The importance of being idle

Charlotte gasped breath flooding into her as the pressure was lifted from around her mouth and nose, weeping lightly Charlotte put her head on Cobalts chest and curled her small fingers in his hair.

"Cobie, please, find him quickly."

Now that she wasn't in pain Charlotte redrew the symbol on her head and bit her lip waiting for the next wave to come. She would do anything to lengthen the amount of time between Arsens blacking out.

"I'm sorry."

She whispered as Charlottes knees buckled as she shared half of her energy with Arsen, it wasn't much but it wad the best she could do. Charlotte let her head drop onto Cobalts chest weakly.

"I have to help him."

Cobalt growled a little,

"I've had enough of this." he decided finally and wiped the symbol off of her head once again, but this time he didn't let her get a chance to do it again, "Petrificus Totalus."

As he watched Charlotte's body freeze up completely he shook his head and healed her hand,

"This boy has messed with your head something fierce..." he sighed a little, "But we'll get him back Charlotte. We, but not you. You're not ready for this."

Charlotte froze up and fell forwards to Cobalts chest had she been able to move she would have been slapping him around the head, however she supposed he did have a point. She needed to show she was able to handle this... Willing him silently to counter curse Charlotte stayed still.

"Char?"

Willow asked walking over to her and muttering the counter curse so that she could move, touching Charlottes cheek and smiling Willow saw the pain in her eyes. Digging around in her pockets she pulled out a chocolate frog and gave it to Charlotte.

"You know Arsen needs you sane sweetie, just get past your anger and focus on getting to the end result, think about that wonderful kiss you're going to get when you find him."

Waggling her eyebrows Willow nodded to Cobalt and moved off back to where she had stood before clasping her hands in front of her. Charlotte ate the frog in little bites, licking the chocolate from her fingers, her eyes returning to normal.

"Self destruct mode over Cobie! Chocolate? Please let me come, I'll be good I swear! I'll even stay a cat in your pocket...please, I just want to know he's safe."

Charlotte smiled offering him a leg of her frog, chocolate spread over her mouth

He flew back to his house at the speed of light, too fast even for him to pick out where he was going. He took an unnecessary deep breath and stepped back into his body, hating how uncomfortable it felt. Once he was back in tune with his mind he opened his mind gasping in a deep breath.

"They're torturing him." He frowned finally taking in Char's state. He raised an eyebrow about to question it when he remembered the short time they had to save him.

Shaking his head he turned to Aspen. "Asp they're in Italy. It's a warehouse in the middle of nowhere do you recognise it?" He asked planting the image into his brothers mind urging him to hurry.

"You are our only hope of finding him right now."

Jamie frowned a little before giving Willow a tight hug. Breathing out deeply he shook his head,

"Willow..." he took another deep breath, to calm himself, "Willow whatever you see there... whatever you see me do..."

Looking away for a second he turned back and kissed her lightly on the lips,

"Please don't think badly of me." he shook his head a little, sadly, before moving over to Asp and Hades. He patted Hades on the shoulder, "Point me in the right direction and I'll get your boy back Brother."

Cobalt shook his head a little and put his head in his hands,

"I can kill a man with two fingers. I can poison a whole village without remorse." he chuckled dryly, "But I'm helpless against the puppy dog eyes."

Laughing lightly, he hugged Charlotte close to him,

"I could never say no to you soft-soft." he replied before he became serious and called over to Hades, "If you can get us in the general area me and Rich will be able to find Arsen by his scent."

He frowned patting his brother on the shoulder. "Just warning you, i lost the love of my life for turning my back on him to be with her. Now look at me i turn into a monster during the night and just looking at her gives me an overpowering urge to kill her." He frowned.

"I had no choice but to leave to keep her safe. I would hate to see that happen to you. I've never seen you more happier." He smiled weakly giving him one last pat before returning to Hades.

Once more time had past and Hades still hadn't returned he began to get impatient, he hated staying still for too long. "Ar welcome back brother. Did you find him?" He asked pushing Hades to his feet.

"Two places spring to mind i could take you if you want. Hell i can take you all. Right everyone join hands." He smiled rubbing his hands together and stretching his neck. "Right let me do the work people im a professional. Just go with the flow." He smiled closing his eyes to concentrate on the place.

He nodded his thanks. "Thanks brother, your skills will come in useful, the place is surrounded. There are henchmen covering all entrances and exit and the room Arsen is in. It wont be pretty." He frowned shaking his head, he knew how close Arsen was to just giving in to the pain.

"Right do your thing Asp and hurry i don't know how long he can cope." He frowned looking over to Cobalt. "Thanks." He said swallowing his pride to thank Rich too.

He took hold of Aspen's hand. "Are you sure you can apparate us all?"

Richard took a deep breath and linked hands with the others, taking Briony's without hesitation and taking Cobalt's with only a second's worth of hesitation. He nodded to his old friend,

"Can I count on you to have my back?" he asked the other man seriously. Cobalt didn't respond for a few seconds before he finally nodded,

"You can count on me." he replied, grasping Richard's forearm, "Just like old times."

"Plan Delta?" Richard asked with a small frown. Cobalt nodded,

"It'll have to be." he agreed. Both men turned to Hades and nodded.

Aspen smiled taking hold of Hades hand. "Erm no i've never jumped more than two people before." He laughed closing his eyes again to take them all to Italy before anyone had chance to pull out.

(I'm posting for all my people cause I can )

Charlotte grinned and hugged Cobalt tightly. When Hades returned she nodded to what he said, and smiled sadly, what s sad reason to visit Italy. Turning into her small kitten form she jumped into Cobalts pocket and mewed happily at him looking up with big red eyes.

"I could never think badly of you Jamie, I love you, you big noodle."

Winking Willow poked Jamies nose, took his hand and joined the circle of people.

Briony bit her lip, not happy with the lack of experience from Adpen but she grasped Richards hand softly and smiled up at him, placing a gentle kiss on his lips.