Disclaimer: I don't own these characters, they own me. Special thanks to Toby Whithouse and BBC3 for the playground.


Previously:

Tom McNair sank into the cafe chair with a sigh. The lunch rush was over and the kitchen was in a state vaguely resembling cleanliness. Nowhere near his mate's idea of such, but it'd do for now.

"So... am I back in the nick o' time or did you power through without me?" Alex smiled and plopped into the chair across from Tom after confirming the coast was clear.

Tom, completely unfazed by the ghost's sudden appearance just shook his head.

"Made do, I did. Sure miss Hal though." After a brief pause he eyed Alex and raised an eyebrow. "How's 'e fairin?"

Alex shrugged then reached for the sugar bottle. Turning the bottle in a slow rotation on the table, she dropped her eyes. It had been weeks since they strapped Hal down, determined to see him through his withdrawals. In that time, Alex had almost forgotten why they cared. But Tom, ever diligent kept an unwavering faith that his friend would overcome the demon that raged a mercurial storm in their living room.

"He's out again...thank ye stars..." she set the packet down. "But this time was odd y' know? He was in the midst of his usual Lordly tirade when he just stopped."

"Stopped? Like he came to 'imself?" Tom leaned forward, looking hopeful.

"No, not exactly. He just... stopped. Like I walked over his off switch or some. One second raving profanity and the next..."

"Oh," Tom slumped. "Yeah... he sorta done that on me earlier," Tom sighed again. He still held onto the belief that his friend would re-emerge, but it all was beginning to take its toll. "Sure wish'n he'd left us with a bit more instruction," Tom stated wistfully, and not for the first time.

Alex gave him a half-hearted encouraging smile, then stood. Brushing down her skirt she declared "Go 'head and take a break - I'll get the dishes."

Thrice during the brief time it took Alex to finish putting the cafe back house in order did she pop over to Honolulu Heights to check on their charge. Hal was just as she'd left him - completely un-animated. Ensuring that the thick straps which held the vampire were still in place, she returned to the cafe. Tom was taking her advice and eating a sandwich while zoning out, gaze fixed on the far construction crane. The young werewolf was wearing himself thin. Between the care and worry over his friend, along with his determination to keep Hal's absence hidden from their employer, Alex wasn't certain how much longer he could keep going on like this.

She was just about to rejoin him at his table when the door chimed the announcement of another customer. Reluctantly, Tom stood up and scooted back behind the counter. Alex faded back to the kitchen, awaiting the order.

"Eh there! What can I get ya?" Tom, ever chipper managed to dredge up some energy and a smile. At least until the customer answered.

"Cheers lad, but actually, I'm wondering if I can speak to Hal. Is he in?"

The time it took Tom's brain to kick into gear to form a response was apparently too long, for the stranger added "Just need to ask a few questions. Nothing serious."

Alex had a sinking feeling as she watched Tom shake out the reply he had rehearsed. "Hal went home early - sorry sir," he answered as the man reached into the inside pocket of his coat and pulled out a business card.

"Mike Nave, private investigator. You wouldn't happen to know how I could get in touch with him do you? A mobile perhaps?" The man, who appeared human and in his fifties queried.

Tom, taking the card the P.I. was handing him shook his head. "Naw - none that I know of."

"That's too bad," Mike Nave said, then paused. Seeming to consider, he reached into his coat pocket again. "Say, you wouldn't happen to recall seeing this girl? She would have been in 'bout a month ago?"

Tom kept his expression as blank and neutral as possible, then leaned forward over the blown up photograph the man had pushed across the counter. The photo was centered in on Alex in what was obviously a group shot as someones arm was thrown over her shoulder, but cut off. She looked happy. Tom righted himself and shrugged casually.

"She don't seem familiar to me. Why?" The girl in question flattened herself to the wall just beyond the counter even though she knew she wasn't likely to be seen.

"Your co-worker never mentioned her?" The investigator pressed on, ignoring Tom's inquiry.

"Nope," Tom shook his head.

"Ah well. Have him give me a jingle when he gets back in."

"Right. Ok." Tom sounded casual enough even though Alex could tell he was already thinking steps ahead. This fella would find out about the house - if he didn't already know, and turn up there real soon. Maybe even today.

Mike Nave pulled his wallet with a smile, "How bout a tea for the road?"

Alex re-emerged the second the investigator departed, agape with query.

"Wha then you mental?" Tom gestured at her to move. "No use risking him seeing me talking to me'self! Freezer. Now!" He took one more glance at the man crossing the street with his tea and watched him getting into a brown sedan before following Alex into the back.

The second Tom came into view, Alex tossed her head. "Jaysus - I knew this was going to happen! They can't bloody well afford this. Though that guy they hired didn't look too classy. I never should have told Will bout that date. Little shite teased me bout it to boot." She leaned against the wire kitchen shelf without making it move, crossed her arms then looked up at Tom. "He won't be finding m'body any more than we can. How are we going to shake him? It's not like I can appear and tell him 'I'm fine and send my love on to me brothers'." The ghost punctuated the thought by kicking her boot into a box of lettuce.

"I know - hey - I know," Tom tried to steady her as she looked about to come undone at the thought. "Unfortunately, we may have a bigger problem fore we get to that."

Alex just continued "I can't believe they hired that creep. And I can't believe it took them this long! Do they really think I'm that much of a... a -"

"Alex!" Tom grabbed her by the shoulders of her leather jacket. "We gotta move Hal."

"Whaa-t?" Alex protested.

"That bloke could be on 'is way to the house right now. We hav'ta move Hal."

"Oh." She looked Tom in the eyes, "You mean 'I' got to move Hal. You'll never make it back home in time."

Tom cocked his head considering. "I can run right fast - I'll meet you there. Get started on loosening the chair and -"

"Tom - if that man comes to the door and Hal's loose..." She didn't want to finish the thought.

"I know. I will meet you there. Go." Tom let go of the ghost and left the cooler, already removing his apron.

Alex remained for the briefest of moments before rent-a-ghosting back to Honolulu Heights. Her pause was just long enough to see Tom pause, then pull one of his stakes out of hiding on the supply shelf.