Authoress: You guys seem to really like this story! It is cute, so I guess I'll have to continue, eh? Alright, in this chapter, I have to answer a reviewer that brought a good point. I shall answer you Dark Knight. Alucard-

Alucard: I hate you.

Authoress: We know!! But that doesn't matter because Integra said I get to borrow you and her word is gold!! (glossy-eyed) Integra-sama…. (dodges bullet) Anyhoo! (waves the Jester staff) Dislcaimer of DOOM!!

Disclaimer: If I owned Hellsing, life wouldn't suck. If I owned Hellsing I'd be in luck. But I don't Hellsing, and that's quite a drag. Hey, but at least… um… Alucard, what rhymes with drag?

Alucard: Anderson's a fag!! (calls back)(dodges holy blades)


I'm not Asking for Help

Chapter 4: Hitchhiking as a Vampire is Dangerous… For the Drivers!

How did he get himself into these situations? Standing on the side of the rode, with his thumb out, stupidly pointing down the road, Alucard was not a happy camper. He felt, and looked, utterly idiotic. The sun had just set and they were following the road, but Rachel was groaning about her ankle. Then, the genius child brought up the concept of hitchhiking. Alucard was oblivious, and so it was explained to him. Apparently humans put their life on the line and got into strangers' cars and got a ride to usually the next town or city for free. And to catch the annoying vehicles, one had to stand on the side of the road and stick their thumb out?! Humans never made him regret becoming a child of the night.

"Alucard, you don't have to stick your thumb out, really. I was just explaining that it was an older custom that no one really uses anymore. Put your thumb down. Just wave when a car comes by. It's not a really busy interstate, but it still has quite a few cars on it, even at night," Rachel told him and kept walking, every once in a while, looking back and looking hopefully for head-lights coming over the hill, salvation on four wheels, maybe even eighteen.

The pair weren't entirely sure how far they had walked, but Rachel seemed to be very happy about something. She had not been disheartened to learn that not only did Alucard not know how to call Hellsing, even if he somehow got past the government secret Roundtable blocks and wire-tapping, he had no way of reaching Integra herself nor getting anyone to believe he was a vampire. Plus the Hellsing leader didn't really trust the vampire with a cell phone. Though a common solution, it was soon shot down.

"A car is coming," Alucard said nonchalantly as he kept walking. Sure enough, as soon as Rachel turned to look, a car's head-lights peaked out from above the hill they had just breached. The girl smiled happily and waved her hand as the car came closer. It was a Chevy impala, black and sleek, one of the older versions. As Rachel waved, she called out for it to stop. The Chevy slowly pulled to a stop and the window was rolled down.

"You need a lift?" one of the two boys in the car asked. Rachel nodded enthusiastically and the door swung open. Pushing the seat forward, the passenger let Alucard and Rachel slide into the back of the car. When the passenger returned to his seat, the driver started the car again and they sped down the interstate.

At first there was a silence as they each sized each other up. Alucard inspected both young men. One had short slightly-spiked hair, while the other had slightly longer, wavy locks. Both heads of hair were the color of bark, dark brown, and in need of a good washing soon. The driver was tough, Alucard could tell. The other was more of a thinker, examining things before jumping in. A fighter and an analyzer; they were not together by coincidence.

"I'm Rachel," the youngest in the car piped up with a smile. The passenger turned and gave a soft smile. He obviously was the one that actually showed emotion in these types of situations.

"I'm Sam, this is my brother, Dean," he answered, pointing to the driver, who gruffly nodded in return. His eyes, however, went to the male in red, sitting next to the young girl. Alucard let a grin slip to his lips.

"Alucard," he spoke low and with the grin still in place. Rachel rolled her eyes, knowing he was just being himself. Luckily they had found another herd of cattle before they hit the interstate again. Rachel was officially grossed out for the second time while Alucard just chuckled at her pale face and gagging expression. He was momentarily reminded of his fledgling.

Dean made no comment at the name, nor did he seemed fazed by the dark smile the red-clad man was giving. He kept his eyes on Rachel, as if she were the center of the conversation at the moment. Rachel was alright with the attention, but she didn't have anything to say at the moment. Dean saved her.

"Where are you heading?" he asked, genuinely curious. Rachel looked to Alucard for permission, who shrugged, not caring if the whole world knew their plan. It was not like anyone was going to stop them.

"London!" Rachel said with triumph as she grinned. In her head the map was already laid out and she even counted her money. She could probably scrounge up a ticket or two for a train ride, but they'd have to stow away on a boat or plain to get across the pond. Dean raised an eyebrow at her answer.

"All the way to the UK? Isn't that a little far from home? It sounds like you're from this area. Any special reason as to the adventure?" Dean pried, Alucard caught Rachel before she could fumble forward with her answer.

"Visiting family," the vampire provided. Rachel blinked and then just nodded, reinforcing his answer. She was about to tell them some weird story. Blushing at her own naivety, she went back to staring out the window at the passing night. Trees reached up towards the heavens, which were bursting with bright stars, staring down at the field and forest landscape of the large state. Nights like these were so beautiful.

The brother in the passenger seat had turned back around, also watching the sky. The ride seemed to be shorter than it was and the teen was soon lulled to sleep by the smooth car ride and hypnotic passing scenery. Rachel woke up, leaning against Alucard's shoulder, her legs folded up on the seat beside her. Looking up, her hazel-green eyes met red and she smiled. Alucard smirked and Rachel sat up, looking around.

"Sorry, I dozed off," she mumbled and stretched the best she could in the back seat. How long had they been driving? Rachel looked out the window. The appearance of the lighter line of blew at the edges of the horizon gave explanation as to why Alucard made his next comment.

"We need to get out soon," Alucard said, loud enough for the driver to hear. Dean looked to the rear-view mirror, the two having a momentary stare-down. The fifteen-year-old cleared her throat and nodded. Sam looked to his brother, who pulled over to the shoulder of the road with a grumble. Everything seemed to be going smoothly. The hitchhikers had not attacked, and the drivers had not attacked. The urban legend of killer hitchhikers or drivers had yet to rear its ugly head. Well, until weird decided to jump into the picture.

As Alucard slipped out after his temporary charge, the driver also exited. Maybe it was a long farewell process? A growl came from his throat as the driver pulled out something from under his seat: a shot gun looking weapon that looked none to friendly. Rachel gasped and Alucard pushed her behind him.

"Let the girl go, vampire. Rachel, come here," Sam called as Rachel peeked out from behind Alucard's cloak. She shook her head furiously as Dean aimed for Alucard.

"You'll have to have something better than human bullets in there, hunter," the nosferatu growled out. Dean smirked. The vampire knew these two were not normal humans. They were knowledgable about the world of the supernatural

"How about silver bullets?" he questioned, hoping for an expression of fear to cross the immortal's face, but none to pleased when Alucard chuckled and spread his arms. Rachel heard the less forgiving of the brothers load the gun.

"No!" she yelled and ran out, blocking Alucard with her own body. The menacing weapon was pointed at her heart now. Sam looked worriedly to the girl and then to his brother.

"Girl, move," Sam growled. "He's a vampire, no doubt controlling your mind," he snarled.

"He is not!" Rachel said indignantly. "He's my friend! He's not here to feed from any human and he's just trying to get home! Leave him alone. If you try to kill him, you'll have to kill me too!" she yelled at them. Sam blinked in surprise.Dean merely flinched at the thought of killing the human girl.

"Dean, I don't think she's under any kind of control. You can't shoot her!" he said quickly, trying to get his brother to lower the gun from its aim at the teenager's vital organ, which was pumping in adrenaline and pounding against her rib-cage.

There was a tense moment as Alucard, just as surprised as the hunters, stared at Rachel's posture. She was scared, but stern and unmoving. Her arms were held out to the side, blocking any bullet from hurting Alucard. What was she thinking? The bullets, even silver ones, could not kill him. But there she stood, putting his life before her own. Dean was staring at the girl, whose lips were in a thin line and her eyes dark and serious. Sam was cautiously taking in the situation and debating with himself. If any quick movements were made, bad things would happen.

Then, the gun was lowered and Rachel let her lungs take in air again. She hadn't realized how much her legs were shaking until she nearly stumbled backwards, Alucard righting her and ruffling her hair with a smirk.

"We're on Highway 44. If you keep heading East, you'll reach St. Louis. There you can try to catch a plane or train to New York and then back to London. Just get out of the United States," Dean said, not looking at the two. Sam gave a smile to his brother and then to the vampire and teenager. Dean refused to look at them, which made Alucard grin.

"Come on, shorty," the vampire said and lead her towards the thick forest that kept the side of the road shadowed over and shrouded.

"Sam, are sure that wasn't a big mistake? That vampire could have that kid for lunch," the older brother said, glaring slightly. Sam shook his head while grinning widely at his brother, who frowned in return.

"Nah, she's fine," he said and climbed back into the Impala. Dean rolled his eyes at his sentimental brother and got back in, starting the car and speeding down the highway, towards the rising sun.


The fanged immortal sat against at tree, tipping his hat. As Rachel sat beside him, curled up on her side, she lay her head on her back-pack and closed her eyes. As soon as she was asleep, Alucard looked to the girl, inspecting her. Warm blood pumped through her veins, he could hear it. The life-liquid was merely inches away from him, calling to his harsh vampiric nature.

Sharp claws moved forward, dark eyes were aimed at her neck. The night was still dark, light from the heavenly orb rising in the west only partially snaked through the dark foliage above their resting place. No witnesses were there if he were to kill the innocent girl, spilling and drinking her blood. It would be all too easy and she was even asleep, unable to feel any pain until the last moment.

Pale fingers curled around the collar of the girl's jacket and…… pulled it up to cover over her neck and shoulder a bit more, shielding the girl from the slight chill settling in the air. Smiling in her slumber, Rachel curled into the jacket and slipped deeper into sleep.


As the sun dipped back down, sending a shadow over the land again, Alucard awoke. Crimson colored eyes opened and he looked to his right, his red coat draped over the small frame of the adolescent slumbering. Stirring slightly, his movements knocked Rachel from her dreamless rest and she yawned widely, blinking several times, trying to wipe the sleep from her eyes. At first she saw red and then she pulled the coat from her view and looked up at her vampire companion. He was already rising.

Gathering the coat, she quickly swiped intruding leaves from it and handed it back. Neither mentioned anything about it. Alucard had a pride and if any other vampire knew about this side of him… well, they would not stay alive long enough to spread the knowledge. And Rachel, somehow guessing the working of the midian's mind, did not tease nor mention the incident, though she did have a soft smile on her lips for the next hour.

Stepping back out onto the highway, they began their trek anew and Rachel mentioned trying the hitchhiking again. Alucard, though now thoroughly suspicious of every vehicle that passed, reluctantly agreed. Not half an hour later did a beat up light green truck come into view from behind. Rachel flagged him down eagerly.

A greasy-looking, but muscular man sat in the drivers seat. Only one passenger seat sat next to him. Looking to Alucard, he told her to sit in the front and he'd take the bed. The red-coated vampire climbed into the back of the truck and Rachel sat in the front, putting the bag at her feet and sliding the seat-belt across herself.

The truck rumbled to life again and began on its course down the highway, heading east, the direction they were aiming. The silence in the cab did not last long, but Rachel was extremely glad when the stifling silence was broken.

"What's a little thing like you doing on a road like this at night?" the man asked, a distinct accent apparent. Rachel was suddenly wishing for the silence again.

"Heading to St. Louis," Rachel said meekly, her hands in her lap. Was he staring? What was he staring at?! Rachel wished he'd pay attention to the road again. It would at least calm her slightly if he was at least driving rationally!

"St. Loius? That's quite a trip to make all by your lonesome," he commented with a toothy grin. Had he forgotten the six-foot taller dark-haired man who had climbed into the back?! Rachel was becoming uneasy and did not answer the question, instead looked out the window. Newly awake eyes scanned the tree tops and fields as they passed them. A good hour passed, the silence settling back in as she let the scenery drag her back into a peaceful relaxed state of mind.

This was a distraction until she felt something most unpleasing, which jolted her from her calm mind and set the alarms screaming in her head. A hand was tracing a circle right above her left knee. Before her brain registered the full extent of the intrusion, a hand shot out and slapped the offending appendage away from her leg. She gave a yelp as she did, surprising herself as she hit his hand, and glared at the driver, who gave a dark chuckle.

"A feisty one, is she?" the man said with a laugh that had hidden intention under it. "Come on, don't be that way. You have to give something back for a lift down the highway," the greasy man said and reached out again. She cried out and huddled closer to the car door and pushed his hand away from her. Luckily (maybe not for Rachel), no other cars were on the road at the time, his weaving not dangerous at the moment. The weaving may not have put them in danger, but it signaled something was wrong to the undead man sitting in the bed of the truck,

A pale hand broke through the glass of the back window and a hand gripped the human's throat tightly. Rachel let out a small scream until she remembered who the red sleeved arm belonged to. The driver's free hand, the one that had been questing for Rachel, then went to the hand at his throat, grasping at it and trying to pry the steel-strong fingers from blocking his wind-pipe.

"Stop the car," a dark voice said, obviously belonging to the arm that was near killing the mortal. With great effort, the driver put the breaks on and took the keys form the ignition. Rachel stumbled out quickly and scurried to the shoulder of the highway, her eyes wide in fear, her thin frame shivering, but not from the cold air.

Alucard withdrew his hand, claws raking across flesh, leaving whelps that the human would not soon forget. The shadowed form of the vampire slipped from the bed of the truck and with squealing tires, the truck took off again, heading far away from the two nut-jobs he had the misfortune to pick up and screw with.

Soft green eyes looked over the brooding form of her road-trip companion. It was obvious he was keeping something in, keeping himself calm. Opening her mouth, she began to apologize, but was cut off.

"No more hitch-hiking," he said sternly. Rachel was a little scared that she had made him mad, but then she re-analyzed what he had said. His voice was laced with… concern? He had been worried about her. He was not mad at her, but furious at what that man had been close to doing. Rachel smiled softly.

"Ok, Alucard," she said and began walking with him down the side of the highway. "No more hitch-hiking," Rachel agreed and continued with him as the night wore on.


Authoress: There we go! You guys have another chappy!! BE HAPPY!! BY THE WAY:

- I answered the question about the telephone.

- Before you ask, yes, I will explain why they, themselves, are not driving.

- Let this be a lesson- NEVER PICK UP HITCH-HIKERS AND NEVER HITCH-HIKE YOURSELF!

- To reiterate: No, this is not a self-insertion. No there is no coupling (its merely like a father/daughter, sister/brother relationship forming).

Alucard: I still hate you.

All: PLEASE REVIEW!!

PS- A CYBER COOKIE TO ANYONE WHO CAN GUESS THE TINY CROSSOVER I INSERTED!! Which will never be mentioned again in the fic. It aint a crossover, I was just toying with the idea.