I do not own Hellsing.

Second instalment, a massive thank you to all who've reviewed so far – your comments got me straight to work on this!

The Captain opened his eyes in the darkness of his cell. The frauline was here… and she was alone. He inhaled lightly, and her scent caught his attention just as sharply as it had the last two times they'd met. It was a soft and pleasant sort of a smell, like the sort of thing you could find if you stood and inhaled around wildflowers. He wondered if it was a lingering perfume, and yet the frauline did not appear to be a particularly aesthetic person.
Then again, he reasoned, what did he really know of her? She was young, she was attractive, for all he knew she could be as shallow as a puddle of water with just as little sense.
He was saddened by that possibility, he hoped she wasn't like that. He hoped she wasn't… ordinary.
She was the only person who interested him and she'd caught that interest with her strength of spirit, it would be a shame to have that illusion of her being ruined by finding out she was just like anyone else in this world.

Interesting women were few and far between and though his female comrades had been acceptable companions over the many years they'd spent together they had never been interesting. Having been around long enough for the extraordinary to become boring they'd just been too predictable to hold his interest in terms of sociability or activity. Zorin with her self inflicted tattoos and sadistic attitude, Rip with her zealots loyalty to the Party and strong love of classical music… their opinions weren't hard to figure out judging by their appearances and their behaviour mirrored the many other millions of people who'd made up the Third Reich.
So conversation (though admittedly he had been very much limited in terms of expressing his own opinions in these rare instances) had soon become stifling, and after a few months he'd given up his attempts to socialise with them and had merely joined them for group exercises and kept himself distant from them.
In a way that had been better, alone had suited him as they weren't really his idea of company. There was only so many times he could listen to the same old conversations and arguments along with the same classical music playing in the back round.
He'd preferred the Schrodinger who had been better to spend time with as he made up for the Captain's silence with his own expressed opinions about everything under the sun, but the cat boy had been over excitable and prone to acting on whims which made him quickly tiresome since the Captain felt obliged to keep an eye on the boy whenever they'd spent time together.
Hans was a hard man to please, and no one had ever really tried. This frauline with her merciful spirit… if she was everything he hoped she was then she might just be someone worth getting to know better.
He really wanted her to be someone who'd been worth dying for.

He snapped himself out of his reverie and sharply inhaled again, he was rewarded by another part of the cocktail of smells distracting him for a few seconds. The smell of gunpowder and blood present upon the frauline was overbearing and he noted from her appearance that she must have not found time to scrub herself clean or change her attire just yet. Still, that suited him fine too.
That smell all over her was the scent of battle and he liked that smell a lot; it was like a perfume of death. It brought back memories from his long life, some bittersweet and some proud. All of them from the War.
He settled back and watched her, waiting for her to make the first move.

At this moment Seras was, to say the least, feeling uncomfortable. She had mixed feelings about being in here with this man. He was on the mend so she needed to be sure he wasn't going to die but he was also an enemy and he'd almost killed her.
However Sir Integra had made it clear that he was her responsibility and all matters relating to his guard and care were solely in her hands.
But she didn't really know what to do with him, she'd never had to keep someone trapped against their will before, and she'd never had to treat a wounded man either… this wasn't a job for her! This was a job for a professional…
But she was meant to be a pro wasn't she…? She supposed that with her master gone that she was now the new 'Alucard' for this Organisation, she was his fledgling servant after all, and now she was all grown up into a big bad Draculina… who still knew nothing about anything like this!
She wanted to cry or go and ask for help, but if she did it would only end up with Sir Integra barking at her in her office.
And on top of that she was ready to drop from exhaustion…
Oh god, this was really not her evening…

If she didn't keep guard of him would he try to escape? Probably.
Was he strong enough to fight? She didn't know what to expect from him and that face was unreadable..
in fact that expression was what was really making her nervous. All he'd done so far this evening was stare at her and act strangely around her! One second trying to kill her and the next stroking her face comfortingly trying to get her to stop crying!
Well, if he tried to pull a stunt tonight she was reassured by the memories of earlier this evening, she had beaten him before when he was on top form and in good shape. She could do it again if he tried anything.
She mentally shook herself and fought the urge to find her coffin and sleep. She wished that she could still drink coffee without needing to spit it out, caffeine would have been a great relief to her beleaguered senses right now.

She stepped away from the door so she was a few steps away from the man who sat still and continued to stare at her from the bunk. His eyes were so strange, they looked so sad and yet the blankness upon his face made him look unreadable.
Well, she thought, no time the like the present. She studied him from a distance, he seemed recovered enough as the only evidence of his fight with her and the ordeal that had left him charred and burnt was a mark on his chest and a thin layer of soot and char that covered the cell where he'd been walking.
The scar was a thin red mark, like a fault line in a sheet of iron. She thought that was pretty fitting as a blow with silver to the heart was the only weakness to this man that she had actually found during her fight with him!
As she leaned down, the Captain's eyes rose slightly to meet hers.
She felt that he was waiting for her, at loss for words she simply said the first thing that came to her.
"Hello." she said a little over brightly with a pleasant smile.

Hans stared at her, baffled by the Draculina's friendliness. He blinked and frowned in confusion.
The Draculina looked puzzled "Aren't you going to say something back?"
The Captain shook his head, still confused. Say something back? How, when he couldn't speak? None the less he made an attempt and opened his mouth to reply.
What came out was a choked attempt to push air out through a constricted throat. He stopped immediately as he knew this was not the desired result.
"Jesus! Are you alright?" she asked him in concern and rushed over to him. Her hands went towards his face.
The Captain's response with automatic and swift, his hands shot out and he grabbed her by the shoulders.
"Hey!" she protested.
He shot her a warning glare; I don't want you to touch me.
The girl was shocked and struggled "I just wanted to help! You sounded like you were choking!" she protested.
His glare continued for second longer but then his gaze was arrested by the sight of her up close and in his arms. Her large eyes which were strangely were a bright blue – he was certain they'd been red when they'd fought, her blonde hair which was the colour of faded gold and smelled faintly of the last kind of soap she'd been using, his gaze then went lower for a second and he took in how well endowed she was.
The top she wore, so tight around that area, was distracting.
It had been so long since he'd admired a woman like this… and what a woman this one was!
The Draculina followed his gaze for a second and he saw her face warm with embarrassment.

He felt his mouth water at the sight of her flushed face and he felt heat blossoming down in his gut, his heart pounded and his breathing deepened slightly. Blood pounded through his system and made him feel light headed for a moment.
If her expression were slightly different then she would look like he was doing something else to her…
Suddenly he realised what he was thinking about. He growled in anger and pushed her back, not roughly but enough to get her away from him.
He was not an animal! This was not the wilderness! His tastes in women and the natural instinct to mate be damned! He must not think that way about a woman who had nearly killed him! Not about one of his Major's enemies!
Alright then, if they were still enemies then he must be content to be that.

"Alright then, fine! Be that way, I was only trying to help." The girl scolded him.
Irritating girl, Hans thought, but a very nice body though…
He pinched himself hard on the thigh, willing the pain of the pinch to snap him out of admiring his foe's looks.
It worked, the beast was suppressed and human nature took over. But only for now.

He rose from the bunk and approached her, perhaps it was worth trying a different form of communication.
She retreated a step "Ah! Back off" she growled at him sharply as she balls her hands into fists "I'll hurt you." she warned him.
Hans snorted and raised his hands in a show that his intention wasn't to hurt her.
He still had to know his enemy…

Seras watched him carefully, standing there with his hands raised in front of his chest.
He lowered them slowly and then looked at her for permission to continue.
She nodded hesitantly "Whatever you're doing do it slowly." She cautioned him.
He didn't take that well, there was a look of resignation about him and he huffed an irritated breath. She swore for a second that he'd resisted the urge to roll his eyes at her.
Seras tried to ignore that however and waited for him to do… well, whatever he wanted to do.
The Captain slowly, deliberately slowly as if to say 'you asked for this', reached up with one of his hands towards her face.
She frowned and fought the urge to back away, there was something about seeing a hand slowly reaching towards you that made you nervous in the pit of your stomach.
Suddenly the hand cupped her chin and she stiffened as though he'd just shocked her.
A voice, smooth and polished, ran through her mind.
'I would welcome the chance for another fight… but I have questions.'

She gasped and tried to pull away, his other hand shot out and took hold of the back of her head. She struggled but his grip tightened and he stepped in, closing the gap between them.
She opened her mouth to cry for help and the hand that cupped her chin suddenly clamped over her lips.
'I wouldn't do that.' he warned. His voice was deep but sharp and formal, the way the voice of a commanding officer should be. There was an edge to it though, an edge of violence which made it sound like a growl or a warning whenever he spoke, like a wolf challenging another to a fight for dominance.
She tried to tear his hand off with her own but the gloves she was wearing meant she couldn't use her nails to scratch him and on a physical level… well she couldn't compete right now because she was exhausted.
Oh god, she suddenly thought, I'm trapped! I've trapped myself!
An amused chuckle ran softly through her and sent shivers up her spine.
'Trapped yourself, Frauline? No more than me by letting myself be caught. But don't worry though, you're in safe hands. I won't kill you.'
Suddenly a pressure built in her head and she groaned behind his hand.
'Quiet now, and don't fight me.' He advised.

Seras shouted angrily behind his hands, "What the hell are you playing at?" though it had come out muffled through his hands she had no doubts he heard her well enough.
He ignored her, the pressure was like a vice squeezing her head. She whimpered in pain – whatever he was trying to see or get out of her she wasn't going to give it up without a fight!
'Let me see inside you Frauline.' He crooned 'Let me see what I need and I will be satisfied. Then the pain will end.'
She fought him still, trying to push him out of her head like she was trying to get his hand off her mouth, with as little effect on both accounts. The pressure grew and her legs weakened. She buckled and went limp as her body trembled.
Barely able to stand and now helpless she looked up at him with a lump of fear building in her throat 'Please' she begged him with her eyes 'Please don't do this…'
'Don't worry. It'll be quick.' He reassured her.

She felt herself give up as her mental barriers weakened, she tried half heartedly one last time… and suddenly another presence joined hers.
The spirit of Pip Bernadotte rose up from her subconscious mind, urging her to fight the wolf man off. Not to let him beat her. The Captain recognised her familiar and she saw his eyes widen in surprise.
Then his nostrils flared as he inhaled sharply, his eyes narrowing in anger.
'YOU!' His voice howled angrily through her, she winced from the pain of it. Then suddenly his attack on her mind left.
She knew immediately what he was up to he was focussing on Pip! She had no time to warn the Frenchman and she heard him cry out as the Captain turned all his will on breaking her familiars spirit.
Pip begged her to get up and fight him. Do it Seras, do it now!
However by this point was too late and with a snarl she felt Hans presence break inside her mind and tear through her defences focussing entirely upon attacking the Frenchman within her, tearing him apart from inside and stamping down hard on what remained of the Frenchman's essence.

She took the moment to snatch the Captains hand away from her mouth "NO STOP!" she begged him.
Pip's screaming within her ceased suddenly and the Captain's eyes focussed on her with curiosity.
"Please." She beseeched "Please… all that's left inside of me is all that's left of him. Please… please don't kill him. He died to save me."
He stared at her for a long moment, she felt his anger... but also a strange sympathy for her.
She understood what must be going through his mind facing the man who had literally been the one who stabbed him in the chest with a silver tooth… which left her all the more surprised when she felt the Captain release the Frenchman within her.
Pips presence was weak, it so weak it couldn't form anything physical. But it was still there, she could still feel his confidence and hear his voice. He was alive and he thanked her for what she'd done.

The Captain now looked at her more intently.
'Now I will look for what I need, and you will not fight me.' He warned her.
She nodded and let him loose within her mind, she thought it would be painful, that she'd black out, she even feared for a second that she might lose all her memories… but none of this happened.
The Captain went only for the most recent events. It seemed he only wanted to know what had happened after he'd been bested on the Zeppelin, and get an idea for what happened after he'd lost consciousness when he'd been shot by the troops.
He wasn't interested in her past, or any of her duties with Hellsing or how far her bizarre relationship with Pip went or what it meant to her.
Something he wanted to know most strongly was what had inspired her to be merciful and spare his life.
In this however she knew she'd disappoint him; she didn't know why. She had just felt that she had to do it for reasons beyond her knowledge, like she'd known not to drink blood until finally that moment had come when she'd had no other choice, a moment that had cost Pip's life to save hers.
She hoped that this mental invasion was not a sign she'd made the wrong choice…
please don't let it be the wrong choice, she silently begged anyone who might be listening to her.

Hans was now quite satisfied. He'd seen enough now to know what he needed and to do more would be unfair to this brave little frauline who'd continued to fight him even with her last ounce of strength.
The tactic of mentally breaking someone was something he was well versed in. In his many years of service in the SS Waffen he'd interrogated many people this way. Human's were not normally strong willed enough to bear it by the time they met him, and often they hadn't even put up a fight.
However this frauline had, no hold on… not 'Frauline'. Her name was Seras…
Seras… what an unusual name. But still a good name, he decided.

He felt her fear of him, how she was regretting saving him… he suddenly felt worried. If he didn't do something to rectify her opinion of him then she might go to her boss and demand something be done about him.
That woman with the cold eyes, the enemy of his Major… Integral Fairbrooke Wingates Helling – another strange name! She would have him shot for this.
She'd wanted him dead earlier and only her servants efforts had spared him from her judgement.
He felt bad for his actions now… necessary though they were for him to know what he needed she deserved better treatment from him than this.
So he pulled back from her mind and opened the door for her to look inside his.
His arms changed position, he removed the hand from her head and put it to the small of her back and pulled her close.
He hugged her to his naked form. What she thought of a naked man pulling her close he did not need to look within her to know. She was already embarrassed, he suspected this was adding more to that pile.
"Hans…" she whispered weakly "You know you're naked…"
'I am aware of it.'
"Oh."
'Hush now. I want you to sleep.'
She looked up at him with her large eyes "I can't sleep" she whispered "I can't in case you try to…"
'Escape? Don't worry you saved me from death, I'm grateful enough to wait at least one evening to get my strength back before I try a break out.'
It was a rare attempt at humour from him. She smiled weakly.
"Please don't." she replied sleepily "I'll get in trouble."
'You cannot sleep here.' He protested, but it was too late. The girl was fast asleep in his arms.
He sighed, idiot! Did this foolish girl not realise he could kill her now and have done with it?
What was wrong with her?
He looked down and noted how he was stroking her hair and keeping her held close… his fascination with this woman… what was wrong with him?
He swallowed and tried not to concern himself with it. He was a soldier, his job was to follow orders not to question them. His Major was dead, he'd seen it in her mind. Millennium was gone.
He was alone.

Standing here, in the darkness of his cell with the Draculina held loosely in his arms he tried to think about what to do next.
He couldn't imagine he would survive his Majors plan of attack, this was all too strange for him. He sighed, very well. If he couldn't plan ahead then he'd have to react to the events accordingly, and that meant waiting and being co operative whilst he was here.
First of all though he'd let this Draculina rest, hopefully she'd take it as a peace offering and a sign of his good intent and not report his conduct to the Hellsing Director.
He placed her down on his bunk, she shifted and mumbled something but settled again.
He nodded and went to the door. He rapped on it softly with his fingers.
The hatch opened and a guard peered in suspiciously.
"What do you want?" the guard demanded.
He blinked and shrugged his shoulders.
"Piss off then." The guard ordered.
Hans backed away and tilted his head, as though thinking about something.
"'Ere! Where's the girl gone?" the man behind the door demanded.
Hans rose an eyebrow and pointed at one of the walls. He shrugged again. The guards couldn't see behind him to the bunk so hopefully…
The shutter snapped shut and Hans waited tensely for it to open. When it didn't he crept over and pressed his ear to the metal.
Faintly he heard them talking.
"I think she's gone to bed… the prisoner was pointing at the wall."
"Probably" the other guard agreed "Wish it were my bed though!"
"Bloody right! Looks damn hot doesn't she?" the first agreed.
The two men laughed. Hans went back to his bunk and looked down upon the sleeping frauline. She did look good, he admitted, but unlike those two he actually had her in his bed and at least he had the grace to be a gentleman and assume she didn't want to sleep with him just because she'd met him.
He sat down with his back to the wall, it was cold. He needed to sleep and it wasn't as if he had much else to do tonight.
So he closed his eyes and did just that.
When morning came the Frauline wasn't on his bunk… but a pile of clothes along with a pair of boots was.
He was grateful for that and dressed himself, it wasn't much but it was nice to be clothed again. He wore the tan coloured army issue pants and a matching thermal t shirt.
Though they were British it felt good to be in a uniform again.
'Much better' he thought to himself.

Okay that's this chapter, hopefully you've enjoyed reading this and now you'd like to offer some feedback. As always I appreciate any comments anyone has for me – and don't be shy about saying if I'm going out of character! I always try to be as true to the character as it makes for much better reading in my opinion.
Cheers!