Becky peered at the building behind her sunglasses. She was sitting in a café across from the penthouse that Drake Stone currently resided in. According to the internet he'd moved into it for his New York stop in a tour that had been suddenly cancelled. Originally she'd done the search in front of all of them. The minute that the computer booted up Veronica had taken two steps away from it. They decided right then and there that computers were too much too soon.

In front of her was a large coffee and a slice of chocolate cake. She sincerely hoped that her hunger would go away soon; she didn't want to become enormous. However, it was a good front. It had been decided that she should be the one to stake out the building. If she was going to have that role then she was going to do it right.

Dave didn't like it. He'd cited her condition and her lack of magical abilities. Balthazar had countered his arguments by saying that Becky was the one of them the other side had seen the least. Besides, done up the right way she was just another woman who'd ordered an overpriced coffee and was sitting outside as night neared.

The fight that had ensued had left her uncomfortable. She didn't know that Dave could raise his voice that high, or just how biting Balthazar's remarks could be. After a few minutes Veronica had looked annoyed. She'd placed a hand on Balthazar's shoulder and he'd quieted almost immediately. Then, jutting her chin up, she'd said;

"What does Becky think about it?"

All eyes had turned to her.

"I can do it," she'd said, "I'd like to help."

"Becky-" started Dave.

"You heard her," Veronica interrupted, "And that's that."

That had been that too. While Dave's protective nature was adorable most of the time it hadn't been in that case. He didn't understand her position. As Dave had said, she didn't have any magical powers. Her capacity to help them was probably going to be limited to things like these. Oh, and she'd loaned clothes to Veronica until the opportunity presented itself to go shopping. Thus far that was about as useful as she got.

Her hand went for her fork and trembled. Becky gritted her teeth and clasped around it. On top of everything else she had to deal with how weak she was. Under normal circumstances she wasn't exactly a black belt in karate but this was ridiculous. She wouldn't even be able to go for a can of pepper spray if she was attacked.

She took a bite of cake. Something was better than nothing after all. Becky didn't like how weak she seemed to be. In that she found something to silently sympathize about with Veronica. From what Dave told her she was a very powerful sorceress. Her time in the Grimhold had somehow managed to cripple those powers. Veronica's control and ability to fight had been diminished, perhaps even permanently so.

If that happened to her it would drive her mad. Veronica just kept going like it didn't matter. It was plain to see that it was hurting her though. Her role in this particular operation was to essentially take care of Becky. Currently the woman was inside of Balthazar's disguised car a block away with Balthazar and Dave. When or if they went in she was to stay and make sure that there were no further side effects from how Becky had been healed.

All in all it wasn't the most flattering role for either of them. However, if Veronica's powers returned then she could once more assume her place as an equal with the sorcerers. There was nothing that would return to Becky though. She would remain as she always was, although she might have the ability to use pepper spray or a gun. That wasn't the most reassuring thing when you were going up against sorcerers.

With a sigh she went back to looking at the building. Soon she saw what looked like a man in a bowler hat walk into the building. Her eyebrows raised. They had certainly expected Horvath to be near-by, but the doorman recognized him. Horvath wasn't just visiting; he had taken up residence there.

Reaching into her purse she dug out her cellphone. Dave was on speed dial and she waited impatiently for him to pick up. At least she'd be able to do this right.

"Becky?"

"Of course Dave," Becky said, "There's been an interesting development."

.

.

.

"She says it looks like they're holing up in there," Dave said.

Veronica stared at the building in front of her with a mixture of awe and trepidation. It was so tall. Everything was alien to her. Balthazar had explained that they weren't in England anymore, not even in Europe. There had been a whole new continent across the ocean that no one had noticed for hundreds of years.

In this new setting she was all but powerless. At least her opinions were being taken into consideration. That hadn't always happened in the past.

"We can't just go in there, as much as I'd like to," said Balthazar, "If Horvath's just gone in then there's a good chance that Morgana's in there too."

"So we just sit here for a few hours?"

"Looks like it."

"You could try scrying," Veronica suggested.

Balthazar shook his head.

"Morgana would be able to trace that."

"I am well aware of this," she said, "But if one of you did it then the other could search the apartment while Morgana and her associates went tracing your magic. It's as simple as that."

There was a pause.

"It would get them out of the building," Balthazar said, "But…that means that the people inside will have to somehow come to the first person's defense."

"The second person could take the car," suggested Dave, "Load everyone up and then head after the first person. They'd be on foot, at least as first. Seeing as that first person would be you or me I think we could run and defend ourselves for long enough until we got reinforcements."

Balthazar considered it, rubbing his chin.

"The plan's actually pretty brilliant," Dave said, inclining his head towards Veronica, "You're really good at this."

Veronica smiled.

"Then it looks like nothing's changed," Balthazar said.