(Untitled)

[sir_samuel]

It had taken all of Vimes' nerve not to leave the Compound as soon as Eostre had come to him with the news that Mack had disappeared. These things, some part of his mind constantly told him, were better settled simply, on one's own. He would go out into the jungle, he would find the bastard who had taken her. And then he would take care of him

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[unbreakableteen]

There was no stopping her. Period. End of story. She'd learned well how to dig her heels in when Manners just weren't called for. F was her friend, and the looks on everyones faces were of anger and murder and she'd be...be...she'd be damned if she would let that happen. F just wasn't like them, but Claire knew in her heart she wouldn't hurt the baby. On purpose.

So there she was, tromping along in the snow along with a bunch of people who only knew that a baby had been kidnapped. Total Amber Alert, total Code Adam. She was in with the head of the crowd, searching in the dark for someone who knew the dark better than most everyone on the island.

[sir_samuel]

Vimes was Not Amused by the fact they had a teenage girl trailing them (or in this case, leading the way). Oh, he had done his best to stop her, but she had been bloody determined, and in the end he hadn't been willing to waste the time arguing. But he wasn't going to damned well look after her, either.

He caught up to her, scowling. "When we get to the caves you're waiting at the entrance, understand. You're not going in with us."

[unbreakableteen]

"Yes, I am," she replied tightly, giving him that same determined look. "I take care of her, Mr. Vimes, and you're gonna have to tie me up and find a guard because I'm not quitting til we find her." She paused. "Them."

She was probably the only one who wasn't worried about the baby, but that was only because she was the only one who knew F like she did.

[sir_samuel]

Vimes didn't know what attachment Claire thought she had to F, but it was damned well making things difficult.

"I've let you come," he shot back darkly. "If they're in the caves, you can see 'em when we come back out. We don't have time to look after you, Miss Bennet, especially not in the dark." He looked at her coldly. "And we have no intention of hurting your vampire friend." Not yet.

[unbreakableteen]

What a cockjob.

"I can look out for myself just fine," she shot back. "And I think unless you wanna fight with her over that baby, you'd better have me there."

[sir_samuel]

Oh, bloody hells. Why had he ever agreed to let her come?

"I think we can get Mack back just fine, thanks. It's my job."

[unbreakableteen]

Yeah, she knew it. He just cared about the baby. Not like she didn't...but he so didn't care about F. Time to change tactics.

"Mr. Vimes, I know you're doing your job, bless your heart, and I mean no disrespect," she said, except anyone from home knew just what 'bless your heart' really meant, "But I'm going in those caves with the search party or without it. I take care of her, I deserve that much." Claire had just as much backbone as that baby's mother when it came to this, even if she didn't have the fury to back her. F was her friend and her responsibility, and she was loyal to a fault.

"You really want to have to split the team up to find me too?" she smirked, then took a little bit bigger steps. She was so done with that discussion.

[sir_samuel]

Oh, she deserved it, did she? Vimes, well, he would be happy to tell her exactly what he thought she did and did not deserve. Very happy. And he might not have been acquainted with the nunces of the phrase 'bless your heart', but he knew that tone of voice when he heard it.

"And getting lost in the caves, is that what you want?" Vimes snapped after her. He, for one, was not ready to end the conversation. "Because we do not have time to go looking for someone else in the dark. Do you get that, Miss Bennet?"

[unbreakableteen]

Claire whirled on him, standing up to her full height, which wasn't much, but seemed like a whole lot more. "I want to find her, and she's not stupid, Mr. Vimes. You think she's gonna come out of hiding for you? For a whole bunch of people who are mad at her? Or do you think, maybe, she'd come out for the one person on this island who gives a damn about her?" she fumed. "Do you know anything about her, 'cept that she took that baby?"

Oh, yeah. There was a touch of mama-fury. And she was making a Scene in front of God an' everybody, but she really didn't care. Later, she'd have to apologize, Maybe. If she turned out to be wrong.

[sir_samuel]

The trouble was, she had a point. It was a bloody annoying point, but it was a point. Damn it. He narrowed his eyes. "I do know something of her. I know she probably doesn't damned well know what she's done, but she's still bloody done it. A child is missing and yes, what I'm trying to do is get her back."

He took a breath. "And I'll tell you again, we don't have time to look for you if go wandering off. So," and his tone didn't become any kinder even as he gave in, "once we're in there stay close. No wandering off, under any circumstances. No one knows where those caves go. And you're staying with me, and you'll do what I say, and you'll get that baby back from your vampire friend if no one else can."

His crossed his arms over his chest. "So you've got a job to do now, Miss Bennet. Is that better?"

[unbreakableteen]

The hardest part of being a cheerleader was smiling like you meant it...especially when you didn't mean it. Claire had the smile down like no one else on the Union Wells squad, and that's just what she flashed at Mr. Vimes.

"All better. Now let's go," she chirped, taking insincerity past a skill to an art form.

[sir_samuel]

She could be cheeky as she wanted - as long as she wasn't going to be stupid, he would deal with it. "Then I guess we have an agreement," he said dryly. "For now we'll have to learn to get along."

Now there were more important things to see to.

[dishabille_mal]

Maladicta waited until the teen had broken away from her commander before she, near silently, fell into step beside her.

"You said you've been taking care of her," she said in place of an introduction.

[unbreakableteen]

Claire looked over at her. "Um, yeah," she said without any of the attitude she'd showed Mr. Vimes. "None of the doctors could make her eat normal food."

[dishabille_mal]

"And you've been able to?" Maladicta said in a tone that completely hid her skepticism. She glanced over at the shorter girl, absently sliding her hands into her pockets. This girl may have thought she knew F, and Maladicta wouldn't ever pretend to, but she and the strange, silent creature had more in common than the human could.

[unbreakableteen]

"Yeah. She talks a little, too. Sometimes. She can say my name," Claire said, a little more worried about the searching than anything else. "Blood makes her sick now. She understands. She didn't before."