Sammi got the message first. She had been pacing up and down the hallway outside the infirmary for hours. She could feel something was wrong. Then the phone on the wall had rung.

"Whomever is there, we need retrieval at the southwest corner of the LaRoux Estate. We have three injured; an adult Mystic, an adolescent Luminescent, and an adult half blood vampiress. We may have been followed." Click!

It had been Ashley's voice.

Sammi took off for the front doors. She knew the message would have also been received by an official, but that was her husband. She threw herself into the driver's seat of a van and started it, taking off as fast as she could. She silently prayed she'd get there in time.

When she pulled up to the edge of the estate, she didn't see anything except an old tool shed. She was debating whether to make a loop around the estate or just stay put when she saw what looked like Sandra barreling across the yard.

Sammi leaped up and threw the side door open. "Come on, quick! Backup is behind me."

Sandra pulled herself in and promptly collapsed into the seat.

Sammi just eased herself back into the driver's seat and waited.

Next she saw Ashley, half carrying her Jinxx. The Vampire lifted him into the van, then turned and took off back where he'd come.

Sammi froze. Kina was climbing into the van carrying someone she thought she'd never see again. "Sara?"

"Yes," Jinxx groaned. "Worry later. Right now, drive! Go!"

"But Ash-"

"Is fighting." Kina interrupted. "We were followed. Just drive. He'll catch up. He can fly. They can't."

Sammi nodded and floored the gas pedal. "Kina, open up the moon roof so he can get in."

The vampiress nodded and reached up for the small window. Out of the corner of her eye, she could see Ashe in a full blown fist fight with some rather large looking men. Then his wings flared out behind him.

The Deviant dug the claw of his wing into flesh. At this point, he didn't care what or who he was harming. His people were safe. Now he just needed to focus on getting home to his Andy. He spun around, quick, and flung himself feet first toward one of the guards, wings tucked tight to his back. The impact on the guard's chest was enough to spring him into the air. His wings snapped out to either side, and he was aloft.

Ashley looked around, hurriedly. He spotted the van a few blocks down the street and angled himself perpendicular to them. If he guessed Sammi's route just right, he could land on top of the vehicle.

"Apply pressure," Kina yelled at Jinxx. The Mystic had already set to work on Sandra's wounds. They didn't look good.

"The fuck does it look like I'm doing? There are too many and my magic is restricted."

Sammi winced. She hated the thought of her husband chained like that. But she had more important things to worry about. "Do you see him?"

Kina scanned the horizon. "No, I'm sorry. I lost him on that turn. Just keep going."

Sammi pulled another sharp turn down a one way road. Just a little further and they'd be out of the city

"Wait, there he is. Slow down slow down!"

There was a loud thud as Ashley dropped through the sky light into the van. "Hiya!"

"Shut up and help!" Kina yelled.

Ashley looked around at the chaos that was the back of the van. "Okay yeah," he said, dropping to his knees beside Jinxx. "Right hand."

The Mystic made sure to get a good grip on the cloth he was using to hold Sandra's wound, then lifted his right hand. Ashley made quick work of the cuff, then the other one and the collar, tossing them into the corner in disgust.

"We are going to have a very long talk aboutyour bright ideas when we get back to the healers mansion."

"Yes ma'am," he responded. Then he reached for the girl, removing her cuffs and shaking her awake. "Hey, little one, wake up. Come on."

Sara's eyes widened in fright at Ashley. "No! Get away!" The girl kicked as she screached.

"Sara!"

The girl froze.

"Sara LeAnn!"

"Dolly?"

"Yes, Bunny, it's me. Now please stop fighting Ash. His mate will be annoyed if I return him damaged."

Sara was still for a long moment, and then nodded. "Sorry."

Ashley smiled. "It's alright, little one."

"We're here," Sammi announced, throwing the van into park and jumping out.

Ashley jumpped as the door slid open. "Andy!" he called in excitement. Then he was being dragged out by the collar of his shirt.

"You son of a bitch!" Andy yelled, dropping to his knees and swinging his fist into Ashley's jaw. "You. Absolute. Horrid. Fucking. Cheat." With each word, his fist made contact with some part of Ashley. "I give you EVERYTHING and you just throw it away the second some pretty blonde High Line princess with big tits comes along!"

"Andy! Andy, that's enough!" Sammi grabbed the singer's shirt and hauled him backwards. "That's enough!"

"How dare you! How fucking dare you!" Andy struggled against Sammi's grasp as another pair of stronger arms wrapped around his torso.

"I don't know what you saw, but beating up your mate isn't going to solve anything," came Jake's voice from behind Andy.

Kina emerged from the other side of the van carrying Sandra.

"You!" Andy growled, lunging forward with as much of his upper body as he could.

The blonde took a step back.

"Andy, enough!" Ashley yelled, standing despite the beating. He reached forward, ignoring Andy's scratching at his arms, and fisted his hands in thick black hair. "Enough. Nothing happened. I'm all yours. I promised. See?" He nudged Andy's head towards the scar on his wrist. "I belong to you. No one else."

Andy relaxed. Then the gears clicked around. "Sandra!" He whipped around out of Ashley and Jake's grips. "Where did she go?"

Jake firmly gripped the prophet's arm. "Inside. I suggest we get the others there too."

When Ashley and Andy turned around, they found Sandra lifting the too slim figure of her little sister into her arms. "Quit standing around and get my husband inside," she snipped, hurrying for the door.

Ashley reached out to grasp Jinxx's forearm, wincing as the effort to pull the Mystic to his feet strained at his bruised ribs. Vampire strength was nothing in comparison to the wrath of his mate.

Andy crossed his arms as Jake and Ashley dragged their guitarist inside. "I'm not done with you," he snapped.

Ashley grinned. "Well I'd expect not. I do have a lot to expla-"

And then he collapsed.