Note: This story was written in response to a spook-me Halloween challenge on LiveJournal, and as such may contain peril and serious/fatal harm to major characters. If the thought of that upsets you, please don't read. This is technically a Marvel-verse crossover, but because I play kind of fast and loose with Marvel canon here, I don't really consider this a true crossover story. The full NC-17 version of this story may be found elsewhere. Sex scenes have been edited down, but the story still contains adult language and situations, and violence. Please read responsibly.

Nancy opened her eyes and felt a momentary burst of panic. She had no idea where she was. She was in a tall unfamiliar bed, and when she moved the counterpane slid down; she hadn't been tucked in under the covers. The sky was gunmetal grey through the sheer drapes, and the soft hush of rain reached her.

And then the pain rose from a dull throb to a hot, angry ache, and she released a very quiet groan, reaching down to comfort her leg.

Ned. They had arrived and he had offered to help her inside, and she had insisted on doing it herself, but at about the third step he had just swept her up into his arms and carried her up the stairs. Before they had even crossed the threshold, she had passed out again.

And she so would have loved to tease him about carrying her into a bedroom like this.

The pain didn't abate. She struggled to focus. Pills. She needed her pills.

With a slightly louder groan, she managed to put one foot, then the other, on the hardwood floor. She shifted her weight and the floor creaked a little, and she moved to the edge of the mattress. Her head was pounding and her mouth was painfully dry.

She hung her head, taking deep breaths, her eyes closed, and when she opened them, Ned was walking through the doorway, a small smile on his lips.

"Hey, babe."

"Hey," she said, her voice coming out as a croak. She cleared her throat and tried again. "Hey."

"Thought I heard you." He moved to a bag on the dresser and located the orange prescription bottle. "Let me go get you something to drink. Water? Soda?"

"Water," she said gratefully, taking the bottle from him. When he returned with a glass she tossed the pills into her mouth, then swallowed them quickly. She knew the relief wasn't immediate, but she felt better just knowing she'd taken them.

"Did you talk to my dad?" she murmured, fighting to keep her eyes open.

"Yeah," Ned replied, taking the glass from her. "I told him where we are and he said for you to rest up and get home when you can."

Nancy managed a small smile. "How's he doing?"

"He sounded—" Ned paused only slightly before the last. "Okay."

The low hum of voices downstairs rose to a burst of prolonged laughter. Ned glanced back, then walked over to the bed and touched Nancy's cheek.

"What's going on downstairs?"

"Just meeting the other guests," he said easily. Her eyes closed as he caressed her. "How are you feeling?"

"Like shit," she admitted, unconsciously comforting her leg again. "Maybe if I wake up a little."

Ned smiled. "Well, I can bring you a coke. And... there's good news and bad news."

"Oh?" Another burst of laughter reached them, and Nancy glanced that way, then back at Ned.

"The bad news is that this was the last room they had available."

"Not really bad news," she pointed out. "They must be doing pretty well."

"It's break time at the college." He shrugged. "The good news... is that this was the last room they had available."

She fluttered her lashes at him. "Just don't tell my dad."

"Absolutely no intention of that," he told her, and sat down beside her. "I'm just so glad you're safe, Nan. Another inch..."

Nancy placed her fingers over his mouth, then leaned forward and gave him a soft kiss. "Shh," she told him. "It wasn't another inch."

Nancy's last case had been tracking down a man who was brutally beating a string of men and women. He had turned out to be the enforcer for a bookie and loan shark. While Nancy had been working with the police, a snitch in the department who owed the bookie a favor had given him a tip. Ned had finally tracked Nancy down in one of the clubs the bookie owned, after a vicious fight. While Nancy was more than proficient at several hand-to-hand combat techniques, the enforcer had eighty pounds and six inches on her, and she was still nursing several bruises. The deep leg wound he had inflicted late in the fight had made Ned almost blind with rage, and if he hadn't had several policemen at his back, Nancy wasn't sure the enforcer would have left the club alive.

Her time in the emergency room had been pretty horrific, and even now, she just ached, all the time. The doctor had recited a laundry list of wounds and injuries, but they were (practically) all ones she'd had before.

She hadn't wanted to remain in Louisiana any longer than she'd had to. She had wanted to get home, to see her father. But the thought of the long flight made her miserable with anxiety, and a few days at a charming little bed and breakfast wouldn't hurt. Not too much, anyway.

"Feel like heading downstairs? Or, we could stay up here..." Ned's hand stole to her knee, and the contact warmed her all the way up her spine.

Nancy closed her eyes, then smiled. "I guess we should go. Don't want to seem ungracious or anything."

Ned scoffed. "Nan, no one in the world would blame you for staying up here all week."

The living room, small but cozy, held a group of laughing men and women. Nancy was introduced to Joe and Savanna, both tanned and bright-eyed, her husband's dark hair contrasting with Savanna's long blonde mane, and he was thin where she was round with obvious pregnancy. Haylie and Ronni were fresh-scrubbed sorority girls on break from college, dressed in pre-distressed denim and rhinestone-studded sunglasses. Arthur and Diane were an older couple with greying hair, looking for sites for their youngest daughter's wedding. Stephen, who kept brushing his fine brown hair out of his face, spent most of his time gazing intently at his laptop screen, and said he was taking a writing vacation; he had the upper bedroom, rumored to be haunted.

Ned leaned over and murmured to Nancy, "Apparently it's obligatory that every B-and-B in New Orleans has to have a haunted bedroom," and she shivered at the feel of his warm breath against her ear.

A tall, sandy haired young man came in through the kitchen with a wave and a smile. "Hey. Nancy! Glad to see you're up."

"Hey Eric," Nancy said with a smile.

Eric Foster was one of Ned's fraternity brothers, whose parents had moved down to New Orleans a few years before. The Fosters had taken over the Sparrow Inn, and Ned had remembered them when Nancy had been released from the hospital.

"That reminds me." Eric reached into his back pocket and pulled out a newspaper, slightly damp from a few raindrops, and handed it to Nancy. "Found this in town today. If you want more copies you'll have to hurry."

The story about her case was below the fold, Nancy was happy to see, and the only photo was a mugshot of the enforcer who had stabbed her. Ned wrapped his arm around her shoulder and read along with her. In the meantime, Eric's mother, Lisa, came in with a hot pot of water and tea bags. Ronni and Haylie giggled over the selection, while Stephen lifted an insulated mug, his gaze still locked to his screen.

"Nancy! Ned! So glad you two could join us," Lisa said, and Nancy glanced up, flipping the newspaper back over.

"Looking at the movie listings, dear?" Diane asked, as Ned told Lisa, "We were just so glad you had a room available."

"Movie listings?" Stephen said, saving Nancy from replying. "I'm picking up wi-fi if you need them. Where's the closest theater?" He shoved his glasses up the bridge of his nose and began tapping at the keyboard.

Nancy breathed a sigh of relief as Ned walked into the kitchen with Lisa, glancing back at Nancy as he went. Nancy mouthed "coke" and he nodded a little in acknowledgement.

Her gaze fell on the lead story. "New hospital wing's grand opening," the headline declared, complete with a slightly blurry photo of men and women in suits cutting a grandiose ribbon. Haylie, Ronni and Savanna started talking about dinner, and Nancy rubbed her belly ruefully as it grumbled in answer. Ned returned with her coke and Nancy accepted it gratefully, closing her eyes at the rush of the first sip.

Arthur was glancing at her newspaper, and she angled it in his direction. He read through the lead story as Stephen and Diane started talking about local ghost walk opportunities, since it was already so close to Halloween. Arthur shook his head and moved the newspaper back to her. "Such a shame," he said.

"Oh?"

He tapped on the final paragraph. "The old hospital was damaged after the hurricane," he said. "It's amazing, how much they've managed to rebuild..."

Lisa nodded, as she handed around a plate of cookies. "A neighborhood just a few miles from here was totally gutted," she said. "We were really lucky here."

Savanna glanced over at Nancy and Ned, grasping at Joe's hand. "We should so hit the tex-mex place in town," she said, her eyes bright. "I am jonesing for that."

Joe chuckled. "You know this place is famous for, oh, jambalaya, beignets, hurricanes, and here you are wanting the kind of stuff we can get back home."

"It's not me," Savanna said, pointing at her belly. "This is at least partially your fault."

The girls went back up to their rooms to get ready, while Arthur and Diane went out to the porch, Stephen lapsed back into quiet contemplation, and Joe flipped on the television set. Nancy had finished her coke, so she walked into the kitchen with Ned, Eric and Lisa.

"Thanks so much for letting us stay here," Nancy echoed Ned, tossing her empty can into the recycling bin.

"Oh, it's no trouble. A lot of people are still afraid to visit, and we can use all the tourists we can get. Maybe you could write a testimonial for our blog?" Lisa said hopefully.

Nancy chuckled. "You might want to get Ned for that; I'm afraid I won't be much help. Or maybe Stephen," she said, shrugging in the man's direction.

Lisa and Eric exchanged a glance. "Yeah, but up near Chicago, your name carries a certain..."

Nancy blushed and waved off what he was about to say. "Well, if you really want one, I guess we'll just have to take in a few of the local attractions. I think Diane was saying something about a ghost walk."

Ned scowled at her. "Nan, you have got to take it easy."

"That's what you're here for," she said, nudging his side. "Besides, a ghost walk? Extremely low-impact."

Nancy excused herself to go upstairs, changing out of her comfortable traveling clothes and into a cowlnecked jersey dress long enough to hide the bandaged wound on her leg. When she heard the hair dryer still going strong in the bathroom, she went to her room, digging out her cell phone.

"Hello?"

"Hannah," Nancy said, sitting down carefully. "It's Nancy. How's Dad?"

Hannah sighed. "He's... okay. Not great, not terrible. He's resting right now. Do you want me to get him to call you back when he's up?"

Nancy looked down. "Sure, yes. But he's... okay."

"Mm-hmm. And how are you?"

Nancy sighed. "I'm fine, Hannah."

"You sound just like him, you know that? That same exasperated tone in your voice. So you're fine the way he's fine." Hannah clucked. "How's the city?"

"We're about to go see it," Nancy said. "Well, a little bit. Maybe a ghost tour later."

"Sounds romantic."

"Maybe."

"That boy better take care of you, since I know that's the farthest thought from your mind."

"You act like I'm constantly in trouble."

"You are, girl. Whenever you can help it." Nancy heard a distant timer. "I have to go, honey. I'll get him to call."

"Thanks," Nancy said. She let her head hang down as she hung up, brushing at her face as the door creaked and her boyfriend stepped inside.

"Nan," Ned said softly. "You okay?"

"Yeah," she murmured. "I just wanted to talk to Dad."

Ned came over to her and ran his hand up and down her back, slowly. "I'm sure you'll be able to talk to him soon."

Nancy took a slow breath, very irritated when her breath shuddered in the beginning of a sob. Ned wrapped his arm around her and drew her close to him, and she squeezed her eyes tight shut.

"You guys ready?" A knock sounded, and then Ronni pushed open the door. "Oh shit. Sorry."

Nancy wiped at her eyes, shaking her head, but Ronni was already gone. "I'll be okay," she said, and nodded to herself.

"You always are," Ned said gently.

They all climbed into cars and headed out, with Ronni and Haylie in the back of Nancy and Ned's rental car. As the girls chattered on their cell phones and checked their lip gloss in their compacts, Ned reached over and took Nancy's hand.

"Bet they have some amazing clubs here."

"Bet they do," Nancy said wistfully, squeezing Ned's hand. She flipped down the visor and gently ran a fingertip under her eye, checking her mascara. "Do you want to go to one?"

"Club?" Haylie chirped from the back. "Oh man, we should so do that."

"Yeah," Ronni joined in. "I have been dying to get out and do something since we got here."

Ned found a parking spot about a block away from the restaurant, and as the girls raced ahead, Nancy and Ned held back, still holding hands.

"It's so pretty out here," Nancy said softly. The sunset was just touching the tops of the trees, and the scent of dead leaves was in the wind. Ornate vintage lampposts lined the street, and the upper floors of the buildings were dotted with wrought-iron balconies. Neon signs glowed from corner stores, and Nancy heard the sound of a raucous live band playing down the block.

Ned slipped his arm around her shoulders. "Yeah," he agreed, and kissed her temple.

Nancy gave him a half-smile. "Thanks."

"For what?"

"For putting up with me," she said, resting her head against his shoulder as their steps slowed. "For being thoughtful enough to bring me here. You really are amazing, you know."

"I've heard," he chuckled, letting out a surprised "oof" as Nancy playfully elbowed him in the ribs. He slowed to a stop just before they reached the restaurant, and took her hand.

"I'm so glad you're okay," he said quietly. "I was... Nan, I hate seeing you hurt. I love you so much, and I don't know what I'd do..."

Nancy stood up on her tiptoes, hiding her pained wince as she drew his face down to hers for a kiss. "It's okay," she said softly. "I'm not going anywhere, Nickerson."

Ned slipped his arms around her, leaning down to kiss her, and she melted into his embrace. "You better not," he murmured against her cheek.

The group filled up on chips and salsa, rhapsodizing over plates of tamales, fajitas, quesadillas, enchiladas, and tacos. Ronni and Haylie ordered enormous margaritas that Savanna immediately coveted. Ned, Joe, and Stephen knocked back beers, while Arthur and Diane had glasses of white wine. Nancy was delighted with her arroz con pollo, and when Ned suggested splitting a fried ice cream, Ronni and Savanna piped up with orders themselves.

"Okay," Haylie said, when they were standing on the sidewalk. Savanna was rubbing her belly and breathing quietly. The night had grown cool, but the music was still beckoning from down the block. "We so have to try that place out. Nancy and Ned? Up for it?"

"Please?" Ronni begged. "Come on, it's too early to go back already."

"I'm game," Savanna said, glancing at Joe, who shrugged. "Sure," he agreed.

Stephen glanced at his watch, running his hand through his hair. "I don't know. I have another five hundred words to write tonight."

"But you need some inspiration!" Ronni said, looping her arm through his. "Come on."

The club was smoky and dim and hot and loud, and everything Nancy imagined when she pictured New Orleans. She was relieved when the crowd thinned enough for her to catch sight of a vacant booth, and she immediately slid in over the faux burgundy leather. A barmaid came over to clear the leftover empty beer steins and slide coasters onto the tabletop, and Ronni and Haylie only stayed at the table long enough to place their drink orders.

Ned was tipping his Heineken back when a slow song started. He glanced over at Nancy. "Feel up to it?"

She shook her head. "Not really," she said sadly, knowing how much Ned enjoyed dancing, how much she enjoyed dancing with him. "But go on out there and have fun, Nickerson."

"I don't want to go out there without you."

Haylie came back to the table, glowing, and took a long sip of her daiquiri. "Oh man, you guys, you have to get out there." She glanced between Nancy and Ned. "Going?"

Nancy nudged Ned's shoulder. "Go on," she told him, nodding at Haylie.

Ned raised his eyebrows, but didn't actually move until Nancy nodded again.

As Haylie led Nancy's boyfriend out onto the floor, she looked away. Savanna had her head on Joe's shoulder and they were swaying together gently. Ronni was gazing up into Stephen's eyes, smiling up at him. And Ned was looking down at Haylie, who flipped a wing of bright blonde hair back and slid her perfectly manicured hands up to Ned's broad shoulders.

Nancy frowned, a small ball of tension suddenly heavy in her stomach, and her leg gave a particularly hard throb. Once her gaze was on Ned and Haylie, Nancy couldn't look away. She couldn't count the number of times she and Ned had danced together, at the fraternity house, in clubs, even just to the radio when they were alone together. She remembered how utterly forbidden and delicious it had been to hold her body so close to Ned's, to have him hold her so tight.

Setting her jaw to stifle the pain, Nancy slid out of the booth and walked onto the dance floor. She tapped Haylie on the shoulder, and when the younger girl glanced over, Nancy didn't mistake the disappointment in her eyes, but she didn't begrudge it, either.

Ned's brown eyes were glowing with warmth as he gazed down at Nancy. "Couldn't help it, could you."

"Shut up," she said good-naturedly, closing her eyes as he took her in his arms. She slipped her arms up over his shoulders and swayed with him, gently.

"That was a nice change."

"Mmm?"

"I can't count the number of times I had to cut in on you," Ned said, and brushed his lips over her forehead. "You sure this isn't going to wipe you out?"

"Oh, it will," she admitted. "Guess we'll just have to go home after this."

Ned's fingertips drifted down her spine, to the small of her back. "I'm not complaining," he said softly, against her ear, and she shivered. Her skin prickled with gooseflesh under the sweep of his touch. She rested her head on his shoulder and they barely moved, just shifting their weight slowly, shuffling. She felt so light, pinned to earth by only the persistent burning ache in her leg, and her skin felt flushed and sensitive wherever her body was in contact with his.

The blush rose to her cheek when Ned leaned down and gently brushed his lips over the join of her shoulder and neck. She shifted in his arms and her breasts pressed harder against the strong muscle of his chest, and when he pulled back and their gazes met, both were low-lidded with desire.

When the song ended, they didn't part. Ned's arms tightened around her waist and he barely lifted her off the floor.

"I want to carry you away," he said, a little chuckle in his voice, directly into her ear.

"That would be great," she replied with her own chuckle, tightening her arms around his shoulders. "My leg really fucking hurts right now."

Ned's face fell. "Babe, you should have told me..."

"I am telling you," she said mildly, then emitted a squeak as he bent down and slipped his arm around the back of her knees, picking her up. A series of hushed whispers followed them off the dance floor, and she could see the envy in some of the girls' eyes. He stopped long enough to drop a few bills at their table, and when he raised his eyebrows at her, she shook her head, reaching for his hand instead.

"Squeeze as hard as you want, I can take it."

"You'll regret that," she told him, tossing her hair back as she glanced over. Outside the club, the cooler air was bliss on her flushed skin. "Sorry. I owe you half a dance."

"We will never have all the dances you owe me," he corrected her, fishing in his pocket for the keys.

The Sparrow Inn was quiet when they arrived; the light was on in Arthur and Diane's room, but otherwise they were alone together. Nancy was limping by the time she slid into bed, and her final pill of the day was just dissolving in her belly. She wore a long t-shirt and shorts, and Ned slid into the other side of the bed in his underwear. The bed was tall and the springs creaked, and Nancy chuckled a little, her forehead creased in pain.

"Feeling better?" Ned asked.

"Not yet," she murmured. "I hope I can get to sleep..."

It wasn't exactly a hint, and Ned didn't take it as one. She was curled up on her side, away from him, in one of the few positions she could semi-comfortably sleep in, and his hand, under the blankets, touched her hip.

"Do you want me to get you anything?"

"A new leg," she sighed.

His fingertips drifted down and she shivered. "Maybe I could kiss it and make it better."

She rolled onto her back and his hand slid over her belly. "Couldn't hurt to try," she told him, blinking lazily up at him.

He moved over, above her, and she slid her arms up around his neck again, enjoying the anticipation as he took his time. He kissed her forehead, careful to keep his weight away from her wound, and she ran her fingers through his hair, chuckling when he bypassed her mouth on the way to her neck.

"Oh, so that's how it is," she murmured, shivering a little as he nuzzled the soft flesh of her throat. The bedsprings creaked under her and she let out a quiet groan.

"Hmm," Ned murmured, his fingertips flirting with the hem of her shirt. "Good thing we're alone."

"Not quite alone," she reminded him, shifting up so he could tug her shirt off. "Arthur and Diane are here, remember."

It wasn't the first time they had been alone in bed together, not by far, not the first time she had been half-naked with him, but she still loved the adoration and desire in his touch. She stayed seated, flushing with delight when their lips finally met, and his broad chest was firm and warm against hers. He pulled her onto his lap and returned her slow, soft kisses with his own, his hand stealing to her breast. She ran her hands down his back, feeling the muscles move under his skin, and moaned a little as he gently caressed her.

"Mmm," she whispered, leaning back. She blinked slowly at him and leaned forward, setting her mouth to his neck. Ned let out a little groan and slid his hands down to her hips.

"How far," he said, his voice a little hoarse. "Do you want..."

She sighed. "I don't think... I can. But you..."

They hadn't quite made love, not yet. They had fooled around, entirely naked, and while they had come close, the pain and her reluctance had always stopped them.

After they finished fooling around, Ned curled up behind her, draping his arm over her.

"I love you," he whispered, his breath moving her hair.

"I love you too," she whispered, lacing her fingers between his.

The next morning, Ronni and Haylie were visibly hungover, and Savanna puttered around the living room, frowning down at her cup of decaffeinated coffee. Lisa was in the kitchen scrambling eggs to order and sending out plates of bacon and sausage, and Nancy and Ned loaded up gratefully. Arthur and Diane came in, their cheeks pink from the wind, and invited everyone in earshot on a ghost walk that evening.

All through the day, Nancy was very careful to take her medication right on time, but while she was getting ready for the walk, she had to hide the pain she was still feeling in her leg. Ned walked into their room and Nancy put a smile on her face.

"Ready to go?"

"Sure thing," she replied, reaching for her zippered sweatshirt. She stood, wincing a little.

Ned was gazing at her when she glanced up at him. "Nan, seriously—"

"I'm not an invalid," she snapped, then shook her head. "I'm sorry. I'm just so sick of this. I don't want you... having to put up with this."

Ned slipped his arm around her shoulders, squeezing her gently. "Yeah, I'm so sick of it too," he said in mock resignation. "Look, you won't be like this forever. In a couple weeks this'll all be a memory. Besides, I like taking a little care of you. It's... nice."

Nancy snorted and shook her head, pulling the sweatshirt on. "Maybe for you."

Ned touched her shoulders, holding her so she was facing him. "Do you realize this is the longest we've spent together not working on a case in practically forever?" he asked. "I'm just afraid I'll get used to it."

Nancy glanced down. "I'm sorry," she murmured. "It's just, I'm worried about Dad, and I feel like such an inconvenience..."

Ned pulled her into his arms, and she lingered in his embrace until it was time to leave.

The ghost walk departed when the sky was alight with the sunset. The tour guide met them just outside a suitably creepy graveyard. Large trees cast the graves into pools of deep shadow. Birds called mournfully to each other. Even the spikes atop the iron fence looked ominous and threatening.

"I hope no one here is easily scared," the guide began, her eyes gleaming. She had introduced herself as Melanie, and her dark hair featured a pink streak at the front. "New Orleans has long been known for its rich history... and its scandals. Many ghosts walk these streets and linger in the old homes and graveyards around us. We'll begin in the graveyard—please keep together; I would hate for any of you to get lost here..." She opened the gate with a dark chuckle.

Nancy and Ned were near the middle of the group, but it took Nancy a lot of effort to keep up with the moderate pace. Ned squeezed her hand, but didn't say anything, and she was grateful for his silence. She didn't know what she would do if he asked how she was feeling. The answer was always, I'm in pain, okay? I'm still in pain.

Melanie struck a pose in front of an age-weathered angel statue. As Nancy tried to quietly regain her breath, she was amused to note Melanie's heavy eyeliner, the black leather bustier over her t-shirt, her lace-up boots. She glanced from the girl to Ned, only half paying attention to what the guide was saying. Nancy had been involved in too many supposedly supernatural cases to take much stock in the stories; in her experience, generally selfish, greedy individuals perpetuated such tales for their own benefit.

Ned felt her gaze on him and glanced down at her. "What?" he breathed.

"Just wondering if it's the ghost story you're paying attention to," she said, keeping her voice light.

"Wow, you're right. Our tour guide really is hot," he said, in mock awe, then lightly brushed his hip against hers.

Melanie seemed to notice their distraction, and spoke even more loudly at the next moss-covered stone. "Legend has it," she said, "that the man whose grave is marked by this stone was lost at sea during the Civil War. On particularly stormy nights, those attuned to such things have reported seeing a light bobbing near the horizon. If it reaches shore, so it has been said, he will return to his home... and, if he does not find his wife there..."

Nancy noticed that Stephen had definitely perked up.

On their way out of the graveyard, Diane snuggled up to Arthur's side, her arm linked through his. "I think we'll disappoint the young lady if we don't act just a little scared," Diane laughed, and Nancy smiled back at her. Ned slid his arm around Nancy's waist and his lips brushed her temple.

"Good idea," he murmured. "So if you get tired or freaked out, we can go back to the inn and I can... comfort you."

"Oh, I can just imagine how you're going to comfort me," Nancy murmured back.

Despite the prospect of sneaking off for some quality time together, Nancy did actually make it all the way through the ghost walk, including the story of the spurned former slave who hanged herself in one of the downtown hotels—that one made Ronni and Haylie actually look up from the eerie blue glow of their cell phone screens for a moment—and the prominent businessman who shot his daughter and her lover before they could elope. Nancy felt herself zoning out a little during another "lost at sea" story, and when the group finally staggered to a stop back at the graveyard where they had originally met, Nancy thought she might cry with relief.

"That was great!" Savannah said, her eyes wide. "And now I really need a milkshake."

"Milkshake, as in something like a virgin mudslide?" Haylie said in a singsong voice. "Come on, guys, we all deserve at least a round of shots after all that. Stephen? Nancy and Ned? Oh, Art and Di, you know you'd like some white wine or something."

Arthur and Diane laughed. "Well, that had to be the best encouragement I've ever heard," Arthur said with a wink. "But you go on and have fun."

Joe and Savannah agreed to go along with Haylie and Ronni, and Nancy could tell Ronni was disappointed when Stephen opted to go back to the inn to capture whatever inspiration he had found on the ghost walk. Ned had to make their excuses; Nancy was finding it difficult to focus on anything, the throbbing in her leg was so intense. She was limping badly when they returned to the car.

"Nan, you okay?"

Nancy nodded, gritting her teeth. "Guess you were right," she admitted, forcing herself to chuckle. "I just didn't expect the tour to last that long." She rocked a little in her seat, wishing she could do anything to make it stop.

"We'll be back soon," Ned promised, turning on the headlights. "You'll be able to lie down. Damn, Nan, I'm sorry, I should've..."

Nancy squeezed her knee, trying to focus on that sensation. "Shh," she told him, just a little louder than she intended. "It's fine. I'll be a good girl tomorrow. Breakfast in bed and everything."

Getting out of the car made Nancy almost cry out in pain. She felt entirely wiped out, although when she passed Lisa in the hallway, she put on as impassive a face as she could muster. "Have a good time?" Lisa asked.

"Oh, it was great," Ned answered for them. "Really informative. And it was a good night for it."

The wind was just starting to blow outside, lashing the slender bare limbs of the closer trees against the windows. Nancy distantly heard Lisa offer some tea or cocoa, heard Ned say they were both pretty beat...

As soon as Lisa vanished into the kitchen, Ned swept her up in his arms, and Nancy was too tired to say much. She slid her arm around his neck and rested her cheek against his shoulder, a little scared that she couldn't even muster the energy to chastise him for treating her like a weak little girl. She would've had to crawl up the stairs on all fours, and even then, she wasn't sure she would have been able to make it in under an hour.

He helped her into her pajamas, a long-sleeved henley and a pair of cotton shorts, and supported her as she hobbled to the bathroom. She closed her eyes, trying to focus on anything other than the pain. The rattling exhaust fan above her head almost sounded like some unearthly moan.

Clearly she needed to cut back on her pain medication... although she tried to imagine enduring pain much worse than this, and couldn't. The doctor had told her that the damage to her body and the healing both were going to be painful.

Nancy splashed her face with cold water, shivering a little. Her reflected face was chalk-pale. She took a few deep breaths, opening the bathroom door, and immediately Ned was there to help her.

"Thanks," she whispered, when he picked her up again. "I'm sorry... I didn't want to be like this."

Ned gently placed her on the bed, arranging the covers over her, and gazed down at her, concern and sympathy in his dark eyes. "Just rest," he told her. "You'll be chasing criminals again soon, don't worry."

Nancy chuckled, then grimaced, reaching down to rub her leg. "Good night, Ned."

"Good night, sweetheart."

Her dreams were vague, anxious. She tried not to toss and turn too much, worried that she would disturb Ned, and at some point she was sure she heard steps in the hallway—and that turned into a shadowy specter in her dream, of a sad dark-eyed woman, skirts trailing the floor as she paced, awaiting a lover who would never return home.

Nancy woke feeling uneasy, to a grey overcast sky. The scent of rain was faint in the air, and the bed was empty and cool beside her. As soon as she was able, she pulled herself up to sitting and reached for the water and pill bottle beside the bed. Her leg was still throbbing.

She headed downstairs once she had brushed her teeth, rinsed her face, and struggled into some fairly decent clothes, wondering what Ned was doing. She had thought he would be there when she woke.

She forgot her slight irritation when she saw Lisa sitting at the table, across from Joe. Joe was rubbing his scalp, obviously keyed up about something. Lisa was leaning forward, her brow furrowed.

"Are you sure you can't remember?" Lisa said. "That there wasn't a fight?"

"I don't know," Joe insisted, squeezing his eyes tight shut.

Ned glanced up and saw Nancy. "Baby, you okay?" he asked, coming over to her.

"I'm okay," she said, faintly. "What's going on?"

"Remember how Haylie and Ronni went out with Savannah and Joe last night?" Ned asked softly, and Nancy nodded. "Well, the girls didn't come home, and Joe has no idea where they are."