AN: I'm a lousy updater. But here we go. I have the next couple of chapters planned so they should be along soon. Thanks for the patience 333

CHAPTER 4

Law school wasn't really my first choice. Or second. Or third. Heck, it wasn't on my merry list at all. I never really envisioned myself as a lawyer... and I still don't. With some of the weird cases I get (remember the granny dominatrix?) I feel more like I'm part of a freak show in the local carnival than I am part of the long arm of the law. The truth is I was a good kid growing up and I earned a nice fluffy geeky future as a scientist. Had the scholarship and everything. And then I just found myself in the wrong place at the wrong time and almost got my throat ripped out by a vampire. You know the story. Father says us "warriors of the night" attract supernatural creepy crawlies like lights do mosks. Well that vampire packed a mean punch for a measily mosk drawned to my even smaller light. I survived thankfully but lost my scolarship and nearly got expelled. Really Law School was the only one to have me. Says a lot about the lawyers, doesn't it? I tend to agree with the joke about what would you call 1000 lawyers chained to the ocean floor - a good start. Ha! But yeah, I went and that was that.

... and here I am at the end of another week of defending the innocent and punishing the guilty and... Oh, who am I kidding. I spent the last week earning hard tainted cash and loving every minute of it. Whaaaat? If you wanted a saint then you're knocking on the wrong door, baby. Only selfish self-centered lying egotistical slayer here. Though I would love some girl scout cookies come to think of it.

I left the courtroom feeling utterly exhausted and braindead, just hoping for some junk food and mindless entertainment. Was I going to be granted at least that? My phone rang. Of course not. Casually flipped the phone open as I got into my car.

"CHIIIIIIIIBA! Where do you think you are?"

Great. Just what I was in the mood for. Add some leather bondage and back whipping while you're at it, God, why don't you? "Why my home away from home, sir, commonly known as the courthouse!"

"Don't be smart with me, Chiba!"

"Of course not, sir." Because you're paying me to be dumb, I'm sure.

"You have a client waiting while you're galivanting around town. You know company policy! A second late..."

"... is a penny badly spent." I mimicked.

He hung up. He always did it. I guess when you were Lewis you could hang up all you wanted, whenever you wanted and unless you were maybe Daniels you couldn't complain. I had a feeling Daniels was a hanger too. Maybe they had little contests like instead of who'd chicken out first it would ve who would hang up first. Must reduce the company phonebills significantly come to think of it.

In all honesty I couldn't remember another client try as I might. Did I fall asleep again when Trish read my schedule? Was I daydreaming of fluffy pink bunnies on crack? Nah. The old bugger must have added it last notice. So last notice that I had to be psychic to know but no matter. He got an extra "asshole time" this way. I bet he planned it all along. Betya he kidnapped Elvis too. Always a possibility.

I reluctantly headed towards my office, hoping it would be a trivial divorce case or a gang of werewolves waiting to eat me. Either way it would end soon. Note to employers everywhere: if your employees would rather take a slow painful death than have to work another minute then it's time to revise company policies or offer a bigger Christmas Bonus.

I stopped by my door, plastered my 1 million dollar smile once again and, as cheerfully as possible, entered my office. There was a man in the there standing near a wall and examining one of the cheap paintings I threw there just to shut up the bossman. Why wasn't it a hot woman? Why was it never a hot woman? The man made a point to turn slowly around and eat me up with his dark charcoal eyes.

He was a tall bloke, easily 6'3", black as night, with short neatly trimmed hair and an impossibly well-fitting black Armani suit with matching tie. Really the only thing that could have set him apart from a dark scenery where the whites of his eyes and his perfectly spotless white shirt. He made quite the impression and I'm a straight vampire slayer, for heaven's sake. His confidence surrounded him like a thick invisible intoxicating cloud.

"I...I'm sorry I'm late. My last case ran a bit late..." I stammered. Oh for crying out loud. "Mamouru Chiba." I said, extending my hand.

"Alexander Flinch." he said as he shook it. Strongly. Painfully strong. No joke. I actually cringed.

I offered him a chair as I went to sit at my desk. Somehow I felt better after putting a desk between us. Not that it would have helped that much but hey, my hand was free. And pulsating with pain. And no, I'm not a pansy. I fight the undead. Flinch continued to stare at me in the same confident manner as he sat rigid and straight in his chair. He was trying to much. But trying what exactly?

"So, what can I help you with, Mister Flinch?" I inquired professionally.

"I'm not here for trivial matters, Mister Chiba. Simple lawyer services won't do for our needs. We crave... a different kind of service..." he said as his eyes flashed for a moment before smiling widely and showing off a perfect set of pearly whites. And fangs.

What a nice man. Oh wait-just-a-minute-there-sparky. I did a double take and stared intently at Flinch whose smile widened (if possible). Dorothy, you're definitely not in Kansas anymore and Toto is actually a mutant now. Looking at the man again everything made sense. The way he'd try to move slowly and sit straight, his piercing gaze and that eerie cloud surrounding him. He was one A class...

"...werewolf!" I exclaimed still in shock.

He put his hands together and nodded. "We prefer Lycan."

"Right. Dog, mut, wolf - same deal. What are you doing here?"

Smile. "Always so polite. You really are a pleasure, Mister Chiba. A pleasure indeed. I've come to request your help, of course. Like any other client would."

"Ha! I doubt you want me to help you divorce!"

"So perceptive of you. No, as I've said before, simple things aren't our interest. We need your help as a slayer. Your talent is known far and wide as your skill is unique. We need the best."

"Why must you always talk in the plural?"

"That is not the answer."

"Who said I was a slayer?" Play it dumb. Always works. I know nothing. I'm an empty vessel. etc etc.

"Larry."

Oh. Well that goes that routine. Why that little rodent. When I'm done with him he'll regret the day he didn't think about cutting his tongue out and eating it raw. That's the downside about his information. It really does go both ways. And there are bigger and badder wolves out there who would torture a whole lot more for some information. Point-case: Flinch.

"I wouldn't be too upset if I were you, Mister Chiba. We have our methods..." he said with a wicked grin and I was sure he had some really fun ones. "Your secret will remain safe with us..."

"... as long as I help. Is that it? Either I play along with you or by midnight I'll have every vampire in town knocking or rather barging through my door."

"We just make you an offer you can't refuse."

"I bet you do. What's the deal, puppy?" Sure there were plenty kinds of Lycans but this one was a big black wolf. I'd bet my nest-egg on it. Yeah, I have one. You never know. What if I do get to old age and need to move to Florida? That doesn't come cheap.

He became serious in a split second. New subject, new mask. Good puppy. "It's not actually a lose-lose situation for you. It's a longer story so hope you're not in a hurry."

Of course not. It's a Friday night. Not like I go out or anything. Except to hunt vampires. But that's not that pressing tehnically.

"Well I know your area of expertise are vampires but I'm sure you have a general idea about Lycans aswell. There's a huge main wolf pack here in LA. We're mostly underground so we keep it on the low as much as possible. As you may or may not know the alpha male of the pack has fallen sick and is near death and as such he must leave the throne to a young, strong male. Now usually the beta would fight the alpha for the position but since the alpha now is in no state to fight we need a new way. So it has been decided that the fight for alpha will be in fact the fight between the 2 aspiring betas."

"Simple enough. What do I have to do with all of this?" Yeah, still not getting it.

"The pack has split into 2, each supporting one of the males. One of them, Flavius, is determined to be alpha no matter what, dirty work included while George wants to play it by the book. Basically no werewolf from the pack can be trusted so a neutral party needs to be brought in to look after George and make sure a fight doesn't begin before it's supposed to. That's where you come in."

"Slow down there, pup. You want me to defend a werewolf from another werewolf?"

"Yes. The pack as a whole will stay away from attacks. The only ones to openly threat each other are the 2 betas and each of their 3 familiars. Flavius has the wildest ones yet and he's already brooding. We can't afford trouble. With a weak male the pack is already in enough trouble. We need strength and order. You can give us that."

Stunned.

"One week. That's all we ask of you. One week of complete commitment."

Still stunned.

"You will be rewarded in the fashion you desire. Many have suggested money but I know you can't be bought. I also know you are getting dangerously close to the Lord. We and vampires hate eachother but we can't openly go at war. We can however supply you with all the information you may need and one wolf to have your back for a period of time. It's a generous offer."

Slowly getting the picture. "So let me get this straight. You want me to play babysitter for a full-grown wolf for a week to make sure that the big bad wolf won't eat him before it's time. And just out of self-preservation, may I ask what will keep Flavius from eating me if he wins?"

Flinch flashed his blinding smile again. "Everyone gave their words to leave you unharmed no matter the outcome. Flavius can't openly go against the will of the pack."

"Oh, I'm sure that'll just warm up my stiff dead body after he kills me. Gonna lightly smack him over the head too?" I never ever take a creature's word. Sorry, they have no honor or principles so nothing to believe in.

And he became darkly serious again. "I'm sorry if I really made you think you had a real choice in the matter. Look at it this way. You have a chance of getting killed either way. Helping us is the least probable way right now. I've heard a lot about you. You can take care of yourself. You're embarking on a huge crusade. I'd say you can take all the help you can get."

Damn the man sure made a point. Getting killed for sure tonight or maybe surviving a week at least? Well, at least I'd get time off except for crucial cases. Some time away from the shouting Lewis sounded like heaven even if it meant death. Which brings us back to the note to employers everywhere from earlier. I'd never volunteer but looks like I'd been offered already so no point in beating around the bush. All I needed was to get stocked on some more weapons. And then kill Larry. Yep.

Sigh. "Very well, Mister Flinch. Looks like we have ourselves a deal!"

He smiled and shook my hand a little too enthusiastically. "Call me Alexander"
Right sure whatever.

"George is waiting downstairs in the car," he added.

Oh just hang on. It starts immediately? I really need to learn how to read the fine print. Well, there goes my boring week. I nodded and stepped out with him, stopping by Trish long enough to cancel all my meetings except for 2 important cases. Turned off my cell and pager and left them with her before leaving the building. No point in having Lewis deafen me for a week. I had my freetime cell with me anyway so I could be contacted.

Flinch (yes, I'll never call him Alexander) led me to a black Hummer parked in a corner. Niiiiiiice. Yeah. He stopped next to the passanger door and opened it. A shadow practically jumped out with unnatural ease and grace. He straighten and gave me a small bow. He wasn't half as impressive as Flinch. His blonde hair was cut short with only a few rebellious strands falling in his blue eyes. He was about my height, tanned, strong build with lean muscles that seemed more natural than gym-produced. His attire was simple - shabby blue-jeans and black shirt.

"George Harrison," he offered and shook my hand as I repeated my name. "Thanks," he added.

Heh, at least he was polite. The other door opened and 2 men slid out, followed by a woman. One of the men was a redhead with longer hair that brushed his ears and freckles. Green eyes stared at me and somehow I knew - Irish. He went by the name Art. Charming. The second man had waist-long straight brown hair and a pair of startling honey-colored eyes to go with. Baine. Charmed again. The woman was most certainly a nice sight. She was a pretty blonde with green eyes, nicely shaped and with the longest legs God has ever given. Evelyn. Beyond charmed.

Now the question was where they all supposed to fit in my convertible? I think they must have seen me puzzled as Art and Baine both went for their bikes leaving just me, George and Evelyn. Flinch took his leave and I ushered the 2 to my car. Well my life is certainly taking a turn for the interesting. And deadly.

Who would have thought I'd find myself surrounded by 4 werewolves for a whole week? Not me, I can assure you. Well here we go. I started the car and left the parkinglot.