(A/N): We're back with Leo, Lisbet, Jerremyah, Greygorry, Herc, and Shari. First chapter of the new year! Again, reminder, next chapter will be uploaded a week from now, on 8/1/24.

Leo

Apparently, Lisbet wasn't best pleased with me for trying to 'delegate'- AKA, palming off the responsibility of replying to Audrey on her- because in addition to the dark look she'd given me at the time, she made it very clear after breakfast that while she was happy to help me write the letter, it would be me, in the end, replying to Audrey. Bummer.

After it was written and sent off, our focus turned to the rest of the day- and how we were going to spend it. "Could go back to bed," Jerremyah suggested, which I thought had more to do with his willingness to endure physical closeness, than anything else.

"Could read a book," Greygorry countered, but I suspected it was almost entirely intended to earn him the result he received- Jerremyah's face scrunching up, and Lisbet rolling her eyes at him.

"Would the book reading take place in a bed, or otherwise cosy environment?" Jerremyah asked, sounding reluctantly intrigued by the idea, and now it was my turn to roll my eyes.

I crossed my arms over my chest, and said, "We could train." Immediately, this offer was rejected.

"Oh, Leo, no- We don't have to do that. It isn't- We haven't for a while, and I'm not sure today is the day to-" I cut Lisbet off before she had the chance to further explain why it wasn't a good idea.

"Let me rephrase that: I want to train." She blinked, and at that declaration, every person in the room turned to look at me. Now that I had their attention- as uncomfortable as being the center of things made me- I shrugged somewhat awkwardly. "You're right; we haven't been training, since- since my dad died, and that's not- That isn't smart, given everything. Not to mention that as much as I used to complain about it... the physical activity does help me- and I think it would help me today, more than ever." Lisbet softened so quickly that I briefly worried she might melt, and Jerremyah was solemn for a second- as if considering the implications of this- before he lit up.

He dropped a hand down on either of my shoulders and rubbed them encouragingly- subsequently wiggling me from side to side as I made the conscious decision to let his strength affect me. "Okay. Can I help? I'd like to help, if you'll let me-"

My eyebrows furrowed, and I reached up to put my hand over his, on my shoulder; this was what caused him to cut off. "Of course," I told him. "You're part of the clan, not to mention-" I didn't think there was much point in trying to convey how I felt about him and his presence, given my inability to talk about my feelings in general. "Of course." He looked vaguely disappointed, but before I could read into why that might be, Herc spoke up from over by the sink, where he'd been washing the dishes from breakfast.

"I'd be happy to join if you need an extra body, but if not- I'll go wherever you want me." Shari shot him a reproachful look- most likely because of her previously established displeasure at his complaisant nature- but didn't speak up on the matter. At least, not Herc's side of it, anyway; she turned her attention back to me, now.

"I'm not sure how much use I'll be," She said. "But I'll be there, too- unless you want me to relieve Jo and Danniel." No, that wasn't- Hm...

"Uh oh," Jerremyah piped up. "He's overthinking, again."

I felt my cheeks heat at this, but I don't think that had his intention- drawing me out of my head had been, and he'd succeeded. Now that I knew they were aware of my distraction, I thought the best course of action was to present my concerns to the group, in an attempt to solve them by getting other opinions. "They should be part of it, if they want to be- But I don't know how we get around the issue of guarding the Folleys. As much as I'd like to take you up on your offer, Shari-" I hesitated, and reluctantly, she nodded.

"Yeah, I- I forgot, for a second. I'm not exactly... the best person for the job, right now." She'd forgotten her current weakness, or... the cause of said weakness?

I glanced at Lisbet, then Jerremyah and Greygorry, who seemed mildly surprised by my attention. "I asked Elaine for her blessing to give you guys your own emergency necklaces," I told them, and their surprise- particularly Jerremyah's- grew. "With the hope that eventually- if we can ensure that your control issues are under... er, control- you two might be able to start taking shifts as well. I mean, if you want to." Greygorry looked mostly unmoved by this, other than the surprise, but Jerremyah- Jerremyah looked quite moved, in fact.

"You- You'd trust me with that? Us, I mean- Trust us?" While Greygorry's lips pursed as if he wasn't entirely pleased with being included in this, he never objected.

Unfortunately, I had to hesitate- but Jerremyah didn't seem to hold that against me. "I trust you," I said, and Greygorry appeared momentarily offended, before I elaborated. "Jerremyah is trustworthy... the vampire is a different story." Reluctantly, he nodded. "If we can get to the point where that's not an issue- or at least, not as much of an issue, considering that Jo and Danniel are both already involved, with their tenuous self-control-" Not to mention my own. "-I don't see any reason why you shouldn't be involved. Actually," I said. "Given your histories with Hunters, and Tarea Hugar in particular, you might be the most equipped for the assignment." Jerremyah took a second to absorb this, and then he smirked at me- those dimples popping out as if to taunt me.

"Pending permission from Elaine, that is." I rolled my eyes at his suggestive tone, but couldn't help the way the corner of my lips quirked up.

"It's her family- Stop that." In an attempt to smother my growing fluster, I turned back to Shari. "Danniel's probably going to want to stay, but Jo- I don't know what Jo's going to want. Actually, knowing them, there's a good chance Danniel's tap dancing on Jo's last nerve, so yeah- maybe we should check in on them."

She flashed me a wryly amused look. "Right, well- I'll go see what they want to do, and then we'll- Two people will stay at the Folley's, and the other will come back and join you for training."

I considered this for a few seconds, then said, "Alright, but take Herc with you- that way, there'll always be two people together at any one time. I don't want any of you to be at risk, so- take a buddy."

(A/N): Leo: 'It's dangerous to go alone- take this!'

Leo: *pushes Herc toward Shari*

Herc: * :| *

Shari: '...sure.'

Complaisant = Willing to please others or to accept what they do or say without protest.