The Adult Denby Fanfic Site

Simplicity

AUTHOR: Amanda J Frechin.
DISCLAIMER: The usual. I don't own the characters, but I own Amanda (sound familiar?) Dez, and Kelli.
FEEDBACK: To Amanda J Frechin

Diane and Harry trudged on behind Tony and Wendell. Thoughts pumped a course rhythm through Harry's mind, and he wondered to himself if he was dead. That would certainly explain the odd situation that he currently found himself in. Denby kept glancing over at Diane, who was unbearably silent and brooding. Every time he caught her glance she would glare at him. Did she blame him for the situation they were in?

A feeling of repulsion caught Harry dead in the stomach. Why didn't he tell her about Don? Not being able to answer that, not even in a lie, killed him. What was he supposed to say to her though? Tell her that he was hired to kill her, but he still loved her and would try to get out of it? Sometimes his life just felt like a poorly written cop drama.

Harry's foot caught in a puddle of a disgusting mix of what seemed to be hoarse manure and mud. He surged forward and landed on the ground, his arm bent at an odd angle underneath him. Muttering some swear words that were inaudible by the rest of the group, he picked himself up, unaided by anyone. Glaring at their backs, he continued the path to wherever he was going.

Diane stared at the long entrance that seemed to loom in front of her. Her mouth dropped open of it's own accord, and behind her, Harry caught up, panting.

"What the hell is that?"

"It looks like a castle." Her voice was dripping with sarcasm. She sent him an icy look and he said nothing more.

"Ah, home sweet home." Tony didn't look too fatigued but Wendell on the other hand, Wendell looked like he spent most of his days cooped up in a carriage, which, most likely, he had.

"So, are you going to put Denby on to this Wolf guy or not?"

"Just give me a moment to summon the servants."

An ear-peircing whistle emitted from Tony. Diane and Harry winced, but the thunder of horses hooves shortly followed Tony's call and their shoulders sunk in relief. Climbing in, Diane realized how tired she was. It had been a good twenty mile walk and the events of the previous...day, or it could have been longer, the time factor was really bad, well, everything had worn her out.

Denby was sent to a room with a promise from Tony that he would send Virginia, Wolf's wife, into talk with him because she was from New York as well, and Wolf was out hunting because of the full moon. It had sounded ridiculously surreal, but he had went along with it.

After stripping off his clothes, Harry slipped chin deep into a bathtub filled with deliciously warm water. He sighed, and felt the bubbles tickle his nose. He batted them away, sniffing. The steam rose in little coils up from the water, and he blew at them to distort their formation. This water felt so good, almost like it was blessed by a magic healing hand.

A little while later, a quiet knock disrupted his bath. He huffed a little, and then called out to whoever it was.

"Yes?"

"Mr. Denby?" It was a woman's voice. She sounded petite, but it could have just been the wood of the door distorting her voice. "I'm Virginia Lewis. My father explained to the best of his knowledge what happened. Can I come in?"

"I'm in the bath, but if you're okay with that, then yeah, sure."

"Alright, if you're okay with it."

The door creaked on it's hinges when it opened and Harry stretched his neck to peer at the doorway. There stood a dark haired woman, about 20 or so, with lucid blue eyes and a small, trim figure. Her hair was short, and looked like it had been somewhat bluntly cut, but now that it was growing out, it looked silky and shined in the light. Altogether, she made a rather charming picture. She would have been even more attractive if it weren't for the look of shock on her face. Then, suddenly, as if something had hit her, she blinked and a pleasant smile took home on her face.

"Oh, I'm sorry, I didn't mean to stare...well, it's just that you look exactly like my husband. My father told me that you did, but I guess I just figured that there was a little resemblance. It's a little confusing, that's all."

"Yes," Harry said dryly. "We've been dealing with the identity crisis since your father found my partner and I. I must look a lot like this creature-" After he said the word 'creature,' he stumbled to rephrase it. "I, uh, I mean, I must look a lot like Wolf if I'm getting this kind of a reaction."

Virginia smiled a little more, as if reminiscing.

"Oh, there is more there then just resemblance. You'll see what I mean when Wolf come's back tomorrow."

"There is one thing I don't understand."

"Yes?"

"Is he a wolf wolf?"

"Oh, very much so. If you count the change, and the tail, and the fangs..."

Harry shook his head, hoping it would knock some sense into him.

"I think I'm dreaming."

"You're not. Believe me. It took me two dead queens, an evil mother and trolls before I figured that one out."

"Trolls?"

"I think you should get some rest before I tell you the rest of the story."

"Okay. Could you at least tell me where I am?"

Virginia laughed this time, and then, laced into a sort of speech.

"You're at King Wendell's castle, where the traveling mirrors are located and where some of the most important women in fairy tale history used to live. All in all, you're in Never Never Land."

Harry grinned. Somehow this all made perfect sense.

"So you're from New York."

She nodded.

"Yes. Right by Central Park. You know the restaurant 'The Grill and the Green'?"

"I've heard of it."

"I used to work there, as a waitress, but then I met Wendell and..." her voice trailed off. "I think I should wait until Wolf get's back before I tell the rest."

"Why not now?"

"Because, without him here, you'd never believe me."

"Oh, I think I would. You seem to me like a very...convincing woman."

He hadn't meant it to sound like a come-on, but the silky tone that he sometimes couldn't stop from slipping into his voice chose that moment to appear. Virginia gave him an odd look.

"Yeah, well, I'm gonna go talk to your partner...Diane did you say it was?"

"Yep. Diane Russell."

"Oh. Hey, what precinct did you work in?"

"Most recently, the 15th."

"Oh."

"Well, good luck with Diane."

"I don't think I'll need it much if she's anything like you, but thanks."

"And hey, could you tell me what room she's in?"

"I think just down that hall, the last door on the left. My bedroom is the only other occupied one besides yours and Diane's."

"Okay. Hey, would you do me a favour?"

"Sure, what?"

"Pass me that towel, will ya?"

"Only if you promise to behave yourself."

"I'll go first."

"But you said it first, so I'll hand you the towel and then you can behave yourself. We'll make it a priori on your side of things."

She threw him a towel and chirped a goodbye, and Harry just stared at her back as she left the room. Priori?

Continued in Part 19.