Obligatory disclaimer: Dark Horse and Mr. Mignola own all, save for my own original characters.

"It sounds like you and your sister were attacked by an incubus," Hellboy said quietly. This would be so much better if he had a cigarette. Heck, it might go better if she had a cigarette. But Hellboy didn't want to interrupt the flow of conversation by offering her a drag; they were both just starting to feel more comfortable with each other.

"Uhm, I'm guessing you're not talking about the band."

Hellboy softly chuckled, a hollow sound without a trace of humor, and looked up from his note taking. Jade was trying very hard to put on a brave front, but he knew she was terrified of not only what happened to her, but of what he was about to say. He set down his writing accessories on the bed, stood up and led Jade back to her chair. After she sat, he squatted down in front of her. Collecting his thoughts, he pinched the bridge of his nose and took a deep breath before launching into his explanation.

"Incubi are male demons who attack women when they sleep, although there are exceptions. Dozing, resting, relaxing… as in your case. I'm not sure if you have a religious affiliation, so you may or may not be aware that there are different levels of demons, just as there are angels–."

"I'm from St. Louis, where we know a little bit about demons. In fact, I think it's ingrained in all of us through the city water supply because no one ever really talks about it. I mean, how many cities can claim to being the site of the most well known demon possession in the world?" Jade interrupted, not wanting a lecture in demonology; she just wanted to get the matter over and done with.

Hellboy ignored her interruption and continued, "In fact some say that incubi are angels that got kicked out due to having lustful tendencies. I, personally, don't see the religious connection as they exist with one purpose and one purpose only – to have sex. But, regardless, incubi are demons and are at the lowest end of the demonic scale. They exist with animalistic intelligence, rather than the level at which you and I operate."

Hellboy watched as Jade's emotions danced across her features and gave her a moment to absorb what he jut said. He knew there was irony in telling her about lustful demons, when he, himself, had his share of impure thoughts. That he was the product of such a liaison, if one wanted to get technical. And there he was, moving himself into the same category as Jade, separating himself from the demons he was talking about. Please let her focus on the message, not the messenger.

"I won't get into what they do, as you know better than I, but I can tell you that if you try to fight the incubus that you'll have a feeling of paralysis. That all of your energy has been zapped from your body. Or that you have pressure–."

"On your chest?" Jade interrupted.

Nodding his head, Hellboy had to tell himself that this was Jade's rodeo and that everyone wanted to be a part of a conversation. That reaction to information was to be expected. Of course, few clients wanted to know anything of the case, preferring to pass off the problem and walk away. He ha to give her props from trying to be a part of the process. "Exactly. In fact, the word derives from the Latin incubare, which means to lie upon or weigh down. Now, there are a few things we can do to ward off any further attacks until we can excise them from your life. We can–."

Cocking her head in confusion, Jade wrinkled her brow and asked, "Excise them from my life? You mean they aren't bound to the house? They can come after me anywhere? After my sister?"

Hellboy stood up and stretched, then sat down on the corner of the bed, his elbows on his knees and his face in his hands. He tried rubbing away some of the exhaustion from the earlier flight, but it was to no avail. He was flippin' tired. And he was fully aware of the ludicrousness of the situation he was in. A half demon that was fighting an attraction to his latest case, which involved male demons raping another member of said case. Exhaling a deep sigh, Hellboy continued.

"Generally, the incubi stay tethered to a location, but their insatiable lust has been known to carry them to wherever they can find victims. Tomorrow, we should go to your folks' house and see if your presence brings them out to visit. I can promise you that nothing, and I repeat nothing, will happen to you. Not on my watch."

Worrying her bottom lip between her teeth, Jade began to pace the small room. She knew she was going to have to go back to the house, but Hellboy's words rang in her ears. Carry them to wherever they can find victims.

"What happens if they come by tonight? Come by here?"

Hellboy wanted to chuckle at the absurdity of the questions. He wanted to tell her that if they hadn't gone after her in the motel room yet, then she was safe. But the earnestness in her voice, the concern shining in her eyes, tempered his humor. "They're at the lowest end of the demonic scale, so it's very simple to ward them off. A glass of water next to your bed is enough to keep negative energy at bay. Salt is also excellent. We can sprinkle some between the sheet and mattress, so it's not all over you. And, if you believe in God, a prayer can certainly go a long way. Although, not really the same kind of demons. But, I figure, every little bit of help one can get, ya know?"

Jade stopped mid-stride and after a long moment, her head snapped up, as if startled. Furrowing her brow, she regarded Hellboy a long moment before asking, "You really believe in God?" The words escaped her lips before she knew it, her eyes getting wide in shock and both hands covering her mouth in disbelief. "Shit! I can't believe I just said that. I am so sorry! That was so very rude of me. I didn't mean to say that. I meant–."

Hellboy held up his right hand to stop her. It worked; she shut her mouth mid-sentence. "It's all good. Father was a devout Catholic and made sure I was baptized into the religion. He also made sure that I was well-schooled in the faith. Never leave home without my rosary." Hellboy reached into a coat pocket and then held out his left hand, a beautifully crafted rosary hanging from his wrist.

Jade hung her head in shame and was quiet as she digested his words. Here was a man, or rather a demon, or – technically – both, who was telling her that he would protect her from other demons. She wanted to believe him. She knew his track record. But there was something about his red skin, the circular stumps on his forehead where horns normally would spring forth, and the long tail swishing back and forth that made her wonder.

What if… he's actually an incubus, too? What if… he was there that night? What if… he's trying to lull me into a false sense of security? What if… I'm crazy and I'll wake up from this bad dream locked up in a nuthouse?

Hellboy could see the wariness enter Jade's eyes and it hurt him more than he would admit. "Jade, you have the right to ask for another agent, if that would make you more comfortable. Now, I'm going to go grab my bag and then take a shower, which will give you some time to mull it over. While I'm in there, don't sweat it if you put in a call to the Bureau. The whole point is for you to feel safe and secure while I make sure that actually happens. As I said, think about it. If you decide to make that call, head on over to the motel office and chill out there."

His words, meant to reassuring and kindly, were only making Jade feel more and more like shit. Why am I having any doubts? This…man has shown me nothing but kindness. There is no doubt to his credibility. Jade watched as Hellboy silently opened the motel room door and disappeared into the night. She had to think fast in order to restore his confidence in her ability to trust him.

Running out into the parking lot after him, Jade met him at the hatchback of his SUV. "Hey! Listen, there's no reason you should put up with my crap. And there's no reason for you to forgive me. But I've never been in a situation even vaguely resembling this before. I haven't slept in days. I haven't heard from my sister since she left. And now I have the greatest paranormal investigator in the world sharing space in my motel room. So please don't laugh when I say it's me that should be asking you to consider staying. I need your help. And I'll do my best to help you in any way I can. I just can't always promise not to be freaked out about the process."

Hellboy was silent as he fished his pack of cigarettes out of his inside coat pocket. Shaking one loose, he lipped it before extending the pack to Jade who shook her head no. Nodding his head, he pocketed the pack and pulled the suitcase from the confines of the vehicle, shutting the door with a bang that rang in the stillness of the night. After setting the suitcase on the pavement, Hellboy lit the cigarette and regarded Jade.

"I just want you to be sure."

Jade nearly wept in relief. He was… he was looking past her prejudice. Truly, he was a better person than she way. "The only call I'm making… is to the front desk to get that cot. It's not you I have doubts in; it's me. I never saw what was, uhm, hurting me… What was hurting my sister. I could only feel it… and I know that I got off so much easier than my poor sister. But, to avoid beating around the bush, it's a little unnerving to have a man who is part demon himself talking about excising demons from my life. I mean no offense and I don't mean to be rude, just honest.

"But it's a true honor – and a privilege – to have you here. I've been following your career for a very long time and it had been my intention to take one of your father's classes when I lived in New York, but there was always scheduling conflicts on my end. So please understand, I have the utmost of faith in you; it's just that it was terrifying to hear my sister as she was… raped." The last word was barely more than a whisper, but Jade rolled her shoulders back, took a deep breath, looked him dead in the eye and continued, "I'm sorry. No hard feelings? I promise to do better."

Hellboy was silent a moment, holding in a sigh of frustration that he so desperately wanted to exhale. She was so engaging that it was difficult for her words not to hurt. Not even three hours had passed since they met and already what she thought was important to him. And just when I thought this case was going to be less painful than some of the others… I should have realized that what I am was going to factor in as much as who I am.

Buying time in articulating his response, Hellboy rolled the suitcase back into their motel room. Setting the luggage by the bed, he turned and gently placed his hands on Jade's shoulders, ignoring her subtle flinch. His golden eyes bored into her cobalt ones as he quietly said, "Jade, I am bound by a code of ethics to protect you and keep you safe. No matter what. And at all costs. That's my job right now. And a big part of what let's me do my job is what I am. Now, I don't talk about this very often, and once I put it out there, it's not open for discussion afterwards, but my biological mother… she apparently became very involved with the dark arts. So much so that she summoned and had… relations with a demon. There are women, my mother being one of them, who seek out… relations with such an entity. And then I came along. So that makes me what I am.

"But my father, who adopted me and raised me, has made me who I am. And I won't say that I'm this great guy or anything. I drink. I smoke. I'm crude.

"But I know right from wrong. I don't like bad guys. And I especially don't like bad guys who pick on people who aren't as strong as they are. So I'm a guy," and there was particular emphasis on the last word, "who gets to be a hero and rescue damsels in distress. So understand, I see myself the same way as you see yourself. More or less."

Never feeling more like a pile of shit in her life, Jade felt her cheeks burn and nodded her head in understanding, refusing to make eye contact with Hellboy. She turned out of his grasp and became fixated with moving her belongings off the nightstand next to the bed and back into her suitcase. Hellboy tilted his head back, staring at the ceiling, frustration oozing from every pore.

So caught up in his aggravation, he almost missed the quiet words Jade whispered. "I am so ashamed of myself."

His head snapped down, his eyes boring into the top of her head. "Jade…"

Still squatting by the open nightstand drawer, Jade pivoted on her heels and looked at Hellboy through her lashes. Pressing her lips together, she swallowed hard, thinking. After a moment, Jade stood and sat on the bed, indicating Hellboy should join her. Instead, he leaned against the dresser and waited for Jade to speak.

He watched her take a breath and then smile tightly at him. "I am beyond mortified. I asked for help; you're offering to do just that. It would seem that I've not only lost part of my mind since the encounter, but most of my manners as well. I… I am so grateful that you are here. That you haven't walked out. That you are willing to bunker down with me. So go. Take your shower. We can talk more about our course of action in a bit. Or even hold off 'til the mornin'. "

Hellboy pressed his lips together and bit the inside of his cheek. Looking at the earnest expression of hope on her face, he felt his blood pressure lower. Suddenly, a weight lifted from his broad shoulders. Now, there was even ground and mutual respect. Gone was the suspicion and caution that had radiated from Jade since they met. He was almost ready to drop his wariness. "You absolutely sure?"

"Honestly?" Jade arched a brow and as it fell back into place, exhaustion washed over her features. "I'm not sure of anything any more. But that's not changing the gratitude I feel for your being here and essentially babysitting me as well as working on this case. So go shower. I know you're beat. I'll call for that cot."

Hellboy just nodded his head and unzipped his suitcase, riffling for some clean clothes to sleep in. He kept his comments to himself about the travesty of having to share sleeping quarters with Jade. There was no way Hellboy would let his professionalism slip and reveal in any way he thought she was charming. Closing his luggage, he resolved to put all thoughts out of his head and to focus only on making her home safe.