Disclaimer: All publicly recognizable characters, settings, etc. are the property of their respective owners. I am in no way associated with the owners, creators, or producers of any media franchise. No copyright infringement is intended.

Author's Notes: Thank you, as always, for the reviews, PMs, and story alerts regarding Phoenix Rising. It makes my little heart do a happy dance and the plot bunnies (not to be confused with dust bunnies or the Energizer Bunny) want to frolic, as well. Okay, now that I've weirded you all out, I do want to say thank you again. I mean it sincerely. The fact that you're still reading after all this time reminds me of why I feel so fortunate to be a small part of this amazing fandom.

And now...on with the story.

Chapter Thirteen: "Typical Strangeness"

"I'm going to be fine."

As usual, Nathan Wuornos conveyed an air of calm. The way Audrey figured, he was calm enough for both of them as he lay on the hospital exam table. "No offense, Nathan, but you don't exactly have a feel for these things. I'd rather hear it from the doc."

A nurse took a pair of shears in one hand and pulled at the hem of Nathan's tattered and bloody shirt, un-tucking it with her other hand. Audrey took a couple of steps back in the small room to offer the medical personnel more space. She was just thankful she hadn't been chased out yet, either by Nathan or the hospital staff.

The nurse made quick work of the t-shirt he wore, cutting it off him while Nathan quietly grumbled about liking the shirt. Audrey rolled her eyes. As if it was salvageable anyway with the rips and the blood that would surely stain it.

As the nurse pulled the fabric away, Audrey could see Nathan's shoulder and chest area were covered with blood, some of which had dried to a dark rust color and some of which was fresh. She knew some people got sick at the sight of blood—Josh Hopkins came to mind when she remembered the profuse bleeder she had after getting hit in the nose with a basketball in gym class—but luckily Audrey typically didn't mind the sight of blood that much.

Of course, it was different when it was Nathan's blood. Then it worried her. He may have thought he was perfectly all right, but for all he knew, he could have a stake going right through his heart. Hypothetically speaking. She really needed to stop reading those vampire novels.

"Let's see what we're dealing with." Dr. Pennycuff, who looked like he had been practicing medicine since the Middle Ages if his wrinkles were any indication, rubbed disinfectant on the wounds, cleaning the area and examining three parallel lacerations below Nathan's collarbone. After a few moments of studying the area, the elderly doctor gave his prognosis. "You're going to be fine."

Nathan shot Audrey a look, silently saying, 'See.'

Glancing at Nathan's rather thick medical file, the doctor added, "Though I keep thinking you're the reason the med center discontinued its buy twelve trips to the ER, get one free promotion."

"Things happen."

The doctor chuckled, evidently accustomed to Nathan's nonchalant attitude toward injury. "You say a mountain lion did this to you?"

"From what I could see," Nathan replied.

"You've lost a moderate amount of blood. These lacerations are deep."

"I don't feel it."

"One benefit of your idiopathic neuropathy, but you mustn't allow your condition to give you a false sense of invulnerability," the doctor warned. "You may not be able to feel the pain, but your body has been through an ordeal, and you need to allow yourself time to heal."

It was Audrey's turn to shoot Nathan her own look.

The doctor looked more closely at Nathan's injuries. "The wounds are certainly consistent with an animal attack, though it's odd. I can't even recall the last time one of the big cats was spotted around these parts. Where were you?"

"Brand Estate."

Audrey watched as the doctor's face grew ashen. He quickly brushed aside his reaction, affecting a more impassive expression. "You should have a rabies vaccination as a precaution. Normally I would stitch wounds like these, but with animal bites and scratches, it increases the likelihood of contamination and infection. Butterfly enclosures will hopefully suffice, given your history of quick healing."

Nathan nodded. Audrey's eyes widened slightly at the reference to his quick healing. Now that she thought about it, he did seem to recover fairly quickly from injury. The gun shot wound, the burns, the fight with Duke… But she had never really put it together before.

"The vaccination must be administered in the buttocks."

Audrey cleared her throat. "Right. That's my cue to skedaddle."

Nathan turned his head to look at her. "You going to be around, Parker?"

"Pfft. Somebody's got to make sure you behave." She left him with a half-smile on his face. Good sign, she decided as she leaned against the wall outside the exam room.

"Skedaddle?" she repeated to herself. "Who says skedaddle?"

Glancing around the waiting area, she noted Charlie Thornhill was sitting in a chair in the corner, looking positively stricken. 'What does he have to feel bad about?' she wondered. She was about to approach him when she saw Chief Wuornos enter the area, walking with purpose.

"Parker," he greeted her brusquely.

"Chief. He's going to be okay."

"I figured."

Audrey furrowed her brows, an expression not lost on the man who stood not far from her.

"He in there?" the older man asked pointing to the room from which Audrey emerged moments before.

"He is. Getting a shot in the ass, actually."

"Too bad he can't feel it."

Audrey frowned. "You could show a little more concern."

Garland was taken aback by Audrey's pointed remark. "I'm just going off your expression. If it was serious, you wouldn't be out here talking to yourself or griping at me."

"No. I'd be by his side."

"Speaking of which, you going to tell me what the hell happened out there?"

"I'm still trying to piece it all together myself. Nathan says it was a mountain lion."

For a brief instant, Audrey watched his cool exterior melt, and she could picture the concerned father rather than the irate boss. Just as quickly, his mask returned. "You see it?"

"No, but I know someone else who did." She tilted her head in the direction of Charlie Thornhill.

"Then what are you standing around here for?"

Audrey had to bite her tongue to keep her words in check. She wouldn't be doing herself any favors if she got fired for insubordination. Garland Wuornos was not waiting for a response, at any rate. He walked past Audrey and went into Nathan's room.

She turned her attention back to Charlie, making her way past the nurse's station and toward the Brand Estate's resident horticulturalist.

"How is he?" Charlie Thornhill's near-unibrow rose when he saw Audrey approaching.

"He's going to be fine."

"That…that's good."

Audrey sank into a chair next to him. "Charlie, could you tell me a little more about what happened out there?"

"There's nothing to tell. You already know everything," he insisted.

"Just walk me through your steps again. Maybe it will spur a detail you didn't remember earlier."

"I'd rather forget," the man admitted with a sigh. But with Audrey's pleading look, he complied. "Nathan and I went to look at the maple trees. We were in the grove. It was quiet. Still. He was checking one of the tapped trees. And then without warning, a mountain lion cried out and dropped down from one of the branches and began to just…tear at him."

"What did you do?"

"I-I'm not even sure. It all happened so fast. You know Nathan—he didn't even cry out. He just tried to pry it off himself. And then the animal was gone."

"Just like that?"

"Yeah. That's when I began calling. And you saw the rest."

"Was there anything else?"

"I—" His eyes became downcast, glancing at the small table to his left. A perfect, shiny red apple sat atop the table. "No, there's nothing else. Nathan didn't hear anything, did he?"

"He didn't mention it." Audrey sought the man's eyes, but he wouldn't look at her. He seemed fixated on the apple. "Charlie, did you hear something you've not mentioned?"

"No. It was very quiet. Very still."

"Is that your apple?"

"No. Why?"

"You keep looking at it," she pointed out.

Thornhill managed to pull his gaze from the fruit to finally look at her. "Trying to identify the variety. Sorry. It's hard to turn off the horticulturalist in me, just as I assume it's difficult for you to turn off your cop instincts."

"Of course."

She had to hand it to him. Charlie Thornhill was a quick thinker. Not that she was buying his explanation for one second. Strange how apples were popping up. First with the man she saw outside the Herald, the same man who was at Brand Estate. Then Vince and his "apple allergy." And now with Charlie? She didn't believe in coincidences, especially when they happened in Haven.

"Charlie, who was the man at the estate?"

"The man?" he repeated.

"The one who gave Nathan his—"

"What's this I hear about Nathan getting mauled by a mountain lion?" Duke had entered the hospital waiting room and made a beeline for Audrey. She had been so wrapped up in questioning Thornhill, she hadn't even noticed his presence until he spoke. Duke shook his head. "Sounds like the punchline to a really bad joke."

"Duke. I'm glad you're here. I think."

"Wouldn't miss it for the world." He paused. "Okay. That sounded better in my head."

"Word travels fast." She looked at Charlie before standing. "Excuse me for just a minute."

"Small town." Duke steered Audrey away from the other man. "How is he?"

"He's going to be okay. He was wounded in the shoulder area," she unconsciously pointed to her own shoulder. "He has some deep lacerations, lost what the doctor called a 'moderate amount' of blood, though I'd hate to see what he considers a lot of blood…" her voice trailed off, and Duke could see the strain in her features.

"He's going to be fine. You said so yourself," Duke assured her.

"Yeah, I did, didn't I?" she replied trying to buck up. "So the doctors are getting him bandaged and vaccinated."

"Sounds like he's going to have some pretty cool scars. A little better than getting caught by a fish hook or falling down the stairs, wouldn't you say?"

The scars.

Audrey had been so focused on getting Nathan to the hospital and making sure he was okay, it hadn't even dawned on her. The vision. He had joked with her that they would soon figure out whether her vision was just her going crazy or whether it truly foretold what would be. And if it was real? Audrey's stomach fluttered.

Okay, Audrey. Getting ahead of yourself. You don't even know that the wounds will match the scars. And even if they do, it doesn't mean anything.

"So you've seen him?"

Audrey nodded. "I just came out a few minutes ago. The Chief is in there with him now."

Duke shook his head. "Not sure which Nathan will think is worse. Being visited by the Chief or being attacked by the mountain lion. So was it really a mountain lion?" Duke sounded doubtful. "Did you see it?"

"No, but Charlie Thornhill did. Nathan, too."

Duke cast a glance across the waiting room where he saw the pale, balding man sitting in the corner, leaning forward anxiously in his chair holding an apple. "Haven't seen him in years. I didn't even recognize him. He's become…" he tried to decide on a diplomatic term, "…folliclely challenged." As he spoke, Duke rubbed his own full head of hair.

"I'm a little more interested in the fact that he's on edge."

"Didn't think he and Nathan were that good of friends back in high school."

"Yeah, from what I understand, they weren't. It could just be that what he witnessed was pretty horrific."

"But it's not like the mountain lion ripped Nathan's arm off or anything," Duke replied glibly. "You think there's more to it."

"Seems like it. When's the last time you heard of someone getting attacked by a mountain lion around these parts?"

"That would be the fourth of Never. I haven't even heard of anyone seeing mountain lions around these parts in years, let alone being attacked by one."

Audrey groaned. "I should've been there."

"You mean you weren't glued to Nathan's side? That's…that's shocking, Audrey."

"We're not together 24/7."

"I sure hope not," he replied suggestively.

"Not now, Duke."

"What would you have done if you had been there?"

"Thornhill said the cat dropped from a tree. Maybe another set of eyes…I don't know."

"So where were you?"

"Looking at the house," she sheepishly admitted.

"At the house?" Duke echoed.

"Brand House."

Duke nodded. "That place is impressive, but I didn't exactly take you for the big, stone mansion kind of girl. Though I guess that would rank slightly more likely than you manning a kissing booth."

"Not one of my better moments."

"Could've been."

It seemed so long ago that she had been suckered into watching the kissing booth at the Fall Fun Fest while Jennifer Sims, the woman providing the lip service, stepped out for a few minutes. In actuality, it had only been a few days ago that Duke had approached Audrey, and she'd been mildly tempted to truly man the booth for about two seconds.

"The house isn't my style. I don't need ostentatious displays of grandeur, but for some reason, the place fascinates me."

It defied logic, really. It was just a house, after all. A big, beautiful, interesting house with a disturbing history and bleeding trees on the estate. Oh, and mountain lions dropping out of trees. Yeah. Just a house.

"No one needs ostentation. That's the point. We're hard-wired to appreciate beauty."

Duke's pointed words sank in, and Audrey shifted weight from one foot to the other. "So how long are you sticking around?"

"For as long as you want me here."

"You're a good friend. When you want to be," she added.

"I was worried about you."

"And about Nathan."

He shot her a look like she was crazy, but upon seeing her knowing look, his expression softened and he begrudgingly admitted, "Maybe a little. For purely selfish reasons, of course."

"Oh?"

"Something happens to Nathan, and there goes at least one-tenth of my entertainment."

"And so the bromance lives on. So how well do you know Charlie Thornhill?" Audrey asked.

"We didn't run in the same circles in school, if that's what you're asking."

"You think he'd talk to you?"

"If he's toughened up enough to talk to me, he'd probably tell me to f—" Duke stopped himself. "Maybe."

"Get him to talk. See if he'll tell you what happened. Then you and I can compare and see if it's the same story he told me."

"Anyone ever tell you that you're bossy?"

A small smile played on Audrey's lips. "It's been mentioned a time or two."

"You owe me, Audrey. And one day, I'm going to collect."

"I know."

As Duke made his way to Charlie, she moved back toward the entrance to Nathan's room. She glanced inside through the tall, rectangular window in the door. The chief was still in there, arms crossed. Audrey couldn't see Nathan, for the privacy curtain around the exam table obscured her view. Then again, she couldn't hear him, either. And if things had gone south between Nathan and his dad, she was sure she would've heard something.

She leaned against the wall again, mulling over the day's events: the Chief's refusal to divulge what he knew, the attack on Nathan, Charlie's strange behavior. Since when did strange become typical?

It was then that Audrey felt—though she neither saw nor heard—someone else's presence. She looked over and saw the mystery man from outside the Herald, his eyes gazing upon her. The recognition was definitely there as his eyes held hers, even as he moved closer to where she stood.

"You're staring," she uttered.

He smiled, his teeth white and even. "Certainly you can't fault a man for admiring beauty, though arguably there has been an abject lack of decorum in the execution of my admiration." His lightly accented voice was deep and sure.

He exuded confidence, and Audrey had the distinct impression that he was accustomed to getting what he wanted. In some small way, she could understand why. This man was…different. He wasn't the most handsome man she'd ever met, but he was certainly attractive in his own intangible way.

"I'm not sure whether to be flattered, suggest a visit to the local optometrist, or grab a thesaurus for myself."

"My apologies," he dipped his head slightly. "I should adjust my speech to include colloquialisms."

No apology for being forward, she noted. "I wouldn't go that far. The locals aren't renowned for their polysyllabic verbiage."

Green. His eyes were green—she couldn't quite tell the day before—and they shone with amusement. "No need to consult a thesaurus, Ms.—"

"Audrey Parker."

"Audrey Parker," he digested her name. "Noble strength."

"Come again?"

"Your name. Audrey. It means 'noble strength'. It suits you."

"Glad it meets your approval," she said wryly as she looked sideways at the man. "You are?"

"Ephraim Brand."

"Ah," she replied appraising him. "I thought you'd be older."

"You would be astounded by how frequently I hear that."

She shook her head almost in disbelief. "You're elusive, Mr. Brand."

"Not quite so elusive today. As I recall, you were the one who darted away."

"This time." Audrey glanced over and saw Duke speaking with Charlie Thornhill. Thornhill's eyes were focused on her and her companion. The way Charlie was staring, she figured it would be difficult for Duke to get much information from him as long as Ephraim Brand was present. "Mr. Brand, I was on my way down to the cafeteria to get a cup of coffee. Would you like to join me?"

"I would be delighted to join you. Do you think they serve tea?"

"I'm pretty sure there's something that passes for tea if you squint your eyes just right and hold your nose."

"Then shall we?" He offered her his arm, an archaic gesture to be certain, but she took it nonetheless, placing her hand on it and allowing herself to be taken from the waiting room. If it would expedite their departure and give Duke the opportunity to glean more information, she was willing to play the role, albeit briefly, of a lady to his gentleman.

The two began the short walk to the cafeteria. "Thank you for your help today," she said looking up at him, "I'm guessing no amount of laundering is going to bring that sweater back to life."

"Things are replaceable. People are not. This man…he is important to you?"

"Yes. He's my partner. My friend."

"Nothing more?" The man shook his head slightly. "I must once again apologize. It seems that in your presence, I lose all hope of rational words."

"Do you know me?" Audrey asked abruptly.

"You asked the same question earlier," he noted.

"And you never answered."

"Then allow me to properly answer you now. No, Audrey Parker. This is the first time I have met you." He glanced over at her and chuckled. "You do not believe me."

"We saw each other yesterday from across the street. You recognized me."

"Yes. When you and your partner were on my estate yesterday investigating, I saw you from the window."

"And that's it?" Audrey had been so certain that he knew Lucy, but his response suggested otherwise. Another dead end.

He smiled. "You sound disappointed."

"Not disappointed. Perplexed."

"And what have I done that is so perplexing?" he challenged, his smile broadening.

But Audrey deflected. "I understand your family can trace its history back many generations in Haven."

"What is it my father used to tell me? You're not really from Haven if you can't go back to the beginning. My family certainly goes back to the beginning, but it's been many, many years since my last visit."

"Why now?"

"Why not now? My businesses are being managed by capable hands and do not require everyday oversight. I've traveled. Seen the world."

"And ended up in tiny Haven, Maine."

"And it is looking more and more enticing all the time."

The two arrived at the cafeteria. Ephraim attempted futilely to pay for Audrey's coffee, but she waved him off. Within moments, each had a hot beverage in hand and started heading back toward the waiting room.

"What of your family, Ms. Parker?" he asked her conversationally before taking a sip of his tea.

"I don't have family."

"No ties to anyone?"

"I wouldn't say that."

"Ah, yes. Your partner. He's your partner in more ways than professional."

"You're digging for information," she stated flatly.

"I'm ascertaining the strength of the competition."

"And you think you're competing for me?" she asked incredulously. "We don't even know each other. You said so yourself."

"I want to know you, Audrey Parker." He stopped mid-hallway, looking at her intently. "And I look forward to the opportunity."

The intensity of his gaze made Audrey step back. She was accustomed to light flirting with Duke. It was harmless fun. But this—this felt like so much more. "So how's the tea?"

"Abominable, but it is well worth suffering through," he replied with a smile.

"So what do you make of the strange things happening at your estate?"

He replied matter-of-factly, "The Troubles are back."

"You know about the Troubles?" Surprise crept into her voice.

He blinked at her, affecting an air of confusion. "The Troubles have been around for many years, having they not?"

"And yet you don't seem at all disturbed by the fact that your trees were bleeding, a crack opened in the ground, or that a man was attacked by a mountain lion when there hasn't even been a sighting in years. All on your estate."

"There's a reason they're called the Troubles, though certainly I do bid your partner a speedy recovery. His experience is most unfortunate."

"Generally, the Troubles are not random. They're caused by people."

"Do I seem Troubled to you, Audrey? I'm exceedingly certain the only trouble I have is that I am standing across from a beautiful woman who is more interested in discussing matters of gloom and doom than in allowing me to extend an invitation to dinner."

The buzzing of Audrey's cell phone interrupted the conversation. She was more than mildly relieved, as she thought she should refuse his invitation and yet oddly found herself on the cusp of agreeing. "Excuse me. I need to take this."

"Where are you?" Duke's voice demanded from the other line.

"I'm on my way back from the cafeteria," Audrey replied evenly.

"You need to get here. Now."

Fear seized her. "Is it Nathan?"

To be continued...