Chapter 9

Stakeout

Jack stood with his binoculars watching the shack a few hundred feet down the road. Looked like every other New Mexico shit-hole, he lived for this job but this was the part that he could do without. If he had his way he'd burst in guns blazing, Goon toasting as he went along searching for Masters.

Liz leaned against the weapons truck and bathed in the hot sun moaning blissfully at the warm rays penetrating her skin. The kiss last night was a mistake, not only did it make her want more of Jack it threw her off. Not enough where it was obvious but she could feel that she might slip up.

She was creeping back into that mind-set of being lovers with the Slayer leader. That's dangerous, no question it was dangerous. One wrong move and her father would know she had been with his friend intimately and the shit would hit the fan.

Cringing Liz rested her forehead against the back doors of the truck. The cramps were getting worse; there were a lot of Goons and maybe one or two Masters hiding out in there.

"You're not looking so good darlin'." The deep rumble of Jack's voice cut through the pain.

"Boy you sure know how to flatter a girl don't you?" She turned away from the truck to face him. He grabbed his favorite weapon when hunting and stared at her.

"Saying it like it is." But he didn't say anymore than that, all he did was stare. Jack knew if he ordered her to stay out with the trucks that she'd become violent.

Liz nodded pushing away from the steady warmth of the steel truck, stepped closer to the open back and loaded up with weapons that would take out Goons left and right. "You mention anything about staying put I swear I'll shove the barrel of my gun so far down your throat you'll need surgery to remove it from your ass."

"Wasn't going to say anything about that. Not that I don't think it's the best idea."

"You're pushin' it Crow." She hated arguing with Jack-sometimes, unfortunately he had some issues with women taking charge of themselves that couldn't even be beaten out of him.

Off on the other side of the truck Seth played with his ear piece connecting him to Jeff listening in at the Crashdown. He'd wanted to hear everything, Seth figured it was one of two reasons, the first he'd been out of the hunt for so long that he needed that little bit of action even if he wasn't in the thick of it. The second being he wanted to really know how Liz was doing in Jack's unit.

"Check 1, check 2. Copy?" He spoke into his microphone.

"Loud and clear." Jeff reported back. It'd been too long since he heard a Goon fight, too long since he'd been the one pulling the punches, shooting Goons full of holes, and shoving stakes through their hearts. He missed the good old days.

"You don't know when I'm pushing kid." Jack's voice reached Seth's ears. "This is not pushing."

"Hmm, guess the two are at it again. Don't worry Jeff they normally fight like this before a Goon battle." Seth reassured the father listening on the other end.

Back behind the truck, unaware of the two eavesdroppers on the other side Liz shot back. "Oh really, I wouldn't know when you're pushing? What do you call the last few months? Gentle nudging? Please you push all the time and think you're not. You think you're spontaneous and unpredictable but you are as predictable as they come."

"I seem to recall quite a few unpredictable moments between us." He hissed.

"Oh you're bringing that up? Yea, it would have been unpredictable if your dick hadn't given your plan away." Those few weeks-and a few times after that-sleeping with Jack while wonderful and unbelievable wasn't a surprise. His happy place stood up in his lap acting as a warning to her that he'd be coming for her in minutes and to get ready.

"Never heard you complainin'. As a matter of fact heard you call to God a few hundred times, gave my ego a huge boost."

"As if your ego needed more stroking." Slowly the arguing between them lessened. Even the bickering back and forth wasn't new. They did it before every battle, it had become a tradition, and got them fired up for the physical fight ahead.

Liz coughed clearing her throat. "Why did you kiss me last night? The last time we slept together we both made it clear that we wouldn't do anything sexual with each other anymore. That kiss was gearing me up for the sexual."

"Seemed like the thing to do. Plus it's unlikely we'd do it again. Last kiss type thing, closing the door." He admitted.

"That door was blown wide open as opposed to closed tight." She told him. "I'm not going to fall into that are we or aren't we hole again. Did that-a couple of times before, not even with you." Liz shrugged. Holstering her handgun she lifted her hair up into a ponytail. "I'll tell you this though we're hot in bed together, hot outta bed, but we'd never work and I know that."

"Good, it's better that you know." He nodded, settled the crossbow over his shoulder and left the truck to watch the shack again.

Seth cringed, that wasn't the best conversation to have Liz's father hear. "Mr. Parker?" No way would he call him Jeff, he remembered his manners.

"Seth, tell me I didn't hear what I just heard." His voice came out calmly but anger laced.

"Okay you didn't."

"Now you're lying to me. Jack fucked Liz." There not a question there for Seth to answer, he knew full well what occurred between the older man and Liz. "My best friend screwed my daughter." Didn't sound any better and still there was no question there.

"Mr. Parker. May I suggest you look at it this way-at least you know Jack took care of her-being your daughter after all."

"Seth…that did not help."

"Yes sir." Great he probably made the situation worse for them. After Jeff got finished with him Jack and Liz were going to kill him. This was turning out to be such a great day.

"Don't tell Jack that I know. Understand?"

"Yes sir. No telling Jack." Oh the boss would be pissed but Jeff scared him more.

10 minutes later

On the other side of the small house Nick and Sean stood guard, watching the house for any movement. They'd been there for five minutes formulating a plan to go around the joint checking things out before they went in much later.

It'd been decided, they'd do a quick sweep around the place, leave till a little before dusk, come back to the house-follow the Forsaken if need be, which the need would likely arise. Forsaken weren't known for staying in one area for too long. After that when it neared dawn they'd lead them to a cemetery near by and wait for sunrise. Laid out like that it sounded easy but it would be anything but.

Nick tipped his head toward the house and off the duo went. Dust kicked up as they jogged quietly, only the fall of their heavy boots could be heard but those thumps were muddled with caution.

2 minutes later

"Alright everyone ready?" His team nodded. "Let's go." Jack strode forward, Liz and Father Adam behind him, with the other members of the team following them, minus Lance, who was out by the truck ready to pull a Goon or better yet a Master out in the bright sun. Quiet and quick the team moved. They reached the door with no problem but Liz stopped Jack once they were on the porch.

She put a finger to her lips signaling silence. A creak, a tiny insignificant creak reached her ear. It came from the other side of the house. Couldn't be a Goon, not even a Master, it was broad daylight out. Liz took her weapon out cradling the familiar cool metal in her hands. Her finger rested beside the trigger prepared to shoot whatever or whoever was there.

Alone she split off from the protective group keeping close to the house. Not the best move considering what squatted in there but she wasn't too worried. All the Goons should be sleeping like all evil bloodsuckers.

Another creak from the side of the house confirmed the presence. Reaching the edge of the house she stepped out gun pointed straight ahead. "Michael? What the hell are you doing here?" When did he change his hair back to the mullet style? Wasn't he growing it out this year? That's the way it looked when she saw him in the diner.

"Who the hell's Michael?" The guy questioned rudely pointing his own firearm at her.

"If you're not Michael than why don't you tell me who you are?" If she was going to shoot him the least he could do was tell her his name.

Maybe it was a shapeshifter, were they still in Roswell? She suppose it was possible but if he was a shapeshifter did the other's know about it?"

"Not that it's any of your business but the names Nick. Who are you and why are you here?"

"Liz and real-estate shopping."

"Do you always real-estate shop with a gun at the ready?" He sarcastically spat.

"Yes, real-estate agents can get quite pushy. It's here to make sure they keep in line." She shot back. This asshole gave her irritation meter a work out. "So what's a big strapping boy like you doing out here all alone?"

Another guy came out from the back of the house holding a gun on her. "He's not alone. Now why don't you put your gun down and we can have a nice calm conversation." The new guy reasoned.

"See I would but I'm not alone either." She could feel the guys come up from behind her weapons raised and ready for action. "I seem to out-number you. I'll tell you what, you two gentlemen put your guns down and me and mine won't riddle you with holes."

"Well damn." Nick breathed in deep. Not good.

TBC