A/N:  OK, now the fun begins.  Please enjoy this chapter.  This chapter is one of my favorites thus far.  I will do my best to give further updates as soon as possible.

Two Months:

He saw the symbol first, out of the corner of his eye.  It disoriented him and disrupted the lesson.  He stumbled and lost his place.  "Uh… sorry, where was I?"

"Rule number 4, Professor Vaughn."  Vaughn looked at the vocal student. 

'Of course, it was the ever present, ever observant, Emily Arder.'  "Thank you Miss Arder."  Vaughn started back into the lesson, constantly eyeing the big red cross on the blood mobile parked outside the building.

"Class, midterms in two weeks will be through chapter 8.  Please take note of my office hours if you have any questions.  Have a good weekend."

As the class started filing out, Vaughn's attention turned to the window.  The blood mobile remained.  'Why would it be there?  Maybe it's checking up on me?'

"Professor Vaughn?"

Vaughn jerked awake.  "Yes… ah… Miss Arder." Vaughn almost scowled.

"I didn't deserve a C on this last paper."

"Oh?  And why not?"

"The paper was well written and concise and I supported my theories."

"You supported your theories with current public opinion, Miss Arder.  I agree that you paper was well written and concise, but the assignment was to analyze a situation and present evidence."

"I presented evidence."

"Miss Arder, this is a class in investigative logic.  The evidence you presented is hearsay and opinion."

"But,"

"Look, go through the paper.  Highlight all the opinions in yellow.  Highlight the facts in green.  If you can prove to me that you have more facts than opinions, I will up your grade."

"But…"

Vaughn's eye traveled back to the van.  "Professor Vaughn, you have had your attention on that Blood Mobile all class.  You miss an appointment?"

"Ah… No…Miss Arder?  Did you hear anything about a blood drive on campus?"

"No, but one of the Greeks may be sponsoring the drive."

"OK, have a good weekend."

"Bye, Professor Vaughn.  You know," the student leans on his desk.  "We are having pizza tonight at the Pit.  I would really love it if you can join us. 

Vaughn looked at the young flirt.  "You know I can't."

"You mean you won't.  Professor, this is a small town.  You don't date.  The least you could do is join some… friends… for pizza on a Friday night."

"Sorry, not tonight.  Have a good weekend."

The student left the room and Vaughn stared out the window.  'Facts… I need facts.  What can I prove… what do I think…"  (Hope… Sydney.)  'If I sit here, I may never know.  It's probably just my quarterly contact; so Kendal can make sure I haven't defected yet.'

Vaughn left the room and exited the building.  His next class was in three hours, but they would know that, he thought.  Vaughn surveyed the campus.  He saw nothing unusual, no tails that he could discern.  Vaughn made his way toward the van.  Looking over his shoulder, he grasped the doorknob.  It turned and opened.  Vaughn knocked on the door, 'so as not to disturb a briefing.'

"Come in, come in!"  A young lady in a nurse's smock greeted him.  I thought no one would show.  I was actually getting nervous."

Vaughn looked at her.  She was young, olive complexion, dark black hair, probably long, but tied in a bun.  Her eyes were the darkest, deepest brown he had ever seen, surrounded by dark, full lashes.  He stared into her eyes.  "Are you here to…?"

"Take your blood?  Yes, sir, come right in.  Are… you…ah… OK?  Sir?"

Vaughn spoke, but kept his eyes on her.  "Ah… this is my first quarterly… no one told me what to do."

"Well, that's what I'm here for."  She smiled at him and Vaughn noticed how her eyes sparkled and brightened with her smile.  "Here, sit her, answer these questions and then we can start the consult phase."

Vaughn sits and takes the paperwork.  Breaking his eyes from hers, he reads the form.  He filled out his name, address, social security number, and then he looked at the questions.  'Have I had heart disease...?  Cancer?  Night sweats?  Been out of the country...'  "This is a blood donation questionnaire!"  He looks back at the lady.

"Well, the van does have a big red 'T' on the outside." 

"Yes, but I thought… I mean… are you really here to take my blood?"

"Sure I am.  The van is a bit too conspicuous for a secret meeting.  Don't you think?"  The tech laughs at this statement.  Vaughn doesn't laugh.  "If you don't want to give blood, why did you come?"

"I… uh… of course, I want to give blood.  I just… uh… had this weird dream, last night, about a blood mobile and …uh…"

"It's OK.  I have weird dreams about this van too.  Maybe we can share them someday?"  Vaughn is back to her eyes, those beautiful dark eyes.

Vaughn smiles back at her.  "Well then, let's get this finished."  He completed the paperwork.  "Here you go." 

"OK.  Uh… Mr. Vaughn."

"Michael, please… call me Michael."

"I like that.  You know, Michael suits you.  More than Mike or Mickey…"

"And you are?"

"Oh… Meelon Watkins."  (pronounced ME – lon)

"That is beautiful, unique.  It suits you too."  Meelon blushes a deep red.

"I… uh… we should get started, I don't want to take up your whole afternoon."

Meelon's eyes lowered.  Vaughn watches her dark lashes flutter over her eyes.  "I really don't mind.  My next class isn't until three."  Their eyes meet again and Vaughn feels light headed as Meelon sits him at the table and takes his arm to check his pulse and blood pressure.  Her hands are soft and move confidently over his skin.  Her touch is strong and caring.  She documents her findings.

"Mr.…uh… Michael, I have to review these… uh … questions with you… uh… so we know you understood and answered them correctly… OK?"

"Of course, Meelon."  His pronunciation extended the 'ME' and gave her name a song quality.  She smiled at this and Vaughn was rewarded with more sparkles in her eyes.

"Have you ever… uh… ever had…?"  Meelon blushed a deep red at this first question and looked away from Michael.

Vaughn answers.  "This is the part that you have to ask about my sexual habits, right?"  Meelon nods.  "Well, I don't have any weird habits and I did understand the questions and I did answer them correctly."  Vaughn looks away from Meelon.  "I have only had one partner over the last eight months," (Sydney) "and not in the last three months," (where are you?) "I don't have AIDS, but I know you'll check for HIV any way.  So just take my blood sample so we can finish this."  Vaughn's tone had become terse and clipped.  His eyes clouded over, 'what am I doing?  Sydney is out there, somewhere, and I am flirting with a blood mobile tech.  What am I thinking?'

Meelon felt the temperature in the room cool.  'What did I do?  What am I doing?  Flirting with a client is not very professional girl.  He's mad at me now.  I gotta get him back.'

"I'm sorry, Mr. Vaughn, of course.  Please give me your finger."  Meelon took her blood samples, which also passed testing.  They completed the paperwork and Meelon led Vaughn to the stretcher in back.  Vaughn followed and lay where she indicated.  He let her touch relax him.  She smiled at him and his emotions calmed.  "You can close your eyes if you want.  Most people don't want to see the needle go into their arm."

Vaughn closed his eyes.  He felt her first clean his arm and then insert the needle to start the blood flow.  Her touch was wonderful.  He felt his whole body relax as she made sure the needle was properly inserted and set.  He felt her hands massage his upper arms, relaxing the muscles in his arms and shoulders.  He sighed deeply as she moved to his chest.  Gently massaging and comforting him.  Vaughn sensed her movement around the stretcher, away from the blood equipment.  She sat next to him and stroked his left arm.  She touched the side of his face.  Vaughn moaned and captured her head with his free arm.  Bringing her lips to his, he moaned slightly.  "I've been waiting for you…"  The kiss was deep and needy.

She answered back with urgency in her voice, "Vaughn."

"Mr. Vaughn, Michael!  Please wake up."  Vaughn was startled out of his dream.  "Oh, Michael.  I told you not to look at the needle when I put it in."

"What happened?"

"You fainted.  It's OK though.  Lots of people faint.  You know, blood, needles.  Most people can't stand to see blood, especially their own."

"Gosh, now I'm embarrassed."

"Don't be.  Fainting doesn't hurt you, especially if you're laying down first.  And look, the bag is almost full.  It makes the experience quicker at least."

Vaughn smiled at Meelon.  "You are quite the medic." 

"Well, it's good to know I have all that training for something."  Meelon giggles and the sparkles are back in her eyes.  Vaughn watches her quietly as she completes the process and removes the needle from his arm.

She helps him sit.  "Now, keep your feet on the ground and don't try to stand."  She brings him a juice box and a cookie.  "You look like an Oatmeal Raisin man to me."

"Actually, ginger snaps are my favorite, but these are good too."  Vaughn smiles.

"Because you fainted, I have to ask that you stay at least a half hour.  That way, I know you won't faint again… because of the blood any way."

"Really, I don't know why.  It's not like I haven't seen my share of blood." (Sydney's on the wall and floor.  Will's in the tub, Francine's frozen trickle from the single wound to her head.) 

"That's OK.  Still, I have to keep you here, unless, of course, you over power me and…"

Vaughn took her hand, "Never.  I would never…"

"I didn't mean to say…"  Their eyes met again.  Vaughn felt his stomach jerk.  Passion filled her eyes and Vaughn felt a longing he hadn't felt in a while, since Sydney.

"I can't… I mean…"  Vaughn pulled his hand away and stood, swaying a bit.  Meelon stood too and held him, steadied him.

"Sit down Michael."

Her touch was electric.  He stepped back, away from her, into the side of the van.  "I've got to go."  He said as he felt for the door.

"You're not steady yet."

"I'm OK" he said as he opened the door and stumbled out of the blood mobile.  He hurried away.

"Michael."

Vaughn turned when he heard his name.  Her dulcet tone of voice carried the compassion she had shown him during their meeting.  He turned toward her mesmerizing eyes.  "Michael.  I want to see you again.  Do you want to have dinner tonight?"

"I… uh…" Vaughn backs away from her, their eyes never losing contact.

"Look, if you don't want dinner, maybe just a drink and if it's OK, then, we can ease into dinner."

"Meelon, I… uh… I don't know…"

"Oh my.   You have a girl friend already.  I didn't even ask.  It's just that, well… I never felt so attracted to a man before.  Look…"

"No, no, it's not that.  I don't… I mean, not since… uh."  Meelon closed the distance between them.  She put her hand on his bicep.

"I don't normally ask guys out like this.  In fact, I have never picked up a guy from the blood mobile.  With you… your eyes… I didn't want you to walk away.  I may never see you again.  I need to find out more before, well, before I let you go."

Vaughn felt relaxed again.  "OK, drink first?"

Meelon smiled.  "Yes.  LaVino's at 6 maybe?"

"Sounds great.  Six.  I know where LaVino's is.  I'll meet you there?"

"Great… See you then."  Meelon backs up and removes her hand from his arm.  Vaughn touches his arm and then feels his body cool from the absence of her contact. 

His head is spinning, not, he thinks, from the lack of blood.  "OK… see you then."

"Oh, Michael?  Don't forget to drink fluids and don't over exert.  I don't want you fainting again."  Meelon warns.  Vaughn smiles and waves back.  He watches as she slips back into the van.

'Vaughn, what have you done now?' he asks himself.

~ to be continued. ~