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Post by skybright on Dec 19, 2006 0:34:30 GMT -5
Caddy opened his mouth to protest, but Daws beat him to it.
"Keep still and save your strength, you big dope, or I'll tie you down." She said, an affectionate undertone in the words. "You've done more than enough work for one night. Just stay put."
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Post by Jordanna on Dec 19, 2006 0:44:06 GMT -5
"Hmph." Vance rolled his eye and caught sight of Proteus. "What's His Highness doing here?"
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Post by skybright on Dec 19, 2006 0:49:37 GMT -5
"He's the one that carried you outta Tiernan's." Daws replied. "And he's sticking around to help you heal up. Turns out he's got more than one talent up his sleeve."
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Post by Jordanna on Dec 19, 2006 1:03:25 GMT -5
"Remind me to ask what that means later." Vance was clearly groggy, but he glanced toward his partner. "Handy. Everyone get clear alright?"
Handy stepped forward eagerly, with an emphatic nod. "Yeah, Jerod, everybody's fine. An' I'll pass the word that you're gonna be alright." He looked unabashedly relieved. "Gee, it's good to see you awake and talkin'."
"Talking, yes. Awake..." Vance sighed heavily, wincing at the pain it caused him. "I'll get back to you on that."
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Post by skybright on Dec 19, 2006 1:23:51 GMT -5
"Don't stay awake on our account." Caddy interjected. "The more rest you get, the faster you'll heal up."
"Can't argue with advice like that, can you?" Daws patted Vance's shoulder very gently. "Get some sleep. We'll still be here when you wake up."
She smiled. "You can't get rid of me, either."
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Post by Jordanna on Dec 19, 2006 21:45:17 GMT -5
Vance's mouth twitched. "I wouldn't try."
Proteus glanced around at the crowd in the room. "Just give me a piece of paper so I can write my note for the Spooks, then get out of here. The Major needs more effort from me than I can give him with all of you standing around."
In short order, the shapeshifter had scrawled a note which he gave to Daws. By the time the others left the sick room, Vance was asleep once more.
As the group made their way down the stairs, Handy tugged at Daws' sleeve. "I can take ya by Spooktown to drop off that note, then back to your office. After all, I bet the bat's screamin' for ya already."
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Post by skybright on Dec 20, 2006 2:15:28 GMT -5
"Yeah, okay." Daws nodded somewhat wearily and then frowned. "Gimme just one second."
She caught up with Sid at the foot of the stairs and discreetly pulled him aside, glancing over her shoulder at their other friends. "Look, Sid . . ." She grimaced. "Tiernan's gonna be world-class mad, and I don't know how this's going to go down. He doesn't even have to think I had anything to do with it -- he could just get mad enough at me distracting him, and . . ."
Daws made a faint motion with one hand to finish the sentence, and then sighed. "Just -- take care of things, will you? Take care of them," she nodded in the direction of Alex and Miriam, "And of Vance. Y'know -- until I can make it back." Or if I don't, she added silently.
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Post by Jordanna on Dec 20, 2006 20:29:23 GMT -5
Sid's expression darkened, and for a moment it looked as if he was about to say something more--but then he simply nodded and rubbed his face wearily. "Yeah. You know I will."
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Post by skybright on Dec 21, 2006 0:48:05 GMT -5
Daws smiled gratefully and squeezed his shoulder. "I'll be back as soon as I can."
She quietly made her goodbyes to Alex, Miriam, and Caddy, then nodded to Handy. "Okay. I'm ready when you are."
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Post by Jordanna on Dec 21, 2006 20:44:15 GMT -5
Handy shrugged, then said to Sid, "I'll be back later. I wanna stay close ta Jerod."
"Yeah. Fine with me," Sid replied, subdued but sincere.
With another shrug, Handy led Daws out to the car she had seen Vance use before. He climbed somewhat awkwardly into the driver's seat, fumbling with the keys.
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Post by skybright on Dec 21, 2006 21:39:14 GMT -5
Daws settled into the passenger seat and leaned back with a sigh. "Man, I wish this night was over with," She muttered. "Or better yet -- I wish I'd wake up and discover it was nothin' but a bad dream."
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Post by Jordanna on Dec 21, 2006 21:57:00 GMT -5
Handy drove Daws to the border of Spooktown, and walked with her toward the shabby collection of shacks. Half a dozen paces into Spook territory, they were challenged by the sentry with the chameleon talent who Daws had encountered before, who appeared out of the shadows of a rusted shed.
"Hold it... Oh, it's you." He eyed Daws contemptuously. "What kinda cracked business are you on this time? You here for Tiernan--or for his enemies?"
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Post by skybright on Dec 21, 2006 22:18:24 GMT -5
"I'm here for your boss -- or your king, or whatever you wanna call him." Daws replied brusquely. She dug the note Proteus had written out of her coat pocket and held it out to the Spook. "This is from him."
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Post by Jordanna on Dec 21, 2006 22:24:26 GMT -5
With a dark, suspicious look, the sentry took the note, tilting it to read in it the light from the enclave's scattered campfires. After a moment, he lowered it with a slight growl of irritation.
"It's Proteus' writing," he admitted grudgingly. "Fine. Whatever he's doing is his business. But if he gets in any trouble because of you people..." His eyes narrowed. "You'll answer to us."
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Post by skybright on Dec 21, 2006 22:27:16 GMT -5
"Spare me the threats. You people are the least of my worries." Daws replied wearily. She gestured to Handy. "C'mon, we've done what we came for."
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Post by Jordanna on Dec 21, 2006 22:37:37 GMT -5
Exchanging a last nettled glare with the Spook, Handy followed Daws back to the car. He took her back to her office--where, not surprisingly, a message from Tiernan's receptionist was awaiting her on her voicemail.
Handy scowled. "Look, I gotta go see our people, an' tell 'em Jerod's gonna be okay. If you think there's gonna be trouble, I can have 'em ready to--to--do somethin'." He shrugged helplessly. "To try to get you outta there."
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Post by skybright on Dec 21, 2006 22:42:45 GMT -5
Daws smiled faintly and shook her head. "I appreciate it, Handy -- but we've risked enough for one night. I don't want us pushing our daring-rescue luck.
"Besides," she said, with more confidence than she really felt, "I won't need it. Don't worry about me -- just keep an eye on Vance until I can get back out to Sid's."
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Post by Jordanna on Dec 21, 2006 23:16:03 GMT -5
Handy nodded vigorously. "I'll be goin' right back to Sid's soon as I've talked ta the guys. I don't guess Proteus'll let us see him too much for a little while, but I wanna be close by anyway."
He frowned. "You comin' back to Sid's after you see Tiernan?"
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Post by skybright on Dec 21, 2006 23:20:37 GMT -5
Daws nodded. "I may go home for a while, try and grab some sleep. But then I will." She shrugged. "I wanna be there, too. Y'know."
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Post by Jordanna on Dec 21, 2006 23:33:00 GMT -5
"Yeah." Handy noddd, and patted Daws' arm. "You just... take care of yourself, Daws. We'll be waitin' to see ya."
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