Someone once told me that it's not what we do in life that defines us, but how we live that life. It's all about finding that sense of fulfillment and personal happiness. At the time I could only laugh given how altruistic it sounded. Let's face it, in this world there aren't any Saints, at least not ones who are true to the nature of it. It's all about playing an angle. What can I get for being oh so nice to someone I barely know" What are you willing to give me in return for this kindness" Had I known then what I do now, I would have laughed harder.

My cynicism barely scratches the surface of how things actually work in the real world. Everyone is content to think they have a good bead on the things, but in truth it is far darker than any ever realize. We build a bubble of ignorance around ourselves to blind our fragile sense of reality and perception. To protect our eyes from the preacher who smiles before the congregation as an altar boy chokes for air behind the pulpit. We flood our audio senses with a loud cacophony to drown out the mother of two next door, being beaten by her estranged husband. Then complain to the landlord the morning after saying the walls need more insulation because the heater is broken.

We cloud our nostrils with odoriferous perfumes and bodysprays to block out the subtle tendrils of decomposition drifting on the currents from the homeless man we casually tell ourselves is just sleeping. This is just the beginning of the week. And this is where I was woken up to the fact that there is so much more going on that what I see in progression from points A to B.

What I know, and have come to understand, is just a mildew laced confection. Beneath it all sat a decadent slice of putrescence waiting to force its way down the throat of the innocent. Like I said already, I was awoken.

Living in Rhydin, being sweet an innocent means choosing to overlook all the bad that exists here. To see beyond the superficial and into the heart of everything. Yes, this city is not for the feint of heart, nor the weak minded and willed. This city is for one kind of person, and one alone. Survivors.

How do I know" I'm one of the city's medical examiners. The people I meet at work, are those that can't survive here. Every night there's a new soul brought through the door of my office to be weighed and measured. Occasionally they don't stay dead. Sometimes they just...come back. Must be something in the water. Lots of people die in this town. And, a lot of them don't stay that way. Really must be something in the water.

Someone should write a letter to the Governor. I need to get back to work. Tonight's project is the last victim of a meth lab explosion. I have 115 pieces of a human puzzle to arrange and record. Just hope we haven't run out of coffee, gonna be a long night. Wonder what Gem is up to"

Stop record.

"LUCY! Get back in here, lass!"

Chill to the touch, Regina lays there in silence. The blond in her hair a shade lighter where it mats to her head and the sheets around her in long woven curls.

"There is shock...we have to watch for that." She was trying to remember what first aid she had learned over the decades. "Uh...face pale, raise tail...face red, raise head! I think."

And Jack left the coat on her. It was wool and water resistant despite the ribbons. "Aye, do that, lass." And then he leaned down to kiss Gina's pale and chilled lips and shared some of that Faerie heals. A breath breathed into Gina.

There's a thick and heavy beat of her heart. The sound almost like a sledge crashing onto stone. Any touching her may be in for a right as she gasps into life, right up into Jack's lips, her blond hair curling around his hand like Medusa's serpents. An odd aura converging on her from head to toe.

"Wool blankets. Ben." Repeating, she hurries out of the room, like a particularly well-dressed Florence Nightingale. She hurries down the hall, checking doors for something that might hold linens::

His eyes flew open and he tried to pull away.

"..........vith!" Gem had her hands on the woman's feet and she paused to stare at her near Jack's head. The elf's eyes wided and she gave a little murmur and a sway of her body.

Bingo. She's got one of the two things requested, piling her arms with blankets—are they wool" Who knows. They seem extremely uncomfortable to her, but whatever. She hurries them back down the hall to the room:: I have—she stops talking and stares from the doorway

And back Ben came, carrying a large kettle of hot water. He caught up with Lucy and stopped where she did, head tilting, green eyes incadescent.

Dark" He had no clue what went on in the room. He was simply intent on shreadding anyone not helping Gina that got close to that door.::

Jack Scot tried to pull away, but....he just couldn't.

The elfess, though, had a strong streak of the practical in her. She shook her head, bit her lip hard enough to leave an imprint of teeth there and shook off ...whatever she had felt. "Ahem. Right. Blankets." She looked around for Lucy.

And then she looked back to Jack.

Falling deeper into the kiss. He couldn't help himself. It was so delicious.The Crow quit resisting.

'OOooohhh, no you don't, my girl," She reached into her pouch and pulled out a long hat pin. And this was jabbed with interesting force into Gina's foot.: JAB!

Lucy was there, in the doorway. Blocking Ben's way. But afraid to move. Arms full of blankets

Ben ...just....stared.

Jack didn't notice what Gem was doing. Hmmm....Gina kisses. So sweet. And already out of his coat too

"I didn't have my first lover in this blighted, bedamned, thrice cursed town be a bloody incubus to not know what this is!" And she would jab again if she could.

"..." Ben's gaze ticked aside to Lucy, mouth open.

The elf growled. "Ben, get me some COLD water."

Seconds tick by before Gina falls back on the bed, still but her color returning. Though her foot jerked back from the stick pin, little red dots forming where Gem stuck her. That odd aura flowing reverse whence it came.

"Oh. There is a ewer there." She marched over, hackles on full rise, and snatched up the pitcher and looked inside. Yes. Cold water. She smiled with singular sweetness as she tossed that cold water on Jack and Gina.

: "...Jack....Great Grandfather...." He did Gem one better, he swung under Lucy's arm, stepped in....catching a handful of energy - small, and hurty - not much more than one of Jack's own sparks. *ZAP* Right in the backside. "Jack, what the hell, man' She was just shot!" he sputtered, astonished.

That knocked Jack back, oh yes it did cold water and lightning...with a shout and he's on his butts. And no longer touching Gina. Just sitting there stunned. "Wh...what?" He just sat there. He looked around stupidly. Some might say that was his normal look.

"Jack...?" Ben frowned, head tilting.

"I'll just—I'll just leave these here." She steps in quickly and sets the blankets on the top of the dresser, then starts backing out again, hoping Gem doesn't shout at her once more, but prepared for it.

Don't mind her as she yells her self, sitting bolt up right...then then swoons holding her abdoman and her head. "Ugh....." her form falling back onto the bedspread.

Ben's about to retreat with Lucy. His gaze ticked to Gina, and then to Gem. He shook his head, lips froming the word 'what..."'

She considered using the pitcher on the blonde's head, but managed to refrain. "She has seductress in her." This in a flat little voice.

But when Gina bounced up and then down, Jack scrabbled back and up onto his feet really fast. "What the **** was that?"



The elf looked about at all of them. "What' You haven't ever encountered one before?"

Lucy stares a moment from the doorway. Have I mentioned how pale she is now" She starts backing up more "Gonna go fill out the register—" murmured low under her breath, like anybody cares.

"What' No." He had no clue.

"Lucy and I will be downstairs. Come on, Jack," he decided abruptly, reaching for Jack's arms.

"My coat...," but he dare not go close.

Gem shook her head and moved to Gina. "Coat, please." Hands held out.

Maybe he could. Benjamin was pulling but he might be resisting just a little. His coat. See.

"Ben" While you are downstairs you should look up Succubi." Gem offered tersely.

Not a Clue. Ben pushed Jack behind him, and towards Lucy. "I'll get it."

Yeah, Ben. Definitely. For reals. Lucy turns, when it's safe, and moves for the stairs, starting to head back down. She needs a drink. A big one. How is she not drinking already"

"No, Ben, not you." Gem stepped in front of him. 'I have this."

"No." Jack's really resisting. "My coat."

"Succubi..." We have on the show. She's........Oh." Yes, he's bulldozing Jack out.

Dark had heard Gina, she was alive. Dark slowly stood and made his way over to peek into the room "rrrrowrl?"

"No!" This wasn't about a succubus in the bed.

The is the flight part of fight or flight. Lucy doesn't really care if Ben and Jack are behind her. She's out of there, heels clicking on the stairs

Dark stumbled backwards when Ben pushed Jack towards the doorway. And fell on his rump. The room was bleeding people!

"We're not leaving without your coat, Jack! Just get to the door!" he responded, clear and sharp.



Gem reached down to "help" Gina take the coat off. "Come along, now, love. He has to have his coat. " Firm tones, gentle hands...with purpose.

Pale, a bit shaky, she makes for the bar, pressing her lips together. Cause that was weird as hell

"I keep forgetting it's real," He exhaled, a hand over his face, "And I'm at a disadvantage not having a faith with a lot of demons."



Jack's beginning to panic because it's starting to hurt. And he can't seem to step into the 'scape.

As Jack's panic grew, Gem's efforts to get the girl to give up the coat intensified. She considered, and looking over at the Crow, she decided. A ring was pressed a certain way. "Love, give over the coat now before I have to get a bit mean." the ring goes back on normal mode as the poor dear reluctantly gives up the coat. The coat was taken with a smile and a nod. "Thank you, lass." Then it was offered out to Jack once she crossed the room.

"Let's go," Ben whispered, helping Jack swing the coat over his shoulders, intent on getting the hell out of there.

Jack clutched the heavy thing tight to his chest and ....and....stepped into dreamscape.

Dark peeked into the room again to see what went on in there. He had the rights, he guarded dangit!

Gem breathed a sigh of relief and then looked Ben's way. She wanted him out, too.

...Thud. Into the wall. He swore, aggravated as hell, "Dark, she's all right. Come downstairs," he whispered, because if he gave his voice tone, he'd be snapping. And Dark didn't deserve that.

Dark looked over his shoulder at back to Gem for a few moments, his shoulders slouched as he turned to make his way back down the stairs. Stupid stairs.

She smiled at Dark as he left. Then. She turned back to Gina watching her try to curl up into a ball and hide. Slender arms curling around her midsection.

Gem neared the bed and finally stopped just at the side of it. Amethysts that maybe glittered a bit gazed down into those of the coroner. A faint smile was on her lips. "I know what you are from that jolt I got. But I don't think you must be wholly succubus, because that was actually a pretty weak little jolt. I threw it off without too much effort." Never mind what it had done to poor Jack. He didn't have Gem's...training. "I don't care what a body may be, or what a body may have done in the past. I don't judge, me." Her little slip in syntax should be ignored because this is not her native language. "But if you dare to plant an anchor or a barb into anyone I know and care about, well, me girl. You and I are going to come to some pretty rough times." Her voice was soft and kind until that last bit.

She slowly turns to look at Gem and just says..."What are you talking about?" Her voice a hoarse whisper. Confusion and pain, plain as day in her eyes.

The elf frowned a little at the look in those big, pretty eyes. She considered what she knew of the woman, which admittedly was not a whole lot, despite the whole Teslim thing some three years back. "You don't seem to know what you are, lass. And I could maybe be wrong. But it seems to me you may have a wee bit of succubus in your past. Perhaps a mother, a grand, or a great grand" I don't know. But I do know you better be careful with it. You especially, because if you really haven't a clue you could be planting your desires in other folks without realizing it. That's what a barb is, that which an incubus or succubus plants in their intended victims. It calls to them, makes them take in dreams you send...and other things. It isn't fair and it isn't right to manipulate folk like that, not with them being unaware, mind you."

"Succu.." she frowns and falls back on the bed, hands covering her eyes. Why was it so bright' Was it bright' She couldn't tell.

She bent close. "An' ah smelled ye on Jack, so ah know ye been wi' him. Don' bae thinkin' on plantin' anythin' there, lass. Nae." The sudden accent the lilt of the Drow, there and then gone for the last words. "No future in it."

She pauses and lifts her hands to look at Gem. "What are you talking about' Who's planning futures?" She's in far too much pain to be thinking like this, only half of Gem's words are getting through her mental fog.

"Mmm." Could be she was being a bit precipitate. She gave a sigh. It could wait for another time, then. The elf gave a kind smile to the lass. "Tis alright, you and I will talk when you feel better. For now you have been shot. The bullets show some kind of soul binding on them. I dunno who you annoyed but you did a grand job of it. You might invest in some kevlar." She stood upright and nodded. "Rest you, and when you feel better you can set about figuring things out. "

Excuse her as she curls up into a ball, pulling the pillow over her head to block out that blasted blinding light from the small bedside lamp. Too much is going on in her mind to make sense out of any of this. "Tell...everyone..thank you.." Regina whispers to the departing Gem.

The elf nodded silently, turned out the lamp, put a wool blanket on the girl,. The whisper had been heard and a nod given before the shutting of the door. Spying the shell-shocked Lucy and Ben, she made her way over to them. Down the stairs she went, a look of concentration on her face. Damp leathers, dirty knees and mud on the boots

You might ask...what happened to cause my life to be turned upside down like this....

I'd like to say I know. But I can only guess...I think it started with a meeting I had with Brian Ravenlock.

Tennishoes carry her lightly across the cobblestones where Regina comes around the corner in sight of the Inn. She's lifting am arm to wave seeing Gem and Jack with Ben, Lucy, Taneth, and Dark as she crosses the street when a vehicle comes racing up, the window pulled down. There's a flash of light and a male voice saying "Should have kept your mouth shut, Doc..." Then Regina is staggering to the side, eyes wide open in shock. Blood flows from a wound in her stomach. The vehicle roars off madly.

It's so slomo. The star gaze swinging to the sound of squealing tired and angry yelling.

: "............shite!" Gem dropped ribbons and yanked eyes over to the noise and the car and the tires squealing and all that. The thief leapt off the railing with a neat twist and ran for the woman downed.

: "Gina," Ben sputtered.

He could smell the blood. Her blood. Coroner's blood. Jack was faster. A flicker and the Fae was there before Gina hit the ground. Like catching a flower as it wilts, kneeling to catch her.

Benjamin didn't move, he hung onto Taneth, glancing back at Dark, baffled, and whut..." He turned to watch Jack and Gem.

Gem arrived after Jack, her breath fast and hectic, hands reaching down into her Belt of Many Pouches. "I have potions. None of them the bloody right kind...not for this.." Rummage!

"Benjamin. A moment please." Jack called out from the street.

"Should I call someone" Lucy opens her handbag, fumbling for her phone watching from the porch

"I'm coming," he responded, setting Taneth down beside Lucy and trotting to Jack. "Do you want me to try and heal her...?"

"Aye, lad. You can do it easier than I." And then he was looking down at pretty, bloody Gina as she mutters incoherently. Out of all she's seen and done, this isn't something within her realm of experience. Being on the recieving end. The shock of it ruling her mind as she looks at the blood on her own hands, clutched as she is in the arms of the Crow

Gem gave up on her pouches. "I only have healing for light damage, Jack! " Her hands came over and she probed for whatever was making her bleed. She heard Jack and then Ben and she looked hopeful, just putting her hands hard on the bleeding hole.

Dark looked at Gina "rrrrowlr?"his ear was forgotten as Dark stood, VERY alert and snarling. His neon green irises flared brightly as he panned the distance to find some one who might have caused gina's current state.

"Easy, darling," Jack cooed to Gina. He nodded at Gem. She was doing the right thing.

Dark climbed up and parched on a top railing near by, more growling.



"Alright." Ben knelt, green eyes intent. He drew in his breath, focussing, praying, most likely, before he gripped his right hand. Thunder grumbled in the foothills, flashing lightning cloud to cloud. Energy gathered over his arm, his hand, delicate tracery of pale green lightening woke over his skin, flowing to his loosely closed fist where it glowed brilliance. Clouds started to pack in. Rain.

She heard Gina muttering, and her heart clenched. "You won't, sweet. You won't. We won't let you." She looked up at the two men. "They won't let you die, lass, hold on." Gem looked down at the woman suddenly. "Don't you give up, you hear me?" Her voice was fierce. Almost sibilant.

"Here we go. Let's ride the lighting," Jack rumbled at Gina. He knew her fear and shielded Gina's face from the rain with his coat.

"Okay. Hand on," Ben whispered, his eyes illuminated, vivid green. His hand opened, he thrust the ball lightning through Gina, intent to healing her wounds. Lightning strike fast and harsh. Thunder cracked loudly with the pass of energy. Her back spasms violently, thrusting her chest upward and out. If not for Jack and Gem she'd have pretzeled up then and there. As it is, she convulses with the gigawats and killijules of the strike. She thrashes harder and faster before muscles can no longer twitch, smoke rising from her hair and mouth.

Dark ganced back at the scene before he looked back at the darkness. The sudden lightning flash made him twitch. Lucy stares wide-eyed from the protection of the porch, watching the lightning, watching Ben intently. Dark let out a whining growl but he stayed his guard on the porch. Anyone that intended to inturrupt the healing would find themseles shredded. Nearby Lucy drops the cigarette from her fingers without realizing it and brings her hands to cover her mouth::

"Tell me I didn't kill her," Ben whispered, wide eyed, clasping his hand in hand. He's healed a few people, even could modulate the amount of energy he used, but this was a gut shot.

Gem had been holding on for dear life. It was rather like a bucking bronco, she figured, but with teeth. All over her. She gave a little squeak as it hit and then grit her teeth. At the end of it,. she felt something push into her hands. Metal. What' Fingers curled around them and she lifted bloody hands bespattered by rain to see what lay within them. "....Oh. Look..! " In the hands of the elf lay several metal fragments shaped like ..well, like what bullets were shaped like when they were large calibur and had been shot into a body. She tipped her hands a little so that the light glissaded over them. There were markings there. " There is..something on them."

Lucy looks over at Teneth, then Dark, before looking back towards the road

"Is she breathing?" Ben asked, anxious, simply allowing the rain to pelt the thin fabrics he wore to his body. "...Something....written on the bullet?" dubiously.

The elf frowned. "I...I think those are magic runes. Or something. " She squinted and tried her Read Languages ability. In case it was a language. : "Two of them." Two bullets.

"She lives." Jack was taking off his coat to cover her with it. "Her heart beat is weak." Getting soaked, he draped his coat over Gina and gathered her up to carry her to the Inn.

Seconds tick by before Gina falls back on the bed, still but her color returning. Though her foot jerked back from the stick pin, little red dots forming where Gem stuck her. That odd aura flowing reverse whence it came.

"Oh. There is a ewer there." She marched over, hackles on full rise, and snatched up the pitcher and looked inside. Yes. Cold water. She smiled with singular sweetness as she tossed that cold water on Jack and Gina.

: "...Jack....Great Grandfather...." He did Gem one better, he swung under Lucy's arm, stepped in....catching a handful of energy - small, and hurty - not much more than one of Jack's own sparks. *ZAP* Right in the backside. "Jack, what the hell, man' She was just shot!" he sputtered, astonished.

That knocked Jack back, oh yes it did cold water and lightning...with a shout and he's on his butts. And no longer touching Gina. Just sitting there stunned. "Wh...what?" He just sat there. He looked around stupidly. Some might say that was his normal look.

"Jack...?" Ben frowned, head tilting.

"I'll just—I'll just leave these here." She steps in quickly and sets the blankets on the top of the dresser, then starts backing out again, hoping Gem doesn't shout at her once more, but prepared for it.

Don't mind her as she yells her self, sitting bolt up right...then then swoons holding her abdoman and her head. "Ugh....." her form falling back onto the bedspread.

Ben's about to retreat with Lucy. His gaze ticked to Gina, and then to Gem. He shook his head, lips froming the word 'what..."'

She considered using the pitcher on the blonde's head, but managed to refrain. "She has seductress in her." This in a flat little voice.

But when Gina bounced up and then down, Jack scrabbled back and up onto his feet really fast. "What the **** was that?"



The elf looked about at all of them. "What' You haven't ever encountered one before?"

Lucy stares a moment from the doorway. Have I mentioned how pale she is now" She starts backing up more "Gonna go fill out the register—" murmured low under her breath, like anybody cares.

"What' No." He had no clue.

"Lucy and I will be downstairs. Come on, Jack," he decided abruptly, reaching for Jack's arms.

"My coat...," but he dare not go close.

Gem shook her head and moved to Gina. "Coat, please." Hands held out.

Maybe he could. Benjamin was pulling but he might be resisting just a little. His coat. See.

"Ben" While you are downstairs you should look up Succubi." Gem offered tersely.

Not a Clue. Ben pushed Jack behind him, and towards Lucy. "I'll get it."

Yeah, Ben. Definitely. For reals. Lucy turns, when it's safe, and moves for the stairs, starting to head back down. She needs a drink. A big one. How is she not drinking already"

"No, Ben, not you." Gem stepped in front of him. 'I have this."

"No." Jack's really resisting. "My coat."

"Succubi..." We have on the show. She's........Oh." Yes, he's bulldozing Jack out.

Dark had heard Gina, she was alive. Dark slowly stood and made his way over to peek into the room "rrrrowrl?"

"No!" This wasn't about a succubus in the bed.

The is the flight part of fight or flight. Lucy doesn't really care if Ben and Jack are behind her. She's out of there, heels clicking on the stairs

Dark stumbled backwards when Ben pushed Jack towards the doorway. And fell on his rump. The room was bleeding people!

"We're not leaving without your coat, Jack! Just get to the door!" he responded, clear and sharp.



Gem reached down to "help" Gina take the coat off. "Come along, now, love. He has to have his coat. " Firm tones, gentle hands...with purpose.

Pale, a bit shaky, she makes for the bar, pressing her lips together. Cause that was weird as hell

"I keep forgetting it's real," He exhaled, a hand over his face, "And I'm at a disadvantage not having a faith with a lot of demons."



Jack's beginning to panic because it's starting to hurt. And he can't seem to step into the 'scape.

As Jack's panic grew, Gem's efforts to get the girl to give up the coat intensified. She considered, and looking over at the Crow, she decided. A ring was pressed a certain way. "Love, give over the coat now before I have to get a bit mean." the ring goes back on normal mode as the poor dear reluctantly gives up the coat. The coat was taken with a smile and a nod. "Thank you, lass." Then it was offered out to Jack once she crossed the room.

"Let's go," Ben whispered, helping Jack swing the coat over his shoulders, intent on getting the hell out of there.

Jack clutched the heavy thing tight to his chest and ....and....stepped into dreamscape.

Dark peeked into the room again to see what went on in there. He had the rights, he guarded dangit!

Gem breathed a sigh of relief and then looked Ben's way. She wanted him out, too.

...Thud. Into the wall. He swore, aggravated as hell, "Dark, she's all right. Come downstairs," he whispered, because if he gave his voice tone, he'd be snapping. And Dark didn't deserve that.

Dark looked over his shoulder at back to Gem for a few moments, his shoulders slouched as he turned to make his way back down the stairs. Stupid stairs.

She smiled at Dark as he left. Then. She turned back to Gina watching her try to curl up into a ball and hide. Slender arms curling around her midsection.

Gem neared the bed and finally stopped just at the side of it. Amethysts that maybe glittered a bit gazed down into those of the coroner. A faint smile was on her lips. "I know what you are from that jolt I got. But I don't think you must be wholly succubus, because that was actually a pretty weak little jolt. I threw it off without too much effort." Never mind what it had done to poor Jack. He didn't have Gem's...training. "I don't care what a body may be, or what a body may have done in the past. I don't judge, me." Her little slip in syntax should be ignored because this is not her native language. "But if you dare to plant an anchor or a barb into anyone I know and care about, well, me girl. You and I are going to come to some pretty rough times." Her voice was soft and kind until that last bit.

She slowly turns to look at Gem and just says..."What are you talking about?" Her voice a hoarse whisper. Confusion and pain, plain as day in her eyes.

The elf frowned a little at the look in those big, pretty eyes. She considered what she knew of the woman, which admittedly was not a whole lot, despite the whole Teslim thing some three years back. "You don't seem to know what you are, lass. And I could maybe be wrong. But it seems to me you may have a wee bit of succubus in your past. Perhaps a mother, a grand, or a great grand? I don't know. But I do know you better be careful with it. You especially, because if you really haven't a clue you could be planting your desires in other folks without realizing it. That's what a barb is, that which an incubus or succubus plants in their intended victims. It calls to them, makes them take in dreams you send...and other things. It isn't fair and it isn't right to manipulate folk like that, not with them being unaware, mind you."

Tentative steps bring her beleaguered frame out of the upstairs room. Her hair is less than it's usual perfection as she brushes it out of her face and slowly descends. A Hello Kitty tee hugs her torso, having taken it from a dresser drawer. Her mind still reels with the previous nights events. She's not even sure how much of it was real, other than getting shot, she's pretty sure that happened. And then...Jack..

Who was straddling Gem from behind while draped over the petite elf. Like she was wearing the ribbons. He looked asleep. Her usual shine is gone as Regina looks around the room with haunted eyes, trudging her way to the bar. She felt Gem watching her.

"It's okay," Ben reassured Gem, and though he flinched slightly on noticing Regina, he still smiled. "Glad you're up, hullo, Gina."

She's watching all of them really. The greeting from Ben is returned with a nod as she takes the hint and sits away from them. Ben's flinch had been enough of a message. A single inhale and ex before she puts her face in the palm of her hands and lets the darkness there shut out the room for the time being. What had even happened"

Jack as well whispering in the gray elf's ear, asks, "Who wants to kill you, lass?"

If not for the rise and fall of her chest indicating she still drew breath, she might appear to be made of stone. There's a hitch hearing Jack, and then a steadying breath before she responds, still not looking at them. "I don't know..." a frantic edge in her voice. That very thought plaguing her. It's gradual as she lifts her head to look at the three. "I don't even know what happened last night...it's all fragments..." Her voice little more than a whisper by the end, going back to resting her face in her hands. She just wanted to crawl under something and hide.

"Those were very specific bullets. They *knew* you." Like the rest of them didn't, but honestly, who didn't harbor secrets. Except maybe Benjamin now that his tap dancing videos had been released onto the net. "You were gutshot, darling. And when we tried to heal you, you hit us with some powerful mojo."

Gem was studying the coroner; what she saw made her feel very much for the other woman.

"It was....rather frenetic." Ben smiled a bit lopsided to Gina, then swigged his beer. Mmm, Beer.

Listening to Jack speak, a hand slowly lowers to touch against her stomach...she can feel the bruises without having to see them. "I...did?" Finally gearing up the nerve to actually looks at them head on from her distance away. "Tell me...." Those last two words nearly come out like they're spoken by a child. A scared one.

"I believe Gemethyst has the bullets. They are specifically spelled for ....for you." the Crow responds.

"I need to run home and get the animals tended to," Ben murmured, tossing the empty to the trash. "I'll be back."

Regina watches Ben's exit amid affectionate molestation from Jack and Gem which the man takes in amused stride. Then it's over and The lingering pair put their full attention on the coroner. "Gemethyst and I came to your rescue. Benjamin joined us and healed you, or tried. It expelled the bullets." Gem could jump in at anytime because soon it would get hazy for the Crow. "But you were still injured. I carried you into the tavern to the room you awoke in."

"Your heart was not right." Gemethyst chimes in, picking up where Jack faulters. "I think someone said that. Weak?"

"..spelled..." Like thinking through a fog, she mumbles the words and gradually eases off her stool to walk closer to them. Just beyond an arms reach. "I'm..sorry, if..whatever...I did..." she trailed off. What could she say' It's all a blur for her. "After the bullets, I don't remember...just..images.."

"Benjamin's healing is sometimes imprecise and he uses the methods of his ancestors. There is electricity involved. What do you remember?" Gem had been about to say something but thought better of it, instead listening for Gina's answer to Jack's question.

Her petite, but skilled hands are clapsed at her waist, one over the other as she looks down at her feet. "I remember...the barrel..and a voice. 'Should have kept your mouth shut.', then like my body was on fire." Which could have been the lightning. That stuff hurt. "You..kissing me, Gem saying something about barbs and no future, then...waking up..in my bloody shirt.." she gestures to the stairs.

"I remember kissing you, aye. I was not sure where you were hurt after the street so it is easiest that way." Like waking up the eternal sleep with a kiss, see. Faerie! Jack replies gently."Next thing I know, I'm on the ground. Wet and tasting ozone."

"Yes. Well. That is where I come in." Gem's lips purse a little at the part where Jack was doing the kissing. The elf smiled a little. "When I was rubbing your feet, Gina, to stir your blood, something happened. You and Jack were kissing, and both he and I got hit by something from you." She looked closely at the blonde. "It was something that is done by those with Succubi blood generally, though I am sure there are other causes out there. "

"And here we are..." Regina opened her palms to the therapist across from her.

"That's quite a story, Miss Appleton. Would you say the revelations of that night have become beneficial to you?" Dr. Ibram pushes her glasses up from where they've slipped down the bridge of her nose with another look from her notes to Regina.

"In what way?" The question makes her backpedal, her features squeezing in thought.

"Well, it led to learning more about your heritage and a list of powers you didn't know you had. Now you've bad to seek out a teacher to control them. Given your medical background and this new development, I would imagine it's only increased your ability to resolve cold cases." Ibram leans forward after adjusting the position of her legs against her chair.

"Maybe? I guess" Certainly cured my non-existent sex life, but I think meeting Khoom does that to everyone. Spinster to on your back in seconds flat." She blurts out with a coquettish laugh.

"But you still don't know who shot you, or why?" The shrink circles back to something she marked down earlier.

"No, I don't. I know it has to do with one of my other cases and investigating that judge, but I don't have a way to pursue that and I got the message." Regina's hand touches a spot on her stomach subconsciously.

"You've said it was unsettling that someone knew what you were, when you didn't know. Did your mother have any information on that end?" Ibram probes again in a calculating way.

"No, she was mad that I didn't tell her about the incident in the days after it happened. She knows what I do for a living, doesn't always approve of it. It still scares me. Probably why I don't sleep too well, work or no work." Regina brushes hair from her eyes and can't bring herself to look at the Dr. Ibram.