Disclaimer: As always I own nothing but the original characters and the plot. Thanks for reading, hope you enjoyed it.

Transferring Blame

Trying to hold a conversation or ask questions proved impossible then, everyone talking at once either to each other, Ogdin, or no one in particular, the speakers simply wanting answers, as confused as everyone else in the room. That everyone had different questions didn't help either, everyone seeming to forget the chain of command as they vied to be heard among all the other voices. The majority of Bane's packmates wanted to know about Layla, who had been one of the most popular, if not the most beloved member of their pack. On behalf of their leader Kingsley's pack also wanted to know how their captain's late daughter factored into this, but also why Ogdin would say that they knew nothing about the compound the twins had been from, and also what more he knew about the potential dangers posed by these twins that were so dangerous even Bane wouldn't stand a chance against them. Talia also wanted to know more about the twins, but was more focused on arguing that Layla wouldn't have stood a chance against her, which her own pack knew to be false but didn't say since they weren't stupid, and had other, more important things on their minds at present.

Bane had a lot of questions too, but at the moment his focus was on Barsad, who was just standing at his side, not saying a word. His second tended to get that way, when it came to discussing Layla. Even the mention of her name brought Barsad pain, and for that reason their own pack made it a habit not to bring her up around him. The same could be said for Kingsley, Bane noted with a glance in that direction, the older man talking quietly to his own second, Bane's uncle.

Back and forth the voices went, and then a sharp whistle cut through the noise, slicing through the voices and quieting the speakers. Wolves had sensitive hearing after all, and the whistle had been a sharp, piercing sound. That was deliberate though, everyone looking in the direction of the noise maker, who happened to be Eames's father.

"Quiet. We will get no answers like this." The older man's gaze moved across the room in a way that made it clear that while he wasn't the most alpha wolf in the room, he was the one they damn well better listen to at the moment. "So to summarize, Dr. Ogdin, we would like to know what you meant when you said we didn't know enough about the twins' compound. The fact that the organization was run by psychotic idiots is something we all know, the fact that they thought Layla would act against her pack proves that."

There were a lot of growls of agreement from both packs, and they rarely agreed on much of anything. But Layla Kingsley's honor would not be questioned on penalty of brutal maiming delivered by both sides with glee.

Looking more than a little frazzled and taken aback by their shouting and growling, so very uncivilized and unsettling, Ogdin had to ask that the question be repeated before he could compose himself enough to think about his answer.

"Ah. I see the confusion…or at least their confusion." Ogdin gestured in the direction of Bane's wolves, his hand shaking a little. Then his gaze went over to Kingsley. "Why you seem equally confused is what puzzles me. You were given access to all the files on all the experiments, including your genetic offspring."

"And what is it exactly that you think I should know? What about my daughter?"

"Her transfer to the other compound and -" That was all Ogdin got out before once again the hall was so filled with angry voices that even if the scientist had tried to be heard, he would have easily been drowned out. As it was he didn't even try, his instincts screaming to call as little attention to himself as possible.

To end this shouting match it took Kingsley, Bane, and Barsad yelling for everyone to shut up to quiet people down, though even the most calm of them normally was vibrating with fury on behalf of either their packmate or their captain's only child.

It was in the quiet that Bane demanded to know what Ogdin meant by Layla being transferred. She hadn't gone to another compound, she'd died.

"No, though that is what you were told." Ogdin spoke matter of fact, though he had moved a little closer to Kingsley at this point, just in case, as he tried to bring some civility back to the room. "But as I was saying, Captain Kingsley was given her complete files so he knows the…" Trailing off the scientist finally seemed to realize that no, Kingsley didn't know what he was talking about and was just as on edge as the others. That was not a good thing.

"I don't understand…why would the government withhold that information from you? It makes no logical sense. She's dead, the exact nature of her death matters little." Layla had been one of his best results, he'd been sorry to lose her, but to get this upset about her made no sense to Ogdin. It had been years since her death!

"You told us she was DEAD!"

Bane just managed to grab Barsad's shoulder, holding the man in place when his second would have attacked and possibly ripped out Ogdin's throat with his teeth. That he actually had to put his muscle behind the hold spoke volumes.

Meanwhile, none of them had ever seen Ogdin move so fast as he did in that split second when Barsad would have attacked, the man now hiding behind Eames's father since the scientist had enough sense to pick someone else instead of Kingsley, who was looking more than a little feral now too.

"She wasn't transferred, she died! My father told me so!" Talia's voice held not a hint of doubt, so sure that her father would never lie to her about anything. Especially about this. Not about what had happened to that bitch Layla.

"Well he did expect her to die very quickly, that she didn't came as quite a surprise really." They wanted information, Ogdin told himself, so that's what he'd give them in the hopes of pacifying them. "Females tended to die at that particularly compound regularly unless they were specifically put under the protection of the organization, which she wasn't. Of course if not for the help of the twins she likely wouldn't have survived as long as she did but-"

"My father would not lie to me!"

"You were never rational where she was concerned." Ogdin's sigh was longsuffering, the scientist forgetting himself for a moment. "Just like your father, refusing to recognize and accept that she was simply born better than you."

"THAT BITCH WAS NOT BETTER THAN ME!"

"QUIET!" Kingsley's roar had everyone shutting up, no one in the room having ever heard him raise his voice to that level before. "Where was my daughter sent?!"

"Why to Gotham, of course. She died there with the twins we were talking about and all the other experiments housed there."

)

Information about Gotham had been sketchy at best; the organization had had just enough time to wipe all data about it from their records before their records had been ceased. And yes, the fact that those records alone had proven irretrievable had always been a source of suspicion in both packs' books, but as all the occupants of the compound were dead it hadn't seemed that important. All that they'd known for sure was that the explosion that had taken the structures out had been from within, those in charge of the compound choosing death for everyone as opposed to being captured. They didn't even have an exact number of deaths for their records, the damage caused by the explosives so fierce that retrieving enough remains for identification purposes had proven difficult, if not impossible the closer to ground zero they'd been. The scientists from the other compounds had been questioned, but each group had been largely insular from each other, and none of them knew much about the other compounds, much less Gotham. But all had stated that their best hybrids, the ones shown to have the most promise, had been sent to Gotham in the early days of the compounds. Then the scientists had started underplaying the value of their hybrids, as the ones sent before more often than not ended up dead.

"Why was Layla transferred?! Why were we lied to?!" Barsad wasn't struggling under Bane's hand anymore, he'd gone predator still. And Ogdin was the prey he'd zeroed in on. One wrong move and the scientist was dead.

"If you'd known she'd been sent away you would have rebelled. It was decided that it would be for the best if you all just thought she'd passed away in the night. As for why she was transferred, that is a question you should post to Talia." Ogdin was no fool; he saw that he was surrounded by feral wolves who were angry, agitated, and confused, which was not a positive combination. And seeing more clearly that it was his words that were whipping them into this frenzy, the scientist was smart enough to know that he needed to give them someone else to hate.

All eyes went to Talia, the look on the woman's face shocked as she realized that it wasn't just the others that were looking at her with murder in their eyes, but members of her own pack as well.

And Bane didn't move closer. He did not stand in front of her. Instead he stayed right where he was with Barsad, his voice deceptively soft as he asked her what Ogdin meant by that.

"He's lying! How can you trust him over me? Over OUR father?!"

Kingsley's voice was like a whip as he demanded an answer from Ogdin.

"She attempted to assassinate Layla and lost. Al Ghul removed her to protect his daughter from retaliation."

Barsad said not a word, he just twisted and lunged for Talia, his only thought to kill her.

Members of their pack moved to stand to protect her, but it was automatic gesture on their part, borne or training as opposed to an actual desire to shield her in that moment. And Barsad would have easily slammed his way through them when Bane grabbed him and whirled him around instead.

Bane caught the fist thrown at him, deflected the kicks with ease while his gaze demanded that Barsad look him in the eyes. "If what he says is true her fate is unknown. But there are two people we can ask for the truth. Think, Barsad. Think."

Realization dawned on Barsad's face, but he quickly shook his head, hope un allowed to take root in his scarred heart. "No. If she was alive she'd have come to me. She'd have found me. Nothing would have stopped her."

"We need to go see them. To ask them what they know. And if Talia is responsible for her death then she will forfeit her life for that betrayal." A gasp from those in the room, though none was louder than Talia's at Bane's proclamation. That he of all people would say that and so obviously mean it. "She will be taken back to her home and guarded there, Kingsley will provide men as well to make sure Talia stays there until we have more information. We will go and find out the truth as they know it. If they give their word to speak honestly they will. They are honorable men."

"Who is the 'they' he's talking about?" Ogdin wanted to know, no one answering him.

No, instead the topic of conversation quickly turned to the fact that when Kingsley ordered that Bane's cousin come forward to arrange for the meeting, no one stepped forward. The man in question, Salar as well, had slipped out of the room at some point with no one noticing.

Gone, they all quickly concluded, to warn the feline hybrid twins.

)

Standing at the end of the laneway Arthur and Blake waited for Eames and Salar to arrive, each holding a baby in one arm, their other holding the bags that had quickly been filled with clothes and other supplies that Eames and Arthur would be needing for themselves and the babies. There wasn't a bag for Blake, they both knew that he needed to stay behind to face the wolves and the questions they'd have for them. Eames and Salar hadn't stuck around as soon as Layla was mentioned, as ordered, and though Eames had been puzzled by that edict he'd agreed to it. Now it would be up to Arthur to explain things to the forger while Blake was explaining to Kingsley, Bane, Barsad, and whoever else came to collect them.

"They would hunt us down like the wolves they are, but we were raised to evade them."

"You can't go far in case we need Eames's mother. And if they have me they'll settle for that." Blake looked over at his twin, his reason for living, with a smile meant to reassure. "They won't hurt me, you know. And if need be I'll get away from them easily enough. We were raised to evade them."

"You also seem to think annoying them is your reason for living far too often."

Smirking, Blake could only shrug since it wasn't like that wasn't true. He did love fucking with Bane's pack, and Talia in particular. But they wouldn't bring her, they wouldn't be that stupid. "They want me to cooperate."

"And will you?"

"Sorta."

Rolling his eyes Arthur breathed out a calming breath. "Please, Blake, be nice. They'll be rabid depending on how much Ogdin tells them before they get here."

To amuse them both Blake deliberately snorted. "Are you suggesting I can't handle a bunch of dogs? Really? Have some faith, Little Brother."

Setting the bag he'd been holding on the ground for a moment Arthur reached out and cupped his brother's cheek. "You're not the only one who would be lost without their other half."

Nuzzling his cheek against his brother's touch, Blake smiled and promised to be careful. He'd be as nice to the wolves as he could be, though not Talia. He couldn't be nice to her even under punishment of death.

Since he couldn't either, Arthur didn't argue that point.

Lapsing into silence Eames pulled up two minutes later, Salar hopping out of the passenger side while Blake moved to open the back door on the driver side. Tossing in the bag he was holding and then taking Luke from his brother, Blake held both babies until Arthur was inside the car. Once Arthur was buckled in, Blake handed the boys over and then closed the door behind them.

That done Blake walked the few short steps to the driver's seat window, which Eames had already lowered. "I'm sticking behind, Arthur will explain. Drive fast and keep them safe or else."

Opening his mouth it was obvious Eames wanted to argue, but either the gravity of the situation or the look in Blake's eyes kept him from even attempting to change his future brother-in-law's mind. Instead Eames simply told Blake to look after himself and not to do anything stupid.

"Me? Never."

"I'll look after him." Salar promised, having come to stand beside Blake's side. He would stay as well, his family here. And that aside, Blake was both his alpha and his previous alpha's mate. Nothing was more important than guarding the feline even though he was willing to admit that in a fight Blake was far more dangerous than he was. But if nothing else he could provide a distraction or assist the hybrid in fleeing, if necessary, later. And while he wanted to ask questions about Layla, Salar reined those questions in for the time being, instead pointing out that every minute counted currently.

Agreeing with that, Eames stated that he'd see them soon, and then they were driving away, Blake and Salar watching them go until they were out of sight.

"Well, we might as well head back to the cabin. I could use a drink."

"Getting drunk before they come would not be a good idea given the mood they'll be in." Salar voice was dry as he followed Blake up the dirt road that led to the cabin. "Especially if Layla is under discussion and Barsad is one of the wolves coming here."

There was question in Salar's voice, Blake hearing it and understanding what the wolf wanted to know.

"There's a couple things we have to do yet, and by then our guests should have arrived and I can explain things all at once. You'll get your answers though, don't worry."

Thinking that worrying was just common sense given his alpha's personality and past run in with his former pack, Salar shook his head but didn't question the other man further. No, the wolf decided, he would be much smarter to spend his time praying to every deity he'd ever heard of that the conversation ahead didn't end in bloodshed. A lot of bloodshed. And that the others had the sense not to bring Talia with them, because if they did bloodshed was pretty much guaranteed at this point.

)

The car that drove up to the cabin came to a stop behind Salar's car, four men getting out to study Blake and Salar, the two having come out of the cabin as they'd driven up. Bane, Barsad, Kingsley and Eames's father all wore identical, emotionless faces that gave nothing away as they walked up to the short set of stairs leading to the porch, climbing up one after another before coming to a stop in front of the two men they'd half expected to find gone when they arrived.

"The others?" Eames's father asked, since he'd come along not just to support his captain, but to act as a shield if his son, grandchildren, and future son in law needed him to.

"Gone on a bit of a holiday." Was Blake's oh so casual response, the feline smiling at them knowingly before opening the door beside him. "Shall we?"

Four nods, the wolves moving forward to enter the cabin to be followed by Salar and then Blake, who closed the door firmly behind them.

Now things got interesting.