Standard disclaimer applies.

R.E.R. : Read, Enjoy, and Review. ^^

AN: Thank you's are in store for Ash [my motivation with the whole deal xD] and LS [for editting *ravishes you mad and promises not to make too many comma splices]. And, to those who reviewed. *huggles you all* ^_^

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Serena woke, eyes wide, pupils dilated, in the pitch black darkness of her room.

Tangled in her bed sheets, she reached out a hand out for the clock she'd set out last night on the nearby desk. She moved it closer to her so the large red numbers were in view. 5:43 AM.

Fumbling for the switch on the bedside lamp, she sat up. Shaking slightly, she picked at the oversized tee she'd put on to wear to sleep. It was damp, clinging to her skin that was slick with sweat. Her face was pale with a light sheen of moisture above her brow as she leaned the back of her head against the wall.

What was that? What kind of dream iwas/i that? She shuddered.

She closed her eyes and was swept back into the last hour of the vivid bone- chilling dream.

She was lost, lost in shadowed greenery in the middle of the night. Dark clouds, ominous-looking, rolled over the pale moon, draping everything in darkness. She had been stuck in shadows that were ebony black, and not a single flicker of light could shine through. Everything was ice cold with a dense fog blanketing the dirt path she was on.

She had followed the path, walking, then jogging, then running with adrenalin pumping through her body. The path never stopped, but she grew tired. She needed to reach the end. It was all she knew.

She could hear the twigs snap as she'd ran. She realized that she was running from something. Or someone. But, the ending of the dirt path wouldn't draw near.

Someone was following. She could hear the soft breathing. Could feel it. Muffled footsteps came after hers. When she'd tripped and landed hard on her side in the middle of the walkway that was strewn with dirt and dying leaves, she let out a scream. Turning slowly, she saw a wide-palmed hand reached out for her, fingers thin and bony with nails that were too long, and dirty with grime underneath them.

Glowing crimson eyes clashed with hers as she looked up. No, not crimson. More like blood-red.

Then she woke.

Definitely odd, she thought. Screw dreams-that was a damn nightmare.

She brought her knees up and leaned against them, the heels of her hands pressed against her eyes.

She hated having nightmares. At least when she was younger she'd had her parents to soothe away the fears that came after the deranged dreams.

But then, her mother had died of cancer. It was abrupt and sudden, leaving her family appalled and lamenting. Following that sad event, her father lapsed into several months of shock-then, he too, passed away.

That left Andrew, Serena's older brother by two years, to take care of her. He was nineteen at the time, and Serena was seventeen. Both too old to go to the orphanage, and too young to start out on their own.

Deanna James, their aunt, had taken them in. She'd helped pay for Andrew's college tuition, and taken Serena to register as a senior at the local high school, which she'd attend with Deanna's daughter, Mina, whom was Serena's junior by a month. Mina and Serena became fast friends, and soon were inseparable.

Andrew called once a week, spoke with Serena for several hours, then would disappear into the college routine. They were close, and they were best friends. He'd graduated college, went on to grad school, and came out with a PhD under his name. Dr. Andrew Lee, an accomplished and currently well- known therapist in NYC at twenty-nine.

Funny, Serena reminisced. He'd always wanted to be a lawyer, when they were younger. Then in the middle of his undergrad years, he switched to physical therapy.

She remembered when he'd been eight, and she six. She used to beg her brother to watch horror flicks with her, needing someone else to cling to while they watched in stunned terror. The result was a child who'd have nightmares, waking up and screaming while her parents rushed in to soothe her. Then Andy (Andrew's childhood nickname) would walk into the room, wailing.

Serena flung back the covers, then slid her legs over the side of the bed, running her hands through her hair as she sat on the edge. She got up, her body tense from the dream. She threw open the draperies, needing more light in her room. She gazed out the window, telling her heart to slow back to its mellow pace.

She glanced at the clock, again. God, only 5:48 AM. She averted her gaze back out the window and studied the surroundings. The road at the side of her new home was quiet, one or two cars driving by. The lights from other houses were on, left like that from the night before. Towards the corner of Kendale and Arthur, she saw a black-and-gray-striped cat slink across the sidewalk and into some bushes. The bush rustled, then settled as the tabby went through.

Everything was silent, peaceful almost, and it was such a contrast to the restlessness that warred inside of herself. The nightmare had left her too awake to get back into bed, and thoughts of work took away any other notions of sleep.

The last wisps of the nightmare fled her mind as she wrapped her arms around herself. She pushed away from the open window, appeased that she wasn't afraid anymore. Combing fingers through disheveled blonde hair, she walked to the bathroom to shower herself, and wash away the sweat.

****

It was almost nine when Deanna woke up, and past nine thirty by the time she was down the stairs and in the kitchen.

Serena had eaten a bowl of cereal and milk for breakfast. Then watching TV in the family room for a couple of hours, she promptly fell asleep.

Deanna's padded footsteps woke Serena. Looking up from her sprawled position on the couch, she blinked groggily at her aunt.

"Morning, Dee." Serena got up with a groan, stretched, and picked up her bowl. Walking into the kitchen that was opposite of the family room, she started to wash her dishes.

"Good morning, Sere." Yawning, Deanna opened a cupboard and pulled out the cereal that Serena had just finished eating, earlier. "You're up early, dear. How was your first night? Sleep well?"

She poured cereal into another bowl as Serena finished washing hers. Grabbing a spoon from a drawer, Deanna slid onto a stool.

"It was okay, Aunt Dee." Smiling, Serena sat on the stool next to her aunt's. "I'm thinking of going into work today, see how things run. That okay with you?"

Deanna ate another spoonful of cereal, nodding to Serena.

"All right, then." Kissing her aunt on the cheek, Serena got up. "I'll be back in a couple of hours."

"Have a good day at work, all right?" Deanna patted Serena's arm. Then, almost as an afterthought, she continued, "Oh, and I might be going out of town for about a month or two."

Serena stared. "Why? And when do you think you'll be going?"

"I'm going to go visit my grandson, dear. I'll be visiting with the Sethridge's, then taking care of Cole while they vacation in Venice, Italy. I'll be leaving at the end of this week, Friday." And Shields better take care of my baby and get things started with Darien and Serena, she thought to herself.

Serena hugged her aunt. "All right, but don't be doing anything I wouldn't do when I'm alone and out in the wild." Grinning, Serena left the kitchen.

***

"What do you mean you're coming down?" Serena took her hand off her mobile, tilted her head and held it between her cheek and shoulder, as she made a U-turn. Damn it, she had to get used to the roads. She kept missing her turns and ended up doing a lot of backtracking. She tapped a single finger on the wheel of her car as she asked impatiently, "Well, Drew?"

"I'm going to visit you. God, you'd think I needed a warrant, or something, just to come into your town." Andrew Lee rolled his eyes as he cradled the phone in his hand, a pen in the other.

He'd been in the office when he called his younger sister. God knows why, he thought. She hadn't called him the night before, when she was supposed to get into town, and she'd left him worried. Serena never watched the news so he was sure she'd missed all the news flashes about homicide killings in Ithaca, and around other cities in New York. He didn't want to hear about his sister, strangled in the dead of night, on the news.

Grumbling into the phone, Drew set down the pen and pushed his patients' files away, leaning into the leather chair. "I just want to see how you're doing, sis. Plus, this way I get to keep all the guys away from you." Then after a second of pause, "Unless, of course, there aren't any, then maybe I can help your appearance and make it look like you've actually got a guy."

Serena grinned as she turned into the police lot. "Sure, and I get to have fun while I watch you get beaten, sugar." A mimic of her brother's pause, then, "Aww, incest, Drew? I never knew you felt that way."

"Hey! Beaten? As if anybody could even compete with my virile physique? My witty mind?" he teased back and mentally flexed his muscles. "And hell no. As if I'd ever want to get into bed with you. God knows what type of pests you have, living on your body." It was an ongoing game between them.

Serena parked her car, and said to her brother, "Virile physique? Witty mind?" Serena snorted. "Right, and I'm sure that's why you've got women in queues, just waiting to get into bed with you." She sighed and sympathized with Rita. "I honestly don't know how Rita can stand your ego. I mean, how does Rita, your ego, and yourself fit into your bed?" She smiled innocently, and kept her tone naive.

Not the least offended, Drew rolled his eyes. "Serena, at least I ihave/i someone to share my bed with." He snickered.

"All right, Drew. Anyway, I have to run. I'll call you back when I'm at home, m'kay?"

"Sure, sure, midget. Talk to you later."

Serena bit back her reply, knowing if she started, they'd start again. Midget? She was no midget. She might be shorter than him by about five inches, but she was definitely inot/i a midget, she muttered in her mind as she stepped out of the car.

"Bye, Drewl." Locking the doors of her convertible she snapped her cell phone shut and walked into the gray building. Her lips were curved into a smug smile because she'd left him with a semi-caustic remark and no time to think up a comeback. Even if the nickname was a playback to when they were younger.

****

Darien sat back in his chair, his elbows resting lightly on the armrests. His fingers were steepled in front of his face as he thought about the case, yet again. Papers were scattered on a mahogany desk that was scratched and roughened with age. Papers that dealt with the homicide killings.

Someone in Ithaca, his town, was murdered. Things like this just do inot/i happen. Not in his town, anyway. Things were quiet here, and he liked it that way. Preferred it that way.

Sighing, Darien ran lean fingers through thick hair that was a tad too long. This case wasn't going anywhere. And he doubt it would, unless this guy made a serious mistake.

He gathered up the papers and stuck it in a portfolio, opened a drawer and stuffed it in there, amongst the other homicide killings.

He got up and went out of his office, heading for the kitchen, the coffee maker.

"You look happy, Dare." Amy greeted dryly, leaning against the counter. She was at the coffee maker, making a cup of tea for herself and a fresh pot of Columbian coffee.

Darien grunted. "Can't talk. Want coffee."

A single eyebrow arched.

"Caveman routine, is it?" Amy clucked sympathetically and poured a cup for Darien. She handed the cup to him and forced herself not to chuckle when he looked as if the gods had bestowed a precious gift upon him.

"Thanks." Closing his eyes, he scalded the back of his throat as he gulped it down. Looking over the rim of his drink at Amy, Darien finished it. "So, what're you doing here today? It's Sunday; you know you don't have to be here."

"I know, but I wanted to see if the new girl would show." Amy saw the inquiring glance that came her way, and shrugged. "Just wanted to see if she was an airhead, or really knew what she was doing. Plus, I get to finally have another woman on the job. Too many males in this place."

Darien snorted. "Right, and you just can't stand to be near some of them, can you?" Darien walked over to Amy, tousled her short cap of hair, and tossed the empty styrofoam cup into the garbage. "Plus, I see you and my deputy making hearts-in-eyes faces when you think no one's looking."

Amy blushed. Well, so, Darien had seen those looks. "Don't you dare start threatening anyone, you hear me, Darien Stan Shields?" Amy enunciated each first, middle, and last name with a jab to Darien's chest.

"Ooh! You used my complete name!" Darien staggered playfully, a hand at his heart. "Nah, I won't do anything to Alan. Much. But I get privileges as your older step-brother."

Darien Shields, at thirty-one, was the only son of Logan Shields, owner and founder of Archway Banks. His mother had run off with a high school lover when he'd been eight, leaving Logan to deal with the divorce papers, and other legalities.

Two years later Logan remarried, in love with Anthea Anderson, a petite brunette who'd been widowed. She was a quiet woman who fell in love with Logan, and had given Darien a real mother, along with a younger step- sister. He learned to love the two, as much as his own father, as he grew older.

Darien played the role of older brother to the hilt, teasing, caring, and loving the five year old toddler with messy pigtails and dirt on her knees. And he still did all three, when it came to his younger sister.

Hard to think that Amy's twenty-six now, and not five, he reminisced.

"Anyway, gonna go back to the office now. I wanted to get in some extra time on a couple of things," he finished and strolled out of the kitchen, hearing Amy mutter something along the lines of grave, morons, and brothers, while he left.

He was just going into his office when he saw Serena walking away from a silver convertible, and enter the building.

"So you decided to come by, didn't you?" Darien walked over to Serena, and perched a hip on Amy's front desk.

Damn, but Darien's tall. Taller than Andrew's 5'11''; probably around six feet, or so. Most of it's leg, too, she mused appreciatively.

Serena had to remind herself not to stare, before she answered. "Mm.. Definitely. Thought I'd get used to the feel of the building, and perhaps some of the people who might have come in." She pulled off her shades and hooked her finger around the earpiece.

"That's good. In the meantime, do you want some coffee? Amy made a pot just a while ago, so it's still hot." He shifted and moved away from the desk. "It's in the small kitchen we have."

"Sure, coffee sounds great. But you'll have to lead since I don't know where this kitchen is." Serena tilted her head slightly and studied his form, her senses kicking in and purring with approval.

Darien nodded, turned on his heel, and walked back towards the kitchen, stopping briefly at a desk. He turned to face Serena. "This'll be yours while you're here."

It was an old wooden desk with a computer in the corner, pens and sharpened pencils filled a mug that had been set out. Papers were still scattered about from the previous owner. She did mental cartwheels as she saw the space, though small.

"I'll have Brad clean up the mess he made. It'll seem more organized."

Serena set down the small purse she'd brought with her, and dropped her sunglasses on the desk. "It's fine." She loved it. She'd have her own space to work. No more elbows accidentally hitting her, or feet scuffling over and bumping into hers. She was done with police academy, and was now doing the real thing. Well, almost the real thing, she amended.

She pulled open one of the drawers, and saw the neat files, tagged and marked. She smiled again.

"I'll get by okay. So, about that coffee?"

"I'll get it; just keep following." Darien glanced back to see Serena run a finger over the smooth oak desk. He wound around a couple of other desks to get to the kitchen, pointing out the emergency exit and, along the way, telling her where the back door was, along the way.

Serena saw the bold red letters that said 'exit' as he jabbed a finger at it. Her eyes saw only the color as her nightmare came rushing back at full force, leaving her with sharp images of ruby-red eyes and the smell of decay. Shaking her head, Serena tried to get her mind off the damned dream. Come on, think about something else, she thought, anything else.

Her gaze dipped. Well, that's a good thing to think about. So, Darien Shields had one very fine butt. Definitely had her mind locked onto something else other than her nerves and nightmares, anyway. Stifling the sudden feeling she had to giggle, Serena coughed and didn't move her eyes as she continued to follow.

Darien walked into the kitchen and poured Serena her cup of coffee. He turned and almost crashed into Serena, who'd lifted her gaze in time to see him turn.

An amused Amy watched both Serena and Darien while she sat in a chair and sipped her chrysanthemum tea. God, how funny, she thought. One's completely oblivious to the other, and the other is almost drooling.

Darien steadied Serena with a hand cupped under her elbow. Knowing she had her balance back now, he handed her the coffee.

He set his elbows behind him on the counter and leaned against it as he pulled out a pack of cigarettes from his shirt pocket. He flicked on his lighter and lit the tip of his cigarette with the small flame.

Disgusted, Amy stood up, tea in hand. "Darien, if you're going to smoke, go outside." Her voice filled with disdain. "You know how I hate it." With that said, Amy marched out to sit at her desk and finish her tea.

Darien chuckled and offered Serena one. "Sorry, Amy has a thing against having tar and nicotine streaming in her system."

Serena shook her head. "It's all right, but I quit six months..." she checked her watch "...four days, and eight hours ago."

Serena blew gently on her coffee and wondered what Darien and Amy's relationship was.

Darien laughed, a low rumble that made Serena's insides turn to mush. Whoa, Serena thought, that's definitely something worth getting used to.

"I take it you're still missing it, then?" His eyes followed her as she moved over to one of the stools, sat on it and tucked a foot under the rung.

"It's all right. I could do without it, though." And the loss of money each pack brought. Serena sighed.

Darien saw the change of mood, then decided to switch the topic. "So, you settle in all right?"

"Yeah, got everything nice and tidy. God knows why, though." Serena grinned. "Aunt Dee's leaving at the end of this week, so I know everything will be cluttered by Saturday."

"Don't need help, then? With the heavier things?"

Miffed, she studied his eyes. Raging ocean blue, she thought. "Nope, I've got enough muscle to do my share. Also, I didn't bring anything that was too heavy." Serena ran her tongue around the rim of the cup, getting the last drop of coffee. Her eyes were measuring as she scrutinized Darien.

She'd had her share of slick-looking guys. And she learned to be more wary of those that were too good-looking for their own good. And Darien fit quite neatly under that category. Though, he wasn't what she'd thought a sheriff would look like.

Serena had pictured a pot-bellied man, balding, and eyes that were dulled with age.

Upfront with Darien, she definitely hadn't expected someone young, fit in mind and body, with a devil-may-care look.

Well, she thought, shouldn't stereotype, anyway.

Going off on a tangent, Serena asked, "Hey, got a gym around here?"

Darien looked up to her eyes. His own had been contemplating her. He liked her. Was attracted. And that made him wonder what the personality behind the pretty face and slim curved body was like.

"Yeah, it's over on Bales and Sunset road, about ten minutes away from here." At Serena's blank stare, Darien sighed, a plume of hazy gray-blue smoke filling the air between them. "All right, come with me and I'll show you around. I'm guessing Deanna showed you only the small shops and boutiques."

Serena flashed a grin at Darien, "Thanks, sugar."

"Be at the back door in five. I'm going to get my jacket, and see if Amy has her helmet stashed in my office."

Serena cocked an eyebrow. "Helmet?"

"Motorcycles go faster than convertibles." Darien smirked. "I'll show you around my way--unless you're afraid of fast rides." He crushed the cigarette in an ashtray beside him, and left it smoldering.

Challenged, Serena didn't back down. "Scared? Of a puny motorcycle? Dream on, sweetheart." Relaxed with the playful banter, she was happy that she'd decided on a loose tee-shirt and jeans, along with boots. She tossed her blonde tresses over her shoulder and left the lounge for her desk.

Darien went into his office and grabbed his jacket, bringing out his extra for Serena. Wouldn't want that tee-shirt of hers flying off, he thought, as a smile formed on his lips. He cleared up the files that were left on his desk and made a note to review them and call around. Remembering to grab the helmet, he went back into the mini-kitchen to get one last cup of coffee.

Serena fished through her purse, gnawing on her lip. Damn it, she thought, where's that hair tie? "Aha! Found it!" she exclaimed, to no one in particular. She took out the clip that had been holding her hair from her face, tossed it into the drawer of her new desk, and tied her hair at the base of her neck.

She remembered, vaguely, Darien telling her where the back door was. Running a hand over her face, she moaned and damned her memory. She saw Amy playing Spider Solitaire at the front desk and decided to ask her.

"Hey, Amy?" Serena walked over to the desk Amy was at.

"Hmm?" Amy took her eyes off the screen just as she added the ace of spades to the two, and looked up as the pile shuffled into a neat pile in the left corner of her screen.

"Could you tell me where the back door is?" Serena considered the game and pointed out the five and six of spades to Amy. "Darien's going to show around, and give me the lay of this town."

"Sure. Just go around back." Amy grinned. "Follow the corridor that's beside the kitchen, it's a closed door, but just head out that way, and angle left when it splits into a T-section." Amy's gaze averted back to the screen, her mind engrossed with the next move. "I'll see you around then, Serena."

Serena thanked Amy, and was out of the building in a minute.

As she stepped foot onto the asphalt, she saw Darien leaning against a black Harley Davidson with a large silver engine, gleaming with perfection. Tongue in cheek, she circled the Harley, nodding in approval. Definitely something I wouldn't buy, she thought. Too rough, but it looked great with Darien, she mused.

Darien murmured her name, waited for her to look at him, then tossed her the pale blue helmet and his extra jacket. He'd already donned his own. Black lined with red, he lifted the visor and waited for Serena to strap on the helmet. Satisfied, he swung a leg over the bike and told her to get on the back.

"Do I need to tell you to hang on?" he teased.

She slid on behind him, zipping up the jacket halfway, and hooked her fingers into his belt loops. Her elbows rested comfortably against his waist. He stuck a key in the ignition, gunned the engine and pulled out of the back lot, taking a side path out onto the street.

Leaning her cheek against his back and listening to the hum of the engine, Serena tightened her arms around his waist, lacing her fingers together as the bike leaned into the twists and turns. She could hear his heart as they raced the wind and went out to the limits of the town.

From there Darien circled in, naming off the streets until she knew them, and could recite them back. He took her to one of the larger plazas where the gym she'd wanted was located, along with a hardware store, pharmacy, and a small restaurant.

They went cruising past Joy's Diner, the first stop she'd taken when she'd gotten into town. The first place she'd made a friend in this small section of New York.

Darien revved the engine and went faster, delighted with the response he got from Serena. Her thighs pressed tightly against his as he took the turns with practiced ease. He headed for the dirt road, knowing he'd have to give his bike a good wash when he was home. A smile playing at his lips, he took her into the trees where a well-worn path was used.

The sun was slowly dropping from its high place in the sky, flooding everything with golden-red. She looked around at the surroundings and her breath hitched.

The dense trees and pine-smell would have made her feel like one with nature, any other time. But so soon after her nightmare, it made her uneasy. Her gut told her to get out of this area, and when she thought about it, what idid/i she really know about Darien Shields?

Her heart sped with the needle point that indicated the speed that Darien was at. She closed her eyes as she tried to think only of this moment, and not of last night's dream. She breathed in the smell of the jacket she wore. A nice smell, she thought. A rosy musk mingled with clean sweat and leather. The rose scent didn't detract from Darien's bold masculinity, but seemed to enhance it.

"Think you have the hang of most of Ithaca, now?" His voice cut into the vibration of the engine and her thoughts, and she jerked slightly at the sudden question.

"Yeah, I'm sure I'll know where to go, now." She played idly with the zipper of the jacket he wore, slightly nervous. "Where're we going now?"

"My home."

He noted her hand had stopped moving. Had all but stilled, frozen in place on the zipper of his jacket. "There a problem with that?" he inquired.

Ticked off that he'd sensed her nerves, Serena said haughtily, "Don't you think it's a bit early in our relationship to be tumbling into your bed?" Serena tugged on the zipper of his jacket. Never play with fire, she warned him, in thought. Unless you have a spark of your own.

Darien's eyebrow winged up at the comment.

"Tumbled into my bed? Naw... I was thinking more along the lines of 'landing gracefully' onto my bed. Sounds nicer and adds a flair of charm to it, don't you think?" He tried to get her to relax with some teasing remarks. Her body had tensed up behind his, and it made him wonder what was wrong.

Serena's lips curved up. "Not that I have anything against bedding you, but I'd rather stay friends... for now."

He checked the gas meter and muttered an oath. Close to nothing left. Damn it, forgot to fill up. He eased up off of the gas and slowed down.

Peering over his shoulder, she saw the needle slip down from fifty-five to thirty, then to twenty.

"Why are we stopping?"

"Gas. We'll walk it." At Serena's groan, he said, "Don't worry. It's just a little over half a mile. He turned off the engine and waited for her to slip off before he followed suit.

They walked, silence filling up the space between them as night descended. The sun just barely peeked over the horizon, now, as Darien wheeled the bike with Serena on his left.

She jerked her head up and around when she heard a rustling sound behind them. Calm down, she berated. She was letting the blasted dream and her own nerves fabricate something that just wasn't there... right?

Her hand found Darien's arm and tightened its grip on his forearm as she drew closer. Stepping over a branch, she heard a twig snap.

Her eyes filled with horror and her lips formed a silent O. Her throat had stuck and her voice clogged.

She'd seen the yellow-white teeth, gleaming with saliva, before she saw the golden-red eyes in the dark trees. The crimson, blood-red eyes that had filled her dreams in the night, and part of the day.

She tugged on Darien's arm, as he was still concentrating on walking the bike and keeping it upright.

By the time his head looked at her, then to where her gaze fell, she screamed. Her voice ripped through the night as birds shrieked in unison, flapping their wings at the sudden disturbance.

She huddled closer to Darien's form and kept on screaming, her eyes glued to the pair of red eyes.

* * * *

Mae: And... And... that's it. xD

LS: WHAT?

Mae: Tune in, next time, for Serena's death! Okae, so maybe she doesn't die. Or does she? Muahahahaha...

LS: Not amused, Mae. Not amused in the least. T_T;;;

Mae: Review! Ta-ta.

LS: *mumbles something about banning and then cackles*