Continued from this thread.


It was mid-week, which for some meant the slowing-down of business, like one long, extended caffeine crash.  But for Dreogan at the Muggle Affairs Office, Wednesday was as busy as Tuesday, which was as busy as Thursday, which was actually as busy as some Sundays.  Dreogan had been aware that when Akiva left, it must have been somewhere around mid-morning to afternoon, but he couldn't have said how long ago that was.


All he knew was that when he saw Akiva reenter through his open office door, followed in dogged steps by Raizel Cohen, this had not been expected.  Akiva had the air of--of some martyr. Resolute, but resigned.  He frowned at the sight, not sure he'd ever seen that particular expression, though he knew Raizel's glowers well enough.  There was no denying it: both were distressed, in their way.


"Ladies," he said gravely as he rose to his seat, resting his hand on the handle of his open door as an indication they should enter.  He closed it crisply behind them, not even needing to subdue his habitual impulse to offer tea, for all his anxiety.  "What's happened?"

Once in the ministry, in her own territory, after getting rid of the dizzying feeling post-apparating, Akiva sighed.  She hated feeling sick to her stomach, though it had been fairly constant in the early stages of her pregnancy and most travel ellicited the same response, so she was woefully used to it.  There was just discomfort. 

She recovered quickly though - forced herself to, really, since she did not want to be led down to her husband's office like a scolded child.  She might not have even let Raizel come along, if she really felt like she had a choice in the matter.  Raizel did not seem to be the type to let something go so easily, and letting Akiva go to her husband on her own might have seemed, to her, to be some great transgression in this little crusade to, at every point, make Akiva painfully aware of her inadequacy against an unrecognized foe. 

So, she walked.  She went to the lift, did not look at Raizel, pressed the buttons herself, and if Raizel was tagging along, she was tagging along.  Akiva would not humor her by following her around.  Besides, she knew the way to Dreogan's office better than Raizel could have. 

When the lift halted on Level Five, Akiva stepped out and nodded to the faces she recognized - many now, particularly as she was spending more time helping with the MAO, as her role in the library seemed to be reduced to desk jockey.  She didn't look like her normally cheerful self though, she was quite displeased.  She just wanted to be in Dree's office so he could "take custody" of her, as it was so elegantly put by her escort, and be done with her for the day.  Dree would at least attempt to understand - and realize, especially after he had attempted to teach her some defense - how much of a fighter she was not. 

When he greeted them, he looked anxious, and she could not blame him - under similar circumstances, she'd feel the same way.  She entered the office and immediately, without thinking, hugged him at the sound of the door click.  It was much needed.  "I was in Diagon," she started, "and a strange man, someone I didn't recognize, approached me.  I thought he had the wrong person," Akiva explained, "and just continued - but he persisted along." Her voice sounded slightly higher pitched than usual.  "I didn't know who it was," she added again, "but he went to grab me, and I went to bolt, but Raizel came up..." she trailed off a little, "and got rid of him." 

"She apparated me to her hotel," she glanced at Raizel for a moment and then back to Dree, "and explained who it was," her eyes darted away anxiously, "Katsaros," she finally muttered, embarrassed.   Of course, coming off her own lips, it sounded almost too close to her own previous last name  - she almost shivered.  "I didn't know," she looked conflicted for a minuted, "I wanted to go home, but came here instead."  It was a lot, but she had spared the details.  She didn't want to feel like she was 'telling' on Raizel, even if she could have used it, and certainly didn't want to make herself look as stupid as she felt - she was sure that was coming anyway.

Raizel's glower had somewhat diminished since they hit the Ministry.  It wasn't that she was any less frustrated with Akiva Eleor -- though at least now the woman was being somewhat useful by getting her through the Atrium and leading the way to her husband's office -- but the overwhelming frustration of dealing with the woman had died down, and was now overshadowed by a twisting anxiety.  What had happened, what could have happened -- what she could have done.  Raizel wanted to wring her hands or shout in frustration, but instead she was stuck trailing behind the other woman, following her to her husband.

Dreogan Eleor had once been a favorite of her older sister.  Ever since he had left, choosing to abandon his family for his father, Raizel had been enormously suspicious of him.  Still, it was hard not to feel a wash of relief once they saw him.  Despite all of his other failings, at least Dreogan wasted no time, ushering them into his office.

Raizel breathed out hard through her nose as Dreogan closed the door and his wife quickly hugged him.  Impatiently, she looked away, nostrils flaring as she listened attentively to Akiva's recounting.  The woman had couched everything in milder terms than the Cursebreaker would have used, but at least she was accurate.  And for once, did not shy away from the facts, even if she still understated. 

The last sentence, though, was left a little too open.  Raizel lifted her chin, aiming a look at the other two as she crossed her arms.  She was not afraid of taking responsibility for not allowing the librarian to go home.

"I was not going to leave her alone," she informed Dreogan, her diction crisp.  Adon had said that he would pass on word to his older brother about her history with Gözde and his gang.  The older mage was smart enough to guess the why behind why she would not depart.

"She should be more careful," she added stiffly.  "I know him.  He could have taken her."  She sniffed, giving Dreogan an accusing look, though she bit her lower lip.  "It's not safe to go wandering.  Not like that.  Not if there is something worse waiting to be set in motion."

"Thank you," he said firmly to Raizel--who was forcibly (and likely, accurately) writing herself back into the narrative--"for being there. I owe you a debt of gratitude." He focused on her face intently for several moments.  He wasn't sure what it was she wanted from the situation, though he had several well-informed guesses.  Still, it was important, in the long-run to know whether her anger towards Terry--and the gang--was inspired by a loyalty towards his brother, or a hatred of her own brothers' murderers.  As ever, Dreogan's trust in an individual would carry only so far as that individual's proved dedication to his family.  As large as a service she might have rendered, it may have been a side-effect of a larger, and prevailing, motive.
 
Immediately, however, her service to their family was invaluable--and he would not slight that. He wasn't sure what would have happened if Raizel had not been there; surely... surely in Diagon, there would have been some other benevolent stranger to have stepped in? To not watch an abduction with disinterest?
 
Akiva had had enough already, with last year's abduction.  The thought--that someone could be so repeatedly and publically harrassed and victimized--set his teeth on edge.  Dreogan had nearly fought Cinaed Tawse for tailing a Muggle girl in a crowded street... He was even more aflame now than he had been then.  It was detestable, these thoughts, and they brought an seething glower to his face.  The fleeting expression drove home once more the resemblance between brothers. But Dreogan took a deep breath, and the set jaw, knit brows--all of it--abated into a smooth, schooled emotion.
 
This was no time to indulge in those emotions.  He breathed deeply again, running his hands up Akiva's arms, feeling the raised hairs still on them.  He leaned forward, looking her in the eye, speaking softly as he leaned in; twisting his emotions to what they needed to be, and ask the needed questions.  "You are alright--and the baby is alright?" Dreogan repeated, still concerned.  Akiva had walked in with enough ease; she didn't seem to be showing signs of pain; it was likely she didn't medical attention, but if they had been in too much haste--if she hadn't slowed down enough to think about it...
 
"Here," he said, quickly crossing the room to pull out his seat--a rich, padded leather--from behind the desk.  "Apparating's not good for the--" he frowned, hands resting on the back of the chair and gave a light sigh, regarding her with sad eyes. He couldn't chastise her--either of them--for that. Still, she was nearly into her third trimester, and no amount of level breathing could stop an Apparation-induced miscarriage.  The encounter had been dangerous in more ways than one. The enormity of the task--keeping his little family safe, against almost certain and improbable odds--crashed down on his shoulders for a moment and he looked away.
 
Realising he was remiss, he took a fleeting moment to gesture Raizel towards one of the guest seats before rubbing a hand over his face, sighing again, thinking.
 
He began to pace.
 
"She should be more careful," Raizel cut in stiffly.  "I know him.  He could have taken her."  She sniffed, giving Dreogan an accusing look, though she bit her lower lip.  "It's not safe to go wandering.  Not like that.  Not if there is something worse waiting to be set in motion."
 
"She will be," Dreogan said with a sharp edge in his voice.  It had settled to a steely resolve: "We all will be."  Though... he was not certain what precautions--short of giving everythinkg up, of going into hiding--had not already been taken.  "And," he cut in, eyes now focused with a penetrating, indignant gaze on Raizel, "having my wife taken from me is sufficient motivation enough to see this right."  He would not tolerate Raizel imposing priorities on them--implying that between Adon and Akiva, it was Adon that was to be protected... Adon might have been Raizel's priority in this--an answer, he thought wryly, to his previous concerns--but, at present, he was not Dreogan's.
 
He ran a hand over and over the bare skin on the back of his neck, pacing more readily.  "Adon will need to know immediately, since he's over at the Auror's office in Jerusalem.  They can see if this impacts Godze's gang's movements any.  That they're working together--"  In truth, Dreogan had little idea whether or not the Aurors were even able to trace Godze's gang with any sort of accuracy, or enough to sense any variations from normal manners.  But Adon was already looking into it. Thea was looking into it. Adnan was looking into it--all on behalf of Raizel's brother...
 
Dreogan stopped, suddenly to regard Raizel sharply again.  His voice was thin, concerned. And his face was pale--at not having considered this before. "Are you alright? Did you fight him?"

The dark look on Dreogan's face was foreign, so unlike him.  If she did not already feel goose pimples, she might have formed them just from the look in his eyes.  He did not get like that easily.  She hated seeing him angry.  He seemed to reign it in though, and when he touched her, it was with a gentle hand - not the type to exercise any sort of roughness against those that did not warrant it, he touched her arms and leaned in close.  Akiva let out a little breath of relief, like being reminded she was not going to wake up somewhere else, cold and dark on the ground, or maybe worse.

It was not that Akiva made herself a victim, but she sought to minimize conflict, and if she could have gotten out of the situation with as much ease as possible, she would have.  She did.  She had to remind herself that she did.  Even if Raizel was not kind, she was helpful, and she had ensured Akiva would not undergo the same torment she went through last year.  It seemed so strange, that it was a year ago. 

Dreogan had been there too - and that was when she remembered seeing that look in his eyes - that steely, angry expression.  She was so glad when it softened.  He looked at her with concerned eyes instead, and asked about her and the baby.  He hadn't touched her, thankfully, though he might have grabbed her, had Raizel not come along.  She shook her head, "Fine - we're fine," she clarified, letting herself be lead behind his desk to his padded, leather chair. 

Thankfully, she was not in a state yet that she had to crouch to awkwardly sit and dropped inelegantly into the seat with a huff, resting her hands on her stomach.  The thought that something could be wrong, that she could have hurt the baby hadn't crossed her mind through the entire episode. She knew these things, she had read about it, but it seemed so distant - there had been other concerns... when he looked at her like that, she felt such a pang of guilt, like she had neglected to consider one who could not consider him or herself, but she thought she had felt movement before; flutters in her lower abdomen, but she couldn't have been sure whether it was the baby or anxiety...

She bit her bottom lip and sighed, focusing so hard on trying to feel the baby move that only Dreogan's sharp voice lifted her dark eyes.  Her expression was a shocked one, "Dree..." she spoke quietly, trying to distract him from pacing and glowering - two things he could be dangerously good at in times like these, but it was fruitless.  He was already out with what he had to say and moved on to what would happen next.

The idea of Adon being involved unsettled her, something akin to pain her chest.  She knew what Dree had 'seen' and wasn't eager to involve him anymore than he already was.  She sighed again, rubbing the bump in her stomach, knowing that Dree was at least softened, and murmured quietly, almost inaudibly, a little prayer, hoping to feel something - anything.  She didn't hurt, which was positive, and wasn't cramping, another positive... but she just needed that extra reassurance, proof that it was alright.

Nothing she had done had been in search of gratitude, but the thank you still helped.  Raizel's nostrils flared, but the tension diminished in her stance; some of the stiffness left her shoulders, the line of her jaw not set quite as hard.  Even if his wife clearly didn't understand what had happened -- even if she still kept on insisting that the encounter wasn't anything now that it was over -- at least Dreogan seemed to comprehend what had been averted.  Raizel could relax.

The diplomat went on with his oration.  The flashes of steel that showed through his concerned husband facade reminded her more than anything of his resemblance to his brother.  Raizel stayed standing, shaking her head at the offer to sit, instead crossing her arms stiffly as the man began to pace.  Dreogan's plan of action sounded reasonable enough -- if she were Dreogan.  Yes, Adon would need to know.  Yes, she'd be willing to send word to him.  They could let Adon and the overbearing, myopic Aurors of the Near East see what they could make of this encounter, place it into their so-called greater pattern.

Raizel changed position uncomfortably, shifting her weight from one foot to the other as she twisted her fingers together.  This was the problem with Dreogan.  She remembered it from school, from what she'd noticed herself and what she'd gathered from her friend's complaints about his older brother.  Even as a Seer, he only saw so much.  And once he thought he had a glimpse of the greater pattern -- That they're working together -- everything else was made to fit, errant details cast out or hammered into the proper shape. 

Normally, she'd keep her mouth shut.  This shouldn't be her problem.  The Eleors and their arrogant allies in the Jerusalem office could bumble about, and she could slip in and drive a dagger between the ribs of the organization that had killed her brother.  But this was Adon.  Raizel tightened her right hand into a fist, running her thumb silently over her fingers.  He'd offered to help before he'd known what he was promising.  And even when he did know, he'd still offered to help. 

And he was scared.

Dreogan was still off and running in his thoughts.  He'd stopped short, turned suddenly to face her with concern.  "Are you alright? Did you fight him?"

The words weren't anything close to an accusation, but Raizel still stiffened.

"No," she said shortly.  The unsettled feeling that she'd been battling since she'd realized what she could have done was fighting its way back to the surface.  Raizel steeled herself and met Dreogan's gaze.  She wouldn't be ashamed.  "I apparated your wife out, and then we came here.  But I would have," she added with a fierce edge, lifting her chin to leave no doubt.  "I will, if I see him there again."

That was enough.  She could leave it there.  Dreogan would sigh with relief, and probably say something kind about how she didn't need to do that, and the conversation would move on.  The decision didn't need to be made.  Like the one that she hadn't really finished making from a few moments before -- except she had, Raizel realized.  She let her breath hiss out, pressing her tongue against the back of her teeth as she listened to her the thudding beats of her heart.  She had decided when she hadn't walked out of the restaurant.  When she'd refused Adon's suggestion that she leave.  When she'd stepped in to help Akiva Eleor that afternoon.  The stakes couldn't be higher; either she was in or she wasn't.  She couldn't do this halfway.

"But," she cut in sharply, enunciating each English word to make it clear and crisp, "I don't think that he will be.  And I don't think that what happened will influence Gözde's gang."  She gave the mage and his wife a hard look.  "That was why Katsaros ran.  I don't think he's part of Topuluk."

Dreogan seemed little at ease after Akiva's reassurance.  He cast a long, sidelong look at her, halting his pacing for several moments before moving behind his desk and pulling out a roll of parchment.  Using a letter opener as a guide to smoothly rip loose a leaf.


Meanwhile, he listened to Raizel's assurances and gave a short, curt nod in acknowledgement.  Do what she would--if that was her course of action, and if done properly, he wouldn't talk her out of it, but she wouldn't do it before it was time (or was that the time to do it?).  And she wouldn't try anything alone.


Hand hovering over the pen cup on his desk, Dreogan's hand hovered a moment before favoring a mechanical pencil.  He began to scratch out something as she spoke.  The pencil suddenly halted.

"That's a remarkable thing to say," Dreogan stated, with a schooled evenness to his tone.  Everything he had deduced from this moment--that the attack would come from Gözde's gang, that it would be, overall, attributable to the Group... had come from the assumption that Terry would be working for them.  There was little--if any--other reason to believe that this was not Tiresias Katsaros acting on his own.  All attention was Raizel Cohen's.  Dreogan's gaze was direct and unwavering.


"And what makes you think that?"

At least Dreogan Eleor had the good sense not to challenge her for what she hadn't done.  Raizel let out a breath and stood her ground.  As good and kind as he might seem on the surface -- like Ezster, in so many ways -- there was a steely, selfish strength to her old friend's older brother.  When their father had died, Dreogan had not waited to see what the Aurors might find; he had left and taken matters into his own hands, as much as she still might disapprove of his decision.  He could not fault her for what she was determined she would do.

But her statement got something of the reaction that she had been expecting.  Dreogan's expression went hard, and he looked up from the letter that he'd been writing -- presumably to his brother -- and stared her down.  Raizel met his gaze unflinchingly.  This was sailing into dangerous waters.  She knew that.  Very little was anything other than black or white with the Eleor family.  Dreogan in particular had a way of seeking only the very best in people, and she'd seen firsthand how Adon could hold grudges when he thought someone had caused offense.  Neither forgave easily.  But Dreogan had been a member of the Group once, too.  He'd crossed the same lines from white into gray; even if he faulted her, she knew that he shouldn't.

"Katsaros left Topuluk years ago," she said shortly, with her jaw set and a steely glint to her eye.  "I don't think that he would come back.  He didn't like them very much."

It was simple, short, understated; a way to sum up horrific weeks and months that she didn't care to think about.  But everything that had happened in the past year had brought it up.  Her brother's death.  Now, potentially Adon's death as well. 

"And you can ask her, too," she said, jerking her head at Akiva.  "I told him that Gözde said not to touch her, and he backed down and he apparated."  She watched Dreogan, her mouth firmly set in a frown but with a worried look to her eyes.  "He would have known better if he were in touch with them.  Or he would have known that I'm not part of them, too."

Dreogan set the pencil down and sat back into his seat, considering. "Or he found out something that he needed to know, and went back to report..."
 
Raizel had what seemed to be concrete evidence that might indicate otherwise.  "Either way, it is not good for you, either.  We must take care with that..." he noted, somewhat absently before doubling back.
 
"If Katsaros is not with the Group, then," he said directly, "there is very little in the Dream that indicates that any of the events that precede it are prompted by the Group." He stood up to walk to the corner of his office, by the bookshelf. His hand seemed to hover in the air, searching for a volume before letting it drop.  He began to pace again, slowly.  "Katsaros may very well be acting as an independent agent; this attention we've been putting on the Group, in this case, may not be fully founded."
 
He looked over to his wife, still anxious, looking already tired.  He gave a light sigh.  "We will need to discuss this more in depth--tonight.  I'm going to need to find an hitwizard or two to go over some of the enchantments and wards on our home--before Akiva can go home..." he cast an inquisitive look over to her. "And rest?"  He paused, looking at Raizel appraisingly.  "Unless you are up to par on your defensive charms?"

Akiva sat quietly while Raizel and Dreogan spoke.  She knew what they were talking about now – Dreogan had explained it all to her.  It made her anxious, to think that it was coming this close to home.  She knew, at some point, it seemed like it would – it wasn’t the type of instance that kept itself isolated…

In retrospect, she should have done something – but she did not know what.  Even as she sat silently, thinking and rethinking what had happened, the only scenarios she could have seen having done something different in were scenarios that she could do things she most assuredly could not have.  Without that knowledge… she couldn’t have done anything differently. 

Shaking her head, it felt like the conversation that was happening five feet from her may as well have been five miles from her.  She pressed her hands across her stomach, trying to feel for that familiar kick – anything.  She let out a deep breath, closing her eyes and muttered a prayer to herself, trying to slow her heart and focus.  She splayed her fingers over the fabric covering her stomach and continued to mutter, everything eerily still under her sensitive hands. 

Her eyes were shut so tightly moisture was gleaning at the closed corners, but she breathed out, barely audibly, “Thank God.”  The pressure under her hand was distinct and she could have cried with momentary relief. 

Suddenly though, she felt very tired.  “I’m fine, Dree,” she shook her head, not wanting to go anywhere just yet.  “I can wait here – that will be much easier, I’m sure.” She didn’t want to keep Raizel, nor did she want to go home without him.  “If Raizel would like to check, she’s more than welcome though,” she didn’t want to sound ungrateful – or unwilling to consider safety – which she most assuredly was considering… she would just rather go home with her husband.   

Raizel pressed her mouth shut as Dreogan talked and paced, her eyes following as he wove to and fro across the room.  It is not good for you either -- the Cursebreaker snorted and tried not to look annoyed by the suggestion.  It wouldn't be good for them if they tried to move against her.  But there was something of his brother showing in the diplomat now -- as much as the two looked alike, they didn't often act it, with Adon fierce and Dreogan much more meditative.  One of the few traits they shared was too much protectiveness of others.

Dreogan pressed on, still analyzing out loud, though he didn't seem to be paying much attention to either of the women in the room.  Raizel caught her breath, looking troubled, and then let the moment pass.  This wasn't the time to raise conjecture now that the threat was being addressed; they could theorize later.  Now was the time for action.

At least the diplomat had moved in that direction.  He was running through the list of options for his wife -- and finally concluded by looking to Raizel.  "Unless you are up to par on your defensive charms?"

The Cursebreaker snorted.  Was she up to par?  Was that even a question?  Tossing her hair back, she gave the other mage a bold look. 

"Sof HaDerech," she said brashly, flashing her teeth in a confident smirk.  "I am up to par on all of my charms, Dreogan Eleor.  If you tell me where you live, I'll stop by and check the spells."

At least this had solved the problem of what to do with Akiva Eleor.  Raizel was not at all surprised that the meek woman wanted to stay with her husband, but it was probably for the best.  This way, she could check the charms and check for any ambush, and Dreogan could check them again when he got home from work.  With danger lurking, there was no such thing as too thorough.

But there was one more matter left to address.  Raizel bit her lip, her expression suddenly much more guarded, and then cautiously met the diplomat's gaze.

"You'll tell your brother?" she asked, her eyes searching his.  "Make sure he knows he doesn't need to rush back.  And tell him I can stay close by tonight to keep watch, if he wants me to."

Dree gave a light smile to the Cursebreaker's sanctimonous utterance.  Yes, he remembered that side to her quite well.  "Of course," he said, inclining his head deferentially.  "I'd prefer it was you.  Your curse breaking background--your history with them... and," he added, "they would use Eastern spells.  I'd love a Gaddol graduate to test them with me."  The last word was said lightly, a mild amendment to a misconception that had taken place in the past 30 seconds: that she'd be patching the wards around his house--and be doing it alone. 


He cast a sidelong glance to Akiva, giving her a private smile, not having missed, through his discussion with Raizel, her relief--their relief--from that scare.  "I think I can break away from work for the day," he said, looking over his desk and picking up a few loose leaves of parchment with notes on them and, after tapping them into a neat pile, slipping them into his briefcase. 


He then reached for his quill, scratching out a few lines.  "I'll write to Adon," he said as he scrawled, "now, in fact.  But I'd like to have him drop in through floo--just a partial visit," he said, referring to the often-used practice of sticking one's head into the fireplace.  "I don't really care for putting this sort of detail in writing."  Even the Ministerial mail, which was much more rapid than owl or eagle, and delivered by courier, when sent long-distance, had its weaknesses in security.  "I think he's going to be of the most use over in Israel--so I'll make that clear." He  dashed off the last of his note with a quick stroke and looked up from Rai as he blew on the drying ink.  Attempting to smile with pursed lips.  "I am not sure what he will say to your offer, but I would certainly appreciate it, Raizel--if it's no trouble."


Though it was bound to be as certain an imposition to her as her charms were strong.  Dreogan wasn't sure that Raizel's presence would defend against anything--and may in fact do some harm, if the Group were to find out of their association, but it would keep her away from hunting down Katsaros on her own, if only for that evening.  "We've got a guest room all set up," he added mildly. 


Crisply folding the parchment, Dreogan tapped it against the desk; it was amazing how the crisp rapping could carry through a sound-proofed room.  Crossing around his desk, he held a hand out to Akiva for her to take before wrapping his arms around her waist. "Do you think you are up to Flooing?" he asked her softly, in her ear.

Akiva couldn't help but be relieved that he was going to take the rest of the day off.  She didn't want it to interfere, of course, but she couldn't help but be glad for it.  She didn't even frown when he clarified that Raizel would be coming with them and checking the wards with him - probably the best idea, to be perfectly honest, and she would defer to his wisdom on the subject.

As much as Akiva attempted to understand the magic he used on the house, it was fundamentally different from what she had been taught growing up, making it that much harder.  She did not have much confidence in her magical abilities, so she was not the one to do any of what Dreogan suggested.   

It was a little more strange that he might suggest that she stay the evening, but she was sure, underneath that curly hair of his, the wheels were turning.  He was thinking of something, though she could not reason out what it was by herself, she was sure he would explain it later - he had more important things to do, like talk to Adon at this point. 

Taking his hand, Akiva used the leverage and her other hand on the desk to pull herself up.  A small smile set on her lips, just enough to show she was alright, and she nodded.   "I'll be fine," she reassured him quietly, glancing over at Raizel. 

They'd be home soon and Dree would be dealing with the charms with Raizel, and Akiva would probably fall asleep on the couch - it was all predictable, and she gingerly took his hand.  What messes they got themselves into, she thought with a sigh, just hoping all of this would not be for nothing. 

I think we're going to close this thread up, Melissa, if you are cool with it?  I know Kiv is just going to go along and Sparky sent me a note via AIM about ending, so yay!