Chapter 2

"Where is he?"

"Upstairs, Vic. He's working," Mel told him, circling the bar and giving him a quick hug. "How is she, Vic?"

"The doctors think she has a concussion. I didn't bother to tell them what's really wrong with her. I doubt I could have explained… They're keeping her overnight for observation."

Mel nodded. "Are you okay? Cole told me--"

"He told you what?" Vic interrupted, frowning.

"That you guys almost lost her. That must have been so hard on you. I know how much you care about her…"

"No, Mel, you have no idea," he sighed, shaking his head. "I honestly… I'm just starting to figure it out myself, actually." Shaking his head again, he sat down at the bar. "Scotch, please, Isabel," he called to her. Looking over his shoulder at Mel, he added, "It doesn't work. It can't."

Mel sat down next to him and lifted her hand to his throat, sighing softly. "Vic, you are allowed to love her, you know. I mean… the partner thing aside, she's good for you and she always has been. Thanks, Isabel," she added when the girl handed Vic his drink. "Vic," she sighed when Isabel had moved away. "Let go."

Vic sighed and refused to let the soothing touch work this time. He laughed bitterly and took a long sip of his drink. "Let go, Vic. Easy for you to say."

Mel grabbed the glass out of his hand, taking a long pull of her own. "You bet your ass it's easy for me to say, Vic. I care about you and I want you to be happy. Maria can do that for you. She could be the kind of girlfriend that I could never have been."

"You know, Mel, it's funny. You may hate dating cops, but… you can't get away from it, can you?"

She frowned, startled. "Vic, you can not still be--"

"Jealous? No, Mel." He shook his head quickly. "Not that. I… I don't have a claim on you and I'm not trying to be some jerk about the fact that you and Cole are… I don't have to like it, necessarily, but he's good for you the way Mar is good for me. He has changed you." He retrieved his glass from her and took another sip. "You hate dating cops, Mel. Yet here you are, dating a cop. You always end up going back to them. Bobby Jenkins. Me. Cole… It's all the same. You hate it but you do it anyway. And I am the exact same way. I hate these dead-end, revolving door relationships I get myself into. But I keep going back…" He laughed softly, shaking his head. "What is it about me that I'm doomed to disappoint the women I love?"

"Is that what you think?" Mel shook her head and took his hands in hers. "No, Vic. No… You never disappointed me. You have always been a cop first and I love that about you. I always have and I always will. And you're wrong about something else. I don't hate dating cops. I never have. That's just been my excuse for why it never works. I'm as doomed to date cops as you are to be a cop. It's who we are… There's no getting away from that. We can deny it for a few days or a few weeks, but we end up tying ourselves in knots."

"Why didn't it work, Mel?" he asked softly. "I could never get that. If it wasn't about the job…" He shook his head. "What?"

"Me. It's only ever been me, Vic." She shook her head. "I spent my entire life feeling incomplete and believing that a relationship with the right man could fix that. Only… when the right man did come along, what I learned was that only I could make me complete." She sighed and gave his hands a gentle squeeze. "Vic, you are not going to disappoint Maria. I promise you. She understands you better than anyone else. She understands you better than you understand yourself sometimes…"

"I know. I just want it to be…"

"Perfect?" Mel ventured quietly. "It doesn't work that way, Vic, and we both know it. If perfect were possible…"

"I know, Mel. But I can't help it."

"Vic…" Mel reached up and cupped his face in both hands, resting her forehead against his. "Let go. Don't let your fear paralyze you. Trust me. I've been down that road and the scenery sucks."

Vic chuckled at her words, leaning his forehead into hers. It felt good to have Mel comfortable enough with his presence to actually touch him again. It was nowhere near the level of physical intimacy that had existed while they were dating, closer to that which had always existed in between those times, when they were 'just friends'. Mel was a toucher, always had been, even if she seemed a lot more comfortable doing it in public these days.

"What did I do right that we have broken up… what, four times now and we're still friends?"

Mel smiled faintly. "Five times. And it's probably because you're such a great guy." She winked. "You wanted to talk to him?"

He nodded and rose, following her up the stairs and ignoring the look Isabel was giving them. He had no doubt that the girl had completely misinterpreted what had just passed between Mel and himself. And why not? Hand-holding, throat-rubbing, talking with their foreheads touching… Oh, yeah… Isabel was no doubt thoroughly convinced that Mel was cheating on Cole with him. Like he did not have enough worries.

Cole was indeed in the war-room, but he was not working. His head was resting on the only clear portion of his entire work-table, his eyes closed.

"Shallat? Anatha," he mumbled in his sleep. "Thema hwa? Neelan? Shallat?"

"What's he saying?" Vic whispered, frowning. Judging by the look on the Cirronian's face, he was not enjoying his dream in the least.

Mel shook her head and hurried to Cole's side. She knew exactly what his dream must have been about, that poor little girl. She did not know much Cirronian, but she knew enough. 'Shallat': child. 'Neelan': can you hear me?

"Tausha?" she whispered, touching his shoulder.

He snapped awake and jerked into a sitting position, grabbing her wrist and regarding her warily. His expression turned immediately apologetic.

"Taushi, I'm sorry," he whispered, rising and wrapping his hands gently around her arms. "I was… dreaming."

"You were remembering," Mel whispered, nodding and touching his forehead. She released soothing energy, sensing that he needed it.

He nodded faintly. "I'm sorry," he repeated.

"Vic is here," Mel told him gently. "He needs to talk to you."

Cole looked up, startled and noticing Vic for the first time. "Vic, how is Detective Cruz?"

"She was resting comfortably when I left the hospital."

"Good. That's good." Cole smiled faintly, nodding. "Mel, could you please get me another glass of water with sugar?" Cole asked.

"Sure, Cole. Then I should probably get back to the bar. We're getting busy and the girls may need help."

"That sounds good, Mel," Cole told her as she left the war-room. When she returned, he added, "Thank you, Mel. I'll be down to help after I've talked to Vic."

"Are you rested enough?" Mel asked.

"Yes, Mel. I feel much stronger already." He smiled reassuringly, waiting until she had left the apartment to speak again. "Vic, Kaehto may attempt another attack on Detective Cruz."

"Are you sure?"

"No," Cole admitted. "But I would not be surprised. Late in his criminal career, he became… especially fond of the wives and daughters of law enforcement personnel."

Vic knew that. Most of the missing women had been the daughters of cops. "Yeah, Cole, but Mar isn't my wife."

"For a Cirronian, a lover is the same as a wife."

"She's not my lover," he snapped defensively, shaking his head.

Cole frowned, startled. "But… you love each other."

"Yeah, but right now it's complicated… There's this rule. I can't sleep with my partner."

Cole frowned, not sure why there would be such a rule, but not pressing the point. "He's been watching her, hasn't he?"

"How did you know?" Vic asked.

"Kaehto never attempted to take a woman without becoming familiar with her first. It… adds to his sense of intimacy with her."

"That is sick," Vic announced.

"How long has he been watching her?"

"Three nights. Since the day we started following him."

"Vic, did he see anything that might lead him to suspect that Detective Cruz is you lover?" he asked gently. "He is more likely to come for her again if he thinks you are."

Vic closed his eyes. "He… knows we aren't."

"He knows? Are you sure?"

"Yeah, Cole." Vic nodded weakly. "He's been… watching us together. He knows exactly how far we've been; he was taunting me with it, that… that I go home alone and Mar has to take cold showers." He shrugged. "It's a human thing--"

"I know about cold showers, Vic." Cole nodded. "But if Detective Cruz really is taking cold showers after you leave…" he began hesitantly.

"Hey, we keep our clothes on! I mean, yeah, we kiss and we… you know… you know, we… touch through our clothes, but…" He shook his head.

Cole frowned. "Go back to the hospital, Vic," he ordered, reaching for his Collector. "I'll be there in a little while."

"No, man!" Vic protested, panicked for Maria's sake. "That doesn't count! We aren't lovers… Maria isn't my wife."

"It's pre-mating behavior, Vic. He thinks you're engaged," Cole told him.

"Damn it." Vic turned and ran from the apartment without another word.

Cole sighed and bent over his computer, recording another transmission. "Eijan, could you get this to Kallissa, please? Based on new information, Kallissa, I think I know who Kaehto's next intended target is. I'm going to her now. Mel will be able to contact me with anything you have. Eijan can get you in touch with Mel and Mel can get any information you have back to me. Please make all speed. Out." He sighed deeply and sent the transmission before leaving the apartment.

"Cole! What's going on?" Mel asked, running to him as soon as he entered the barroom. Vic had left a few moments earlier without so much as glancing her way.

"I think Kaehto is going to try for Detective Cruz again, Mel. I need to go to the hospital where she is."

"Okay." Mel nodded faintly. "You get this bastard, Cole."

"I plan on it, Mel." He touched her throat lightly. "Do you have your atomizer?"

"Mmm." Mel nodded. "And I will use it if I have to."

"Good. You know how to sense the difference between a human and a fugitive. You use it on any fugitive who walks in here and I don't care if there are witnesses."

"Cole," Mel began, regarding him with wide eyes. "I can not use a damned phaser on a fugitive in a bar full of people," she protested.

"If he is here to take you, it will not be hard to get him alone. Simply allow him to see you going into the storage room and he will follow." He sighed. "I wish I did not have to leave you alone, Mel."

"Hey, I'm not unarmed and I'm in a way better position to deal with a fugitive now," she pointed out gently. "You've taught me so much. I'll be fine."

"Okay." He nodded faintly. "I'll see you in a few hours."

***

"Hey, welcome back," Maria greeted Vic with a smile, putting down the book she had been reading.

"I stopped by your place, got you a change of clothes," Vic told her, holding up a small duffle-bag.

"And then you went to the Watchfire."

"How the hell…"

Maria chuckled and shook her head. "It was a lucky guess, Vicky. If you aren't working or with me, you're usually there with your new compadre Cole or your old novia Mel."

Vic frowned faintly. "Mar, you know it's over with Mel and I, right? I mean, she and Cole…"

Maria smiled faintly, nodding. "I know, Vicky," she told him firmly. "I know. When I started noticing how much time you spent there… I was less worried that it was you and Mel than I was about how much alcohol you might have been consuming while there. I mean, you were acting pretty oddly…"

"Yeah, but you understand this deal with me and Cole, right? You're not worried any more?"

"Not about you drinking too much, no. But I absolutely hate that you aren't being level with me about what Cole's real story is."

"Mar, I've told you," Vic protested.

"Yeah. He's INS and I am the Virgin of Guadalupe." She rolled her eyes. "I wasn't born yesterday, Vicky. Cole Hauser is no more INS than I am. It does not compute. Gregory James was not an illegal; he was a citizen, US born and bred. Likewise William Brandon. And I know that you were at the train yards the day those soldiers were attacked."


He shifted uncomfortably. "Don't be ridiculous, Mar."

"That lacked a lot of conviction. And I notice that you didn't bother denying the William Brandon connection," she murmured, not looking at him.

"Mar," he began.

"Honestly is an important thing in a relationship, Vic. Now, you promised me that you'd level as soon as you could. I've been patient, tried to be, but I don't like getting frozen out, either," she told him gently.

"I can't. Not yet. Besides, why would you think that Cole has anything to do with Brandon?"

"He was in that warehouse this morning. I saw him before Brandon nailed me on the head. And I heard him talking to you afterwards. 'Bring her to a hospital, make sure she's well guarded. We'll talk soon. We have a lot to discuss.' Sound familiar?"

Vic inhaled deeply. "I can't lie to you, Mar. He was there, yeah. And he is after Brandon. And no, he's not INS. But you have to trust me when I say that he's one of us."

"He won't let you tell me, will he?"

"He needs to maintain his cover, Mar. It's important for his safety and Mel's and ours at this point."


"DEA? Just nod or shake your head, Vicky."

Vic hesitated. She started playing twenty questions with him and he was screwed. He did not have to say a word and she would know if her questions were hitting home. It might never occur to her that Cole was not human, but she would learn a lot of other 'not's about him in the meantime.

"DEA? Why would you think that, Mar?"

"It's a new drug, has to be. What connects James and Brandon? They were both normal guys not so long ago. Now they're unnaturally strong killing machines."

"You are correct, Detective Cruz."

"Cole," Vic greeted him, nodding. "Hey."

"Hello, Vic," Cole greeted him. "Hello, Detective Cruz. You are correct. The thing that connects the people I am searching for is this change you speak of," he told her quietly.

Maria nodded slowly, sitting up. "But you're not DEA, are you?"


He smiled and shook his head. "No, Detective Cruz. And I am not INS, either." He gave an apologetic shrug. "The deception was necessary for my safety and Mel's. It remains necessary for the safety of too many others to name."

"Does Vic know the whole story?"

"He does." Cole nodded. "He stumbled onto the truth while pursuing Gregory James."

Vic nodded. "He blew his cover saving my life, Mar. You saw what James did to me. He was going to kill me until Cole showed up."

"So Cole rescues you and brings you home. To the Watchfire." Maria nodded faintly. "Which is why you went there before the hospital?"

Vic nodded. "He told me the whole story then. Mel wasn't too happy about that… But… well, once I knew what was really going on, I had to get involved. It wasn't something I could just walk away from or close my eyes to."

Maria shook her head. Of course he could not. Vic was like that. "Is it drugs?" she asked Cole.

"No, Detective," Cole answered. "But it is, as I have said, these behavioral shifts that interest me."

Maria considered. "Are these 'behavioral shifts' localized to Chicago?"

"No. They occur throughout this country as well as in England. Possibly elsewhere…"

"Are you British?"

"I can't answer that," Cole told her quietly.

Vic rubbed his mouth to cover his smile. Cirronians might have been horrible liars, but this one was a master of misdirection. He had mentioned England intentionally, a staunch ally of the US whose law enforcement officials, if operating in the States, would be in close contact with local law enforcement, undercover or otherwise.

Maria shrugged. "Fair enough. Guess it's a start."

Cole smiled warmly down at her, nodding. "Are you feeling better?"

"Lots better. Still pretty drained, but better."

"I'm glad." Cole smiled and touched her forehead, assuring himself that she was indeed better. He nodded to himself. "Vic, Maria should be under guard until she is better."

"I hardly think that's necessary," Maria protested, shaking her head.

"It is," Cole told her simply. "He has been following you for at least three days now and he is known to observe his victims for a week or more before he takes them. You are weakened now and therefore vulnerable. He may advance his timetable if he thinks he can more easily take you now."

"He's right, Mar. That guy was definitely taking an interest in you. I don't like the fact that he knows--"

"It's fine, Vicky," Maria interrupted, shaking her head. "I don't need protection; I need sleep."

"If you're sure, Detective Cruz," Cole said softly, turning to leave. "Good night."

"Cole!" Vic protested, following him into the hallway. "Come on. If what you're saying is true, we have to keep an eye on her…"

"We will," Cole assured him, smiling. "We just won't tell her that we are."