AN: This is a AU set after the war with Millenium. There are spoilers for Volumes 6 up. It also deals with a possible relationship developing between Integral Alexander Anderson.

Disclaimer: I do not own Hellsing - only wish I did. Hellsing is owned by Mr. Hirano.

Alexander Anderson was running late for his meeting at the Vatican. It was the last place in the world he wanted to be. Anderson had not been to the Vatican or fired his gun since the war ended, nearly three months ago. Although the Priest never would have believed it could happen, he had enjoyed the break away from the battles with demons and ghouls, leaving that work to the new younger, rash young men and women recruited by the new administration at Section XIII. Father Anderson had gone back to running his orphanage right after the war. Unfortunately, the Pope had insisted he attend this meeting since he was the highest ranking Iscariott member involved in the war. Father Maxwell had been murdered by Millenium. So now he was being drawn back into the politics of the vampire hunting game. There had been no visible conflicts for months – but surviving members from Milllenium were launching attacks from the shadows. The war was anything but over. Anderson just hoped the leader of Hellsing didn't try to bring up the crimes committed by Iscariott under Enrico's control. The priest was rather a shamed of what his former boss had done to England's innocent civilians in God's name. This meeting was the Vatican's first attempt to pay for its war crimes by organizing a meeting of all of Europe's demon hunting organizations.

He sensed something was wrong the minute he walked in the door. It was not anything specific, but a feeling in his gut. A few seconds later the entire building went black. A feeling of dread started to creep into his soul. Anderson had a premonition what was about to occur was huge. This was not a simple assault but bordered on war. It was that moment when he heard the voice of his adversary – Integral Hellsing.

"I will not be scared by you monsters. It is my family's duty to exterminate your kind. How dare you ask me to surrender? I will never surrender to any of you. You are nothing but weak monsters." Integral Hellsing screamed at the beasts and started firing her gun. She was sure this would be the end of it. The Hellsing commander shot all three of the vampires in the head – they should have died instantly. She had shot them with silver bullets blessed by the minister at St. Phillips church. To her horror, all three of the beasts merely froze for a moment and continued to advance on her. What in the bloody hell is going on?

Anderson watched as the demons were unaffected by Integral Hellsing's blessed silver bullets. He did not think twice about his actions as he withdrew his sword and launched an attack on the vampires. Anderson watched in shock as his blades failed to cut through the vampire's necks. He could not remove their heads. Why are my weapons failing me now? Anderson continued to slice the monsters with his sword and watched horrified as they instantly regenerated. Their regeneration powers rivaled that of the most powerful vampire he had knew – Alucard. The Priest was just barely holding them back. He wasn't sure how much longer he could contain them. The vampires had weapons of their own – small daggers that glowed. Anderson could feel the blades cutting his skin and from his pain knew they were no ordinary blade.

"Sir Hellsing – you better go find some place to go. I'm not sure how much longer I can keep them back."

"How in the bloody hell do I get out of this place, Father?"

Anderson thought for a moment. The electricity was out. Because of the security system Enrico had installed, they were locked in here. In the event of a power outage, the doors locked everyone in. The building they were in was now like a fortress. Something about sacred texts in the library that had to be protected at all costs. This is a bloody nightmare.

"I'm sorry Sir Hellsing – I think we are locked in here. There is a security system that locks down the building if the power fails. It works very much like those set up in prisons."

"God damn it! Why would anyone install such a system at the Vatican? Who is responsible Father Anderson?

"I'm sorry to say it was Father Maxwell." Anderson watched as the Hellsing got more enraged at the mention of the former Iscariott leader.

Anderson grabbed Integral by the arm. "Sir Hellsing, I know where we can go. You must trust me. There is a room that should be safe and we might be able to find something in it to help. Will you come with me?"

Integral looked into Alexander's eyes as she thought about what decision to make. The priest had saved her once before. There was no reason not to trust him. She looked at the vampire's that he was barely holding back. I have no other choice.

"Oh all right, Father. I'll put my safety in your hands. Just so you know – I'm sure Alucard will be here soon. At least he better be."

Alexander Anderson grinned at Integral as he pulled her away from the vampires. They ran down some stairs and several hallways. The ghouls and vampires were no longer following them but they continued to run. Finally the two reached a room with bolted up double doors. Father Anderson took out his keys and unlocked the doors. He pulled Integral through the doors and bolted them shut again. Integral looked around – there were a few emergency lights that lit the room. A library? What are we doing in a library? Integral took a deep breath and found a table to sit at. She shook her head in disbelief at everything that had just happened. Is this madness ever going to end?

Integral sat calmly smoking her cigarette watching Father Anderson pace back and forth in the room. She had to stifle a chuckle – the Priest was acting more insane then usual. He was ranting about the beasts and Alucard. He was bordering on incoherent.

"Father Anderson! Will you come here and sit down. We have to figure out what to do."

"Sir Hellsing, I cannot let my guard down for a minute. Those demons will find a way in here. I must find a way to stop them. Sit down and let me handle this." Father Anderson started to unbolt the door.

Integral glared at the Priest – how dare he be condescending to her and why was he acting like such an idiot? "Father Anderson – we need to talk about this! Those vampires were hardly affected by my bullets or your swords. You can't go back out there. Not yet. We must figure out their weakness. There must be something that harms them."

Anderson stopped fooling with the locks. Anderson hated that Integral was right but she did have a point. There had to be something that could stop them. He stormed over to the table almost knocking down the chair as he sat in it. His rage was getting the best of him and now he was trapped in this room with the heretic. At least she didn't have Seras Victoria with her. Anderson wasn't sure if he would be able to control his rage if she was trapped in there with them.

"So, Sir Hellsing, where is your other demon?"

Integra ignored his comment but answered his question. "Alucard is back in London. I didn't wish to bring him here. He'll be coming soon. As you know, Alucard cannot resist a fight."

"Yes, I know. If I had me some weapons to destroy those demons, I would."

"I know that, Father Anderson. It is more important for us to...stay alive. Did you - get hurt?" Integral noticed Father Anderson was bleeding. "Shouldn't that have stopped by now?"

"Yes – they stabbed me with one of their cursed swords. It must have been blessed with black magic. My body should have healed this wound."

"Father Anderson, you better let me take a look. If your wounds aren't healing on their own, they need to be treated. You're - bleeding." Integral lit a match and saw just how hurt the Priest was. She did her best to hide her shock. Father Anderson saved my life again.

"I'll be okay, Sir Hellsing. I don't have time for this. I have to-"

Integral didn't like the way the Priest was moving. His gait was unsteady. "Father Anderson, is there a first aid kit in this room?"

He nodded and pointed to the storage area. Integral lit a match and headed there. She found the first aid kit and picked it up. On her way out the door, Integral spotted a case of red wine. Although the Hellsing commander thought it was an odd place to store wine, she grabbed a bottle. It was the first thing she had seen to drink since she had arrived. And Integral was damn thirsty.

Anderson was nearly passed out. Integral wonder if she had entered into an alternate universe. Anderson was supposed to be nearly indestructible. Alucard had chopped off his arms and the priest had still wanted to fight. Integral could tell Anderson was struggling to appear strong. Maybe something from the first aid kit would help. Damn – I am not cut out for this kind of thing. I need Walter here. He was always so good at this. The Hellsing leader thought she owed him at least this much. They may have been more adversaries then comrades but Anderson had saved her life twice. Anderson must have sensed her presence because roused from his state of almost sleep.

"Sir Hellsing, what in the ?"

"Father – you're still bleeding. We need to bandage your wound. This is not good. We can't harm them but they managed to do this to you. It certainly has Millenium written all over it."
Integral turned on a flashlight she had found in the first aid kit. Anderson had a huge wound on his bicep. And it was covered in blood. Fresh blood was not a good thing with a building full of vampires. "We need to get you cleaned up before-"

"Before the midians smell the scent of me blood. Sir Hellsing, I can do it. Just give me the -" He cringed from the pain in his arm.

"Father, we may not have much time. Let me help you with this at once." The priest nodded reluctantly. Integra was sure the Iscariott Assassin hated to be taken care of and how weak it made him feel. When she was growing up, Integral had often felt much the same way. She had even hidden her sprained arm from Walter once when she was 15 years old. "Okay Father, we're going to need to take off your shirt. It is drenched in blood.

"Okay, let me." The priest started to remove his shirt but needed Integral's help. She took off her gloves and unbuttoned his shirt. The sensation of Integral's warm fingers on his skin, gave the Priest chills. It was a sensation that was both strange and tempting to him. Anderson knew he should not be enjoying her touch but he was. The weakness from his body seemed to be spreading to his soul. Inside he was furious. At the monsters who did this to him. At his own weakness. At Father Maxwell for getting him into this mess. His eyes were drawn to Integral's. I never noticed how beautiful she was – why am I noticing it now?

Integral wiped his wounds gently. She used a salt-water wash and gauze cloths from the kit. It wasn't the best in this situation but did the job. Integral could not help but notice the priest's muscular chest and arms as she washed off the blood. Touching Anderson's skin as she looked at his bare chest caused stirrings deep inside Integral. The Hellsing commander was not unfamiliar with these kinds of feelings but denied she could have them for a Catholic priest. As she finished washing off the blood Integral felt drawn into Anderson's blue eyes. The two gazed into each other's eyes for seconds that turned to minutes. Integral smiled at the priest before getting the bandage for his wound. For a moment it felt to both of them like they might kiss.

Anderson was the first one to speak after their awkward moment. "Sir Hellsing – we are more comrades in this situation. It seems silly to call each other by our titles – when we could die. Shall we lose the formality until this madness is over?"

Integral smirked. "What are you suggesting, Father?"

"For today you can call me Alexander."

"Okay, Alexander. I guess you can call me Integral. Just don't tell anyone – it would ruin my reputation. It should only be for another day or so. Here, let's get that arm wrapped." Integral wrapped Anderson's arm slowly, being careful not to hurt him.

"Thank you, Integral."

Anderson closed his eyes as he felt Integral's bare skin touch his. The feelings that were in his body now were not pure and he did not have the strength to stop them. If he survived, Anderson decided he would go immediately to Confession. Besides what would Integral say? She would probably hit him. The priest hoped that she would not notice the bulge that had started to grow in between his legs. How could he ever explain that? Instead he focused on the sensation of her soft, delicate fingers on his arm. As close as she was to him, Anderson could smell the clean fruity fragrance of her hair. A part of him wanted to stroke her hair and hold her against his chest, but knew that could never be. They were adversaries, practically enemies. He was a priest. Wasn't he supposed to hate her? She was a Protestant, a sinner, a heretic. She employed the demons themselves. Anderson recalled all the names he had called her and others in Hellsing in the past. Heretic. Sinners. Demons. Evil. Now, she was showing him all of the kindness in the world as she wrapped his arm. It was funny how war changed things. He hadn't always been a priest and underneath it all, wasn't he still a man? As Integral started to remove her hand from his arm, Alexander couldn't help himself as he stopped her with his good hand. He took her hand into his and looked into her eyes. Both were frozen in the moment. Finally, Anderson found the courage to speak.

"Integra, thank you."

Integral felt like she unable to move. The touch of the Priest's skin on her own was strangely electrifying. A warm current flowed through her body from the point of their contact. The feeling was too pleasant for her to end it. She closed her eyes and just enjoyed it. She smiled warmly at Anderson before she spoke. "Alexander, you have saved my life on two separate occasions. This is the least I can do for you. I owe you so much more. Besides if we don't bandage your wounds, the ghouls will smell the blood – and then we'll both die. So you might say my motives are not entirely noble."

Anderson grinned. He was grateful that Integral was allowing him his dignity and not acting like he owed her or was weak. She returned his grin as she attempted to open the bottle of wine.

"I forgot about those being in here. At least we won't get dehydrated."

"We can't drink much, Alexander. We have to remain alert. It will be good to get some kind of calories into our bodies. The priest nodded. "Now, Alexander, we just need some glasses."