Note: I sincerely apologize for how long it took to get this chapter up - however, the blame rests ENTIRELY on the FF website. As I'm sure a lot of you found out, no one could upload documents to the site, and of course, no word of explanation or apology. Chowderheads.

Anyway, we're off and running again! (And I made sure to upload what I did get done of the next couple of chapters so I can still post!)

The title of this chapter ('Zwischenzug'), by the way, is a reference to a chess move in which a player, instead of playing the expected move (commonly a recapture of a piece that the opponent has just captured) first interpolates another move, posing an immediate threat that the opponent must answer, then plays the expected move. Ideally, the zwischenzug changes the situation to the player's advantage. Appropriate... but not without its risks...

Unexpected Results, Part XXVI

Me: "You couldn't sleep either, huh?"

Abel: "Oh... I'm sorry if I woke you."

Me: "Nah, I'm a light sleeper anyway. And besides, it's an excuse to get up, away from the nightmares."

Abel: "Still seeing that vampire hideout?"

Me: "Yeah... and the thought that it's going to keep happening..."

Abel: "That's why we're here, Sister... to make sure it doesn't."

Me: "I've been meaning to ask... how exactly are we going to handle the Count? I mean, we can't just stroll in and tell him that a Vatican operative is gunning for him, can we?"

Abel: "I don't know. I wish I did. By the way, did you get the copies of the police reports?"

Me: "Yes, and been reading them until my eyes cross. I'd thought maybe he'd have cut a wider swathe, but so far he's keeping a low profile... until tonight, that is."

Abel: "Well, we'll take a fresh look at it in the morning."

Me: "Yeah..."

Abel: "You all right?"

Me: "Hmm? Oh, I'm fine... I just love churches at night. Oh... that reminds me."

Abel: "What are you doing?"

Me: "Lighting a candle for my father. I do every time I go into a church."

Abel: "I thought you said you weren't Catholic."

Me: "I'm not, I'm not even Christian. But whenever I enter a house of worship, no matter what type of faith, if they have this sort of thing, I do it for Dad. I... I guess I should get in the habit of lighting one for my husband, too, since he's-"

Abel: "Don't think like that. We will get you home, Johanna. Don't mourn what isn't gone yet."

Me: "Right..."

Me: "So what's the plan for today?"

Father Leon: "Hugue's gotta have somewhere to hole up during the day, though. He's still human, he has to eat and sleep sometime."

Me: "Does the Vatican have safehouses here in Antwerp?"

Abel: "A couple, but primarily Vatican operatives stay at the local churches."

Me: "Maybe that's where we should spend today - hit the cathedrals and see if Father Hugue's been staying at one of them. Because given Antwerp's size, if we keep going at this rate, we'll never find Hugue."

Abel: "However, we can't split up. You're still not quite up to field personnel standards, and we can't risk you running around here alone."

Me: "Yeah, yeah, rub it in. I also think that... well... we may need to warn the Count about Father Hugue."

Father Leon: "That may do more harm than good. If we find Hugue, we might be able to stop him. Send the vampires looking for him and he'll send them back in pieces."

Me: "Pity there's no way to lure him to us."

Abel: "Actually, you might have an idea there."

Me: "What?"

Abel: "I don't know how Hugue does it, but he always seems to show up when a woman is being attacked by the vampires. But it'd be a terrible gamble."

Father Leon: "No, it wouldn't. We can keep an eye on her, just let her look like she's out on her own. If one of them makes a move, and Hugue doesn't show up, either Johanna can take them down on her own, or we step in. Easy enough."

Me: "So I guess this is where we find out how good Father Tres' training was..."

Father Leon: "You nervous?"

Me: "Gee, let me think. Walking alone at night in the middle of a city filled with vampires, with only a week of training, hoping that my knights in shining armor will show up to save me if a vampire attacks me thinking I look like a midnight snack. I'm just BRIMMING with confidence."

Abel: "Sarcasm doesn't become you, Johanna."

Me: "Neither does fear, but needs must when the devil drives."

Father Leon: "We won't let anything happen to you. Even if Hugue doesn't show up, we'll still be there."

Abel: "We'll wait until nightfall to try that, then. In the meantime, we have churches to search."

Father Leon: "Well, three cathedrals and five churches, and still no luck."

Abel: "We may have to try the safehouses after all. But first... are you ready, Johanna?"

Me: "Yeah... just not happy about having to change back into my habit."

Father Leon: "Where's your gun?"

Me: "Took a bit of modification, but I was able to rig up a thigh holster for the semi-auto. See? No way to hide the Peacekeeper here, so I'll have to leave it behind. Got my spare ammo in my other pocket... Father Abel, why are you blushing?"

Abel: "N-no reason."

Father Leon: "Close your mouth, Four-Eyes."

Me: "What, you've never seen a woman's legs before?"

Father Leon: "Well, you do have nice legs."

Me: "They're not THAT nice..."

Abel: "If you two are quite done..."

Me: "YOU started it!"

Abel: "You remember the plan?"

Me: "Yeah... you two will escort me to the crime scene from yesterday, I spend a bit of time there, then I start walking back to Our Lady's Cathedral."

Father Leon: "And if you get into trouble..."

Me: "Start screaming?"

Abel: "Johanna-"

Me: "I know, I know, shoot first and worry later. But if possible, run like hell for Our Lady's."

Father Leon: "And we'll be following you every step of the way. Don't worry."

Me: "Then let's go... before my courage gives out."

To be continued...