"Oh my God," Davy whispered.
"Poor guy." Micky said "imagine being killed by a wolf."
"I don't want to," Peter whispered.
"I'm going to be sick," Davy said and ran into the downstairs bathroom Micky followed.
"You okay Davy?" He asked as Davy dry-heaved.
"No," Davy whispered.
"What's wrong?" Micky asked.
"I-" Davy said right as the front door opened.
"Hey, guys," Mike's voice said, "I'm back."
"Hi," Peter said looking up "Where were you?"
"I needed to see someone," Mike said.
"What's with the newspapers?" Micky asked going to the bathroom door.
"I need to look up something." Mike said, "mind staying out of the downstairs bedroom for a few days?"
"Why?" Davy asked. Mike looked over at him.
"Feelin' better half-pint?" Mike asked. Davy scowled.
"He dry heaved when he found out that the guy the wolf attacked died," Micky said.
"Oh," Mike said pausing on his way into the downstairs bedroom "That's too bad."
Micky frowned, a little confused by Mike's response. His thoughts were interrupted when he heard Davy dry heave again.
"It's okay," he said softly, rubbing his back.
"I'm sorry," Davy choked out between coughs and heavy breaths.
"It's okay," Micky repeated. "Just breathe. Peter?"
Peter went and grabbed the cup of water, handing it to Micky.
"Here," he said, giving it to Davy. Davy took a small sip and slowly, his breathing was able to even out.
"Feel better?" Micky asked, taking back the cup.
"'M fine," he sighed, giving a slight nod. Micky stayed with him for a moment while Peter slipped out of the restroom, going to check on Mike.
The downstairs bedroom door was closed and Peter was hesitant to open it. He let out a slight sigh but knocked on it.
"Hey, Mike?" He called out. "Is everything okay?"
"Just fine Pete," Mike answered, "why?"
"Can I come in?" Peter asked.
"Yeah, just shut the door behind ya." Mike said. Peter turned the handle but the knob didn't turn.
"Can you unlock the door?" Peter asked.
"Oh, yeah." Mike's voice said Peter hear the click of the lock and he opened the door.
"What are you doing?" Peter asked. The newspapers were spread out all over the room. Mike scanned a sheet and then tossed it aside muttering.
"Research," Mike answered as he tossed another sheet of newspaper down. "See, I don't think this wolf attack was the first one."
"What do you mean?" Peter asked. Mike sighed and scanned another sheet.
"This can't be the only wolf attack." Mike said, "there has got to be more ah haa! Found it! July 10th 20-year-old Anna Hernandez was mauled by what police are thinking may be a wolf on her way home from a….a party at the University of California….help me find June 10th." Mike said and started going through the other newspapers in almost a fevered frenzy.
"What am I looking for?" Peter asked as he picked up a newspaper and scanned it.
"Anything that might be connected. It could be just a blip." Mike answered as he tossed a sheet aside.
Peter frowned and watched as Mike frantically pulled another pile of newspapers from the cabinet, throwing them down onto the ground.
"Are you okay, Mike?" He asked, confused and genuinely confused about his friend. He didn't know if he had ever seen Mike acting like this.
"I'm fine," he said almost immediately. "Just looking for something."
Peter nodded slowly, beginning to look through the stack as Mike pulled out another.
"Do you keep every newspaper?" He asked, head cocked slightly to the side.
"Not every one," Mike sighed, flipping through the pages. "Just the ones I feel I need to keep."
Peter looked at him for a moment before shrugging it off, flipping through each of the papers.
"What's the date you're looking for again?"
"June 10th," Mike said, then he let out a frustrated sigh, jumping up and beginning to pace. "I know I have that one somewhere around here…"
Peter looked down, eventually finding it and letting out a gasp.
"Found it!"
Mike's eyes went wide and he practically ran to Peter at full speed, snatching the paper out of his hands. On the front page was a story of someone who claimed to be attacked by a wolf.
"Yes!" Mike said excitedly, putting the three articles together. "I knew I had it!"
"What're you doing?" Peter asked, his concern returning for a moment. Mike let out a sigh, calming himself down enough to speak again.
"I just needed proof," he said cryptically, keeping his back toward Peter as he began to put the rest of the papers away, keeping the three main ones out.
"Okay." Peter said. Mike didn't answer as he read the article that Peter found.
"Sam Adams…Sam Adams? Really?" Mike said.
"What's wrong with Sam Adams?" Peter asked.
"Nothing," Mike said "Err, Sam Adams 20, was attacked by a wild animal, possibly a wolf, on his way home from studying at the University of California. Seems like all these attacks are happening around UCLA." Mike sighed.
"Mike," Peter asked.
"Hmm?" Mike said biting his lip as he reread the article "do you think Sam and Anna are still alive?" He starts going through the newspapers again.
"What are we looking for now?" Peter asked.
"Obituaries for Anna and Sam." Mike said "if they're not dead, then I'll go and talk to them. See if they remember anything."
"Why?" Peter asked.
"Nevermind," Mike said sighing.
"Are you thinking of finding the wolf?" Peter asked.
"No, are you nuts?" Mike asked.
"But you said you were-" Peter said.
"I didn't mean me," Mike said "I meant oh never mind. Let's go see how Davy is doing." Peter nodded as they left the bedroom.
"Find anything interesting?" Micky asked.
"Yeah, more pics for my scrapbook," Mike said brightly.
"You have a scrapbook?" Davy asked.
"Yeah," Mike said, "I keep articles of odd animal attacks."
"Why?" Micky asked looking at Mike.
"Because I'm weird," Mike answered.
"I'll say." Micky said shaking his head. Mike smiled.
"You don't know the half of it." Mike said.
"Please tell me you're not going to kill us in our sleep." Davy joked.
"No!" Mike said "no, what would I do that?"
"You just admitted to keeping articles about odd deaths Mike." Davy said "I'd like a heads up if you decide to make the pad a 'murder house.'" Mike looked at him.
"I promise, I will not kill you guys in your sleep."
Micky smiled.
"Well, that's a relief," he joked. Mike smiled and nodded slightly, turning his focus to Davy.
"How're you feeling?" He asked and Davy let out a sigh.
"Better," he said with a shrug. "Not by much but…"
His voice trailed off at the end as he looked down.
"Just tired…" he continued with a yawn to emphasize his point.
"Did you sleep okay last night?" Peter asked softly and Davy shook his head.
"Not really," he admitted. "But I'm okay."
"Just rest," Mike said in his Papa Nez tone. "Even if you can't fall asleep, it's important to still take it easy."
Davy smiled, amused by the sudden tone shift of the conversation but nodded and looked up at Mike.
"Thank you," he said. Mike nodded a "you're welcome" as Micky helped the Brit back up onto his feet, bringing him back into the living room. Davy groaned as Micky helped him back to the couch.
"Do you think you're coming down with the flu?" Mike asked as he felt Davy's forehead and the back of his neck frowning "you don't feel warm." He pulled the throw cover off the couch and tucked it around Davy "there you go. Just take it easy today." He repeated.
"Hmm, thanks Papa Nez." Davy smiled slightly.
"Do you want to watch TV?" Peter asked. Davy shook his head no.
"We can see if Mike will read to us," Micky said. Davy hummed and closed his eyes.
"I think he wants to sleep." Mike said "let's let him rest. We'll be quiet today."
"So no practice?" Micky asked. Mike sighed.
"I almost forgot, we got that gig day after next don't we?"
"Yeah, at that new discotheque," Micky answered. Mike bit his lip thinking.
"We'll see how Davy is feeling tomorrow," Mike decided "if he's up to practicing almost all day tomorrow then we'll do that, if not, then I'll call and cancel the gig." Peter nodded as Micky sighed.
"What?" Mike asked, "if Davy's not up to it-"
"No, you're right," Micky said, "the owner is wanting a four-man band, not one or two, if we can't we'll see if The Jolly Green Giants want it." Mike nodded but his mind was miles away.
"Mike?" Peter asked, snapping him out of his mind for a moment.
"Hmm?" Mike turned and looked over at the other two.
"What do we do today if we can't practice?" Micky asked.
"Whatever," Mike shrugged. "Just let Davy rest."
"We could go to the beach," Peter suggested and before anyone had the chance to respond, strange noises started coming from the couch. They all turned to him, confused and slightly concerned.
Davy, already deep in sleep, huffed and twitched, constantly moving around on the couch. It looked like he was running. Mike frowned and went over to the sleeping man.
"Davy?" He whispered running a hand through Davy's hair. Davy didn't answer but he pulled away from Mike's touch and growled. Mike drew his hand away and got up looking at Peter and Micky.
"What on Earth-" Mike started to say but got cut off as Davy woke up with a howl that turned into a scream.
"Hey, hey, hey, hey, hey," Mike said as he went back over to Davy. Davy looked around eyes wide.
"Hey, Davy?" Mike said "it's okay. You're okay. It was just a dream." Davy turned and looked at Mike and started crying.
"I-I'm sorry, I'm so sorry, I-I didn't mean to. Y-you g-got to bel-believe me." Mike made his way back over to Davy and ran his hand down Davy's back making Davy jump slightly.
"Shh, it's okay Davy," He said, "it was just a dream."
"B-but I-I at-attacked y-you t-three," Davy said.
"It's all these wolf attacks," Mike answered, "don't worry they'll find the wolf and put it down." Davy shuttered at that. Mike pulled Davy into a hug as the Brit began to cry again.
"I-I'm s-so sorry," he sobbed as Mike began rubbing his back.
"You have nothing to apologize for," he said softly. "You didn't do anything wrong."
Davy felt himself almost tell them then, but couldn't as another round of sobbing interrupted him. Mike frowned and reached for the cup of water on the coffee table, handing it to Davy.
"You alright, Davy?" Micky asked and Davy turned, noticing the other two looking at him, concerned. Davy sighed and nodded slightly, wiping his face.
"Yeah," he whispered. "Sorry if I freaked you out…"
"It's okay," Mike said as Davy took a sip, his hands trembling. "The big bad wolf isn't gonna hurt you."
"Yeah, Mike is already looking into it." Peter said. Davy looked at him a flicker of fear in his eyes as Micky just stared at him.
"Peter," Micky said "What do you mean 'Mike's already looking into it.'" Micky asked as Davy pulled away from Mike and got up shakily.
"Davy," Mike said "You need to re-"
"No," Davy said, "I need to leave." Peter looked from Mike and Davy to Micky who was still waiting for an answer.
"Mike has all kinds of articles in the second bedroom about the wolf attacks going back to June," Peter said.
"Peter," Mike said warningly.
"He said that he was going to go and talk to the other two, Sam and Anna." Davy looked at Mike.
"There were survivors?" He asked. Mike nodded.
"Thank God." Davy said.
"Why are you going to talk to them?" Micky asked suspiciously. Mike groaned and rubbed his temple.
"He also found out that all the attacks were around the University of California," Peter said. Davy paled. That was around where Elaine lived.
"Okay, hold up." Micky said putting his hands out as if to stop something "Mike, why are you looking into this-Davy sit your butt down." Mike and Peter looked over at Davy who had almost made it to the door. Davy meekly went back to the couch and sat down. Peter sat down next to him and slung an arm around his shoulder to keep him there.
"Mike?" Micky repeated. Mike bit his lip then started pacing.
"I can't-I shouldn't-" Mike said "It's a family secret." He said.
"But aren't we part of your family?" Peter asked.
"You are, but not like that. I don't want to drag you three into it." Mike said as he continued to pace "If I tell you then you'll either laugh at me or kick me out."
"We'll be in the same boat then," Davy said.
"What was that?" Mike asked.
"Nothing," Davy answered.
"Why do I have a feeling both of you are hiding something?" Micky asked. Mike didn't answer but grabbed his coffee cup and refilled it and added sugar and started stirring it in, the spoon clanging on the side. They watched him go back and forth from one end of the living room to the other stirring his coffee every once in a while and glancing at them.
"Mike?" Peter asked, "are-are you okay?" Mike didn't answer him. Finally, he stopped abruptly and turned to face them.
"I hunt monsters." He said. Davy, Micky and Peter looked at him.
