Entering the makeshift lab, she winced at the white walls. Leave it to the Council to find time to paint the walls hospital-white, even though they were in a subterranean cave. One of the technicians nodded a greeting to her.

"He's in 5B. Do you want a stun gun?" she asked, and Kate shook her head. She always carried her own weapons- that way she could count on them working when she needed them to.

Sliding the door open cautiously, she stepped into his 'holding room.' He was curled up on the small mat, and winced as the light sliced into his eyes. Turning the overhead lights on, she took a seat at the chair set up near the door.

She waited until he took his hand from his eyes and peered at her before speaking. "How are you doing?" she asked conversationally, just as she'd been taught.

He snorted, but then winced- that small movement clearly hurting him. Kate wondered just how long he'd been in the custody of the Master.

"Where am I?" he croaked, and Kate considered her answer. Deciding on a truthful one, she answered.

"You're in the company of the Watcher's Council," she replied, and his gaze shot up to hers, clearly surprised.

"Why?" he asked, and Kate shrugged.

"We hoped you could trade information with us," she supplied, and a look of comprehension flitted over his face.

Kate found herself strangely drawn into his brown gaze, and she fought the urge to break eye contact. When he broke it a second later, she felt oddly defeated. His head sunk slightly.

"You think I know where the Master is," he said dully, and Kate nodded- though he couldn't see it.

"We hoped that your…previous experience with him would lead you to helping our cause," she replied evenly, not seeing any point in lying.

"You should have just left me there. I don't know where the Master is. And I'd rather die in that cell than here," he said quietly.

Kate was slightly surprised by his defeated tone. She couldn't believe she was trying to reason with the very thing that had tried to kill her on many occasions, and had killed her partner that day.

But she reminded herself this was for the good of the council. She could not give in to her feelings of slight concern over him.

"How'd you end up like this?" she asked, attempting to move the conversation on a different course. He choked out a slight laugh, and glanced back up.

"Because I wasn't evil enough," he said, and Kate blinked.

"Wasn't evil enough?" she echoed, not completely understanding. His mouth curved up.

"Didn't you read the file on me?" he asked, and noted her blank expression.

Then she quickly regained her control- furious with Travers for not sharing all the information he had on this vampire with her. She didn't like not knowing things.

Pulling himself into a more seated position, he explained. "I…from the time I was made, I was different. I didn't have the blood lust, didn't have the urge to kill. Some claim it was because of a curse laid on my sire. I really am not sure why. But I always tried to help humans. Had to fight my kind, and was labeled a traitor," his breath hitched, and he had to stop for a moment.

"I see," Kate murmured, her thoughts tangled. She certainly didn't believe him. All vampires had the urge to kill, maim, and generally exact indecent acts on the innocent. She realized that the topic had diverted from her original assignment.

"So you refuse to tell us where the Master is?" she questioned, trying not to let on how off balance his very presence made her.

He sighed. "No. I *can't* tell you where the Master is because I don't know. Believe me, I want him taken down as much as you do," he said, his gaze open and guileless.

Believe him. Right. Because he claimed he wasn't a ruthless killer. Sure. And after that, he could sell her nice little coffin with her name engraved on it.

Standing abruptly, she moved to leave.

"Kate," he called out, and she froze. Who had told him her name? She turned to face him, and he looked up at her from pain filled eyes.

"I'm not like the others," he said. Kate laughed.

"Sure you aren't," she said mockingly, then exited the room. She walked slowly back to room, not stopping to talk to anybody. Reaching her door, she quickly entered and slammed it shut, locking the deadbolts.

Yanking her laptop out of her desk, she brought it to her bed and sat down. Quickly entering the file storage, she tried to access all records on this vampire, but couldn't find any. She pursed her lips.

Obviously, Travers was keeping something from her. She didn't believe the vampire when he claimed he wasn't 'evil' but there was something about him that didn't sit right with her.

She'd check it out in the morning. Thus resolved, she got into her pajamas and settled into her bed. But when she closed her eyes, all she saw was his tortured brown eyes.

And the questions that reverberated in her head would not stop. What was it about him that kept drawing her closer? She'd never had this sort of reaction before.

She knew she'd have to find out more before she could close the book on this case.