Disclaimer: I do not own Biker Mice From Mars or any of its characters etc. Story written not for profit etc.

4 : Inferno

It'd been a week since the attack and Henry had decided the bandages shouldn't be needed anymore.

"They'll just be scabbed over cuts now." he said gently removing the bandages, "And the bruises should have gone down." he dropped the bandage on the floor and examined the cuts carefully, they were impossibly well healed, only tiny thin scabs between her fur, practically gone.

Natasha's eyes blinked rapidly trying to allow the recently uncovered one to adjust to the light.

Henry couldn't help but stare as her eyelids opened and closed over the molten chocolate irises.

Natasha stopped blinking and her tail wrapped around her stomach, her new clothes fitted well though she detested the skinny jeans and thought that all black clothing was a bit much, Henry recalled the conversation.

"Why all black?" Natasha had asked holding up the garments.

"I had to figure out an excuse for the hole in the jeans so I said that it was costumes for a play called cats and that the tails were going to be threaded through the holes and she asked me what colour and I figured there was no point saying blue because there aren't blue cats so I said black and I had to get black shirts to make my story believable."

Natasha had just shook her head and laughed.

Their relationship had grown stronger over the seemingly short week, the deadlocks were doing their job and Natasha simply stayed at home hidden from sight, she'd learnt to play a song on the drums and had opened the previously unopened play station 3, and had already mastered Tekken 5.

Nina pinned Sergei to the ground again and punched away the last of his health.

"This is totally unfair." Henry protested, "Sergei should have caught that kick."

"You're just jealous because I play better than you!" Natasha giggle punching him playfully in the shoulder, her new bangles rattling on her arm, Henry had bought them for a 'one week unhomeless' anniversary. Natasha had told him to take them back but he'd begged her to put them on, finally she'd given in an put the silver hoops on, she'd never taken them off since. There was a straight one, a wavy one and a zigzagged one, apparently they were each supposed to represent something. Henry had told her but she'd forgotten what they stood for and had come up with a better reason for them. She told herself as long as she wore them the three most important people in her life wouldn't die, her mother was the wavy one, her father the straight one and Henry was the zigzagged one. She hadn't told Henry what they meant to her because she knew he'd say he wasn't worth being included in it. She knew he was though; he was one of the kindest, warmest, gentlest people she'd met, even if he was strangely overprotective of her. But she didn't mind, it was kind of nice having someone that wanted her and needed her in a sense, his cooking was definitely not something to be bragged about.

Natasha crushed Henry in Tekken once more then put the controller down, "We should play a different game."

Henry looked at his watch, it was almost midnight, "Actually I should have a shower and go to sleep otherwise I'll be dead at work tomorrow."

Natasha nodded, "I'll see you in bed." She jumped up in her purple flannelette pyjamas, she'd told Henry to buy her a pair and not bother getting the hole in the pants done professionally, and instead she'd done it herself. Henry watched her walk away her backside wiggling with each step, tail curling into a hook behind her, he mentally reprimanded himself and looked away, he shouldn't be thinking of her like that.

Half an hour later he slid into bed next to her and she immediately curled up against his stomach, he put his arms around her, it'd become a habit to sleep with her, he'd tried sleeping in the other room again but she'd had nightmares. Henry didn't know why his presence stopped her having nightmares, perhaps it was the second heartbeat in the room or the small amount of warmth his body gave off, he didn't know. He did know he liked having her with him, even when she was asleep. He drifted into unconsciousness as her tail unconsciously curled around his waist.

Henry woke the next morning shivering, a breeze played across his chest and he shivered again, he looked down and froze, his shirt was missing and Natasha was hugging him in her sleep, her head was nestled under his chin, pressed against his neck and her body followed his down, her legs were wrapped around one of his and her tail encircled both of their waist's. He could feel her breasts pushing against his torso and suddenly noticed his hand was resting on her backside. He took a moment to fight off the urge to squeeze and instead moved his hand behind his back.

Natasha's eyes opened a crack, "Morning handsome." she said quietly, her tail loosening as she moved back from him a little bit, "You never told me you had a six-pack." she said running her fingers down his stomach which tensed in response. She giggled and pulled herself against him again, her wet nose touching his neck briefly.

"Natasha I have to go to wor-"

"Call in sick." she whispered and fumbling around on the nightstand to find his phone. He took it and checked the time, it was nine in the morning, he was already late.

He sighed and dialled the shop's number.

"Hello." the service manager said answering the phone.

"Hey it's Henry." He said suddenly coughing as Natasha's nose brushed his Adam's apple, "I'm sick, so I'm not coming in today.

"Oh right, that's ok Henry, see you next Monday then."

"Thanks, bye." Henry hung up and shivered as Natasha breathed out, her breath swirling around Henry's neck like an icy wind.

Natasha rubbed her nose against Henry's neck and then kissed it, "Thank you." she whispered.

"Natasha..." Henry began but stopped when she moved and found himself staring into her chocolate brown eyes and then he knew he didn't want to be anywhere else in the universe. They just stared at each other for what seemed like years, then Natasha's eyes closed and Henry kissed her on the cheek and closed his eyes too.

They woke some time later and Natasha embarrassedly let Henry get up. She lay on the bed feeling awkward whilst he left the room to get dressed. She sighed as she got up and changed too. She pulled on her jeans and shirt and there was a knock at the door, she opened it and Henry was standing there, she met his green eyes and waited for the inevitable 'Sorry but you have to get out.' but it never came, he just stood there in his creased black business shirt and black jeans casually leaning against the door arch.

She spoke first, "How long do you have to know people before you can like them in your society?"

"People can like people without ever meeting them, there are no rules."

"But I can't like you that way?" she asked quietly.

"I don't think I'm worth it." he said quietly staring into her eyes.

"You are." she said quietly.

"I'm..." he paused and glanced at his watch, it was seven at night, they'd slept the whole day, "I'm going for a walk." he finished. Then he caught the fear and worry in her eyes. He smirked playfully and rubbed her shoulder, "I'll be back in half an hour. I promise."

Natasha sat on the bed feeling foolish, it had been twenty five minutes and every second she waited seemed like an eternity, was he going to reject her and throw her out? The prospect of it cut her inside, she didn't want to leave, not just because it was safe but because of him.

She heard a voice outside and a noise, she didn't pay attention though, she was too busy thinking about what he might say.

Then the smell of petrol floated in through the window and she ignored that too. She was totally ignorant of everything until she noticed paint blistering on the wall beside her and the unnatural heat emanating from it. She leapt up and raced to the door, she opened it and was pushed back into the room by the heat, smoke rolled into the room causing her eyes began to water.

Henry watched a fire truck race past, it turned into his street, he looked across at the column of smoke and froze. He calculated the distance and his heart sank, his house was on fire and all the doors were locked. He began sprinting towards the corner, a car blasted its horn as he ran in front of it but he didn't care. Turning into his street his worst fear was confirmed, a fire truck was already there pumping water onto the blaze; he jogged up to the fire chief who was on the radio.

"Sir!" he gasped, "Has everyone been gotten out?"

The fire chief looked at the youth and was about to dismiss him when he noticed the fear in the boy's eyes, "We don't think anyone is inside, the house is locked up pretty tight."

"It's my house and there is someone inside!" Henry said staring at the closed blinds.

The fire chief froze, "How many people son?" he asked quickly.

"One." Henry replied racing towards the house, he stopped a few metres away when the heat became too much, there were no outside doors on the bedroom end of the house.

"You can't go in there son!" the chief said dragging the boy back as two firemen raced past with axes.

"But Natasha!" Henry yelled trying to break free of the Chief's grip.

"Let the men do what they're trained to do!" the Chief said pulling him further back. The axes chopped through the front door and the two firemen stepped inside warily. There was more thudding as the bedroom door was chopped out of the way. A gas cylinder on the side of the house exploded and Henry's attempts to help became more frantic, the water poured onto the main entrance and the two firemen emerged, one carrying a body. The chief let Henry go a moment later and he raced towards the firemen.

Mentally he prayed she was alright. The fireman laid her on the ground and stepped back, Henry was bent over her in an instant checking for a pulse, she had one and she was coughing heavily, her eyes were red and sore and the fireman squatted down beside her pushing a respirator over her mouth, she took a few breaths of oxygen.

Henry sat in the waiting room at the hospital for what seemed like forever.

A nurse approached him, "Henry?" she asked, checking his name.

Henry nodded, "Yes."

"She's asking to see you." Henry stood slowly and followed the nurse to the room.

There were four doctors in attendance, all trying to examine her at once, she kept pushing them away but they kept coming back with a different utensil to examine her.

"Say ahh." one doctor said trying to put a tongue depressor into her mouth.

"Leave me alone." Natasha said tears dripping down her cheeks as she held her arms up to her face.

"Natasha." Henry said pushing one of the doctor's out of the way.

She stared at him, her eyes were bloodshot, "Henry." she said smiling slightly, her voice was hoarse but there was happiness in it, "I thought you would have left me."

Henry shook his head and smirked, "You can't get rid of me that easily."

Henry turned to the doctors in attendance, "Can we have a moment?"

The doctors, all wanting to look professional in front of their colleagues, left hurriedly, the nurse however remained.

"If you need anything just press the buzzer. If all goes well you should be out by morning, your smoke inhalation is only minor and we're very short on beds."

Natasha nodded, "Thank you."

Henry waited for the nurse to leave, "I told you not all humans are bad."

"The doctors will want to keep me to examine, I'll be like an experiment."

"You heard the nurse, you'll be released tomorrow morning." Henry said patting her hand.

"They won't release me, they'll come up with a reason to keep me here."

"Just sleep Natasha." Henry smiled as he patted her hand.

"You realise I've had so much sleep over the last few days it isn't funny."

"Then at least stop talking, it won't help your throat."

"What am I meant to do?"

Henry smiled and pulled a laptop from a backpack, "Luckily not everything was destroyed in the fire." He opened the screen and let her pick a movie. She motioned for him to lie with her, he nodded and lay on his side next to her, he was too preoccupied with her to watch the movie though.

Henry had just gotten to the point that her face was almost etched into his mind permanently when he was interrupted.

"Excuse me Henry." said a voice. Henry turned his head and was met by a police officer; he got off the bed and walked over to the doorway.

"Yes officer."

"We've been inspecting your house and we believe it may have been arson." The officer froze as he caught sight of Natasha's fur covered face and ears.

"Yes and?" Henry prodded noticing the officer's gaze.

The officer's mind took a moment to process the fact he was being spoken to, "Yes and, um, well we're going to have to investigate it more to see if we can catch the culprits."

"About that officer, I have a feeling that the culprits will be the same two that broke into my house a week ago and attacked Natasha."

The officer glanced at Natasha again, she glanced at him, waved and went back to watching the movie, "Yes, well do you have any idea why they would have attacked your.. er.."

"Girlfriend." Henry finished. Natasha's eyes bulged and Henry could feel them boring holes in the back of his neck.

The officer went pale, "Yes your -uh- girlfriend."

"No idea officer, she's never done anything against anybody that I know of and she certainly doesn't have a criminal record. So I've got no idea why they would."

The officer bent down and whispered to Henry, "You don't suppose it would be her appearance do you?"

Henry turned to look at her, then turning back to the officer whispered, "Only if those two guys are insanely jealous of her immense beauty, which is a definite possibility, though unlikely considering they're both males according to Natasha. Though they could be jealous that I'm with her and they aren't."

The officer went paler still, "Right well, I'll see what we can dig up, have a nice night." he said, he waved casually at Natasha who grinned and waved back.

Henry walked back to the bed and lay down again.

Natasha stared at him, "Girlfriend?" she asked incredulously.

Henry turned to her and kissed her briefly on the mouth, "I've never loved someone as much as I love you."

Natasha's eyes moistened again and she began crying, Henry stroked her cheek and smiled, "I won't let anyone hurt you ever again."