Brodi chose a seat alone near the back, facing the door. If he sat alone instead of joining someone, it would just be assumed to be one of his meditating quirks since he often tried to meditate exactly where he would be most likely to be disturbed, to train his concentration. Nothing would seem out of place.

He DID need to meditate, in a way. This was a delicate situation that could get very ugly, and he needed to figure out how to handle it. True, he could just have security remove Lauryll. Brodi had his fair share of female admirers and fans—not all of them sane. Security knew he was usually very tolerant, more tolerant than made the security detail comfortable, actually. They would be more than happy to be obliging if he requested her removal from the lodge, that is, once they peeled themselves up off the floor and recovered from the shock that he had even asked. And she would need to be barred from the events too, he reminded himself. He still did not have medical clearance to participate, but he still showed up to watch. At the very least, a TRO could be issued.

Still, there was one remaining issue troubling him. Lauryll had pleaded remorse, but he sensed that she had enjoyed listing his injuries and traumas a bit too much. His own safety he could deal with reasonably well. But if she tried to latch on to one of his teammates—either as a new toy or in an attempt to get to him—Brodi shuddered at the thought. Damn it, he was going to have to tell Rahzel.

Brodi leaned back in his chair and sighed. That was SO not a conversation he was looking forward to having. He was so deep in thought that he almost didn't notice when a waitress brought him a glass of water—usually the only thing he drank. He thanked her politely and accepted it, then ordered a whiskey sour. A brief look of concern crossed her face, but she shrugged it off and went to put in his order. Brodi saw the same look of concern across the bartender's face, then he saw the same shrug as he proceeded to make the drink.

He delivered it himself.

"Here ya go, Zen. Whiskey sour. Bit heavy for you isn't it? And kind of early?"

Brodi smiled his most charming smile.

"Thanks, Butch. Eh, it's lunchtime. And I just need to take the edge off."

Butch stroked his mustache thoughtfully.

"You sure everything's OK, buddy?"

Again Brodi pulled out the charmer smile.

"Fine. I'm fine. You'll cut me off at the right time, right?"

Butch sighed as he put the glass down in front of Brodi, his thick fingers twitching a bit as he took his hand away.

"You know it. Gotta keep you guys safe. Just never figured on needing to keep an eye on you."

"Just this once. I promise. Hey Butch, relax. I'm fine."

Brodi must've been on his third or fourth—he was drinking quickly and wasn't really counting—when he noticed Elise and Rahzel standing at his table. Damn, guess this conversation was happening sooner than expected.

"Ah, my two favorite people. Have a seat."

"Brodi, what's doin', sweets?"

Elise was doing a damned good job of keeping her poker face on, which meant she was really worried. She sat down to his left and rested a hand on his forearm. Rahzel sat down across from him.

"Hey, Bro. What's up, pal?"

"Namuch. Just a few drinks. Hey, it's a good thing you're here. I need to talk to you."

Rahzel leaned back in his seat. "Figured as much. Did the doc appointment not go well?"

Brodi waved a hand clumsily in the air in dismissal. "Nah, that was fine."

"OK, it's something else then. Want to talk here? My office?"

Brodi leaned forward in such a way that Elise clutched at his arm, sure he was going over.

"How 'bout your office. We need this private." He thought for a moment, then added, "Ah, Elise too. That is, if you will."

Elise smiled sadly and rested a hand on top of his. "Do you even need to ask?" Then she eyed him and the empty glasses on the table. "Uhm, can you WALK?"

Brodi laughed. "Do you even need to ask?"

Rahzel sighed and stood by Brodi to help him stand up.

"Well, pal, if you wanted inconspicuous, I think the alcohol ruined that for you. Do me a favor, OK? Next time you have a bomb to drop on me, wait until you get to my office to start drinking. I have lots of liquor—you can get as wasted as you want before you start talking."

Brodi stood surprisingly well, then sat down again quickly. Elise helped him up again, then wedged herself under his arm to keep him standing. Rahzel held the other arm and somehow the two of them got the tower of a man moving.

"OK, sweetie, just go slo—whoa! You're going to pull all three of us down, babe. Slow down."

They somehow made it out of the Gravitude and back up the hall. Well, midway up the hall, where Elise propped Brodi against the wall, keeping him standing with her weight while Rahzel unlocked his office door.