Chapter nine:

I felt the hand on my shoulder turn and in front of me was none other than Jake. I looked at him with tear filled eyes. As I looked at him the image of him started to blur.

"Stephanie! Are you okay?" He said softly.

"Jake!" I said softly choking up and shaking.

"Steph c'mon." He said pulling me close to him. I sobbed onto his chest. He stood up taking me with him. He stepped into me and hugged me I could feel the cold of his body but I didn't mind. When I was done crying I realized that Jake was holding me and I blushed madly.

He laughed probably feeling the heat from my face. "You blush every time I'm close to you." He said smiling. "C'mon you can stay in my dorm tonight." He said and I looked up at him almost immediately.

"But! ... Then you'll get detention or something for holding a girl in your dorm! And what about-…" I said then stopped myself as he looked me straight in the eyes. "Alright…" I said blushing even more.

He directed me to his dorm walking side by side without touching. I blushed thinking about sleeping in the same dorm as him but then I thought about his roommate.

"Wait!" I said stopping and looking at him. He did the same. "Who is your roommate?" I asked a little nervous.

"No one I got a room of my own." He said and the blush deepened.

"O-Oh…" I said looking at the red carpet flooring. I started walking again and Jake followed passing me a little.

When we arrived I sat down on the bed and he sat at the computer desk that was completely empty.

"So…are you excited about our first day of this new school?" I asked.

"I never thought it'd be this bright." He said looking out the huge window that was at the end of the hallway at the rising sun and he shielded his eyes. The sun shone through some of the dark grey clouds that threatened to start raining.

"Yeah, it's not like Coventry is it?" I said looking out the window. You could just barely see the sun peeking over the black clouds.

"No it's not." He said softly. I looked out the window a few steps behind him and felt his gaze on me. I didn't look up not daring to look into his wonderful eyes.

As I looked out the window it started to down pour. The rain came crashing down hard against the window.

I ran back and Jake followed me yelling for me to stop. Even his voice couldn't reach me as my mind fell into darkness. I felt as if no one could reach me. My mind felt asleep as my body moved on its own. I ran to the garden but didn't open the two French doors that stood in front of me.

"What are you doing?" Jake asked confused.

"The rain…" I said softly as I opened the doors. The doors opened and you could see everything so faintly as the rain poured down. I stepped outside and the second I stepped on the cement rain fell onto my head. I felt like I was in a different world and I lifted my head and closed my eyes. The rain softly hit my face running down my neck. My dark hair and clothes were soaked in a matter of seconds. "I love being in the rain." I said to Jake as I felt his gaze on my back.

"Why's that?" He asked.

"I used to walk in the rain all the time when I was with my mom. She loved the rain, we shared that same interest. We would go walking in the rain laughing and getting soaked. She would pick me up and say that I was a little black cloud raining on her. It wasn't an insult. It was our thing; we would say that the other was a black cloud raining on us." I said as tears stung in my eyes.

"So you were really close to your mom." It was more of a statement than a question. I heard understanding in his soft voice.

"Yea" I thought about all the times she held me and said 'I love you'. Those were foreign words to me. I haven't heard them in forever and tears fell from my face. I cried silently just standing there soaked. All of a sudden I turned around and blushed as I opened my eyes to see Jake standing in front of me. Tears were still flowing as I held myself. I was going to walk back with Jake but I got dizzy and fell. My body felt like it was on fire and it hurt badly. But I soon realized that I was not on the ground.

"Why didn't you help her?" I remembered that voice; Dr. Integra.

"Well, I-I ugh…" Jake stuttered.

"Stuttering like an idiot isn't going to help her." Dr. Integra said. I realized that he had caught me from falling forward. I was hanging over his left arm. He moved and knelt down; I was lying in his arms. I knew where I was but I couldn't open my eyes or move my body. I was completely helpless.

"It hurts!!" I started yelling over and over again. It hurt really badly and I was on the brink of crying. My body felt like I was laying on the suns' surface.

"Then what can I do to help her?" Jake asked Dr. Integra with tension in his voice.



Dr. Integra didn't answer and after a few seconds I felt ice cold lips on mine stopping my screaming. I almost immediately felt calm and my body got cooler making it bearable. I felt an arm tighten its grip around my waist then I felt a hand on my head. I knew that it was Dr. Integra who was kissing me and it made me feel a bit awkward.

"What are you doing?" Jake asked making Dr. Integra disconnect from me. I felt his grip loosen as he broke away.

"Foolish boy. You're part of us and you have no idea what I'm doing to her." Dr. Integra said.

There was a long pause then Dr. Integra stood up picking me up bridal style. My body was still on fire but it wasn't as severe as it was a few minutes ago.

"Let's go to my room." Dr. Integra said to Jake.

We were walking when I woke up. "Dr. Integra." I said opening my eyes. I was shaking.

"Carful, if you cling to me any harder you'll rip my shirt." Dr. Integra said smirking as he looked down at me.

"S-sorry." I said blushing hoping he thought it was just because my body was on fire. I released his shirt and blushed even more.

"Hey, it's alright." He said smiling. I didn't get it, why was he acting so nice to me when he acted like such a jerk a few hours ago.

"Where's Jake?" I asked feeling him there.

"I'm right here Steph, you'll be okay." Jake said beside Dr. Integra.

"You're shaking; we need to get you to my room quickly. But right now you need to rest." He said kissing my forehead. I blushed madly making the heat even more intense. I laid my head on Dr. Integra's chest and dozed off.

We walked to Dr. Integra's room and I was somewhat awake. I was conscious but it was like I didn't want to wake up. He laid me on his bed and put his hand on my forehead.

"She's still boiling." Dr. Integra said taking his hand off my forehead.

I heard him open a drawer and take out something. There was silence after that then I heard Jake talk.

"What are you doing?" He asked then I felt a hand on my neck then a needle being inserted into my neck. "Wait…you're not…" Jake said a bit shocked.

"No." I heard Dr. Integra say then take the needle out. Immediately after he took the needle out; my body got cold.

"How do I know that you're not lying to me?" Jake said sternly.

"Because you have to believe me." Dr. Integra said a bit aggravated.

"And why should I believe you? You've done nothing but be a jerk to Steph." Jake said.

"Because, you're bones are still fragile. I could break them just as easily as snapping a toothpick in half." Dr. Integra said. Jake shut up quick. He knew that Dr. Integra was right and that he was completely helpless at the wrath of a vampire. It was odd; he was fighting Dr. Integra's choices for me, to protect me even when he knew what he was up against.

"Alright" Jake said.

"Hmn?" Dr. Integra sighed like he didn't hear.

"Alright, I'll believe you this time but don't think it's going to last very long." Jake said.

"You do have your wise moments huh?" Dr. Integra said sarcastically.

I felt someone sit next to my cold body. I felt a hand stroking my hair away from my face. I loved that feeling even thought my body was ice cold. It felt as if the one I loved was sitting right there comforting me.

"She's cooled down a lot. Perhaps I shouldn't have given her as much blood as I should have." Dr. Integra said. His voice was close and I knew he was the one stroking my hair.

I felt his gaze on me. "You're a tough one to break." I heard him whisper knowing only I could hear him.

I felt his hand move from my head to my cheek then slowly grazing my jaw down to where he stopped my neck. He caressed my neck with his thumb where he had 'marked' me.

"Don't." I heard Jake say. "I won't let you do it…not to her." Jake said. I didn't understand what he was talking about.

"Hmn" Dr. Integra sighed softly. "So you know about her then. Well, well. I thought your 'Master' didn't tell you. He told me that it was best you didn't know so you wouldn't get so overprotective." Dr. Integra said annoyingly.

"That's a lie!" Jake snapped.

"Well, someone's in a bad mood." Dr. Integra said sarcastically.

"Just leave her alone." Jake said calming down.

"To late superhero, I already marked her. She belongs to me; if anyone is going to protect her it's going to be me." Dr. Integra said and I felt Jake get tense. "Unless…" He said to Jake hesitantly.

"What!?" Jake snapped.

"Unless you…" I didn't hear the rest of what Dr. Integra was saying.

"NO! Absolutely not!" Jake said shocked and a bit angry.

"Well then back off. Go play hero somewhere else." Dr. Integra said to Jake sternly.

Jake got tense but he backed off. I heard him walk into a different room. I was sick of hearing them argue so I put my mind to sleep and I dozed off again.



When I woke up I was still in Dr. Integra's room. I opened my eyes and sat up looking around when something fell off the bed to the floor. I looked down and picked up the piece of paper that had fallen. It was a note from Dr. Integra.

Stephanie,

You should be feeling better and you may get a small headache but that's normal. I left some Asprin if it gets to severe. If you're reading this you probably know that I'm not there. I had some things to get done but I will be back soon. I want you to go back to your dorm and get some rest then come to my room after class tomorrow. And do NOT bring Jake, come alone.

Dr. Integra

I threw my legs off the bed so I was sitting on the edge. I put a hand to my neck that felt a bit stiff but other than that it was alright. I stood up and walked into the kitchen. His room was like an apartment with a kitchen, bedroom, and bathroom. I looked at the time on the black clock. It was 6:13am the next day. It was a long time that I was asleep and I was amazed. Then I remembered that I would have to go to class tomorrow. I walked to my room at 7:00 knowing that kids would be in class or like Sam; in bed. She always was lazy but she's my best friend either way.

I walked to my room and when I opened the door Erik, Collin and Jake were in the room with Sam just talking. I stopped abruptly in the doorway when I saw them.

"What's going on?" I asked a little shocked.

"Where were you last night!?" Sam yelled running up and hugging me.

"What do you mean!?" I asked confused. Then I realized that I had been at Dr. Integra's room that whole night and I tried not to blush.

"When you said that you were going to get something for your headache I went back to sleep but when I woke up at one in the afternoon and you weren't there I was starting to worry. Then time went by and I walked to Collin's dorm and asked them to go search for you and then he went to Jake and we all split up and looked for you but none of us could find you." She said crying. I eyed Jake and he looked at me as if saying 'don't tell anyone.'

"Hey…" I said hugging Sam as she cried into my shoulder. "It's alright; I'm here its okay!" I said to her stroking her back trying to calm her.

"Right" She said whipping her eyes.

"You okay?" I asked her.

"Yeah, I'm alright." She said braking away from me whipping her eyes.

"So what happened? Where were you?" Collin asked what everyone was asking.

"I was…" I said having to think fast of a stupid lie. "I was just at the principal's office for a long time then I was with the doctor." I said.

"Wait so it took that long to do all that!?" Erik said.

"Yeah 'cause I took a walk outside too." I said looking at Jake. "Sorry I worried you guys." I said feeling a little upset that I was lying to all of them and only one of them knew the truth.

"Oh, we thought you got murdered or something." Jake said for the first time since I heard him last night.

"Y-Yeah, umn…" I said blushing a little.

"Yeah, yeah we'll leave." Jake said again already knowing what I was going to say before I had said it.

He dragged everyone else out of the room except Sam. Once the door was closed I walked over to my bed and realized that I had left the folder with all the info about my classes lying on my mattress.

"We have most of our classes together!" Sam said cheerfully.

I looked at her and smiled. "Oh yeah? Cool!" I said happily.

"And Jake, Collin, and Erik have our same ELA and mythology classes; we have the same teacher for them." She began, sitting on her bed. "Jake has all of his classes with you and I have all my classes with Collin. UGH! How could things get any worse!?" She exclaimed sarcastically as she smiled.

I giggled. "Yeah" I said looking at the clock. "So ugh what do we have first tomorrow?" I asked.

"Umn…Math. Then science, geography, French, mythology, ELA then Tai Chi and gymnastics." She said looking at my schedule.

"wow I haven't done gymnastics since I was really young, but do know Tai Chi pretty well. Hmn, I wonder what kind of things we'll learn in mythology." I said wondering if the teacher would talk about vampires and werewolves and stuff like that.

"Yeah, probably like fairies, vampires, werewolves, and bigfoot, stupid things like that. So untrue and unreal!" She said matter-of-factly.

"Yeah," I sighed. "Hey, you hungry?"

"Yes, I haven't eaten I was too worried about you to even be hungry." She said and I laughed.

We got some breakfast and walked around for the day. When it was about five we went back to our dorms.



"You want somethin' to eat?" I asked Sam.

"Yeah,"

"Stay right here I'll go whip something up." I said as I stood up. Sam grabbed my sleeve.

"You're not going to run off on me again are you because if you are I'm not going to-"

"Chill, I'm not going to run off, promise." I said smiling and she let go.

I walked out of the room and sprinted to Dr. Integra's room. I had to talk to him about so many things.

I sighed and braced myself. I raised my hand to knock on the door but the door was pulled away from me.

"I thought you were coming back." Dr. Integra said smirking.

"Umn…I need to talk to you." I said blushing. It was bad enough and I knew he could see it on my face.

"C'mon in." He said opening the door a bit more so I could walk in. I walked in nervously thinking of how I was going to ask those questions. "You hungry?" He asked as he closed the door and walked into the kitchen.

"A bit but I'll be fine…umn…about what happened last night…" I said as heat flooded my face.

"What about it? Don't worry I didn't do anything to you." He said already answering a question.

"Fine, then what did happen?" I asked

"You were upset and your pain overcame you."

"Oh, then..."

"Hey, enough of the questions." He said as he appeared behind me. I gasped as I felt his hand on my shoulder. "Here, have this." He said and handed me a plate with a grilled cheese on it.

"But…" I said turning around but he shut me up with a finger to my lips.

"Just eat it." I blushed madly and I looked down at it as I took the plate from him. "Don't worry, I didn't poison it." He said smirking.

I took a bite out of it and was shocked. It tasted so good, like how my mother used to make it. Tears formed in my eyes.

"What's wrong?" He asked grabbing a candle.

"It's nothing." I said whipping my eyes. I put the plate down and just looked at him. "Why am I so different around you?" I asked.

"What's different?"

"I feel so weak and helpless around you. It's like …" I hesitated. I had gotten one part out now why can't I get the other out?

"Like … love?" He asked and I blushed madly. That was exactly what I meant but I was just to afraid to say it. I mean, I knew I didn't love him I just felt this faint feeling for him. I nodded timidly. "Strong words for someone so weak." He said and I was shocked. I looked up at him. "Did you think I wouldn't notice?"

"What do you mean?"

"I mean the cuts."

"What!? I really have no idea what you're talking about!" I said blushing and taking a step back as he stepped forward.

"I was in you're room last night."

"What!?"

"I found bandages soaked with dried blood in your dresser. The stuffy room was thick with the smell of blood, mixed with the sweet smell of perfume when I opened the drawer." He said.

"What were you doing?" I said stepping forward annoyed.

"I could smell your blood a mile away."

"I didn't ask you to go in there!" I said raising a hand to strike him. In an instant the candle was set down, just in time for the same hand to catch my wrist. With a simple shift of body weight and a gentle push I was on the bed, both wrists held down tightly. Dr. Integra caught my thighs between his own, keeping them from moving. "What the-! Get off, you perverted doctor!"

"Now, now, Stephanie…there's no need to name-call…" Dr. Integra said, shaking his head hopelessly. "You attacked me, I defended myself. And now I've got you…quite defenseless."

"I'm not defenseless." I growled, and Dr. Integra's eyebrows rose. "You think I couldn't hurt you?"

"Oh, I quite expect you can...I would too, if I were in your position." His grip was secure when I tested it. "Jake would laugh at me for losing, if that happened." He said with a sigh. "All I hear from him is 'Stephanie' this and 'Stephanie' that... I am beginning to wonder what all the hype is about..."

"Don't go projecting your disgusting feelings on me." I hissed some; I didn't really view the medic as actually having feelings.

"Maybe I am doing that, a little." The taller one admitted, raising an eyebrow. "But then, I think I've forgotten what 'feelings' are like. It's not like I grew up with friends beside me. I kept them at a distance from the beginning. You know what it's like to have them, so, you would be more likely to do something like that." Dr. Integra's careful fingers began to push up the bandage on my wrist.

"Cut it out! What are you…"



"More likely to do something… because of loss…because of guilt…" He touched the raw skin underneath, pressing until his fingertips got wet. I gasped in pain, my breath picking up.

"How did you know…?"

"That you cut? The stains. The bandages. I heal your wounds, so you would have no reason to use them… and besides, there are scars here." Dr. Integra said, tracing the faint remnants with his merciless fingers.

"Stop…it." I growled out, but to Dr. Integra it sounded more like a whimper. I knew that's what it sounded like to him because he smirked "Leave me alone, what would you care?"

"Are you that lonely?" He asked, and I huffed.

"There you go again, projecting your feelings."

"Am I?" Dr. Integra released the wrist he'd been abusing, reaching up to touch my cheek. The blood was wet, and cooled quickly in the damp air. "I am not your enemy, Stephanie… We're comrades. For now, at least…" He said, his tone of voice so soft but sharp that I almost didn't recognize it. Then I glared at him. I had heard it before. When he was with me the first time when I thought it was a dream.

"I don't trust you. Everything you say is a lie."

"So you don't believe that I admire you?"

"What, for my sorrow?"

"It's an emotion you have. One so strong and vital that they haven't been able to rid you of it. I have nothing like that."

"But I thought… you and Mrs. Martin…"

"Jean and I have nothing. It's a fantasy, a play… a temporary relief from these sordid walls and daily tasks. You have a feeling so strong that you hurt yourself to feel better."

"It's not like that…"

"Stephanie, can't you trust me even a little? I'm tired of fighting… My head aches from it." The bloody fingers traced my lips. I remember the taste of my own blood as I licked the blood off of his fingers. That metallic taste was something that was just there under it all there was a part of it that felt like darkness and sadness all mixed together. As soon as the tip of my tongue brushed the callused ends of Dr. Integra's fingers, they were replaced with his lips. My eyes widened, but I didn't resist. I was more shocked than anything. The medic tasted fresh, and clean…so foreign to me. The only other people that had kissed me were my mother, Erik and Collin. I couldn't count my mother because it was only a kiss on the cheek. Erik and Collin, however… Angry with myself, I bit down hard on Dr. Integra's lip, and he winced as he pulled back, licking his split lip. He let go of my other wrist and placed both hands beside me.

"Dr. Integra…" I said timidly.

"What happened Stephanie? I thought you were frustrated with me." He said with a wicked smirk upon his face. I blushed as I struggled under his broad body. "Easy, calm down, you'll hurt yourself if you struggle." He said a little more caring. "Is it really necessary to do all this to calm you down?"

"Just…" I said blushing even more.

"Calm down, I'll let you leave." He said releasing my wrists and moved out of the way so I could leave. I stood up and felt my wrists then ran out of the room.

I walked out and to the dorm. I opened the door a crack.

"Hey!" Sam said waving. "So what'd ya make?" She asked.

"Oh, ugh." I said walking in.

"Steph!" She exclaimed shocked.

"What?" I asked gently still dazed from what had happened back there.

"Your arm! It's bleeding!" She said and I looked at my right hand; it was the wrist that Dr. Integra had abused.

"Umn, yeah, ya see, I was chopping up some stuff to make and I kinda cut my hand." I said totally lying to her. I felt bad about it but it was just something that I had to do. She wouldn't believe me if I told her the truth that a vampire that was actually Dr. Integra found out that I cut and he reopened the wounds with his super sharp nails.

"You clean that u I'll go get Dr. Integra." She said and ran out of the room before I could protest.

I walked into the bathroom. My wrist was cut pretty deep. I took out some bandages and a bottle of peroxide. I poured the peroxide over the wounds and I almost cried. It stung so badly and even if I blew on it, it would still sting. I fell to the tiles of the bathroom and lent my back against the sink cabinets.

I heard the door open and Sam call my name. I ignored her. Dr. Integra walked into the bathroom and saw me sitting in a heap of blood. The cut was so deep it cut my vein a little. I was slowly and painfully losing consciousness.

"Steph!" Sam yelled crying.

"Go sit down over there, I'll help her." Dr. Integra said to her. Sam nodded and before she left she took one last glimpse of me. "Go take an Asprin, you'll need it." He said and closed and locked the door. He walked over to me and knelt down in front of me. "Stephanie, you need to stay with me!" He said tilting my head up. "Perhaps I crossed the line a bit to far." He said looking at my wrist. I sat there shaking as tears threatened to flood my face. I could feel Dr. Integra working endlessly on my wrist. I felt him stitching up my arm and yes, it hurt badly. When he was done he looked me in the eyes or whatever was left of my open eyes. "Stephanie, hey, look at me." He said brushing my face lightly with his hand being careful not to press to hard. I didn't look at him. I felt my mind floating in my head. I felt 

like I was flying. I was almost certain that I was going to die. "Damnit Stephanie! You cannot do this to me!" He yelled and took something out of his bag. He stuck it into my left wrist and almost immediately as the thick liquid was pushed into my veins I came back to my old self. I blinked and looked at Dr. Integra who looked at me hopefully.

"I hope you know, you are going to pay for doing this to me." I said and he smirked.

"I'll pay you right now." He said and brought his lips to mine. I turned my head away blushing.

"Sam" I said simply and he knew what I meant. He knew if she found out about what had happened there would be no end to her lecturing.

He stood up and walked over to the door. He opened it a crack and spoke to Sam. "She's doing fine it'll just be a few more minutes before I'm done. How are you doing?" He asked.

"I'm okay, I just hope Stephanie…I don't know what'd I do if she died while with me. I wouldn't know how to tell Al." She said hugging her pillow as she sat on her bed.

"She's going to be fine. I'll need you to bring her to me after class tomorrow okay?" He asked.

"Alright"

He closed the door and again locked it. He knelt down to me.

"Hmph, that's like cheating!" I joked.

"Do you really want to risk her finding out the truth of why you're in this state? I could gladly tell her if you wish. Including the kiss." He said with a smirk and I got frustrated with him but I just gritted my teeth together to keep myself from smacking him. "But I wouldn't ruin your friendship, plus I pretty fond of what we're doing right now." He said pressing his lips to mine before I could yell at him. I blushed madly and he could feel it. He smirked and I blushed even more.

'Damn him for doing this to me! But…He's just…so…NO NO NO!! forget it! No way could I want to kiss him again! But…Gah! I can't win! Even if I think up a stupid excuse I know I can't beat around the bush when it comes to him. He reads me like a book and he understands my pain. His kiss is just so gentle and passionate, I can't help but want it more and more. It's killing me!' I thought blushing. He disconnected from me and just looked at me. He tilted his head and raise his eyebrows as if saying 'well?'.

As much as I wanted to say 'I forgive you' I found myself speechless. I couldn't talk at all.

"I better see you at my door after class." He said teasing me. He kissed my forehead and left. I stood up and splashed water to my face trying to make the blush go away before Sam could notice.

"Are you going to be okay?" Sam asked with tears in her eyes.

I turned around and nodded with a smirk.

"Comere" I said holding out my arms. She hugged me so tightly that it almost hurt. "Hey, I can break ya know." I said laughing at myself nervously hoping she wasn't listening to Dr. Integra and I.

"Sorry. I was just so scared." She said as tears fell from her eyes.

"Hey, Don't worry about me, okay? I can take care of myself and plus if anything did happen to me you would know. I trust you with my life Sam, you know that better than anyone else." I told her whipping tears from her face.

'Yeah, I can trust her with my life but when it comes to vampires and blood and stuff I can't help myself but tell her lies. I hate it!' I yelled in my head.

"Go to sleep you need it." She said to me.

I nodded. "Ditto." I said smiling.

I just laid in my bed just thinking. I thought about Jake and Dr. Integra, about what had happened in his room when I had called him a 'peverted doctor'.

'"Now, now, Stephanie…there's no need to name-call…" Dr. Integra said, shaking his head hopelessly. "You attacked me, I defended myself. And now I've got you…quite defenseless."

"I'm not defenseless." I growled, and Dr. Integra's eyebrows rose. "You think I couldn't hurt you?"

"Oh, I quite expect you can...I would too, if I were in your position." His grip was secure when I tested it. "Jake would laugh at me for losing, if that happened." He said with a sigh. "All I hear from him is 'Stephanie' this and 'Stephanie' that... I am beginning to wonder what all the hype is about..."

"Don't go projecting your disgusting feelings on me." I hissed some; I didn't really view the medic as actually having feelings.

"Maybe I am doing that, a little." The taller one admitted, raising an eyebrow. "But then, I think I've forgotten what 'feelings' are like. It's not like I grew up with friends beside me. I kept them at a distance from the beginning. You know what it's like to have them, so, you would be more likely to do something like that." Dr. Integra's careful fingers began to push up the bandage on my wrist.

"Cut it out! What are you…"

"More likely to do something… because of loss…because of guilt…" He touched the raw skin underneath, pressing until his fingertips got wet. I gasped in pain, my breath picking up.

"How did you know…?"

"That you cut? The stains. The bandages. I heal your wounds, so you would have no reason to use them… and besides, there are scars here." Dr. Integra said, tracing the faint remnants with his merciless fingers.



"Stop…it." I growled out, but to Dr. Integra it sounded more like a whimper. I knew that's what it sounded like to him because he smirked "Leave me alone, what would you care?"

"Are you that lonely?" He asked, and I huffed.

"There you go again, projecting your feelings."

"Am I?" Dr. Integra released the wrist he'd been abusing, reaching up to touch my cheek. The blood was wet, and cooled quickly in the damp air. "I am not your enemy, Stephanie… We're comrades. For now, at least…" He said, his tone of voice so soft but sharp that I almost didn't recognize it. Then I glared at him. I had heard it before. When he was with me the first time when I thought it was a dream.

"I don't trust you. Everything you say is a lie."

"So you don't believe that I admire you?"

"What, for my sorrow?"

"It's an emotion you have. One so strong and vital that they haven't been able to rid you of it. I have nothing like that."'

I felt bad for him a little. He said that he never had that type of emotion before, sorrow. I wondered about why he said he'd admired me. Was it really for my emotions or was it because I was mortal? Was it because he thought that just because he'd lived for centuries that he could no longer love? I thought about what he'd said when I told him that I wasn't defenseless.

'"I'm not defenseless." I growled, and Dr. Integra's eyebrows rose. "You think I couldn't hurt you?"

"Oh, I quite expect you can...I would too, if I were in your position." His grip was secure when I tested it. "Jake would laugh at me for losing, if that happened." He said with a sigh. "All I hear from him is 'Stephanie' this and 'Stephanie' that... I am beginning to wonder what all the hype is about..."

He said Jake would laugh at him for loosing to me.

I couldn't take it anymore. I had to move around I had to get him off my mind. I stood up and walked out leaving a note on my bed just incase Sam was to wake up, I didn't want her freaking out on me again. She had been through enough today and is probably exhausted.

I walked the halls in my black nightgown that had wings on the back where my shoulderblades were. I sighed.

'Stupid idiot Dr. Integra... going around thinking he's all that... what if he is all that, though? Why am I pondering over him yet again!'

Ages later, I was glaring at nothing. I didn't know where I was. I knew I was in the school but I had entered a whole other side to the school that I had never even been in.

I walked around a bit more, and then my ears caught onto the sound of groaning women.

'I didn't know we had an orgy room...' I shook my head, and then remembered where I was – the infirmary, I heard some girls saying they thought the infirmary was haunted. I smirked. Dr. Integra would be here, and I thought about something to say to him. I saw a room as I walked the halls and I crept in, and there I found Dr. Integra. I leant on his head "What are you doing?"

"Dispensing painkillers." His voice was flat. His attitude he had before had disappeared. "Stephanie, let me teach you something. Don't trust anything that bleeds for four days and doesn't die." I knew he meant PMS.

"I never did." I said trying not to laugh. Dr. Integra had to care for the girls and that included dealing with the monthly curse women had to go through.

He sighed. "We're out of painkillers, do you think they'll notice if I give them water retention pills? Or sweeteners?"

"Yes they will. Us women know, because they are the ones that are constantly getting stressed and headaches. They would know the foul taste of painkillers." I said matter-of-factly.

"Maybe I should just go into the broom closet and sleep, I would be doing a favor for myself but to others as well." He said

"I wouldn't suggest the broom closet. There's three lesbians having a 'good time' in there." I gave an involuntary shudder as I heard moaning. "Unless you're straight, it's not the best thing to encounter." I said smirking knowing he would have something to say about that.

"Did you just question my sexuality?" He hissed. "Three, huh? I guess that counts as today's "interesting thing". Damn, I wanted a fire or something." He said sarcastically as he dug into a drawer, and pulled out a spray bottle of water. He took to his feet, and marched smartly to the closet. He opened it, shut his eyes, and threw water at them. He shut the door again. "Two minutes to get your clothes on and get out of there, ladies."

I watched on in abject terror. "... How many times has that happened before?" I had a feeling it was frequent.

"Only about three times a week." He sighed again. "It's hardly a big deal, I'm the doctor. I've seen every girl naked already." He shook his head.

I rose an eyebrow. "If you've seen me naked, you must have molested me in my sleep." I was quite tempted to add 'I've had quite a few realistic dreams' but I wasn't really sure what He would make of that.

"Just a little egotistical, Stephanie?" He shook his head. "I AM a professional, don't get any weird ideas." He rotated his neck a little "I'm not as bad as you think, you know."

"Meaning you aren't a child molester? I know that. You molest people of your own age or older, then." I smirked.



"Get your terms right, Stephanie. That doesn't count as molestation." He stretched and met my odd glance. "What? I have a degree in law as well."

I glared at him, my gaze flickering to the closet, from where the women were running out of. I rolled my eyes.

I leaned up against the door hoping no one would open the door and have me jump up.

But it did happen. The door flung open, and I had to jump out of the way to avoid being squished, jumping straight into Dr. Integra's lap. The girl who had opened the door looked horrified, and ran out of the room. I flushed bright red, either with anger or with embarrassment.

Dr. Integra chuckled lowly, and wrapped arms around my waist. "Well, isn't this nice?" ... A loud, hoarse cry echoed through the wall, followed by some curse words. "Nice, but it's a shame about the setting," he mused, tilting his head back to rest against the wall. I knew He was rather surprised at how light I was, but he sure as hell wasn't going to mention it because if he did he'd get smacked.

I froze. "Get. Your. Hands. Off Me!" I snarled, not bothering to struggle. I didn't want to see what evil he might unleash if I decided to squirm. I looked over to Dr. Integra's bared neck, and considered biting it. This time I could be the parasite. While I though it over it became a horrid idea so I avoided it.

Dr. Integra laughed again, and simply released me from his grip. The result being, of course, me tumbling onto the floor.

I made a small 'of' noise as I fell onto my stomach. I sat up, and glared at him with angry eyes. "Bastard." I muttered, standing up and leaning on the wall - away from the door, of course. To prevent any more embarrassing incidents.

He grinned. "You started it, Stephanie." He tried to block out the awful noise echoing from the other room. "Pfft, now I have nothing to laugh at."

"Since when did we have an orgy room, anyway" I frowned. "Or is it just women in pain?" I sighed, and sat cross-legged on the floor. "I need sleep."

"Oh, it might be both for all I know. I give them drugs and tell them to go nap in there." He waved vaguely at the door, clearly meaning the room beyond it. "Never been in there myself. Don't really want to." He ruffled my hair in an annoying fashion. "You were asleep about half an hour ago, weren't you?"

I whacked his hand away, and flattened my hair down. "Yes, but in total I've had three hours worth of sleep thanks to you!" I said glaring at him.

He sighed. "Go to bed." He leant against the wall, and began tapping on the wood beneath his fingers again. He winced as loud, violent swearing shot through the wall. "Damned Erica."

His eyes widened slightly catching mine. "Oh well. Want me to, um," he bit back a laugh, "Walk you back to your room?" He knew that I would probably think something horrid of him if we were in the darkness together. I mean, you never know what could happen in the dark.

I stood up, and turned my back on him, smartly walking out of the room. The door closed, there was a squeal, a thud, and I ran back into the room, slamming the door and holding it closed. I felt quite strained, and terrorized. "I never thought I'd accept help from you."

"You're that scared of the darkness?" He actually laughed this time, but opened the door. The screams only got louder. Dr. Integra stepped neatly over the groaning ball of Erica, and turned a corner. "Follow me..." He said this wearily. "You know, in all the time you've been here you could have made an effort to learn your way around instead of getting yourself in trouble, and I don't mean just by kissing me." He said looking at me and smirking. I could feel his gaze on me and I blushed.

I glared at him, but tried to stick close to him, frowning. "I'm not scared of it. And this place is just a bleak maze - I just have never been to this part of the school." I muttered the last bit, looking at the ground.

He shuddered slightly, more than likely at my clammy fingers, but led the way through the dark halls anyway. "Careful, the floors pretty uneven around here." I shut my eyes, the outer darkness was somewhat distracting. And just to prove I could actually walk across this place blindfolded.

I sighed solemnly, and then managed to catch a glimpse of Dr. Integra's outline in the darkness. I felt my stomach turn somersaults, and I bit my lip to stop myself from moaning. Instead, I put a hand to my stomach, and took deep, calming breaths.

He picked up on the sound of gasps for air. "Stephanie? Are you feeling okay? Is your stitches bothering you?" He asked this quite mildly. I knew that although he asked there wasn't really much he could do. We were about a third into the tunnel that would take us to the correct hall of dorms, and then up the stairs... Anyway, it would be too awkward to attempt any first aid in the dark.

I sighed at the stupid question. "I'm ...fine." I was thinking of Dr. Integra again. Now that I look back I was so glad that he couldn't see my crimson face.

I knew he felt it though even in the compacted, damp air. "You're lying. Are you sure you're not afraid of the dark?" He teased lightly, and quickened his pace a little.

"I'm sure." I gritted out. I knew then that for some reason I was strangely nervous around him.

He sighed. There was just no speaking to some people. He took my hand tighter, subtly testing my fairly erratic pulse. "Okay." He walked faster still.



"Will you stop trying to check what is wrong with me? I'm fine." I hissed annoyed. And then all of a sudden I tripped dragging Dr. Integra down with me.

He gasped a little. "Shit….Umn" He must have felt a frantic heartbeat against his elbow because he spoke. "You're panicking." He said this simply, so I couldn't question it. He moved one hand to feel my face. "And you're hot. What's wrong?" There was no jollity in his voice.

"You're … laying on me." I groaned, and slithered forwards from beneath him. I sat up miserably.

Dr. Integra sighed. "Let's keep going..." He stuck a hand out, at arms length, to take mine.

Blindly, I edged towards him, I put a hand out . I grabbed his hand feeling his cool skin against my warm hand.

Dr. Integra helped me up accidentally pulling me to hard stumbling upon his chest. I blushed and he felt my heart beat speed up as he looked down at me. Then I felt his hand on my forehead feeling the hot sensation. I blushed even more than what I had been already. "It gets lighter this way." He would make things even more awkward, by acting as calmly as possible. And biting back his laughter. "I'll think of something to talk about, somehow..."

I sighed, backing away from him. Somehow, it getting lighter would be a bad thing; I was getting redder by the second, and having Dr. Integra right in front of me wasn't making it much better. "Lead the way." I muttered.

"Enthusiastic as ever..." He turned a corner. "Try not to walk into the wall, turn left sometime soon." He hummed idly. "It's hard to keep talking, you know that?"

"Yes." I managed to dodge the wall as I turned, trying to keep up with him. I could, vaguely, see the black turn to gray.

"Getting lighter now..." He sighed. There was no way I could get lost. From here on it was straight to the stairs, which were dimly lit.

I sighed, trying to think of things that would help calm me down so Dr. Integra wouldn't see me blushing... nothing…I found myself hopeless.

'Am I admitting to myself that I like him?' I felt myself glow crimson, I just tried to blank out everything and failed, horribly.

He sighed. The wonders of conversation. He glanced back, smirking probably happy to be able to see a faint outline of me. I was standing odd and he turned to me. He ran a hand through my hair, which made me blush even more but I tried to hide it by putting my head down. I needed sleep, soon.

I blinked, and then yawned. Between loss of blood and pure exhaustion I was ready to faint. We finally came to the stairs, and I started climbing them, my eyes becoming heavier... heavier... heavier... 'thud'. I tripped over the last step, or rather, it looked like it. I just couldn't be asked to take another step, so I decided to sleep. Cleverly.

I knew he heard a thud because he turned around sighed. He walked over to me and cradled me in his arms bridal style. Well, that ended the awkward silence at least. I was barely awake and my body became numb as he climbed the rest of the staircase. As he came to the dormitory hallway he growled, took his right hand and whipped his forehead. All of my body was boiling and he was probably feeling it as well. He turned the corner, and counted three doors down. Laying me down into bed was easy, and so was removing the big black bow-thing that was wrapped around my neck. After taking off the first layer of clothing leaving me only with a small tank top and white 'Under Armor' shorts I'm guessing he decided I would be very pissed to wake up undressed, which he was correct about that. He pulled the blanket up to my waist and left. I felt hot still, that is until I felt something damp and cold on my forehead that lowered my temperature drastically.

I woke up in the middle of the night and felt that damp something on my forehead. I removed it, and found it to be a wet cloth. I sighed, and looked at the bed stand on the side of the bed. My bow was folded in a pile along with my other clothes.

Dr. Integra re-emerged at the door, thermometer in hand and a pained expression. "Oh, you're awake." He sauntered closer allowing me to see a hand print on the left side of his face. "What the hell happened back there? Exhaustion?"

"Yeah, pretty much. What happened to your face?" I smirked already knowing, but sitting back on the bed lazily wanting him to tell me. I looked at the thermometer, and then remembered blushing and being so close to Dr. Integra. I tried not to think of it, but I felt heat rising into my face slowly but surely.

"Oh." He laughed nervously. "Feminine wrath happened to my face. I told her quite honestly we were out of Tampax, and I suffered dearly." He extended the thermometer. "I'm not gonna even try and aim for your mouth... You still look a bit hot to me." He sat on the edge of the bed, balancing awkwardly.

I sighed, and willed the blush down. "I'm fine. I was fine before and I'm fine now." I leant against the wall, and tucked my hands behind my head. I glanced over at Dr. Integra and my mind wandered to him doing bad things to me which were completely possible. My mind froze when I noticed that my head was bleeding. I tried to stem the flow with my hand, not wanting Dr. Integra to see.

"You were boiling! And then you passed out!" He shook his head. "You're not fine." He shot my bleeding temple an odd look. "Don't make me drag you off for a medical."

"I'm fine!" I hissed. I whipped the rest of the blood with my hand and glared at Dr. Integra. "You're just going to drag me off to a medical anyway. Cause you are scared shitless that Mrs. Martin's gong to hurt you."

He rolled his eyes. "You don't scare me, girl." He pushed me back down idly, palm whacking off my forehead. "I get this shit all day, for doing my job. I am actually paid to worry about you, you know that?" He sighed. "You get either my supervision or you move into Collin's chamber. And I'm sure you'd love that." Light flashed off his eyes, making 

him look a bit more sinister. He whipped his mouth with one hand whipping blood off his mouth, the other hand still holding me down.

I growled, my eyes narrowing to slits. I really did have no choice - moving in with Collin was probably the worst death sentence ever! Death by molestation and or sex. I gritted my teeth, and looked away from him frowning.

He sighed, and took his hand back. He stared quite solemnly at the far wall, but the flare of artificial light glinting off the yellow eyes made it impossible to tell. "And you have nothing to say to me…again."

I sat up, and brushed my hair out of my face. I pulled my knees to my chest, and glared at them, soft tufts of hair falling into my eyes.

Dr. Integra crossed his arms. "Are you going to talk, or sulk? If you don't answer I'm going to leave." He sighed. "I dislike you when you're like this. Bear in mind, Stephanie, you're only sixteen. You're nothing special. Just another megalomaniac." He turned away. "Power corrupts, you should bear that in mind. I know you want revenge on the people who killed you're family but what will that accomplish?"

"I know that power corrupts. If power didn't corrupt people, I wouldn't even be here. I'd be with my parents in the kind town where I grew up... I'd be dead already" I curled my nails into fists, and I shut my eyes tightly.

"So you plan to continue the cycle? What do you plan to do?" He shook his head. "Everyone just assumes you can fight fire with fire. No, then everyone suffers." He hung his legs over the edge of the bed, hunched slightly. "I thought you might understand that, you being a "genius" and all." He smirked teasing me probably trying to cheer me up but it didn't work.

"Even genius' screw up sometimes." I muttered, glancing over at Dr. Integra. "Haven't you ever screwed up in your life?"

"Careful people don't make mistakes that matter." He ignored my question totally. "So what exactly was your big error? Coming here?"

"No, it was for living, for not being able to protect the ones I loved the most, for not being able to protect Sam." I rose my head. "I'm not as strong as people think I am. I can't protect anyone I love. Why am I still here?" I stood up, almost robotically, and grabbed my clothes. I put them on and glanced at Dr. Integra. He probably thought I was going to do something horrible. I ran out of the room and out the door of the infirmary. It was still dark out but I needed to leave. As I ran I could hear footsteps behind me.

"And what exactly is this accomplishing!" He yelled, closing in a bit more.

I ignored him, and increased my speed. I stumbled, tripped, and yelped. I stood up and started running again. I had lost my distance and could now see him behind me.

He spoke loud enough for me to hear his slight snigger. He was getting a tad pissed off. "You're nothing new, you know that? You're just turning into a rather crappy clone of your father."

I growled at these words; but I couldn't stop running. My father was a pathetic man. I hated my blood; I had his blood in me. How could it have taken so long for me to realize that sound wasn't where I belonged? I had no other choice but to run.

Dr. Integra pounced but missed my body. He ran like hell over to the tree in the court yard. He chuckled, and tugged on what he hoped was my uninjured wrist as he tackled me to the ground . I fell, face-first on the ground twisting my ankle. Despite the churning feelings of glee I bet he had, was still a doctor. But he again cradled me in his arms. "Done rebelling for today then?"

I punched him in the stomach, unfortunately with my bad hand.

"Not just yet!" I said as he knelt down, I jumped away and ran like hell, the adrenaline pulsing away the pain.

Dr. Integra charged, this time frustrated. There was no way a limping teenager could run well especially one like me. He caught up with me easily, and tackled me to the ground yet again.

With sharp nails he dug a huge gash in my back. "I'm serious." He dragged me back a few feet, pulling the bad wrist. "Now grow up."

I yelled, curling up defensively. I was shaking and panting, and my eyes were heavy from blood loss. Finally, I went limp, blood trickling down my arm. He had reopened the cut and it was bleeding badly.

He sighed, and picked me up by the middle, putting my limp arms on my legs. "Better." He sighed probably feeling bad that he had injured the only mortal that knew his secret that he hadn't killed yet. He walked back through the gates, considering whistling to wake and annoy me further. He carried me back into the dorms, lay me down, and fixed the gash and my ankle easily but it took a while for him to fix my wrist. He looked at my, face contorted with pain my eyes still open slightly. He sighed, smoothing the sheets up to my shoulders. He wiped blood from my face lightly. He sighed, and handcuffed me to the bed, got up and walked away. I was still awake but barely, I didn't have enough energy to get up or even try to resist.

I woke up, expecting to feel pain, yet I didn't. I saw gray walls, and as I tried to sit up, I found that I couldn't. I lay back down, at then at the bed stand. I swore loudly. "DR. INTEGRA!, I'M GOING TO FUCKING KILL YOU!"

Dr. Integra re-emerged, smirking. He sat on the side of the bed. "No, you aren't. We've been through this before." He sighed, looking at my angered face. "I didn't want you trying that again is all. At least I healed you, I was quite tempted to leave you bleeding in a heap." He unfastened the cuffs one-handed, and shook his head. "Try anything again and I'm calling up Collin, you hear?"



"Pfft. Collin doesn't scare me." I massaged my wrists, and glared at Dr. Integra. I've heard of the techniques Dr. Integra was capable of from Sam; being able slicing through muscle without harming the skin. To be quite honest, I didn't want that happening to me.

"Aww, sore wrists? Next time I'll use the fluffy ones, is that better?" Dr. Integra laughed slightly more than likely at my horrified face. He cracked his knuckles daintily, sighing. "Are you in any pain still? I was kinda lazy with your ankle."

"I wish I was." I muttered. "Next time, let me be. Or I'll tell everyone your secret." I snarled.

"Now, where's the fun in that?" He gripped me by the chin roughly, and lowered his voice. "Don't you threaten me. I could paralyze you and make it look like an accident."

"I don't care. Being paralyzed would just be so much better. Go run to 'Mrs. Martin'." I hissed threateningly.

He hissed. "I don't know how you would get that across and I don't care, but I hear anything and you're going down with Collin. You still don't scare me. You're too fucking cute." His grip on my chin left to cup around my throat.

I lifted up my own hand to wrap around Dr. Integra's neck knowing that I wouldn't be able to do anything. "Would I be even cuter if I decided to rip out your windpipe?"

He laughed, tightening his grip. Quite effectively choking me. "Possibly." He leant back idly, and tapped at the wrist straining towards his throat. "You'd be even cuter if you behaved."

I made a small, strangled choking yell noise, and my hand went limp. The other hand went to the hand throttling me, tugging back.

Dr. Integra repeated the action on my other side, and removed his own hand. "Y'see, this is not the way to get me to like you."

I sighed again, breathing heavily with a beat red face. "Would it count as bad behavior to do this?" I said pressing my body to his hugging him close. My hands were on his chest and I felt his hands wrap around my lower back making me blush even more.

I let go and he smirked, "Hmn, no." he said as his eyes narrowed. Then he got up and took something out of the bedside table drawer. He put some ointment on my wrists and turned them over. "You'd better take care of these, oh and you don't need to do that again, because…" He leaned down so his lips were nearly on my ear. "I already like you." He said softly turning around and leaving me with a crimson face.