A/N: I've just decided this should continue on from You Can't Handle the Truth. Not really related, but set not long after. Still no ownership of Blood Ties whatsoever, blah, blah, blah...

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The short, slim young woman checked the address on the business card once more before leaving the café. After putting the strand of her light brown hair that made her side-fringe behind her ear for the millionth time that day she pulled on a long, grey coat, swung her black messenger bag over her shoulder, and headed out toward the PI's office.

"No case too strange? Well we'll see about that…"

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She arrived outside the office at half past seven in the evening. Dark had just set in and the world had become twisted into shades of orange and grey. She enjoyed the night, but much preferred nights in the countryside – the streetlights and high-rise buildings of the city obscured the beauty of the stars and moon in the velvet black sky. The office still had lights on inside and she went in, to be greeted by a young, dark-haired woman.

"Hi, my name is Coreen. I'm Ms. Nelson's assistant. Can I help you?"

"I hope so…" She said darkly. "I have a…strange problem, and I've heard Ms. Nelson is the best one for the job."

"News travels, huh?" Coreen said, noticing the woman's Irish accent and wondering if she lived in Toronto or had travelled to see Vicki.

"Indeed it does. May I speak with Ms. Nelson tonight? I can wait, if it's more convenient tomorrow…"

"No, no, she's in. I'll just let her know you're here. What did you say your name was?"

"Maeve. Maeve O'Brien.

Coreen went through the door into what the woman assumed was the PI's office, and emerged a moment later.

"Go right through."

As Maeve walked into Vicki's office Coreen inspected her. She had removed her coat and it was now draped over her arm. She wore little make-up and was wearing a purple t-shirt with a black Celtic symbol, baggy jeans and a pair or purple and black stripy Converse shoes. She looked no older than twenty and Coreen wondered what sort of problem had brought her to Vicki.

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"Miss O'Brien. How can I help?" Vicki was sitting at her desk. She gestured toward the seat opposite her, and Maeve took it.

"I'm going to get straight to the point. I know you handle…odd…cases and I've come a long way to see you. Have you any experience with the supernatural?"

Vicki raised her eyebrow, studying the young woman before her.

"Some, yes…" She said wryly, waiting to see what sort of trouble this girl was in. Magic, maybe, or some sort of cult thing.

"How about…vampires?"

Vicki's brows drew down, and she removed her glasses and rubbed the bridge of her nose. Surely this girl couldn't be involved with vampires - she seemed far too young for that. Maybe she had a similar story to Coreen – she'd have to wait and see.

"More than I'd care to share."

"Good…well I've been cursed. My husband is a vampire, and now every time he comes near me he becomes weak, almost to the point of passing out. I'm like Kryptonite to him right now, and I desperately need help. I miss my husband, Ms. Nelson, and I want this thing resolved ASAP. Can you help?"

"Hold on, husband? You look barely twenty!"

"I'm a mature twenty, Ms. Nelson. Can you help me?" the young woman looked hopefully at Vicki.

"I think so, yeah. Hold on a minute." Vicki needed to get Coreen, she was the magic go-to girl. She filled the gothette in on the problem and watched as her eyes glittered at the prospect of figuring this one out.

"Vicki, Coreen…" Henry entered the office, and immediately after greeting the women he stiffened, scented the air and growled.

"Henry?" Vicki was concerned for him. He rarely reacted like that, and when he did it was never without good reason.

"Who is in your office?"

"It's a girl, she's got one of those cases."

"Is she human?"

"Near as I can tell. Why? Are your vampy senses tingling?"

"She smells of vampire."

"Her husband is a vampire, but she isn't."

Maeve emerged from the office, moving slowly. Henry bared his teeth at her, regarding her with cold, black eyes.

"I am not here to harm you, vampire. I seek only the help of your friend." She lowered her head in a gesture of submission, and the predator in Henry recognised this. He growled, asserting himself as dominant and, a moment later, he was shaking her hand and introductions were being made.

"Whoa…" Coreen whispered in Vicki's direction and they exchanged bewildered looks. "What was all that?" she looked expectantly at Henry.

Maeve smiled at her, and sounded older than her years as she explained.

"The predator in him scented another of its kind on me. When predators come together pack order must me established, so I submitted to him, this being his territory, and recognised him as the dominant one; he would've attacked me otherwise."

"Right…So now that you've got your 'pack' thing done…You want in, Henry?" Vicki looked pointedly at him.

"How can I help?"

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A/N: Let me know if you likey...