Title: Mental Sparkles and a Dog Named Wolf

Author: Starhawk (StarAndrea)

Chapter Rating: T

24) Linear Thermal Expansion

"Um, RJ?"

Casey was calling him from... somewhere.

"Don't move." Lily's voice came from just beyond the open door, probably the landing kitchen. "Where is he?"

The air mattress shifted as he rolled over, flowing to his feet before he was fully awake. Something bad was happening. The spill of light from the door drew him across the darkened room... but the cool air on his skin was enough to make him stop for clothes.

Casey sounded cautious as he said, "In... the bedroom?"

"We tried to call." Dom's voice was vaguely apologetic. "Lily was pretty determined."

"Because that girl said Casey was here!" Fran exclaimed. "I think we should make sure RJ's okay!"

RJ pulled the door open the rest of the way and found Lily on the other side, hand raised to knock. Or push. "Hello, Lily," he said, blinking away sleep in the colored light of the loft. "Is there something I can do for you?"

She folded her arms. "I looked up psychic vampires," she told him. Loud enough for everyone to hear, obviously. He wondered how many of them were around the corner on the landing. "Then I did some checking. You said he couldn't hurt you, RJ."

He put a hand over his eyes, pretending to rub the sleep away as he squinted down at the floor. "I also told you not to trust me," he said quietly. "I told you I'd try to protect him."

"Would you let the man out of his bedroom already?" Dom called. "No one's going to do anything weird while we're all here." There was a pause, and then, "Right, Fran?"

Fran sounded a bit huffy. "Right. I guess. It's not like I see everything. And maybe he hasn't decided yet; you don't know."

"Um, is it okay if I eat this?" Casey's voice asked. "I mean, it's going to melt otherwise. I could put it back in the freezer if we're in the middle of some sort of crisis."

RJ couldn't help but smile. Casey had clearly found the ice cream. He had a knack for identifying whatever would make himself seem most harmless in any given situation... and somehow managing to begin it right before he needed to look innocuous.

"RJ," Lily whispered. She hadn't moved from his doorway. "Are you okay?

"I'm alive," he said softly. "So far, so good."

She didn't answer, staring at him for a long moment, and the silence from the landing didn't register until Dom called, "I think we can all hear you, so why don't you just come out here before Casey eats all the maple pecan swirl?"

Lily finally took a step back, and he inclined his head in thanks.

"I put it in a bowl!" Casey countered. He was holding said bowl as RJ stepped out through the arch onto the landing, Lily close and calm at his side. He was also dressed in sweats and a t-shirt... RJ's, but RJ appreciated the effort.

"It's not like I'm polishing off the carton or anything," Casey continued, though his gaze went immediately to RJ. "Hi. They talked to me first, I swear. I didn't say anything, really, and I tried not to look at them."

"You told him not to move," RJ said with a sigh. "Next time you should probably ask him not to talk. He channels a lot through his voice."

"His eyes are yellow," Lily said, not looking at Casey. "That's bad, right?"

"Hey, he's right here." Dom sounded a little uncomfortable. "Sorry, man. We're really careful with strangers."

Casey, wisely, didn't say anything.

"It depends how you look at it," RJ told Lily. "When they're black he has to feed. Period. When they're yellow he can afford to be choosy. He's also more subtle. The stronger he is, the harder it is to recognize his influence."

Casey's spoon clinked against his bowl, and RJ definitely wasn't watching him put it in his mouth and swallow. "I see you got to Lily and Theo," Casey remarked.

"You got Jarrod and Dom," RJ replied, watching the spoon dig into his ice cream again. "It seems only fair."

Casey put another spoonful in his mouth, smiling when he caught RJ's eye. "Who gets Fran?"

RJ tore his gaze away. Dom was looking at him, eyebrows raised, and Fran was glaring at Casey. "At a guess?" RJ said carefully. "Probably me."

"I guess it depends whether she's more likely to believe Dom or Lily." Casey shrugged, like it didn't really matter. "I'd go with Lily, personally."

"Hey!" Dom complained. "You're welcome for the support, and next time, could you pick up after yourselves? Clearly some of the clothes came off before the bedroom. That's all I'm saying."

"Dom, really," Lily said, rolling her eyes. "Focus."

"Why does he still believe you?" RJ asked, frowning at Casey. "We're all implicating you, you're not talking to him, and he's still defending you."

Dom opened his mouth to protest and RJ knew he'd hurt him. He also knew that was probably what it would take. But he wasn't prepared to hear Casey pre-empt Dom's reply by saying quietly, "Because he wants you to be happy."

RJ's gaze flicked to Dom. He got a pointed stare in return. "You like him," Dom said evenly. "I'm gonna give him a chance."

"I like him too," Fran argued. "But he could hurt RJ, and I don't know about you, but I like RJ better!"

"You're taking advantage of him." Lily spoke directly to Casey this time, who paused with his ice cream spoon in his mouth. He managed to look guilty in a way that had nothing to do with her accusation.

"Aren't you," Lily insisted. It wasn't a question, but she clearly expected a reply.

Casey glanced at RJ, who wasn't about to answer for him.

"I don't know if you've noticed," Casey said. "But your boss isn't exactly defenseless. For whatever reason, he's decided to help me. I give him fifty-fifty odds, and believe me, that's way better than anyone else I've met."

"Fifty-fifty?" Lily repeated, and now it was RJ she was glaring at. "You're hearing this, right? If it's heads you help him, tails you die, I personally think you could do better."

"Probably true," RJ said. "But I love him."

He saw Dom give him a sharp look, but Lily didn't seem to attribute any special significance to the words. "RJ, you love everyone," she reminded him. "The difference is that most of them love you back, and also, they don't want to kill you!"

He considered that. Fran was staring at him, and he thought Casey was trying not to. Or maybe his ice cream really was that interesting. It was impossible to know what his priorities were.

"But I want this one," RJ said.

"Fran." Lily turned to her only female ally in the clan. "Help me!"

"No, you know what?" Casey's bowl clattered against the counter as he set it down. "You know what RJ thinks about, all the time? You. All of you. What you want, what's best for you, how to keep you safe. Let him have something he wants for a change."

Fran looked uncertain, but Lily retorted, "Something you made him want."

"I wish," Casey shot back. "Like he's not worth it!"

"Lily," Dom said under his breath. "Maybe we should let this one go."

"Why, because he makes us feel bad?" Lily demanded. "That's what they do!"

"He doesn't make me feel bad," RJ said. "If you're curious."

Lily turned to him, and she must have seen something on his face that made her change her mind about whatever she was going to say. Fran jumped in, though, and he mostly wished she hadn't. "He will. He won't be able to help it."

"If he can't be held responsible," RJ said reasonably, "why punish him for it?"

"It's not about punishing him," Lily insisted. "It's about protecting you."

RJ studied her. He was aware that the younger cats were only willing to accept his instruction to a point, certain as they were that he was in jungle exile for a reason. He didn't have anything to prove, thus he had never explained.

That, he supposed, might have been a mistake.

"Desire noted," he told her. "Protection... I think I can do without."

"Okay," Dom said, folding his arms. "I think that's our cue to head out. Lily, can me and Fran give you a ride?"

She sent him a distracted look that was half indignant, half amused. "I'm the one with the car."

"Right," Dom agreed cheerfully. "So, can we get a ride from you?"

"Maybe--" Casey wasn't working on his ice cream anymore, RJ noticed. He hadn't finished it yet, either. Very clever. Silent way of communicating uncertainty. "Maybe Dom should stay."

He glanced at RJ before anyone could say anything. "I mean--would that make it better? Or worse?"

RJ raised his eyebrows. "Are you planning to seduce him too?"

Casey's sweet awkwardness vanished in a heartbeat. "Not unless you want me to," he said, with a lazy drawl that made him sound exactly as dangerous as he was. Or maybe it was the offer--one on which RJ had no doubt he could make good.

"We're going," Dom told them. "Casey, if you hurt him, we will destroy you. I'm not kidding. RJ... try to remember that you're not alone, okay? No matter what he tells you, you don't need him."

RJ could feel Casey's eyes on him. All of them. They were all staring at him, and as much as it irritated him, the moment he noticed he was annoyed, Casey looked away. That almost annoyed him more.

Almost.

Fran had to hug him before she went, which of course prompted Lily to hug him too. Dom just rolled his eyes. "I'll be back in half an hour," he said. "Pick up your clothes and shut the door this time, okay?"

Casey picked up his bowl instead and lifted it in a mock-toast.

"Don't eat all of that," Dom told him, shepherding Lily and Fran toward the stairs. "Or you're buying me more."