DISCLAIMER: I own nothing and no recognizable characters from Hellboy. I am just a poor college student who also happens to be a rabid fan and this just happens to be a fanfiction that my mind came up with that I feel like sharing with other fans. I make absolutely NO money from this fanfic. It is merely for fun and hopefully the enjoyment of other fans. Please don't sue and fans please enjoy.

Chapter 4: Come What May

Abe felt refreshed when he woke again. His side still twinged every time he took a breath, but besides that he felt good. Abe snuggled deeper within the blankets for a while just enjoying the feel of their warmth wrapped around him. He didn't fully remember what had happened before besides the fact that he had been taken in by a mother (Martha was her name?) and her daughter (Ummm… April, that was it!), but he still felt safe and that was a good sign.

Abe idly lay within the covers trying to convince himself he should get up. He knew he there were other things he should be doing, but it just felt so good to just be able to lay somewhere for once. Finally Abe pried himself from the bed and ambled into the bathroom next door.

After stripping down and stepping in to the shower, Abe turned the handle. The cool rush of water was like heaven to his amphibious skin. Oh this feels good, he thought. The Icthyo sapien knew he shouldn't be getting his bandages wet, but the call of the water was too strong. He could live without it fine for a while, but it always called him back in the end. Abe closed his eyes and leaned against the wall as the liquid streamed over his body and through his gills. He knew he should probably go find Martha, but surly a few more minutes wouldn't hurt.

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"Now Martha, why did you come all the way into town to ask me over for a visit? It has to be for more then to share some tea." The words came from one of Martha's friends, William, who was, at that moment, cheerfully looking at said redhead over the brim of his glass. William was a well built bachelor in his early sixties, but was still in the best of shape. His thick black hair was starting to grey at his temples, but besides that there was absolutely no indication as to how old he really was. William owned a 'general store' in the nearby town of Oakley five miles up the road and had been a really good friend to Martha and her daughter ever since they had moved to the area six years ago. So good in fact that it was almost like he was apart of the family.

"Your right of course," Martha said setting her teacup aside to look at her visitor. Earlier in the morning, after peeking into her bedroom to make sure Abe was still fine – he had still been sleeping peacefully and, even though the morning hours where slipping away, the redhead knew that his body needed all the rest it could take to help it heal so she did not disturb him – she had driven into town to ask William to come over in the afternoon before quickly returning home to watch over her injured guest. "I have a bit of a favor to ask you," Martha continued to say to William," but I've been trying to figure out exactly how to approach it ever since you got here and I still haven't got a clue."

"Oh, just spit it out. It'll be better for the both of us." The older man advised with a smile.

"Well you see," Martha said chewing her bottom lip a bit as she tried to figure out what words she wanted to use. "I have a guest here who is a bit banged up that I would like you to look him over, if you wouldn't mind."

"Oh no," William said with false exasperation. "Did little April pick up another stray again?"

Martha's had to smile at that. "Well sort of, but you see this one a little more unique then the others…"

"Say no more young lady," William said with a large, flamboyant gesture making the redhead smile again. William could always make her smile. "Just show me the brute and I will do what I can."

"Thank you" Martha started to say but was cut off by the sound of Abe calling her name. "Martha?"

William raised a single broad eyebrow at that in an expression that seemed to say. "Now who could that be?" but went back to his tea and did not comment any further.

"Martha?" Abe called again louder.

"Over here," she answered.

"Oh. Um, I used your shower. I hope that was okay?" The Icthyo sapien's voice was starting to get louder as he neared the dining room.

"Of course, that's fine." William was now looking at her now with both eyebrows raised. Who could little Martha have had over last night?

"And I just had a question I wanted to ask you if–" Abe had started to open the door leading into the dining room, but the moment he caught a glimpse of William he slammed it shut again.

"I'm sorry," Abe stammered through the door. "I didn't realize you had company. I'll, I'll just wait to talk with you later." He was scared. Not all humans outside the BPRD were as accepting of him as Martha and April had been, and while the man sitting at the table seemed nice enough, Abe was still worried about what might happen if he was seen. Abe turned from the door to rush back into the safety of the bedroom, but Martha called him back.

"Abe? Abe? Are you still there?"

Abe hesitated a moment before answering. "Yes."

"Shy fellow isn't he?" Abe heard what must have been the older man talking through the door, but the comment was soon overcome by Martha's voice again.

"Abe I have a friend here I would like you to meet. He's a much better doctor then I could be and will be able to help you better then I." William gave Martha a sharp look at those words. A man wasn't really the type of stray he was used treating.

"Martha…" the words slowly came from the closed door. "I'm not sure this is such a good idea."

"Please Abraham. Do it for me. William will be able to treat your wounds completely."

Silence.

Martha tried again. "I promise he won't hurt you. Please come out."

Impatience finally got the better of William. "Oh, common boy what do you have to worry about?" William's remark died on his lips as Abe entered the room to stand silently in the shadows of the door. Surprisingly enough, William also go over his shock pretty fast. "I suppose this is your 'unique' house guest?" he said shooting a questioning glance at Martha.

The redhead nodded to him before turning back to Abe who was staring miserably at his feet, his back pressed back against the wall as if he trying to become a part of it. The Icthyo sapien was still wearing the pair of shorts Martha had given him the day before, but now also had a fluffy, white towel draped around his neck. Beads of moisture shown on his blue skin from the shower he had taken. "Abe," Martha said as an introduction. "This is William Marshal. He is a good friend of mine and he used to be an army medic back when he was a soldier. I thought with his help you would recover faster."

"William," Martha said, continuing the introduction. "This is Abraham Sapien who April found yesterday injured along the shore.

William was looking intently at Abe – who was still standing by the door – and seemed to be giving the Icthyo sapien a once over while Martha silently prayed the two new acquaintances would get along. Finally William smiled. "Aw hell," he said. "April's always had good taste so if she likes you, I guess that's good enough for me." With that the older man stuck his hand out towards Abe to shake.

Abe stared at the man in shock. Never had he expected to be accepted by someone so quickly. Recovering himself, Abe came forward to shake Williams offered hand. With that done William went strait on to business. "Now where's this injury I'm supposed to look at?"

TBC…

Thoughts from the author: Whew. I can't believe how long this fanfic is starting to get. At first it was just going to be a short sweet beginning piece so I could get use to , but it seemed to take on a life of its own. Amazing. Thanks again to all who read. I'm afraid my updating is going to have to slow down a bit if I want any semblance of a life (seriously yesterday I forgot to eat until dinner…), but I promise I will finish this fanfic sooner or later. The only problem is I want the chapters to be in the best shape they possibly can and truthfully that takes time.

OK, now I have a little bit of a debate going on with myself. Truth be told I already had the basics of this fanfiction from beginning to end outlined in my head before I started writing, but now, because my imagination has been in overdrive, I have come up with two possible directing this fanfic could go in… I'm so confused… one is much longer and complex then the other, but the other is much clearer in my head and I'm afraid that the first one I talked about won't be as good because I'll get all mixed up and confused writing it. Sigh… I really don't know what to do… Anyway, enough whining! Thank you for reading. Hope to see you soon and please REVIEW!

Nightshade, I am so happy you continued to like this story and I hope this chapter was not a let down. Your continuous reviewing continues to make me constantly happy. Right now it's almost as if I am posting these chapters just to see what you will say next. I was a little worried when you said you tend to not like OC's (does that mean original character? Sorry I'm a little new at this and I don't know all the jargon yet) because I'm afraid I have a lot of them to throw at you (maybe not in this fanfic but defiantly in the Hellboy AU [Alternate Universe right?] that is in my mind). I find the background I have for my HB fanfics is kinda lacking because it's only from the two live movies and the two animated movies. Probably because of this (and because I like HB in general) my brain went into overdrive when I first started writing about HB and came up with more strange creatures/people then should be possible … Anyway, please continue to read and review this fanfic and I hope to see you again soon!

SesshiraRayu, are you my second serial reviewer? (Smiles) It is so nice to hear from you again. Thank you for your words of encouragement. It really keeps me going. I hope you will not be disappointed with the way this fanfiction is going and please continue to read (and review).

P.S. Chapter Title "Come What May" from movie Moulin Rouge as sung Christian (Ewan McGregor) and Satine (Nicole Kidman)