(no subject)

[fire-in-flight.livejournal.com]

It was nice to be home. Sal grinned as she vaulted up the stairs ahead of her family.

The island looked as good as it could have considering what had happened not even a month ago; bruised, but picking itself up to start anew. Sadri and Ven's house still had a hole in it and Ro's vegetable patch was still a crater, but, Sal noticed, things were getting better.

As she walked up the stairs she got a nice vantage point of the ferry docks and the new boat, the M.V. Prowse, sitting primly at anchor, painted in the blue, yellow, and white Marine Atlantic livery. Being new, she shone with a brightness even the lost Caribou never had in her heyday.

She was so busy looking that she didn't see the two men standing at the top of the stairs until she'd almost bumped into them.

"Oh. Sorry!" She beamed, thinking that they were guests.

They didn't return the smile. One of them looked her up and down while the other cleared his throat. "You're Salinas Wagner?"

She bristled. "Yeah."

"You're under arrest."

She squinted, feeling a flutter of alarm, but not wanting to concern her family, who were now ascending the stairs. "Fer what, might I ask?"

"The murder of Shasta Wilson."

Comments

[random_xtras]

"Vhat?" Kurt put a hand on the banister and hopped past the children, then hurried up to stand behind his wife and scowl. "Vhat are you talking about?"

[fire-in-flight.livejournal.com]

She looked over her shoulder at him and shook her head ever so slightly.

Number One - the one who did all the talking - stared at Kurt, while Number Two set to work handcuffing Sal. She didn't complain or cause a fuss about any of it. That would alarm the kids and Sal figured that whatever she had to say was laced with profanity such that it was possibly best that she waited.

"The performing of an Unforgivable Curse on someone without proper authorization warrants at least a life sentence." He took out a business card and scribbled something on it, handing it to Kurt. "And at most... well..." He trailed off. "The trial will start promptly; we were just waiting for you to come home. In about three hours' time we'll ask you to come to the Council chamber.

"If I recall correctly, it was for your defense that your wife resorted to using that curse. I suggest you prepare a good testimony."

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"She had authorization." He frowned, his expression a little bewildered as he glanced down at Sal.

[fire-in-flight.livejournal.com]

"Unfortunately there's no evidence to corroborate that," Number One continued. "Further to that, you can discuss this in three hours. Have a nice day."

Sal cleared her throat. "You suppose I could say goodbye to my family first?"

Number One rolled his eyes, but nodded stiffly.

Sal stared at Kurt, stepping forward to whisper in his ear, "This ain't right. Someone's behind this. Find Theta before the trial and get Vanya to come in with you."

[random_xtras]

He nodded, his eyes on hers, then pulled her close and stroked her hair as he swallowed down the fear that he was going to lose her. "I vill."

"No!" said Wolfen.

"Shhh." Jabez turned and herded the little ones down the stairs and around to the other door just as the front one opened.

"What the...." Jav scowled horrendously. "What's goin' on here?"

[random_xtras]

He shook his head, face working with the effort to not cry. "You're dead."

[jeimu.livejournal.com]

"I was." She nodded. "But it would appear that things larger than myself have a bit more in store for me."

Inside she felt sick. He didn't want to touch her; he didn't even want to look at her.

[random_xtras]

Despite having seen Sal and Sadri and Ven, and Scrat come back he just couldn't get his mind around this. It was as though he'd said good bye and his heart nearly couldn't recognize her anymore, though it was crying for her.

He lifted a shaking hand and reached toward her, but then stopped and screwed his face up.

"Oh for the love of mercy." Kurt suddenly shoved them toward one another, causing Jav to grab Jeimu to keep her from falling. "She's HERE, meine freund. She's back!"

Jav froze and stared, but then nearly crushed her.

[jeimu.livejournal.com]

Jeimu had promised herself that the tears and the emotional reunion would wait until after Sal was free.

But when Jav put his arms around her - even if it was simply to keep her standing upright - she broke down completely.

"I'm sorry," she whispered.

[random_xtras]

"Ja." His tail lashed. "She said to get you und Theta."

-I can bring you to her,- offered Hunter, walking over to set the food on the doorstep as his own tail left swatches in the grass and mud.

[vanya-a.livejournal.com]

"Yes, I know. Theta is going to be pursued by the Council and most likely coerced into, well, lying at the trial. We know that authorization passed down from the Council. Theta has to sign on any sort of OFA* before it becomes legal. The first priority was given to Sal. I was the backup. If Sal couldn't get rid of Shasta it was my responsibility."

She nodded more to herself than anyone else and then turned to Hunter. "Yeah, we could use the ride. Just let me say goodbye first."

And then she turned to Atin.

[random_xtras]

"I want to come with you." His face was impassive, but his eyes begged.

[vanya-a.livejournal.com]

"Alright," she said. "If we're the first ones to get to Theta we'll need all the firepower we can get.

"I anticipate it getting rather... heated if we run into the Council's people."

[random_xtras]

"Oh @#$%&$# yeah," said Rob as he wiped the floor.

"Indeed." Albus smiled, his eyes twinkling as he fished a strawberry marshmallow from his pocket.

-Indeed.- Hunter nodded.

[teh-rest.livejournal.com]

"You do realize that we'll be facing a bunch of Legilimens (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Legilimency), correct?" Theta frowned.

[random_xtras]

"Of course." Albus offered her a candy. "But though I lack magical ability since my return to the living I have nonetheless what I need to help me in such a case."

"He 'n I are immune to magic." Rob rested his chin on the counter.

"As am I." Kurt frowned as his tail tip twitched. "But vhat is a Legilemen?"

Albus blinked. "Let's not tell that last fact to Sal."

"I'm not going to."

[jeimu.livejournal.com]

"Legilimens read emotions and memories," Jeimu said quietly, walking in and flopping down in her chair in the living room. "It's a bit more complicated than your standard psychic ability. They can interpret what you're thinking and seeing in your mind's eye. So if our good friend here," she gestured to Theta, "were to envision the scenario where she did not authorize Sal, they could pick up on it and use it as evidence."

She sighed. "In short, it's dangerous."

[random_xtras]

He stared at her for a few minutes, then suddenly took a deep, rasping breath and squeezed his eyes shut as his mind exploded with sadness.

"Woah, easy, b'y!" Jav took a step nearer, his face creased with concern.

Rob just put his fist to his mouth, watching with wide eyes.

[jeimu.livejournal.com]

She gasped as it hit her like a ton of bricks, and frowned.

There wasn't really much to say. She simply put her arms around him as best as she could and hugged him tight.

[random_xtras]

"Mu...." His voice was a low rasp as he turned his face toward her hair. -Mu.-

[jeimu.livejournal.com]

She leaned back and looked at him. "Hey."

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"I know it sure didn't make no sense t' me." Jav turned and looked at Rob. "Will ye watch Vic, me son?"

"Uh huh." The lanky teen went to the fridge and absconded with a Pepsi.

"So then, shall we go?" Albus rubbed his hands together as Fawkes trilled.

[jeimu.livejournal.com]

Jeimu paused to look at herself in the mirror. She grinned.

"Yeah, okay, let's go."

Meanwhile, at the prison....

[random_xtras]

John looked up from where he stood with his hands through the bars of his cell, watching as the door opened and a small woman in a green dress was escorted through. He was silent as her guards put her into the cell next to his, and remained silent as he watched the men leave.

Then he glanced at Sal and took something out of his pocket. "Christmas orange?"

She couldn't help but laugh when she saw him in there. "Sure."

Leaning on the cold metal bars, she looked out into the darkened corridor. "So what you in fer?"

"Defending myself at the wrong time." He handed over the treat, then resumed bobbing his clasped hands through the bars.

"Well now doesn't that sound right familiar." Sal chuckled to herself and pressed her thumbnail into the orange as she prepared to peel it. "They give ye a trial date yet?"

"No." He pursed his lips. "I'm starting to think that they forgot I'm in here. Though Henry's bruises can't be any more faded than mine are."

"Now that ain't fair," Sal said. "I gets t' go in a couple hours."

"Must be my looks." John grinned at the wall across from them.

She scoffed, biting into a section of the orange. "Ain't half bad," she said, her words slurred slightly. "Where'd ye get 'em?"

"I think Hunter's been teleporting them in at Albus's suggestion." He withdrew one hand from the bars and stuck it in the opposite pocket to the one that had held the orange, then displayed a handful of wrapped hard candies and toffees.

Sal chuckled. "Sounds like me granddad. So... ye thought 'bout what they might do to ye? I means if ye can't get out or if ye loses at yer trial."

Re: Meanwhile, at the prison....

[random_xtras]

John shrugged. "Tell Cassie how to get here so I can still see my grandchildren?"

"And how can ye do that if yer in here?" Sal peered between the bars to get a closer look. "Yer goin' nowhere fast."

"Don't I still get a few phone calls?" He looked back quizzically.

Sal laughed. "Where do you think you are?"

"Newfoundland?"

"Well, yes. But ... ye might've noticed that the police an' government here can get a little... intrusive at times. They won't want you talkin' to nobody if ye loses."

He frowned as he thought that over, then winced at a slight poke to his mind and turned to look at the door as it opened to admit two men and another person.

Sam looked the picture of repentant shame as they stuffed her in the cell with Sal and then walked back out, slamming the corridor door behind them. Then she rubbed her face and grinned like a Cheshire cat before wandering over to lay on the bottom bunk.

Sal sighed. "What'd you do?"

"I guess it's illegal to sit on Theta's doorstep for too long. Especially if you're drinking a beer." Sam kicked off her shoes and examined the hole in one of her socks.

John very gently bonked his head against the bars.

"@#$!&, they're really screwed in the head," Sal said. "When ye gets on the wrong side of the law yer in trouble, but up 'til now the law's been pretty clear..."

"I think they just got mad when they got past me and found out Theta was gone already." She stretched hugely and closed her eyes, still grinning.

"So where is she now?" Sal smirked slightly. "Is she..." She let the question hang in the air. No use tattling on the people back at the house.

"In position." A chuckle escaped.

John peered around into their cell. "Sam?"

She shook her head and made like going to sleep.

Sal smirked. "Guess now all we can do is wait."

There was no reply from the bunk, and John sighed and settled down to do so, his mind busy with prayer.

Sal, meanwhile, simply waited, her mind empty of all thoughts that would render her upset. Knowing Theta was 'in position' greatly increased the odds that she'd get through this alive.