"Come on, Worth, I just want to get back already."

"What, missin' yer soaps, Confag?" Worth grinned that hideous, twisted smile, showing off more of his yellow and crooked teeth than the vampire cared to see. Before he could spit back some clever reply and demand a bag, splashing and the sound of running came from outside. Conrad knew who it was without turning around or stopping to think.

"Lookit, Connie, S'yer mommie!" Worth got up from his desk to open the door for Hanna, who always had trouble with it during storms. The redhead stumbled in either ignoring Worth's comment or maybe he just hadn't heard it because of the booms of thunder that followed him through the door. He'd wrapped himself in a black coat, probably belonging to his dead friend, because it was about five sizes too big for him and he looked even more like a kid. Hanna didn't look at Worth or Conrad as he swept across the office into the back room, leaving little puddles behind. Worth rolled his eyes and turned back to Conrad, reaching into his own white coat. He just held his hand out; he knew the drill.

"Didya know, Connie, that it's yer birthday?" If Worth wasn't grinning before, he was now. The smirk he'd been wearing moments before twisted into something more monstrous, more hideously evil that Conrad dared to think possible for the doctor. He was trying to smile like a normal person. Conrad nearly cringed at the realization, but as if on auto-pilot, he took the bloodbag from Worth with a mutter of thanks and proceeded to have his dinner. He watched as Hanna backed back into the room, his arms cradling something to his chest. He was just happy to have a reason to look away from Worth.

"Hey, Hanna. Where's the zombie? And what the hell smells like dog crap?" Conrad's tone was thick with suspicion that was trying to make itself into conversation. Hanna, apparently, chose to ignore the obvious insult as he struggled with whatever was in his hands.

"He's at the apartment. He can't go outside when it rains...He says happy re-birthday, though, and I got you a present...Ow!" Hanna didn't look behind him throughout the whole ordeal of trying to make the gift presentable. It wasn't until the redhead turned around that things started making sense again for Conrad. For one thing, it was not his birthday. The day he was born in a hospital wasn't what they were talking about. They were talking about the day Adelaide decided he would taste the best out of a man-child, a dead guy, and an artfag. They were talking about celebrating the day he'd died. He would have laughed, if he'd been in a better mood.

Another thing - Hanna smelled awful. He hadn't been referring to the gift - which smelled too, but not as bad. There were cuts on Hanna's face and hands, and obviously he'd taken up a job that was a bit too tough for him. It made Conrad wonder how hard it had been for the detective to get out of the apartment - no doubt he'd had to sneak out the window or something. Conrad sincerely doubted that the zombie would have let him go at this time of night - especially with a storm like this when he couldn't be there.

These things were annoying enough - but they paled in comparison to the actual present. No - he was sure Hanna had outdone himself in this endevour. The little shaking bundle in his hands was the last thing Conrad wanted for his birthday. It Hanna's tiny arms was an even tinier gray cat. It was thin, still a little wet, and it looked right pissed off to be there. Hanna was still sucking on his thumb, which the cat had taken the liberty of scratching. Even Worth was silent for forty seconds before he burst out into laughter, and Conrad would have gone red if he could.

"Hanna - that's a cat."

"Yup! Her name's Lucy!"

It wasn't coincidence. He knew better. Worth was in on this, he was probably the one that found the thing. But Conrad couldn't so much as heave a sigh before Hanna dropped the cat on him. He froze for a second and then did his best to catch the flea-infested bag of flesh that would certainly make an odd meal later. Conrad carefully shifted the cat in his arms, having no experience holding animals, and turned to Hanna, trying to pass her back.

"You don't want her?" Hanna's smile left his face and he looked like a kid whose ice cream had fallen off its cone. Conrad scowled at him, but didn't put the cat down. Because she was purring. And nuzzling his arm, whereas she had been spitting and hissing at Hanna whenever Conrad had held her out for him. It was strange - any dog the vampire had met before either attacked him or steered clear of him. It was the same with cats - but why was this one any different? Conrad wearily scratched the cat's forehead and grimaced at Hanna and Worth. Conrad opened his mouth to speak as he set the cat down, but for the third time that night, he was interrupted. Not by Worth or Hanna, but a sickly crunch. Hanna cursed and swiftly gathered Lucy up in his arms, trying to hide the sight from Conrad.

"W-what the hell just happened? Did I kill her...?"

Worth lit up a cigarette and sidled over to his desk, where Hanna had begun to poke at Lucy. She hissed at him and tried to latch onto his arm. As Hanna yanked his arm back, Conrad got a good glimpse of Lucy's leg, which was separated from her body, laying lifeless on the desk. Worth took over for Hanna, still chuckling as he stitched the leg on.

"Yeah, you'll have to be careful with her. Me and Steve-o found her on the street, and she falls apart easily cos she nearly got out of the coat, so yeah..."

"Wait." Conrad held up a hand to stop Hanna's rant. "You got me roadkill for my birthday?"

After careful consideration, Hanna nodded and smiled sheepishly.

Of course I don't own HiNaBN, you dingus. I'd make a pretty awful Tessa.

So this is my break from Home Sweet, which isn't going to be so angsty that I need a vacation, but I like to have two things going on. This will be updated either Monday or Wednesday. I will tell you for sure at the end of each chapter what to expect. I hope you enjoy! Tell me what you think!

Edited! This'll be updated this Monday, although it won't be about Conrad and Lucy this time. I'm thinkin' we'll drag in Gallahad, since he didn't get to be in the first one...