A Long Night's Day

AN: Okay, sorry if I'm a little bit late, but I've got another long one for you this time. Hope you enjoy.

As Seras and Michael exited Integra's office and made their way to the mansion's garage, they didn't bother to say two words to each other. The silence was finally broken as Seras opened up the driver's side door of the vehicle they'd be using to reach the hotel. "In the future, I would appreciate it if you didn't call me 'Police Girl'."

Michael seemed a little surprised by the request, which, to him, seemed to have come right out of the blue. As he opened up the front passenger's door and entered the car, his eyebrow arced up. "Huh?"

"In Sir Integra's office, you called me Police Girl." Seras replied.

And Michael's face flashed in understanding. "Oh... that." He spoke in a guarded tone, though there was a slightly nervous edge to it. "Sorry, everyone else was calling you 'Police Girl'. I just thought it was normal." He apologized.

"Well, it... it is normal... for Master and Sir Integra. But... But I..."

"But you don't want the rank and file soldiers calling you that?" Michael asked, his voice carrying a note of understanding, rather than insult.

Seras nodded in agreement. For once it seemed like someone was actually taking her seriously without her first having to display her superior strength or speed. Though she figured that at least a portion of the 'respect' she was getting was likely caused by the fact that the man seemed worried she might suck his blood. What an utterly ridiculous thing to be concerned with. She wasn't like that.

"So... what do you want to be called?" Michael asked.

At first Seras thought about telling him to call her by her first name, but she quickly dismissed the idea. First names were for friends not soldiers who had just met. "Officer Victoria would be acceptable." She replied, and he nodded. A few more seconds of silence passed before Seras continued. "So, how about you? What's your name?"

"Michael." The sniper replied and cautiously extended a hand.

Seras shook it. She smiled. "You know, you really don't have to be afraid. I don't suck blood."

"So they tell me; so they tell me."

"But you don't believe it, do you?"

"Officer Victoria, I've been hunting vampires for nearly seven years, four of which were spent at Hellsing, almost a year of which as one's partner... at least on certain missions. I'd like to think I've got a pretty good handle on vampires. And, other than a series of extremely bad novels from across the pond, I've never heard of one who didn't suck human blood, at least on occasion."

Seras looked away from the sniper and focused her eyes back on the road, though she was perfectly capable of keeping track of it with just her sixth sense. The two traveled in silence a bit longer, but then Seras commented, "But you trust my master."

"Trust..." The sniper replied, drawing the word out a bit more than was common. "Isn't exactly the right word. I... understand him, well the basic stuff at least. I know his motivations and feel fairly confident that I can predict what he'll do." Michael paused for a moment and then added, "I don't know you." The statement wasn't said accusingly, but rather as a simple fact. Still, it seemed to bother Seras; and other than Michael directing her which roads to use, the two spent the rest of the ride in silence.

There really wasn't much to say about the hotel. It was nice and clean but not extravagant. It seemed like the kind of place a mid-level businessman might stay at. Michael led Seras to his room, pulled a keycard from his pocket and slid the magnetic strip into the card reader, unlocking the door.

As the pair stepped inside, Seras noticed that the laptop was just sitting on a small table, in plain view of anyone who was to walk in; and she thought that somewhat out of place, given how careful Michael seemed to be. "Well, that wasn't much of a job." She sardonically commented as she walked over and picked up the computer.

Meanwhile, Michael walked around the bed and retrieved a Bible from the nightstand. He left ten pounds in the book's place, reasoning that he had more need of it than the next person who would stay in the room but not wanting to risk outright stealing the Holy object. The sniper then reached back into his pocket and extracted a Swiss-army-knife. Without a word, he walked over to the far wall and began to unscrew one of the light switch covers.

Seras raised an eyebrow. "What are you doing?"

"You didn't really think I'd stash my information out in the open like that, did you?"

"So, what? You've got another laptop hidden inside the light switch?"

Michael chuckled. "Something like that." He replied and then, having already removed the cover, went to work unscrewing the fixture box.

Seras just continued to stare as Michael finished with the fixture box and pulled it out, until it hung by the cords running into it. He reached his hand into the wall and felt around for a bit, then he pulled out a small, four inch by two and a half inch, metal devise. "What's that?" Seras asked.

"Another laptop... sort of. Actually, it's a laptop hard drive." Michael replied as he gently took the computer from Seras's hands. He flipped it over and put it down on the bed.

Seras watched as Michael took out four more screws, only from the laptop this time. He then extracted another four inch by two and a half inch metal devise, which he replaced with the one he'd retrieved from the wall.

"Alright. Just let me put the light switch back in; and we'll be ready to go, okay?" Michael asked, and Seras nodded. Then she looked over, and a small basket of fruit caught her eye.

The sniper seemed to notice this and commented, "Help yourself. It's just going to go to waste anyway."

"I... Uh, can't. I can't eat that kind of stuff anymore."

Michael cast a funny look at Seras. "I've seen your master eat oranges before."

The vampire's face seemed to light up. "Really?" She asked in a hopeful tone.

"Yeah." Michael replied and paused. "Well, sort of." He continued as Seras picked up an orange.

"What do you mean 'sort of'?" Seras asked, her brow furled.

"You bite through the skin and suck the juice, the same way you would human blood. Then throw the shriveled, little shell that's left into the garbage can."

Suddenly Seras's face fell. She looked at the orange again, but somehow the sniper's analogy had caused her to loose her appetite. She put the fruit back into the basket.

And Michael, puzzled expression plastered over his face, just stared at her for a minute. "You really are... different." The sniper finally replied, and Seras made a little smile.


The ex-Marine slowly slid the dumbwaiter open and peaked his head out. He looked to the left and then the right. Finding no one coming from either direction, the man stepped out of the dumbwaiter. First he removed his shoes, tied the laces together and hung them across his shoulder. Then he crouched low as he made his way down the stone corridor.

He hadn't gone far when he heard the light smacking sound of a pair of boots falling and rising from the stone floor. The man hugged the wall to his right and slowly peaked his head around the corner and down another corridor.

There was a guard down that path. He had a gun in his hand. The ex-Marine didn't have a good enough view to properly identify the weapon; but from what he could see of it, he guessed it was some type of submachine gun.

Fortunately, for him though, the guard was in the middle of a patrol and currently facing in the other direction. The ex-Marine grinned, slung the strap of his shotgun over his free shoulder and silently stalked up behind the other man.

The guard never knew what hit him. One second he was walking his patrol, and the next a strong arm was wrapped around his neck, catching him in a blood choke. He tried to fire his gun. If nothing else, the sound would alert the other guards, drawing their attention to him. But the weapon was jerked out of his hands as soon as he thought to fire it. He would've called for help, but he had run out of time.

A blood choke typically incapacitates a person within five seconds, and he'd already passed the four and a half mark. He was lightheaded, and his world became nothing but darkness as consciousness faded away.

The ex-Marine slowly lowered the guard's body to the floor then carefully continued onward. He took out two more guards in a similar fashion and was pleasantly surprised by the fact that he'd managed to come so far without having to resort to any lethal tactics.

After taking out the third guard, the man found what he was looking for. In a cell beside where the third guard fell, the ex-marine saw the face of the vampire girl who's escape he'd prevented. Taking the key from the guard's belt, the man opened the door and stepped inside the cell.

The vampire looked over at the man. She must've recognized him, for her eyes narrowed. "You." She growled. "What are you doing here?"

The man stepped closer to the vampire and noticed that her body was being secured to an angled, flat slab of stone by a magic barrier. Taking extra precautions this time, he thought as he unslung his shotgun.

The man aimed the weapon at the vampire's head and answered her question. "I've come to end your misery."

The vampire stared at the barrel for a moment. At first, her face was an unreadable sea of emotions, but then it settled down into a sad but resigned expression. She summoned up her courage and asked, "So, what are you waiting for?" The question was not asked in a challenging tone, but rather one like a man about to be executed might use if he were tired and just wanted the thing over and done with.

The ex-Marine gulped. "Close your eyes." He replied, his voice laced with a bit more sympathy than he'd intended.

And the vampire did just that. She half laid, half stood there, eyes closed and waiting for the shot that would end her life... or at least the only three days of it she could remember. And then the shot came, but something wasn't right.

She was still alive. She wasn't even hurt. After a few seconds of surprise, the vampire reopened her eyes to find that the small statue that had projected the magical barrier had been half melted in on itself.

She pushed against the slab, propelling herself into a full standing position and turned to the man who's shotgun was still aimed at the melted statue. The vampire was shocked. "You... you didn't kill me. Instead, you released me, why?" She asked.

The man turned to her with almost as shocked an expression upon his own face. He opened his mouth, but it was several seconds before any words formed. When they did, his only answer was, "Because I am a fool."

And then the two heard the sound of footsteps rapidly approaching. The other nearby guards, having heard the sound of the shotgun blast, were rushing to investigate.


The sun had already reached the apex of its journey through the sky by the time Seras, feeling more exhausted than she had since first acclimating to her new life as a nocturnal creature, finally entered her basement chamber. The fledgling nearly stumbled to her coffin-like bed and flipped the switch that would raise the top of it.

As soon as the lid was raised high enough, the tired fledgling flopped down onto the soft mattress. At least Sir Integra had provided her with a comfortable resting place. Seras was very grateful that she was not expected to 'sleep' in a cheap, pine box.

The fledgling closed her eyes and inhaled the scent of the clean, freshly laundered sheets. Then she opened her eyes back up, and an annoyed expression passed over her face. "I need a shower." Seras groaned into her pillow and then forced herself to get out of her 'bed' and head to the bathroom, which was attached to her chamber.

She took a pair of pajamas out of her linen closet, laid them on the counter, by the sink, and then walked over to the shower. Seras turned the water on and stripped off her uniform as she waited for the stream to reach a comfortable temperature. A half minute later, she stepped into the shower and began to wash away the grime, dirt, dried blood and sweat that clung to her body.

Once again, the fledgling felt grateful, grateful that her chamber came with a private bathroom. She could only imagine the perverted things her master might try if the two of them were expected to share one. Though, now that she thought about it, Seras wasn't even sure if her master bothered with things like showers. Given his abilities, perhaps he simply 'ghosted' his body through any unwanted filth.

Seras shrugged. It didn't really matter. Even if her master didn't need to shower, the fledgling was confident that he'd find some excuse to use the facilities if he shared them with her. He was a pervert, like most all men, she thought. Though in the case of her master, he seemed more interested in teasing her and making her blush, rather than actually 'bedding' her; and for a moment, Seras wondered about that.

From what she'd learned about the relationship between vampire fledglings and their 'sires', she doubted she'd have much say in the matter if her master ever decided to truly press the issue; and she briefly wondered why he hadn't. Was it just that he wasn't really interested in her... 'that way', that he only 'teased' her because he liked to see her flustered? Or was something else behind his seeming reluctance to fully press his advantage?

Seras wondered if perhaps he actually did respect her... not enough to keep him from making jokes and harassing her, but enough so that he wouldn't go as far as to actually force anything on her. After all, even when it came to her becoming a vampire, he'd given her a choice. When later he'd told her to drink his blood and become a true Nosferatu, once again, he'd left the final decision up to her, offering the blood that dripped down his arm but not forcing it on her.

The first offer she'd accepted, though reluctantly. The second one she'd refused. And as Seras's hands moved over her body, lathering it with soap and washing it clean; she wondered what she would do if her master approached her with a third offer, one that, if accepted, would end up with them sharing a coffin.

Even now she wasn't sure what her answer would be. She was certainly attracted to him: his wild mane of hair; elegant, aristocratic features; and that long, serpentine tongue...* The fledgling stopped and shook her head as she realized her train of thought was starting down a rather 'naughty' railway, and she attempted to get it back on track.

Yes, there was no point in denying that she found her master attractive. Still, she knew enough about him to be wary. She was a virgin, and he was a monster. And the idea of him being the one to finally end up taking her 'innocence' was... intimidating.

Would he be gentle, could he be? If not, would the eventual pleasure be enough to make up for the pain? And what would happen to her afterward? Would he lose interest in her, discard her and begin searching for a new virgin to conquer? Or would he stay with her? And if he stayed, would it simply be because he wanted more... or because he genuinely cared for her?

The fledgling was finally roused from her musings as her enhanced hearing caught the sound of an incessant knocking at her chamber door. Seras quickly turned off the water. "Coming!" She shouted as she exited the shower. Then she quickly dried herself off and began to hop into the bottom half of her pajamas.

"Just... just a minute!" Seras yelled as she pulled her pajama bottoms up and threw the top over her head. She rushed to the door while poking her arms through the sleeves. And all the while, the incessant knocking continued. If anything, it only grew the more insistent.

Finally Seras reached her door and quickly flung it open, finding a horrible sight awaiting her on the other side. There Walter stood. His eyes were red and the space underneath them was puffy and swollen. There were little red bumps scattered across his face; and despite the English butler's best attempts to remain respectable, the area between his nose and mouth was obviously wet.

"Walter! What... what's happened to you?!" Seras exclaimed. Despite her experience with ghouls and other undead horrors and the tolerance she'd built up to such disturbing sights, the fledgling was still taken back by Walter's appearance. He looked ghastly, and it obviously wasn't the result of any supernatural force.

"M-miss Victoria, p-please..." The butler began but sneezed loudly, his head jerking down uncontrollably, before he could finish. Walter stared up at Seras with an embarrassed and apologetic look on his face then raised his head back up. "Please, take back Fluffy." The butler nearly pleaded while extending one of his hands, the hand holding the little tabby, towards the fledgling. Walter sneezed again.

And Seras's eyes went wide as she realized what was going on. The fledgling quickly took the orange kitty from the butler. "Oh, Walter, I'm... I'm so sorry! I-I had no idea you were allergic!" Seras quickly stammered out in apology. "Why didn't you say something?"

"I-I tried, Miss Victoria, but... but you..." Walter's reply was interrupted by another loud sneeze. He took a handkerchief from his pocket, blew his nose into it and wiped. There were tears in his eyes now as he continued, "You ran off before I could."

"Oh, Walter, I'm so sorry." Seras apologized again.

And Walter, graciously, accepted. "Oh, don't worry about it, Miss. I have been through worse, you know." He replied while backing away from the dreaded tabby. "Just, please, find someone else to babysit Fluffy next time, okay?"

Seras smiled in embarrassment. "Oh, yes... Of course."

"Thank you, Miss." Walter replied as he lowered his head in a little bow. "And now, if there's nothing else, I think I'm going to go lay down... I feel a headache coming on." He informed.

"No, nothing else..." Seras replied, and Walter began to walk away. The fledgling leaned out of her room and called out after him. "But thank you!" She said.

And Walter turned back for a moment. He flashed her a smile. "My pleasure," he politely lied, "Miss Victoria." And then the butler ascended the staircase, disappearing from sight.

Seras retreated back into her room and, after closing her door, went over to her 'bed'. Once more, she flopped down on the mattress. The shower had given her a temporary boost in energy, and the sight of Walter's condition had prolonged that high. But now, Seras felt her exhaustion overtaking her once more.

She closed her eyes, only to have them open up again as she felt something tugging on the fabric of her pajamas. The fledgling looked down to find Fluffy pulling on her top. It seemed the tabby did not share her exhaustion. The kitty was just a furry, little ball of energy, and it wanted to play.

Seras groaned at the cat. "No, not now." She mumbled into her pillow as she attempted to bury her head in it. But Fluffy was persistent in its play, and Seras began to wonder if she'd ever get to sleep. Then a little light bulb went off above the fledgling's head, and she decided to try something.

Seras locked eyes with the kitty. "You are getting sleepy, very very sleepy." The fledgling knew that vampires eventually manifested hypnotic abilities, and she hoped... prayed that she'd been one long enough to have started developing them herself. "Your eye lids are getting heavy. You are tired, very very tired." Seras continued, and Fluffy yawned.

The fledgling smiled in triumph. "That's right. Very tired. Now, you will go to sleep and stay asleep until sundown." The kitty let out another yawn, and then curled up into a little ball and closed its eyes. Seras's head went back to her pillow; and the entire mattress sunk down, into the floor, as the lid closed.

The fledgling was just starting to drift off into sweet oblivion when her mattress was suddenly and roughly jerked. The fledgling's eyes shot open, and she quickly sat up... only to be slobbered by a doggy 'kiss' from Baskerville.

"Oh no, Master. Please, not now. I don't want to play. I'm tired, and I just want to get some sleep." Seras pleaded in a whiny tone. Why were the fates conspiring against her? What had she done to warrant this?

But, to Seras's surprise, Baskerville retreated to the foot of her mattress, spun around three times and then laid himself down, curling up by her feet. At first Seras leaned forward and pushed against the beast. "No, Master. You can't sleep here." She stated firmly. But Baskerville was a heavy 'dog' and a stubborn one. For some reason, even Seras's enhanced strength, failed to move him from his spot.

The most the fledgling could accomplish was to cause the upper part of Baskerville's body to rock back and forth; and after a moment, Seras gave up. She was simply too tired to go on. "Fine." She sighed. "You can sleep here, but only for today... and don't you dare try anything." The doggy raised its head and stared at the fledgling with a curious expression.

Seras brought her hand up and struck her palm against her forehead. "Bloody hell. I'm warning a dog not to try anything with me; I'm becoming just as much of a loony as the rest of them." She exclaimed before laying back down again.

Baskerville grinned at her, and then buried his head in his paws.

( Well, I really hope you enjoyed this chapter. It was pretty long and took me a awhile to write. Please review and let me know what you thought of it. Thanks.

Have a good day, and God bless.

Metropolis Kid.)

*Special thanks to Lila for 'donating' this line. :)