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Without warning, a man's terrified screams filled the air, only to be cut off abruptly.
"Blue room," Chris snarled turning to race down the hall with Buck, Josiah, and Nathan on his heels. The rest of the group followed at a slightly slower pace.
Bursting into the room, the shocked men came to a sudden stop and attempted to make sense of the situation. Before them, a clearly naked Sydney Crooks lay thrashing in the bed, his eyes wide in terror. The bedding appeared to be twisted tightly around the naked man, constricting his chest in such a manner as to prevent his breathing, and causing him to turn an amazing shade of blue.
On the other side of the room, calmly watching and making no attempt to aid her erstwhile lover stood Ivy, remarkably unconcerned and also totally naked.
Nathan leapt forward, a knife appearing in his hand from seemingly thin air. "Lay still, you damn fool." he ordered, as the thrashing man made it impossible for Nathan to safely cut him loose. "Pin him down so I can get this thing off him," Nathan snapped at the stunned men. Once Sidney was sufficiently pinned, Nathan quickly moved to free him from the twisted bedding. Nathan jerked back when the blanket moved beneath his hand. It moved like a damn snake. Looking up, he caught Josiah's troubled look. At a nod from his old friend he began slicing through the bedding while Josiah prayed softly. The blankets continued to tighten around the professor as Nathan worked.
The rest of the group entered the room to find the rather bizarre scene unfolding before them. JD, Tony, Bruce, and Ezra each rushed to grab a section of the bedding, holding it tightly in an effort to help Nathan. Casey, knife in hand, moved to the other side of the bed and also began to slice her way through the blanket.
Cedric, ignoring the struggle on the bed, ogled Ivy. "Looking good," he smirked.
Nettie grunted and grabbed up Ivy's discarded clothing. Pushing the clothes into the girl's arms she ordered. "Put them on, now!"
Ivy snarled and drew back as if to slap Nettie and found herself inexplicably pinned against the wall. Seeing Tanner once more playing with Pony, seemingly unaware of the activity that was happening around him, Mary Travis couldn't contain her mirth as she leaned over to stroke Vin's soft hair.
The shaken men pulled the ruined blankets off the bed as they attempted to catch their breath. Wheezing gasps filled the air as Crooks attempted to draw air into his oxygen deprived lungs and Nathan helped the horribly shaken professor to the edge of the bed. Casey picked up the man's clothes, dumped them beside him, and turned to walk away without uttering a word.
Angel stood, visibly trembling, just inside the doorway looking back down the hall. "There's something out there," she said shakily. "I heard it moving."
"The place is an old dump, of course you're going to hear things," Cedric scoffed.
The forgotten Ivy dropped to the floor with a thump. The furious young woman started pulling her clothes on angrily. "Stay out of my business, all of you," she snarled.
"Black widow," Chris muttered under his breath.
"Good thing you turned her down, Pard," Buck answered softly. "Be careful, she's the kind that gets even for things, real or imagined."
"Not real, not real, not real," Ezra suddenly spluttered. Waving his hand before himself he blew as if putting out a candle, reverting to his first attempts to vanquish unwanted spirits as a small boy. "Much better," Standish huffed and straightened his clothing.
"Ezra?" Josiah moved over protectively.
"Ms. Miller, it would seem, has awakened some spirits preferably left to their rest." Ezra's drawl was thick.
"Miller?" JD looked confused.
"Ivy," Ezra huffed.
"Let's take this back to the lounge," Chris grunted, heading for the door. Everyone hurried into the hall after him, the shaken Sidney Crooks still carrying his shoes.
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"What exactly happened up there?" Angel asked shakily.
"Your imaginations got a little carried away." Cedric's sneer didn't hide the quaver in his voice though.
"I didn't imagine the Professor almost asphyxiating," Nathan huffed angrily.
"Old men shouldn't play sex games with Poison Ivy. He must have had a reaction to one of her potions," Cedric smirked widely.
"Careful Cedric, you could lose your head holding it above everyone that way," Ivy smiled sweetly.
"Not over a piece of tail like you," Cedric grinned back.
"You demean the Goddess. I worship her as she wills," Ivy snarled.
"What Goddess?" Josiah asked sharply.
"Are you deaf as well as mislead, old man? Angel told all of you earlier, I'm Wiccan," Ivy responded.
"No, not Wiccan," Josiah's eyes bored into the young woman. "I don't know what you worship, but it isn't the Goddess."
"What would you know about it, Priest?" Ivy laughed.
"Obviously more than you, little one," Josiah's eyes were filled with sorrow.
The ringing phone startled everyone and brought an end to the confrontation.
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"Hello," Tony answered the phone. "Yes he is, just a moment." Tony glanced around, looking for Ezra. "Mr. Standish, it's for you. She said her name is Maude Vandemeter." Tony held out the hand set.
"Oh Gawd, Mutha," Ezra visibly paled. "Hello Mother . . . Yes I am . . . You haven't received an invitation . . . No I do not believe one will be forthcoming . . . No Mother I will . . . Don't do that . . . DAMNATION!" Ezra snarled, gently placing the hand set in its charger, then turned to face the curious group.
"She's coming to the Folly,"
"Aw! Isn't that cute. Ezra's mommy is coming to hold his 'widdle' hand so he won't be scared," Cedric smirked.
"Mr. Larabee, . . . you're an intelligent man. Mother is currently . . . shopping for a . . . protector. It would be in your best interests to avoid her clutches. Do keep an eye on any and all valuables." Ezra sighed, looking rather embarrassed.
"Ezra, that's your Momma," JD protested.
"Mr. Dunne, you may have had a Momma, but Maude Lee, Standish, Getty, Morgan, Isenberg, Vandemeter was not and has no intention of ever being 'Momma'," Ezra responded coldly. "I fear once more she has aroused the wrath of some of the . . . less desirable gambling element and is seeking funding to recompense her losses. Otherwise, I am the last person she would 'visit'."
"Damn Standish, that's your mother you're talking about," Buck scowled.
"I'm quite aware of that Mr. Wilmington," Ezra responded. I've had DNA tests done to confirm our relationship. I had so hoped she had acquired me in some other manner.
Buck hissed as he had a flash of one of Maude's less redeeming moments. Buck's gentle dark blue gaze met and held the conman's distressed emerald green eyes.
He knows, Ezra's dismayed gasp ended in a sigh of relief. Wilmington has no intention of revealing how . . . difficult Mother can truly be.
"Forget the old broad. We have more important things to discuss. I for one am not sleeping on bedding that hasn't been washed since my mother was born," Cedric sniffed.
"I'm staying down here by the fire. It was cold up there," Angel held her hands out to the fire.
"I'll get your sleeping bag," Tony smiled faintly as he draped his windbreaker over her shoulders.
"Thank you," Angel said softly. Her eyes thoughtfully studied the big football player. He hasn't tried pushing things. Is any guy really this nice?
"He really likes you," Casey smiled as she handed Angel a cup of coffee. "Drink that; it'll help warm you up."
"You think so?" Angel flushed.
"Yes, I do. Tony really is a nice guy. If you're not interested, don't play with him." Casey warned gently.
"I don't play games with people's feelings. It hurts too much," Angel mumbled.
"Are you going to be alright?" Casey studied the other girl.
"I was a total waste upstairs. I just stood there when the Prof was in trouble," Angel mused.
"There wasn't much you could help with," Casey reminded.
"I'm . . . disappointed with myself," Angel scowled.
"Hey, none of us were at our best," Tony smiled warmly as he unrolled the sleeping bag and wrapped it around the shivering Angel.
"You helped," Angel sighed. "I was just a lump."
"I bet you never really thought about what to do in an emergency, have you?" JD wandered over.
"Not really," Angel admitted.
"You'll handle things much better next time you're faced with a situation," JD smiled.
"How do you know?" Angel demanded.
"Because Ms. Lemon, you are an intelligent young woman, whom, despite the initial attitude, is a caring individual," Ezra said as he walked up and warmed his hands at the fire.
Angel hid a smile by taking a sip of her coffee. "As are you, Mr. Standish."
"Ms. Lemon, please refrain from libeling me in such a manner." Ezra huffed in pretended offense, much to the amusement of the others assembled.
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Nettie sat in a chair Josiah had moved closer to the fire for her, watching the young people interact with a faint smile. She sighed sadly, dropping her gaze to the damaged young man playing with his horse at her side. You should be over there with them, son. Going to school, falling in love, giving me grandbabies. What'll happen to you when I'm gone?
"Vin, did you say something?" Nettie frowned and sat forwards holding her breath. He's humming. No words, but he's humming! Nettie looked up excitedly.
"Aunt Nettie is Vin . . .?" Casey whispered.
"Yep, 'I Dream of Jeanie with the Light Brown Hair' I didn't know he'd ever even heard it," Nettie said in wonder.
Ezra studied Vin Tanner for a long moment. Wordlessly, he turned and walked to the record player and sorted through the available records. Removing one of the old 78's, he placed it on the turntable and turned the old player on.
The sound of the music brought Vin's head up with a jerk. Standing up, Tanner walked over to Chris. Holding out Pony, he waited.
"Vin?" Chris asked in surprise. Instinctively he held out his hands. Vin kept his head ducked but laid his pony in Chris' hand then pushed the hand up against Larabee's chest. "Sure Pard. I'll keep Pony safe for you," Chris promised.
Everyone watched in amazement when Vin walked back to Nettie holding out his hands.
"You want to dance, Honey?" Nettie asked, reaching out to her boy. Vin took the offered hands and tugged gently. Nettie stood up and slipped into her boy's embrace.
"They sure do dance pretty," Buck said softly, moving over to stand beside Chris.
"He came to me," Chris said in disbelief, looking down at the carved horse in his arms.
"That boy's no more autistic than I'm a momma," Josiah huffed as he joined the two men.
"He's not?" Chris questioned.
"He is atypical for an autistic. I really think that there's something else going on there," Josiah said distractedly. "Excuse me, Vin isn't my patient. That was inappropriate."
Vin and Nettie waltzed around the room gracefully. The music stopped and Ezra replayed the song at Nettie's nod. Casey smiled as she tried to teach JD how to waltz.
"May I have this dance?" Bruce asked Angel.
"I don't know how," Angel admitted shyly.
"Then I'll teach you. Come on," Bruce tugged her hand.
Ezra's eyes widened as he noticed the ghostly lady simply watching Buck with a look of yearning on her face. "May I assist you, Madam?" Standish asked the ghost. "I would be happy to ask him for you, Mr. Wilmington is always willing to spend time with a lovely lady."
"Mr. Wilmington," Ezra looked uncomfortable as he approached the group.
"Who's your friend?" Buck looked past the pleasantly surprised Standish to the other presence.
"Miss Hilda, may I present Mr. Buck Wilmington. Mr. Wilmington, Miss Hilda Petrie. Miss Petrie is desirous of a dance Mr. Wilmington," Ezra explained.
"I'd be delighted," Buck held out a hand not flinching at the cold touch.
Nathan watched as the ghostly presence became more visible, revealing a large well padded woman in an antique dress. "Now I've seen everything," he whispered in wonder as he watched the pair move gracefully across the floor.