Sal had to stay in bed for a few more days. Lucky for her, Alucard hadn't turned her into a vampire or worse, a ghoul. To him, she had simply been dinner. Walter kept a very close eye on her. Even Integra had trouble getting him to run some errands for her, when usually he was at her disposal for every whim. No, Integra didn't like this one bit. This girl, who had wormed her way into Sir Integra Wingates Hellsing's household. She was upset, that was sure. So, one day, when Sal was more or less restored, she was summoned by Integra. Sal was a bit nervous about this. What would the lady of the house want from her? Surely, she wouldn't blame her for Alucard's attack? Would she? Walter led her to Integra's office. In front of the door, he halted.
' Are you ready for this, Sal?' The old man asked.
' As ready as I will ever be.' She answered.
Walter turned back, and strode back towards the kitchen. He had lunch to prepare. Sal breathed deeply, concentrated on something pleasant (like having tea with Walter and him telling her stories) and knocked on the door.
' Enter' Sir Integra Hellsing sat behind her desk, rearranging papers when Sal entered. On the other end of the desk stood a wooden chair. Integra motioned for Sal to sit down. Then she started talking.
' I understand you have asked Walter to find out if any oddities were noticed the night you got here. I'm very sorry to disappoint you, but nothing out of the ordinary occurred that night. At least, not as far as we could measure. You say that you have no idea how you got here, but I find that rather hard to believe. In fact, your being here has created tension in this household as we have not experienced before. You are a distraction, miss Gizmo, and I suggest you start thinking of a way to get home.'
Integra took her time. She lit a cigar, puffed out a nice-looking smoke-ring and turned her attention once more towards the young girl, who was very obviously confused. Inwardly, she was smiling. Time to show who was in charge of this household.
' As of late, I have noticed you are taking up a lot of time of one particular member of my staff. I suggest you stop doing this. You must understand that, visitor that you are, you have no right to claim said employee as if you were in some way engaged to him. Furthermore,' another smoke-ring,' I apologise for that little, accident, with another employee of mine. Though I have no idea why this could've occurred, unless you had in some way provoked said employee. It would be wise to keep a low profile, until you find a way to go home. Until that time, you shall behave as a guest of this mansion ought to behave.'
Sal was speechless. For a short while, that is. On the inside she was boiling, but on the outside she looked really calm. This frustrated Integra a bit, she had hoped for some proof of the girl's anger. But, instead, Sal was silent. At length, she stood up and looked at the blond woman who sat at the other end of the desk. When, at length, Sal spoke her words had been weighed carefully before they were pronounced.
' Of course, Sir Hellsing, I'm very sorry for keeping your employee with me so very often. But I do not get a chance to go anywhere, and he is the only one that I can talk to. About that incident with Alucard, I did nothing to provoke him. We had only met once before, when had saved me from the ghouls. He had no good reason whatsoever to attack me like that. I shall now return to my room, if that is all right with you, of course.' Without waiting for an answer, Sal walked calmly towards the door, and back to her room. Her sanctuary. Where no one would watch her crying.
Once back safely in her room, Sal screamed. Not a panic scream, but a scream that you can only utter when in pain. Sal was in pain. She had hoped for support, but had gotten a cold shower instead. And a warning. Do not talk to Walter, and make yourself scarce. That had been the hidden message. Of that she was sure. She had thought about how to get home, of course, but couldn't think of anything. She had tried all the obvious things, of course. Like, talking a plane home. but that turned out to be impossible. Literally, nothing existed outside of London, except the Vatican. When she had tried to book a flight to the States, the line had gone dead. There was no way in hell to get back home. She had tried calling her parents, with the same result of the line going dead. She couldn't call her friends, either. Same thing. Like the States didn't even exist at all. Like that part of the world was a black hole. That went for other parts of the world to. Only London and the Vatican. Only Hellsing, and Iscariot. She was alone, and without help from anyone. Well, that wasn't exactly true.
A knock on the door. Sal, who had just done a very nice bit of crying, sat up and tried to look cheerful.
'Enter'
The door opened, and Walter walked in. Of course, he saw that she had been crying. He put her lunch on the desk and sat down next to her. Sal looked at him.
' I just had an enlightening meeting with Sir Integra. She seems to think I'm staying here on purpose, maybe to bother her and sabotage her organisation. She practically blamed Alucard's attack on me and she wants me out of here on the first train. And I can't talk to you either. She says I'm 'claiming' you too much.' Sal breathed deeply, this would be difficult. Like telling a lover that he can't come by anymore, because daddy doesn't approve of him.' I think it may be better for you to stay away for a while. Until…' Then, the emotion got the best of her. She cried. Walter put his arms around her and tried to comfort her. He spoke softly to her, saying all kinds of sweet words. Things like it was going to be all right, and that there was no need to be afraid. That he'd be there for her, even if he had to break the rules. He wouldn't abandon her. And she cried, but felt safe. That day, Walter had come to a conclusion. She wasn't a love interest, she was his protégée and he would protect her. They sat together for hours, until Walter had to prepare dinner. Sir Integra would not find out, he thought to himself as he made his way to the kitchen.
