No one was perfect.  That was a lesson that seemed fairly simple, but one that he seemed never quite to accept.  Ash was very good at a lot of things, but the things that he failed at were always what he internalized the most for later self conflagration.  At the moment as he walked into the pack house he felt that old guilt settle deep into the pit of his stomach.  It had been awhile this time, quite awhile since he'd last entered the pack house.  Once again the neverending struggle between his work life and his home life seemed to be an insurmountable divide. 

Moving towards the kitchen he saw on the counter the paperwork that Silent had said she would leave for him.  They were deeds and trusts in both their names for the property they had left behind years ago in Salem.  Actually the date almost surprised him when he opened the folder and glanced down at the paperwork.  Had it really been over six years since they had left that place? Sometimes it seemed like only yesterday, then again at other times it was a million years away. 

The feel of another wolf close by brought him out of his reverie and he tucked the folder beneath his arm and headed in the direction of the front porch.  Since Ash had parked in the back he hadn't seen Daniel on his mat.  In fact, due to the rather insane nature of the pack he had not directly met Daniel yet, only seen him from a distance among the crowd at the full moon.  Stepping into the doorway Ash leaned against the door frame like a silent shadow observing the young mans meditations. 

"You know, there's a reason our beasts are called pack creatures.  It's because they typically thrive when they're around their own kind.  Not that a little meditation isn't good for the soul, but have you thought about asking some of the others to join you?"

It wasn't said in a condemning tone, merely observing the lonely feel of the young mans beast.  The spirit of his own black timberwolf was kept in check behind the sanctity of silver lined shields but Ash let his power thrum in a soft primitive tone just at the periphery of their senses.  Telling someone else not to be alone was like the pot calling the kettle black, but just because he didn't always follow his own advice didn't make it bad advice.  Right?

"I don't think we've been formally introduced.  I'm Ash Redfern.  Your friendly neighborhood Ulfric."

As he stepped forward to offer one pale tattooed hand down towards Daniel he looked anything but friendly.  Really he couldn't help it.  The pale skin, tattoos, scars, and the generally stoic expression made it almost impossible for Ash to look approachable, but he was trying.  No matter what his great and glaring faults might be there was one thing about Ash you could set your watch by.  No matter how many times he was down for the count, no matter how often he made the wrong choice, there was never a chance he would give up or leave you or refuse to try again. 

Things had been steadily getting worse in Alex's little world. Or at least the world that seemed to exist within her head. The one that kept her trapped with the psychotic brother that seemed to want nothing more than to drag her down into death with him. Malicious spirit. Munin. Stubborn ass bastard that can't give up. Who knew what Xavier was exactly at this point. But over the last few weeks, Alex had been pretty much fighting what was starting to look like a losing battle. There had been a time, when he'd been quiet. When he hadn't bothered her, and she'd been able to breath. To try and live normally.And then. Then he'd try it again. Slamming against her from the inside as it were, and slowly killing her from the inside out.

That night, she was in the basement of the house. His place. His sanctuary it had been. His workshop and playroom. And there was alot of memories stored in the place. And Xavier made sure that Alex saw each and every one of them. Knowing that it would weaken her control. Weaken her resolve to NOT be what he'd made her.  She tried to continue working on the project she'd started. setting up the area to be used for training for those that lived in the house. Herself. Ash. Laney. Whoever else ende dup wanting to stay. the razor blade in it's holder she'd been using to cut the linolium tiles with was held tightly in her hand, as a particularly bloody immage flashed into her mind, complete with sensory memories as well.

The cutter was slipped away into her back pocket without thinking as she rose to her feet, growling in the back of her throat. She couldn't keep this up. She needed help. She needed...fuck who did she need? Shaking her head, she stumbled towards the stairs, and up, trying to think. Geller...Silent!! Through the kitchen, out the front and into her truck, she continued to fight to keep her cool. To hold onto that control, and not give over to him and do what it was he was wanting. The utter chaos, and blood letting he was craving. That he wanted her to indulge in. And before she knew it, she was pulling up infront of the pack house. Body trembling, face pale, and hair tumbling around her face wildly.

Silent...she needed Silent. Silent would make it better...Silent would help her win this battle just like she had before. Only...Silent wasn't there. Silent was in Salem, and Alex had no fucking clue. Stumbling from the truck, she cursed silently at the voice taunting her in her head. she could FEEL him in there. like some poisonus parasite that was sucking the life from her, and trying to break her will. The familar scent of pack had her hesitating, him hesitating. It was enough that alex managed to get herself up the steps, and her control started to snap, making her stumble, and reach out, grasping Ash's Arm as she started to sink to her knees, looking up at him with wide, wild, terrified blue eyes. "Help...please..."

Alex let out a whimper, her already frail and tiny body putting barely any weight on his arm. And just the sight of Ash, while normally would have strengthened her control, suddenly seemed to give Xavier what he needed and it was like watching a clean glass filling up with dirty disgusting water. Her expression changed, her voice became more gutteral, and that texas twang became thick enough to walk on. Eye's shifted, looking first to Lou, and a cruel smirk curled her lips, the fear that rolled off of the little red wolf was enough to make Xavier shudder in almost orgasmic levels. Yeah...but now wasn't the time for her....fun as she'd be to torment, torture, and break...even more fun doing it by using this body that lou knew and trusted...

Attention moved to the pup then, and that smirk turned into a sneering grin. Yeah, he knew this one too. Hell he'd had a hand in his creation!! Not that he'd ment for that to happen...If he'd had his way, the boy woulda died where he left him...but this was better...fuck with another life this way!

Then attention went back to Ash, and that grin got even wider. "Well aint this just some shit? What you gonna do this time, ya god damn british fairy fuck?? Can't fuck me up this time, not without doin serious damage to your precious little whore." Xavier's warped cackle came out of Alex's lips, as she sat there on her knees, and slowly go to her feet again, head still tipped up to look Ash in the eyes and his voice lowered to a hiss.

"The little whore is MINE you fucker...I told you that before...She was always mine....and she always WILL BE!!" The grin was back now, sadistic and twisted as it was. "If you try and take me out of her, I'll fucking end her in the worst way possible. I'll string her guts up for all of you to see. And I won't kill her slowly, neither....Oh no sir..."

Alex's form started to step backwards, tripping down the steps, eye's still on Ash, and the razorblade she'd been using on the linolium was pulled from her pocket, and flicked open, lifting it to her cheek as the next words were screamed out "I'LL MAKE HER FUCKING SCREAM!!!!!" and the blade came down, slicing into her cheek deeply, and again along the other side, cutting into any available peice of flesh with quick, vicious little stabs and slices. deep as you could get with a razorblade.

And the sounds of Alex's screams filled the air around them, echoing out into the swamp.

Part of Lou's problem, which she barely admitted to herself, was that she did crave touch... she was just to unsure of how to claim the contact she craved. Ash's arm slipping around her shoulders had tension easing from her in shudder from her as she pressed tightly against his hard from, his scent wrapping around and through her, sweeping away the terror that came along with the sensation being left behind yet again.

The rumble of Alex's truck spilled into the comforting moment, drawing her from the Ash's warmth as he stepped away. More settled now, she watched curiously as the frail blond stumbled from the truck and up the path, moving a step towards Daniel, drawing closer to the young wolf. Motion stilled as an icy chill raced along her spine at the viciousness of Alex's words. Xavier? How many times had she hidden behind Silent in the early days when that beast would come around? Knowing that it made her all the more tempting prey for him had never been enough to stop her from trying to hide from his focus.

Ash's order gave her was the trigger that released the wound up tension that had laced her when Xavier's words spewed from Alex's lips. She raced into the house, grabbing the phone and fumbling with the buttons until she managed to dial Geller's number, dancing lightly from one foot to the other as she waited for someone to pick up the line.

"Hey... its Lou. Ash... Ash said he needs Geller at the pack house five minutes ago." She relayed the message almost verbatim, trying to keep the tremors from lacing her voice. "Its Alex... and Xavier. Please... hurry."

Her fingers clutched tightly at the phone as she watched Ash bring Alex into the house, eyes widening at the orders he directed at Daniel. She nodded into the phone, "Alright," hanging up and following Ash into the living room.

"First aid kit... Geller said he's on his way." Her nose wrinkled at the scent of silver when Daniel returned with the restraints, making her way to the kitchen to search for the large kit she knew had to be about. It didn't take long for her to find it, getting a small bowl of warm water as well to wash away the cuts that had been inflicted on Alex's cheeks.

A nod was directed at Cadence when she entered, "Hey." A flicker of a wan smile was the best greeting she could offer as she passed her to bring the kit and water to the coffee table. She knelt there, opening the kit and tearing open some packets of gauze to lay out for Ash to use on Alex's cuts.

"Anything you ask, Ash."

Ash could tell that there was sincerity in Daniel's offer to aid them in any way that he could.  Unfortunetly, without the power to control and make use of the munin there wasn't much that any of them could do to solve this particular problem.  All that they could do was try to make Alex as comfortable as possible given the rather unusual circumstances, and have her in as healthy a condition as possible for when Geller got there.  Brushing the coolness of his palm over Alex's forehead he pushed back strands of blonde hair that stuck to the sweat and blood of her skin. 

"You know where Silent keeps things around here Daniel? Can you fix Alex something to eat? Protein, something we can feed to her easily.  It will help her control her beast more."

He asked and he explained in the same breath.  Letting Daniel see to the food he took some of the clean gauze that Lou handed him and helped to clean and dress Alex's wounds.  Later, when this was all over he could heal her more properly, but with Xavier still inside of her this was the best that they could do.  His hands were used for one purpose most of the time, to bring death to creatures like the one dwelling inside Alex, but for the moment his touch was gentle and caring, trying as best he could to take care of his wolf.

"Thank you Louise.  Cadence, can you get us some wash cloths from the bathroom and a bowl of cool water?"

It felt like Alex's temper was running too high, he wanted to cool her down and try to avoid her shifting.  As Alex's eyes began to blink open her eyes he took a seat on the edge of the couch at her side.  Seeing her struggle against the bonds he reached out with one hand and pressed firmly on her shoulder to make her ease back so she wouldn't disconnect a shoulder.  Energy hummed soft and consoling from him to her, stilling the struggle inside her.

"Geller's on his way, he's going to help you with this."

If it could be shot down with a silver bullet or run through with a blade then Ash was the man to solve the problem, but he knew when to seek outside assistance.  This was one of those times.  There were gifts that others had that could help Alex far more than his own.  The grip he had on Alex's shoulder eased up and he watched her look around the room and try to get a sense of what was going on.  

"Lou can you bring some of those pillows over here and help me prop her up so we can feed her?"

Not wanting to leave Alex's side he let Lou bring pillows and then he carefully leaned forward and drew the small female into his arms.  Pulling Alex's body up he let Lou arrange the pillows behind her before laying her back down carefully.  Hoping that she was settled and as comfortable as possible he looked at Lou.

"Have you ever seen anything like this before? With a munin? I'm not sure if there's anything special Geller will need for.....whatever he's going to do."

In Ashes line of work there were always accoutrements; guns, crucifixes, holy water, blades, and maybe the occasional flame thrower.  For all he knew Geller needed a priest a rabbi and a minister here for whatever exorcism he was to perform.  Lacking experience with such things he was asking Lou since she had been a wolf longer than any of the others in the room.  As Cadence and Daniel returned he looked to them as well with the same question posed.  If there was anything they could do to prepare before Geller got there they had better do it now.

"Alex, I need you to eat.  It would be bad for your beast to take control and if I have to hold off your shift it will make the whole process more chaotic."

Touching Alex's cheek once more softly he finally moved from his place at her side to let Daniel sit down and feed her.  Then he moved to take the bowl of water and wash cloths from Cadence with a soft 'thank you' spoken.  Poor Cadence.  She had been there to help him, Alex, and Thad clean up Xaviers basement and now she was here for Xavier's final goodbye.  It was poetic somehow.  Moving towards the head of the couch he set the bowl down and wet one of the cloths, wringing it out until it was only damp, and then began to use it to gently dab at Alex's brow so he could cool her temperature a bit and clean up some of the blood stuck in her strands of blonde hair.

"You're nothing but trouble, you know that pet.  But we love you.  So I guess we'll just have to bloody well make it through this, like we always do."

It was said with a soft tone, that crisp accent making him harder to read.  But for someone that knew Ash well the intention was clear.  This was him attempting to be comforting, even though he feared he wasn't really cut out for it. 

+On the drive to the pack house Geller had called Jenna to tell her that he would be late, but had to settle for leaving a voice message instead.  All too often these days they seemed to be forced to communicate more and more through one anothers voicemail.  It could be disheartening but he just took it as a sign of a busy season.  Things would slow down again and no doubt they'd all be happy to get back to normal.  As he turned the Caddy into the driveway of the pack house he eyed Alex's truck that was parked there with the lights still on and the engine running.  Even though there was nothing particularly going on outside that was odd enough to let him know that he was about to walk into something bizarre.+

+Cutting his own engine he left the windows down on the Caddy and tossed the keys up on the dashboard.  The only car jackers he had to worry about out here were pack members playing a prank so it seemed pretty safe.  Slipping out of the car he went around to Alex's truck and leaned in to pull her keys out of the ignition and cut the lights so her battery wouldn't run dry by morning.  Her keys were set out on the dashboard as well before he pulled out of the truck and shut the door behind him.  At this point he wasn't rushing, mainly because if what was inside couldn't wait five minutes with Ash there to watch things then they were in deeper shit than Geller could fix anyway.+

+His stride was even as he mounted the steps of the porch and began to slowly disassemble the shields that guarded him twenty-four hours a day.  If there was one thing Geller did better than anything else it was blend into the human world.  While others had spent time fighting and trying to climb the food chain he had been in Tibet learning to guard his beast so well that even among lycanthropes he could sometimes pass as human.  As a chef it was very important, but more than that it had kept him out of the in-fighting and insanity that he abhorred in most cities.  Now though he stripped those shields away to try to feel what it was that he was approaching.+

+Munin was the name of Odin's Raven and the word essentially meant "memory".  Most people associated the munin with the actual spirit of the departed, but in reality it was more complex than that.  A pack could not literally eat the soul of the departed, but they consumed the memory of the spirit.  Geller knew that it was not really Xavier inside Alex, but the memories and quintessential essence of him that lived within her.  As he moved into the house and towards the sound of voices in the living room he was breathing in the scent of the wolves and feeling for the touch of something 'other' among them.+

"Ash, is everybody alright?"

+His black and silver whorled eyes glances from person to person and noted that for the time being Alex was the one who seemed to have incurred all of the damage during whatever had gone on.  Coming closer he slipped his hands out of the pocket of his woolen pea coat and rubbed them together like he was trying to ward off the cold.  Really though he was concentrating on the feeling of energy stirring around Alex.  Thick lips gave a smile to Cadence and he waved the tips of his fingers in Lou's direction, never one for formal pack greetings and besides, this hardly seemed like the time.  The closer he got the more he could feel this munin, and the more that part of him opened up like a vast and gaping maw, the power curious as always at the invited remembrance.+

"I think maybe.....it would be best if you left Alex and I alone."  His eyes moved to Alex who was being fed by Daniel.  "If that's alright with Alex."

Geller's question made him pause a moment and glance at the other man as he entered the living room.  The water and wash towels were set on one of the end tables as he turned away from Alex to move towards his Lupe.  For a moment the two men just looked at each other, communicating between themselves in a way that the others couldn't register, before Ash finally spoke.

"Everyone's alright for now.  But you know what you need to do."

The issue with Xavier's munin had already been discussed.  Ash had spoken to Cypress first and to the medium Declan in order to gain some peripheral knowledge of what could be done.  He wasn't entirely positive that Alex was going to like what they had decided, but there wasn't much of a choice.  When Geller asked for privacy he nodded and turned to the others.

"Let's go outside.  Geller, when you finish, come out and see me.  We need to discuss some things before you go."

Ash was going to go outside with the others but before he did he wanted a moment to speak to Alex.   He knelt down on one knee beside the couch and touched her arm lightly with one hand.  The touch of his power whispered over her skin as he looked down at her with eyes that sparked with electric blue light.  There was concern there, but a confidence that she was going to be alright.  His cool hand moved slowly up and down the length of her arm as he spoke.

"You're going to be alright Alex, and soon this will be over.   When Geller's finished, you can stay here with us and we'll take care of you."

A light squeeze was given to Alex's arm and then he rose from the ground with practiced ease.  Moving towards the back doors of the house to follow the others outside he didn't look back, he trusted his Lupe to take care of this.  From his back pocket he pulled out his cell phone to send a text to Silent, then to a few other members of the wolf pack.  Tonight he wanted as many of the wolves as possible there to surround Alex. 

[the text: http://wickedlabyrinth.activeboard.com/t46376411/texting-the-pack-from-ash/]

Sirus never dared deny his mentor, and in some cases, unofficial brother, in anything let alone a pack member in need of contact. Sirus looked to Dee for her reaction and nodded plainly.

The text had the white stalker stirring in anticipation for a battle in the metaphysical realm. He had no idea why Ash beckoned them to the pack house and the reasons to their unification tonight made him cycle through all possibilities.

"You drive? My car is still at the pack house."

His tone was dry and his words brief. Urgency assumed control of the situation and so help God he didn't want to waste another minute standing idly around while Alex suffered from whatever vague demons plagued her.

"The insanity doesn't stop for anyone, does it?"

A nervous chuckle lifted from the depths of his throat; no, it couldn't be refused.

Alex's snarled words had Lou flinching, murmuring a soft "i'm sorry," as she slipped from the couch to retreat from the bound wolf. She hadn't meant to sound accusing, just that maybe Alex was one of those with a gift for speaking to the munin but had no control over her talent and that was what was causing the issue. Alex's apology had her ducking her head slightly, "sokay," before she continued her retreat to the door.

The sound of another vehicle approaching the house had her head canting to the door, a nod given to Geller when he arrived.

Ash's command to step outside and let Geller work was obeyed immediately, slipping out to the back and claiming one of the chairs. She pulled her legs up, heels hooking on the edge of the chair as she curled tightly within it.

She dug in her pockets, finally finding a small pad and a bit of a pencil. Flipping to an empty page she began to sketch, doodle really, soothed by the familiar actions. Little by little faces appeared on the page, bare hints of Ash's eyes, the curve of Cadence's cheeks, a shadow of Daniel's profile.

She could feel the restless energy of the others, it had her hand stilling, peeking through the tangled curls of her hair at the others. 

While they sat outside waiting for Geller to tend to Alex he closed his eyes a moment and listened to the cicadas sing among the trees.  It was peaceful here for him, though possibly only because he had no real history in this city.  For people like Lou, Silent, or even Milo New Orleans had a haunting past that seemed unwilling to let them go.  As if his thoughts controlled his body for the moment he let his eyes drift open and looked to Lou as she sketched quietly on one side of the table.  Her pencil moved with rabid yet fluent whisps across the page and he wondered what she found inspiration in here among them.  Daniel's voice broke through his reverie and he glanced across at the other man.

"It may take them awhile, so we can go for a walk now if you'd like mate. "

Movement seemed like a preferable option to him rather than simply sitting around and waiting.  Ash always preferred action to inaction when there was a choice to be made.  Rising from his seat he let his hand fall to Lou's shoulder as he passed her, feeling the tickle of the strands of her red hair against his skin before his hand slipped away.

"If they finish just give us a call, I'll feel it." Then to Cadence he added, "And if the others show up just have everyone bunker down in the master bedroom for tonight.  Alex could use all the warmth of the pack."

Moving away from the others he nodded for Daniel to follow him.  They moved across the crunch of landscaped grass, past the glow of the electric lights of the house, and into the untrimmed and untamed lands that the packs used to hunt.  The plantation had swamps, but it also had miles and miles of running ground stretching out in front of them.  Ash could only imagine what this place had been like in the days when these fields were filled with subsistence crops to be picked by slave labor.  It reminded  him that sometimes change was a good thing. 

( http://wickedlabyrinth.activeboard.com/t46624875/walking-the-woods-open-to-daniel/ )