Chapter 4

Bobby's POV

Growing up, I liked westerns with cowboys and Indians and gangster movies and old war movies. I never was a Star Trek fan growing up. I didn't much care for monster movies like many of my friends. I didn't believe in werewolves or vampires. Those fucking teeth marks on that woman were not human. They were canines and we can't make those marks without our teeth being physically altered. I know that Ranger's teeth have not been altered.

And, what kind of suit stops a shotgun slug? I am so freaked right now. I went to my computer and began searching for stories on new technology. The closest that I could find for body armor was a story about liquid armor. According to the story, there was at this time no patent for the futuristic technology. There was a story on transparent aluminum armor, but at this time it was being created for use on aircraft and other vehicles. Then, I finally began a search for bites.

There were scattered photos and stories showing similar marks. Some were fatal and most were not. They were mostly attributed to hoaxes. However, there were a couple websites that were dedicated to proving the existence of vampires. I could hardly say the word. I pushed back from the computer. Tomorrow, I would insist on his physical. I would get the men to hold him down if I had to. He had not let me look at him after he returned, which was procedure and then he was shot last night and lost a considerable amount of blood by all accounts.

I showered and called the control room and demanded that they call me as soon as Ranger arrived back.

My phone buzzed before 0450 AM. "Yes?"

"He's back, sir."

"Thanks." I jumped out of bed and headed downstairs. When the doors opened on the garage level he stepped in. "What are you doing up, Brown?"

"Waiting for you. We're going to the infirmary."

"No. I'm going to the apartment."

"Ranger, I couldn't make you do the physical when you came home from the mission, but I can now. This is about the Rangeman standard operating procedure you put in place. You were injured at a scene yesterday and not only were you not seen by hospital personnel, you left. It's Rangeman reg that I am to do your physical before you go back to work in this building.

He narrowed his eyes at me. "I'm asking if this can wait until tonight? I'm tired."

"No doubt you are. The answer is no. Follow me to the infirmary." On the way I texted Lester that he was back and where we were headed. I took the stairs and headed down and I waited in the infirmary for several minutes before he appeared.

Ranger's POV

I have been trying to get my need and hunger under control since I was shot last night. I lost half my blood and it's fucking hard to fill by the quart. It takes a hell of a lot of drinking and fucking to fill up.

"I refuse to kill for food."

Sekhmet: "We haven't killed them for many years now. Only rogues or the sick still carry on that practice. We have a division that devotes all of its time and resources to eliminating these threats to our species. Today, killing them is a threat to us and we don't need to do so.

"How do I feed without them knowing?"

Strix: "We older vampires do it by mind control. You younger vampires are weaker and can only hide your feeding in one way."

"And, please tell me, how is that?"

Strix: "Simple. You fuck, you eat. The orgasm you create hypnotizes the victim. They don't remember anything except for that simple event."

"I have to fuck for every meal? I have to hunt every day and night?"

Sekhmet: "Carlos, humans hunted for their food before they simply farmed it. We cannot farm our food. We are now more merciful than they with food. You are facing a change in lifestyle."

Strix: "Take a human companion, Carlos. It will make your life easier."

"A companion for food?"

Sekhmet: "I have had many companions that I cared for. They lived a very good life and the relationship was mutually satisfying."

"What happened when they aged?"

Sekhmet: "Most chose not to age."

"They were made…"

Strix: "No. Most are not worthy. It's not about natural selection with our kind."

My thoughts had wandered to Stephanie. They would never accept her the way that I do...

My head snapped up when I heard Bobby's voice. "Undress, Ranger. We're doing this physical. No more putting it off after yesterday. And, you're not fooling anyone with your promiscuous activity. You smell like the working girls you fucked last night."

I looked at him. Shit! He knows about that? I own this company. I'm the boss and yet I'm here being told to get naked and be examined. This is exactly what I don't need and can't have happening. I pulled my phone out of my pocket. I growled at Bobby, "I have to make one call first." I stepped into his office and quickly dialed.

"This is important?"

"Sumer, I'm to have a physical after I hang up with you because I took a shot gun load to my chest and the bullets bounced off me and my men are aware of that fact. My blood will be drawn and my heartbeat will be checked and I need to fucking know what to do here."

"Are you alone with this person?"

"Yes."

"Kill him."

"Damn you! He's my friend."

"Then, fuck him. Make him forget and don't leave visible bite marks."

"What? Listen, bitch. I'm not doing this to my men and my friends. You better come up with a better idea and soon."

"Perhaps you are behaving irresponsibly, Carlos. Your men are suspicious for a reason?"

"I don't know how to do this!" I growled at her.

"You need to come back and finish the assimilation process." I disconnected and did my best to compose myself.

I walked out of the office and undressed and laid on the exam table. Bobby's eyes were watching me as I moved and then looked down at me as I lay on the table. He examined my chest and took my temperature and listened to my heart and then took my blood. His blank face was on, but I smelled his anxiety and fear. He knew already without the results of the blood test. He told me to stay and walked away to his lab. I knew what was coming. I walked to his lab and closed the door behind me and had him subdued and in my grip before he even knew what was really happening.

I was leaving the infirmary when Lester passed me with a puzzled look on his face. I went to the apartment and left a message with the decorator to ask when I could move into the house and laid down to sleep. It wasn't a peaceful sleep.

Lester's POV

I watched as Ranger passed me with a blank face and a nod. When he stepped into the elevator, I ran into the infirmary looking for Bobby. I found him sitting in his chair with his head on his desk asleep.

I roused him awake. "Bob...Bobby!"

"Yeah. You need something?" He raised his head to look at me, eyes glazed.

"You texted me that you were going to give Ranger a physical. What happened?"

"Nothing."

"What do you mean? He was just here? You talked to him?"

"No. I didn't see him."

"What? I saw him down here. You didn't examine him?"

"Damn. Guess he found me asleep and left."

"What the fuck…? This is important."

"I'm sorry, man, didn't get much sleep last night." He started to get up and swayed.

"Fuck man, did we go drinking last night? I'm still fucked up and I'm sore."

"No, man. We didn't and I don't like this." I grabbed his neck and turned it up and looked at both sides. He pushed me back.

"What are you doing, Santos?"

"Do you remember what happened last night with Ranger?"

"The gunshot? Yeah, he's lucky."

"Do you remember the hookers?"

"Oh, man. You talked me into that?"

"No!" I put my hands to my head and yelled in frustration.

"Jesus, Santos. You need a fucking chill pill, man. You're acting weird this morning."

I turned and stomped out. I'm acting weird! I'm the one that's fucking weird? I'm just going to go sit on the roof and wait for the fucking space ships to land. "Gaaahhh!"

Ranger's POV

My phone was ringing. I roused myself and sat on the edge of the bed. "Speak."

There was a barely audible, "Ranger…"

"Babe…?"

"I'm at the bank. There are hostages. Need help…" Click.

"Stephanie!"

I dialed the control room. "Is there a hostage situation going on at one of the local bank branches?"

"Yeah, Community Bank of Trenton on St. James."

I grabbed my protective suit and turned on the TV news in the living room.

"Swat teams have now arrived at the bank. There have been no hostages released and no news so far from negotiations between law enforcement and the suspects. At least eleven hostages are believed to be held inside the bank including bank personnel. Swat teams are moving into place as we speak to you live…Wait! We just heard a shot. The front door is opening. A man was shoved out and is staggering away from the door. Law enforcement is demanding he drop to his knees. He is holding up his hand and crying out. This must be one of the hostages. The man has just collapsed...Swat members are moving in to get to the man.

We have just received confirmation from a source that the man is a bank employee. He is now being loaded into an ambulance. Stay tuned to Trenton WHYY TV news for more information on the injured hostage and this harrowing ongoing hostage situation...

I ran down the stairs to the control room and began yelling. "Stephanie is in the bank on St. James. Do I have volunteers to go to the scene?" Several men walked up and stood in front of me. "Grab vests and full assault gear. Where's Ram?"

Cal said, "Shut eye sir, he was graveyard last night." I winced at that and dialed his phone.

"Yeah?"

"Rambo, I need a sniper. This is strictly volunteer. Steph is a hostage in a bank on St. James."

"On my way…"

We finished grabbing gear and loaded into the SUV's and headed to the bank. Half of the Trenton Police Department were there and the swat team was in place. Nothing was happening. I saw Steph's friends on the TPD, Eddie, Carl and Big Dog standing behind a cruiser together and walked up to them. "Who's the negotiator guys? Stephanie's inside. She called me. I need to get in."

I heard, "Shit, fuck, are you kidding me?"

Eddie said, "This way, Ranger."

TBC-