Encounters

The Calm before the Storm pt. 1

Summary: Owen and Kristi have an… interesting discussion.

Disclaimer: Gargoyles doesn't belong to me. All of my made up characters do, including the Storyteller.

Thank yous: To my muse for suggesting I put in theis extra chapter I wasn't planning on including. :)

VVVVVV

"I'll show you to your room, Ms. Johnson." Owen picked up Kristi's suitcase and started for the door.

Kristi stared after him thoughtfully. The man had asked no question although she got the impression that he was clearly shaken by their news. However, she doubted if anyone else noticed; except for a few brief moments, his face was totally devoid of any emotion. Something odd is going on and I'm going to find out what it is.

As she followed him out she felt a hand on her shoulder and smiled without turning around. "I'll be fine, Den. Don't worry."

Denice gave the majordomo a suspicious glance, but nodded slowly and turned back to the others. Angela smiled at her. "Come on, we'll show you around."

Denice gave Kristi one last glance before smiling in agreement at Angela.

VVVVV

"So, you're human, huh?" Lex asked Denice, surveying the twinkling city lights. The honey colored gargoyle gave a brief shudder and unconsciously caped her wings.

"So say my birth certificate ." She said softly. Thinking about her transformation was not really something she had on her list of things to do; she'd avoided thinking about it for two months and was quite content to continue not thinking about it. Thinking led to fright, fright led to uncertainty and uncertainty led to chaos which, given the circumstances, was not recommended. Kristi needed someone with a clear head.

Lex seemed to pick up on her reluctance to talk and switched the subject. "Is this your first time in New York?" Denice smiled. "Mmm hmm. Kristi's been here before though. It's very… different to where we come from; I still haven't adjusted to the noise level and the pollution in the air." She glanced at Brooklyn and smiled an apology.

"Of course, I'm sure to you it's home sweet home."

Brooklyn laughed. "Actually, we're from Scotland."

Denice raised a brow ridge. "Really? You sound very American to me."

Lex grinned. "Long story." Denice shrugged. "Fair enough."

"Where exactly are you from?" ventured Broadway. "I know you're a part of the B.V.I clan, but your accent sounds slightly different from your friend's."

Denice blinked.

Brooklyn nodded. "I've been trying to figure that out since I heard you. You two aren't from the same place, are you?"

Denice gave him a hooded smile. "That's another long story."

VVVVVV

Owen and Kristi walked silently down the passageway until they came to an ancient looking wooden door. Kristi would have been impressed with the craftsmanship had she not been preoccupied with more pressing matters. She stood silently while Owen opened the door and entered the room.

"Ms. Johnson?" Kristi blinked up at the majordomo in surprise. "Yes, please?"

Owen gave the faintest of smiles before gesturing her inside with his good hand. Brushing a lock of hair out of her face self-consciously, she stepped into the room. "Oh…" she managed, unconsciously echoing Angela's expression of awe from earlier that evening.

Her earlier preoccupations temporarily slipped to the back of her mind as she made a slow survey of the room. Owen watched her emerald eyes as they moved from the spacious living area to the kitchenette to a closed door which, like the rest of the room, was hardly as old as one would think the castle to be.

While Kristi opened the door and entered, Owen mulled over her story. Something about it was troubling him, something he couldn't define… "When you said 'room' you didn't mention an apartment." Kristi commented, returning to the living area.

He watched her take off her jacket and leather gloves and lay them gingerly on the sofa before she turned to regard him with a puzzled expression. He felt her push her magic tentatively as if was searching for something but either didn't know what it was or didn't want to pry too deeply. Owen couldn't help grimacing when she accidentally brushed against the magical restraints Oberon had placed on him.

Kristi flinched as if she'd been stung and blinked several times. Concern flooded Owen's usually nondescript features. "Ms. Johnson, are you alright?"

"I… guess so." Kristi was accustomed to dealing with restraints; Vivian had placed similar restrictions on her little sister when her powers had gotten out of control. She just hadn't expected to find such things here.

"Who are you?"

The question was out of her mouth before she could stop it. So much for subtlety, she thought as she waited for a response.

Damn, this girl doesn't waste much time, does she? Owen ignored Puck's quiet observation as he tried to think of an appropriate response.

Lying made no sense; the girl had obviously figured out his true nature. Even if she hadn't known at first, his participation in the earlier discussion had probably made things clear to her. How much more had she guessed? How much should he tell her?

Kristi watched Owen and an amused smirk started to pull at her lips. His expression remained neutral, but his eyes revealed some sort of inner struggle. Poor guy, probably wondering how much to say; I'd better help him out.

"You don't have to tell me anything you don't want to, Mr. Burnett, although I am curious about many things." Kristi sat on the couch and smiled up at the blonde man. "And I'm guessing you have many questions for me." She gestured to the empty sofa opposite her.

Owen permitted himself a faint smile. Ms. Johnson was indeed perceptive. "You guess correctly," he said, walking over and sitting down. Kristi smiled. "I usually do. So," she said, eyes twinkling. "Which of us goes first?"

VVVVVV

"Me?" Brooklyn asked, raising a brow ridge. He looked over to where Broadway and Lex were speaking with Goliath in the middle of the courtyard before turning back to the honey colored female with a sigh.

"Those two have been my best friends since forever. We did everything together." Denice tilted her head to a side and regarded him with an unreadable expression. "You don't do everything together anymore?" she inquired. Brooklyn gave her a sharp look and sighed. "It shows?"

Denice dipped her head. "You just didn't sound happy. I made a lucky guess." She glanced up at the sky, noting the telltale signs that signaled the coming dawn and put a hand on his shoulder.

"Look, I'm no expert on gargoyle relationships, but I think you're just growing apart. It happens to humans all the time." Brooklyn nodded slowly. "I know, but that doesn't mean I can't wish for the good old days."

Denice removed her hand and gave him a wistful smile. "In my experience," she said, looking at her talons, "wishing for the past too much can make you feel so much worse. Looking forward is sometimes the best thing to do." She grimaced. "Not that we have anything that great to look forward to in the immediate future. This Unseelie problem is not just going to go away."

Brooklyn also frowned. "Count on the Third Race to complicate the lives of us mortals," he said. Denice blinked. "They've caused trouble for your clan before." It wasn't a question.

"There's the understatement of the year," Lex said, coming over. "We've nearly been killed several times because of them. And now, from what Kristi's saying, those were the good ones?"

Denice shrugged and looked at him and at Goliath, who had also come over. "At least some ofOberon's children genuinely care about the other Races. This other batch commits mass genocide without a second thought."

VVVVV

"My grandfather had told me about the Unseelie war so vividly that, even though I was only four, I remember thinking how glad I was that I wasn't alive back then. I never guessed that they'd develop this interest in me." Kristi shook her head.

"Perhaps they think you're connected to Milena in some way."

"I don't see why they should. My grandfather wasn't even Unseelie; he served Oberon faithfully." Kristi sighed and brushed her hair out of her eyes. "I wish he was here; I know he could solve this."

Owen met her eyes. "Your grandfather is back on Avalon."

Kristi gave a dry laugh. "No, he died when I was five. Iron poisoning," she added at Owen's raised eyebrow.

"What was his name?" Kristi gave him an amused look. She was determined not to point out the fact that he had not told her his real name as yet. "Hendrick Johnson, but you might know him as the Storyteller."

This time Owen raised both eyebrows. Both names were very familiar to him; he'd taken special delight in annoying the venerable advisor when they were on Avalon although he'd secretly respected him.

So, Puck mused silently, he actually did settle down with a mortal. I thought Raven was joking when he told me. "I am sorry for your loss, Ms. Johnson."

Kristi nodded in acknowledgement before continuing.

"What my grandfather never understood is why Milena never changed time so that the rebel leaders would never have lost their powers. I know that it's difficult to change time but from what I understand, this woman can do it effortlessly; she doesn't need the Phoenix Gate to travel through time."

"That is part of what makes her such a source of uneasiness for the Seelie Court." Owen stated.

"Hunted by both Courts," Kristi mused. "If she can time travel, no wonder they can't find her." She got up and began to pace. "My powers only extend as far as controlling disguises, sensitivity to magic and the occasional thought projection although I can't control that. I haven't even mastered simple leviatation yet."

Owen nodded as he remembered the screams in his mind from earlier that evening. "Not enough to interest the Unseelies." he agreed.

"So why in the world are they after me…oh, excuse me," Kristi apologized after trying unsuccessfully to stifle a large yawn. Owen checked his watch. 5 AM. He stood up and looked down at Kristi. He hadn't realized how short she was, only about 5'2.

"I should be going, Ms. Johnson." Kristi smiled sleepily. "Leaving already, Mr. Burnett? I didn't realize I was boring you….oh, excuse me again."

Owen shook his head as he headed for the door. "Far from it, Ms. Johnson. You're tired; you should sleep. I'll check back on you later. I'm sure Mr. Xanatos will be very interested in your story."

He paused at the door. "I'll try my best to help you, Ms. Johnson." Kristi nodded. "I know you will. Even though you still haven't told me your real name," she added playfully.

Owen gave a faint smile. "All in good time, Ms. Johnson." Then he was gone.