Hey everyone! So it seems that I have more than one of these stories dying to come out at the same time. I hope y'all don't mind. This may turn into a lengthier story once I get the plotting straightened out. I am here to please each one of you so…Please enjoy and review (It gives me encouragement.) Thank you!

M-

Chapter One: Late Night Encounter

King startled himself out of sleep with the sensation that he was drowning. Gasping for air, he bolted straight up in the bed. Beads of cold sweat were dripping from his face down to his neck. He ran his hand over his chest and felt his own rapid heartbeat. He was confused for a moment, and then gradually began to calm down. He still hadn't gotten used to the Hideout and now that he was out of the medical area and in his own room, he had to readjust to his surroundings.

The muddled flashbacks of his dream came flooding back to him. Screaming, he heard screaming. Not torturous and pleading like he was used to with the human prey that his 'roommate' would bring to dinner, but angry and loud like those that belonged to a pissed Danica Talos. He had tried to escape and was limping down a stark white hallway still dragging the I.V. of blood that was attached to him. She was screaming for him. They kept getting closer and closer until he slipped, fell, and everything went black. He hated that dream. It was the sixth time he had it since he came here. It always made him jut wide awake and unable to settle back down. He stood up, quite disoriented and blindly grabbed for clothing. Sleeping commando had always been something he enjoyed and now without being under constant supervision he was able to revert back to his old ways without worry. Feeling a swatch of fabric in the dark he pulled on some plain white linen pajama pants.

Tiptoeing through the hideout, he went in search of Abigail knowing that the presence of another person would calm his frayed nerves, her in particular. He couldn't explain why it was her he had to be around; he just chalked it up to the fact that she was the first person he saw in so long that didn't want to hurt him. He figured out in the past few weeks that he could always count on her to be awake at the ungodly hours of his nightmares.

He found her staring at the endless concession of paperwork mounted in her small office. She seemed to be the only one here who had a private office, but that didn't surprise him at all because usually she liked to be alone. Abby was cataloguing the numerous reports of missing destitutes from around the surrounding areas trying to piece together history and facts that they all had in common with the Talos vampire coven they were now investigating since the recent raid and seizure of Danica's one pride and joy. Hannibal King.

"You know, you're going to strain your eyes if you look at those all night Whistler…"

Just her luck… There he goes with the 'last name first' basis he'd recently become so fond of.

"Thank you Captain Obvious. Here I was I thinking I wore these prescription reading glasses strictly for fashion purposes. Thank God you showed me the error of my ways."

King slightly cringed at that sarcastic blow. Damnit! She was mad. And she certainly knew how to let him know. Abby slammed her records book shut and shuffled through more papers. The main subject of her stressful night's work had just shown up at her door and was now leaning against its frame barely dressed. She huffed at having her concentration broken by the team's new little shelter-puppy. He'd been with them for a little over three weeks now and it seemed as though the little miscreant had formed somewhat of a sentimental attachment to her. Hannibal King couldn't go a full 5 minutes without having the urge to be in the same room with her. Since his EDTA treatments his dependency on being within eyesight of her had grown worse. On late nights like these it had proved somewhat taxing to the last nerve Abigail had in her body. She checked the small clock/radio to see the late hour burning an intrinsic red into her eyes and mocking her insomnia. The aforementioned pain in her ass was, for some reason, out of his room at 4 a.m. in search of her. He unceremoniously plopped down into the chair next to her and picked up a loose file on the desk only to have it snatched out underneath him.

Abby removed her scarcely worn glasses she used late at night to analyze him over the top of the manila folder she was looking through. King's eyes lowered under her critical gaze. He still was a bit unsure about this woman he now owed his life to. He had been the ice-queen's frosty little fuck buddy for the last 5 years and this Abbigail was still colder on the exterior than Danica had ever been. The only inkling he knew that the tin-man actually had a heart was the way she looked at him when he had shown the worst side-effects of the EDTA and nearly chewed on his own arm from the deprivation of blood. Her expression was one of pity mixed with compassion, something he never thought he'd see again, and at no point in his recovery did she ever show fear. Even when he lashed out against her in fits of fever-induced lunacy. Right now however, she could've knocked him dead with the 'eat shit and die' stare he was currently receiving. She took a deep breath and rubbed her temples. Placing her glasses to one side, she opened her eyes to reveal a calmer, more patient look.

"Did you have another nightmare?"

That was her one and only thing that she was most concerned about. She had to be careful about his nightmares. One could only imagine the havoc a subconscious can wreak on a person held captive for years by a vampire. Her dad had filled her in on those harsh and nasty little details. But she was sure that King's mind on it own could probably produce some horrific imagery without the aid of a vampire slut. Thankfully he shook his head no and began idly playing with Hedges' Monte Blanc pen. Oh good…She breathed an inner sigh of relief and straightened up. No bedtime stories tonight. When she chose to speak her voice came out sounding more tired than she was willing to admit.

"What can I do for you then King?"

Since he had taken to using her last name it was only fitting that she would return the favor. Who named their kid Hannibal anyway? It was probably some stupid fraternity nickname he inherited in college. That is, if he had ever scholastically made it that far. She watched as he fidgeted in his seat and found this behavior strangely interesting. She realized for the first time that he was nervous, and it wasn't a fear-based anxiety. He was just plain nervous. Slightly amusing for someone with the reputation of being such an acid tongued chauvinist.

"Can I stay up with you? You know… kind of hang around out here for a while? I swear I'll be quiet and I won't get in your way."

"Hey. Let's not be too hasty with the promises, you'll get my hopes up."

She said that as dry as she possibly could but then, suddenly watching him, she felt sorry for him. She didn't know why, and she wouldn't let it show, but she felt sorry. Sighing in resignation she cracked her back and glared at him.

"If you so much as move in a way that distracts or annoys me I swear to God I'll shove my foot so far up your ass you'll be sucking on my toes from the back of you throat. Are we clear?"

Her tone was so nonchalant that it scared the shit out of him. What exactly had he gotten himself into when he joined these people? And right now, he wasn't so sure if he was safer here or back in Satan's Asshole with Danica. He heard her clear her throat in an affirmation if he had heard her or not, but he was terrified to even look into her direction. The only sound for the next 2 hours was the sound of King's whispered reply.

"Crystal."

King sat there looking around the room to find anything that would keep his attention long enough till his ass got numb. There wasn't much in the room save for some stray weapon prototypes and a few floor plans to various unknown buildings. The logistics of her workspace, he noticed, were nothing short of a professional assassin. If he hadn't known what she was, his blood would've run cold by now. He was still discovering so much about this life he was preparing himself for. There's no way he couldn't respect her for the cause she dedicated so much of her own life to. Although some part of him wished she wasn't so stoic all the time. King hoped that, given time, he would be able to meet the laid back Whistler that the blind woman had so animatedly spoke of. Suffice to say, he was going to have to wait a while before she cozied up to him enough. Maybe she'd even invite him over for a slumber party…without sleeping with a 9 MM in her hand. But all of that was just wishful thinking for now. He would look at Abby every now and then but was careful not to focus on her for too long in fear that she may get pissed and kick him out. She was a tough itch to scratch, that one. After another half hour Abby removed her glasses and rubbed the bridge of her nose with her thumb and forefinger. She stood and stretched, stifling a yawn. Reaching over, she turned off the small desk lamp that was their only source of lighting. In the faint twilight that showed through the small window, Abby could make out King's shadow and eyes which reflected like two tiny glimmers in the dark. He stood up when she did and waited for her to speak. Abby contemplated on just walking out of the room and seeing what he would do on his own, but she decided against it when she realized that he would just follow her.

"I'm going to bed now that I've sufficiently seemed to have bored the hell out of you. If you still aren't tired, go down to the kitchen and make some tea. If you want I can get you a sedative…"

King shook his head and waved away her offer with his hand.

"No, no I'll be alright. I should be able to sleep now. Thanks though."

She could tell that he had worn himself out. Doing what, she hadn't the slightest clue. But he was sleepy nonetheless and that was a good thing. His voice had gone down a few octaves and was now gruff and heavy, textured with exhaustion. She should've sent him back to bed in the first place. He walked behind her and out of the office as she closed and locked it. He padded down the hall to his room. She followed suit and turned into the adjacent room stopping momentarily to look at him. His shoulders were hunch as he pushed open his door. He ran a hand lazily through his hair, speaking again.

"Goodnight Abby."

She gave him a curt nod and realizing that was the best he could hope for as a goodnight, he slipped inside his room, closing the door after him. Abby heard the soft click of the knob then entered her own room. She shed her clothes with the exception of her tank and underwear and slid under the welcoming covers. A soft glow of Zoë's nightlight in the hall played on her features as she closed her eyes. That night, like all others since King came, Abby left her bedroom door open. Just in case she heard his anguished fighting from within his nightmares and had to go coax him back into sleeping peacefully…All the while, without him ever knowing. She would keep her door open. Just in case…