A/N: I don't own Valkyrie, Skulduggery, Dex, Tesseract or Cat. This story is set directly after "Evil Angel". Please keep in mind that this is a fictional story and that stalking people is major league uncool.


After Dex had assured her he hadn't hurt the small feline Valkyrie had insisted that the men who were searching the abandoned factory for Tesseract look for Cat, but she imagined they'd done a rubbish job of it. So, as soon as she was able, she insisted Skulduggery drive her back out. Skulduggery had grumbled, then realized he might have a chance to arrest Tesseract, so he accompanied her, Dex going with them in the Bentley.

Valkyrie entered the building first, calling for Cat. "Here, kitty, kitty." She called, but there was no answer. They searched the entire building and found nothing, no trace of Tesseract or Cat.

"Maybe he got away and took Cat with him." Dex offered and Valkyrie nodded. She'd almost not insisted on the search, hoping that Tesseract would have time to collect his beloved cat and escape. The crazy thing was, she didn't want him to be caught. He'd proven to her that despite being whatever he'd become that in his own way he loved her. True his idea of romantic gifts had terrified the young mage, and abducting her hadn't been healthy either, but Tesseract seemed to have lost all memory of what proper social skills were or never had had them in the first place.

She'd even hoped to get a glimpse of him, or find a message to her. Because whatever she'd had with Skulduggery, it was over. He'd put himself back together, even rescued her, but now he was cool towards her. Not in a cruel way, but he'd told her the others were right. That perhaps in a century or so they could try again. She'd thought he was joking at first, but he hadn't been.

And now as she wandered the hallways of her lonely mansion, she almost wished she could see Tess and Cat one more time. She was frightened for Tess, hoping he hadn't died alone in the woods and suddenly she knew what she had to do. Abductor or not, she had to make sure he was OK. Skulduggery had reluctantly agreed to trade back cars so late that night she drove her small car back to the abandoned factory alone, hoping Tess had been really good at hiding before.

She hadn't gotten far into the building when a blur of white bounded out of the darkness towards her, launching itself to land in her arms. "Cat!" Valkyrie said happily, snuggling the purring cat into her. "Where's Tess, girl? Is he all right?"

"He's fine." A voice spoke behind her and Valkyrie turned to see Tess. "It would seem I'm harder to kill now. I'm glad you're all right." He said and Valkyrie carefully put Cat down then ran to her former captor, hugging him and surprising them both.

"I'm glad you're all right." She confessed, hugging the big man tightly and feeling him return her embrace tentatively. "I guess I better go, in case they followed me." She said, though she really didn't want to.

"Nonsense, stay. I have made alterations to the magic already. You're only here because you are welcome. Come, have tea with me." Tess offered, then switched on a torch and led Valkyrie down the maze of halls and rooms to what must have been a breakroom for the workers, complete with a tiny kitchenette.

Tess had several candles lit and he got Valkyrie's chair for her, then saw to tea for both of them. Cat joined them, hopping up on the table and happily purring as Valkyrie poured some cream into a saucer for her.

"It was sweet of you to come back and try and save her." Tesseract said, watching them from behind his hinged mask. Valkyrie blushed.

"I tried to get her out, but she was brave enough to attack Dex. Who isn't too happy I stabbed him, but I thought he was a killer at the time, so I didn't exactly stop and chat. She risked her life to save me. She's a brave little girl, aren't you, Cat?" She asked, then fished in her pocket and produced a catnip mouse for Cat.

Cat purred and took the toy gently in her jaws, then took it to Tesseract. Valkyrie smiled to watch the masked man play with the little white cat. He was unfailingly gentle with her. He spoke to the cat in Russian, petting her and fussing in a gentle voice. The glow of his eyes softened and Valkyrie knew he was happy. "Thank you." He said, glancing over at her.

"It was the least I could do for her. Well, that and a ton of other things I could think of, but I thought you might be leaving, considering."

"No. My home was broken into and I was assaulted. Your door was unlocked at that point. You were here willingly, unless you were reeling me in."

"Maybe at first." Valkyrie admitted. "But- I saw him in the woods, Tess, it's my fault for not saying something."

"I saw him as well, Valkyrie. I imagined he'd come in. I'd like to know how he caught me off guard, but it's happened before." She sensed his smile behind his mask. "Try the jelly in your tea." He offered and Valkyrie was surprised to find it was quite good.

They talked for hours, Valkyrie not wanting to leave, and Tesseract not wanting her to go. But they both knew she had to at some point. They couldn't build a healthy relationship on something that started out as him stalking her. Still, Valkyrie was sad as he escorted her to her car. Because Tess had been right, she never would have given him a chance. She thought a minute, then looked at him.

"Let's start over. Here and now. You never abducted me, how's that sound?" She offered and Tesseract smiled down at her.

"It sounds like you want me to call on you."

"I do, provided you're done following me with a camcorder. That part was a bit much."

"My apologies, not one of my better moments. But I thought it would be a couple's sort of thing. I have trouble sometimes, sorting out what I imagined happened and what did. Sorry."

"It's all right." Valkyrie said, hugging the giant and getting into her car. And as she drove away she saw him watching her, the eyes behind the mask glowing a steady red.


Again, this is fiction. In real life being abducted is not cool and I don't think Tess had her long enough for Stockholm Syndrome to set in for her, but perhaps a touch of Lima Syndrome set in for him. Ah, the human mind and all our adaptive survival traits.