Very Much Alive td-1

by Dana Marie Bell

  "I don't think so!"

  "I owe you both an apology, and I want to offer my assistance. Please, Kiran."

  Logan must have heard Travis's words, because he frowned. “No fucking way."

  "I don't blame Logan for being angry with me, but I think I can help."

  Logan was shaking his head no when Jordan's hand passed them by and took the receiver. “C'mon up, Travis. We'll be waiting.” She hung up the phone and stared at them both. “Don't worry; everything's going to be fine."

  She started to walk away, Logan and Kir both glaring after her. “Why did you let him up?"

  She turned, hands on hips, and tilted her head. “Am I right in thinking you two plan on me living with you

  indefinitely?"

  "Try forever.” Kir ground his teeth. I have a bad feeling about this.

  "Does that make this my home?"

  "Damn straight.” Logan was frowning too.

  She smiled sweetly. “Then that means I can have friends over. Right?"

  "Jordan...” Kir didn't get a chance to finish the sentence, because the doorbell rang. Kir opened the front door to find a large blond man in a pair of dark blue jeans and a green polo shirt standing in the doorway.

  The big man stirred, his dark blue eyes searching behind Kir. “Jordan?"

  "Hey, Travis!"

  The man shoved his way inside the condo. Kir groaned as he saw the missing right hand. Great. Just great. He pinched the bridge of his nose again. The headache was getting worse.

  "How the fuck did you get through the wards?"

  Kir turned to see Logan standing in front of Jordan protectively, his eyes glowing infernally red. Jordan was waving and smiling at Travis.

  Travis ignored Logan and focused on Jordan. “Are you in danger?"

  She frowned. “No."

  "You're here of your own free will?"

  Uh-oh.

  "Mostly."

  "Mostly?"

  Logan flicked a glance behind him. “Mostly?"

  She rolled her eyes and stepped past him. “Logan, Kir, this is my boss, Travis."

  "We know."

  "We hired you, remember?"

  She raspberried them, much to Travis's obvious relief. He relaxed visibly. “You're okay?"

  "Not quite.” As Travis tensed up again, Jordan walked over and pulled him into a hug.

  It was Logan and Kir's turn to tense. “Jordan.” He did not like seeing her hug other men. It made him want to growl and pound his chest like an idiot.

  Or better yet, pound Travis until the other man let her go.

  Travis glared at them over Jordan's head before turning his concerned gaze back down to her. “What happened? I get a hysterical email from Jamie claiming you were shot. You haven't been to your apartment in almost three weeks, there's a YouTube video that's driving Grimm nuts and a note to come visit you before you lose your mind and castrate someone. And what's this about you being ‘not quite’

  okay?"

  "Note?” Logan glared again at Jordan. “What note?"

  She shrugged. “I wrote Travis and asked him to come here and take over the case."

  "What?"

  Logan's hissed disbelief echoed Kir's own emotions. What is she talking about?

  "You guys obviously don't trust me to get the job done, so I called backup."

  "It's not about trust, damn it!"

  Kir ran his hands through his hair in frustration. “Logan's right. It has nothing to do with trust and everything to do with the bullet wound."

  Travis, his arm protectively cradling the much smaller Jordan to his side, stared down at her. “Bullet wound? You were shot?"

  "Guys, I'm okay! How many times do I have to wave my arms around to prove it?” She pushed away from Travis, jumping up and down and waving her arms around like a maniac. Kir saw the wince she tried to hide and had the urge to turn her over his knee.

  "Stop hurting yourself!"

  Kir winced at Logan's bellow. Flames were flickering around his body, leaving small scorch marks in the wood. He eyed the blackened marks and rolled his eyes. Maybe we should have gone with stone or ceramic instead of maple.

  "Stop yelling at me!"

  "Stop being a moron!” Logan threw his hands up in the air and growled. “I cannot fucking believe you think you can run out of the house and chase down fucking Grimm in his own fucking back yard and take him down three weeks after you've been fucking shot! Shit!"

  Travis wiped his lips in a futile attempt to hide his grin. “Stubborn little thing, isn't she?"

  Jordan gasped in outrage as Logan pulled his hair. “Yes."

  "I am not!"

  Logan rolled his eyes. He bent his body, limping awkwardly in a circle. “No no, it's all right, it's only a flesh wound. I can run the marathon, clean the Empire State Building and still cure cancer before lunch!

  No problemo! Let me get right on that."

  "I'm fine, Logan!"

  Logan tapped his foot. “Who here thinks Jordan is just fine, raise your right hand waaaay over your head.” He raised both brows when Jordan tried, wincing as she did so.

  "Oh, bite me, ass-wipe!"

  Kir turned to Travis, ignoring the two bickering idiots in the middle of the hallway. “Coffee?"

  "Love some, thanks."

  "Follow me.” He led the way into the kitchen and started making the coffee. “Has she always been like that?"

  "Yes."

  Kir turned to see Travis studying him closely. “How've you been, Tyr?"

  "Frantic, not knowing where Jordan was. And call me Travis, please; Jordan doesn't know."

  "I see she rectified that situation. And she doesn't know yet . Odds are she will soon."

  Travis nodded, not looking entirely happy about that. “I know."

  "Logan and I will have to have words with her about contacting you without consulting us first.” He was no less pissed at Jordan than Logan was. He was just better at hiding it.

  Travis's jaw clenched, but he didn't answer the taunt.

  "Frankly I'm surprised you didn't come in guns blazing. Why didn't you?"

  "A couple of reasons. First, Jordan asked me not to. She said the two of you were clients. She wants me to take over your case."

  Before he could argue the term clients , he heard Logan move towards the kitchen. “Bullshit, Lefty.”

  Logan pushed his way into the room and stood just in front of Kir. “She's not quitting, and I sure as hell don't want your help."

  "Then why did you come to my agency?"

  "Because we wanted Jordan. She just happened to work for you."

  Logan was leering at Jordan, who rolled her eyes and stepped out from behind Travis. “Knock it off.

  Jerk."

  "Get over here, Jordan."

  Her eyebrows rose slowly at the commanding tone in Logan's voice.

  "Now."

  He could practically feel Logan vibrating between the need to protect both Jordan and himself, and having them so far apart made that impossible. “Please, Jordan.” Kir held out his hand.

  She sighed and stepped forward, taking his hand. He turned to Logan with a grin. “See? I told you she likes me better."

  Logan gritted his teeth and smiled. “Right now I don't like either of you."

  Kir turned to Travis. “What's your other reason for being here?"

  Travis took a deep breath. “I owe you both an apology. A big one.” He frowned, his gaze on Kir. “Can we discuss this in private?"

  "I don't think so.” Logan was still between Kir, Jordan and Travis.

  Travis nodded, looking uncertain. “I meant with you and Kir."

  "Why would you owe them an apology? You don't know them.” Jordan's eyes blanked, a sure sign she was working something out in her mind. Travis grimaced just as she gasped. “Son of a bitch! "

  Travis held up his hand, his expression pleading. “Now, Jordan, don't get mad, okay?"

  "Travis Yardley-Rudiger? How could I not see that? That's almost as
bad as Grey! ” She glared at Travis. “Don't any of you have an original thought in your heads?"

  "I do,” Kir grinned, holding up a hand.

  "Ditto."

  Jordan turned her glare on Logan. “Oh, really, Logan ?"

  Kir smirked.

  "Has anyone ever told me the truth? Anyone at all?"

  The lost sound of her voice had him turning to her and pulling her into his arms. “Uh-huh."

  "Yes. Of course.” Logan's hands went around her waist as he cradled her to him, front to back. “We did the day we met you, remember?” His tone had gone from angry and resentful to soft and soothing. His gaze, still glued to Travis, was anything but soft.

  Travis put his hand down. “Would you have believed me if I told you?"

  Jordan stared at him for a moment. “Probably not.” She pushed away from Logan and Kir and faced Travis. “But there are things you could have done to make me believe. Just like Frick and Frack here did."

  "Hey!” Logan smacked her on the ass.

  "Ow!” She rubbed the sore spot, glaring at Logan over her shoulder.

  Kir sighed and pinched the bridge of his nose. If the two of them didn't knock it off, he was breaking out the splintery stick.

  "I'm surprised you didn't offer to order in pizza, or to shine his boots.” Logan sipped the extra-sweet coffee he favored and sneered at Kir over the rim of the mug. Kir was staring at Travis like he'd never seen the man before, and Jordan was sulking on the chaise, all curled up in herself and pouting at everyone equally.

  "Shush.” Kir waved a hand at him, ignoring Logan's snort. “You want to tell us what's really going on?"

  "I saw the video.” Travis shook his head, staring down at his coffee cup. “It was like a veil was lifted from my eyes."

  Logan exchanged a quick look with Kir. “When was the last time you ate with Grimm?"

  Travis looked up, confused. “What does that have to do with anything?"

  "It has everything to do with everything.” Logan sneered. “Or did you think your brain just suddenly started functioning again?"

  Travis's eyes narrowed. “Oh, please. Are you telling me Grimm somehow has all of the Aesir and Vanir drugged or something?"

  Logan nodded. “Yup, that about covers it."

  Travis looked stunned, not that Logan gave a crap. “You've got to be kidding me."

  "Just don't eat anything that might possibly have apple in it.” Kir took a sip of his coffee, looking completely unconcerned.

  Travis looked back and forth between the two of them. “Apple? "

  "The golden apples of Idun? The ones that supposedly keep the gods eternally youthful? When the hell do you think dear old Grimm last allowed us a taste, hmm?"

  Travis sat back, his brows lowered, his gaze turned inward. “He uses the apples to control the Aesir."

  "Finally,” Logan muttered, “someone gets it."

  "Why didn't it work when Grimm wanted Guardian Investigations bought out by Grimm and Sons? I remember you ranting that it would be a cold day in Hell, blah blah blah.” Logan looked over to see Jordan frowning.

  Travis grimaced. “I'd been out of the country for a while, remember?"

  "And you didn't attend any of the family dinners, and haven't been back since.” Her legs uncurled and she sat up a bit, a good sign as far as Logan was concerned.

  He was still going to spank her ass for calling Travis, however. From the look on Kir's face, he would have some help holding her down for it.

  "I even remember how mad he was that you refused to share a drink with him."

  The two of them stared at each other in grim understanding. Travis was the first to sit back. “Fuck. He's got all of them snowed."

  "And docile. Remember, shepherds love sheep."

  Travis stood and went to the laptop, Logan right on his heels. He wasn't having Travis messing around with their computer files and maybe finding out some things he wasn't ready for anyone, namely Jordan, to know yet.

  Travis opened an internet connection and hopped over to YouTube, bringing up the video Logan and Kir had made. He frowned and clicked on something. “Seems like Grimm is trying to take your video down."

  Logan snorted. “Yeah, good luck with that, Old Man."

  Travis stood. “I gather you have some sort of spell on the video?"

  Logan shrugged. “Of course.” He took a sip of his coffee, staring over the rim at Travis. He wanted the other man to understand that, as far as Logan was concerned, he was still here under protest.

  "Be nice, Logan."

  He turned and stared at Jordan, who was frowning at him again. He was getting damn tired of her frowning at him. “Why the hell should I?"

  "This is Grimm's fault not,” she waved her hand at Travis and grimaced, “Tyr's."

  "Travis.” Travis was staring at something on the computer screen as he corrected her.

  "Whatever.” She shook herself all over. “This is getting more bizarre by the moment, you know that, right?"

  Logan snorted.

  "I mean it, Logan. Travis isn't just my boss, he's my friend."

  He ground his teeth together.

  She raised her eyebrow and cocked her hip, like she expected him to just give in and play nice with the enemy.

  "He was under the influence of the apples, just like the rest of them.” She tilted her head. “Doesn't that mean I'm the enemy, too?"

  "No!"

  "Uh-uh!"

  "But I had the apples, too, remember? If Grimm had decided to tell me to, I dunno, marry Magnus or Morgan, I'd be a Grimm right now.” Her face paled. “What if he'd called my cell phone and ordered me to kill you? Wouldn't I have to obey?"

  All three men were shaking their heads before she'd finished. “You'd need a bit more persuasion than that.” Logan walked over to her and took her hand. “He'd have to have you under the influence, and then explain things to you in such a way that you believed them utterly."

  "So it's more like you're highly suggestible, not really completely under his control?"

  "Exactly."

  "Oh. So how did you break free?"

  He grinned, knowing how cold he looked and not caring. “Why do you think we didn't get along all that well?"

  "It didn't work on you?"

  "Oh, it worked, all right.” Logan sat on the chaise and pulled her into his lap, curling his hand around her hip. She settled down absently against him, making herself comfortable, a fact neither Kir nor he missed.

  They'd lived with her long enough to know that her temper burned bright but swift, especially if you could engage her curiosity. “But I figured it out and started pretending to eat. The effects wore off."

  "Enabling you to save Kir when no one else could."

  He nodded. Kir was smiling, Travis looked disturbed, and Jordan was grinning. “Damn, I knew you were clever."

  He rolled his eyes. For a millennium or more he'd defined clever.

  When her lips brushed his cheek he stilled. It was the first spontaneous, freely given display of affection she'd bestowed on either of them. He grinned at Kir and mouthed, See? She likes me better.

  Kir chuckled.

  "Travis, any idea what we can do next? Until Tweedledee and Tweedledum allow me out of the condo there isn't much I can do other than online stuff.” She glared at Kir and Logan equally. “Which is why I called you in."

  Travis opened his mouth to answer when a knock sounded on the front door. They stared at it.

  "Kir?"

  "I didn't order in pizza, Logan, honest."

  Logan tensed as Kir went to answer the door, setting Jordan back on the sofa and standing quickly.

  “Kir!” He strode towards his lover.

  "I know, I know! Sit, Kir. Stay. Woof.” Kir leaned against the wall and crossed his arms.

  "Don't pout, babe. Jordan does it better.” Logan opened the front door with a grin.

  The punch hurt almost as much as Jordan's piercing shriek. He looked up from his position on the floor
to see the twin sons of Thor standing over him, fists clenched, murder in their eyes.

  "How the fuck did you get through the wards?"

  Kir pushed both men back, ignoring their futile attempts to land a blow on him. “Gentlemen, if you'll just calm down, I'm certain we can come to some sort of understanding."

  "Die, imposter!” Magnus Grimm threw another punch, looking startled when it glanced off that invisible shield Kir was endowed with.

  "Die!” Morgan Grimm echoed his brother's movements a split second after, with the same effects.

  Logan leaned up on his elbows and glared at them. “Again, I ask: How did you get through the fucking wards? "

  "You must be slipping, Loki. There are no wards.” Magnus glared down at him, his blue eyes fierce, his face nearly matching his red hair as he tried to land blow after blow on Kir and failed.

  Morgan managed to get behind Kir and began raining blows on the back of his head. If he'd succeeded in landing just one, Kir would have been unconscious. Instead, he looked like the world's largest bobblehead, as the repeat blows bounced his head forward.

  " Guys! ” Jordan bellowed, her hands cupped around her mouth. “Stop!"

  "Did they hurt you?” Morgan bellowed back, turning to stare at her. He kicked Logan's leg in the process, looking grimly delighted when Logan hissed in pain.

  Logan stood. He felt his fires building inside him. Oh, goody. I haven't had a really good fight in a long, long time. His smile was feral as his fists lit up. “Hey, pretty boy. Did Daddy send you out here to do his dirty work?"

  "Logan, knock it off."

  "Tell that to your stepbrothers, Jordan.” He and Morgan began to dance around one another, both waiting for the other to make the first move.

  "Really, Magnus, you'd think you'd know me. You're my damn nephew, after all.” Kir was still trying to hold off Magnus, the elder twin, with little luck; neither one of them was willing to let the twins anywhere near Jordan, which was severely hampering their movements.

  Morgan, the bastard, feinted left, and Logan fell for it. He got past Logan, pulling Jordan behind him, both of her wrists grasped in one big hand. “We're leaving now, sis."

  Jordan gasped in pain as Morgan, all unknowing, put pressure on her shoulder wound.

  Thunder cracked. Lightning struck just outside the building, blinding anyone who looked out the window. Kir turned, his eyes dark blue, the irises white as snow. Dark clouds drifted across their surface like reflections in a pond. He completely ignored Magnus’ last punch; his head didn't even move. “Get