Almost Lost

by LdyJulanna

I was always disappointed with the ending of Heart of Fire every time I watch it I feel there should have been more between Henry and Vicki what with the torture and… So for those of you if you like me and you are happy with the whole let's just forget about Henry being tortured and all be friends thing this fanfics for you also it's rated M for a reason lemons and language!

3. Chapter 3

Blood ties-Almost lost

By

^v^ LdyJulanna ^v^

Chapter 3

The next thing Vicki knew she was being lightly shaken awake by a dripping wet Henry in a towel. A little disoriented she looks around to find the box setting on the coffee table beside her. And a very dripping Henry peering down at her with concern on his face. She barely remembered coming up the elevator she must've fallen asleep as soon as he went into the bathroom. She couldn't of been asleep very long though.

"Vicki… Are you okay? I was in the shower… When I thought I heard you yelling. "No… No that basturd let me go, Mike let me go!" "So I came out of the shower but there was no one here but you."

Vicki looks away. Embarrassed about what she might've said in her sleep that's no way for Henry to find out she was dreaming about not being able to save Delphine. Henry sets down next to her. Taking her hand in his which apparently she had been curling into a fist during her nightmare causing the cut she had made to split a fresh and bleed. Knowing she's going to have to answer questions Vicki tries to pull her hand out of Henry's. But Henry is in having any of it he turns her palm up and hisses at the deep cut. "I should've killed that basturd slower for doing this to you!"

Vicki flinches. And Henry takes a deep breath thinking she's upset with his outburst. "I'm sorry Vicki I just… Can't stand the thought of him hurting you."

Vicki smiles weakly. And places her non-bleeding hand on Henry's cheek. "I know the feeling." At this Henry's eyes widened a little bit and she strokes his cheek. "I wish you had killed that son of a bitch a little slower he deserved it or would have deserved it but I'm glad you drained him." Vicki says, as hot tears run down her cheeks.

Henry is shocked by her words. But he knows in his heart that she means them and the fact that she would speak that way brings tears to his own eyes because it says more about how she feels then what she says outright.

"Henry…" Vicki starts. Unable to meet his eyes her eyes settle on the box on the coffee table. As much as I'd like to blame that evil basturd the mad monk is not the one that cut my hand. She feels Henry go still while examining her hand. " If the monsignor didn't do this to you Vicki then who did? This is a deep cut I can tell by the outer edges that it's at least a day old but it still bleeds easily how did this happen. Does it hurt?"

Vicki shrugs. "It throbs now. It hurt like a son of a bitch when I did it but it's not so bad now." She could almost feel the anger coming off Henry. She figured he probably thought she'd cut her hand for some sort of magic spell by the look on his face.

That kind of pissed her off so now she didn't have any problem meeting his eyes at the moment.

"Hold your horses their your highness before you go get in your Royal knickers in a knot I know what you're thinking and no I didn't cut my hand using magic!"

Henry inclined his head and couldn't help the slight smile that twitched his lips. Vicki was so happy to see that smile returned to his face for a moment she forgot to be pissed at his assumption. "I apologize my lady... For assuming so. Although, I must say I find it quite disconcerting that you can read me so well. Know that were it anyone else I wouldn't allow it." Although the statement was delivered cheekily Vicki knew well the complement he was giving her and she ducked her eyes in acknowledgment of it. As she replied with just as much cheek.

"Calm down, Fitzroy it's not that hard to guess what you're thinking with that spaz- tastic look on your face."

"I did not have a spaz- tastic look Victoria." Vicki just rolls her eyes. That's why Henry loves this woman she was the only one in his life not intimidated by him and not afraid to trade wit with him ever. Even in his human life no one would ever talk to him the way Vicki did. Enemies would insult him yes but friends. They would never banter with him the way Vicki did. Shaking himself, Henry asks. If not for magic then why would you cut yourself like this Vicki?" Henry watches her eyes slide from his face back to the box. This makes him even more curious. He watches her fight to blink back tears and her throat convulse. He lets go of her hand for a second to get up and fix her favorite drink. Returning with it he places it in her good hand that's shaking. Then he moves close to her so he can put an arm around her but still face her as she talks. He kisses her temple. "Vicki… My beautiful warrior Princess. I owe you my life. No matter the circumstances of how I came to be there. You are the one that saved me in more ways than one. Whatever it is, you can tell me. Just as I know you'll want and I will need to share things with you. And you are the only one I could allow such a thing with."

Henry feels her stiffen and tremble all at the same time but he refuses to loosen his grip.

"I don't say this to scare you Vicki, after all that's happened I can't go back to pretending to be just a business partner." He sees Vicki nod in agreement and lets out a breath he didn't even need to be holding.

"I agree." She says in a small voice. "Henry, I was so shocked at first I didn't even realize what Mike had done until that basturd showed up and pointed his gun and you were on the ground and I was… Frozen Henry I don't freeze I was a cop we plan. we react.. I didn't know what that thing was I didn't know what it could do to you. As I watched him drag you away… I couldn't breathe... No matter what. I had to get you back. I know I've been rebuffing you but it's not because… I- I've wanted I know this sounds crazy and it's so not usual for me. And it's not because of what you are. I have no interest in being a feed and fuck. I'm going to sound completely and utterly ridiculous; but ever since I woke up and your apartment that night and you told me you were vampire, I should have been scared shitless but instead I felt a sense of peace and safety. As if I was finally where I was supposed to be. But Henry, it was so unlike me… besides I'm a half blind P.I. That will eventually be a totally blind P.I. and you're a 480-year-old vampire. I'm not stupid Henry… I know you care about me. You don't follow any of your other playmates around."

Vicki sees Henry smirk and can tell he wants to say something; but she shakes her head. "No Henry I need to get this out otherwise I won't." Henry just nods and continues to hold her injured palm... "I've tried to deny my feelings for you and done my best to keep you at arm's length. Not because I wanted to hurt you. Or because of what you are, I realize that's what you thought. When we took out the jealousy demon and it went after you first."

Vicki smiled sadly at Henry's widened eyes. "It was the only explanation there's no reason for you to be jealous of Mike. Trust me the only thing that you could possibly be jealous of Mike about was his humanity his ability to be in the day." With this Vicki strokes Henry's cheek with her good hand. That never mattered to me Henry. Hell a lot of times I do more at night taking dirty pictures than I do in the daytime. But I haven't tried to correct any of it. Because I know loving me… That loving me is just gonna hurt you. I thought about what it must be like to be 480 years old to take a chance on loving somebody; and we both know when you love someone you truly love them. Hell you died for love. Honestly, I wonder if you've ever truly loved anybody again since Christina? Then to have to watch them die or turn them and lose them anyway... I didn't want to be the cause of that kind of pain for you; because I know that you're not going to get the usual 40 years or whatever with me my eyes are going to get worse and I'm going to be totally dependent and that's not fair to you."

Before she could utter another sentence. Henry interrupted her hotly and she noticed his own tears on his face.

"You don't get to make that decision for me Victoria! I understand the whys! But that's not your call to make. You would not tolerate the same from me! Would you?! If you found out I was hiding my feelings from you for your own good can you swear that you would not try to stake me for it?"

Vicki nods her head emphatically with a laugh. "You're right, you're right Henry. That's my point; I've been trying to save the pain. However, also I've been afraid I am going to be totally blind. You're a vampire with super senses why would you want to deal with something like that. That's what I kept asking myself to justify pushing you away but as I watched Mendoza take you everything I just said ran through. My head and I realized I don't think I can live in a world without you. I don't exactly know when that happened and I won't lie it scares the shit out of me because I've never depended on anyone in my life."

Her gaze flicked to Henry. "I'm glad of this Vicki but I don't quite understand what this has to do with your hand."

Vicki rolls her eyes. "I'm getting there… After we found another way out of the sewer and I punched Mike in the jaw." At this Henry does burst out laughing. "You did what?"

Vicki says. "Come on Henry with those vampire ears I know you heard me. As soon as we got out of the manhole up on street level I punched Mike in the jaw and called him a moron. We had more words about him fucking over my partner. "When Vicki said the my partner part there was a big smile on her face.

"He gave me some Bullshit excuses about the mad monk this blah blah. He tried to blame my attitude toward you on not being a cop and being influenced yada, yada. As I was walking away he had the audacity to ask me what I plan to do. And I said I was going to do what I do when my partners in trouble. Because I'm loyal. He offered to help me, at first I laughed in his face; because I know damn well he didn't give a shit about you. He said that he wanted Mendoza. Since I can't drive at night and I needed Corrine working with Betty on that damn thing he shoved in your chest. I told him he could be my chauffeur and if he fucked me over I swore to God he would regret it."

"I got Betty and Corrine started on research. I was scared to death you were dead but I kept telling myself that if he didn't kill you in the sewer than he wanted you for something. I just couldn't figure out what at first."

Vicki gets up, goes to the bar pours herself a drink and brings the bottle back placing it on the coffee table next to the box that she brought in. She downs the drink in her hand and pours another one.

Henry starts to get concerned. "Vicki… Should you."

Vicki just smiled. "Relax Henry I was a cop I've drank a lot more then this after disturbing cases. And if I'm going to get any sleep when the sun comes up I'm gonna need it."

Henry deeply concerned by this decides not to push it because he wants to hear what happened. So retaking Vicki's hand he nods for her to continue.

"Anyway, I was frantic. I knew the sun was coming up soon I had no clue where to start looking. For where that fucking lunatic was keeping you."

Henry moves closer to Vicki, not really liking the lost frustrated sound of her voice. He can only imagine what it would of been like for him had their roles been reversed. He's just lucky that Vicki is such a good detective.

"Once I got Corrine busy trying to figure out what exactly the deal was with that damn device. I remembered that this all started because Mike seen the mad monk at that so-called vampire murder. Therefore, having no other leads we decided to start with her. Turns out she was a prostitute so we went to her usual area and asked around. As it turns out she wasn't the only prostitute the mad monk picked up."

Henry raised an eyebrow. Vicki grinds her teeth for a minute Henry can see the muscle in her jaw working. She also takes her hand back and starts flexing her fingers almost unconsciously. It's making a little bit of blood flow but he's afraid to say anything…. Obviously, whatever happened next disturbed his seemingly unflappable Vicki which is saying something considering all the things she seen not to mention that being locked in a room with a ravenous vampire didn't seem to faze her as much is whatever she had yet to tell him.

"We found the girl… She told us a story about how good old Javier picked her up and took her to an abandoned church she thought it was for some usual kink…."

With this Vicki jumps up off the couch pacing the room a few times and stops in front of the big window where Henry himself likes to stand to look out over the city. Henry doesn't say anything but he notices the constant flexing of her injured hand. Henry gets up and joins her at the window but not too close not yet he can sense that she doesn't want to be held just yet.

"The girl told us that she was all for it for the money. Until… Javier starts dragging her toward a woman chain from the ceiling apparently this woman was real keen to bite her. This Pro apparently pepper sprayed his Holiness and got away."

"Delphine." Henry said softly. He watches Vicki's shoulders hunch as he says the name. It's not a jealousy reaction. Though she's got her back to him he can smell the salt of her tears. He wants to reach out and comfort her; but he holds back. Here is her take a deep breath to try and steady her voice.

"Yeah, Mike and I had the same thought. We figured if it was her good and you might be with her or it might get us closer to finding you. So we paid the Pro to take us to the church where the woman tried to bite her. We found a way in."

With this Vicki turns around leaning her back against the windows. At first she appears to be staring at nothing as Henry waits for her to continue than he realizes her gaze has once again locked on the mysterious box on the table and looking from her hand to the box. Henry starts to get a bad idea about where this story may be heading.

Continuing barely above a whisper. "We made our way following the pros instructions to the room she described. And that's when we found her."

"Delphine? You found her alive?"

Vicki opens her eyes. Heedless of the tears pouring from them she walks over and grabs the bottle takes a long swallow before sitting down and meeting Henry's gaze and nodding.

Henry comes over setting close to her and taking her injured hand again.

"Can you tell me please… Vicki? I won't be mad."

Vicki grits her teeth. "Yeah well, I am mad it was a fucking ridiculous… Stupid… senseless if I could have seen better. If Mike had been paying more attention with better eyes. Instead of bitching at me about what I do with my own fucking bodily fluids. It was so dark in there well at least to me and my fucked up eyes. But no, the only thing he could ironically fixate on. "Oh my God Vicki you are seriously going to feed her your blood I'm not going to let you!"

The last remarks were made in an impression of Detective Cellucci… Vicki shook her head violently. "I'm getting ahead of myself when we walked in the room there was Delphine chain from the ceiling with one of those fucking things in her chest she made no movement when we walked in. Of course Mike strides up like he knows everything and announces she has no pulse Vic. Let's go call somebody he says…." Vicki rolls her eyes and smirks. "Just about the time I was going to point out that vampires don't always have pulses like humans at least you don't always." At this Henry smiles. "Very observant, Ms. Nelson." Instead of making a smart ass come back Vicki just shakes her head. "If only I could've been a little more observant in that fucking room. Anyway, Cellucci gets the shit scared out of him when Delphine decides to stir. In any other situation I swear to God Henry it would've been hilarious he jumps back and starts hugging his shotgun like a teddy bear. I'm trying to get the cuffs loose. She's barely conscious I knew in any other situation un-cuffing a starving vampire by ourselves was probably not the best idea; but I figured if I could just get her down. Get her covered something, get her out of there somehow; because I didn't know when or if the mad monk would return; and I didn't want to just leave her there. I couldn't get the cuffs off. Mike wasn't wanting to come near her. So I got desperate she was begging to be fed but she wasn't… she wasn't trying to attack."

Hot tears are streaming down Vicki's face now unchecked. Henry has his arm wrapped around her rubbing soothing circles on her back.

"I figured out from the prostitute that good old Javier must've had Delphine for more than a week. Henry… More than a week… Mike kept saying just leave her and come back later; But I couldn't do that. She might have been able to help us find you. I knew that you said vampires could sense each other. She was a part of you Henry I- I just couldn't leave her down there. So I tried to shake her out of it. I told her I knew her name was Delphine. I told her I'd come searching for you. Henry that I didn't know she was still alive. She was begging to be fed she was so emaciated; and she kept mumbling for you to forgive her. Or to tell you that she was sorry once she realized I knew you."

Vicki closes her injured fist until blood starts to come between her fingers. Henry doesn't even think she realizes she's doing it. He pries her fingers gently open and listens with tear filled eyes as Vicki continues.

"I knew better than to offer my wrist or hand or something I couldn't control. She was well.. You know"

Henry nods and closes his eyes for a second thinking about the pain of the device in his own chest. I didn't know how to get the device off but I thought maybe with-with my help if she had a little blood, together we could maybe break the cuffs. Or at least figure out how to slide her hands free, or something… I don't know, anything. So I grabbed my straight knife and gripped the blade and pulled down I wanted the cut to be deep enough, so that I could drip it and her mouth because…."

Henry nods. "You are smart Vicki that was the best way to feed her without risking yourself."

"Yeah well I wasn't smart enough. It was so dark in there I couldn't see anything hardly except Delphine. I was so intent on trying to save her. I knew Dawn was close when we went in the church. I figured once we got her down if worse came to worse I'd double bag her in a couple body bags and stuff her in the trunk if I had to. Anything would be better than leaving her where she was. At the mercy of the mad monk."

Henry shakes his head at this. Picturing Vicki stuffing Delphine into body bags and then in a trunk. He had no doubt she would do it. Vicki watches his facial expression.

"What? It would've worked wouldn't it body bags are light tight to help preserve evidence. Two of them would be double cautious in a trunk that should minimize the danger as opposed to being left for the crazy monk. Right?

Henry smiles and kisses Vicki on the Temple. "It was a sound idea, Vicki remind me to bring you along if I should ever find myself in such a precarious situation I would've never considered body bagging myself or any other vampire. I take it you didn't get to put this plan in action?"

Vicki shrugs. "You're all the time telling me how you're not just a sleep for the day you don't dream your dead. Body bags are for dead bodies and like I said before their light tight. No I didn't as I said before. I was so focused on Delphine especially after I'd gotten a little bit of blood in her. She became more coherent of course, more so that she was" Vicki look down." I hope I wasn't wrong she started asking me to make sure and tell you she was sorry. She kept asking for you to forgive her. I was desperate to get her to pay attention. To either tell me if she knew where the keys were. Or to try and help me get her free so I-I told her that I was sure you for gave her..."

Vicki hears Henry suck in an unneeded breath. Then suddenly his lips were on hers. Vicki pulls back a little startled.

"Sorry." Henry says. "I'm just so happy that you told her I for gave her because I did. I could never blame Delphine for telling the monsignor what he wanted to hear. Especially if he had her for a week. Vicki… I'm so glad you saved me I don't have the words to explain the pain that device causes. Can you tell me what happened next?" Henry asks softly.

Taking a deep breath Vicki continues.

"No sooner than the word Henry forgives you left my mouth this buzzer sounded. Then suddenly the room that I thought was windowless wasn't. Panels dropped out of the walls…" Vicki pauses to take a breath. And Henry closes his eyes knowing in his heart what Vicki is about to say.

"The panels fell out quicker than I could react. The switch from dark to bright light blinded me for a second… And then I heard the screams and I could smell…. Henry I could smell her burning. I had no way to try and help her. It wasn't like when a regular person catches on fire. It was bright white. And even though Mike had pulled me across the room to stop me from getting burned trying to help her… I can still feel the heat on my face. It seemed like forever but it was probably only two minutes. It was then that I realized what I thought was bright sunlight in the middle of the room was actually the light of Delphine burning."

Vicki finally turns and looks Henry in the eye when she hears a sob. "So you see Henry, I did fail you. I found your childe alive and failed to save her." Henry grabs her pulling her onto his lap turning her so she has to look at him. "No my beautiful warrior Princess you did everything a human could do; and you know firsthand you did more than most people would do." With this he brought her injured palm closer to his face keeping his eyes on hers. "You tried to save my childe with your blood a vampire you didn't even know just because she was my childe. Victoria you can't understand what an action like that means to vampire kind. To me. I'm in your debt… Please let me help with this?" Henry asks while steadily holding her gaze. Vicki just nods. "But Henry I failed to save her all because I didn't notice fucking hidden panels. I don't think I'll ever get the smell of… or the sound out of my head again. I remember thinking… This is what that basturd plans to do to Henry… and even though I didn't think it was possible. I was even more scared than when I started. I didn't sleep at all. I couldn't every time I close my eyes I see the flames but it was your face not hers. I was so afraid by the time we found you there would be nothing but a pile of ash with your rings."

In a shameful show of complete and utter weakness. Vicki buries her face in Henry's neck. Breathing in his sent which helped calm her rather quickly. While he murmurs, this is why you want to stay with me during the day? When he feels her nod against his skin. He smiles. "Thank you than, I'll know for sure that I will be safe." At this Vicki gets a little angry and tries to pull her hand away but Henry refuses to let go because he's not done with it. "What are you doing?" Henry asks. I don't appreciate being patronized. Henry leans forward putting his face inches from hers looking directly in her eyes. "I was not patronizing you."

Vicki rolls her eyes. "Of course you weren't."

Losing his temper just a little given everything that's happened; and all the information he has received. Henry leans further into her face looking directly in her eyes.

"Tell me Victoria do you know what it feels like to die every day with the dawn? To have your body stop whether you want it to or not. Knowing its coming, no matter what is going on? Knowing that you'll be at the mercy of it. And having to pray to anything that you hold dear that you'll be able to get to a safe place? How about, going to sleep in one place knowing where you are with all your stuff intact. Then in what seems like a blink of an eye waking up somewhere totally different stripped naked with none of your belongings? Or how about… Dying for the day in the hands of a maniac. Not being able to get away. Not knowing if you will experience the waking point again so that you can say goodbye to those that care about you. Only to wake up again in the blink of an eye or what seems like the blink of an eye to find yourself in excruciating pain." Henry finishes through clenched teeth. So no, Victoria I am not patronizing or condescending to you. I am admitting something to you that no vampire likes to admit. Something that I've never admitted to another living being. The Dawn terrifies me. No matter if I'm in a safe place. It has almost every morning for the last 480 years. Except, for the one morning you stayed with me; Because I was injured by that demon. Even though I was in pain, for the first time in 480 years. I felt safe when the dawn took me because of you."

Henry notices by the look on her face that Victoria doesn't believe him. "On my honor it's true... Do you not remember what I said when I came back that evening?"

"Yeah, you said you enjoyed waking up to me." Vicki says with a smile and an eye roll remembering.

"Yes! What I failed to tell you was that you were the first human that had ever slept beside me in the daytime. I never trusted anyone that much. It was then, that I realized somehow we were meant to be. No one has ever given me that since of safety toward the dawn. No one but you."

Vicki is stunned. But she'd already admitted her own sense of safety in Henry's presence. "I'm sorry for what I said then if that's the case. It's just hard for me to picture me making you feel safe."

For the first time this night Vicki sees one of Henry's true signature smiles. "Well of course you do! Otherwise, How else could you be my warrior Princess."

Now Vicki really does roll her eyes. Henry laughs pulling her injured hand towards his mouth. "May I?"

Vicki takes a deep breath. "I have something for you first let me give it to you; and if you still want to heal my hand afterwards…" With that she gently extracts her hand from Henry's grasp and reaches to the coffee table to pick up the box she'd brought from the office. Moving so that she's seated beside Henry on the couch she turns to him. Placing the box in his hands.

"Vicki what is this...?" Henry asks.

"It's something I thought you might want; and it's the least I could do."

Henry cautiously removes the cloth and box from the plastic bag. As soon as the seal on the bag is broken he realizes what it contains. Drawing in a deep breath Henry whispers. "Delphine…"

He looks at Vicki. "I figured you would smell either her or ashes or both. When I brought the box to the car so I had Corinne put it in plastic until I had a chance to explain what happened. I failed to save her Henry. I figured the least I could do for you and she was; to give you a chance to properly bury her or say goodbye I'm not sure what's appropriate. But it didn't seem right to just leave her remains in that place." Touched down deep to his core that Vicki would think of such a thing. Especially for a vampire; and with everything she had on her mind. The soft heart of this tough as nails woman never ceased to amaze him. Unable to speak yet. Henry carefully removes the silk cloth covering the box with shaking hands he can't help but to gasp upon seeing the intricately designed lid. No longer able to hold back the onslaught of emotions the thoughtful gestures of his beautiful Vicki bring forth in him. Is shoulders began to shake with his sobs and red tears start to fall down his cheeks. He roughly wipes them away as to not stain the wood. Running his hands over the intricately carved tutor roses. "Vicki… I have no words… It meant everything that she tried to save Delphine. But this, a chance to properly lay her to rest. I never dared hope for such a thing. This this box is beautiful… I haven't seen many like it since my human days." Vicki looks back at Henry with tears in her eyes. "Henry, it was the only thing I could think to do. Since I failed you both." Vicki holds up a hand to forestall any contradiction. "I know you say I didn't fail but; it feels like I did. Though you should know Corrine was the one who went back and collected the actual remains and the box was Betty's contribution. Corrine said she collected all she could; and a few personal items that were left."

Henry just stares at the box in his hands for a minute. He was overcome when he thought Vicki had done this on her own. However, to know Corrine and his lovely Betty had taken the time as well it was humbling.

"You said this box belonged to Betty?"

"Yes, apparently she's had it for some time. She didn't come out and say it but I got the impression she purchased it as a commemoration of your time together. After all, who else but you and she well and now me I guess. Who else but us three would know the significance of the Tudor rose?"

"And she gave it to you knowing what you meant to use it for?"

Vicki nods. "Yes, it was her idea when she heard me tell Corrine to find something appropriate for Delphine as she was your childe. Betty brought the box. She thought you might find it comforting and she wanted to contribute something nice."

Slowly, Henry raises the lid and Vicki's surprised to hear him utter a strangled cry so she leans forward to see in the box as well. Where she finds ash and the skull some scraps of cloth as well as what looks like a ring and a brooch. Vicki watches Henry as he carefully fishes out the brooch and examines it then lays it on the table.

"I got that for her… Right before our time together was over. You know, like I explained to you before. She was upset at the thought of being on her own. I could definitely understand that. However, I knew from experience that it would be too dangerous for her to remain with me at least physically. Especially since I am a trained fighter and she was not. So I got the brooch and gave it to her. I told her as long as she wore it I would be with her in spirit even if I couldn't be there physically. That seemed to comfort her a little bit." Henry sticks his hand back in the box only to jerk it out with a growl. Surprised by this Vicki leans forward "what's wrong?" Suddenly Henry points to a little bit of gold buried in the ash. It seems the illuminatcian del sol," that Delphine was wearing is also in here."

"Oh I'm sorry Henry! Corrine must have taken me to heart when I told her to get everything she could."

Henry looks at Vicki and smiles. "Of course she did she wouldn't want to disappoint you, you now would she?"

"Vicki could you please remove that thing from this box I don't want it in there with Delphine's remains." Henry asks.

"Of course Henry." Vicki says softly. Reaching forward she gingerly plucks the offending device out of the box holding it her hand.

"What do you want me to do with it?" Vicki asks.

"You take it and keep it with the other one…"

"Henry I… wouldn't I just couldn't leave it there for anyone to find."

"I understand… I appreciate the caution also, I trust you and it's not a bad idea for you to have them just in case. After all I am not the only vampire in existence."

Henry raises his face to look her in the eyes. This is the first time that she's got a full look at his bloody tears. Her injured hand goes to her mouth.

"Oh Henry, I thought you'd want her remains. Are you hurt?"

Henry momentarily confused by her words and reaction then puts his hand to the wetness on his cheek and looks at his fingers. With a sad smile he realizes what he must look like to Victoria and that there are definitely some things he must explain to her if they are to become closer.

"I'm perfectly fine… Albeit, A little overly emotional this night."

Vicki cocks an eyebrow at this tilting her head sideways in an effort to prompt more of an explanation from Henry.

He can't help but to laugh only Vicki ever expects him to explain himself. His laughter makes her scowl even harder. Which does nothing to help him regain his control. When he finally gets a hold of himself he says.

"I'm sorry… I know there's nothing for you to find amusing. Don't worry though… It's just tears, Vicki just tears; tears of sadness, and tears of the joy you bring me.

Vicki makes a noise in her throat. "Really Henry, don't go all Hallmark mode. Since when do you cry blood? I've seen your tears before Henry they may have been a little pink possibly but they were definitely a lot clearer than what is on your face."

"You know that the only one thing I can consume regularly is blood. A vampire's body does not process anything else we can however with practice we take in small amounts of water. This allows us to cry more human like clear tears. In addition, in some cases if we sweat, when we sweat it will be clearer to light pink easier to hide from humans than blood pouring out your eyes and your pores. However, if we do not take in water our sweat and tears become the only substance we can ingest. For obvious reasons we try to avoid things like this." Henry makes a vague gesture at his face. "So as not to cause the reaction you just had. Not to mention the more we cry pureblood the more we have to feed. Therefore, it's common for older vampires like myself to get in the habit of taking in some water on a regular basis. Just with everything that's happened I haven't had the opportunity."

Henry closed the lid on the box re-covers it with the silk cloth and sits it aside.

While Henry's doing that Vicki takes the opportunity to get up and find a washcloth. She then warms it with water and returns to Henry. Where she begins to gently wash away. The blood tears on his face and neck.

It may sting at first but then I promise it will feel better and it will heal faster and cleaner."

"Now that you've cleaned my face and neck... And gave me something I never even thought to hope for. Can I please take care of your hand now?" Henry asks. Once again pulling Vicki in his lap meaning to make her more comfortable since he knows the first part is going to be painful for her.

Vicki watches Henry's eyes and then nods her head.