Hey everyone! This is my first attempt at a Haven fiction so the characters may be a little out of character. This is also my first case fic. so that was another challenge that I had to hurdle through. Hopefully all like this! BTW I have finished this story so keep that in mind.

This story is SLASH, just a warning

Enjoy!

Chapter One

He watched as Nathan fawned over Audrey, using any excuse he could to touch her and by the twinkle in her eye and the hushed laughter she was enjoying every minute of it. It made him sick.

He loved Audrey, really he did but sometimes he was angered by her tendency to play with Nathan's heart strings then leave him in the dry while she went off to another man. It wasn't just that either, he was still pissed about the way she had played him that day with Harry Nix and her true intentions for involving him in the case. Though he knew that she was only doing what she believed to be right, and in the end hundreds of lives were saved, it wasn't her that had to kill a man to do that.

More nights then not he saw Harry's face as he held his hand over his nose and mouth, suffocating him as he fought for every last breath. Harry's eyes begging him to let him live, even if it was only for a few more minutes, his teeth scraping against his palm and hot bursts of desperate air coated his skin, all of this and more continued to haunt him even after he woke but the worst part of the flashes was the empty eyes of Harry after his heart stopped. A thought occurred to him the day after Harry's death and that was what Harry's last thoughts might have been? Did he think back to his childhood? His wife and children? Then that thought bloomed into another: Did he regret what he did? Duke hadn't known the man before the troubles started up again, Harry Nix could have been a decent man who genuinely loved his family and would never even think of hurting another human being. His thoughts could go on like that forever, if he let them, but he wouldn't because he had to put that behind him and pray that he would never have to take another life again.

Looking over at his wall clock he saw that it was nearing midnight, signaling that it was time to start closing up. Standing up he bellowed out, "okay folks we're closing in five so last call then head on home, and be safe out there!" people grumbled and many got up and headed for the door. Duke walked closer to the door and watched the patrons leave, making sure that all of them were sober enough to be driving. Looking back over at Nathan and Audrey's table he saw that they were still talking, that same stupid smile was on Audrey's face and that annoying mooning look Nathan was sporting. Catching the attention of his waitress Beth he instructed her to keep post at the door and to take the keys from anyone too drunk to be driving. She had worked in bars long enough to recognize a wasted individual, which was the reason that he had chosen her.

Walking over to his friend's table he pulled up another chair and sat down, effectively interrupting whatever conversation they were having. "I'm closing up the bar in about three minutes so if you guys want any more drinks speak up now" he sent Audrey an expected charming smile, completely ignoring Nathan who he could feel glaring daggers at him. "We're good Duke, in fact I'm going to head up to bed. Night guys" standing up from the table she smiled at them both, but of course her smile brightened towards Nathan, then she walked off. Only a few moments passed before the inevitable tension came to a boil.

"What do you want Duke?" Nathan practically growled, sighing in annoyance, but also in part for show, he answered with one of his usual flippant replies, "all I'm doing is sitting here enjoying a cold drink" saluting with his bottle he took a long swig. Shaking his head, probably in disgust, Nathan stood up from the table and made a quick exit.

The beer he had just finished now tasted rancid and he scrounged up his mouth at the horrible aftertaste. He should really check on those beer cases because some of them had obviously gone skunk. Or that was what he told himself. By now the gull had completely emptied out, leaving only him and his employees...or so he thought, sitting in a corner was an attractive young woman twirling the straw in her drink with a forlorn look on her face. Normally he would be over there already flirting her up but he wasn't in the mood for pointless sex, he just wanted to close up and go back to his boat to sleep.

Getting up from the table he walked over to the woman, "we're closing up now miss" she continued to stir her drink, like she hadn't even heard him. Getting a little annoyed but not going to let that make him be rude to a customer he bottled up his anger and sat down in the chair across from her.

"Look, I'm not the greatest at talking to people who are upset, which you clearly are, but whatever's bothering you I'm sure things will get better" he tried to encourage, but yet she continued to stare blankly at him, still stirring the straw in her drink.

This woman was really starting to weird him out, and he had an inkling that she may be troubled. About to get up to get Audrey back down here he actually jumped when the woman spoke, "I thought he loved me" her voice was so soft, but the words she spoke were like they had been punched out of her.

Sitting back down, still wary of the potentially "troubled" person across from him he spoke, "you thought who loved you?"

She stopped stirring the straw, and though he could see that she was looking at him she wasn't seeing him but something or someone else.

"I have to go now" silently standing she walked away, her walk so fluid it was like she was in some kind of trance and since this was Haven that wasn't out of the realm of possibilities. Getting up he started to follow her but was cut off by one of his waitresses who was asking about something or another but his focus was elsewhere.

"Just a sec I need to..." looking away from the waitress he saw that the woman was gone, "follow her...damn it!" he quietly cursed.

"Mr. Crocker?" the waitress asked, probably afraid she had done something wrong.

Gripping the back of his hair he internally growled. Great! A potentially distraught "troubled" person had just left his bar and there was no telling what kind of affliction she could have. Remembering the waitress he turned back to her.

"Sorry...Angela, what were you asking" he asked, looking down at her nametag. She was one of his newest hires when his last waitress quit so he was still getting to know her.

"I was just wondering if I could have the day off next Tuesday? I know I just started and all but my little brother is graduating from UCLA and I promised him I would be there-" she was getting into full on explanation mode but he didn't have time for that,

"It's okay, go ahead but just be sure to get someone to cover your shift, have a good night" almost sprinting away from her he didn't catch whatever she yelled after him.

Running outside on the off chance that she was still close by, he looked around but like in all similar situations she was nowhere to be found. Cursing again he turned around and climbed the stairs to Audrey's apartment, when he reached her door he saw that the lights were off but he really needed to talk to her so he knocked on the door, hoping that she wasn't a deep sleeper, when his first few knocks weren't answered he was about to get out his own keys when a light came on and a few moments later the door opened to show a very disgruntled Audrey.

"What's going on Duke? I'm trying to sleep" she complained as she tried to rub the sleep from her eyes.

"There was a woman-"

"I'm not in the mood for one of your conquest stories so if you don't mind I'm going back to sleep" she started to shut the door but he reached out and blocked the doorframe.

"That's not what I'm trying to say! there was this woman down in the bar and she was acting really strange, like "troubled" strange and I thought you should know that she left and is out in town somewhere possibly causing some problems" he explained, hoping that she would take him seriously.

She was quiet for a few moments before she spoke again, "did something happen that would make you believe that she was "troubled" and not just going through a rough patch?" she was still partially asleep but he could see that he had caught her interest.

"There was just something about her Aud, all she said was that she thought he loved her and that she had to go now then she just walked off. But I'm telling you, there was something really off about this girl and I just have a gut feeling that it's "trouble" related" he insisted, practically pleading with her now.

Sighing she scratched her head, "okay, just let me grab a coat and I'll go down to the bar with you and we can question your staff, see if they saw her" walking back inside she grabbed her coat off the hook then closed and locked her door and followed Duke down the steps back into the Grey Gull.

By now all of his staff were getting ready to head home for the night but he stopped them at the door, "sorry everyone back inside, Detective Parker and I have some questions that we need to ask you all then you can all go home" Duke stated, grumbles of disdain were muttered as they turned and walked back to the bar, some taking chairs and stools while others remained standing.

"What is this all about Duke? I got to get home and relieve my wife of baby duty" Mark, his head bartender asked and was soon followed by other people's needs to get home.

"Hey! Everyone just quiet down, the sooner we ask our questions the sooner you can all get home" Audrey yelled over the noise.

Consenting to her request the group quieted down and waited for the questioning to begin.

"There was a woman who was sitting at that table over there, now I know there were a lot of people coming and going but she left only about five minutes ago, she had blond hair, brown eyes and she was wearing a red dress. It's important that we find her because she could be in trouble, so if any of you saw which way she might have gone or even spoke to her please tell us now" Duke said, looking around at the group of people in front of him.

They talked quietly amongst themselves before Mark spoke up, "I'm pretty sure I served her a drink, she was really quiet and kept messing with her hair like she was nervous about something"

"could've been a date" someone else spoke up and there were murmurs of agreement.

"Did anyone happen to catch her name? Or see if she met up with someone?" Duke looked around at the suddenly quiet group, the answers to his question abruptly cut off. Seeing that he wasn't going to get anything else out of them he sent them on their way. When everyone had vacated the building Duke locked up and turned to face Audrey who was standing by the stairs.

"I'm right about this Aud, that girl is troubled and I'm betting that whatever happened tonight triggered her curse and something terrible is going to happen" he wasn't going to let another trouble related incident occur when he had the ability to stop it before the danger occurred. Looking into Audrey's eyes he could see the pity in them and that only angered him; he didn't want nor need her pity. She was probably thinking that he was still traumatized about taking Nix's life, she would be right but that was beside the point, he knew that he was right.

"I really need your help Audrey" begging was usually beneath him but he needed the resources she had, even if he was less than thrilled to be forced to team up with her.

"Okay, how about you come down to the station tomorrow and you can talk to our sketch artist and see if we can put a name to this woman" she suggested, quickly followed by a loud and long yawn.

Not seeing that he had much of a choice he nodded, "okay, but I'll do the sketch myself, while its still fresh in my mind" he clarified,

she gave him an odd look, "I didn't know you could draw" he chuckled, "there's a lot you don't know about me. Have a good night Parker" giving a parting charming smile he begin the walk towards his boat.

~Break~

About three blocks away from the Grey Gull a young man, in about his early thirties, was just settling down into bed to be fully rested for his conference tomorrow when he was interrupted by the jingling of his doorbell. Not feeling like getting out of bed he decided to just wait the person out, pretty soon they were sure to get the message that either he wasn't home or he was sleeping.

After a few minutes passed the person had now resorted to ringing the doorbell and rapidly pounding on his door so he had no choice but to go down there and answer the door before his neighbors called the police.

Throwing on his bathrobe he grumbled as he walked down the stairs to his front door. Unlocking the deadbolt he swung the door open, fully prepared to grind into this person who had woke him up in the dead of night but was effectively silenced by the person who was looking back at him.

It had begun pouring since he had been outside and she was completely soaked, her dress was clinging to her and her makeup was smeared down to her cheeks. But what truly unnerved him was the lifeless eyes that were drilling into him.

"Look, I really am sorry about what I did, it wasn't fair to you but it's over, okay? You can come inside and I'll call you a ride but after that, no more" he gestured for her to come inside but she didn't move.

Beginning to get annoyed and really freaked out he was about to slam the door on her face and call the police but froze when she finally spoke,

"you said you loved me" her voice was hauntingly quiet and deepened his fear of her motives for being here.

His throat suddenly becoming much drier and fully aware of the danger he could be in he chose his next words carefully, "yes I did, and I'm sorry that I hurt you, but we should both move on and start new relationships so that you can find someone who will truly appreciate you"

The nerve-wracking silence continued for a few more moments before she finally looked at him, for real this time and not through him.

"Your right, goodbye Jerry" turning away from him she walked down the steps and headed out into the night.

Still unnerved by his ex's unexpected visit he kept watching her until she was completely out of sight before closing the door and locking both the deadbolt and the lock on the doorknob. Knowing that he really needed to get some sleep he headed back up his stairs to his bedroom but just as he was nearing the last step it felt like all the air had been sucked from his lungs and his heart felt like it was being crushed inside his chest.

Desperately trying to take in oxygen he frantically clutched at his chest, as if that could alleviate the excruciating pain that was beginning to numb his body. Losing his footing he crashed and tumbled down the steps, the world jumbling around until his heart finally stopped and the world darkened.

Jerry's body now lay crumpled at the bottom of the stairs, his arms and legs splayed out at awkward angles as a thin trail of bubbling blood slithered out from the corner of his lips.