Hiya guys. Enjoy.


"Ryan?"

"Hey, Sandy," Ryan tried to peer past his guardian. "Kirsten's not with you, is she?"

"No. She doesn't stay up this late. Smoking again?"

"Sorry."

"Something bothering you? Something that has you out on the far side of the pool house, smoking, at an ungodly hour of the night for anyone but a vampire?"

"Promise not to get mad?"

"I'm disappointed about the smoking, not mad."

"Not that." Ryan sighed and looked back out at the view. "They're driving me crazy."

"Who?"

"Them." He waved his hand at the main house. "Kirsten, Seth, Taylor; even Summer. They're .......they're being nice."

"This is a problem."

"They're being too nice. Yesterday I ....I deliberately dropped Captain Oats out the window."

"I don't remember hearing Seth yell."

"That's because he didn't. He just pointed out that the 'Captain' was for infantry, not air force."

Sandy hid a smile, "They care about you."

"I know that and I love them all, in completely different ways of course."

"Of course," Sandy nodded.

"But I'm not an invalid."

"Give them a break. They had a really good scare. Didn't you kind of go overboard when Taylor got back from Slayer Camp?"

"That's different."

"She could've died or never come back."

Ryan sighed. He really hated it when Sandy was right. "Still."

"Well, in the interests of having you smoke-free sometime soon, I would suggest dropping the subtlety and just outright calling them on it and asking them to stop."

"I tried that first."

"Oh."

"Kirsten pretended not to understand and Taylor .......her lip stuck out and her eyes got all big......"

"Ah."

"Summer just ranted about how they weren't 'repressed social rejects' like the gangs back in Chino and their 'perfectly normal expression of their emotions' shouldn't 'threaten my masculinity' if I wasn't being an insecure jerk." Ryan smirked. "Then she smacked my arm and Taylor told her to stop flirting with me."

Sandy laughed and shook his head, "You are cared about Ryan. You better get used to it."

"Cared about I can handle. Trying to spoil me because they got a scare is way over the line."

"Seth and Summer are taking care of you because you saved Seth's life. They feel grateful."

"And Taylor?"

"Taylor is crazy about you and she nearly lost you. She's lost too much for her to ever take anything for granted."

"So I have to find a way to get them to back off without hurting their feelings."

"Don't look at me, kid. I don't have a clue."

"Great."

"Hey guys," Taylor smiled at them as she came up to them. "Seth, Summer, and I are headed for the graveyard over by the mall."

"Gimme a minute and I'll go with you," Ryan said.

"Ryan, that's not necessary. The three of us can handle it."

"Don't go anywhere. I'll be right back."

"Was he smoking?"

"Afraid so."

"Oh no. He's going all fatalistic on us."

"Taylor...."

"He got so close to death he figures 'what the hell?' and now he's all self-destructive."

"Taylor....."

"I knew I should've spent more time with him. I could've sneaked in to spend the night; I don't care if Kirsten thinks it's wrong."

"Taylor!"

"What?"

"Calm down."

"But he's-"

"Going to be just fine," Sandy finished for her.

"How can you say that? He's...."

"Strong. A lot stronger than you're giving him credit for."

"Strong, schmong! He was shot," Taylor frowned darkly at him.

"I know he was shot. It's my worst fear come to life for any of you kids but you can't treat him like he's made of glass. It will just piss him off."

"I know he's not made of glass, but that doesn't mean he should take stupid risks, either."

"Like what? Doing the same things he did before?"

"I just don't want him to be hurt," Taylor said quietly.

"I know you don't but if you don't let up he might get frustrated and do something that will get him hurt trying to prove he's alright."

"I promise I'll try," Taylor nodded. "I better get going."

"Be careful out there," Sandy smiled.

-x-x-x-x-

Taylor sighed and nudged Seth who got up from the gravestone he was sitting on and held out his hands, catching Taylor's leg in a firm grip as she stretched.

"Are you sure he should be out here? He just got out of the hospital."

"Two weeks ago, Seth. Besides, how would you suggest we keep him from patrolling? Tie him up?"

"You torturing my boyfriend with talk of you and Chino's sexcapades again, Tay?" Summer approached the two friends. "Relax," to the worried glares she received "he's shoving a demon corpse under some bushes so that the funeral tomorrow doesn't stumble across them."

Taylor frowned a little as she switched legs and bent so that her face was in her knee.

"You okay," Ryan's voice came a moment later.

"Just stretching," Taylor said.

"How are you?" Seth asked.

"I'm fine." Ryan snapped.

"There's no reason to be mean Chino," Summer frowned darkly at the blonde boy.

"No? I get too close to a dusted vampire and sneeze - perfectly normal thing to do - and he acts like I'm coming down with pneumonia. Then you go and call your Dad and Kirsten. Do you know how many times I've been 'looked over' for shit like that these past few weeks?"

"Excuse us for caring," Taylor said quietly as Seth let her leg go and she turned and walked towards the gate. "It's not you almost died or anything."

"Tay," Ryan called, hating the hurt look on his girlfriend's face.

Taylor kept on walking.

"Great." He sighed heavily. "Taylor, wait."

"No," Taylor said turning to face him and then back to her original direction without stopping.

"Nice going Atwood," Summer said walking past him to catch up with her friend.

"C'mon man. Our females are going that way and I'm following. You?"

"I didn't act like this when she nearly got killed."

"No, you shut everybody out and tried to get yourself killed. Disappointed you failed?"

"Seth....." Ryan pushed himself into a jog to catch up with his friends. "Don't you guys think you're overreacting?"

"No," Summer and Taylor both glared at him.

"Back away slowly dude."

"Well, can you tell me if you're planning on easing up any time soon? I'd like to know whether to plan for a breakdown or not."

Taylor didn't say anything she just turned and kept walking towards the mall.

"You don't get it, do you Atwood? She fights the worst things in the world and she almost lost you to something as ordinary and movie-of-the-week as a psycho with a gun."

"Yeah, and I almost lost her to the fight itself. Which wasn't her choice, I know; but you guys can't keep doing this. You're literally driving me nuts."

"Uh, Ryan," Seth started.

"I know what you're gonna say and I'm sorry but I'm just not used to everyone making such a big fuss-"

"That's great, Ryan but I wanna talk about that guy," Seth nodded, "and the fact that he's following Taylor into the mall."

The "guy" in question was wearing a pair of jeans and a Harbor letter jacket.

"What about him," Summer asked.

"Well, I realize I'm a little out of the loop on school teams in general but the last time I checked we no longer had a color guard team."

"Vampire?"

"Or a ghost."

"Let's find out," Summer said taking the lead.

"They're heading for the mall."

We better hurry, it's almost closing."

"How do you know that?"

"I'm dating Summer, dude. I not only know when it opens and closes; but which stores are where and when the sales are and can we talk about sports or killing things now? I feel very gay."

Ryan smirked. "You sound gay."

Seth frowned at his brother, "Thanks a lot. It is not my fault. Not everyone's girl can be an expert in weapons and beheading tactics."

"Yeah well you should count yourself lucky that your girlfriend doesn't come with a nightly fight to the death and that you nearly ended up losing her to some training camp."

"I thought you weren't going to bring that up anymore."

"Well, I can't get you guys to leave off my getting shot - so I figure if you can't beat "em......."

"We just need a little more time, okay? It was traumatic."

"And watching Taylor risk her life every night isn't?"

"Point taken," Seth nodded. "We will try and calm down."

"Thank you," Ryan said.

"But you and Taylor should have a discussion."

"She usually ends up distracting me."

"How?" Ryan gave his brother a significant look. "Oh. Ew. Forget I asked. Wait ...usually?"

"Sometimes she falls asleep or something jumps us."

"You try and talk to her on patrol?"

"Yeah. She can't walk away and she can't....."

"Right. Got it. Please don't explain."

"Guys? Were you planning on helping us or are you two just going to stand there all day," Summer frowned at them impatiently.

"Coming to help, my goddess."

"Weirdo."

"Your very own."

"Where's Taylor and the jacket-guy?"

"That way?"

Seth pulled a talisman out of his pocket. "That way." He pointed confidently after glancing at it.

"You put a tracking spell on Taylor?"

"No. This thing picks up Slayer vibes. Since she's the only one in town."

"That way."

"Let's motor, boys."

"Summer, chill out."

"What?"

"If we go busting in there, yes we'll distract the bad guy but we might also distract Taylor and it could be in a crucial moment."

"We have to do something."

"I realize that." Ryan looked around. "C'mon. We're going up, over, and down."

"Great. You guys go ahead, I'll try and keep up."

Summer and Ryan looked at each other and then at Seth before they each took an arm and dragged him along behind them.

"Ow. Hey this is abuse."

"Toughen up Cohen," Summer said as they stopped in front of a vent and gave Ryan some cover as he took off the cover. "You first Cohen."

They all went up and over and ended up just inside the entrance of a deserted store.

"Sshhh. There she is."

"...to Harbor? What grade? I only ask because I go to Harbor and I don't remember seeing you around," she was saying.

"Senior. I keep to myself, though. You wouldn't have seen me."

"Because I'm a vampire". Duh." Seth whispered.

"So you're on color guard? That's odd for a guy isn't it? I always thought color guard was more of a female extracurricular."

"I only said that because I got dirt in my brain crawling out of my grave". Ow." Seth glared at his girlfriend. "What was that for?"

"Be quiet. We're trying to sneak up, remember?" Summer whispered furiously.

"And I must really be losing my mind because I could've sworn that they discontinued the color guard squad about ten years ago," Taylor said with a stare.

"And - cue game face."

"Seth, shut up."

"So, I guess what I'm asking here is, when were you turned?"

"Doh! Bus-ted."

"Seth, seriously. Button it."

"Nothing to say? So, I guess you just want to fight. I'm good with that," Taylor said. Then she did a spinning kick directed at his stomach and knocked him across the space.

"Now," Ryan moved in.

"What? Why now?"

"Because the goon's out of arm's reach, Cohen."

"What took you guys so long? I've been stalling for ten minutes," Taylor said when she spotted her friends.

"Seems you had it handled," Summer said.

"I don't have any stakes."

"Oops."

"I got him."

"Ryan, wait..."

"I got him," Ryan said firmly.

"Okay," Taylor relented and let Ryan do the staking for the first time in a few weeks.

"Taylor...." Seth whined.

"He can handle it. It's only one vamp."

"And he's not too bright." Summer blinked at the glares she got. "The vamp, people. Who did you think I meant?"

"The vampire."

"Yeah, of course. I knew you didn't mean Ryan."

"Mm-hmm."

"Wow."

"What?"

"Your boyfriend just ripped the vamp's head off."

"Well, good for-" Taylor broke off as a humming stopped and the lights went out. "What just happened?"

"The lights went out."

"Thank you Seth, I realize that. What I want to know is why did the lights go out?"

"Oh no." Summer grabbed Seth's wrist and pushed the button to make his watch light up. "Oh no."

"Why are the lights out?" Ryan came up to them, brushing dust off his hands.

"The mall's closed."

"What do you mean the mall's closed," Taylor asked.

"I think she means we're trapped in here."

"We can't be trapped in here," Taylor clutched Seth's shoulders.

"Taylor, get a grip. Actually, I take that back. Loosen your grip."

"Why don't we just call your mom?" Ryan asked Seth.

"Good plan." He patted his pockets. "Uhm....I think I dropped my cell somewhere."

"Oh great," Taylor rolled her eyes. "Mine's at home charging."

"So is mine," Summer said.

"I have mine." Ryan pulled it out and frowned at the cracked case. "Damn. Guess the vamp got in a lucky shot."

"Do you all realize what this means," Taylor said and got three looks. "We're stuck here for the night and we have no way to get in touch with anyone which means Sandy, Kirsten, and Neil are all going to freak out."

"They're gonna freak out? We're trapped in the mall!"

"I know. Isn't it awesome? We're at the mall; only there are no annoying salesmen staring at your boobs and no bobble-headed bimbos trying to snatch the dress you want."

"We're gonna starve, woman!"

"Please. We can get something from one of the stores. Some jerky or something."

"That's stealing."

"I have some cash."

"Me, too."

"Can't we call from a land line? One of these places should have a phone in the office or something."

"Yeah. On the desk next to the safe. Which means the door is locked."

"No problem. Chino can pick the locks."

"I can?"

"You mean you can't? What kind of bad boy are you?"

"The kind that boosted cars, not the kind that broke into people's homes."

"First off, we need to find something to sleep in and somewhere to sleep tonight."

"Leave everything to me. I know exactly what to do." Summer declared.

"Why does that statement scare me?"

"Just make sure it's nothing see-thru okay Summer? I do not want to scar Seth," Taylor smiled.

"Do I get a vote in this," Ryan asked.

"You can see under it once we're alone," Taylor promised.

"Ew. Guys, it's the mall! That's like blasphemy!"

"You don't think people have sex in the mall, Summer," Taylor said with an eyebrow raised.

"Of course they don't. It's.......it's....wrong!"

"Summer, I realize that this place is some kind of holy Mecca of consumerism to you but to everyone else, it's just a place to shop and hang out and on occasion sneak in a little "private" time."

"Tell me you didn't.....wait, don't tell me. Don't tell me any details of anything involving you and naked Chino. Ew!"

"He's really very....."

"Ah! She said no telling."

"So, what do we do now?"

"We find something to sleep in and something to sleep on," Taylor said. "I'm gonna go hunt down some T-shirts and then scope out the department store for blankets."

"I'll go with you," Summer said. "You two, find some food so Cohen doesn't whine."

"I know just the place."

"Food, not candy."

"I wasn't thinking candy."

"None of the cookies are cooked; so no."

"Well, what's your idea then, genius?"

"Does this place have a store with jerky? Like Slim Jims and stuff?"

"Hickory Farms is only at the holidays; but the drugstore should have some food-like snacks. Good thinking."

0x0x0x0x0x0x0

Summer held up a T-shirt and frowned. She wanted her normal slinky pajama set and Taylor had them looking for T-shirts to wear to bed.

"No luck," Taylor asked from behind her.

Summer turned around, "It's me. I just want what I would normally wear to bed."

"We could sneak through the vents and drop into Victoria's Secret to get you something."

"Could we?"

"As long as you realized that I'll be getting something, too. Ryan likes..."

"Ew! T-shirts it is."

"Oh c'mon Summer," Taylor rolled her eyes. "Getting it on in the mall is only a federal offense if someone catches you."

"Not funny, Townsend."

"It's a little funny."

"No, it's not. Here, wear this."

"I'm not wearing a snowsuit to bed."

Summer took a better look at what she had tried to hand Taylor, "Sorry."

"I'm gonna go find some blankets," Taylor smiled as she grabbed a pink T-shirt from the shelf. "This'll do. Go find some pillows, okay?"

"We're crashing at the furniture place, right?"

"Right. Meet you there."

-`-`-`-`-`-`-

"You see any of those Reese's cookies," Ryan asked. "Taylor likes those."

"I'm busy looking for those Twizzlers Summer likes."

"Good thing we went for the jerky first." Ryan muttered, joining Seth in the candy aisle. "Do they have Almond Joys?"

"Yeah, over there," Seth nodded.

"Great," Ryan nodded.

"So, you gonna try talking to Taylor once we separate tonight?"

"I'll give it a shot."

"Well, she probably won't want to get busy with Summer all wigged about mall-sex."

"Don't bet on it."

"Don't make me go there, man. I don't have bus fare."

"Very funny. I'm gonna try and talk to Taylor about this whole over protective trip you've all been on."

"Go easy on her man. It's not easy for Taylor to be Taylor most of the time. I'm surprised she hasn't developed a split personality after all this time."

"I'll be easy on her. But it's got to stop."

"Because she's driving you crazy?"

"And not in a good way."

"Enough said," Seth put a hand up. "C'mon let's get going to the furniture store. The girls are probably wondering what happened to us."

-x-x-x-x-x-

Ryan opened his eyes and frowned. He knew without even putting his hand out that the space next to him was empty. He sat up and looked around, scanning the store. He finally spotted Taylor on some patio furniture near the front of the store.

He got up and walked over, sitting down on a chaise lounge.

"When I couldn't sleep at Slayer camp, I used to sneak out of the house and walk down to this old cemetery and sit on the ground under a pine tree. I'd think about you and wonder what you were doing."

"Usually? Pounding the snot out of some demon."

Taylor had to smile at him. Then she sighed. "You were trying to get yourself killed."

"No," Ryan shook his head.

"Don't lie Ryan. Whether or not it was conscious on your part you were pushing your luck on the life part."

"I take the fifth."

Taylor got up and straddled Ryan's lap, her hands on his shoulders, "I don't mean to go overboard with the whole protecting you thing but try to understand how scared I was."

He leaned forward and buried his face in the crook of her neck. "I thought I'd never see you again. Never even know if you were...... I was so scared."

"And the way you dealt with that was trying to kill every demon and vampire you could find, right?"

Ryan nodded against her neck.

"Amazing. I get the one guy who doesn't try and get me out of his system but instead tries like hell to hold on to me."

"That's just how I am."

Taylor tipped her head back and put her hands in Ryan's hair before she brought it back up and kissed him.

He was just starting to kiss her back when they heard Summer's voice.

"Ew! What did we say? Didn't we have an understanding, here? This is the mall!"

"Summer, what are you doing awake," Taylor asked. "I know Seth isn't snoring, because I can't hear him."

"He twitches in his sleep. I got up to save my shins and don't try to change the subject. You two ......I need a fire hose or something for you two."

"Go back to sleep, Summer. This is all a dream." Ryan shrugged when the girls stared at him. "What? Worth a shot."

"Okay, Summer, what's it gonna take for you to go away and leave us in peace?"

"No way. Atwood would never go for what I want."

"You want that," Taylor asked.

"Well, I realize you two have done it to death but Cohen and I never have."

"Tomorrow night, it's all yours."

"Just for letting you two do....it in the mall?"

"Yes."

"Cool. See you all later."

Summer disappeared.

"What did you just agree to?"

"Summer and Seth get to use the pool house tomorrow night."

"Great."

"It got her to go away."

"Yeah, but now I have to think of a reason for Kirsten to let me have the place fumigated."

"I'd worry about that later and start concentrating on you, me, and all this time we have to be by ourselves," Taylor smiled.

"Well, if you insist. Here or do you want to go back to bed?"

"Bed. More comfortable and less likely to be interrupted."

"As you wish," Ryan stood straight up never letting go of Taylor as he walked them over to the bed they had been occupying.