Listening to Thomas Newman's closing credit theme to Limony Snicket's-A Series of Unfortunate Events. Don't laugh! It's compelling…and it works throughout the entire chapter. If you have the ability to tweak the bass, do it…turn it up.

The movie's pretty effin' good, too. I'm not a Jim Carey fan, but this is the exception. Amazing cast. Hey, Meryl Streep is in it…so you know it's gonna be good. Wait till the closing credits to hear this music…watch the amazing animation. Stylistic and inspiring.

Chapter 37

Still only the story is mine. Rockin' it out.

"You know, Claire, you could just call Jane and she would meet you somewhere and you both could talk this through." Abby said, as she made her way through the wet Boston streets to her apartment, having decided the best way to keep Claire under control, if that was even possible, was to acquiesce and invite her into her car. However, she was not too keen on the idea of inviting her into her home again. After all, she'd had to move the last time she'd done it, even if it had been at her Sentinel's request.

"Shut up, Abby." Claire said, staring straight ahead as the windshield wipers cleared the glass over and over again. "I don't want to talk with Jane anymore. I need her to listen for a change." She sniffed loudly, rubbing the back of her hand across her nostrils.

Abby looked over at Claire, noticing for the first time how gaunt she was, her clothes hanging off of her slight frame. She remembered how pretty she once had been, having met her shortly after she and Jane had bonded. She could hardly believe that this was the same woman.

"What's wrong, Claire? Why do you look so sick?" She asked, genuinely concerned for her well being, hearing Claire do the 'big sniff', knowing full well what it meant. Abby was a social worker, after all. She dealt with addiction all day, every day.

She and Jane had spoken at length over how badly Claire had gotten in the past few weeks, especially after Claire began stalking her, but it was shocking to Abby just how far gone she appeared. Abby also just realized that Jane probably didn't know that Claire had begun using. She would've said something. She hadn't mentioned anything about it.

Abby dealt with human addicts all day. Vampire addicts were a whole different animal, literally. They had all the same symptoms and behaviors that their human counterparts did, but because of their abilities, they were infinitely more dangerous. If she had any hopes of getting clean, she needed to start right away. It was going to be a long row to hoe. Abby now understood Jane's concerns about her lover. But, like Jane, she knew all things were possible, given the right motivation and guidance.

Abby wanted to let Claire know that there were options. She would do anything to make sure Jane was happy.

Maura would see those same qualities in her cousin, Vincent, over thirty years later.

Abby knew that Jane was truly beside herself with worry for her life mate. She was hoping to maybe glean some information that she could relay to her Sentinel, giving Jane's next conversation with Claire a starting point and maybe give her an advantage, should she need one. She was her ever vigilant Watcher always.

"Are you feeding regularly?"

Claire shot her a glowing green eyed glance and Abby quickly turned her attention back to the road. She saw the insanity bubbling just under the surface in those eyes and she certainly didn't want to do anything to trigger it, especially while she was driving. She'd seen enough of it already for one night. For a lifetime, truth be told.

"Just drive, Abby." Claire said, grinning. "I know what you are trying to do and I don't care to be a part of your amateur armchair psychoanalysis tonight. As soon as we get to your place, just invite me in and then call Jane. Then you're done in this little scenario, okay? Play your cards right and we will all be done with this whole thing by midnight."

Abby glanced at the little digital clock that glowed on the dash. It read 7:12. She didn't like the way this conversation was heading. It sounded like she meant to do something to her Sentinel. "I can't let you hurt Jane, Claire. I'm her Watcher and it's my sworn duty to protect her, at all costs." She said, quietly but with conviction.

Claire glared at Abby again, yelling, her voice booming in the cabin of the car. "Why is everyone always trying to protect Jane?! She's a fucking Sentinel for Christ's sake! One of the most powerful beings to ever walk the face of the planet and yet everyone I've spoken to about her has been practically pissing all over themselves to fall on their swords for her! I don't get it! Why is that, Watcher? Explain it to me!"

Abby exited the freeway and stopped at the red light at the end of the ramp, turning to look at Claire, who was still glaring at her, the rain tapping on the roof and the wipers the only sound in the car. She had to be careful. She knew that Claire had passed the breaking point and she was now sharing a ride with a lunatic.

"Because, Claire. We all love her." She said, softly, soothingly, she hoped. "Or, at the very least, we respect her. She's been a Sentinel in this quadrant for a very long time. And in all those centuries, she's been nothing but fair and just in all her dealings with not only the vampires that cross her path, but with the humans, as well." She looked over at Claire, trying to judge her mood. "And the Council holds her in the highest regard. She's pretty much been given free reign in her area. She rarely has to report to them anymore."

She didn't dare tell Claire the hell the Council gave Jane for turning her without their consent. Jane had a hard time figuring out why and the Council was very vague in giving her an answer.

Claire groaned, rolling her eyes. "There's that word again. Respect! Apparently, that's a big deal around here, huh?!"

Abby nodded, the light changing. She drove on. "It is. Permission and respect mean everything in the vampire world. And not for nothing, Claire, you could've garnered that same respect just by being her mate. You still could, if you'd just end this vendetta you have against her and start over. She'd forgive you of everything. Really, she would. You'd have to earn her trust again, sure. But eventually, she'd give it to you, you know. I mean, you're her life mate. You two have forever now, right?"

"What makes you think I want anything that Jane has to offer me, Abby? I'm done with this whole entire thing. And who wants to live forever…like this?"

It slowly dawned on Abby what she was implying. Claire didn't want to kill Jane. She wanted Jane to kill her.

R&I R&I R&I

Maura leaned forward to get her wine and Jane reached it for her, handing her the glass before pulling Maura back into her arms.

"Thank you." Maura said, quietly, sipping the last of the wine from the glass and sitting it down on her thigh, holding it at the base and twisting the stem between her fingers.

"You're welcome." Jane said, softly. "Would you like more?"

Maura shook her head, feeling the effects of the wine, realizing that she was, in fact, incredibly, getting sleepy. She wasn't sure if it was solely because of the wine on her now empty stomach or just the entirety of the day finally catching up with her.

Jane gently took the glass from her hand and set it back on the coffee table, once again, pulling Maura back into her arms, which Maura easily snuggled into.

Jane leaned her head back onto the honey blonde's and reveled in her warmth, enjoying the smell of her hair, reminiscing about how much her life had changed over these last three days and nights, sighing aloud.

"Everything okay, Jane?"

Jane nodded. "Absolutely, my love. I'm actually just sitting here thinking about how after Claire, I wasn't sure if I ever even wanted to bond again. And it's been so long, I thought maybe my wish had come true. And then you." She said, pulling her closer, her fingertips moving lazily up and down her doctor's back. "So fearless and smart. Beautiful and brave. So…perfect."

Maura laughed quietly into Jane's shoulder, blushing yet again, her skin tingling through her shirt under Jane's touch. "I'm hardly all that, Jane." She said, no hint of false modesty. "But thank you for saying it."

She leaned up and kissed Jane's long neck, feeling her warm skin, needing to be close to her vampire. She grazed her lips over her throat, knowing that just under the surface there was blood. Jane's blood, fresh and warm, not pumping through her heart, but still there, nonetheless. She kissed her neck again, her lips lingering. Something clicked deep inside of her, like a lever being thrown.

Jane smiled at the feeling of Maura's soft lips on her neck, the now familiar tingle in her stomach and loins beginning to build. She silently scolded herself for allowing her appetite for Maura to surface so quickly and inappropriately, knowing now was not the time. Soon, but not now.

She was completely unaware that Maura was fighting her own building appetite, not just for sex with Jane, even though that was definitely present, even more so suddenly. But there was something else.

Maura turned in Jane's arms, maneuvering herself closer to Jane's neck, her lips never leaving it, moving her hand to Jane's face, cradling her chin, intentionally turning Jane's head away slightly.

Jane smiled, offering her neck to Maura, oblivious to her mate's changing state of mind. She merely thought that Maura was in need of her closeness and affection. It had been a long day, after all. She herself was beginning to feel slightly drained, her four hour nap wearing off.

Maura drew in a lungful of Jane's unique smell and kissed her neck again, her tongue snaking out, licking it, tenderly at first, then more insistent. Soon she was sucking on the large vein just under her mouth, nipping at it gingerly, moaning quietly, pulling Jane closer.

Jane noticed the change in Maura's demeanor, pulling Maura closer, still thinking that she was merely in a heightened state of desire, her own ratcheting up a notch at the thought of making love to her doctor again, maybe sooner rather than later, after all.

It wasn't until Maura's stomach growled loudly and she nipped a little too hard that Jane understood what was going on.

She quickly but gently pushed Maura back away from her throat. "Whoa!" She said, taking her by the shoulders, staring into her eyes, looking for the signs. "Slow down, baby." She said, tenderly, holding Maura's head while she studied her face.

Maura's pupils were completely dilated, her face flushed, her breathing shallow and quick. To anyone else, even to Maura, if she looked at herself in the mirror, she would appear only to be in the throes of sexual arousal. But Jane knew better. If Maura had been able to turn, she would be in her complete vampire form now.

Jane didn't want to alarm Maura as she asked. "May I?" She gestured to Maura's mouth, specifically asking permission to examine her teeth, incredulous that this could possibly be happening.

Maura, still in a slight fugue, her eyes glassy, still leaning in towards Jane, licking her lips, didn't respond.

Jane shook her gently, pulling her back into the moment. "Wha…? What's happening?"

"I need to look at your teeth, Maura." Jane said, more forcefully. She needed to see if they had changed in any way before Maura completely recovered.

Maura nodded as if in a trance, opening her mouth slightly, leaning her head back.

Jane gently lifted her lip on one side, closely examining her upper canine, tilting Maura's head back further, looking behind the tooth at the gums and palate, then repeating the process for the other side.

Nothing looked out of the ordinary, just Maura's beautiful straight white human teeth.

Maura was suddenly completely lucid.

"What's going on, Jane?" She asked, seeing the look of concern on Jane's face, suddenly alarmed that maybe she'd done something to hurt her life mate in some way. She had a lingering feeling of guilt along with something else…aggression or wantonness, she wasn't sure which, maybe a little of both.

She was certainly sure of one thing, though. She suddenly felt like she was starving to death.

R&I R&I R&I

"Let's get you fed." Jane said, extricating herself from Maura, standing and offering her hand to her doctor, casually picking up the wine glass with the the other, trying to keep them both from shaking.

Jane was internally taking notes on how often Maura needed to feed. She herself was satisfied with once a day, twice if she was overly active. But this would be Maura's second feeding in less than ten hours. She wondered if this was normal for her or just a result of her body's rapidly changing metabolism. If this was her normal, then Jane would need to make sure to have more blood delivered than she just recently ordered.

Maura looked up at Jane, confused. "What just happened? I feel like I lost time or something. One minute we were talking and snuggling and then the next your hands are in my mouth."

"I'm sorry, Maura. I was just looking at your teeth." Jane said, trying to keep the tremor out of her voice, not wanting to alarm Maura.

Maura nodded, still looking up at Jane. "I know what you were doing, Jane. My question is, why were you doing it?"

Jane offered her hand again and Maura took it, allowing herself to be pulled up off the couch and led to the kitchen island, sitting down on the now familiar barstool.

"Eat first, please." She said to Maura, leaning over and kissing her on the cheek, before she walked around the island to the fridge, placing the wine glass in the sink, running water into it.

Maura wasn't having any of this. She felt like Jane was managing her and not giving her the information she needed and deserved. This is not how she wanted to be treated in this relationship and she wasn't going to give Jane a pass just because she herself may have lapsed into a momentary loss of memory. She expected more from Jane.

"No. Tell me what's going on, Jane." She said calmly, yet firmly. "What just happened to me?"

Jane opened the fridge and took out a fresh bag of blood, checking the expiration date just to be sure, knowing full well that her trusted supplier would never bring her bad blood, but checking anyway out of habit. Times hadn't always been as good as they were now and bad blood can sometimes be deadly for a vampire, especially a new one. Satisfied, she put it in the microwave and set the timer. She opened the cabinet and took out a glass, sitting it down on the counter. She did all this with her back to Maura.

Maura sat there watching this, wide eyed and open mouthed, not accustomed to being ignored. "Jane?"

No response.

She squinted at her, closing her mouth and setting her jaw, still in disbelief as Jane continued to make her meal. "Jane!"

Jane turned to Maura, tight lipped, not meeting her eyes, giving her the respect she deserved by acknowledging her, but still lost in thought, her own mind trying to process what had just happened on the couch. Or more to the point, what had almost just happened on the couch.

If she hadn't stopped Maura, she surely would've bitten her, drawing her blood into her mouth, swallowing it, pulling it into her system, possibly making her turning process moot.

Jane was trying to come to grips with the fact, that, once again, she had no idea what was going on with her new mate. Not only could she not feel Maura's emotions, she couldn't predict these new behaviors that she was exhibiting or when they would make themselves known.

And Maura wasn't aware of the way things had to be done in order to turn a human. If the steps weren't followed in sequence, then the human couldn't be turned at all.

She knew she'd told Maura of the ritual before, but she wasn't sure now if Maura knew of its importance. There could be no deviation.

If what Colin had said was true, and Maura had to be turned by a vampire into one, then what could've just happened would've been disastrous.

Maura had almost, unknowingly, just killed herself.

If Jane couldn't turn her, then she would never be able to transition into what the Council had meant for her to ultimately become, their hybrid. And if Maura couldn't transition, then by default, she would die.

Jane swallowed. Her dry throat clicked loudly. Her body was suddenly wracked with the shakes, as the consequences of what, only minutes ago, almost took place, settled into her mind. She gripped the edge of the island with both hands trying to steady herself, leaning over, looking straight down at the granite countertop, seeing nothing, her mind trying to regain control of her body as the spasms took over. She was trying to maintain control for Maura. She desperately didn't want to scare her.

But the enormity of how close she'd just came to losing her mate before their life together had even started was just too much. She made no sound as the tears formed in their ducts then made their way across her corneas and dropped straight down onto the smooth surface below, as she stared wide eyed down at it. The tears kept coming as she desperately tried to hold onto her self control. She blinked once, and like Abby's wipers clearing the windshield of her car over thirty years ago, her vision was clear, however, the counter below was now covered with her tears. She let go of the edge of the island and quickly grabbed the dish towel, rubbing it over them, trying to erase their presence, for Maura's sake, knowing full well that her doctor had been watching this entire scene.

As if on cue. "Jane? What's wrong? Baby?"

Jane was still trying to shield Maura from the seriousness of everything. In that moment, it became frighteningly real just how she couldn't do that anymore, that she shouldn't do that anymore.

Everything that was happening to her soul mate was truly out of her control. She needed to accept that and do what was best for Maura now. She was not used to giving up control in any situation, but for Maura, she would willingly give up everything.

Deep down she knew that both of their lives depended on it.

If Maura didn't live through this turning process, then Jane would put in a formal request to the Council that her own life be terminated.

Maura was more than her life mate, she was her savior. It wasn't until she bonded with the M.E. that she realized how she had just been going through the motions since Claire died.

In one way or another, they would both either live together forever or both die in the next forty-eight hours.

R&I R&I R&I

"She's almost here." Claire said, hearing the big knobby tires on Jane's Jeep hammering against the pavement a few blocks away. She was smiling at Abby as they sat opposite each other in Abby's living room, Claire leaning back casually in the armchair, legs widely crossed, the foot that dangled over her knee, moving up and down.

Abby sat up, stock straight, on the edge of the sofa, her hands on her knees, watching Claire closely.

Claire leaned back further and reached into the front pocket of her jeans and took out the little brown vial again, twisting off the lid, dipping the spoon in.

"I'd really prefer that you didn't do drugs in my home, Claire." Abby said, holding Claire's crazy green eyes with her own baby blue.

Claire stopped midway to her nose, still smiling. She shrugged the familiar 'I don't care' and continued the journey to her nose, sniffing deeply, the powder disappearing instantly. She repeated the process for the other nostril, replacing the vial again.

Her foot immediately picked up its pace.

"How long have you been doing cocaine, Claire?" Abby asked, the social worker in her taking over.

"Why do you care?"

Abby shrugged. "Just making conversation."

"Long enough."

Abby nodded. "You know, it's really not good for a vampire's brain anatomy. Your senses are already so heightened that it eventually starts to short circuit them. But the good news is that the symptoms are reversible, given enough time off the drug. So, if you quit now, in a couple of weeks, it would be like you'd never used at all."

Abby was trying to get a timeline on how long Claire planned on being around. Because she'd definitely gotten the impression earlier that she was contemplating ending things soon. Very soon, actually. Like maybe even tonight.

"You are just an absolute font of information." Claire said, mocking Abby's serious tone. "Do you get extra credit from Jane for spouting these little nuggets?"

She ignored Claire's sarcasm. She was used to dealing with it all day at work.

Abby didn't want Jane to have to deal with the pain of losing her mate, so she was trying to talk Claire into looking at her future with a little more optimism.

"We could get you into a program, Jane and I. Immediately…no waiting."

Claire guffawed! "Are you telling me that there is a twelve step for vampire junkies?! You are joking, right?"

Abby shook her head, feeling that maybe she was making some headway. "There are lot of things out there for vampires, Claire. Not just recovery programs, but all sorts of things. Bowling leagues, different hobby meetings, movie nights, book clubs. Even a group that meets to discuss politics, both human and vampire, with humans and vampires together. Tons of things all geared only for vampires, too. A whole other world coexisting right along with their human equivalents. Jane started a lot of them herself. She feels that a bored vampire is a dangerous vampire. The more connected you all are with each other, the less alienated you feel. It's the same way with humans. We do have things in common, Claire."

"Oh, my God! She really is a saint, isn't she?!" Claire almost shouted. "Saint Jane! When are you all going to finally break down and actually canonize her?"

Abby began to speak, but stopped as Claire held up her hand. "She's here."

Shortly after, Jane pounded on Abby's door.

Abby looked at Claire, who nodded, moving her head towards the door, indicating that she wanted Abby to answer it. She got up quickly, walking down the small hallway to her front door out of Claire's line of vision and did as she was instructed.

Jane stood just outside, her wide brown eyes filled with concern. She reached out and took Abby by the shoulders gently, leaning down to look into her eyes. "Are you okay? Has she hurt you?"

Abby shook her head, leaning closer to Jane, whispering. "No, Jane. I'm fine. But she's definitely not. She's using cocaine and it seems like she's been using it for quite some time."

Jane closed her eyes , grimacing. "I thought so." She looked at Abby again, sadness replacing concern. "She seemed a little jumpy the last time we saw each other when I met her to discuss her new lease. Did she say how long?"

Once again, Abby shook her her head. "But long enough." She whispered, twirling her finger in circles near her right ear, indicating silently that Claire wasn't of sound mind.

On cue, Claire said from the living room. "Hellooooo! I can hear you! Vampire, remember?"

Jane looked past Abby down the hallway then back into her eyes, squeezing her shoulders, silently thanking her for everything and apologizing at the same time. She moved to walk past Abby when her Watcher stopped her.

She silently mouthed the words. 'Be careful.'

Jane smiled slightly, nodding then leaning forward and quickly kissing Abby on the forehead. Unlike Vince, Abby didn't mind receiving affection from Jane.

She walked down the hall, dropping her bag on the floor next to the table where Abby usually put her keys and briefcase. She went straight over to Claire, standing in front of her and knocking her foot off her knee, indicating right away that she was not happy with her mate.

"What the hell's wrong with you?" She said, sternly, leaning over and grabbing Claire by the front of her hoodie, maneuvering her out of her casual seated position. "Sit up straight."

Abby stood at the end of the hall and Claire looked around Jane towards her, embarrassed at how easily Jane had established dominance over her. Jane stepped into her line of sight, blocking her view.

"Don't look at her, Claire. Look at me." She said, crossing her arms over her chest, leaning her weight onto one hip. "You wanted me here. I'm here."

Claire looked up at Jane, a smirk making its way across her face, her mind shifting gears quickly, completely forgetting that Abby was even in the room.

"So…how've you been, Jane?" She asked, crossing her legs, silently challenging Jane to knock her foot off again.

Jane saw this and, once again, didn't take the bait that Claire dangled. Instead she leaned down into her face, her hands on the arms of the chair, her eyes shifting from chocolate to ice blue, not quite enraged, but moving quickly towards it.

She stared deeply into Claire's eyes, trying to decipher the reasoning behind her actions, hoping desperately that it wasn't too late for her life mate. She saw only emptiness and desperation. It confirmed what her connection to Claire's emotions had been telling her these past few days.

There was no hope for her lover.

Claire was not only dead on the outside, as all vampires were. She was completely dead on the inside, as well.

Thanks for all the great reviews and follows! Thank you especially for my regular reviewers! I do look forward to reading them after every chapter! And to all my new reviewers, thanks to you, as well! It is really what makes a fanfic writer's world go 'round! Please keep them coming!