SKIN
As he walked the long hallway to his apartment Darien Fawkes thought to himself how long and exhausting the past few days had been. The official wanted to debrief, but considering how long the past few days had been he said it could wait until morning. He turned his wrist to look at his snake tattoo as he walked, there were only 3 red, so for now he was safe. He walked to the door of his apartment and leaned his head against the door frame he couldn't believe how tired he was. Where were his keys? He wondered as he checked all of his pockets then finally he pulled them out of his jacket pocket. His hands shook as he fumbled for the right key and almost dropped them. He reached the key towards the lock shaking furiously when something startled him from behind that made him drop his keys.
He was exasperated as he looked down at the keys. "Hey there partner came a voice from behind. It was a short pushy little man by the name of Bobby Hobbes. "Can't open the freakin' door with the freakin' key there partner?' he said as he reached down for the key and opened the door.
Why was Bobby here? Couldn't he just let me get some sleep isn't he as tired as I am? Fawkes thought to himself as he stumbled through the doorway. Bobby turned over Darien's wrist to look at his tattoo. "You alright?" Bobby asked, as he walked Darien into the room and sat him on the couch. Darien pulled his arm away from him angrily. "I'm fine what are you my shadow?!!!"
No. the official told me to keep an eye on you and that's what I'm doing"
"Well you can go back and tell Mr. Borden everything's just fine!"
"I see what your sayin' Fawkes but I'm not leavin' you know why?
No. Hobbes but I bet your going to tell me why?
Because partners don't leave partners when the partner is in need even if the partner wants the other partner to leave 'cause the partner don't know what's good for him so there I'm not leavin'."

Darien sat there in disgust at his partner but gave up fighting with him and slowly tried to get up but with no results. He was just too exhausted. Bobby came over and helped him over to his bed. "See what would you do without me?"
"I don't know Hobbes he said as he sat down on his bed in pure exhaustion. He sat there and ran his fingers through his hair as he laid down slowly on his bed. Then next thing he knew flashes of the last three days occurrences went through his mind.
Then there was the memory of his brother then Simon Cole everything from the past year seemed to rush through his mind.
Bobby looked over at Darien, he almost lost his partner and he would never let that happen again. Bobby sat there in the dark ready for the next predator. He would protect his partner and no one was getting past Bobby Hobbes with that he fell fast asleep.
********************

3 days earlier back in lab 101. The keeper sat at her desk going over the latest test results.
Just then, Darien walked in she had been expecting him. It was shot day, and she had some very bad news for Darien that he wasn't going to like..(TO BE CONTINUED)