Jade was used to males staring at her. Her mother, Gina, always said the Falleen are good like that. Jade had never been in close proximity to so many males for so long a time. Some of them started to get handsy. The Professor was there when she scratched one. She always kept her claws sharp, and she always aimed for the face. Growing up in the city that she did, even shrine maidens weren't completely safe. He didn't blame her, but, oh did Jade feel horrible about it. She shut herself up in her room.

For weeks, various "concerned" agents came by: Some to make sure she was eating, some to make sure she was sleeping, some a little bolder. They were all met with silence.

Hellboy was with Baskerville in the shooting range when she scratched another one.

"She's been doing this for weeks, dog. You need to get a hold of your woman."

"Woman?" Baskerville asked. "What woman? I don't have a woman!"

"The cat? Jade?"
"Oh that is not my woman!"

"The hell she's not your woman!"
"She's not my woman, she's a child."
"She's under your supervision, or she's supposed to be!"

"When'd I agree to this?"

"When Father told you to help her settle in…."

"I think she's settled in now…." Baskerville could smell Abe before he turned to see him.
"She's taken the library. I'm locked out. Even the keypads won't work," he sounded out of breath. Hellboy turned to the dog, balling up his stone hand.

"You need to get control of your woman. Now."

What that mutt was doing there, Jade had no idea, but she could hear him knocking and just wanted him to go away. A few more tables slid in front of the door. She tried to ignore him and curl farther into her chair with her blanket. She forgot he could walk through walls, or however he freaking did it.

He kept his distance, taking the chair across the reading nook she took over.

"Are we done?" he asked. "Because the entire compound is outside trying to get in here."

"Good luck there," she pulled her legs up into her blanket.

"How long did it take you to make that barricade?" he asked.

"Two minutes. I didn't break any of them if the professor's worried. I just wanted them to stop," her words were lost in a mumble under the blanket.

"Sorry? I didn't catch that."

"I said I hate men!" her fist came down on the arm of the chair.

"Fair enough. They get out of hand."

"Are you gonna stay here all day?"
"Remember that night in the truck? It's gonna be like that, only w/ less you yelling at me. And more you taking my peace offering."

"What peace offering?" he pulled a wax sealed bottle out of his coat and a glass.

"I made mead. It's made of honey, you'll like it. I put pomegranate and cranberry in it. You liked pomegranate right?" she sat up.

"Yeah, I did," she watched him pour her a glass and hand it to her.
"Don't chug it. It's strong." Sipping on it made her dizzy. "When I started this one, I didn't think it'd be to calm you down."

"I don't need to calm down!" she glared at him over her glass.

"You've scratched everything with a penis that came near you! I'm surprised Abraham escaped with his life!" Baskerville settled back into his chair. "And next time you have problems with the other agents, I'd like for you to say something. Preferably to me."

"Why so you can pat them on the back for trying?" her voice was venomous.

"So I can knock them the fuck out!" he growled low.

"W-what?"

"You heard me. I want you to let me deal with it when you have problems with the other agents. Professor Bruttenholm asked me to look after you. Can't do that if you don't help me.

"Come on, put the tables back and let's take you back to your room, little one," one by one the tables started putting themselves back in order.

He didn't carry her this time. Jade walked of her own accord next to Baskerville, whose paw stayed at the small of her back, making sure she was okay. When they made it back to her room, Jade poured herself another glass of mead and Baskerville laid a paw on the wall and black shadows spread around the room.

"No one should get in here without an invitation now," he said.
"Thank you," she whispered into her glass.

"You're welcome, Kitty. I need one thing though," he held up a syringe and a vial. "Abraham wants to analyze your blood. Thinks it might have something to do with the men around here acting screwy." Jade offered him her arm to take blood from and looked away. When he was done, the dog scratched her between the ears and took it to Abe's lab.