A/N: this must be the quickest update ever, BUT ONLY BECAUSE I want to have 10 chapters up before I leave for Ireland where I won't have Internet access.

This chapter again contains a Harry Potter reference. Can you find it?

Review responses sent out as usual.

Also thanks to: refloc, Mistri, Tonks' Admirer, Saldaen farmgirl, LandUnderWave, BobtheFrog, Rekhyt, Soccer101, Teya Yashitoda, Coruscate Corruption, Hugani, AmethystPhoenix1, 4everrandom, Starfire Gracen, gremlin, pi-fan92, Queen Dragon, uptowngirl48, baby-blue-angel91, Hello, Musica Diabolos

Chapter 9

Kitty Gets More Than She Bargained For

Nathaniel opened his eyes, blinked a few times and established that he was looking at a blindingly white ceiling. His glance shifted to his left to see a tube with translucent liquid dripping through it. He looked a little lower to see that the tube ended in a needle that was neatly stuck into his left arm.

A hospital, no doubt, he concluded. But why am I in a hospital?

His mind reeled backwards, trying to remember, but things seemed too hazy and the cogwheels in his head were working unusually slowly.

There was this ball… Kitty wore a red dress… Red… He stiffened as the memory of seeing his own shirt soaked with blood came to his mind.

Someone shot me… but who? I didn't see anyone with a gun…

He looked to his right and let out a small gasp. He had expected to see various medical contraptions, perhaps a few posters depicting the human circulation system, but the sight that greeted him was something he had least expected to see. There was another bed in the room, and in that bed, still clad in her gorgeous (but now slightly crumpled) crimson dress, slept Kitty. Her dark hair was spread out on the white pillow, and she looked paler than he'd ever seen her. Her left arm was dangling off the bed, and he noticed that there was a bandage around the crook of her arm. As though she too had been given an infusion… But why? – Nathaniel wondered. And why was she here at all? And how long had he been out cold?

The door of the room creaked slightly and the young Minister looked away from Kitty to spot Ffoukes's head peeking in.

Seeing that Nathaniel was awake, the older man entered the room with a wide smile. "Good morning, John. Or, good afternoon," he said quietly, not to wake the woman.

"What time is it?" Nathaniel asked.

"Four p.m.," came the answer.

"Wednesday?"

"Friday."

"Friday?" Nathaniel gasped. "I've been out for three days?"

"Yes." Ffoukes pulled up a chair next to his bed.

"And… and Kitty… has she been here… all along?"

The older man glanced at the peacefully sleeping woman and nodded with a smile. "I've been trying to talk her into going home, but she insisted on staying until you woke up. And anyway, the doctors wanted to keep an eye on her as well."

"On her?" Nathaniel frowned. "Has she too been shot?"

"No." Ffoukes shook his head. "But she lost a huge amount of blood…"

Something clicked in Nathaniel's mind. "She didn't…? Did she?"

"You were bleeding heavily, John. Since your blood type is O negative, the donor too had to be O negative – at least that's what the doctor said. They were running low on O negative supplies, and your wife has the same blood group. She offered to help without a second of hesitation." Ffoukes sent Kitty an appreciative glance. "A wonderful woman. You're a lucky chap, John."

"I… I didn't even deserve that," Nathaniel mumbled. "She hates me… I've kept ruining her life over and over again, and… she thinks I'm an arsehole… she even told me so. She has every reason to hate me… She would have become a free woman and would have inherited millions if I had died… then… then why?"

"If I really have to explain that, then you're really an arsehole, my dear friend." Ffoukes chuckled.

Nathaniel glanced at Kitty and felt something heavy trying to compress his chest. Once again, she had saved his life when he didn't in the least deserve it. After all, what had he done for her since they got married? True, he'd taken her to Paris and told her once that she was beautiful, but other than that… he had been a complete jerk. He'd cheated on her, humiliated her and overall treated her like a second-class person. Heck, he'd sometimes been more polite to Bartimaeus than he'd been to Kitty! And she still saved his life. Without hesitation.

Nathaniel didn't know when he'd last felt the urge to blink back a tear – it had been ages since he'd last cried. He swallowed hard and forced himself to look as impassive as possible. Ffoukes might be the closest thing he'd ever had to a friend, but he still wouldn't cry in front of him.

"Who… who shot me?" he asked, just to change the topic.

"It was some snot-nosed kid. Barely eleven and an orphan. Jeremy Sparrow, he called himself. He's currently held in the Tower, waiting for your verdict."

"How did he get into the building?"

"He said that the one-time benefactor of the Resistance – Makepeace, of course – had given them some cloak shortly before he was arrested. A pair of sprites had been imprisoned in the cloak, making it and anyone who wore it, invisible. The kid had nicked the cloak from the Resistance Headquarters – the location of which he was naturally unwilling to reveal."

"So the Resistance didn't know about Jeremy planning an attack?" Nathaniel knitted his eyebrows.

"He says they had no idea."

"But where did he get the gun if not from his Resistance fellows?"

"He said he'd taken it out of his father's hand after the man had shot himself with it..."

Nathaniel shuddered. "The kid had witnessed his father's suicide?"

"Don't know if he did or just found his father dead… but he said that his father had killed himself because of a magician."

The young Minister heaved a sigh. "Why, what did that evil magician do?"

"Apparently seduced little Jeremy's mother, then, when he got bored with her, shut her into a room full of demons."

Nathaniel gulped, still vividly remembering his first experience with demons the day Arthur Underwood had instructed him to enter his study and bring him his spectacles. "Did… did the demons kill her?"

"No… but as she was shut into that room for days before her lover decided to check on her, she had gone insane. She then got locked away in a lunatic asylum where she jumped out a window. From the fifth floor. You can imagine…"

Nathaniel licked his lips because they had suddenly gone as dry as a parchment. "Do we know the name of this magician?"

Ffoukes shook his head. "Jeremy didn't know the name, or if he did, he wasn't willing to tell me."

"Do you think it's possible that it was Sullivan or Colridge? Those were the two ministers I was talking to when I got shot. Perhaps… perhaps the kid was aiming for one of them and missed?"

"To tell you the truth, I don't think so. Sullivan doesn't seem the type to seduce commoners, and Colridge's too old to seduce anyone. My guess is that the kid is a little disturbed and wanted to kill any magician he could."

"Any magician?" Nathaniel made a grimace. "Just my luck."

"Actually… if I were saved by such a lovely lady, I wouldn't mind getting shot." Ffoukes winked at the younger man. "I've got to go now and report to Deveraux about your condition. He seemed really worried. Tell you what, John, I think he has already chosen you to become his deputy as soon as old Weatherby kicks the bucket…"

"Oh, come on, can you imagine a nineteen-year-old deputy Prime Minister?" Nathaniel asked, while his insides were squirming excitedly. Deveraux's deputy! That would be something!

"Knowing you, John, you will make it. You're one of the most ambitious young magicians I've ever met." Ffoukes opened the door and was about to step out on the corridor when Nathaniel called after him.

"And Jane? Did she… did she too look worried?"

Ffoukes pursed his lips. "I don't remember what she looked like after the attack. She disappeared from the ball as soon as the ambulance car arrived. I've only seen her once since, and she looked indeed pale… so yes, I'd say she is worried about you."

"Okay." Nathaniel nodded. "Thanks for visiting."

"No problem. Heal quick, and say hello to Mrs Mandrake for me when she wakes up."

As the door closed with a soft click, Nathaniel submerged into the flood of his thoughts. He couldn't express with words what he felt about Kitty's latest life-saving action (and what he felt for Kitty herself). He couldn't help but pity his young attacker, and was overwhelmed by the prospect of making deputy PM at such a young age. After all, Weatherby indeed looked like someone who was ready to 'kick the bucket' any minute. As for Jane… Nathaniel didn't know why, but he felt slightly annoyed about Ffoukes's words. He couldn't have explained why, but he would have felt better if Jane hadn't shown any signs of worry for him. Perhaps because that way it would have been easier to break up with her? – he wondered. But do I want to break up with her at all?

His glance again shifted to Kitty and as he watched the peacefully sleeping woman, something warm started to spread in his chest. Something that he suspected was more than just gratitude.

o o o O O O o o o

It was dark outside when Nathaniel awoke again. He didn't even remember having fallen asleep, but apparently he must have. A small lamp was lit by the neighbouring bed, but the other end of the room was almost completely dark. He saw the silhouette of a person standing by the window, looking outside.

"Kitty?"

The figure turned around and walked up to the neighbouring bed, sitting down on it. "Are you feeling all right?"

"I suppose so," he replied. "I don't feel any pain."

"According to the doctors, your wound is healing fast. You were very lucky to have survived: the bullet went all the way through your chest. It went in from behind. The doctors were operating you for three whole hours and apparently they even summoned a healer demon to help your healing process with magic."

"Three hours? Whew, that's a lot."

She gave him a sad smile. "I think I gained a few grey hairs during those three hours."

"Kitty…" He took a deep breath to say something that had always been difficult for him to say. "Ffoukes told me that you saved my life. Again. Thank you."

"Anyone would have done the same in my place." She shrugged.

"I don't think so. You're the most selfless person I've ever known. You even help those who treated you badly." He bit into his lower lip, and remained silent for a few seconds, as if searching for words. "I… I didn't deserve your help, Kitty. And I feel uncomfortable now… being indebted to you. Tell me, how can I ever repay you?"

She gave him a reproachful look. "I didn't do it to make you my debtor, John. But…" She seemed thoughtful for a moment. "If… if you really want to thank me… to really show your gratitude, then… there is something you can do for me."

"Anything."

"Release Jeremy from the Tower."

"Anything but that."

She jumped up from the bed, turning her back on him. He saw that she was practically shaking with suppressed anger.

"Kitty, that boy is a murderer."

"But he hasn't even turned twelve!" She whirled around and he saw tears glinting in her eyes. "Don't tell me you were any better at twelve, John Mandrake!"

Nathaniel felt as though she had dumped a bucketful of ice on him. She had a point there. At eleven he had started plotting the revenge on Simon Lovelace, and at twelve, he had caused the death of the Underwoods. They had been the victims of his pride and blood-thirst. He had been a murderer at twelve. "I will think about it," he said finally, still not meeting her eyes. "But I can't promise anything."

Kitty walked up to his bed, and looked down at him, sniffing. "Apparently you don't think that saving your life was enough of a compensation for my request… so I'm willing to give you something else… perhaps that will be more persuasive." She took a deep breath and drew herself up. "If you release Jeremy from the Tower… I will sleep with you, John Mandrake. That's the most I can offer. Think about it." With that she turned on her heels and headed for the door.

It took Nathaniel a few seconds to regain his voice. "Where are you going?" he called after her.

"Home," she said coldly. "I just wanted to see you awake. There's no point in my staying any longer. Besides, I feel grimy. I haven't changed my clothes for three days. Good night, John."

Nathaniel stared at the closed door for minutes, feeling too shocked to think properly. She'd offered a bargain: her body in return of Jeremy's freedom.

Had she really meant it? – Nathaniel wondered. Would she make such a sacrifice just to save that little boy? Then again, he reminded himself that Kitty had done crazier things, so he couldn't put anything like this past her. Undoubtedly, she would do it.

But do I have the right to expect this of her?

He spent most of the night awake, fighting an inner battle with himself. By the time the first sunrays appeared on the horizon, he had made his decision.

o o o O O O o o o

Two days later, when Ffoukes visited Nathaniel, he found the young man deeply immersed in reading.

"Honestly, I still don't understand why you asked me yesterday to bring you the complete list of boarding schools in Great Britain," Ffoukes said, pointing at the papers in Nathaniel's hands.

"I wanted to find the proper place for Jeremy Sparrow," replied the young man. "A school where the teachers are strict but not cruel and where he can't wander around without anyone keeping an eye on him."

Ffoukes blinked in surprise. "You don't mean it…? That boy nearly killed you, and you want to send him to a boarding school?"

Nathaniel looked up. "Yes. At eleven, he's still young enough to form. In the Tower, he'd be no use to anyone, and setting him free to continue living on the streets and killing more people isn't a good idea either. He's a child, Ffoukes, and therefore needs rigorous education."

"Rigorous, huh? Well, then, I'd suggest St. Brutus's Secure Centre for Incurably Criminal Boys."

Nathaniel shook his head. "Having to live and study at a school that has 'incurable' in its name wouldn't be conducive to Jeremy's psychological development. I'd pick St. Dunstan's instead."

"Hmm… and who's going to pay for his education? The state?"

"No. I will," Nathaniel replied.

"You? But… but…"

"I know, the kid tried to kill me." The young man rolled his eyes. "St. Dunstan's isn't an expensive school, it's not like I'm sending him to Eton. Besides… it perfectly fits into Deveraux's PR campaign. The commoners will love it if they find out that a magician is paying for the education of a commoner child who tried to kill him."

"Always the politician, right, John?" Ffoukes grinned.

"Right."

"You know… I suspect Mrs Mandrake too will like it…"

Nathaniel arched an eyebrow at his friend. "What are you driving at, Ffoukes?"

"Noooothing." The older man waved with an innocent expression. "I was just wondering whether… you were doing this for her, not for Deveraux and his campaign."

Nathaniel's lips tucked into a barely visible smile but he remained silent.

"Um, when are the doctors going to release you?"

"Tomorrow. I can't wait. I hate hospitals. Besides, the nurse is old, fat and ugly."

"You'd love Mrs Mandrake tending you instead, huh?" Ffoukes chuckled.

"I don't need tending any longer," Nathaniel said grumpily. "I'm feeling completely all right. They should have released me yesterday! I'm bored to death here… Do tell, what happened in Parliament in my absence?"

"The amendments of the Magical Apprenticeship Act have been accepted. Besides that, nothing. Oh, but yes! Miss Farrar asked about your condition yesterday."

The young Minister made a grimace. "If she's so darn worried about me, why hasn't she visited me yet?"

"Oh, I too asked her that, and she said that hospitals gave her the creeps."

"Yeah, of course," Nathaniel grunted.

"Tell you what, John, with a wife like yours, you should forget about Miss Farrar."

"I gladly would… but apparently she doesn't want to forget about me. She'd kill me if I dumped her."

"I'd still try it in your place." Ffoukes winked at him. "Commoner or not, Mrs Mandrake is worth a thousand Jane Farrars."

Nathaniel heaved a sigh. "I know that, Ffoukes… I just don't know what to do about Jane."

o o o O O O o o o

On Monday afternoon, after having received a few more shots of healing magic as the 'finishing touches', Nathaniel was finally released from the hospital. Kitty brought him fresh clothes and accompanied him home, though neither of them spoke during the taxi ride. Kitty seemed nervous for some reason and Nathaniel didn't want to ask her about it in front of the taxi driver.

"Home sweet home," he sighed upon entering his house. "How I've missed it… not to mention that there's no chlorine scent here like in my hospital room. Come to think of it, I need a shower. I stink of chlorine."

As water coursed down his body, he was wondering about Kitty's behaviour. He simply didn't understand her. She, who had always been brave and snappish, had suddenly turned shy and was avoiding his glance whenever he looked at her.She had looked apprehensive, and sort of embarrassed. What got into her? – he thought.

He found out half an hour later.

o o o O O O o o o

Kitty stopped before her husband's door. For a few seconds she hesitated. Oh, be a man, Kitty! – she chided herself. It's not a big deal, really. Of course, if he looked hideous or fat or were sixty years old, then it would be a big deal, but… he's attractive, admit it. And more than that. You bloody well know that you're falling for him!

So what if I am? He's cheating on me with another woman! – the other half of her conscience reminded her. Do I want to be just one of John Mandrake's whores?

Whore? I'm his wife! And I made him a promise! He might go back on his promises, but I don't!

She smoothed her hair, took a deep breath, and knocked.

Her husband opened the door wearing a bathrobe and, she suspected, nothing underneath. His hair was dripping – he must have just finished his shower. He had never looked so cute, she noted to herself.

"Hello, Kitty. What are you doing here, wearing so… little?" He sized her up from head to toe, surprised by her appearance.

"Uh…" She nervously smoothed her cream-coloured camisole. "This morning… I heard it in the news that you sent Jeremy to a boarding school. You… released him from the Tower, so…" She ran her hand across her dark locks, not daring to meet his eyes. "I'm here. As promised."

He didn't reply for a few seconds, so she finally chanced a glance at him. His expression appalled her: he wore a frown and looked almost sad. What he said next shocked her even more.

"If you think I did it for that… Well, I didn't. I don't want charity sex. Good night, Kitty."

With that he closed the door in her face.

She stared at the closed door unblinkingly. Had he just… turned her down? When she had offered herself to him on a golden plate?

If you think I did it for that… Well, I didn't…

Had he looked hurt? Hurt, because she'd thought he'd use her like that?

Kitty bit into her lower lip, feeling embarrassed. Had she misjudged him so much? Was it possible that he'd released Jeremy to… to make her happy?

I don't want charity sex…

But that meant he did want sex, just not as a payment… He did want her, she felt he did! Just as much as she wanted him... And if he'd only wanted her body, he would have taken it. But he didn't, which meant he wanted more of her… probably, he wanted to make love to her, not just have sex with her.

Is John Mandrake capable of love? – Kitty wondered. Then, she remembered how he'd looked at her on top of the Eiffel Tower: warmly, almost lovingly. And before the ball, he'd looked at her the same way again and had said she was beautiful… It wasn't just lust, it couldn't be…

Something warm began to spread in her body, making a pleasant shiver run down her spine. In the meantime she felt as though invisible fingers had grabbed both sides of her mouth, pulling it into a wide smile.

Was it really possible he loved her? The mere thought made her tremble with excitement, and with every passing second she spent staring at the closed door, the more excited and exhilarated she felt. Before she knew what she was doing, she'd burst into her husband's room.

"John!"

o o o O O O o o o

Nathaniel looked at his wife, his blue eyes widening with surprise. Kitty was panting, but wearing the brightest smile he'd ever seen.

"I don't want charity sex either!" she said, her cheeks glowing. "But… I want you."

For a few seconds Nathaniel didn't know what to do, how to react, just stood rooted to the spot, thinking that she'd never looked so beautiful before. Then finally, a smile appeared on his face and held out an arm towards her.

She threw herself into his arms and plastered her lips to his, her hands running through his hair, pulling his head closer, deepening the kiss.

Nathaniel felt he was in heaven. He had snogged Jane hundreds of times, he had even been attracted to her, but with Kitty, it was different. Everything was different. She made him feel alive; his whole being was tingling with the sensations she was creating within him. She not only affected his body, but his mind as well – his every brain cell was stimulated, driving him crazy with desire.

That night, not for a second did he think of Jane Farrar.

o o o O O O o o o

A/N: I really tried to not rush the romance, and tried to explain the development of their feelings. I hope I managed that… if not, then sorry. You know me: plot over emotion-development.

There's an illo for this chapter in my ffnet bio, in case you're interested (more precisely an illo for a scene between this chapter and the next one – don't worry, it's only a PG-rated pic).

Next chapter: Jane freaks out. Until then: review, please!