Greetings all! I'm Shadowsanddreams and welcome to my Dresden world!
*lawyers stand up*
Shadowsanddreams-Quick! Roll disclaimer!
Disclaimer: I own nothing but Jane and Talin… and Fred the cat. Other than that I am just a poor retch who has a love obsession with dark chocolate and Pepsi.
Other notes…
I want to thank Nefertiri's Handmaiden for all her help and for making me write my own fanfic instead of pestering her into another inspired story.
Also a special thanks to amoracchius for being my first reviewer!!! Thanks again!
Now, on with the show!
Chap. 3
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"I'm sorry about your car" said Jane from the back of a rusty cab.
"The Blue Beetle's seen worse believe me" said Harry from the front seat. The driver next to him ignored them completely, which suited Jane fine.
They had left the tavern and called a cab to bring the tow truck to the station and to get them all back to Jane's house where Murphy's car was still parked.
Murphy watched as the car in question was towed along behind them "Remember that demon that tore up the hood?"
"Good times," said Harry.
"You guys are twisted" said Jane smiling out the window at the rain. God bless lake effects, the water kept the grass green and the temperatures bearable. She had never realized how much she had missed people. They lied, cheated and stole but they made the crazy world seem a little more comfortable.
"When do you think you will have the results back from the sample?" asked Jane. The cab stopped at the police station's garage. Murphy flashed her badge and they entered through the back gate.
"Hopefully by tomorrow. I'll give Harry a call and we can meet at the location" said Murphy getting out of the cab and handing the driver their fare.
"Until then we can start looking for that 'little man' the boy mentioned. If he traded a cat for a kelpie, the supplier must be a dwarf or hob" said Jane, her eyes became unfocused as she began to ponder out loud.
"A hob?" asked Murphy looking over at Harry.
"Hobgoblin. They usually work as little minions for the big guys" said Harry doing some pondering of his own.
"They often are sent on errands to this Realm by their masters. All the iron here makes the higher ups nervous, they have a long way to fall…" continued Jane mostly to herself. "The cat could keep the pixy's away" she finished pulling herself back to them. She had been pacing between them, a habit she had picked up last time she had been in Chicago.
"Well, could we just go to their Realm and ask around to see who would be selling a kelpie?" asked Murphy.
"No!"
"Absolutely not!"
"Right, because investigating an investigation is just crazy" said Murphy crossing her arms. They were acting like children.
"It IS crazy" said Harry.
"You are a cop. How would you feel about wandering around in a prison with no gun, no locked doors and inmates that are out to get you?" asked Jane tilting her head in Murphy's direction.
"Ok. So how can we get that kind of information?"
"We ask nicely" said Harry looking at Jane who began to fidget. "Who would know better than a Fae Lord about what sort of things other Fae Lords do in their free time?"
Murphy checked her watch. "It's settled then. Tomorrow we should have the sample back from the lab and we can follow our lead on the supplier. It's getting late and you both need rides home."
"I can give Harry a lift. We have some details to work out" said Jane pulling out her charm bracelet.
It really was as useful as Batman's utility belt thought Harry. Only she didn't have shark repellent bat spray…
Murphy raised an eyebrow "In what?"
"I have my ways. I just hope Fred's in a good mood. He's usually cranky when I call him so early at night…" said Jane selecting a small silver bell from her bracelet.
"If you say so. Tomorrow at 9 sharp then. Goodnight" called Murphy as she got in her car and pulled away.
"Ok, so what does Fred drive?" asked Harry watching Murphy's mustang pull away.
"Shh. Let me concentrate" she said ringing the little bell three times. Concentrating solely on her little bell she let her will fuel the spell's power. "Scáth."
A soft padding sound came from across the far side of the departments parking lot. A large shadow pulled itself out from its brothers and came to a halt in front of its caller and a speechless Harry.
"How the hell-"
"Fred, meet Harry Dresden. Harry this is Fred."
"Pleased to meet you. Fredrick Richard Ellsworth Daniels III to be exact mistress" said the giant black cat. His size was somewhere between a tiger and a decent sized tractor.
"Fred for short, but you get the idea. He's going to be our ride. Let's get out of here before we're spotted" said Jane mounting the cat as though he was a horse.
"Umm. Pardon me if I'm a little hesitant about catching a lift on a giant talking cat" said Harry still struck by Fred's appearance.
"I am of the solitary fae wizard. Not a cat" retorted the beast cat dropping his yellow eyes to Harry's level. "And my name will do you no good. I am bound by blood to my lady and savior till death divides us." Harry raised his chin and produced a dark glower in return.
I knew he'd be grouchy thought Jane sighing inwardly.
"Fred, don't eat him. Harry, wipe that smirk off your face. You boys have to play nice or you don't play at all." Harry raised an eyebrow. "You I'll leave here to walk your butt home, and you are going on time out Fred. Kapish? Good." Fred straightened up and gave her a pleading look. Jane crossed her arms, the very picture of a mother hen. Fred huffed and shifted under her for a moment.
"Get on Wizard Dresden. I wish you no harm this night" said Fred laying down to make it easier for Harry to scramble on. Once Harry was settled Fred stood and asked "I require a heading mistress."
"Let's go to you place" said Jane. Harry gave the giant cat directions to his apartment and tried not to feel silly about it.
With Harry holding on for dear life they sped off and arrived looking windblown and alert. Harry climbed off the big kitty in the manliest way he knew how. Which mostly consisted of him falling over the beast's side when Fred came to a lurching halt and landing hard on one knee.
Jane seemed in deep thought, her brow furrowed as she swung herself down with a grace that comes with practice. He knew that she was thinking of any other way but asking Lord What's His Face to find out about the kelpie's origin. Hell, that's what he would do.
"Dresden I think-"
"That this is a bad idea? Trust me I know exactly how you feel. I have a Godmother there that scares the hell out of me. At least your faerie doesn't want you dead."
"Do you have any idea-"
"Look, we need your help and I didn't want to play this card but I would like to point out that I killed your father's murderer. That has to count for something" he said gently.
"I-you don't… Damn it!" she fumbled. "Avenging my father is one thing, but this is a hell of a favor! I barely made it back here last time I meddled in their affairs!" she cried. Fred rubbed against her affectionately and almost knocked her over. Petting Fred she sighed. "I did get you out of the bargain though, didn't I?"
"Yes mistress, and I am eternally grateful" purred the massive feline. A rough barking sounded from Harry's apartment that pulled Fred's damaging affection away from Jane.
"Is that a bear?"
"His name's Mouse" he told her looking over at his fervent mammoth dog thorough the window. "He needs to go for a walk soon." A moment later a strikingly beautiful man appeared, clipped a leash on Mouse and was towed out the door. Fred hissed a warning at the mutt but Mouse whimpered and whined until he was within scratching distance of Harry. The man flashed a stunning movie star smile.
"You have two seconds to declare yourself or it will be your corpse that tells us which Court you are part of" said Jane taking a defensive stance.
"You sure know how to pick them Harry" said the vampire not at all alarmed by Jane's hostility.
"Thomas, this is Jane. Jane, this is Thomas, a friend."
"Formally of the White Court. Pleased to meet you" he said extending a hand. Jane looked at it then over at Harry cocking her head in his direction. Something was not right, too many years with the Fair Folk told her as much.
"A half truth. Either his name is not Thomas or he is not really your friend. Which is it Harry?" she said placing a hand on Fred's flank. Thomas had his poker face on and still looked as charming as a movie star.
"So she's a walking lie detector? Nice" said Thomas pulling back on Mouse's chain.
"Something like that" said Harry rubbing his tired eyes. His bed was only yards away and he wasn't making any progress in getting there.
"Harry I've lived with the fae. A lie is like a flare at night. What are you hiding?"
Thomas didn't so much as blink when he said is a shy embarrassed voice "He's my boyfriend. I've been living with him since-"
"I believe that even less. You're pretty but he's not interested in men, not when there's pretty lady cops around" said Jane shifting her gaze slowly over to Harry. They looked like little boys caught in the act. Little boys…
"Not that… closer… relatives" she muttered to herself examining them side by side.
Two things happened very quickly, one was that she was no longer on her feet but in the air with less and less air in her lungs as manicured nails cut off the rest. The second was that Fred had Harry pinned and was ready to turn him into kibbles and bits. Concentrating, her pebble hummed again and pulled her back to the ground out of the vampires grasp for a moment. Thomas switched targets and threw himself at Fred in a fury. Gasping she called "Scáth" as she rolled away from the dark eyed vampire. Fred yowled and sent one pleading look to her as he vanished back into the shadows. Panting now she concentrated on binding Thomas to the earth before he tore out her throat.
"Brothers" she coughed. Blood flecked the ground as she shakily raised herself on all fours. Looking up she saw a dark Harry above and his beast dog ready to lunge on his leash. Harry looked down at his dog and very deliberately unclipped the leash. Jane who was still drained from holding the enraged vampire did the only thing she could; brace herself and pray for a savior. "Paches-" she started the Our Father knowing she wouldn't have time to finish it. She was right. The next moment a small furry train hit her square in the chest and sent her flat on her back on the ground. The doggy kisses were unexpected.
She petted Mouse for a moment while she collected her thoughts, like why she was still alive. Mouse let her push him off and but remained in orbit while she sat up. Avoiding Harry's eyes she instead spoke to Mouse.
"I don't recall being molested by a more handsome man" she told him. Mouse sat next to her and wagged his tail; his tongue waging out crookedly in a grin. "Why am I still among the living?" she asked the air.
"You're no use to us dead" was the reply.
"That looks to be debatable" she said looking over at the still bound Thomas. He sent her a cold look. Sweat broke out as she continued to contain his strength in her spell. Hurry girl, not much time left…
"You can let him go now. It was a misunderstanding" said Harry walking over to his brother. Thomas could not mover visibly but she felt the strain on her lessen as he calmed down.
"Have you ever heard the phrase 'the truth will set you free?" She received a dark and withering look.
"This is Thomas my half brother. Now do you believe me?"
"Yes." The spell popped and she instantly felt as though a weight had been lifted from her chest. She knew of course that the actual weight was yet to come but the relief was welcome none the less. Harry said something inaudible as he play hit his brother in the arm. Thomas stretched his limbs muttering to his brother "Took you long enough."
"Try the truth next time. At least Harry tried to cover with a half truth. I almost missed it" she said pulling herself to her feet. This had been a close one. This day had started with a fight and now it had ended in a fight. Good to be back, she thought to herself ruefully as she tenderly touched her bruised throat.
"Harry, I don't ask for your darkest secrets, just the truth. I too have things I need to stay hidden. Consider this a lapse in my memory for anyone who is asking." Harry looked her over, bloody lip, scrapes and all. This women played for keeps but so far had been nothing but fair and painfully truthful with him. She was only asking for him to do the same. He nodded and set about putting his newly liberated dog back on his leash.
Jane turned to Thomas who looked back with a guarded expression. She sighed and stuck out her hand.
"I'm called Jane. I won't apologize for what I did and I don't expect you to." she started and paused looking over at Harry trying to tackle Mouse and clip a lead on his collar. "Harry's all you have left and you are all he has. I'll keep your secret because all I have is the fae servant you threatened to kill. Just as I might have taken your brother from you, I won't lose him without a fight. You don't have to tell me anything you don't want to but from now on it will be nothing but the truth between us, agreed?"
"Agreed" said Thomas shaking her hand. "Are you usually this fiesty?"
Jane grinned to herself. "I wish this had been the most dangerous thing I've done all day but after seeing and riding in your brothers car… I think I'm at my limit for life threatening situations. Well, now you know not to mess with an Irish girl and I know that vampires are cranky late at night."
Thomas grinned.
"Why do I have the feeling that you had something to do with the White Court's alliance with the Council?" she said carefully. His grin vanished.
"I think you hit your head a little hard on the way down. You're starting to say strange things" he told her meaningfully.
Riiiiight. Sometimes the truth would just get you in more trouble…
"I must have taken quite a spill. Next I'll be saying that there really is a tooth fairy" she told him brushing off her pants.
Harry came back with Mouse in tow and Thomas took the brute on his long awaited walk.
"You know I'm sensing a trend" he said to her when the two were out of earshot.
"Oh?"
"Life and death situations seem to be a norm for you."
"Keeps me on my toes that's for sure. Now, seeing as I'm apparently no use to you dead I believe we have to work out the details of our deal." she said as a tinkling came from her wrist. "Looks like Fred's worried about me." she told him as shadow began to gather slowly as if it was an effort to simply be there.
"He's not going to…" Harry held up clawed hands "is he?"
"Would you?" she asked back.
"You know this contrary women I met said that this was answers for answers not questions for questions." he told her grinning.
"I'll keep that in mind. Brace yourself, Scáth." she said ringing the bell three times. A shudder passed through her. Using so much magic so quickly was taking its toll with relish as she started to sway. The sickly shadow gathered and burst into the growling form of Fred who curled his way around his mistress giving her much needed support.
"I'm alright Fred. It's just a misunderstanding. We are just bargaining now."
"Yes my Lady" he hissed not taking his eyes off of Harry.
"Right. Well, I want your help on this case but what do you want?" said Harry putting on his tough guy attitude. The damn cat's paws would probably leave big bruises tomorrow, not to mention the claw marks on his duster.
"I will need chain mail and bracers for this. I have non here. Get me those and I will find and help kill your problem."
"That's it? You'll help for armor?" asked Harry in disbelief.
"That is what I require from you. From Chicago's lady knight I would like my moped fixed. Do we have a bargain?"
"You will have to ask her about her part. Do I have your word as a Wizard that you will hold up your end of the bargain?"
"So suspicious. You have my word as a Wizard. And I want you to promise on your true name, that you will keep your word and not betray me to the fae?"
"Now who's paranoid?"
"Say it or Fred eats you" she said then with a glance at the desperate beast dog that was now back at the window she added "and your little dog too."
"I swear on my true name that I promise to fulfill my end of the bargain and not betray you to the fae. Happy Miss Wicked Witch?" The air shifted around them as the pact was made.
"Very. See you in the morning. I'll need that armor before I call on the Fae Lord." That said she vaulted on to her mount and disappeared into the shadow filled night.
"Great job Harry. Where the hell are you going to get armor in the inner city of Chicago?" he asked himself finally trudging up to his door. His bed called and he collapsed gratefully into a mass of quilts.
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Sorry I took so long but I've got a head start on Chap. 4!
Also, Pepper the dragon wants more constructive reviews, ideas are also welcome. Thanks all!
~Shadowsanddreams