Josh smiled as Serena hugged him back and he felt the tears drop onto his shirt as she told him she missed him. "Aww sweetheart, I missed you too" he told her back, holding her close and kissing the top of her head. "you're home now and safe that's all I care about" he told her, pulling her back just enough to wipe her tears from her cheeks and under her eyes with his thumb.

Kay couldn't help but smile when Geraldine came rushing down to John and hugged him, yet it made her smile more seeing John hug Geraldine back and be so soft with her. It was like she was seeing another side to John yet again and it warmed her heart. Looking up at the top of the stairs, she saw Trish, "Hey Trish, how's it going?" she greeted.

Geraldine nodded quickly at John's questions, "I'm good and yeah, Trish is great fun! Dad said she can come round to play any time!" she beamed happily. "how have you been? Is she your new girlfriend that dad has told us about??" she then asked, gesturing toward Kay cheekily.

Serena looked at him and said “it’s been a crazy two days…I can’t even begin to explain it all…” she looked down at her hands and stared. Her hands had black on them, like she had been hit with spray paint. Except there was sparkle as well. “What the heck…”

John smiled and nodded “yes She is. But be careful, she may learn she’s way too good for the likes of me” Trish walked down and hugged Kay. She said softly “I was worried about you guys…is Serena okay? Are you?”

Josh nodded in understanding at her remarks, "You can tell me about it later or whenever you're ready to" he told her, until he saw her look down at her hands and saw the black glistening marks on her hands. "What's that?" he asked, taking her hands into his to inspect it himself. "You got any idea what it is?" he asked her.

Geraldine giggled at John's words, "Dad owes me five bucks!" she grinned, making ti very known that they clearly had a bet going between the two of them when it came to John and Kay. Chas shook his head and put his hand on his forehead, "Geraldine, you weren't meant to say anything in front of him kiddo" he said, a smirk on his face.

As Trish came down the stairs and hugged her, Kay hugged her back and smiled. The action of just being hugged by a kid she knew brought some kind of comfort to her. "we're okay Trish, tired but okay" she told her. "It's been a crazy couple of days" she said, not realising she echoed Serena's words to Josh.

Serena shook her head and said “no idea…they weren’t there this morning but I haven’t really looked since…” then she froze. She hadn’t noticed after her loss of control in the tunnels

John gave a look to Chas and said “you bet against me?”

Trish frowned and said softly “I saw what happened this morning…you really okay?”

Josh held her hands firmly but not tightly, he didn't k ow what to say to her or what he could possibly do but he hoped that holding her hands in his would be some kind of calming effect for her. "then when we get back to John's we'll get on figuring it out" he told her.

Chas found himself giving a shrug and a smirk, "like you've never made a bet against me over the years" he chuckled. "but yeah I did, I didn't think you'd use the big G word so early" he added teasingly, before he went serious again as he noticed Renee appear in the hallway.

"oh sweetie, I'll be okay I promise. I can feel Fee still recovering though." Kay told Trish, not wanting to worry the kid more than necessary but she also didn't believe in sugar coating everything either. "I'm just focusing on not overdoing it at the moment, but don't worry about me okay? I'm a big tough girl, how have you been?" she added.

Serena nodded, looking at him and said “okay…that’s a plan…” she closed her eyes a moment. “It might be from the power I’ve had to use the last few days…”

Trish smiled softly and said “I’m good. It’s been fun having a friend to play with. I’m much better now knowing your all alright…” she looked at John and said “and your okay? Your healed and everything?”

John smirked and said “yes, I’m just fine…” he looked up and said “Hey Renee. Sorry we just popped here. It’s been a long drive…just wanted to check in on everything…” he was making sure the blood wasn’t showing the best he could. Trish smiled at Renee and said “this is Kay, the girl I was telling about. Serena is with Josh in the living room”

Serena's idea of why it was happening to her hands seemed logical to Josh, but then anything they said to him at this moment would seem logical to him. "possibly, we'll figure it out" he reassured her. "it does seem though you need to not overwork yourself" he chuckled softly.

Kay smiled glad that she's had fun after everything the poor kid has been through lately. When Renee showed her face, she didn't know what kind of woman she was expecting to be Chas' ex wife, but she didn't instantly think of someone looking like Renee. She gave a small smile and wave of her hand in greeting that Renee gave a nod to. "hello Kay." Renee greeted before looking at John to ack owledge what he said, noting how he was doing his usual purposely being as nice as possible to not piss her off.

"well, as you can see it's all good here. How long will you be here?" she replied to him, never liking John in her house. "Renee" Chas said exasperated, his way of telling her to behave and not start the tension and possible argument again. "we won't be long. Serena wanted to see Josh and your place wasn't out of our way. We've been on the road for most of this day, so I needed to stretch my legs" Kay explained, "Chas told us it was okay to do so" she added.

"She's right Renee, I did" Chas confirmed.

Serena nodded weakly and said “don’t worry…I don’t planning on letting this morning ever happen again…” she shivered a little and moved into his chest more.

John raised a hand and said “we didn’t bring anything nasty with us I promise. The girls needed something warm and safe after what we went thru the last two days…and i knew your husband would kick my behind if I didn’t check in…” he looked at Chas and added “and…I thought the girls could be benefitted seeing how a happy family looks…somewhere safe and secure…” he was being honest and it showed. He knew the heck both girls had been thru. Seeing there was good in the world he felt would help them feel safe again.

"good, I'm glad, purely for your sake" Josh replied to her, holding her securely as she shivered and moved closer to him. Then he got an idea, "come on, I got my work Jersey jacket in the living room you can wear if you're cold" he suggested.

Kay made a note of how John was really doing everything that was borderline submissive to keep Renee calm and happy, and although she didn't know Renee, she didn't blame him for doing so but it did make her wonder just how much renne despised John. It was something she would no doubt ask Chas about later on, but for now she wanted the environment to stay calm. She listened to everything that John was saying and nodded her agreement to confirm that he ass telling the truth.

"makes sense, did you guys want a drink or anything before heading back to yours?" Chas asked them, much to Renee's disagreement but she remained civil for the sake of the guests.

Serena smiled and said “that would be perfect…thank you Josh…”

John saw her look and said “no…I have something to take care of. The girls should stay…I’ll take off” he kissed Kay and turned to the door. “I’ll see ya later kiddos” he made a beeline to the door and opened it saying “I’ll walk…” he shut the door. Trish frowned and she looked at Chas.

“His aura was off the chart Chas. Why was he so worked up? And upset?”

John pulled her sweatshirt off and put it in the car. “Shouldn’t have gone in…Chas doesn’t need her pissed…” he pulled his collar up and started walking, needing a drink.

With a smile and nod, Josh walked her properly into the living room and over to where he was sitting where he picked up his work Jersey and handed it to her. "here you go" he told her, sure of himself that it would warm her up and feel a bit more safe and calm.

In the hallway, Renee's look didn't go amiss on Kay either and it made her frown a bit as she didn't like how someone was making John feel he couldn't stick around when Geraldine clearly doted on him and was Chas' best mate. She kissed John back before he made a speedy beeline for the front door and sighed when he said he would walk, she didn't like not having him nearby and mentally partly cursed herself for being so needy of him. She went to walk after him but felt Geraldine grab her hand to stop her. "this is normal don't worry Kay" she told her. "o-okay.." Kay replied.

Chas looked down at Trish when she asked what was wrong with John. "him and Renee don't see eye to eye very well, that's all" he explained to her before looking at Renee and giving her a look of minor disappointment that yet again she was giving John a hard time, even silently. Renee just rolled her eyes and went into the living room.

Serena smiled and took it, slipping it on and held it to her core. “Thank you Josh…how was your day?” She felt the negative auras in the hallway and muttered “shadows guard” a shadow shot off after John and she frowned. She didn’t like what she was sensing.

Trish frowned and said “that doesn’t mean she gets to treat him like a bug under her shoe. His injuries and weak, he shouldn’t be out there alone. After all John did to protect everyone and this house. I can feel how strong the guards are here. He made them that strong because he cares.” She looked at the door with worry.

When Renee walked in Serena folded her arms and muttered “now I get the negative aura…”

John was heading home, deciding drinking at home made the best sense instead of going to a bar in his state. He rubbed his face and muttered “maybe it would be better if I just vanished…then Chas wouldn’t have to deal with me pissing his wife off…” he sighed and put his hands in his pockets, not noticing that he was being followed by a pair of red eyes.

"it was alright, shop was quiet during my shift but good enough" Josh replied to her. The moment she muttered for her shadows to guard, he knew she was sensing something unsavouring so to speak and thought for a split second whether to ask or not. As he decided he was going to ask what she was sensing, Renee walked in and he overheard Serena mutter something about negative aura. He pulled her into his side in an attempt to get her to calm down.

Chas sighed and nodded, ruffling Trish's hair. "I know kiddo, but Renee? She gets stuck in her ways..they're both as stubborn as each other if I'm honest" he explained to her. "he'll be alright out there, knowing him he's either gone straight home or straight to a bar to get utterly wasted. It's just who John is. He's gotten out of worse scrapes than this" he added, remembering the time he got possessed by Pazuzu whilst in Mexico City all too well.

Kay was listening to what Chas was telling Trish and she couldn't help but keep worrying about John, even though she did trust Chas and his knowledge of John. "I still don't like leaving him going out alone..." she chimed up.

Serena cursed and rubbed her face. “Sorry…I’m on edge from this morning. I sent my shadows to watch over John. He just left for some reason…” she took his hand and muttered “we shouldn’t be alone…no one should…”

Trish shook her head and said “neither do I Chas…he wasn’t himself leaving…is it normal for him to just bow to her wishes and just leave? That wasn’t a stubborn move…”

John was half way home when something hit him from behind. He turned sharply and saw a group of guys surrounding him, all their eyes red. John cursed and muttered “bad night to not pay attention dummy…” he looked around and tried to block his link to Kay. He didn’t want her to feel what he had a feeling he was going to go thru.

Josh may not have known exactly what happened this morning for them, or even what exactly happened the night before but if Serena said that whatever did occur has made her on edge, then he damn well respected that. "You're okay here now" he reassured, rubbing his thumb subconsciously over her shoulder as he noted how Renee was minding her own business.

Trish made a valid point when she said it didn't seem like John to just back down to someone and walk away from any possible conflict. Chas didn't want to admit it, but the kid was right, John would never back down normally, hells, he had spent many years pulling John by the scruff of his collar out of fights with all sorts of people and downworlders, and he certainly had never seen him cower to Renee. Be an utter smart ass before walking away, yes, but not just out and out cower and walk away. He certainly didn't envision John doing it when Kay was around. "you got a point kiddo, that wasn't like him at all" he agreed with a sigh and a hand running through his scruffy hair.

Kay didn't know what to do, she felt conflicted even though she witnessed Serena's shadows go after John, she still felt like she shouldn't be staying here and leaving him alone. Just as she deciding that she was going to go after him, she got overwhelmed with a crippling pain coursing through her head as if it was the biggest migraine that just came out of nowhere. Hissing and doubling over for a moment, she closed her eyes and held her head at her temples. "argh!" she cursed, trying not to swear in front of the kids.

Serena got a feeling that made her shake her head and said “something isn’t right…” then she walked to Renee and said “I know we just met, but in the hall just now…did John seem himself? Is that how he normally acts around you?”

Trish nodded and said “we can’t let him be alone. We should go bring him back right?”

When Kay flinched Trish turned and asked “Kay? What’s wrong?”

John was thrown against the stone wall, blood in his mouth as he slid down and fell to his knees. The men kept hitting as the biggest guy grabbed John by the collar and hissed “where is the sunbird and the Night Wolf? Just tell us and this ends…” John frowned at him and said weakly “over…my dead…body…” the grunt smirked and said “head back to the house he came from…maybe his friends will talk more…”

John froze and his mind went blank as rage flooded him. This morning was bad enough losing his control when it came to Kay. But her and Chas? And the kids and Josh and Serena? Even Renee. He wouldn’t let anyone get hurt in his place. He hissed darkly “that…was the wrong order to give mate…”

He muttered a spell under his breath and the grunt suddenly went flying and slammed into trash bins. John landed on his feet and his eyes glowed. “Now I won’t hold back…”

Renee looked up when she was spoken to and she shook his head. "no it wasn't, just figured he was too tired to be an utter smartass around me for once." she replied to Serena, not thinking much of John's out of character behaviour in the slightest.

The pain started to fade away in her head but it made Kay breathe heavily as she tried to recover from it. "No..John..he's in trouble" she panted when she felt her bond to him heating up and the sigil flickering as it tried to glow from the udnerlayers of her skin on her wrist. Something wasn't right and something told her John was trying to block the link mentally from her, which didn't set her at ease in the slightest. "I-I have to go a...after him" she stammered as she made herself stand upright again. Stumbling toward the door, she hissed as more waves of pain coursed through her head, making her shake her head so she could keep her focus.

"Kay, you're in no state to go after him, you need to stay here" Chas told her, though something told him she wouldn't listen to a word he was saying. "I'm going...I think...I think if I get closer to him the pain will reduce Chas" she replied to him. "Kay, John will kill me if I let you go after him" he tried to reason but Kay wasn't having any of it as she opened the door.

Serena frowned and said “crap…his not himself” she turned then paused. “And you could be nicer to him…he puts up with a lot” she headed to the door and opened it. “Where is John?”

She walked over and caught Kay. “No Kay. Let the guys get John back. They haven’t been driving all day or having nearly had their cores ripped out or lost all control and killed someone today. Chas will be able to find John faster then you or me. He knows him. And Josh can help him. Kay you need to stay”

Half the gang was on the ground bleeding and groaning; the spirits controlling them banished thanks to john. He was getting beaten by the last few who were bigger then he was, but he was holding his own barely.

Josh got up and followed Serena out of the living room and saw how Kay was barely even able to stand upright properly. He let Serena take control of getting through to Kay, standing next to Chas in the process as he watched on. Kay listened to Serena practically begging her to just let Josh and Chas take control and find John and it broke her heart to know that her friend was right. She sighed heavily and eventually nodded, stepping away from the front door. "....fine" she said backing down to the pleas of both Chas and Serena.

Chas and Josh looked at each other and nodded in a silent conversation, knowing what they needed to do. "Lets take the cab" Chas commented, making a beeline out the door, whilst Josh patted Serena on the shoulder, "we'll bring him back, make sure she actually rests" he told her quietly then headed out with Chas and straight into the man's cab with Chas where they waisted no time in driving away from the house and toward John's in the route that Chas knew his mate would have taken when walking home. "Stay in the cab until it's safe to do so Josh, then grab John and get him in the moment I get you an opening" he suggested, "got it" Josh replied.

Eventually they found him, Chas got out of the cab and saw the remaining guys beating John, "Alright lads?!" he called out, walking up closer to them and John, ready for a fight if it came to it.

Serena put her arm around Serena and said “it will be alright Kay…” she sat her on the stairs and sat next to her. “Go find him guys, I’ll look after Kay” Trish nodded and said “me too”

John was on his knees as the last three guys left stand we slugging him and pinning him. He heard Chas and looked towards the voice “Chas…mate don’t…” the guys turned and the bigger one said “we want the girls. Start talking or the mage gets his neck…” suddenly Chas’s shadow jumped up and slammed into the grunt, throwing him across the alley. The shadow changed and Bane appeared in his human form.

“Chas…thanks for the lift. I couldn’t track John when he blocked the link. Grab the mage and I’ll handle these lads…unless you want to join me?”