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Post by skybright on Dec 23, 2006 23:31:27 GMT -5
Daws arrived back in Queens in relatively good time -- the subway lines were mercifully on-time for a change -- and made her way to the Rosenstein home. Caddy's car was gone from the driveway -- apparently the doctor had decided he'd done all he could, at least for the time being.
Daws sighed wearily and knocked on the front door, wondering offhandedly if this night was ever going to end . . .
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Post by Jordanna on Dec 24, 2006 0:15:51 GMT -5
After his customary cautious glance out the window, Sid opened the door and let Daws in, looking relieved.
"Glad ta see ya back so safe an' quick, Daws." Before she could ask, he added, "Far as any of us knows, Vance is still sleepin' okay. Proteus is still with him."
"How was the bat taking things?" Alex asked with a slight wince, looking as if he really didn't want to know.
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Post by skybright on Dec 24, 2006 15:17:40 GMT -5
Daws shrugged out of her coat and smiled faintly. "Well, he's awfully mad -- but not at me. Thank heaven for small favors. He wants me to try and find Vance."
She grimaced. "Unfortunately . . . he knows it was a shapeshifter took Vance out of his basement. And he's made the unfortunately correct guess as to which shapeshifter it was.
"He wants me to take a message to the Spooks. Give up the shapeshifter in question -- or else."
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Post by Jordanna on Dec 24, 2006 20:34:30 GMT -5
Sid scowled. "What are you gonna do?"
Before Daws could answer, Miriam spoke up, having caught the end of the exchange as she came into the room. "Daws, if Proteus leaves--if he stops doing whatever he's doing to keep Vance alive..." She trailed off, spreading her hands and shaking her head slightly.
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Post by skybright on Dec 24, 2006 23:09:36 GMT -5
"I know, Doc." Daws replied faintly. "Believe me -- I know."
She shook her head hopelessly as she took her fedora off and set it aside. "But Tiernan made himself perfectly clear -- if he doesn't get his way he's gonna take it out on the Spooks. There's families and kids living in Spooktown -- and Tiernan could kill all of them and nobody in law enforcement would give it more than an afternoon's thought."
She ran one hand through her hair, looking weary and frustrated. "I dunno. We've got to do something about it. Maybe we can buy a few days' time -- something. But it isn't right to just . . . not let Proteus know." She sighed. "Not even if it means he'll go."
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Post by Jordanna on Dec 24, 2006 23:38:05 GMT -5
Sid scowled. "He's already mad about what went wrong tanight. You seriously think he'd give us a chance ta buy time?"
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Post by skybright on Dec 24, 2006 23:43:48 GMT -5
Daws sighed. "I suppose I could've just gone straight to the Spooks -- but I dunno what was in that note Proteus sent them, and I don't trust them to not turn him in. For all I know, he told them just where to find him -- and that could mean them sending Tiernan's boys straight here. This way at least that won't happen."
She held her hands out in a hopeless shrug. "If anyone's got a better idea, I'm game to hear it."
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Post by Jordanna on Dec 24, 2006 23:48:10 GMT -5
There was an awkward silence in the room. At last, Sid cleared his throat and gave a small shrug.
"You wanna see Proteus, I guess?"
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Post by skybright on Dec 24, 2006 23:50:31 GMT -5
"Want to?" Daws gave a faint, humorless chuckle. "Not particularly. But . . . I'd better."
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Post by Jordanna on Dec 25, 2006 0:02:12 GMT -5
With a rueful shrug, Sid led Daws upstairs and knocked on the door of his bedroom. There was a moment's pause, and then Proteus' voice answered, clearly but quietly, "Come in."
As Sid and Daws stepped in, the shapeshifter looked up with slight impatience. "Vance is sleeping--and you're not doing him any favors by interrupting my concentration."
"Daws has seen the bat," Sid muttered darkly. "There's news."
Proteus sighed. "Anything he has to say can't be any more interesting to me than you people's hobby of blowing things up."
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Post by skybright on Dec 25, 2006 0:08:27 GMT -5
"You'd be surprised." Daws replied quietly.
She sighed and leaned against the wall, trying (and mostly failing) to keep her gaze from settling on Vance. "Tiernan knows it was you who got Vance out of his place, Proteus. He . . . he wants me to take a message to your people. Give you up -- or face the consequences."
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Post by Jordanna on Dec 25, 2006 21:35:10 GMT -5
Proteus stared at Daws for a moment; then his gaze dropped thoughtfully to Vance. He gently withdrew his hands, which had been resting on Vance's face and arm, and stood up.
"Then I go, Miss Dawson," he said quietly.
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Post by skybright on Dec 26, 2006 1:19:09 GMT -5
Daws clenched her fists, trying to remain calm. "I know." She said softly. "You go. You go and get yourself killed, and we lose the protection that's keeping your Spooks from betraying us to Tiernan, and they lose the only kind of law they've got to keep them from killing each other, and I --" she broke off with a shake of her head. "And we lose Vance."
"Or," her voice took on a pleading note, "Or you give me some time to try and prevent all of that. A couple days, that's all I'm asking -- long enough to try and figure a way that nobody dies. Not the Spooks, not us, not you, not Vance.
"Two days, maybe three. You've got every right to say no and walk away. But -- before you do . . ." Daws met the shapeshifter's eyes. "Keep in mind that I didn't have to tell you about this. I could've just kept it from you and let the Spooks deal with this trouble on their own. But I didn't -- not even knowing that it means Vance's life if you leave. "
She shrugged and looked away. "Maybe that's enough to make you think a little better of me, anyway. But if you walk out now we're both of us going to be dead before long -- so I don't guess it'll really matter."
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Post by Jordanna on Dec 26, 2006 16:07:04 GMT -5
Proteus stared at Daws for a moment with his inscrutable silver eyes, his mouth a hard line. Then his gaze dropped to Vance, whose expression in his sleep was now showing more signs of pain than it had when the shapeshifter touched him.
After a long moment, Proteus placed his hands on the wounded man again.
"Three days, Miss Dawson," he said quietly. "Not for you, or for Vance, or for any of your people. Only because you're right about one thing. I'm the only protection the Spooks have from each other... and in some ways, from Tiernan too."
He looked up at Daws again. "But if the Spooks come to any harm while I'm waiting for this miracle of yours..."
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Post by skybright on Dec 26, 2006 17:43:59 GMT -5
"I understand." Daws nodded. "And . . . thank you."
She frowned faintly. "Did you tell the Spooks where they could find you in that note you sent?"
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Post by Jordanna on Dec 26, 2006 20:52:35 GMT -5
Proteus shook his head. "No. They have a right to know I won't be with them for a little while--but the reason why is no business of theirs."
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Post by skybright on Dec 26, 2006 22:33:43 GMT -5
Daws nodded. "That simplifies things."
She sighed and ran a hand through her hair. "Okay. Three days. I'll let you know."
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Post by Jordanna on Dec 26, 2006 22:44:34 GMT -5
"Do that." Proteus settled back in his chair beside the bed, returning his attention to Vance.
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Post by skybright on Dec 26, 2006 22:55:24 GMT -5
Daws nodded and turned to leave the room. She paused in the doorway and glanced back over her shoulder at Proteus -- and Vance.
"Take care of him." She said faintly, neither expecting nor waiting for a response. Then she ducked out into the hallway, waiting for Sid to follow.
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Post by Jordanna on Dec 26, 2006 23:01:37 GMT -5
Sid lumbered after Daws. He closed the door behind them, then followed the detective toward the stairs, with a grim expression and a slight shake of his head.
"I hope you got an idea, Daws--'cause I don't."
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