Hello everyone! I'm back with a new chapter! :D I'm introducing a coupling never before seen anywhere! That's right, and it doesn't even involve ANY OCs. Anyway, I'll let you get on with reading.

"Moira, I'm home!" Sean dropped his briefcase beside the front door. Why did that sound so comforting? To announce his arrival. It made him feel important.
Moira came walking out of the kitchen, wiping her hands dry on a towel. She smiled warmly. "Welcome back, Mr. Cassidy." she got up on her tip-toes and gave him a peck on the cheek.
"What was that for?" he smirked.
"I thought it'd be appropriate. I'm glad ta see ye, why is there a problem with tha'?"
"No." he picked up his briefcase and opened the door.
"Where are ye goin'?!" Moira asked, startled.
"I'm gonna leave an' come back." he began to turn his back to her. Moira grabbed his collar and pulled him back toward her. She crushed her lips against his forcefully. Sean's eyes widened in shock before he gave in and placed his hands on her waist. She groaned in protest when he pulled free of her. "What was that for?!"
"I thought it'd be appropriate. I'm glad ta see ye, why is there a problem with tha'?"
"Believe me, Dr. McTaggart, that was a far cry from bein' appropriate."
She tilted her head to the side. Throwing her hands up in the air, she exclaimed "well in THA' case!" She walked over the the couch, picked up a stack of papers and started flipping through them.
"Hey now!" he leapt over the back of the couch, still in his shoes and jacket, and landed next to her with a thump. "I didn't say I wanted you to stop!"
"Sorry, I'm workin'. Donnae disturb."
"You're evil."
She smirked and laughed lightly to herself. "You puir wee baby."
He sighed and leaned back, taking note that his bachelor's pad was much cleaner than he remembered. "Kept yourself busy I see." he commented dully.
"Aye. The place was a pig-stye, Sean. I cannae work in tha' kind of environment." She replied, still reading over notes and charts. "It still amazes me how you managed ta survive."
"Oh, ha ha."
Moira took off her glasses and rubbed her eyes. "I didnae even have time ta go down ta the lab. I bet Hank headed tha' way right afta' school."
Sean shook his head. He hadn't seen Hank at school. They usually had lunch together. "No, Hank wasn' at school t'day, actually. I thought he was workin' with you."
"Nae. He woulda called me if he were plannin' on doin' tha'." Moira looked at Sean. Her brown eyes suddenly widened. She bounded off the couch, threw on her coat and shoes and left the apartment.
Sean just sat there in awe. Had he said something? Where was she going? What did she plan to do?
Her head suddenly popped back in the door. She looked straight at Sean. "American's drive backwards. Get in the car!"

"Can't this hunk of scrap metal go any faster?!" Moira banged her fists on the dashboard impatiently.
Sean glanced at her quickly. He thought that if the tiny Scottish woman got any more irritated, she'd jump out of the car and RUN the rest of the way. "Calm down, Moira! Where's the feckin' fire?!"
"Turn left here. I donnae know for certain, but there's a good chance that Hank might be extremely DEAD!"
Sean's foot slipped and pressed down harder on the exceleration. "What the-?! Moira?!"
"Donnae ask me anything right now! Just drive!"

"Rahne?" Moira flicked on the lights in the warehouse. "Rahne, honey? Where are ye?"
"Moira, what's goin' on!"
"Shut up, Sean, and help me look!"
Moira's face fell at seeing the state of her laboratory. Tables, chairs and carts littered the floor. It looked like a tornado had torn apart the inside of the building, leaving destruction in its wake. "Dear merciful Heavens..." she gasped.
The containment cell had been smashed. Broken glass was scattered about, making the ground sparkle. The glass crunched as Sean and Moira stepped through it, in search of Rahne.
There was a light whimper coming from underneath a pile of rubble. Moira sprang ahead. She shoved the debris aside to reveal the little red- haired girl, laying naked on the floor. "Rahne!!!"
Sean watched as Moira grabbed a labcoat from the floor and wrapped it around Rahne's prone body. She lifted the girl into her arms and cradled her gently. "Wake up lass," she pleaded, "please open yuir eyes..."
"Moira?" Sean crouched down and took Rahne from her arms.
"She's been drugged." she stated, picking up a half-empty syringe. "I'd say she'll be out for a few more hours yet."
Rahne groaned into Sean's chest. He looked up at the scientist, who just shook her head.
Moira touched a red spot on the floor. It was dry. "Blood..." she stood and looked around the mess. "Nothing... Hank's still alive. Or at least he got out alive."
"Wha?!"
"Sean, "she looked at him seriously, "we need ta talk."

"David North..." her finger scrolled down the page of the NYC telephone directory. "Calvin... Casey... Elmer... DAMN IT!" Valerie picked up the book and tossed it across the room. "The ONE guy in New York who doesn't have a listed number! WHY?! Why did I have to grab his profile?!"
A banging on her roof indicated that she was being too loud.
"Sorry Mr. Forbush!" she shouted. She stretched out on her futon and ran her hands through her short blond hair. The three-coloured cat that decided to live with her jumped onto her stomach and started purring expectantly. "What are you looking for, sweetie?"
The cat rubbed her chin over Valerie's watch.
"You don't ask for much, do you, Cat." she grumbled. "I bet that translates into 'feed me'."
"Mrow?"
"So does that."
Valerie pushed the cat off her stomach and got up from her messy bed to go look for a can of tuna and some Aspirin. "I've tried everything, cat. Does this guy even exist?"
The cat meowed impatiently and pawed at Valerie's leg.
"Okay, okay! Get a grip, you nutter! I've got your tuna right here." she peeled the lid off a can of fish and left it out on the counter for her greedy house mate, while she continued her search for pills. The cat leapt onto the counter and devoured the contents of the can like it would be her last meal. Valerie snorted in amusement.
All of her cupboards were completely devoid of any medication. She shook every bottle. The only one that rattled was a bottle of vitamins that Cecelia had given her a year or so earlier. "A lot of help THAT's gonna be..." she grumbled. She leaned her hip against the counter and let out an irritated snort. "I guess I gotta go shopping, huh..."
The cat licked her paws gingerly and purred her appreciation. Having a companion was fine, but Valerie needed to talk to someone who'd actually respond in English, or she'd go crazy. "They haven't cut me off my salary... just halved it. I guess no more movie tickets for a few more months." she pushed off from the counter and scratched the cat's head on her way by. She took her brown jacket off the hook and threw it over her shoulders. She was about to announce her departure, but stopped herself when she realized that she was just a stray cat. And she was just going to the market and the pharmacy, it wasn't like planned on busting up a secret organization of gangsters or crime lords.

Valerie adjusted the shopping bag on her arm as she waited in line at the pharmacists. Vegetables were much heavier than she remembered them being. She clutched a bottle of pain killers in her one hand, and a fist full of change in the other. She whistled to herself while the line in front of her gradually got shorter and shorter.
Someone shouted and Valerie was knocked from behind. She grunted as a pair of large hands caught her shoulders and kept her from falling over. "Sorry." a man muttered in a thick accent.
Valerie shook her head and continued to stare forward. "Don't worry about it."
It finally came to be that there was only one person in front of her. A little woman cradling a baby in her arms took her bottles of formula, thanked the pharmacist and left. Valerie watched the young mother with a sad smile. Children. She wanted to have kids, but her career had taken over her life. She didn't even have time for a boyfriend, much less a family.
"Miss?"
Valerie snapped back to reality. The man at the counter was looking at her strangely. "Oh, sorry..." she set her bottle on the counter and counted out the exact change before the man had a chance to ring it up.
He handed back her medication in a small plastic bag along with the receipt. She thanked him and headed for the exit.
People chatted and gossiped in the background, but Valerie picked out one distinct voice as she reached for the door handle.
"I am here for a shipment-" announced a heavy German accent.
"The silver-nitrate? Alright sir, if I could get you to sign here, I'll go get it for you."
Valerie's hand went back to her side as she strained her ear to hear the exchange.
"Here you are... Dr. North. I hope this helps with your research."
"Ja. Thank you."
Valerie stared at 'Dr. North's' back. She gasped when he turned around. It couldn't have... It was! He was tall and built like an athlete with wavy brown hair and bright blue eyes. The only difference between this David North and the one in the photo was a patch of hair on his chin.
Valerie panicked. Her heart leapt in excitement. He was headed straight toward her with a box tucked under his arm.
Of all placed she didn't look! She had tried the phone book, the internet, the obituaries! Of all places, it had to have been a casual trip to the drug store!
She slipped out the door unnoticed and waited behind a post to see which direction North took. When she saw him round a corner, she followed at a safe distance behind. This was it! She'd finally find out about this illusive guild she had been searching for.

Moira stopped the security tape and looked over at Sean. He sat stone still, staring at the black screen. He didn't even blink. "Sean? Please say somethin'..." she pleaded, fearing the worst. He would kick them out of his apartment. He'd never speak to her again.
He couldn't believe it. But there it was, right before his very eyes. Sean had been quite happy believing that such creatures only existed in fairy tales, but that time in his life had just ended. It was hard to believe that sweet little girl he had only met the day before was a... a monster!
He had watched as she transformed. Her body wretched and convulsed as her limbs mutated and formed into those of a wolf-man. Her face elongated and became a fierce snout. Her canine teeth grew to horrible, yellow fangs. Ginger and honey coloured fur covered her body and face. Her eyes went black and wild.
Sean looked over at Rahne. She was still sleeping off the drugs with her head resting in Moira's lap. The lab coat had been replaced with a long, dark green tee shirt and a pair of sweatpants. She looked like any other kid her age, sleeping off a bad fever. But that wasn't so.
He had seen her break out of her cell and attack Hank while his back was turned. Hank had managed to stab the syringe into her neck before she could tear him apart. Sean watched as Hank struggled to stand and walk out of the laboratory holding his shoulder in pain.
Now Hank was missing, and they didn't know where he could have gone. They had tried his house but got no answer. None of the other staff members had heard from him. Moira had even called the hospital, but there were no Hank McCoys or John Does matching his description.
He sighed and leaned back in his chair. This was almost too much to absorb at once. Sean knew that Moira was watching him intently, but he made no move to talk to her.
"We can be gone by tomorrow mornin'-"
Sean shook his head. "No. I want you t'stay." he answered, getting off his seat and standing next to Moira. "This only happen's once a month, right?"
She nodded. "Except on Blue Moons."
"Then you two can live here when you don' need to be in the lab."
Moira lifted Rahne off her lap and gently laid her back down with a pillow as she got up to hug Sean. She breathed into his chest as she felt his arms enclose around her. "I'm so sorry t'be bringin' all this on ye, Sean. I dinnae know-"
"Hush..."

Valerie watched North unlock a large metal door and disappear inside it. Her heart still thumped wildly in excitement. She slid her free hand under her jacket and felt around at her hip. It wasn't... She had left her gun back at the apartment! She groaned and slapped her forehead in frustration. She was totally unprepared for an encounter. What was she to do? If she had a pen, she would write the address down on her hand or something, but that wasn't an option.
Breathing deeply, Valerie caught the large metal door before it closed completely. This may have been her only chance; she wasn't going leave until she got her answers.

David pushed the box of Silver-Nitrate onto the counter and peeled off his black leather jacket. He produced a switchblade from his back pocket and stabbed it into the packaging tape, tearing the cardboard open. The Hunter pulled Styrofoam packaging out before stacking the tubes of Silver-Nitrate in rows.
There was enough of the metallic liquid to fill at least a hundred bullets. David would have their weapons designer, Forge, help him with preparing their new guns for the next hunt.
Beatrice and Wade weren't at the base. That suited David just fine. He liked the quiet - he could actually get some work done. Wade usually sat around and watched cartoons all day, unless he was out, either drinking or trophy hunting. Beatrice got bored easily and would occasionally try to chat him up. David found the female Hunter, Domino, quite attractive but the dark haired vixen just wasn't his type. She was too flirty and exotic for his liking.
Their leader, Bastion, hadn't been heard from for days. David thought it odd that the obsessive old man wasn't barking orders in their faces.
A light tapping noise alerted the Hunter from his activities. He punched a board on the wall and a panel flew open, revealing a large hand gun with a silencer equipped. He took the weapon and stalked toward the source of the noise.
It sounded like a lone pair of footsteps. He guessed they belonged to a woman. He would've said it was Domino returning home after 'partying', but the footsteps were far too clunky and cautious. Domino walked with grace and confidence, this person mustn't have known what she was walking into.
David raised his gun to his face and waited at the doorway with his back pressed against the wall. He could see her shadow approaching his position. He quietly turned the safety off and waited until the unaware intruder was standing in the room with him. He shifted his foot, making a rustling sound that startled her.
In a flash, David stood over the intruder with his gun aimed at her face. She glared back at him with angry blue eyes as she pointed a weapon at him as well. "[State your business]!!" he barked in German.
Her face didn't falter, but her brow narrowed even more. "If you're going to kill me, get it over with! I don't have all day!" she shouted.
David smirked and turned the safety back on his gun, but she couldn't tell. As far as the blonde woman knew, he was getting ready to shoot. He saw her swallow hard as she fought back the fear that he could see in here eyes. He didn't need to worry about being harmed. He didn't lower his weapon, "vhat do you vant?!" he demanded.
She looked extremely tight lipped as she pulled her wallet out of her back pocket and flashed her badge at him. "Valerie Cooper, FBI! I know about this operation, and I want some answers!"
"Vhat operation?" he bluffed.
"Don't play games, Maverick." Valerie's grip tightened on her weapon as she stuffed her wallet back into the pocket of her blue jeans.
David crossed his eyes to get a better look at the object she had pointed at his face. "Since vhen did ze FBI give zeir agents carrots vhen zey do investigations? Vhat did you plan to do? Stick it up my nose?"
Her lower lip quivered in a way that made her look like she was trying not to laugh. Valerie knew then, she was doomed.
David lowered his gun, grabbed Agent Cooper's arm and threw her onto the sofa. He held her down as he tied her hands together with a piece of cord. When he took his knee off her back, he helped her sit up again. He pulled a chair up to the sofa and sat down.
"Why haven't you killed me yet?" she asked in disbelief.
David rested his chin in his hand, "you haven't done anyzing, aside from threatening me vith produce."
She glared at him. She really hated the way he was looking at her. She hated how he looked so relaxed. She hated how he had humiliated her! "I thought the Hunters killed all the time! What's one less victim?!"
He frowned. "I don't kill humans."
Her eyes widened in awe. "So they... Vampires really do exist! I knew it!"
David looked at her strangely. One second she looked ready to kill him, the next she was as giddy as a child in a toy store.
"So, how long have you been slaughtering these 'people'?" she asked with narrowed eyes.
"You are not in any position to be asking me zis." he replied, indicating to her bindings. "I vould like to ask you somezing." he leaned forward. "How did you find me."
She smirked deviously. Valerie didn't want to let on that their meeting had been completely by accident. "I pooled all my resources and tracked you down using my power of deduction."
He snorted. "Impressive, Agent Cooper. Funny, you look just like zat voman I ran into at ze drug store."
Her mouth opened to retort, but snapped shut again when she couldn't think of anything to say.
"I'm actually surprised you managed to find zis place, even if you DID follow me. It must not have been an easy task. I admire zat."
"Huh?"
He straightened in his chair. "David North, former CIA operative."
"CIA?! Hunh... I guess I'm not as bad as I thought." she muttered.
"So, I'm going to let you go, FBI Agent Cooper. In return, you forget that this ever happened und I von't be forced to hunt you down und silence you." he went to untie her hands but Valerie jerked back out of his reach.
"No." she said defiantly.
David glared at her. "Vhat did you say?"
"I still want my answers, and I'm not leaving until I get them."

Okay kiddies! Review!

OH! And let me let you in on a little tidbit of information. My fellow staffmembers and I have started an X-Men Evolution RPG on proboards.com . We still have LOTS of characters open, and we need more players. To sign up, go to: " http:xevochic.proboards27.com " and fill out an aplication!

Good luck!

Amieva