Chapter 3: Checking Up

It had been several days since Shi and the others had dropped Ryan Trenton Ross off at Drac's lair, and today, Shi was going back to check on him. No one else in the house was up yet, so she wrote a note for Eclipse, and left it on her pillow beside him. She gently kissed his lips before heading out the door. Atsuko and the pups met her at the bottom of the stairs, wanting to go out.

"No, no. You guys have to stay in." Shi whispered, petting each of them before going to the door.

As she reached the door, someone spoke softly from the kitchen door way, making her jump.

"Where do you think you're going, this early in the morning?" a girls voice asked.

Spinning around, Shi's eyes fell one her sister, Shadow, standing in the door way, holding a cup of coffee. Smiling, Shi took a deep breath to calm herself, and stepped forward.

"Going to go check on the young blood that Drac had us bring in." she said quietly.

"Oh, I see. Not going to tell us, huh?" Shadow teased, smiling.

"I left Eclipse a note. He would have told you." Shi said, returning the smile.

"Sure he would…" Shadow muttered, walking out of the kitchen, after turning off the light. "Be careful out there. Just because Reko is dead, doesn't mean we are safe." she said, heading for the couch.

"I know, and I will be. I'll call when I get there and when I'm on my way back." Shi said, smiling.

"Ok. See ya." Shadow said, as Shi disappeared out the door.

Shi went to her car, and started it up. Having thought of the idea the night before, Shi parked her car outside of the garage, so that when she started it, it wouldn't be so loud. She was soon speeding down the dirt road, heading for the main highway, listening to music, and thinking of the silent treatment she was going to get when she got home, for not waking anyone up.

Eclipse stirred lightly in his sleep, and lifted his arm to wrap around Shi, but only met an empty space, and the mattress. Eyes flying open, he bolted upright in bed, and looked around. Spotting the note on Shi's pillow, he picked it up and read it silently.

Eclipse,

Sorry that I didn't wake you, but I'm just going to check on Ryan. And I know that Drac will be there, and it will save you two from fighting in front of the poor boy, so I decided it better if I let you sleep. Please don't be to made at me. I love you, and I'll be home soon. I promise to call when I get there, and when I'm on my way back. Love you.

ShiFox

Sighing, Eclipse lay the note down and lay back down in bed, covering his eyes with his arm. After a few minutes, he let his arm slide off his face, and sat staring up at the ceiling. Slowly, he sat up, and stretched, before tossing the blanket off and heading for the bathroom.

Shadow sat silently on the couch watching tv when Eclipse slowly made his way down, as usual, clad in only his night pants. Shadow smiled at him as he stopped next to the couch and looked at the t.v.

"What in the hell are you watching?" he asked, scratching his back.

"Some dumb ass show on the scary channel." Shadow replied.

Eclipse laughed and shook his head, walking away to the kitchen. Abi soon came down, following the scent of coffee as usual, and Shadow smiled at her.

"You don't like my coffee smell?" she teased.

"Eh?" Abi asked, confused.

"You didn't come down as fast as you do when Shi makes coffee…you just don't like my coffee…" Shadow teased, pretending to pout.

"Oh…zip it." Abi muttered playfully, walking off.

Shadow laughed lightly and started watching t.v again. As Abi entered the kitchen, Eclipse was pouring himself some coffee, and looked up at her.

"Is it me, or is Shadow in a damn good mood today?" Abi asked.

"She's in a damn good mood today." Eclipse said, laughing.

"Ok, just checking." Abi replied, smiling.

She looked around the room and noticed that Shi wasn't in there with him, or out in the living room with Shadow. Then it suddenly clicked that Shadow made the coffee this morning. Where the hell was Shi? She always makes the coffee.

"Where's Shi?" she asked, looking up at Eclipse.

"She went to check on the young blood we hunted down the other day." he replied.

"What! And she didn't wake me up!" Abi cried.

"I guess not. She didn't wake any of us up I don't suppose." Eclipse said, shrugging.

"That little heifer!" Abi muttered.

Eclipse laughed lightly and left for the living room, sitting down next to Shadow, who smiled up at him.

"Sleep well?" she asked.

"As always." Eclipse replied, smiling and setting his coffee on the end table.

"You did find Shi's note, right?" Shadow asked, raising her eyebrow.

"Do you think I'd be this calm if I hadn't?" Eclipse asked, smirking at her.

"Well I guess not." Shadow laughed.

"How did you know, anyway?" Eclipse asked.

"I was up when she was trying to sneak out." Shadow said, laughing.

"Ah…how long ago was this?" Eclipse asked.

"Only about twenty minutes ago. You came down maybe five minutes after she left." Shadow said, looking at the clock.

"Damn it!" Eclipse said, then pulled his feet up on the couch.

xXxXxXxXxXx

It didn't take Shi long to reach the lair at the rate she was driving. It usually didn't take her long to get anywhere, come to think of it. Shi stopped her car just ahead of the clearing where the door to the lair was, seeing that there where trees everywhere, it would be hard to get the car in there, and hell to get it back out. Getting out, Shi walked over to the door, and knocked three times, and as usual, the door swung open, and an unknown Vampire stood there. Smiling, Shi started to walk passed him, but he held up his arm, stopping her.

"What's your business in Drac Blooddimond's Lair?" he asked, his voice deep and gruff.

"Uh…He's expecting me." Shi said, looking at him, eyebrow raised.

"Really now? He never told me he was expecting anyone, and I'm on door watch all day." the Vamp said.

"Good for you. Why don't you call him and ask him yourself? Until then, I'd appreciate it if you let me pass." Shi said.

"Sorry miss. I can't do that." the Vamp said, shaking his head.

"Which one? Let me pass or call your Sire?" Shi asked, her voice getting intimidating.

The Vamp hesitated for a moment, the swallowed and sighed.

"Either. He said not to bother him today…he's…very busy." he replied nervously.

"Well, sir, either you call him, or I will, because I don't have all day. I have places to be, things to do and shit like that. Now make up your mind." Shi said, smirking.

"Yes ma'am." the Vamp said, then thought a moment. "Go ahead." he said, moving his arm.

"Good boy." Shi said, smiling and heading down the stairs.

The Vamp watched her for a moment, then sighed and closed the door as she disappeared around the corner, headed for Drac's room. Shi slowly made her way down the hall, looking into the rooms, until she found Ryan's room, and stepped in quietly. He was sleeping peacefully on his back, with his head facing away from her. Shi could see the scars where he had been bitten on his neck, and they where only inches from the main vein. Sighing, Shi stepped up closer to him, and watched him sleep for a few minutes, when she heard someone whisper her name. Looking to the door, she saw Drac standing there, smiling.

"Hey." he whispered, as she walked to him.

"Hey. How is he?" Shi asked quietly, as Drac lead her down the hallway a bit.

"Well, he's getting better, but not exactly completely there. He's been running wild for a few days now. He keeps muttering in his sleep about someone named Shania…know her?" Drac asked.

"Shania? No…not that I know of. Get the rest of her name?" Shi asked.

"No, not yet. When he wakes, I'm going to give him my blood concoction that keeps the cravings down. Its been working so far, but I don't know if he'll ever be able to come off it." Drac muttered.

"What does Doc think?" Shi asked.

"What I just said." Drac said, laughing.

"Oh, I see. Gotcha." Shi said, smiling.

"Sire! He's waking!" someone yelled from Ryan's room.

Drac and Shi turned to look at him, then walked quickly down the hall to the room, where Ryan was stirring lightly. Shi stood on one side of the bed while Drac took the other, and looked down at the young fledgling Vampire. Slowly, Ryan's eyes opened, and he looked up at her and Drac.

"Where…am I?" he asked, his voice hoarse.

"You mean to tell me, Jake's punch knocked him out for this long?" Shi asked, eyes wide.

Drac shrugged and looked up at her.

"He's been out since you brought him in." he said.

"Wow…remind me never to piss Jake off then." Shi muttered, looking back down at Ryan.

"Where's…Shania?" he asked quietly.

"Shania who?" Shi asked, kneeling down beside his bed.

"Shania Raylen Rose…" Ryan muttered.

Shi looked up at Drac, who shrugged again. Looking back at Ryan, she smiled.

"I'll find her for you." she said.

"I think…she's in trouble…" Ryan said, coughing.

"Trouble? With who?" Shi asked, raising an eyebrow.

"Some girl…in a mansion…in the middle of the woods…" Ryan muttered, still groggy from sleep.

Shi's heart skipped a beat when she realized who he was talking about. For his sake and everyone else's, she hoped that she was thinking wrong. Smiling again, she stood up and started to walk away. But before she got to far, Ryan grabbed her wrist, making her stop and look back at him.

"Don't leave…please." he muttered, smiling weakly.

Those crimson eyes of his seemed to hold her for a second, then, shaking her head, she smiled at him, and walked back up to the bed.

"I'll go prepare you a drink." Drac said, smiling and leaving.

Ryan released Shi's wrist, and she sat gently on the side of the bed, beside him.

"So, who is this Shania you speak of?" she asked, looking at him.

Ryan smiled and seemed to daze off a bit.

"She's the most wonderful person in this world. She's beautiful, funny, smart, and sweet, all wrapped up in one." he said, smiling.

Shi smiled too, and looked away, but still listening to him.

"She is a close friend of mine…someday I hope that she'll be more, but for now, I'm just glad to have her as a friend." Ryan explained.

"That's great. What does she look like?" Shi asked, looking back at him.

"Oh…she's beautiful. She has long, light brown hair, and gorgeous hazel eyes…her skin is a fair tan and her body perfect…" Ryan went on, still spaced out.

Shi giggled at him and sighed. As he spaced, Shi examined him, and saw something on his arm that she never realized before.

"What's this?" she asked, tugging at a bright red ribbon, tied to his upper arm.

Ryan snapped out of his daze, and looked over at the band on which Shi was gently tugging at.

"Shania's ribbon." he said, smiling. "I found it in the bushes…after we where attacked that night…" he said, starting to space again.

"What happened?" Shi asked, raising an eyebrow.

Ryan looked up at her, and smiled, then looked back down at the blankets covering his body.

"Shania and I were out walking through the woods…I had a surprise for her, that I wanted to show her. We were half way there, when I started sensing someone following us. I kept looking back over our shoulders, but there was no one or nothing there. So I ignored it…I shouldn't have…I should have taken her home right away. Something somewhere inside of me told me to take her home, but I didn't listen to it…" Ryan explained, tears forming in his eyes.

Shi could hear the pain in his voice as he went on, and looked away to hide her own pain showing in her eyes and on her face.

"We walked for a few minutes, when this group of guys and one girls showed up out of no where. They attacked Shania, and took her away, and one, just one, attacked me. I still remember the searing pain that shot through my body when he bit me. I heard Shania scream, and then it all went black…I thought I was dead…but when I opened my eyes, I was still in the woods, where we had been when we were attacked. I saw the ribbon blowing in the wind, tangled up in a bush…so I grabbed it, and here it is now…and I promised to find Shania, no matter what." Ryan said, a tear escaping and rolling down his cheek.

Shi sighed and looked back at him. He was still looking away, but she knew he was listening to anything and everything around them. Slowly, she outstretched a hand towards his face.

"Don't worry…" she said, speaking softly. "We'll find her. I promise." Her hand gently touched his face, wiping away the tear that had fallen, and causing him to close his eyes.

Drac suddenly came around the corner, and Shi let her hand drop from Ryan's face and stood up.

"I must be going, really." she said, fighting to keep her voice steady.

"What? Already? But you just got here." Drac said.

Ryan looked up at her, and she smiled weakly at him.

"I'll be back…but…I can tell Abi is already pissed off at me, so I need to get home and make it back on her good side." Shi said, looking up at Drac.

"Oh, all right." Drac said, handing Ryan the glass of blood he had just returned with.

"When will you be coming back?" Ryan asked quietly.

"Very soon." Shi said, smiling.

Ryan nodded and took a sip of his glass. Shi turned and headed for the door, Drac following her.

"I'll be right back, Ryan." he said, looking back at the young Vamp.

"Ok." Ryan said, nodding.

Drac walked Shi back up to the door, and walked out with her. The sun was bright, and Shi shielded her eyes from its rays, and blinked away a few tears.

"And where are your sunglasses, missy?" Drac teased, also shielding his eyes.

"I could ask you the same thing, Mr." Shi teased back.

Drac laughed and looked around.

"While you really be coming back soon?" he asked.

"Yes. Why?" Shi asked.

"No reason." Drac said, shrugging.

Shi studied him a minute, raising an eyebrow.

"Uh-huh…" she mused, then looked back at her car.

Drac smiled at her, as she started to take a few steps toward her car.

"What? No good-bye hug? Not even a see you later?" Drac asked, crossing his arms.

"See you later!" Shi called as she walked on.

"Jee thanks…" Drac muttered, shaking his head.

"You're welcome. See you when I come back again!" Shi said, not even looking back at him.

"Later." Drac muttered, his temper rising a bit, as he turned and headed back in.

When Shi reached her car, she quickly got in, as the tears of Ryan's story caught up with her. She had never before been so emotional over something like that, but maybe seeing as she's been in this situation before, that's why it gets to her. Sighing, Shi wiped away her tears, and started her car, leaving for town.

A few minutes later, Shi was pulling into the parking lot of Wal-Mart­, to do some food shopping for the wolves and panthers before she headed home. Before heading into the store, she pulled out her phone and dialed the house phone. It rang a few times, before someone picked up. It was Eclipse.

"Hello?" he asked.

"Hey, its me. Just calling as I promised." Shi said, smiling.

"Oh, hey! Man, are you in trouble with Abi." Eclipse said, and Shi could hear the smile in his voice.

"Yea, yea, yea. Don't rub it in. I'll make it up to her." Shi said, smiling and looking out the window.

"Ok then. How long will you be? I miss you." Eclipse asked.

"Aww." Shi said, smiling. "I haven't been gone that long, have I?" she asked.

"Well, seeing as I haven't seen you since last night, yes." Eclipse teased.

"Oh, I don't know. I'm going to do a little shopping while I'm out, for the wolves and panthers. Then I'll be on my way." Shi replied.

"Ok then. Be careful." Eclipse said.

"I will. Love you." Shi said.

"Love you too." Eclipse replied, before hanging up.

Shi closed her phone and put it back in her pocket, then headed in. People stopped to stare at her as she walked around the store, and some even gave her evil eyes. Shi ignored them all and went about her business, gathering only what she needed at the moment, then heading to the check out. After she was done at this store, she headed down the street to Best Buy, where they sold un-edited cds.

Shi quickly scanned the cd selection that they had, finding two cd's that she remembered Abi talking about that she wanted. She grabbed both cds, and headed up to the front to check out, when someone grabbed her arm.

"Excuse me, do I know you?" the guy who had grabbed her asked.

"Uh, no. Don't believe so. Mind letting me go?" Shi replied, gently pulling away.

The guy smirked and raised an eyebrow.

"Isn't your name Shi?" he asked.

Shi hesitated a minute before replied, studying him closely. He was severely overweight, had short black hair, and big thick glasses.

"How do you know me, and I not know you?" she asked.

"You know me, you just don't want to admit it. We used to go together." the guy said.

Shi laughed uncontrollably, and was unable to stop. The guy looked at her, hurt taking over his features. Shi covered her mouth, and looked away, trying to stop laughing.

"Sorry, but I have to go." she said, walking away.

"You know you want me back!" the guy called after her, making other people stop and stare.

Shi stopped and slowly turned around to look at him.

"You want to know something?" she asked, raising an eyebrow. "I would never date a fat, perverted fucker like yourself! You have me mixed around with someone else, because I sure as hell never dated you! And for your information, I am happy with someone, and would not give him up for the world!"

The people around cheered her and slowly went about their business, as the guy stood there, hurt. Shi turned and walked away, paying for the cds and leaving, heading for home.

A/n: alrighty, theres the next chapter! sorry its so long! but hey, its there. and ignore the spellings, cuz i'm in a hurry, adn dont give a shit at the moment:D so, review for me! LaterZ!