Author's Note

Hey Everyone! Just in case no one read my note on my author page I will repost it here.

For those who have been waiting for an update to my Blade: Trinity fics, they are slowly but surely being written. I've been to the hospital with a severe throat and ear infection. I'm on vicoden and have a bad fever, so that's making me a little sluggish. I apologize, but I'm trying to write in between sleeping. Please try and be patient because y'all have been so great with me concerning recent problems. I hope all of you are well and I thank God everyday for the ones who support me.

So there it is…I'm so sorry for the delay. If anyone has any questions on my other stories, either completed or future stories, please feel free to email me. Don't forget to review. It always helps me to know what you think. Thank you!

McFadden-

Chapter 6: Retribution

The original plan was to enter the building from the back alleyway but that was shot to shit when King tripped over a stray beer bottle, shattering it against a dumpster. Five seconds into a stakeout situation and he had already fucked up and blown their cover. Abby could hear the smash even over the music on her I-pod. She brushed it off as an honest mistake. Her demeanor wasn't perfect by any means on her first night out either. She'd never share that information with King, but she had gone out with her father and fell through an air conditioning vent in the middle of a vampire human sacrifice ceremony. Later she was informed that it was all a set up by her dad to evaluate her skills and Abby had definitely learned from her mistakes. Right now, two young vampires emerged from a door to see what the commotion was about. Maybe it was just a drunk homeless man, but that meant food for them nonetheless. Luckily Abby knew what to do in that situation. Being a quick thinker, she motioned for King to hide in the shadows while she hoisted herself up the fire escape ladder. Abby had to move ahead now that her plans were changed. Whispering into the communicator, she instructed him.

"Don't move unless I signal for you…"

Control issues were something both he and Abby shared in common. Although he hated not being the lead, he understood that he was the student in this situation and he didn't want to mess up anything anymore in front of her watchful eye. The vampires inched closer and closer, sniffing around where Abby knew King was hiding. Her hearing was keen as she heard him poise himself. Over the communicator, his breathing was relaxed and easy which was a good sign that he operated well under pressure. Abby barely moved as she spoke into her headset.

"Get ready King…wait for it…Now!"

He rolled out of his hiding place and stunned the young vampires by throwing a UV light bomb at them. It detonated sending bright white beams throughout the narrow alley. Both vampires barely had time to scream before they were instantly dust.

"Deep fried and extra crispy…Oh yeah!"

Abby groaned and shook her head. She made a mental note to tell King what weapon should be used for what situation. Before he had too much time to celebrate his first two kills, a much larger vampire busted through the steel door and spotted King followed by another running full force towards him. He braced himself for a battle and flipped the lighter one over his shoulder and quickly staked him through the chest. He stood ready for the next one but was cut short when Abby jumped down from the fire escape right on top of the suckhead, spearing him with the switchblade in her boot. Dropping down, she landed hard on the street and King instinctively ran to her side. She brushed off her knees and straightened out, calling for Dex to pick them up.

"Wait, what do you mean? That's it…Only four?"

She nodded. King looked a little disappointed. Abby checked her wrist blade and then the one in her boot. It was burnt black, but that wasn't anything out of the ordinary.

"You didn't think I'd put you in that much danger your first time out, did you? You have to work your way up King. Don't get used to that small amount. This was a trail run, and you passed it. Next time it will count."

Dex appeared with the car from its place around the corner. King took Abby's gear, tossing it in the back with his and let her slide in first. He got in next to her and started to disarm, placing his own arsenal in a black duffel bag. He could've sworn that Abby had just given him a compliment.

"Is that your ass backwards way of telling me I did good."

She shook her head in affirmation, and then shrugged.

"Something like that…although you might want to hold out on the UV bombs until they know you're there. You don't want to use those right off the bat. They attract too much attention. I know this is going to be hard for you, but next time, try to be a little more subtle."

"Baby, subtlety is my middle name…"

Abby thought she heard Dex snort from the driver's seat as she leaned back onto the headrest and closed her eyes with a deep sigh. She highly doubted the truth in that statement given his past behavior. However, she did discover that she could now trust him to be protective out on the field but she still wondered if she would be able to trust him enough to divulge secrets. She turned her head to the side he was on and opened an eye. King looked deeply consumed in his own thoughts and tired. She really made a lot of progress with him today and was proud that he was able to take it all. At the moment, he was so quiet. Abby was begrudging admitting it, but she liked him like this. He was almost normal…almost.

She anticipated a rest, since it was going to be a long ride home. They had traveled an hour and a half to find this building, so maybe now she could get a little sleep. Unfortunately she wouldn't be able to stretch out like she normally would because now King was with her. So she just had to make due with her side of the car. She noticed that her arm felt warm and sticky. Looking down at it, she realized the she was bleeding from one of the scratches she got from hitting the pavement so hard. It was dripping down by her elbow and on to the seatbelt. Abby opened her duffel and looked around for a spare piece of cloth she kept in her bag when she felt pressure already being applied to the problem area. King had stretched his shirt out enough to press against her skin, cleaning up the excess blood. Abby couldn't understand him. As much as she tried and tried to push him away, he just wouldn't go anywhere. He met her eyes for a moment before continuing to clean her arm. After he was satisfied that it was cleaned enough, he readjusted his shirt and sat back. For some reason he felt that there was a comfortable understanding between the two of them now that King would be the one to take care of Abby when she needed it. He cautiously put his arm around her and pulled her over to lay her head on his shoulder. King wanted to show her that he was the one in control now. Abby surprisingly accepted his invitation and rested against him for the time being. When they arrived home, King had to coax Abby awake by smoothing out her hair and whispering in her ear.

"Wake up sleepyhead, we're here."

When she didn't budge he attempted it again by rubbing her cheek.

"Abby…"

Suddenly her eyes flew open and when she realized her all too comfortable and rather intimate position next to King she quickly moved to the farthest side of the car until he got out. He took in her stunned look and knew that Abby must've been halfway unconscious when she let him snuggle up to him. She hopped out of the car and stalked into the door. It was really late so the rest of the hideout was quiet with the other inhabitants already sleeping soundly. Abby decided that she wanted to clean all the night's filth off of her. She went straight to the showers to wash and hopefully wake up a little bit. There was some research that still needed to be done and hopefully she could get some of it completed before she went to bed.

Going into the bathroom, she ran the water till she got the temperature to as hot as she could stand it. Shedding all of her clothes, Abby stuck her toe into the water around the drain and sighed in relief. It was perfect. She relaxed as the water rained down on top of her. Welcoming the feeling, Abby took the washcloth off of the faucet and lathered it up with liquid body wash that smelled like 'rainforest flowers.' Or so it said on the bottle. As a ritual, Abby looked at all of her old scars, fingering the ones within her reach. Her mind conjured up the memories in which how the scars came to be. Some were from fighting; some were caused by her own stupidity, others from friendly battle. One discolored white slash that was on her shoulder came from a knife which had been heated till orange and then scored into her skin by a vampire she killed 2 years ago during an ambush. There was another linear cut on her right leg that she inflicted while shaving and trying to sketch a plan that was propped up by the toilet at the same time. That was just a mistake waiting to happen. Close to her knee was a spot of nail scars when she and Dex got into it during a wrestling match and he tried to pull her legs out from under her. She rinsed off and stepped out, wrapping a towel around her body. She had to be quiet as possible when going to her quarters because she didn't want to wake up Zoë.

Entering her room and turning on her table lamp, Abby unfolded a clean pair of sweatpants, a camisole, and a thin, long-sleeved shirt. King was probably putting all their weapons in the armor room. At some point tonight, she needed to address some combat issues with him, but she'd put that on the backburner for now. She dressed quickly and decided to step outside for a second to get some fresh air. Abby walked out onto the rooftop and stood there loving the wind blowing her hair about. King saw her from his spot in the main room and followed her outside. Apparently, he too had washed up and was now dressed in a pair of blue breakaway pants and a zip-up sweatshirt. He walked up behind her and cleared his throat to announce his presence.

"Abby, are you okay…"

She uncrossed her arms and let the hang at her sides. Rolling her head back from side to side and stretching her neck out, she spoke.

"You know that's strange…I've just suddenly got a pain in my ass."

Even King grinned at that. Her tone told him that she didn't really mean it in a harsh way. He came to stand beside her and he saw her shiver. He took off his sweatshirt, offering it to her. Abby just looked at him.

"Please take it. You're cold."

She pulled the sweater on over her other shirt and was instantly greeted by King's aftershave. It was warm and inviting and it wrapped her in a cozy safe feeling that she was becoming to associate with King. What was happening to her? She was slowly becoming attracted to him. Did he know that he was doing this to her? His personality would've given him away if he thought that. He would've boasted about it by now, so that was out of the question. In spite of all things, he had remained fairly much like a caring man who looked out for everyone and that's one quality she definitely admired. He stood there now with his hands stuffed inside his pockets looking out at the city lights that were visible. Out of the blue, Abby decided to ask him a serious question.

"Do you like it here King?"

The question blindsided him with its pursuable depth, but after taking a long hard consideration on the subject, he answered her.

"Was it my ideal life that I had planned…no. But then again it's infinitely better than the one Danica mapped out for me. Even if that didn't happen, I have no idea what would've happened to me had I stayed on the path I was walking during college. I probably would've dropped out and become a drain on society like everyone expected me to be. Back then I constantly had to prove myself. At least now I know what I'm doing. I have a purpose to serve, and most importantly…I have something to live for. That's more than I could say for the past."

Abby felt a slight twinge of guilt course through her. Never before had he talked so openly about things that affected him with the feelings to match. His expression was conflicted, then resolved, and finally determined. There was goosebumps appearing on his skin. She had to leave and go back inside before the feeling overwhelmed her. She took off the sweatshirt handing it back to King.

"Come inside soon, I don't want you to freeze."

He bared a piece of his soul to her. He had to take a moment to collect himself outside. The cold air bit through him and he covered back up. His sweatshirt smelled like her just from those precious few minutes she wore it. He scent had rubbed off and reminded him of the beautiful smell of a woman and the effect it had on a longing man. King retreated back inside and went upstairs, sneaking by Zoë's room and knocking softly on Abby's door. She invited him in and he found her sitting on the bed hugging her pillow. She looked up at him for a moment and then back down to her pillow picking at nervously at the twill. He gingerly sat next to her on the bed folding one leg beneath him. To her, she felt she needed to swallow her pride this time and let him know that they all needed him there. Abby for once sought out to comfort him in some way. Her voice was so soft and quiet, something that was foreign to King.

"I guess not so much has changed. You still stuck here having to prove yourself over and over again. I know I haven't been so easy on you and I'm truly sorry for that. You would think a girl would be more understanding and compassionate…"

"You're just a little hard ass that's all. As long as you don't pull a 'Crying Game' on me I think I'll be fine."

Abby actually cracked a smile and King returned it poking her in the cheek with his finger.

"See there, she does have a sense of humor."

She hit him with her pillow and he tried to block it too late. Abby bit her lip in thought as King just watched her for her next move. She then stuck out her hand to him.

"Partners?"

King smile brightened and shook her hand vigorously.

"Whether you want me or not."

They stopped shaking but their hands were still locked together. King held her hand softly but firmly. Abby looked at him questionably but not completely blind as to what his eyes were asking her. He took the pillow from her putting it delicately back in its place and turned back to her with full intentions of starting something else.