who didn't make eye contact. She managed to nod back at him and stepped just inside.
Luminere continued, "The documents you expressed interest in are along these shelves. Oh, I must tell you also, we do have cameras working all the time. An unpleasant requirement of the times, I'm afraid. It is to protect us again thieves who might steal a document to further their own ends. We have a lot of old religious and political texts, many banned documents, many things that some would have destroyed or use themselves to strengthen a political position or some such nonsense. And some of the documents are so valuable, like art work, they could be held in ransom for The Library to pay," Luminere shrugged.
Gold nodded in commiseration. He sat at the work table in the vault that Luminere provided. "I would wash my hands first, Dr. Luminere, as would my assistant."
"But of course. I will show you the facilities. And while you are gone, I will pull those manuscripts that fit the requirements you emailed me."
After Belle and Gold had washed up and were walking back to the vault, Gold's sharp eyes located one of the cameras and turning his back to it, he leaned over and, without making a sound, he mouthed the question, "Where is it?"
Belle knew what he was talking about. She yawned and covered her mouth to answer in a whisper, "In the second vault from the front door. At least that's where it used to be."
Before they returned to the vault a large white cat came bounding through the main Archive room. It skidded on the slick marble floor, slipping on the marble. It was a very large, very fluffy, very white animal with pale green eyes. It recovered with a cat's typical nonchalant grace from its ignominious entrance and padded over to come to a stop in front of Belle. She almost called the animal by name before bending down to pet the creature. Gold caught her arm and gave her a warning glance before she gave herself away by naming it.
Luminere came out of the vault in time to see the woman and the cat together. "I see you have met the Archive cat. This is Whisper. She was named by our beloved princess when she was just a little girl."
"Ah yes, your princess. Am I correct that she is quite ill?" Gold asked.
"Oh yes," Luminere was genuinely sad. "She has always been in poor health. For a short while, she seemed better but then . . . mon Dieu The Relapse. We have not seen her in . . . more than six months." Luminere thought a moment. "I guess it has been that long. Beautiful, lovely girl. As sweet on the inside as she was on the outside."
Belle was listening as she petted the cat who seemed to have had no difficulties recognizing her despite Milah's best efforts.
"She acts as if she knows you," Luminere told Belle. "Whisper loved our princess also. When she was well enough, she would spend hours here. She loved this library," he seemed proud that he had been a part of something positive in the poor little princess's life. He sighed. "I like to think that I might have been one of her friends." He sighed again, "Sometimes, the king, lui même, comes here. I guess he feels this is a way to connect with his daughter. He grieves so for her."
Gold caught Belle out of the corner of his eye. She was leaned over petting the cat but he could tell she had heard this last statement and he knew it had upset her. He saw her hand go up to her face and suspected she was wiping away tears.
Gold attempted to deflect Luminere to allow Belle a little time to pull herself together. "This is a sad story, for the royal family, for your country. I wish your princess nothing but the best," he said honestly.
Luminere turned his attention back to Gold. "Thank you, Monsieur Doctor. We all have faith it will work out for the best. Now let me get you set up while the mademoiselle washes her hands again."
Gold was able to settle in to 'work' on the old manuscripts. He gave Belle a concerned look when she came into the vault behind him. She gave him a small nod. She was all right for the moment.
Belle was surprised to find out the man could read the old language that the Taliesan manuscripts were written in. He took pictures of documents (with permission) and copious notes, working through lunchtime, ordering Belle to return things to shelves, fetch a magnifying glass, file away papers and so forth throughout the afternoon. If she hadn't been wearing comfortable shoes her feet would have been killing her. Whisper continued to linger in her presence, purring loudly and preening every time Belle came near her.
The time was past three when Gold approached Luminere. "I'm curious about some of your very oldest manuscripts," he began hesitantly.
"Oh, we have one of the two extant copies of Beowulf in Old English, even parts of The Book of the Dead on some Egyptian papyri and some tablets with parts of the Epic of Gilgamesh on them," Luminere named some of the Library's oldest possessions.
"This is probably more recent than those. It's one I've had several references to in some of my other readings," Gold shook his head, as if doubting that Luminere could help him. "I've read descriptions but never actually seen a picture or a drawing of this particular scroll, but I still keep tripping over it in my very oldest references. I was thinking if anyone could help me . . . ." He looked at Luminere expectantly.
"Tell me about this document," Luminere told him, obviously flattered.
"Well, this is a very old Celtic manuscript, probably from Scotland, possible Wales. It is about sixty lines long and the scroll itself is supposed to be covered with a bestiary of fantastical animals and there were some flowers. Beautiful colors. I thought if anyone might know anything about it or have a copy of it, it would be this library . . . ." Gold trailed off.
"Ohhh, you are interested in The Curse Manuscript," Luminere instantly recognized the item.
"The Curse Manuscript?" Gold was genuinely surprised that the manuscript was actually known by that name.
"If we are indeed thinking of the same document, there is certainly one very old, but extraordinarily well preserved scroll that you described that is supposed to contain the words of a powerful curse."
"Really? A curse? I was curious to see it because of the other references, not to mention its age and beauty." Gold leaned in and said conspiratorially, "I did come upon a private collector who has a copy of it but he. . . well, he's a secretive old fart who wouldn't let me examine it. I know it is not part of my official visit, but. . . '
Luminere laughed, "I understand. Since you are here . . . Come, I can let you see it," and he headed toward the second vault that Belle had indicated was the likely home of the desired scroll.
Gold followed the archivist into the second vault. Before he stepped into the vault he could see that there were far fewer items in this section and there were multiple cameras. As he stepped across the threshold of the vault door, Gold swayed and braced himself with his hand on the door frame of the vault, a wave of dizziness wafted over him.
Luminere did not notice Gold faltering. "Come, come in. Here it is," and he pulled down a box, very similar to the plain brown box that Gold kept his own copy in.
Luminere opened the box. Gold realized he was trembling. He took a calming breath. He peered in. Gingerly Gold lifted up the scroll and looked at it. He then glanced down into the box and noted the dagger handle in the bottom. He spent a moment looking the scroll over. "This is extraordinary. Luminere, thank you so much for your hospitality."
"You are quite welcome, of course. Any time," he promised the older man.
Gold stepped out of the vault and took a deep breath. "Miss Dupont, do you have all of our materials together?"
Belle nodded and the two left the Archives. He knew Belle was still most distressed but was trying her best to manage it herself. He had his own issues to deal with and was torn between comforting his little Empath and focusing on his own problems. He did not speak to Belle on the way down stairs but did pause a moment to speak with the severe, disdainful receptionist.
"Merci, mademoiselle. Your hospitality has been exceptional. I shall see you again tomorrow," and he gave her a slight bow and another smile as charming as he could manage. The young woman actually made eye contact with him and there was a slight smile on her face as he turned away.
When he and Belle stepped out of the library, Gold stopped a moment to sit down on one of the stone walls lining the stone steps.
"Are you all right?" Belle asked him. "You had a problem in the vault."
"You saw that?" he asked her. "I'm all right. But shouldn't I be asking you that? How are you doing?"
She closed her eyes. "It comes and goes. I go from feeling remorseful and ashamed for upsetting my family and friends to reminding myself that, at the time, I made the only choice I could make. And I keep telling myself that my choice led me to Asheville and . . ." she smiled up at him. "to you. And I have no regrets about that."
Gold looked at her, so sweet, so vulnerable. "You know I want to kiss you right now. I want to kiss you senseless. I want to kiss you until you lips turn soft against mine and you cling to me like I'm the most important, the only important thing in your world."
"I would like that," she told him. "But I think it would be improper here and now."
"Maybe, but I think it would only add to your disguise. Who would ever think the high and mighty Princess of Avonleigh would be caught on the library steps snogging with a stodgy old professor?"
"Well, find me a stodgy old professor and I'll think about the snogging and we can see if it adds to my disguise," she teased him. "I think though, that first you should tell me what has upset you," she told him.
"We've hit a snag," he told her.
"What?"
"Later," he told her and he pulled himself up and started back to the hotel.
"But?" Belle tried to get him to share as she ran behind him.
"Later," he told her again and reached back to grab her hand. Belle struggled to keep up with the man as he was walking quite fast, surprisingly fast for a man with limp. Belle clutched her bag to her side.
She was quite out of breath by the time they got back to the hotel. Gold took her directly to the restaurant where they were met by Jefferson, Emma and Archie.
"We have a problem," Gold announced.
"Cameras?" Emma asked.
"In the plan already. I was expecting them," Gold told her.
"Alarm system?" Jefferson queried.
"In the plan already. I was expecting that," Gold answered.
"Something you hadn't expected?" Archie questioned.
"Exactly," Gold responded.
"Well, spill," said Jefferson.
"The vault that contains the scroll we're here for . . . " Gold hesitated. "I was expecting that I would be able to," he waved his hand in a casual gesture, "black out the cameras momentarily and I could send the scroll and the dagger handle to Jefferson who could send me the counterfeits we had Leroy and David put together. We wouldn't have had to deal with the alarms."
"But?" Emma pushed him.
"The walls of the vault are made of vorpal metal," Gold announced. There was a sense of finality in his voice.
"Shit!" said Emma at the same time Jefferson voiced, "Fuck!"
Belle looked from one to another then back to Gold. "Didn't you tell me about this before? It's a metal made of iron and . . . "
Archie supplied, "Silver."
Gold nodded. "It's what you use to attack a magical creature or, if you are so disposed, to construct a prison for a magical creature. It holds both entities of Light and those of Dark alignment. While in such a cage, one's magic is pretty much useless or, at least, greatly diminished."
"Why would they have constructed such a thing?" Emma asked.
"No idea," he glanced at Belle. "But that's where you used to go to feel calm and peaceful, wasn't it?"
She nodded. "And it would have nullified my magic, stopped the feelings, the voices," she suddenly realized.
"I should have put it all together." He shook his head, irritated with himself. "I just never expected the damn place to be protected from magical energies."
"We won't be able to fetch or send from that vault room will we?" asked Jefferson.
"No. We have to change our plans. It's going to take longer than I thought," admitted Gold. He slumped down in his chair.
Emma spoke up, "I've got a couple of ideas. Archie can help. But a lot hinges on you building up a relationship with the library staff so that they'll trust you enough to remove the scroll from the vault," Emma looked at Gold. "Can you do that?"
Gold glared at Emma. "But of course," he responded and was gratified when Belle smiled at him.
+ + + Room Change
It was later in the afternoon. Gold had questioned the concierge and gotten the new room number. His baggage had already been deposited in the new room and now he and Belle were looking around the fresh setting.
"Pretty much like the other room," Belle observed.
"Except the view is different. This looks out on the city, not the castle," Gold told her. "Fix you a drink?" he asked and she shook her head. He poured himself something local over some ice and then hesitated a moment, "Go to dinner with me?"
"You really don't think that people will think it odd that a hot, older professor would be asking his lowly, dowdy assistant out for a meal?" she asked him.
"We'll make it appear as if it is a working supper. Although," his eyes slowly dropped down her and then went back to her eyes and he lowered his voice to whisper to her, "all the while I'll be thinking about how magnificent you look in just your knickers."
Belle felt herself blushing but it only took a moment before there was a hint of the old Belle that came out and she said shyly, "You look pretty magnificent out of your knickers."
He sucked in his breath. Naughty wench. His body had immediately reacted and his impulse was to push her back onto the bed and lift up her skirt then and there. Teach her to say such audacious things. Teach her just how desirable she was. His eyes locked with Belle's and she could see his desire, hot and seething. She stepped back.
It might have been the wrong thing to do. He responded instinctively, primitively as if to stop the woman from fleeing him and stepped toward her, moving quickly, reaching her, his hand wrapping around her wrist, pulling her to him. Their eyes still locked, Belle pulled against him for a moment, then, as if she had reconsidered, she relaxed against him, yielding herself to him.
He felt it, like she had melted against him, warm, hot, soft, sweet, like caramel.
And then he was kissing her. Not one of his sweet, tender kisses. This was a masterful kiss, a hard kiss. He wasn't asking her permission any more. He was taking, taking what he'd been wanting for so long.
He pushed her back and the back of her knees hit the side of the bed and down, she was falling down onto it and he was enveloping her, lying on top of her. She vaguely felt one of his hands lifting up her skirt, pulling it up, his hand then coming against her thigh, hot against her skin. And then he was tugging down her panties leaving her open and vulnerable. For a moment she closed her legs against him but he pulled back and used his hand to tilt her face to his.
"Open for me, my sweet. Let me touch you," he wasn't quite ordering her, but it was beyond just asking.
Belle slowly opened herself to the man. When he touched her, she gasped, nearly crying out. Yes, yes, this is what had happened on her little sofa. It had been so wonderful. Would she, could he give her those feelings again?
She hadn't spoken aloud and was surprised when she heard him say, "All those feelings and more, my sweet."
A. N. Yeah, I know (a bit of a cliff hanger) but I'd exceeded by preferred word count so it was time to quit – sorry).
On a brighter note, thanks again to all my delightful reviewers who are still hanging with me for this ride (you know there will be more than one field trip): OneMagician, CharlotteAshmore, cynicsquest, Guest (hahahha), karolprado, orthankg1, WikiSorcerer, RoxyMoron, cheesyteal'c, MyraValhallah, jewel415, thedoctorsgirl42, deweymay, Rayvah, WillowlovesRumbelle, Chauchi, Robin4, Erik'sTrueAngel, Aletta-Feather, Spacecats and Anne Andrews (Guest) - Thank you all so much.
NEXT: A little smutch and a little smut, meanwhile back at The House and the beginnings of A Plan