Welcome back! This is part one of a long story I'm working on.

I'll be updating this once a week. I don't want to update too often because I am still writing part two, and I don't want there to be too big a break between the different parts. I'm giving myself some breathing room to keep working.

I've been putting a lot of hours into this one, so any kudos and comments are most welcome.

I really hope you enjoy the story!

Much love.

(Disclaimer - I don't own DBH, the characters or the universe. Just the humble OCs and plot of this story.)

The Clock Struck Twelve

"Jack? Jack!" Reed shouted as he kicked open the thick wooden door with his gun drawn and raised. It wasn't twelve yet. He still had time. Why had the idiot gone off by himself? What the fuck was he going to tell Sandy and Kitty if something happened to that prick? Reed's heart pounded as he looked up into the open stone walled tower above. He couldn't see anything besides the rickety wooden stairs and the aged brass bells hanging in the dusty darkness above. It looked like no one had been there in years, except Reed could see the shoe marks on the stairs from where the first body had been discovered. Back to the same fucking clock. "Hang on buddy…" The brunette murmured anxiously, licking his dry lips as he pressed himself against the faded white wall to peer up the shadowy staircase, sweeping the various angles with his gun.

The stairs spiralled up through the tower, so Reed had to be careful. He tried to be as quiet as possible, checking each turn as he went. He tried not to think about the other eleven victims, and how they'd all died on the hour, working up from one to eleven O'clock. He was still on time. Jack should still be alright. He still had a few minutes to get to the top of the stairs. He listened as he went, flinching with each small creak the wooden stairs made. He was early, so the killer could still be there lying in wait.

There was a light breeze coming from the open bell tower above, sending small clouds of dust particles floating down. He could hear a small scraping creaking sound on the wooden floor above.Is it Jack? He wondered warily as he kept going, the muffled sounds of distress getting louder as he headed up further. He could hear grunting along with the scraping. Someone was up there. Struggling. Reed's heart leapt in his throat. He's still alive!

"Jack?" He called a little louder, throwing caution to the wind as he raced up the last few steps to another door. The door that led into the bell tower. The moaning became urgent at the sound of Reed's voice outside. "Hold on! I'm coming!" Reed assured as he shouldered the old door. That was the problem with older doors. They were bloody solid. Made to last. His shoulder ached as he rammed it again and again. Each time he hit it the sounds inside became more frantic, the scraping sounding insistent on the floor. Reed shouted another assurance as he stepped back and aimed his gun at the lock, shooting the frame near the mechanism. With another two good barges the door finally gave.

Reed stumbled through, his head looking up as he heard a slight metallic ping and a loud bang. He dropped to the dusty wooden floor and rolled, raising his gun and looking around to sweep the area. It was suddenly quiet. Far too quiet. The quick, instinctive sweep of the room told him no one else was there. As he looked up he became aware of a dull dripping sound, his stomach lurching as he saw the body slumped on the wooden chair, tied in place.

"Jack?" Reed murmured, his voice quivering as he stumbled towards the chair.No…no-no-no-no-no…He could barely breathe as his throat choked on a sob, his eyes already streaming as he reached the man. His body was still warm. Of course it fucking was. He'd been alive moments earlier. But…how? The detective wondered numbly as he cupped his partner's warm cheeks. He was clean shaven as usual, light brown hair short and neatly cut, his skin pink and flushed besides the stream of dark red blood dripping steadily from the holes in his temple. "Hey…Jack, come on…Come on buddy, you can't…You can't just…Phck!" He cursed as he felt frantically for a pulse.

His bloodied hands trembled as he got his phone out, shaking so badly he could barely light up the screen and dial. He managed to stammer out his name before the deafening tolls sounded. Reed fell to the floor clutching his head, wailing pathetically over the sound of the bells as they struck twelve.I was early! He was supposed to be alive! He was alive! It wasn't twelve yet! He thought bitterly, barely able to bring himself to move after that.

He must have made the call successfully because some time later, he didn't know how long, a paramedic appeared at his side. He was barely lucid as they sat him up and tried to talk about what had happened. Besides a couple of bruises on his shoulders and the shock he was fine. The young woman was kind and patient as she tried to coax Reed into going with her to the ambulance. He heaved a few dry sobs as he noticed the black bag laid out while the medic's co-workers cut the ropes from his partner's body.Phck! I was early! He thought again, his whole body shaking. He looked up as there was a mechanical click and a crackling speaker sounded from somewhere.

"Hickory Dickory Dock, The mouse ran up the clock. The clock struck noon, He's here too soon! Hickory Dickory Dock. Tick-tock tick-tock tick-tock." The twisted child's voice sang, sending shivers down Reed's spine as a sick feeling settled in his stomach. His breath caught as he stumbled to his feet, the paramedic trying to catch his arm as he started looking around frantically. He caught sight of the rifle attached to the wall across from the bells.It was a set up?He thought in disbelief, his legs giving out as he saw the electronic mechanism above the door. I did this…When I broke through the door it…

"Detective!" A young woman's voice cried as Reed fell to his knees, a roar of despair leaving his lips as he clawed the wooden flooring. He set me up! He knew I'd be early from the start! He fucking…Reed barely heard the paramedic as his head span.