Strange Love

The office had became quite crowded as the minutes grew longer and longer. Raven had came up stairs to inform everyone that Russ had finally woke up and shifted. He'd insisted on waiting downstairs for Jos, propping a chair against the wall of the makeshift surgical room. Ry had busied himself with travel preparations, refusing to fly again. Shelly had gone downstairs to wait with her brother leaving Raven to watch as Arei paced a trail back and forth between the window and the double doors. He'd glance down at the phone gripped tightly in his hand ever so often but never stopped moving.

"Give it a break, man. You're making me tired. Plus Tri is going to kick your ass if you wear a whole in his favorite rug." Ry commented, not taking his attention away from the computer screens. He flung the pen he'd been tapping in one hand across the desk and flopped back in the chair letting out a heavy groan. "Why must it be so damn hard to rent a fast boat capable of making it across the damn Atlantic."

Raven shrugged. "Why not buy one? Wouldn't that be the quickest easiest way to go about it?"

He shot her an irritated look. "What would I do with a damn boat after this one time use?" He shot his hand toward the closed office door. "If I wasn't forced to watch the kid 24/7 I'd simply stick his ass on a plane and I'd swim it... Or take a fucking Hippocampus."

Raven arched a brow, "Why not both of you take one? Then you can keep him with you and you could take the ocean... win win..."

Ry looked flabbergasted, "And risk loosing or drowning the kid? What if we run into a storm?"

Raven shrugged, "He's a damn good swimmer. Jos has had him in the ocean with her since he was old enough to hold his head up on his own." She crossed her arms over her chest. "I'd say in a regular chlorinated pool, he could even out swim you."

Ry shot up from his seat and headed quickly for the door.

Arei's attention shot to him in surprise. "Did the doctor message you? Is she out of surgery?"

"Nope... gonna go see how hard it would be to drown a wolf..." Ry said as he made his way out the door and down the hall.

Raven rolled her eyes and stood. She motioned for Arei to join her. "You might as well come too. There's nothing better to do while we wait."

"THEN SHE CAN JOIN US!" Raven and Arei could hear Ry shout from down the hallway of the lower level. "NOW GET YOUR ASS IN THE POOL OR I'M THROWING YOU IN THE OCEAN!"

Raven sent Arei an amused glance. "He must really hate flying."

Arei nodded, "You have no idea." He chuckled, "Lucky for me, I'm a bit more versatile." When she shot him a questioning look, he shrugged. "A little unknown fact about me, I can produce wings when I want. One of my brothers is Pegasus. Our shifted forms differ in multiple areas though."

Arei nodded as they descended the stairs. "Yes, my complete opposite in nearly every way-" any farther conversation was cut off as Arei and Raven made it to the bottom floor. "What in the name of the Gods are you doing?" Ry and Russ were both stripping down to their boxers, but that wasn't the most unusual part. The water of the pool was turning with the turbulent rage of at least a category 3 hurricane. "You can't be serious?"

Ry only nodded as he pulled his shirt over his head. "You better believe I'm serious, as a goddamn heart attack. If this goes well, you'll shift and take him out into the ocean."

Arei's brows furrowed as he pointed to Russ. "Ry no! The kid just woke up from a fucking coma or some shit! This is insane!"

Russ shook his head as he tossed his shirt over on the chair beside Ry's. "It's fine. I can handle it... apparently more so than this big pussy can handle a plane." Russ taunted before diving into the water, making short work of the pool.

Ry lifted his hands over the water and it became stronger. "Now swim back."

Raven walked farther into the living room. "I don't understand, if he's the only one swimming... why are you naked?"

Ry through an irritated glare over his shoulder. "I'm not naked." He turned his attention back to the pool as he added. "I took my pants and shirt off incase I need to go in after him." They all watched as Russ struggled slightly but still made it to the other side easily enough. "Once more." Ry said lifting his arms higher causing the waves of the pool to increase again.

"Gahhh!" Russ growled as he dove under the waves and made the entire distance of the pool back and forth under the water. He broke the water closest to Ry, panting but otherwise fine. "Happy?"

Ry nodded. "For now. I'll get you to ride Arei tomorrow." He lowered his arms and the waves died off completely.

"Bring me a towel?" He called out, as he pushed back and floated in the water.

Ry had just turned toward the towel rack when a door down the hallway opened and the doctor emerged, the tap of his shoes sounding against the wood floors.

Arei met the man halfway, "How is she?" He asked.

The doctors eyes looked over the four pairs of worried eyes glaring back at him impatiently. He arched a brow when he noted Ry's state of undress. "She will recover quick enough now. The wolf is already in the room with her." He nodded toward the water. "I recommend a swim as soon as she awakes. That should have her right as rain." His eyes caught Russ. "I see you are awake as well. How are you feeling? I should examine you now that you're awake."

Russ nodded and lifted from the pool. "I'll be in to see you as soon as I look in on Jos and change." He wrapped the towel around his waist and headed toward the surgical room. His eyes quickly moved to the bed as he walked through the door. Shelly was standing on her hind legs and the giant of a man was brushing strands of Jos's hair back from her face. The impulse to get angry rose under Russ's skin but he fought to keep it down. Instead, he walked over and patted his sister's head. "Is she awake?"

Arei shook his head. "No, not yet." He nodded toward the IV still in her arm. "I'd guess the anesthesia still hasn't wore off yet." He smiled, not taking his eyes off Jos. "She's strong, don't worry. She'll not leave us so easily."

Before Russ could even think of something to say aside from 'keep your hands and eyes off her', the nurse came over and began removing the IV and dressings. Her exotic eyes glanced around the room. "If you'll wait outside, she'll be ready to move to her room in just a few moments."

Raven and Ry stepped out of the way as Russ, Arei, and Shelly made their ways out of the room. The doctor studied each of them carefully from the other side of the hall as everyone gathered outside. He nodded to Russ. "Since you are already here, shall we get the exam out of the way. Then you can go clean up."

Russ nodded reluctantly and followed the doctor into another room. Moments later the knob of the surgical room turned and the nurse held the door open. "She's ready to be moved. She's still coming in and out of sleep, but other than that she'll be fine."

Arei nodded down to the petite fairy holding the door as he walked back into the room. "I'll carry her back to her room." He said not wasting anytime making his way to Jos's side. The nurse continued holding the door as he scooped her carefully into his arms and walked back out of the room. "Ry can you get her bedroom door?" He asked as he stepped into the hall.

"I will." Raven stepped forward sending a Ry cautious look. "I figure it will be best for all of us to be in there with her after Russ finds out he's leaving without her." Shelly cringed and began following after Arei. "You got that right." Raven said quietly to Shelly's back. Turning her attention back to Ry she added, "I don't envy you that conversation."

Ry groaned inwardly, "I don't particularly look forward to being the one to deliver it." He uncrossed his arms and made his way down the hall toward the room the doctor and Russ were currently in. He pushed the door open and called out. "Alright now drop your pants and hold your ankles... It's part of the physical... of course it is. I'll grab and you cough..."

Raven rolled her eyes. "Boys..." Hurrying to catch up with Arei, she jogged lightly down the hall. "I swear, I'm beginning to wonder if your brother ever takes anything... seriously-" Raven's words broke off as she rounded the corner. Her eyes bugged and her mouth dropped. Arei was standing there in the main hallway with Jos still in his arms, hand tangled in her hair, and his mouth pressed tightly to hers. Shelly looked like she was a crazy combination of ecstatic and horrified as she stood only a foot from them. "Oh shit!" She whispered as she quickly turned to make sure no one else was coming down the hall behind her. A tiny raspy voice brought her attention back around. She blinked multiple times unable to believe what she was seeing. Jos was awake already.

"Do you think you could stand getting in the pool right now?" Arei was asking her as Raven shook the shock away and jogged over to them.

"You're awake! Holy shit, man. How are you feeling?" Raven asked in amazement.

Jos leaned her head against Arei's chest as she struggled to hold Raven's gaze. "Tired... Sore... thirsty..." Her raspy voice was barely audible.

Raven nodded, "Heard!" She replied and turned toward the kitchen.

"Wait can you get the bedroom door first?" Arei asked softly as to reassure Jos with his tone.

"Oh yeah, I almost forgot." Raven shook her head and hurried to the door and held it open. She shook her head when Shelly glanced at her then back to the room. She nodded toward the kitchen as she called into the room. "Shell and I will be back in a second with Jos something to drink." She shut the door and turned her attention back to Shelly. "What the hell was that?!" She whispered harshly. When the wolf only shrugged, she growled. "Of course you pick now to refuse to shift OUT of wolf form. Come on!" She hurried toward the kitchen as she continued firing off questions to Shelly. "You've been with them more than I have. Is that the first time you've seen them kiss?"

Shelly nodded her head before nudging the refrigerator door open and sitting in front of it.

"You're right, I'll make her a snack too. Do you want something?" Raven asked as she set the empty plate beside the glass on a tray. "Has he said anything about trying to get her back?" Raven continued as her mind worked through simple yes or no questions she could ask the wolf. "Shelly began to nod but then thought better of it and shook her head no. "So... not really?" Shelly shook her head yes. "But he has said something about feelings." Shelly nodded. "Gahhh, this is impossibly complicated. You think you could type on a cell phone or a tablet?" Raven asked Shelly, but the wolf only gave her a 'are you crazy' glare. "Fair enough..." One other question came to mind. "Maybe we can go tap wonder twin's brain and figure all this out... What?" She asked as Shelly rolled her eyes. "Alright twin power may not be a thing, but I bet they've at least talked about some of this. And big, tall, and tatted can fill us in on the 'past' details Jos seems to have left out."

"I most certainly will not." Ry answered from behind them. "Send Russ up to the office when ever he comes out. preferably before he goes to see Jos. Remind him, it wont take long."

Raven arched a brow. "Wasn't you just in there with him?"

The corner of Ry's full lips turned up into a wicked smile. "The doc didn't seem to appreciate my delightful since of humor."

Raven snickered. "A man of taste and class after all, no doubt." She tossed a baby carrot at him, but he caught and ate it.

"Can't be everyone's cup of tea, ya know..." He retorted with a smile before making his way up the stairs. "Office first then beauty the beast." He called out.

A surprised laugh escaped Raven's throat as her hand flew up to hold it back. "That shouldn't be funny! It would hurt her feelings if she heard." Raven yelled back after him.

"But it is funny and you laughed." He yelled back from farther away this time.