Chapter Ten.

Pip began breathing a bit easier when he was within fifty feet of the barracks he slept in. Two of his men were standing at either side of the door, carrying weapons. Both had their chins resting on their chests, making Pip frown. "Asleep on the job are we?" he muttered, walking closer.

Too late he realized that one, Wild Geese didn't sleep on guard duty, and two, they didn't do it in pairs. He felt, rather than heard, the form of Alucard materialize behind him. Swallowing hard, Pip stopped moving. "That you, Big Red?" he asked, his suicidal bravado kicking in.

"Turn around and find out," Alucard said. The calm, mocking tone his voice usually carried was gone, replaced by a flat seriousness.

Slowly, Pip turned. Sure enough, Alucard had materialized out of the darkness to stand before Pip, much as he had earlier that evening. Pip was unarmed, but even if he was, he doubted he'd be able to do anything to the vampire. "So it is you. Out for another midnight stroll, or did you just decide my men needed a nap?"

Alucard's red, inhuman eyes narrowed into slits and bored through Pip. "Don't toy with me human. Few things escape my notice when the sun is down."

Pip crossed his arms and tilted his head. "If you've got a problem, I suggest you just come right out and say it."

Alucard grinned, showing off a row of pointed teeth. "You don't know what you're getting into, human. This world was not meant for the likes of you. It's only a matter of time before your ripped apart."

Pip snorted. "Oh really? So this is all for my own personal safety then now is it? My, you're a real sweetheart, looking out for me like this. Well if it's alright with you, I think I'll take my chances."

Pip was about to turn and leave when Alucard spoke. "I think you misunderstand me, Captain Bernadette. Whether you get mauled to death by freaks is no concern of mine. It's that girl you should mind yourself around. She isn't something to be toyed with."

Pip glared at Alucard, his fear dissipating, becoming anger. "Who's toying with her? You were eavesdropping, you know what she thinks of you. I think the only one doing the toying here, is yourself."

Alucard's toothy grin became more of a snarl. "I'm getting tired of you. Perhaps it's time you saw a real monster in action."

Pip's body tensed, his eyes shot to Alucard's hands to see if he would go for a gun. Pip cursed his stupidity for going unarmed, and wondered if he would be able to one of the sleeping guards and grab a rifle before Alucard plugged him full of holes.

Pip threw out that idea. He'd never make it by the time he was shot, and if he was going to get shot by Alucard it was going to be in the face, not running away. "And perhaps it's time you explained to me just one thing," Pip said, hoping these wouldn't be his last words.

"Oh, and what's that?" Alucard said, his old tone coming back. Pip wasn't sure if that was a sign he would live through this or not.

"It's obvious you're not keen on me going with Integra. My question is…why? Are you her daddy, that hates the boy she brought home or are you her big brother? Maybe you're just a concerned friend, or maybe, you're just a jealous bloke who's miffed he can't get the girl. Which is it?"

Alucard said nothing for a moment. His inhuman eyes met Pip's and he opened his mouth, this time showing a row of normal teeth with only two fangs to make them monstrous looking. "She is Integra Hellsing, my sworn master. I'm sworn to do her bidding and protect her from her enemies," he said flatly.

Pip wasn't sure that was true at all, but decided to run with it. "Fair enough. Well then see here mate, I'm not an enemy. She's a bit more than just another piece of tail to me; you can reads minds a bit, I suspect, so you can tell that's true easy enough. Also, I'm pretty sure she'd be annoyed with you if you was to kill, cripple, or otherwise harass me."

Alucard stepped forward, coming closer to Pip. He stopped a foot in front of the man, and stared down at him. "I can tell that you think you're not an enemy of Sir Integra, but that doesn't necessarily mean that you're any good for her. And second, she didn't expressly forbid me to kill, maim, or cripple you, so your safety around me is somewhat dubious."

Pip felt the fear creeping back into his stomach. The vampire had a point. Still, he wasn't going to back down. "I think you should take this up with your master and see what she thinks. I don't think it's up to you at all really."

Another evil grin spread across Alucard's face. "Fine. Perhaps I will speak with her. Until then, I suppose you're free to carry out your business with her. Did you know that I tore the heads off the last two men who tried to harm her? She shot the other one."

"Uh, she might have mentioned it," Pip said.

"I'd hate to have to do that again so, just so you know, if you hurt her in any way…" His left hand gripped Pip's shoulder and pulled him in closer as he drove his right fist into Pip's stomach. Pip felt the air whoosh out of him all at once, and he sunk to his knees. "I might have an accident involving you next time we're out in the field," Alucard said, walking past Pip as he lay on the ground.

Pip tried to breath but couldn't as he heard Alucard's footsteps plod away and disappear. The next thing Pip knew, the two sleeping guards were standing over him. "Are you alright Sir? What happened?"

Pip finally managed to gulp down some air and stood up. He had never been punched in the stomach so hard in his life and knew he would have a fist-sized bruise there in the morning. "I fell down," Pip said. "Damned dew on the grass."

The two guards exchanged dubious glances and then looked back at Pip. "Uh, dew, yeah," one said. "It can get slippery."

Pip stood up straight, causing him no small amount of pain. "Back you your posts."

They saluted and did as he ordered. He managed to walk into the barracks and find his bunk without talking to anyone and maintaining his dignity. When he was in his skivvies and in bed, he laid awake looking at the ceiling. Stupid vampire, he thought. Master my arse, he's got the hots for her or my name is Susan. A bit selfish of him really. He's got that shapely police girl if he needs company…why can't my life ever be easy?

To be continued…