| Chapter 30 A.J. rolled over and groaned. The ringing phone sending a shrill sound through his head. "Alright, alright," he mumbled, grabbing the phone, "This better be good." "Morning to you to A.J.," Kevin said. A.J. glanced at the clock, "It's 1:30 in the afternoon Kevin. What's up?" Kevin sighed, "Nick and I are still at headquarters." "What? Why are you still there?" A.J. asked, sitting up and rubbing his face. The silence on the other end unnerved him, "Kevin?" "Alex, Nick's tests didn't turn out that well. We're gonna keep him here until we can get a handle on his medication," Kevin said. "Alright, what do you want me to do?" A.J. asked. "I need you to cover for us. We aren't gonna be back today," he answered. "Well, we have the day off anyway," A.J. said. "I know that, but Howie and Brian might wonder where we are," Kevin said, "I'm hoping we can come back tonight, but I'm not sure right now." "Alright man, I'll come up with something. By the way, what exactly is wrong with Nicky?" he asked. "It's a really long story J, I'll explain once we get back, alright?" Kevin said. A.J. bit his lip, "Alright, tell the kid I'm holding down the fort." Kevin laughed, "I'm sure that'll take a load off his mind. I'll call if things change." "K Kev, see ya," A.J. said, hanging up the phone. He pushed the blanket off himself and got up, walking over to the mirror. He stared at himself for a moment, "Alright Alex, think. Why would Kevin and Nick be gone all night and all day?" He stood there for a moment, thinking, then he sighed, "Hell I got nothing. Maybe they won't ask," he said, heading into the bathroom. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Howie opened his door, "Hey guys," he said, letting them in, "You just get up?" "A little bit ago," Brian answered, "We ordered breakfast, hope you don't mind." "Naw, I was about to order something myself," he said, sitting down on the couch. Tracy moved to sit next to Brian, "Who's the red head?" Howie was taken a bit off guard, "Um .... well her name is Jennifer." "What was she doing up here last night?" she asked. Howie looked down at the floor, his face turning red. Brian raised his eyebrows, a smile creeping onto his face, "Ohhh well dang D why didn't you tell us?" Howie glanced up, "Tell you what? That I have a girlfriend who just happens to be a vampire?" Tracy stared at him, "Howie, how much do you know about her?" "Everything," he said with a smile, "I love her so much, I can't wait for you guys to meet her." "Yeah, that'd be nice," Brian said, as a knock sounded at the door. He got up and answered it, letting room service push the cart in. He tipped the man and then shut the door. He uncovered the plates of fruit and handed Tracy one, along with her drink. Howie watched them, intrigued at their choice of food. "So when did you meet her?" Brian asked. Howie thought a moment, "It was the day you left with Tracy. A.J. and I went shopping and we ran into each other." "And she followed you out here?" Tracy asked. "Well, she's made every stop with us," he said. "And you don't think there's something wrong with that?" she asked, popping a strawberry in her mouth. "Well no," he answered. "Howie, who is her sire?" Tracy asked. "I don't know," he said, "Why are you asking me all this?" "We're just concerned," Brian said, "We don't want anything to happen to you." "What would happen to me?" Howie asked. Tracy sat her empty glass down, "You are a watcher Howie, think like one for a minute. Don't you think it's just a little convenient that you meet her the day Brian disappears? And that she's followed you to every stop since?" Howie sat quietly staring at the floor. "D, I hope we're wrong, but for your sake, we gotta ask," Brian said. Howie shook his head, "You are wrong. She's not some spy sent here to keep tabs on you. I love her and she loves me. She's here because she loves me, nothing else." Tracy and Brian glanced at one another, then back at him. "I pray you're right D," Brian said. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ "Hey, there you are." Candice looked up from the book she was reading and smiled, "Hey David, how long you been here?" "Not long, what's up?" he asked, glancing at a sleeping Nick. Candice sighed, "He has the gene." David frowned, "Oh I'm sorry." She shrugged, "What can ya do? I just hope the medicine they're giving him works." David walked over and pulled her up into a hug, "I hope so too, I know how close you two are." She looked up into his gray eyes, "Thanks David. Give me a minute and then I'll be ready." He nodded, and stepped out of the room. Candice gently shook Nick, smiling at him when he opened his eyes. "Hey, I'm going out for a while," she said. "Is it night?" he asked. "It will be soon. Kevin is down in the meeting rooms, he should be back in a little while. Do you need anything before I go?" she asked. He shook his head, "No, be careful out there." She grinned at him, "Always am. I'll see you later." Nick nodded, watching as she walked out the door, and longing to go with her. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ A.J. headed down the hall, ready for another night on the town. The day had been quiet. He figured everyone was resting, and was glad he didn't have to answer any questions about Kevin and Nick's whereabouts. He was almost to the elevator when he heard a door shut behind him. "Hey J, wait a sec," Howie called, running to catch up with him. "Hey D, what's up? No date tonight?" he asked. Howie shook his head, "Naw, I'm meeting Jen later. Where you off to?" He shrugged, "Just out. There's some clubs I wanted to check out." Howie gave him a stern look, "You will behave right?" A.J. gave him an innocent look, "Always." "Uh huh, listen, have you seen Kevin today?" Howie asked. A.J. froze, "Um no, why?" "Well I needed to talk to him about something and he's not in his room. Neither is Nick for that matter," he said. A.J. looked at the floor, "Well, maybe they went out?" Howie stared at him, "Since when do Kevin and Nick go out with each other? Those two are always at each other's throats." A.J. sighed, "Listen man, um I wasn't suppose to say anything but um," he glanced up and down the hall, making sure no one was there, "There's something going on with those two." Howie raised his eyebrows, "Like what?" A.J. fidgeted, "Well ... um ...... I kinda walked in on them the other day." Howie stared at him, "What do you mean walked in on them?" A.J. bit his bottom lip, praying to the gods Kevin didn't kill him for this, "They were um .. kissing." Howie's eyes bout shot out of his head, "What?!" "Shhhh," A.J. said, "Do you want the whole floor to hear?" "Sorry, but you just said ...." Howie started. "I know, it shocked me too. But look at it man, they've been spending a lot of time with each other lately. And I think all that fighting was just tension, ya know?" he said. "So you're telling me that Kevin and Nick are seeing each other, like a couple?" Howie asked, trying his hardest not to laugh. A.J. nodded, "Yeah, but you didn't hear it from me. I promised them I wouldn't say anything." Howie grinned, "Ohh and we all know how well you keep secrets." A.J. glared at him, "Oh shut up." "Ohhhhh Kay then," A.J. said after a moment, "I gotta get going, tell Jennifer I said hi." "I will," Howie said as A.J. turned and entered the elevator. Once the doors closed he headed back to his room, laughing. "Kevin and Nick, no way," he said, shaking his head, "No way on earth!" he laughed. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Tracy watched as Brian stood on the balcony. He was dressed in jeans and a t-shirt, the curls on his head unruly in the breeze. The last bit of daylight was disappearing on the horizon, bathing him in orange and purple. She sighed, closing her eyes. Everyday her feelings for him grew stronger. And it was the little things, like watching him now, that took her breath away. He seemed so far away, lost in thought, as his eyes followed the last of day. She joined him, standing next to him. He looked troubled. "What is it?" she asked. He glanced at her, his blue eyes shining, "She's here." "Raven?" she asked. He nodded, "I can feel her." "Has she spoken to you?" Tracy asked. "No, and I hope she don't," he said, turning and leaning against the railing. Tracy took his hand, "I'm here, if it gets to be to much, just tell me." "What can you do? This bond wont break until we kill her, so until then, I've gotta endure it," he said. The hopelessness on his face tore at her soul. "Brian, you can't be afraid of her. She feeds on that," she offered. He sighed, "I know, but I can't help it. She's like pure evil, and I can't bare to think what she's capable of doing." "That's why we have to stop her," she said. He nodded, "I know, but how." "Why don't we do a little digging tonight. See what we can find out, where she's hiding, what's going on, K?" she said. Brian smiled, "I always wanted to be a detective." "That's the spirit," she giggled, pulling him into the room, "Let's get ready and get to it then." Chapter 31 |