Mysterious Circumstances (pm to discuss joining)

[Othermoose]

David and Will said nothing as the screams came form the basement. They stayed silent as a pale Erik climed the stairs. They all stayed in a tense and disturbed silence until Austin walked up the stairs, dripping blood and looking grim. "So did you do it? Is he dead?" David asked the teen. "No. But he will be. But I'm done. No one goes near this house, and tomorrow it won't be an issue." The teen replied in a flat voice. "Austin... What did you do?" David asked wondering if letting Austin have his revenge was a mistake. "It doesn't matter, does it? All you need to know is that thing got exactly what he deserved. Go in there if you want, I don't care. And I don't regret it. If I could I'd do it again. But if you do go down there, don't give him any mercy. Leave him. He deserves everything I did and more." Austin said before leaving the cabin.

Austin made his way to the lake, abandoning his blood soaked clothing in the woods. He washed the blood and grime from his body and underwear before leaving the lake. He returned to the house and took a shower doing a better job if cleaning himself and removing the revolting stench from his skin. After he was scoured clean he put on fresh clothes and found Kate. "It's done. I did what I had to do." Austin said in a voice barely above a whisper. "How's April? Is she ok? Can I see her?" He asked hesitanly, afraid of what answer he could receive.

 

[slippedhalo]

They weren't stupid. They knew Austin was torturing the rapist for revenge. Will wordlessly worked at disarming every trap around the place to keep busy, likely, to pretend he had no clue what was happening. The men shared this between themselves, an unspoken agreement. Unspoken. Plausible deniability. As David and Austin talked Erik and Will worked in silence.

 

[slippedhalo]

David and Will said nothing as the screams came form the basement. They stayed silent as a pale Erik climed the stairs. They all stayed in a tense and disturbed silence until Austin walked up the stairs, dripping blood and looking grim. "So did you do it? Is he dead?" David asked the teen. "No. But he will be. But I'm done. No one goes near this house, and tomorrow it won't be an issue." The teen replied in a flat voice. "Austin... What did you do?" David asked wondering if letting Austin have his revenge was a mistake. "It doesn't matter, does it? All you need to know is that thing got exactly what he deserved. Go in there if you want, I don't care. And I don't regret it. If I could I'd do it again. But if you do go down there, don't give him any mercy. Leave him. He deserves everything I did and more." Austin said before leaving the cabin.

Austin made his way to the lake, abandoning his blood soaked clothing in the woods. He washed the blood and grime from his body and underwear before leaving the lake. He returned to the house and took a shower doing a better job if cleaning himself and removing the revolting stench from his skin. After he was scoured clean he put on fresh clothes and found Kate. "It's done. I did what I had to do." Austin said in a voice barely above a whisper. "How's April? Is she ok? Can I see her?" He asked hesitanly, afraid of what answer he could receive.

Kate hugged Austin. "She's asleep in Caleb's bed. It's easier to get her in and out of that one for now. She's...she'll heal. Physically. Yuet is with her." Kate took his hand, leading him to where the broken doll slept.

 

[Othermoose]

Austin's eyes welled with tears at the sight of April's broken and bruised form. He hated to see her like this. It hurt so much, and if he could switch their places he would do it without a second thought. "Can... Can I touch her? Hold her? Can I even talk to her?" He asked fighting back tears.

 

[slippedhalo]

Yuet cautioned against this. "Based on her behavior in bathroom, no, not yet. She's very dreamy in this drugged state. Keeps calling me Wanda. But, also, her jaw is broken. I wouldn't push her to talk much. Let her know she not alone but...don't push too much. She's not all here yet." Yuet explained.

Kate held Austin's hand as Yuet took him aside, out of April's hearing, to explain the extent of physical damage. "Her face will actually take longer than...the rest. Mucous membranes are dynamic and heal fast. Think of the mere weeks after epesiotomies...This, very much the same. No sexual activity for about eight weeks. But, given the emotional trauma, she probably won't mind an even longer wait."

Yuet turned and regarded the patient, "No solid foods for at least that long too. Jaw must stay wired to heal bones. Maybe two in half to three months."

 

[slippedhalo]

Will patted Erik on the back as the two big guys returned to the soon to be Sheriff. "Traps are all dismantled and...the noises from the cabin have stopped for a while now....I...uh...kind of just want to go home and hug my wife. Anyone mind if I clock out a couple of hours early tonight? You two don't need a security detail. You ARE security." Said Will, scratching the scruff of reddish blond beard starting on his chin.

 

[Othermoose]

"I'm not going to try to fuck her." Austin growled. "I'm not that stupid. I know she'll take a long time, if ever, to be ready. But I don't care about that right now. I just want her back to normal. Do we still have the aging machine on the ship? The one we put Kate in? That could heal her faster. Physically at least." Austin said looking over at April's broken form and wishing desperately that he could heal her. Body and mind.

 

[Othermoose]

"I think we all need to go home and hug our women. It was a pleasure meeting you today Will, and I look forward to working with you in the future." David said firmly shaking the man's hand. "Same here. You're a good guy to have watching our backs. We'll see you around, Will." Erik said slapping the officer on the shoulder. The three men left the cabin and parted ways, Will heading for his own home while David and Erik walked towards theirs.

 

[slippedhalo]

"I'm not going to try to fuck her." Austin growled. "I'm not that stupid. I know she'll take a long time, if ever, to be ready. But I don't care about that right now. I just want her back to normal. Do we still have the aging machine on the ship? The one we put Kate in? That could heal her faster. Physically at least." Austin said looking over at April's broken form and wishing desperately that he could heal her. Body and mind.

Yuet shook her head, "That was on other ship. We have some things which might work but even if I get them operable they won't speed it up so much. Maybe cut off about two or three weeks...I'm trying. But, I haven't gitten all equipment unpacked yet. It's heavy stuff, some. And, this has been a weird day...yesterday. Perhaps later today I could get help unpacking dome."

 

[slippedhalo]

Aziz returned home just minutes behind Austin. He waited for Yuet in their room, feeling the mood of the house was too hard to bear for the time being. He knew she'd look after April first. So, he wrote a love letter while waiting.

 

[SlySparrow0003]

May jumped from her sleep as she heard footsteps on the stairs. She was still on the couch in the living room, and Nat was asleep. She slowly got up and looked outside. She saw figures approaching the house and then after a minute of squinting May saw Erick and... David. "Oh shit!" May whispers. She heard voices upstairs and quietly, so as not to disturb Nat, went upstairs. May went to the room where voices were heard, and she quietly stood at the doorway listening to Aprils condition.

 

[Othermoose]

Austin growled in the back of his throat, his desire to heal April making him anxious. He turned and saw May standing in the door way listening to their conversation. "What about her?" Austin said pointing at May. "She's some kind of robot genius, right? Can she build us an aging with the parts we still have?" Austin asked Yuet in desperation.

 

[SlySparrow0003]

"If I can get the right parts for it, it would take about a couple weeks at least but I think I could try it. I can't garuntee my success but I'll do my best.." She nodded to April. "For her and all of us." She said calmly and kindly.

 

[slippedhalo]

Yuet gestured to May as if to say, "What she said."

"For now, pain killers and sleep. She'll be out for at least another nine or ten hours. She's cathedered and bedded until I'm sure she can walk steadily. So, Austin, can I leave the rest of the night to you? Call me if there's any change or if she needs anything ok?" Yuet pointed to his arm. "But, you should be able to have a quiet night. She'll be asleep for many hours." Yuet assured.

She patted his arm then left to head to her and Aziz's room. She was relieved to find him waiting there with open arms.

"Come here, darling, Yuet. I know... " he said as she ran to climb up to him and they embraced with the passion of those who are shaken and terrified, and yet freshly aware of their own good fortune by seeing new reminders of the suffering of others.

 

[Othermoose]

After Yuet left the room, Austin firmly shut the door. He was tempted to lock it but decided against it. He wanted Yuet to have easy access to April. Austin sighed and sat down on a chair by the head of the bed. He looked down at April and finally felt the weight of the situation hit him. He began to sob, the hardest he ever had in his entire life. He fell to the floor on his knees next to April's bed. "I got him. I got that fucker. I did everything to him. So you can't die, ok? I'll do anything. I'll work with the aliens and the old lady. I'll save all of these assholes. I'll quit drinking. I'll marry you. I'll have kids with you. Just please don't die. I can't survive with out you April. You're the only good thing that's ever happened to me, and I love you. I love you so much it makes me sick. So get better, ok? Please just get better." Austin sobbed before lying on the floor next to April's bed and crying himself to sleep.

 

[slippedhalo]

"I'm...heading inside, Jason. I'm tired and it looks like everyone is home now...home...yeah, life here sure moves fast. You don't have to hang around if somebody is waiting for you at home." Said Jocelyn with an uncomfortable smile as Jason walked her to the back door.

Meanwhile, Caleb had unpacked a camping cot and laid it out in the living room across from the longer of two couches. May was buzzing around somewhere as people prepared to bed down in these early morning hours..."May," he called out, "do you think you want the camping bed or a sofa tonight? Jocelyn and I will just fight it out between us who gets what out of whats left over. It looks like we three are camping in the living room until further notice."

 

[Othermoose]

As David and Erik left the cabin, David grew more and more disturbed about what he had let Austin do. "Head back without me. I'll catch up." David said to Erik. "Don't go back David. Trust me. Whatever Austin did, it needs to stay there." Erik warned his friend. "You're probably right, but I need to do it anyway." David sighed. "Fine. But you'll regret it." Erik said turning away from David. After Erik had disappeared down the path David steeled himself and made his way back to the cabin.

"Why am I doing this?" David wondered as he walked into the cabin. He went into the kitchen and slowly descended into the cellar. He slowly opened the door, and looked inside. In his years as a cop David had seen many disturbing, sickening things, but this... This was worse. Sully hanging limply bleeding, crying, and struggling to breathe... David bent over and vomited all over the floor. He heaved for several minutes, the smell of blood prolonging his sickness, until finally he had no more energy left to choke.

David straightened up and his eyes met Sully's. The man's eyes were glazed with agony and terror, and the man silently begged David to release him from the pain. David met the man's gaze, and after what seemed like an eternity he turned away. He left Sully, and the cabin and made his way home to his and Kate's room where he'd been sitting in silent contemplation for the last several hours. Now he was finally ready to talk. "Kate?" He said to the snoozing form in the bed. "I'm ready. We can talk now." David said his voice still carrying the horror of what he'd seen.

 

[slippedhalo]

Kate had been having disturbing dreams. April's ordeal had brought back up memories of her own and the moments leading up to her death. David's voice would have been a welcome distraction except he'd seemed haunted and emotionally distant, quiet and solumn, from the moment he'd come back from the woods. Suddenly, close to dawn, he was finally ready to talk.

Groaning as the life inside her stretched his legs and basically kicked at her spine while she herself stretched, Kate turned to face David and sat up groggily, absently patting the little bum wiggling against her navel impatiently while his mother sat patiently regarding his father in the darkness, Kate whispered, "Yes? What is it, my love?"

 

[Othermoose]

David watched as Kate groggily sat up and rubbed her swollen belly. She looked so sweet and innocent in that moment. She looked pure. David sighed heavily. He wouldn't burden her with what he'd seen. Confirmation that Austin was as bad as he thought. This was something that he'd take to the grave.

"It's nothing beautiful. I'm sorry I woke you up. It's just a bit cold over here is all. I think I'd like to get in bed now." He said standing and walking over to the bed. He got in and snuggled against Kate and began to gently rub her swollen stomach. "I love you Kate. So much. And I can't wait for this little guy to be born. I'm going to teach him so much. We'll make this place work for us Kate. Nothing will stop us. The odds are against us, but we're going to be the happiest family in the universe." David promised. He gently kissed Kate's neck before placing his head on the pillow. "Goodnight Kate." He said before closing his eyes.

 

[Aussie_Wolf]

"I'm...heading inside, Jason. I'm tired and it looks like everyone is home now...home...yeah, life here sure moves fast. You don't have to hang around if somebody is waiting for you at home." Said Jocelyn with an uncomfortable smile as Jason walked her to the back door.

Meanwhile, Caleb had unpacked a camping cot and laid it out in the living room across from the longer of two couches. May was buzzing around somewhere as people prepared to bed down in these early morning hours..."May," he called out, "do you think you want the camping bed or a sofa tonight? Jocelyn and I will just fight it out between us who gets what out of whats left over. It looks like we three are camping in the living room until further notice."

Jason smiled. "Actually there is no one waiting for me at home so I'm fine but thanks for worrying about me even at a time like this." He was just about to leave when he heard Caleb call out and he was dismayed at what he heard.

"Look Jocelyn if you guys are going to be sleeping on the floor for awhile why don't you three come and sleep at my place. I have the room and you would be more than welcome. I don't mean right now, I know you would want to be all together now but discuss it between yourselves and let me know. Considering what has happened I might be able to get a few people up here to help out building your second house as well."

He waved at her as he turned to walk down the hill. "Oh and another advantage of that is that my father comes out once a week for dinner so you will get to yell at him a lot more," he grinned.

 

[slippedhalo]

Jason smiled. "Actually there is no one waiting for me at home so I'm fine but thanks for worrying about me even at a time like this." He was just about to leave when he heard Caleb call out and he was dismayed at what he heard.

"Look Jocelyn if you guys are going to be sleeping on the floor for awhile why don't you three come and sleep at my place. I have the room and you would be more than welcome. I don't mean right now, I know you would want to be all together now but discuss it between yourselves and let me know. Considering what has happened I might be able to get a few people up here to help out building your second house as well."

He waved at her as he turned to walk down the hill. "Oh and another advantage of that is that my father comes out once a week for dinner so you will get to yell at him a lot more," he grinned.

This last point made Jocelyn laugh out loud. "Ok, I'll bring it up with the other two, thanks." She said, telling Jason goodbye at the door before letting herself inside and taking the left over sofa, falling asleep faster than she thought she would. She'd tell May and Caleb about Jason's invitation in the morning.

 

[slippedhalo]

David watched as Kate groggily sat up and rubbed her swollen belly. She looked so sweet and innocent in that moment. She looked pure. David sighed heavily. He wouldn't burden her with what he'd seen. Confirmation that Austin was as bad as he thought. This was something that he'd take to the grave.

"It's nothing beautiful. I'm sorry I woke you up. It's just a bit cold over here is all. I think I'd like to get in bed now." He said standing and walking over to the bed. He got in and snuggled against Kate and began to gently rub her swollen stomach. "I love you Kate. So much. And I can't wait for this little guy to be born. I'm going to teach him so much. We'll make this place work for us Kate. Nothing will stop us. The odds are against us, but we're going to be the happiest family in the universe." David promised. He gently kissed Kate's neck before placing his head on the pillow. "Goodnight Kate." He said before closing his eyes.

Kate suspected there might have been something David had wanted to say but he seemed to have changed his mind and they snuggled up, falling asleep spooned.

Natalia had gone up to the room she shared with Erik and was up reading those pamphlets from the Council when Erik came up, removing clothes with sweat and traces of blood on them. He beckoned her to join him in the shower and seemed to wash away some of his grimness along with the grime of the day as they showered together. They were among the last asleep in the household. Natalia was glad to have Erik back with her regardless of his uncharacteristic mood.

 

[Othermoose]

Erik enjoyed his shower with Natalia. Aside from kissing and some heavy, petting nothing else happened in the shower. Erik was unusually not in the mood. After the shower Erik and Natalia went into their bedroom and cuddled together in their warm bed. "Love you." Erik whispered as Natalia snuggled against his chest and the two of them fell asleep.

 

[slippedhalo]

Alec's deep voice boomed in the halls of the Town Hall the following morning. Report after report came in about the night's events and none of the news was good. "Fucking hell, are these people bad luck or what?!" He cried out as his assistant, Fae, read off yet another police report and the eyewitness description of April Foster as she was briefly spotted in transit to the newcomers' house, carried by her boyfriend Austin who himself looked as if he'd been through quite an ordeal, a thing explained in a separate report given by the merfolk who'd rescued him after a fall from a cliff. Hilde had her own report to give, full of complaints about his disrespectful manner and concerns he'd need extensive training before ever even being allowed anywhere near Cousins, lest he create a diplomatic disaster...Alec cut Hilde off and turned to Fae again, "...and, what?"

"And, it's certain the girl was...kidnapped and held against her will...by one of ours, Sir." Confirmed Fae tentatively, prepared for another explosion as Alec's temper rose through the roof.

"Who?! Who in fucking hell would DO that?!" He asked.

She shook her head and shrugged. "Um...police are sketchy on this, Sir. They say he's still at large and they're on the hunt for him yet she's been found, but nobody has said where Austin found her, Sir."

"Get the current and future Sheriffs down here. And, Jason. He was responsible for all of them last night. Bring my son here too."

"Yes, Sir. I'll get them all here by noon."

"Eleven!"

"By eleven, yes Sir."

"Hilde, I'm sorry about that boy. He's going to have to be trained. He's the only one other than you..."

She sighed heavily, "I know, I know...bratty shit. I'll figure something out." She promised sounding weary.

 

[SlySparrow0003]

May tossed and turned for a majority of the night, recurring nightmares seemed to happen every time she closed her eyes. She finally fell into a uneasy sleep however.