Chapter 2

Disclaimer- I own nothing!

Back at his flat Eric tried to focus on the article he was reading. He wanted his mind pulled from the new member of the Dispatch, he wanted to forget about his new trainee, he wanted to move on from Alan Humphries. The harder he pulled his thoughts for him though the more he was brought back. Why did he say it was better if he knew nothing about him? Those eyes, those listless eyes as he reaped haunted him. What was up with this new member? What secrets did he hold? He needed to know more.

Alan was at his desk by the time Eric arrived to work, how was he always here so early? Not saying a word to him Eric dropped of his briefcase and headed towards the records. All souls and reaper were kept here, something should be on Alan. What he was like at school, previous life, everything and anything should be here. Finding the cabinet he searched the files for Alan's. Coming up empty he searched again, he had to be in here. Searching the entire cabinet he came up short, how did Alan not have a file? What was with that reaper? Closing the cabinet he snuck back to his desk before William blamed him for showing up yet. He would find out more about Alan, now he was determined.

Coming back to the offices he saw a group of reapers talking by a desk, seeing Eric come in they stopped and separated. Just great, they were starting to talk about him behind his back. Not that he truly cared but it would make going out to the bars with them a lot harder. Seeing Alan still hunched over his desk focused on his work Eric sat at his to get started before he was sent out on collections. With a new trainee he figured he would be sent out more than he had been. So much for relaxing a little.
"So, Slingby, how weird is the new guy?" Feeling a giant shadow over himself, Eric looked up to see three fellow reapers huddled around.
"He is strong, and fast. That doesn't seem weird to me. I get done faster." Going back to his work he tried to ignore the three. He wasn't one to spread gossip or really care for it. Plus Alan was strange, he didn't like picking on him, or having others do the same.
"Yea, but he is creepy. Have you seen the way he reaps? Cold, almost like William, only, you can see something behind Will's eyes."
"Wait, he has had other partners?" Now interested Eric put his pen down and stole a glance over at Alan who was none the wiser that they were talking about him, before moving in closer.
"Yea. None of us wanted to stay with him, he is creepy. We would rather work with demons than him. Will was waiting for you to come back just so you could take him since no one else wanted him."
"We shouldn't get too attached to the dead anyway, it's our job to reap them. But as weird as it is he is fast. I like getting done early. I don't want to deal with overtime."
"Of course you would side with him. You're a freak too."
"Woah. Stop. I. You know what, never mind. I have work to do and I'm too old to deal with this little kid stuff." Ignoring them he went back to his paperwork before he was sent out. He didn't want to rag on Alan, he didn't know him, he wasn't a fan of teasing and name calling and making fun of someone. Especially someone he didn't know. Though, he wanted to know even more about why Alan said it was better off if he didn't know him. Could he have said those things because he had mentor after mentor? Was there something hidden behind all of that though? Hearing Alan cough for a moment his attention stayed on him even after he was back at his work. Alan Humphries, who was he?

After their assignment Eric made his way to the showers, this last assignment ended poorly. It wasn't their faults, the area around them was a mess, the cause of death involved fire, and he always felt dirty after spending time in London. Coming to the showers entrance he saw Alan leaving. He wasn't looking well, he hadn't spent that much time with him but he could see the loss of color in his face, the way he was holding his arms.
"Hey, you alright?"
Having Alan walk past him he saw him stop and turn to face him.
"Yes. Sorry. I'll see you tomorrow Mr. Slingby."
Turning back the way he was going he left the hallway leaving Eric standing there confused. Alan was weird; he wasn't going to doubt it, and a horrible liar. Shrugging his shoulders he stepped into the showers and started undressing so he could clean up. Hot water sounded so very good right about now. Stepping into the first free shower he could find he let the water wash over him. Looking down, allowing the water to run down the back of his neck, he stepped back seeing red on the tile. He was bleeding? How odd, he didn't remember getting cut. Looking himself over he saw nothing, and looking closer the blood looked to be cleaned up recently. Whoever was here last thought they got it all. Adding shampoo to his hair he let the thought slip from his mind. Until the thought of Alan came across him, his face's lack of color, the way he was holding himself. Rinsing the shampoo from his hair he turned the water off and jumped out of the shower to quickly get dressed.

Running out of the room he ran down the hallway Alan had gone hoping he could find him, make sure he was okay. Why hadn't he said anything about being hurt when they were together? Heading to the infirmary he stepped inside to see it empty save for the staff.
"Mr. Slingby is everything alright?"
"Is Humphries here? Has he been here?"
"Alan Humphries? Why no, we haven't seen him today. Has he been injured?"
"Damn it!" Turning to go back the way he came he headed for the Dispatch exit. He would find where Alan was, make sure he was okay, make sure he received treatment if he needed. He would not let this happen again. That rookie was not going to stay this way under his watch.

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Short chapter I am aware of this. Next one should be longer. Please review.
~Femalefighter~