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palacechristianOrlando is going to kick my arse. And not in a way I'm going to enjoy. Harry thought as he walked down the path towards Christian's place, the pocket on his sweatshirt squirming away.
No, Orlando was not going to be pleased about this, but Harry couldn't help but feel bad for Shannon after hearing Christian talk about how sad and morose she was since she'd been locked up in the gatehouse- not that he was any more pleased about the way she'd broken into their bedroom and spirited Willow away, particularly the part where it scared Orlando half to death, but he honestly didn't feel that she would hurt Willow, and it was clear she was pining for wanting to see her. Harry sighed and walked up the steps, banging on the door before walking inside. "Christian? Where ya hiding?"
"I'm here, Harry!" Christian stuck his head out of the bedroom door, tugging his sweater down, his arms still emerging from the sleeves. Shannon shot past his legs, knocking him sideways and barreled over to Harry, dropping to a 'sit' position instantly and looking up at him expectantly, her tongue lolling out in a doggy grin, her tail softly fanning the floor. "What'd you do? Use steak as aftershave?"
"They make steak aftershave?" Harry looked at Christian in mock amazement, then grinned. "Nah, just got tired of listening to you whinge about Shannon being all depressed and brought her a present- on loan, mind," he cautioned, slipping Willow out of his pocket and setting her on the floor in front of Shannon, watching as she blinked in the light of the room, staggering about a little bit. "There ya go, not-dog. And play nice- Orlando finds out about this and we're both toast."
Christian looked down at his happy pooch and gave Harry a big grin. "You've made her day!" he said, watching as Shannon got to her feet, nudging the kitten with her nose. "Come on in the living room and we'll leave the lovebirds alone." He trotted off, skirting the purring kitten and headed into the open kitchen. "Juice?" he offered, holding up the carton.
"Long as there's no pulp," Harry qualified, sitting down at the table with a sigh after one last look at the kitten and Shannon, confident that they'd be okay. Because if they weren't, he was deader'n a very dead thing. "She ever done this before around another animal, or is this a totally new thing?"
"Nope." Christian poured two glasses and joined Harry at the table, smiling when Shannon walked past him with Willow gently dangled from her jaws. She stopped on the hearth rug and deposited her charge on the soft wool, laid down beside her and began to give her a good washing. "I think it's her age, you know? She's getting to the stage where she's thinking mummy thoughts." He sipped his juice, hitched his bare feet up onto the rung of the chair. "Something to consider."
"Oh dear lord above- Christian's wolf pack roaming about the lawn. Orlando'll never leave his room again," Harry moaned dramatically. "Not that they wouldn't be beautiful pups, mind. I'm glad you've got her- lord knows we'll never have a dog."
"Not 'less the rabbit decides to get some help getting over it, no." Christian sipped again, put his glass down and pointed. Willow was pouncing on Shannon's tail as it waved to and fro, the wolf lying on her side and letting out the occasional patient sigh. He grinned at Harry. "Have to remember to tell Johnny 'bout this." he said. "I already relayed the . . . err, incident."
"Don't think that's too terribly likely," Harry admitted wryly, grinning as he watched the pair of them. "And you told Tiger about it, eh? I need to give him a shout sometime soon- must be convenient having him hardwired in like that. How's he doing anyway?" Harry took a sip of his juice and leaned back in his chair.
Christian pulled a face. "Fine. And not. He's stressing about the Carstairs thing. Liam had to tell him, he was there, couldn't not. He's worrying about the bastard getting off, but more about the other kids. I dunno what to tell him." he confessed. "I think I reassured him a little, but I had to, well, not lie, but play it down, you know. That's not gonna last if this grows wings and flies." He ducked his head, toyed with his glass, his expression somber.
Harry rubbed his hand across his face, the reminder of the discussion with Robert back at Liam's settling into his gut like a rock. "It's fucking dirty tactics and the defense attorneys should be drug out and shot- Eradorian style," he said darkly. "Personally, I don't think it'll work in terms of getting him off- the physical evidence is pretty fuckin' solid, but you never know- Linus could say something and cause a mistrial, it'll fuck up any chance of Sara or Ben being a witness in their own trials if they get up there and can't say anything, or get lost or confused, not to mention the fucking trauma it's going to cause getting 'em up there in the first place. Plus, long shot, they pull enough crap, confuse a jury enough for any kind of reasonable doubt..." Harry trailed off.
"I know." Christian sighed. "And above and beyond that, it's the kids. They're going to hear about it, one way or the other and I just . . ." He let the words slip away, lost in thought. "Ben'll be okay." he said eventually, carefully. "He's much better, I hear. But the others . . ." he looked up. "Not gonna happen, Harry. It's not."
Harry nodded, lost in thought a little. He hadn't gotten to know Ben very well, he'd spent most of his time with Adrian and Charlie when he wasn't with Johnny or Sara- Sara who'd picked out Willow just for him, and was too shy to stay long enough to be thanked, quiet and caring- the idea of her being placed on the witness stand at this point, for this trial... Harry narrowed his eyes, then looked up at Christian. "It can't happen- it won't."
Christian stared back at Harry for a long moment, then nodded. "Whatever it takes."
Shannon yipped, breaking the silence. Willow seemed to be firmly attached to her snout, kicking and biting. The wolf rolled her eyes and gave Christian and Harry a long-suffering, pleading look. "Umm . . ." Christian chuckled, the moment passed.
Harry nodded, then broke off to grin at Shannon. "Hey- you gotta take the thorns with the rose, or the claws with the kitten I s'pose," he teased her, getting up and prying Willow away from Shannon's muzzle, giving the wolf a scratch behind the ears. "Aren't you a lovely patient thing, taking such good care of the wee one," he praised her, turning to glare at Christian in warning. "Not one word from you, mister."
Pointing at himself, Christian shook his head. "Not me, mate." He buried his nose in his glass. "Sap." he murmured.
"Fuck you."
Christian's face flushed, but he looked up and grinned. "You wish."
Harry looked up and rolled his eyes, grinning at Christian's reddened cheeks. "Oh get over yourself, it was an expression not a declaration of intent."
Choking on his juice, Christian put the glass down before he dropped it and wiped his face. "I realize that!" he protested. "It's just the thought! Be fucking family!" he finished, shuddering delicately. "Eww."
"Oh don't be so damned dainty. You and Marton've both fucked Will. So've I, point of fact. And he's been family a lot longer 'n I have. Not that I'm saying I want to, mind, just for the sake of argument." Harry huffed, pretending to be offended by Christian's shudder.
"Not the same thing! Not at all!" Christian got up, using his empty glass as an excuse to turn his back and get more from the fridge. "And not at the same time! I haven't touched Will since he and dad . . . well, yeah. It's just . . . different. Want another?"
"I wasn't saying at the same time- wasn't saying wanted to do it now or anything! Was just making the point that..." Harry paused, trying to figure out a way to explain without...yeah, not really anyway to salvage this one. "God, yes please another. Maybe with vodka. Or possibly switch over to beer instead."
"Ahh forget it." Christian waved the discussion away. "I'm just . . . I just get funny about compliments is all. Don't mind me." He looked over Harry's shoulder at the cute couple now curled up together on the rug, sound asleep. He pointed. "You can leave her here if you like?" he offered. "I'm home all day, can bring her back when she wakes up?"
"Sounds good," Harry agreed, glad to abandon the topic. "So long as she shows up at home clean and dry and not smelling like wolf. I would like to live to see tomorrow, if at all possible."
"'Course." Christian walked with Harry to the door and stopped, looking back over his shoulder and shaking his head. "I dunno, Harry. What are we gonna do?"
"We'll deal with it o' course. However it needs doing, when the time comes." Harry said casually, clapping Christian on the shoulder and smiling before heading off down the path, his hands slowly tightening into fists as he walked away.
No, Orlando was not going to be pleased about this, but Harry couldn't help but feel bad for Shannon after hearing Christian talk about how sad and morose she was since she'd been locked up in the gatehouse- not that he was any more pleased about the way she'd broken into their bedroom and spirited Willow away, particularly the part where it scared Orlando half to death, but he honestly didn't feel that she would hurt Willow, and it was clear she was pining for wanting to see her. Harry sighed and walked up the steps, banging on the door before walking inside. "Christian? Where ya hiding?"
"I'm here, Harry!" Christian stuck his head out of the bedroom door, tugging his sweater down, his arms still emerging from the sleeves. Shannon shot past his legs, knocking him sideways and barreled over to Harry, dropping to a 'sit' position instantly and looking up at him expectantly, her tongue lolling out in a doggy grin, her tail softly fanning the floor. "What'd you do? Use steak as aftershave?"
"They make steak aftershave?" Harry looked at Christian in mock amazement, then grinned. "Nah, just got tired of listening to you whinge about Shannon being all depressed and brought her a present- on loan, mind," he cautioned, slipping Willow out of his pocket and setting her on the floor in front of Shannon, watching as she blinked in the light of the room, staggering about a little bit. "There ya go, not-dog. And play nice- Orlando finds out about this and we're both toast."
Christian looked down at his happy pooch and gave Harry a big grin. "You've made her day!" he said, watching as Shannon got to her feet, nudging the kitten with her nose. "Come on in the living room and we'll leave the lovebirds alone." He trotted off, skirting the purring kitten and headed into the open kitchen. "Juice?" he offered, holding up the carton.
"Long as there's no pulp," Harry qualified, sitting down at the table with a sigh after one last look at the kitten and Shannon, confident that they'd be okay. Because if they weren't, he was deader'n a very dead thing. "She ever done this before around another animal, or is this a totally new thing?"
"Nope." Christian poured two glasses and joined Harry at the table, smiling when Shannon walked past him with Willow gently dangled from her jaws. She stopped on the hearth rug and deposited her charge on the soft wool, laid down beside her and began to give her a good washing. "I think it's her age, you know? She's getting to the stage where she's thinking mummy thoughts." He sipped his juice, hitched his bare feet up onto the rung of the chair. "Something to consider."
"Oh dear lord above- Christian's wolf pack roaming about the lawn. Orlando'll never leave his room again," Harry moaned dramatically. "Not that they wouldn't be beautiful pups, mind. I'm glad you've got her- lord knows we'll never have a dog."
"Not 'less the rabbit decides to get some help getting over it, no." Christian sipped again, put his glass down and pointed. Willow was pouncing on Shannon's tail as it waved to and fro, the wolf lying on her side and letting out the occasional patient sigh. He grinned at Harry. "Have to remember to tell Johnny 'bout this." he said. "I already relayed the . . . err, incident."
"Don't think that's too terribly likely," Harry admitted wryly, grinning as he watched the pair of them. "And you told Tiger about it, eh? I need to give him a shout sometime soon- must be convenient having him hardwired in like that. How's he doing anyway?" Harry took a sip of his juice and leaned back in his chair.
Christian pulled a face. "Fine. And not. He's stressing about the Carstairs thing. Liam had to tell him, he was there, couldn't not. He's worrying about the bastard getting off, but more about the other kids. I dunno what to tell him." he confessed. "I think I reassured him a little, but I had to, well, not lie, but play it down, you know. That's not gonna last if this grows wings and flies." He ducked his head, toyed with his glass, his expression somber.
Harry rubbed his hand across his face, the reminder of the discussion with Robert back at Liam's settling into his gut like a rock. "It's fucking dirty tactics and the defense attorneys should be drug out and shot- Eradorian style," he said darkly. "Personally, I don't think it'll work in terms of getting him off- the physical evidence is pretty fuckin' solid, but you never know- Linus could say something and cause a mistrial, it'll fuck up any chance of Sara or Ben being a witness in their own trials if they get up there and can't say anything, or get lost or confused, not to mention the fucking trauma it's going to cause getting 'em up there in the first place. Plus, long shot, they pull enough crap, confuse a jury enough for any kind of reasonable doubt..." Harry trailed off.
"I know." Christian sighed. "And above and beyond that, it's the kids. They're going to hear about it, one way or the other and I just . . ." He let the words slip away, lost in thought. "Ben'll be okay." he said eventually, carefully. "He's much better, I hear. But the others . . ." he looked up. "Not gonna happen, Harry. It's not."
Harry nodded, lost in thought a little. He hadn't gotten to know Ben very well, he'd spent most of his time with Adrian and Charlie when he wasn't with Johnny or Sara- Sara who'd picked out Willow just for him, and was too shy to stay long enough to be thanked, quiet and caring- the idea of her being placed on the witness stand at this point, for this trial... Harry narrowed his eyes, then looked up at Christian. "It can't happen- it won't."
Christian stared back at Harry for a long moment, then nodded. "Whatever it takes."
Shannon yipped, breaking the silence. Willow seemed to be firmly attached to her snout, kicking and biting. The wolf rolled her eyes and gave Christian and Harry a long-suffering, pleading look. "Umm . . ." Christian chuckled, the moment passed.
Harry nodded, then broke off to grin at Shannon. "Hey- you gotta take the thorns with the rose, or the claws with the kitten I s'pose," he teased her, getting up and prying Willow away from Shannon's muzzle, giving the wolf a scratch behind the ears. "Aren't you a lovely patient thing, taking such good care of the wee one," he praised her, turning to glare at Christian in warning. "Not one word from you, mister."
Pointing at himself, Christian shook his head. "Not me, mate." He buried his nose in his glass. "Sap." he murmured.
"Fuck you."
Christian's face flushed, but he looked up and grinned. "You wish."
Harry looked up and rolled his eyes, grinning at Christian's reddened cheeks. "Oh get over yourself, it was an expression not a declaration of intent."
Choking on his juice, Christian put the glass down before he dropped it and wiped his face. "I realize that!" he protested. "It's just the thought! Be fucking family!" he finished, shuddering delicately. "Eww."
"Oh don't be so damned dainty. You and Marton've both fucked Will. So've I, point of fact. And he's been family a lot longer 'n I have. Not that I'm saying I want to, mind, just for the sake of argument." Harry huffed, pretending to be offended by Christian's shudder.
"Not the same thing! Not at all!" Christian got up, using his empty glass as an excuse to turn his back and get more from the fridge. "And not at the same time! I haven't touched Will since he and dad . . . well, yeah. It's just . . . different. Want another?"
"I wasn't saying at the same time- wasn't saying wanted to do it now or anything! Was just making the point that..." Harry paused, trying to figure out a way to explain without...yeah, not really anyway to salvage this one. "God, yes please another. Maybe with vodka. Or possibly switch over to beer instead."
"Ahh forget it." Christian waved the discussion away. "I'm just . . . I just get funny about compliments is all. Don't mind me." He looked over Harry's shoulder at the cute couple now curled up together on the rug, sound asleep. He pointed. "You can leave her here if you like?" he offered. "I'm home all day, can bring her back when she wakes up?"
"Sounds good," Harry agreed, glad to abandon the topic. "So long as she shows up at home clean and dry and not smelling like wolf. I would like to live to see tomorrow, if at all possible."
"'Course." Christian walked with Harry to the door and stopped, looking back over his shoulder and shaking his head. "I dunno, Harry. What are we gonna do?"
"We'll deal with it o' course. However it needs doing, when the time comes." Harry said casually, clapping Christian on the shoulder and smiling before heading off down the path, his hands slowly tightening into fists as he walked away.
