"Nottingham," Jake breathed, as he suddenly recognized him. He recalled Sara speaking of the man. In one moment she called him a freak, then in others she spoke of him fondly, almost with a girl school crush. The second part bothered him, hence he hated Nottingham. Jake lowered his gun, wondering what Nottingham wanted. The man in black bowed his head and walked down the street, as if the meeting had never taken place. Jake shook his head, tossed his gun on the bed and resumed the search for his pants. Pez was going to nag him until Christmas if she arrived before him.

***

"Please, please, please," he muttered to himself as he ran through headquarters. Jake reached his office and looked through the open door. He did not see Sara and breathed a sigh of relief. "Thank you."

"For what?" Sara asked, and emerged from under her desk, with a pencil.

"Uh.."

"It�s nice to see you could join me." Sara sat down and Jake searched for an appropriate excuse as he walked in.

"Well, you see, I.." He plopped down in his chair and leaned back, hoping his causal approach would win her over.

"Save it. It�s nice to know I made it to work before my partner." Sara threw him a folder. "We have a lot of paper work to catch up on." He quietly opened the file and began to read its contents. "Why were you late?" She inquired, for it was unlike Jake to be late to work.

"I didn�t set my alarm, I guess," he said simply. It was a pathetic explanation, but it was true. She said noting and he reassumed his reading, but Jake�s mind was not into it. The young officer was focused on Nottingham and why he was lurking around his apartment.

"What about Nottingham?"

"Huh?" Jake asked, raising his head.

"You said Nottingham was outside your apartment," Sara pressed.

"No, I didn�t."

"Yes, you did. I heard you."

"I never said that." Then he muttered, "I didn�t say it our loud, anyway."

"So," Sara pushed the latter part of his sentence from her mind. "Nottingham was outside your window?"

"Yeah, I don�t understand it." Jake leaned forward. "Normally he is always following you around. Why all of a sudden would he be after me?"

"It�s only been once. I wouldn�t get too worked up over it." Jake chewed on his lower lip out of frustration.

"No," Jake shook his head. "I saw him in the alley when we were being shot at, and I get the feeling I am being followed a lot. I swear it�s him." Sara wondered if Irons knew she had forced the witchblade to heal Jake. If he was aware of her actions she had no doubt that Irons had ordered Nottingham to watch, or hurt Jake. It was obvious to Sara that Irons was not pleased when people stepped between himself and the witchblade. Quickly she stood up and grabbed her leather jacket, which lay, across the back of her chair.

"Pez where are you going?" Jake asked, as he watched her leave but she did not respond. "Pez!" He snapped, again. Jake sat back in his chair and exhaled deeply. Jake always believed partners shouldn�t keep secrets from each other; but Sara was always leaving him in the dark and it was starting to annoy Jake. He threw his pen on his desk and for a moment sat there, wondering what he should do.

Sara emerged from the station into the crisp fall air. A chill instantly came over her and she zipped up her leather coat, hoping it would keep her warm. She was about to mount her bike when a sensation came over her, and she stopped. Sara looked around, her eyes scanning the area surrounding headquarters. The streets were crowed with people scurrying to and fro and the road was lined with cars bumper to bumper. A break in the crowd emerged and she saw Nottingham standing by a light post. His head was down and despite the temperature he stood perfectly still.

Sara marched over to him and opened her mouth to speak.

"Hello, Sara." His voice was cold, and deathlike. Slowly he raised his head and his brown eyes pierced her green ones. "I hope the day finds you well."

"Enough with the pleasantries Nottingham," Sara snapped. "Why the hell are you following Jake around? I can understand why you�d follow me, but leave Jake alone."

"I can�t do that, Sara."

"You listen to me! I�m warning you right now, stay away from Jake or there�ll be hell to pay. Don�t give me a chance to really see what this thing can do." She flashed the witchblade at Nottingham, as a reminder that she was its wielder.

"I�m sorry you feel that way." Without another word Nottingham bowed his head and walked down the street, melting into the crowd. Sara made a fist, instinct told her that Nottingham was not going to leave Jake alone. Again, she began to wonder if it had something to do with the witchblade.

She turned to head back into the station and saw Jake looking back at her from the stone steps. He had a disgusted expression upon his face. Sara�s eyes nervously darted to the right and then left and she stepped forward. She needed to talk to him, to assure her partner that she was on his side. However, before she was able address the problem he descended the stairs and walked away from her.

"Jake!" The young officer heard his partner call for him but he did not address her.

As Jake walked down the street, people bumping into him and car horns honking around him, he began to think about their relationship, or lack there of. His annoyance with Sara was growing as time progressed. She continually shut him out, was unwilling to share information, and was distant and most times unapproachable. It was bad before, but it had grown to monumental proportions after his shooting. He attempted to bridge an increasing gap between them, but she pushed him away. And when he told her that it was his assumption that Nottingham was following him, she accused him, in essence, of being paranoid. Then he caught her engaging in a conversation with the man whom was after him. It angered Jake.

"What the hell?" Sensing someone was watching him, Jake stopped walking and looked around. As people passed by him he caught a glimpse of Nottingham on the opposite side of the street. The two men looked at each other and for what seemed like an eternity, neither moving. Nottingham bowed his head and walked down the street. Jake made a fist, his frustration growing. Nottingham was allowing Jake to catch him so that the young police officer would know that he was being watched.

***

Jake walked for hours and hours, losing himself in the mindless bustle of New York City. He turned off his cell phone, breaking communication with Sara and the station; and despite the fact he knew there could be reproductions to such an action he did not care. Jake was always covering for Sara, now it was her turn to return the favor. As he ambled along the dirty streets he was pondered his existence. Things had changed for him, especially since his shooting. He felt different, odd, and unnatural. There were times where he swore he could read Sara�s mind, which unsettled him. His unusually quick recovery also disturbed him. Jake had always been in good health but to heal so rapidly was unnatural and almost unworldly.

His search for answers and his growing annoyance brought him to the one place he thought he would never visit. At least, it was Jake�s impression he would call under different circumstances. Making a fist he boldly pounded upon the door. For a moment or two there was no answer, so he pounded louder, then heard a crashing noise, which was followed by swearing then the door opened.

"Wh--Jake?" Sara stood before him in a tank top and boxer shorts. Her eyes were half-open which lead Jake to believe she had been asleep.

"We have to talk."

"It�s three in the morning," Sara grumbled, as she stepped away from the door. Jake pushed the door open and watched her fall onto her bed. He was unaware of the time and almost felt guilty for his untimely visit.

"Why were you talking to Nottingham?" Sara pulled the covers over her body and closed her eyes. Jake stood at the foot of her bed and kicked the mattress. He was growing increasingly angry and refused to put up with her cold shoulder attitude.

"It was nothing."

"Why were you talking to your boyfriend?" Jake�s tone expressed his mood and Sara sat up. It was obvious to her that he wanted answers, but she was unwilling to declassify information about the witchblade, Nottingham and Irons.

"For one Jake, he isn�t my boyfriend. And secondly it doesn�t concern you."

"You�re lying. Something is going on here and it concerns me and you know about it. As my partner you should tell me."

"Nothing is going on! There isn�t one big cosmic conspiracy to get you Jake! God, get over yourself!" It hurt Sara to be so cruel to him, but she was trying to protect Jake. The less he knew about the witchblade and its powers, the better off he would be. Sara lay back down and closed her eyes. "You know the way out, close the door behind ya." Jake exhaled deeply and Sara could feel his anger. You�re such a little fuckin bitch. Jake stormed out of the apartment and slammed the door behind him. Sara�s eyes swelled with tears. She had used the witchblade to save Jake�s life because she didn�t want to lose him, and now Sara was finding that Danny was right, the witchblade had changed him.

Frustration consumed his body as Jake walked down the empty streets. The overwhelming desire to smash his fist into something was great. He could not believe that Sara had treated him with such disregard. Jake had always welcomed her into his home, and he had an open door policy if she needed assistance. Now, the one time he needed her she turned him away.

"Damn it!" Jake cursed and then stopped walking. Again the feeling that Nottingham was near came over his body like a wave. He turned to see Nottingham�s dark figure standing in an alley. Again, he was in his classic pose, head down, arms extended before him and hands clasped together. At first he thought about fleeing, but he protested such an action. He needed closure and the only way to gain it was to confront the man who was stalking him.

"What the hell do you want?" Jake demanded, as he walked towards him. Nottingham did not speak at first, nor did he move. Then he raised his head slowly and looked at the young police officer. Nottingham took a step towards Jake.

"I have waited a long time for this Det. McCartey." Jake drew his gun, fearing his life was in danger. The jester of violence did not stop Nottingham and he continued forward. He stopped a few feet away and they looked into each other�s eyes. Jake�s finger tightened around the trigger but the gun was kicked from his hand before it was able to go off. Shocked, Jake looked at his gun, which now lie upon the ground and out of his reach. He made a fist, ready to fight and Nottingham knocked him to the ground with one simple punch. Jake gasped; his hand went to his lip and felt blood streaming down. His blue eyes gazed up at his assailant, surprised he had been struck with such force. Such power almost seemed unnatural. Attempting to rise Ian kicked Jake in the rips causing the wind to be knocked out of him.

"You are an unworthy opponent." Ian grabbed Jake�s hair and forced him to his knees, then punched the young officer again in the face. His head snapped back with another vicious hit and Jake could taste blood in his mouth. He spit and forced himself to stand.

"You�re not getting rid of me that easily." Jake said, but his words did not seem to phase his opponent who again struck at his prey, only this time Jake was able to block Nottingham�s punch. Ian was stunned, which left him vulnerable. Jake struck as hard as he could and Nottingham staggered back and fell to the ground. His gloved hand went to his nose and he saw blood on the black material. Nottingham�s brown eyes became large as if he was viewing his own blood for the first time. The sudden turn of events did not stop his attack. However, Jake was able to meet his advances. Nottingham did not understand how Jake was capable of causing so much damage to him.

The fearless warrior brought his hands together and then looked up at the sky. Jake watched, confused, wondering what Nottingham was attempting to do. Then, the young man�s gazed broke with the blue sky and he glared at Jake, hatred burned in his eyes. With all his might he moved against the police officer. Jake and Nottingham were on the hard ground throwing punches at each other, entangled in a bloody battle.

"STOP!"

Both men stopped at the sound of Sara�s order. They looked at each other, bloody and bruised. Jake managed to knock Nottingham off. Quickly the man clad in black stood up and fixed his trench coat. He and Sara exchanged glances then he walked away as if nothing had occurred. Sara ran to Jake and knelt down beside him.

"Jesus Christ," she muttered, looking over his brushed face.

"I�m fine," he said, and pushed her away. Jake stood up and tried to downplay the incident. "It doesn�t hurt."

"What the hell were you doing?"

Jake turned to her and there was something within his gaze that frightened her. "I don�t know what the hell is going on! Why don�t you tell me?" He was accusing her of knowing the attack would take place.

"W-what.." Sara was dumbfounded. Again, she moved towards Jake in an attempt to aid him but for the second time he refused her assistance.

"Leave me alone!"

"I�m trying to help," she muttered.

"Isn�t it a little late for that!" Jake grabbed his gun, thrust his weapon into its holster and marched away. Stunned, Sara watched as her partner walked away. She could feel his hatred and anger, and she did not know how to stop it. Sara took a step forward and then stopped, wondering if it was better to let Jake fight his own demons.

"He needs you," Danny said, standing next to her. Sara looked at him, with a confused look upon her face. He seemed to sense the whirlwind of emotions.

"Danny, I don�t know what to do."

"Yes, you do. Stop denying the truth, it will only hurt you in the end."

"Danny.." Sara looked around, but found her guardian had disappeared.

"What�s happening to me?" Jake asked his knees growing weaker as he continued to gaze at his own reflection. With shaky hands he pushed back his blonde hair. He felt faint and placed his hands upon the sink to steady himself. Bowing his head he tried to calm his nerves by breathing deeply. Jake lifted his head, feeling Sara�s presence and saw her reflection in the mirror. She stood in the doorway, with a look of hesitation. Jake turned to her, and she could see fear within his eyes. She also noticed Jake�s face was completely healed. "Sara, this isn�t normal."