“I can do this, you go off and
be charming.” Jenny said, waving Marina away; and Marina had to chuckle, she
leaned over and kissed Jenny’s forehead and the man in front of them wiggled
his eyebrows and Jenny tried to not laugh.

“Charming, Oui mais I’d rather
be relaxing.” Marina said.  Quin walked into the room and Marina‘s
face dropped, and she paled, and Quin motioned to the door.  She told Marina was was happening and Marina
took the apron off and moved quickly to the counter.

“Jenny,
we have to go. Dana found Shane,
and she is in the hospital. She’s rather bad off. Come with me, please?” Marina
asked and Jenny‘s eyes went wide and she nodded,
running out from behind the counter, and moving to Quin. Marina
told Ashley what was going on and Ashley
assured her that she’d handle things.

“How did you find out?” Jenny
asked the mysterious Quin and the woman just shrugged and she opened the door
and let them out.

“Right place, right time.”
Quin said and a stretch limo pulled up to the curb and the driver got out,
smiling at Quin and she merely nodded. No words were needed between she and her
mother’s driver.

“Raul,
can you take them to…. Alice,
where did you say?” Quin asked in her always emotionless voice and Alice

“Park
Valley Hospital….”
Alice
said, walking over to the limo and Marina
got in, as did Jenny and Quin motioned for her
to get in. Alice
did, then popped back out and gave Quin a hard look. She leaned on the open
door, her face only an inch from Quin’s nose and Quin cocked an eyebrow and
waited for her to say something.

“If I wasn’t in such a rush to
find out how Shane is, I’d be barraging you with
endless questions.” Alice
said and Quin put a hand to the top of her head and pushed her into the limo,
she met Raul‘s gaze and the man slid into the
driver’s seat and the window was open.

“Was a pleasure to see you Miss
Harlequin.” He said and Quin growled at the
name that her mother insisted on using instead of Quin and Raul
always called her that in jest. She stepped up on the curb, then said in her
normally indifferent voice.

“Tell mother hello.” Quin
said, slapping the top of the limo and watching it merge into traffic, she put
her hand to the ankh that was around her neck. Saying a silent prayer and
feeling a song coming on.

Fate’s Compromise
11.22.04

jadedrogue