I borrowed Mac's old rotary phone and dialed Murph's desk, and got no answer. Frowning, I dialed another number.

"Lieutenant Stallings," said a gruff voice.

"Hey, Stallings, it's Dresden. Is Murph around?"

"Dresden," he acknowledged, "Nah, I sent her home after she was in working some hinky criminal mischief case at 2 this morning."

"Long day," I said, glancing at the clock. "So she's at home then?"

"You know better than that. She's off at the gym, probably beating on some punk who called her a little girl."

"Ouch," I said, "Thanks, Lieutenant, I'll try to catch up with her there."

"Your funeral, Dresden," he said with a yawn. "We'll throw a helluva wake for you, though."

"I appreciate that," I said as I hung up. I turned to Peter and Kitty, "Let's go. I found you a babysitter."

"And I told you we don't need one," Kitty answered. "This is still my town."

"But not your world," I said between clenched teeth. "Illyana's already in danger because of her abilities. You two will also be considered assets to the supernatural world. Weren't some of the early mutants dissected in your universe to see what made them tick? Or conscripted for their abilities? Anyone thinking of taking on the Sidhe would love to have Peter here on their side. I know wizards who would give anything to understand how you phase and try to replicate it. Or craft some way to steal it."

"OK, fine," she said, "point taken." Her eyes showed flashes of rebellion - I'd seen that look enough from my apprentice - but I got the sense that she'd play along for now.

"Now drink up," I said, "and let's get rolling." I took a long pull from my own bottle, because wasting a bottle of Mac's brew is an offense that should be brought before the Hague, and Kitty mirrored me.

She regarded the bottle closely, "This really is quite good. Peter, you have to try this."

"I'm not thirsty," he said sullenly, but she gave him a look, a quirk to her smile and an arch to her eyebrow and he sighed, and took up the drink with a look of embarrassment.

As he drank, several small insights coalesced and I realized that this Colossus and this Shadowcat were a couple. I mean, I knew they had an on again/off again thing in the comics, so I guessed this could just be an on again moment. There was an easiness between the two in spite of the pressures of their situation, a familiarity that made a simple facial twitch connote that he was being silly and stubborn and to stop it. Susan and I had the start of something like it, and I wondered if Ana and I would ever get to the same point.

"Very good," Peter said, somewhat sheepish. "Kurt would indeed appreciate this."

"Not Wolverine?," I asked. I remembered him being fond of beer.

"Oh, hell no," Kitty said laughing, "Logan usually drinks beer in large quantities because it's the only way to get even a slight buzz from it. I actually got an appreciation for fine beer from an ex-boyfriend and Kurt."

Dough Joe's Hurricane Gym wasn't too far from the precinct where Special Investigations had their perpetually under-funded offices. I probably rushed a little more than my passengers were comfortable, but I wanted to get there before Murphy finished her workout and headed home. The last thing I wanted was to miss my appointment with Mr. Bonham chasing all over Chicago after her. I found a spot and we piled out of the Beetle and entered the building, an old converted Country and Western bar..

Inside, Sergeant Karrin Murphy was not, as both Stallings and I had expected, giving a demonstration on why using baby or sweetie as a term of so-called endearment on a someone you don't know might have a detrimental effect on your health insurance premium. She was instead dressed in her cute white pajamas, repeatedly delivering a series of front kicks to the heavy bag. With each strike, directed at a spot equal to knee height on an average man, the bag would swing ponderously away from her as she reloaded for the next kick.

"Heya, Murph," I called out as I approached.

"What do you want, Dresden?"

I put on an injured expression, "Now that's not entirely fair. Why must I necessarily want something?"

"That's because I know you. You only come to the gym for practice or if you're on a case, and given the shape of your nose, it isn't the former. Ergo, you want something."

My hand went to my battered nose. "Something on your mind, Murph? You were kicking seven kinds of hell out of the bag. No one want to play with you anymore?"

"Just practicing. Bruce Lee said that he didn't fear a man who practiced ten thousand kicks once, but instead feared the man who practiced the same kick ten thousand times, and I've got a couple thousand more to go." She frowned, "Besides, apparently I've developed a bad reputation here."

"Meaning?"

"Meaning no one wants to play with me anymore."

"Well don't look at me," I said, holding up my hands. "And, yeah, actually I do need a favor."

"Told you," she said.

"Yeah, yeah," I said. "So I have a couple guests from out of town pop in unexpectedly, and I'm supposed to meet a client in a couple hours, and I was hoping I could leave them with you."

She looked over at them. "What aren't you telling me, Dresden?" Before I could interrupt, she continued, "One, while the big guy's wearing your sweats and the woman's got a cheap ass Cubs jacket, they don't look destitute. Maybe a day or two without sleep, but they look in better shape than pretty much anyone here in the gym. Two, they are both looking around like they expect an attack. They scoped out all the exits and probably assessed the threat level of everyone in the room. That tells me they're pros, and can probably take care of themselves. Which leads to three."

"And what's three," I asked.

She almost smiled, "You, Dresden. Trouble follows you around like one of those molybdenum magnets. Which leads to four - you came to me, Not Molly, not Thomas, not Will and Georgia. You don't think they need protection. And you don't think they're explicitly dangerous either." She held up a hand to cut my answer off. "I'm good. Real good. But against someone that size, who looks like he can handle himself in a fight, I'd have to get unbelievably lucky. And she looks more dangerous than him. So you want me to watch them for what reason?"

"Gosh, Murph, your level of trust is so gratifying," I said. "As a matter of fact, I was going to explain myself." I called over to them, "Peter, Katherine, would you come over here, please? I want to introduce you to one of my best friends, Sergeant Karrin Murphy. Murph, these are Peter and Katherine.

They all exchanged polite nods, and then Murph said to Peter, "I don't suppose you wouldn't mind sparring, big guy? You've studied, I take it?"

"Da, Judo, and some other forms, but I must decline," he said politely.

"Don't fight girls, huh?" she said, her eyes narrowing.

"Nyet, no," he protested, "I have, but I do not think I would be a good opponent right."

I stepped in, "Peter's sister has been abducted by the Sidhe."

"Oh, God," she said, "I'm so sorry. Do you need me to help get her back?"

A couple years back, Murphy had lost her command of Special Investigations because she was rescuing my current apprentice for Arctis Tor, the home of the Winter Sidhe. Never mind that she actually took an active part in the destruction of the bad guys she was supposed to be investigating as well as the recovery of the inadvertent cause of their rampage, who was then brought to justice and sentenced to apprenticeship under yours truly. And now she was offering to go into the lands of the Sidhe again, without question, just because she's my friend. Murphy is, above everything else, just plain good people.

"That's not needed - she's being treated under the rules of hospitability, and that's sacred to the Sidhe. We were told she'll be returned after the Spring equinox." I said, "Geez, Murphy, are you that eager for a fight that you want to traipse into Faerie to start something?"

"Well, if you're too chicken-"

"I'm game," said Kitty. "I could use a bit of a workout."

"Great," said Murphy, looking around for a convenient mat. "What styles?"

Kitty coughed, Some Krav Maga. Judo. Taijutsu and Kenjutsu. Some others."

Murphy looked critically at the young woman. "Really. Well I don't feel like pulling on the pads, so if you wouldn't mind forgoing the Krav Maga, I'd appreciate it."

"Yeah, I can do that," Kitty replied as she pulled her long hair into a ponytail and discarded the Cubs jacket and footwear. The two moved to the center of the map and bowed to one another.

I turned to Peter, who was watching his partner closely. "What do you think? I got a five on Murph."

"I thought our money was suspect."

"Maybe so," I admitted, "but I'm the only one at risk with it."

He nodded, "Then agreed. I accept your wager."

We turned to the combatants, who were now circling one another. Kitty threw the first punch, but it was feint. As Murphy moved to deflect and grab the fist, Kitty ducked low and scythed a spinning kick towards Murph's ankles. Quick reflexes allowed her to avoid contact, but it was enough to throw her off balance. Kitty pressed her advantage, flowing from the spinning kick into a front kick, roundhouse kick combination, again aimed below waist level. Murph took the roundhouse on her outer thigh, and even though she rolled with it, it still drove her to the mat. She rolled quickly to her feet, eyes flashing with anger, then shook herself. "Nice shot," she said. "You're spinning kick was a lot faster than I expected."

Kitty nodded, "I don't usually miss with it. Again?"

Murphy nodded, "Certainly."

This time Murph moved in closer, to try to neutralize Kitty's reach advantage. They traded a couple strikes and blocks, neither committing to a full out attack. Kitty tried another feint of a jab, but Murphy was ready this time and moved inside, hands flashing to Kitty's wrist before completing a simple outside wrist throw. Kitty took the landing well and leapt up, scowling at her mistake. "Good move there, Sergeant," she said.

Now even at a fall apiece, the two women went at it in earnest. The pair stalked each other, seeking an opening. Punches, both feints and in earnest, flashed from both sides. Hands snaked through, attempting to gain a grip on a limb or article of clothing. Holds were made, broken, reversed and broken again. Kicks were launched, not the flashy high kicks or spinning kicks of the movies, but instead those with the intent of either creating distance or causing that final, fatal distraction. I found myself catching myself - this was a friendly bout, not life or death combat.

It was a grapple attempt that spelled Murphy's doom. Her hands went to Kitty's wrist, but she missed somehow, and the mutant spun, landing an elbow to Murph's gut, followed by a hip throw sending my friend to the ground, her breath exiting with a whoosh.

Murphy sighed as she got to her feet and the pair bowed once again. I pulled a Lincoln from my wallet and offered it to Peter.

"Nyet," he said, raising his hand to wave the bill away. "It was not a fair fight. The Sergeant missed that last hold because Katya phased. Your friend is quite skilled."

"She's knocked me on my ass once or twice," I said.

Murph walked up to us, toweling the sweat off her face. Not perspiration, not glow or whatever the ad executives were trying to pass it off as. She was honest enough to call it sweat. "I thought I had her there, she said. I can't believe I missed that hold. Makes me think that she actually has studied ninjitsu."

Peter coughed uncomfortably.

"Yeah?" I said, "Well, it so happens that she actually has."

Her eyes snapped to mine, just for a moment. "Dresden, so help me, if you are just doing the Mysterious Wizard schtick to piss me off, I'm going to drag you onto the mat and kick your scrawny butt..."

"Why Sergeant Murphy, I had no idea you were into that sort of thing," I replied, waggling my eyebrows at her.

"Pig," she accused, "Now are you going to tell me the full deal here? Or am I going to have to beat it out of you?"

"Not here," I said, sotto voce, looking at the crowd that had gathered to watch the bout.

"Ugh," she groaned in disapproval, following my gaze. "Always with the secrets."

"Well, I am a Mysterious Wizard and all. It comes with the flashy robe and the decoder ring."

"One of these days, Dresden," she said, raising a fist mockingly.

I looked over at the crowd, which contained a few of her fellow officers, "They gonna be a problem."

"No," she said, "nothing more than the normal crap we pull on each other. Maybe it's a good lesson at that; that even I can get beat, to not get overconfident."

"You feeling OK, Murph? This looking on the bright side attitude has me a little freaked out here."

"Ha ha," she said, her voice dripping with sarcasm. "Let me get my gear and get changed and you can regale me with a tale why two grown adults - one of whom just knocked me around on the mat - need a babysitter. And buy me some coffee. Definitely coffee."

"And a donut?," I suggested.

"Screw you and your stereotypes, Dresden," she shot back. As she headed for the locker room, I could hear say "Maybe." I smiled a bit. Easy banter with Murphy was a rock I could cling to when my life got too weird.

Kitty came up to us, taking a long drink from a bottle of water. "Sorry about that, didn't mean to lose control in the middle of a fight."

"What happened?" Peter asked, "I saw you phase."

"Reflex," she said. "She went for a hold that likely would've led to a center lock and throw. Logan drilled me on this one, dumping me on my butt every day for a week solid until I learned to phase free unconsciously. The bout got a little intense, and I ended up focusing more on that than on not using my abilities. I hope no one caught it."

"The Sergeant suggested it might have been some ninja trick," Peter said.

"That's a relief, I suppose," she said. She turned to me, "So why her? She's got some skills, and I suppose a policewoman would qualify as a reasonable authority figure."

"There's that, I said, and that she's clued in. Not much is going to faze her - no pun intended I know she can't physically stop you from going off and looking for Illyana, but there's not much chance you getting into the Nevernever on your own. But she can talk reason to you, and she'll tell you if you're trying to feed her a line."

"Nobody's feeding me anything," said Murphy, having emerged from the locker room in a light blue blouse and tan slacks, "Unless it's that donut you promised, Dresden."

"Right," I said. "Let's get going."

The closest donut shop was a Dunkin's, and I was running a bit short on time, since I still needed to get over to my office to pick up my ticket so I could make my meeting that night. Murphy decided on a double chocolate donut to go with the four coffees I ordered. We crowded into those cheap plastic benches and I gave her the rundown.

Murphy listened carefully. "Well, it's not the least believable story you've ever told me, I guess. Pretty close, though." She looked across at the X-men, "I should be able to be around for a couple hours, but I'm on a case right now that would take precedence. I need you to understand that the city frowns on vigilantism, so I don't want you two out there pounding on some low level gang members or drug dealers except in self defense. If Dresden is right, we don't need you calling attention to yourselves anyway, so we're going to have a nice quiet time at the library."

"Can't we get just come to the 'Hawks game too?" Kitty asked, frustrated.

"Not with suspicious money, you're not. And I can't afford three tickets from scalpers on a cop's salary."

"And I don't plan to stay for the whole game," I interjected. "Just meet with the guy and see if I can help him with his case." I paused, "That reminds me, Murph. Stallings described some of the things happening and if you don't mind some free advice -"

"Why do I expect this free advice will have us springing for consultant fees?"

I ignored her, "It sounds like you've got wyldfae or the like. Usually they aren't this open, but the destabilization that has the Sidhe Courts in such a tizzy could be affecting them too." I smiled, "Of course, if S.I. needs me, and I'm not too busy, I'd be happy to help."

"Well, duh, Holmes," Murphy said, "Faeries responsible for inexplicable phenomenon, some of which seem straight out of Shakespeare. I never would have guessed that."

"Sacrasm isn't very attractive, Murph."

"Well I guess that explains my love life," she riposted. "Now get the hell out of here before I change my mind."

Counting my blessings, I grabbed my cup of life-giving elixir and the blessed caffeine it contained and headed out the door.