Disclaimer: Still not mine--though MAYBE, if I ask my grandparents REALLY nice, they'll buy the show for me, and then I can do whatever I want with it! YEAH! Okay, so, that's about as likely as this story to ever actually happen, but hey, it's nice to dream. So, without any FURTHER ado...

Call of the Blood

Chapter 2: "All The Crazies Are Out Tonight..."

The half moon shone down from the heavens, illuminating the night in it's strange light. The silvery rays cut through the blackness of the night, giving both Caitie and Jamie light to see by as they walked away from the library, the chilly air making them walk just a bit faster then normal.

It had been a cold September, following an abnormally hot August. The temperature hadn't gotten above sixty since the first day of the month, and every day had been punctuated by cloudy, gray skies and cold, cutting wind. It rained three days out of four, and the wind blew like a hurricane on the forth day. Caitie listened to the weather every morning, thanks to her mother's avid interest in the weather channel and it's muzak, and it looked like there was no break in sight from the rainy cold weather.

Caitie's arms were crossed across her chest in an attempt to keep warm, her teeth chattering softly. Dressed in only a short black dress and stockings, she was regretting her decision not to bring a jacket to school that morning. But it hadn't been that cold, somewhere around sixty, but the chilly air set in sometime around lunch time. This was one time she really wished that she had listened to her mother when the woman had ordered her to wear a jacket.

Suddenly, to her surprise, a heavy warmth was settled around her shoulders, and she looked down at it, shocked. Jamie's black leather jacket was settled around her shoulders, and when she looked back up at her, he smiled.

"You looked cold."

"Thanks...but aren't you cold now?" Caitie asked, eyeing his short sleeved red shirt, The young man shook his head, running his fingers through his dark spikes.

"Nope." Jamie promised her, thumping the book against the palm of his right hand. A sudden, cold chill rolled up Caitie's spine, and she quivered again, slipping her arms into Jamie's jacket and hugging herself.

"Are you sure?" Caitie demanded, eternally grateful but willing to give him his jacket back if he asked for it.

"Positive. I'm not cold at all. Come on, let's go." Jamie requested, his dark eyes scanning the surrounding area, a hint of something like worry forcing it's way into his tone.

A horrible feeling set into the pit of his stomach--like a warning of some sort. And it wasn't just the tingling-in-the-bottom-of-your-stomach-to-let-you-know-the-girl-you-like-is-watching-you-so-you-had-better-not-make-a-fool-of-yourself warning, but the -oh-my-God-get-out-of-there-now-are-you're-gonna-DIE-stomach-dropping-heartbeat-thumping warning. Taking a deep breath, the young man began to walk faster, wondering if he could get away with scooping Caitie up and sprinting with her to the nearest shelter. Something told him that the answer to that question was "no", so hae had better hurry up and get her out of there, before whatever it was that was giving him the freaky warning decided to make itself known.

"Okay..." She agreed, quickening her step to keep up with Jamie's long legged strides. "What is it?"

"What is what?" Jamie asked, still walking rapidly toward her house, three blocks away.

"Why are you walking so fast?" His speed had been steadily increasing since he started, and by now, Caitie had to practically run to keep up with him.

"I'm not walking fast." Jamie denied, slowing down slightly so she could keep up.

"Yeah, right. What's up with you Waite? Afraid that the boogie man's going to get you?" Caitie teased, her dark eyes sparkling in the midnight air.

Jamie smirked at her, shaking his head. "No, I just want to get you home before something bad happens." He winced when he realized that he had said the last part, and shot a quick look at Caitie to see what she had made out of his statement.

"Something bad happens? What the hell are you talking about?" Caitie asked, stopping on a dime in the middle of the street.

"Nothing, nothing...come on, let's just go." He tried to cover for himself, reaching out to grab her elbow and tug her along with him. The feeling in the pit of his stomach was getting stronger, and he knew instinctively, whoever it was, they were getting closer.

"No. You tell me what's going on." Caitie demanded, wrenching her arm free of his grasp and crossing her arms over her chest. The stance didn't quite have the impact that she wanted it to--since Jamie was so much bigger then she was, his jacket sleeves hung past her hands, and when she crossed her arms, stuck out from her at odd angles.

Jamie had to smile, the feeling in his stomach temporarily forgotten--he was suddenly reminded of his littlest sister, wearing his jacket and lecturing him on "being proper". The girl in front of him glared, and stuck her tongue out at him, looking more then a little annoyed. He had to admit--she looked very cute in his jacket, way better then he ever did.

"What, exactly, do you find so funny?" She demanded, trying the keep the answering smile off of her face, her voice stern and unbending. The Carlson like tone was enough to tickle Jamie's funny bone, and he snorted with laughter, the warning seeming to lessen as he laughed.

"Nothing...just...you look..." More laughter punctuated Jamie's statement, his chuckles making it impossible for him to go on.

"Good enough to eat."