Ryan:  Darlin', it's us...

Us?  I disarmed the security system and yanked open the heavy door.

Deb:  Ryan!

My favorite Irishman, superseding even the Lucky Charms Leprechaun and
the Irish Spring guy.  I leaped up, hugged him fiercely around his sturdy
neck.

Deb:  Where's Jade?

His face went still.  I had seen that look before.  All was not right in
Ryan-land.

Ryan:  She's in the truck...

I sprinted past him, ran to the dark bulk of the vehicle in the driveway
and hauled open the door.  The way she looked stopped me cold and the first
thing I thought was, is that how I looked?  Migod...

Deb:  Jade?  What the hell happened?

Jade:  Had a chance to meet some friends of Ryan's.

Deb:  With friends like that, who needs enemies?

Ryan had joined me by the truck and I turned to him.  For a minute I was
struck by the look on his face, such undistilled love for this young woman,
mixed with something darker that I had never before seen and couldn't put a
name to.  Then I shook this off.  I had to talk to him.

Ryan:  The people who did this to her will pay dearly.  I can promise you
that.

I was only half listening to his low threats.  My fingers probed Jade's
abdomen, drawing repeated gasps out of her.  I knew I should stop poking,
in case I did more harm than good, and I finally made myself quit.  Instead
I wrapped a protective arm around her shoulders and turned back to Ryan.

Deb:  She needs a doctor.

Ryan:  We saw one earlier.

Jade nodded slowly.  I watched, as her eyes fastened on Ryan's face.  I
knew that expression.  I had seen it in the mirror.  What a road she had
chosen for herself...

Deb:  Then let's get her inside.  Ryan...carry her, please...

Jade:  I think I can manage the house.

Her tone was tart and I squeezed her, in a sisterly fashion.

Deb:  Sometimes it's just nice to be carried.  Come on, Ryan...we need to
get buttoned in again.

Ryan scooped Jade up in brawny arms and carried her toward the house.  I
pulled their battered baggage out of the truck and followed close behind.

Ryan:  Same room?

Deb:  Yeah.  Did they give her something for pain?

Jade:  In my pack...something, I didn't look.

Jade hugged his neck, riding easily in his arms.  She tried to protest,
but made no move to try and get down.

Ryan:  Hush now, we're in very capable hands here.  She'll get them.

Jade:  Your clothes?  They were in the back, beside those damn evil jars.

Deb:  I've got 'em.  Not those frigging jars again, Jesus, Gaerity!  I told 
you once about those...

I fished through the beat up student's backpack, which now held what
looked like everything Jade had in the world, looking for the painkillers
she'd said were there.

Deb:  Tylenol 3...crap...codeine...here, I think I have something with a 
little more juice.

I stepped across the hall.

Jade:  You can put me down, now, Ryan.

Ryan:  Why?  I like to hold you, love.

Jade:  You just don't want me walking out, I know what you're thinking.

Jade tapped Ryan's forehead with the long, sensitive finger of an
artist.

Ryan:  And where would you go, child?

I stood behind them in the door, holding two of my trusty Darvons and
trying not to interrupt the byplay.  Jade was smiling at Ryan, and when he
turned his face to hers I saw that glow in his eye that I had grown used
to whenever he talked to me about this young woman.  He made as if to drop 
her, drawing a breathless shriek from her and a disarming grin from him.

Jade:  Goddam you!  You drop me and I'll wake the bear...

I snorted helplessly.  I knew who "The Bear" was.

Deb:  Hell, don't worry about him.  Papa Bear's out raising hell someplace.
Here, take these, they'll make you sleep and sleep is what you probably need 
most.  Just don't wake our Elmore.

Ryan grinned again.  He and Elmore were old campaigners with Billy.

Ryan:  Young Elmore's here?

Deb:  Across the hall, so keep it down.  

Jade:  Elmore?

Deb:  You haven't met him yet, Jade, he wasn't around last time you were
here, but he is just about the sweetest man in the world...

Ryan:  Also has two of the most useful fists you're ever liable to see...

Jade:  If you remember correctly, I don't find fists all that useful.

Ryan:  You would if there was someone you wanted...persuaded...of something.

Deb:  Enough about the boy, Ryan, let's get her into her jammies.  Or
doesn't this big, beautiful Irishman let you have any jammies?

Jade smiled yet again at him.  Her hand looked incredibly small against
the broad back.

Jade:  Yeah, let me down.  You want to hand me that, Deb, and I'll find my
t-shirt.

I left the room, letting Ryan help Jade with the agonizing chore of
undressing and slipping into her night things.  I waited a decent interval
and then knocked.

Ryan:  Come.

I found him finishing the job of gently tucking her into the wide bed.
I stuck my head in and extended the two Darvon and a glass of water to
Ryan.Jade was managing to be a bit more sensible.  She took the tablets and
the water from Ryan, and swallowed both.

Jade:  We have all the time in the world, my lion.  Thanks, Deb.  Don't let
this boyo talk you silly.

Deb:  Too late, Jade.  Ryan, are you going down for the night or not?

Ryan:  Think perhaps I should.  We're both goin' on about five hours of real
sleep in the last thirty-six.

Jade was already yawning, and I wondered if I'd had her put that Darvon 
on an empty stomach.  If so, it would hit her like a bomb.

Jade:  Don't listen to him.  He's stretchin'...like usual...

Deb:  Billy used to say he was a machine, he'd just keep going until all the
work was done.  I can remember having to make him stop more than once...I'm
just glad to see he has sense enough to know when he's tired.  He ought to
sleep now...with such a loving companion, he can hardly help but rest.  I'll
keep Billy out as long as I can.  Go on, Ryan...

Billy came in very late, waking me when he turned on the light.  He
tucked a sizeable wad of cash into his sock drawer - my stash, meant to keep
me out of the larger one in the basement - then kicked off his boots and
began to strip.

Billy:  When'd Ryan pull in?

Deb:  Couple of hours ago.

Billy:  Jade with him?

Deb:  Yeah, and it looks like she's lucky to be in one piece.

Billy dropped his t-shirt on the floor, alongside the discarded boots and 
jeans.  He peeled the bandana off last, and rolled into bed.  Groaning, he
stretched out beside me and slapped off the light.

Billy:  What the hell's this shit?

Deb:  Second verse, same as the first.  Somebody wanted him, they went
after her.

Billy:  How's she look?

Deb:  Remember how I looked?

Billy didn't answer.  I knew he remembered.

Deb:  She'll be fine, though.  Ryan's had her to a doctor and she wouldn't
be on the street. I suppose.  I gave her a couple of the Darvon and she'll
sleep the night.

Billy:  Trust Mama.

I managed a small laugh.  I was getting the reputation of being the
worst kind of mother hen.

Billy:  Gotta sleep, baby.  Come and get me when Gaerity wakes up.

My response was a light kiss on his cheek.  I rolled, put my back to
him and felt him switch to his side, with his back between me and the
door.

It was midmorning when Ryan wandered out.  Billy was still fast asleep, and
Elmore had gone hunting for a particularly special Christmas gift.

Ryan:  William make it in?

Deb:  Somehow.  I can never figure out how he does it.  Hold on, I'll go 
get him.  He wanted to be called when you woke.

Ryan went to the cupboard and hauled down his special mug, a Chinese
tilt job that had come with me from Minnesota.  It was a match to the one
that Bill generally used.  I headed quietly down the hall, not wanting to
run the risk of waking Jade.  Bill woke instantly, as was his habit, and I
left him to dress and follow me.

Billy:  Ryan.

Ryan looked up from his tea.  He had been poking the bag morbidly as it
steeped, trying to strengthen the brew.

Ryan:  William.

Billy:  How ya been, boy?

Ryan:  I have been better.  I will be better, as soon as I take care
of some pressing business.

Billy:  Heard about the girl.  Would that be the business?

Ryan:  You know me too well, William.

Billy moved into the room, going to the refrigerator and noisily rooting
through it for something to eat.

Billy:  Y'hungry, boy?

Ryan watched him, that black and unreadable expression on his face again.
I stayed back, one ear peeled for sounds from Jade, waiting to hear what
would pass between these two.

Ryan:  I could stand for a bite of something.  What's this?  You have...
plates?  Will wonders never cease?

Billy:  Sometimes I even eat off the damn things.  Baby...?

Deb:  Under control.

This was my sole contribution to the conversation early on, as I set to preparing a meal.  Neither man was accustomed to eating particularly heavily  
early in the day, so I was able to satisfy them with simple eggs, sausage
toast and juice.  The words flowed around me as I cooked, and I absorbed as
much as I could.  When the food was cooked I brought two plates to the 
table and watched as Ryan ate, ravenously.

Ryan:  Had next to nothing the whole damn trip...been driving almost
nonstop.

Bill watched Ryan, and Ryan watched Bill watching him.  It was like two
tigers, sizing one another up.

Billy:  So, boy...what'n hell happened t'the girl?

Ryan:  She was used...to send me a message.

Billy:  Don't look to me like it was 'have a nice day', either.  Know who
did it?

Ryan:  Oh, yes.  I know who did it.

His voice was wintry and it had that effect on me.  I shivered, and knew
without having to ask that the people responsible for hurting Jade were
going to have little opportunity to regret doing so before Ryan struck.

Billy:  Think you might need some help with 'em?  I am here to serve.

Billy grinned briefly, chillingly.

Ryan:  You have mentioned that a time or two, boyo.  No, I'll not have my
friends any more involved than need be.  I'd have you do something else,
though.

Billy spread his hands in a gesture of acceptance, and this time the
grin was the charming one.  He knew what it was like to want to handle 
things himself.  He had just been through such a situation.

Billy:  Name it, son.  It's yours.

Ryan:  Keep my Jade safe.

Billy:  You know it, boy.  Like she was my own.  Anythin' else I can help
with...busted legs, rearranged faces...all part of the service.

Bill smiled narrowly, and for the first time that morning, Ryan cracked
a smile.  Then he laughed deeply.

Ryan, No, William, I'll not be needin' you for this.  'Tis my own...
troubles, festerin' too long.  You just be keepin' a close watch on my
little one, there.  That will suffice.

Billy:  Have 'er in my back pocket, boy.  Does she mind?

Ryan:  She will endure.

Billy shredded a piece of toast.

Billy:  I don't give a rat's ass if she likes it or not.  I mean will she 
mind me?  Will she listen?

Ryan:  If she's made aware of the circumstances, she will abide.

Billy reached out, rapped on Ryan's hard Irish head with a big knuckle.

Billy:  Either y'listen or you're a damn casualty in this business, boy.
She gonna do what she's told.  I got no time for story hour at the library.
When I tell 'er jump, I wanna see 'er jump.  She can ask how high later.

Ryan fixed Billy with a hard glare.

Billy:  Y'want me t'watch 'er, Ryan, y'know what I need.  I can talk to that
one 24/7/365 and she listens when she wants to.  Will she do what she's
told without havin' to have the Congressional Record version?  Answer th'
damn question, Gaerity.

I put my tongue out at the back of Billy's dark head.

Ryan:  There's a fire in Jade, William, like there is in Deb, if that's
what you're asking.  She'll not sit casually while all this is going on.
I will speak to her.

Ryan was chuckling.

Billy:  She stickin' that damn tongue out again?

Ryan:  A fine one, at that.

Billy shook his head, lowered his voice a notch.

Billy:  I don't make the perfect, gentle knight, Ryan.

Oooh, there was Annapolis.  He was getting serious.

Billy:  I can help you, but not if I need to deal with headstrong and
overly emotional women.  You don't talk to her, you tell her.

Ryan:  She has walked this road before, William.  She knows the danger I
face, and she will see her way to follow.  I cannot have it.  She must be
protected.  Can you do this, or do I hear hesitation in your voice.

Billy:  You don't hear shit, boy.

Annapolis was gone.

Billy:  What'd I say, leave 'er t'me.  You leavin' 'er here, or workin' 
from here?

Ryan:  I think it would be best if I leave.  She has walked this road at my
side on other occasions, and I'll not have her in the crossfire again.  And
it's not somethin' I'd have her knowin' the details of.

I decided I might be safe speaking.  My voice was sad even to my ears.

Deb:  Leaving so soon, Ryan?

Ryan:  I'll not be gone long, love.  How can I, when I'm leavin' my girl
with this lug?

Deb:  He has his moments, doesn't he?

I managed a small grin for Billy.

Deb:  Gonna tell her about it, or just disappear, the way you normally do?

Ryan:  I must go without her knowledge, else she'll find her way to my side.

Deb:  Must you also go without her blessing...?

Billy:  Stay out of it, woman.

Deb:  If she's as familiar with this as you keep telling me she is, she
might want to give it.  As for you, Bill...not everyone can say yes and no
and how high and what color.  I've had to change a lot to hand on to you,
too, and I don't always like the way the changes have gone.

Ryan:  I trust in her...to do as she sees fit.

Deb:  Then I guess you know best.

I turned, to leave the room.  I delivered my parting shot.

Deb:  You fucking men always know best, don't you?  'Scuse me.

I let the door swing shut behind me, but stopped just the other side of
it.  I...I had to know.  When Ryan next spoke, it was in a voice to which
the brogue had returned, thick in his frustration.

Ryan:  Nae, I dinna know best, only what I must.

Billy:  She's lettin' 'er mouth write checks 'er ass can't cash, Ryan.
You leave that one t'me.  She's just...wantin' t'protect half the damn
world, is all.

Ryan:  A lot goin' on in that head, boy.  Be wise t'listen, you would.

Billy:  I do when I can, son.  You go on, then.  I'll explain, an' the'
little mother'll look after 'er till you get back.

Ryan stood, unspoken thanks in his eyes.  I heard a door open and shut, 
and I knew he was gone.  I stepped back into the kitchen.

Deb:  He gone?

Billy nodded, didn't look at me, didn't want to deal with the look on
my face, or so I flattered myself.

Deb:  Then you got some 'splainin' to do, Loosey.  She's askin' for him.

I put my back to him, and headed back down the hall.

TP BE CONTINUED...

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