A/N: Hey everbody, I'm back. My Internet tweaked out, and I'm REALLY sorry for the wait! Reviewers, I love you all and would usually reply to you all, but my computer keeps erasing it when I try a long A/N. So, I'm forced to be short-winded. Enjoy!

The massacre was terrible.

Blood stained the walls of the rail car, and bodies lay strewn over the seats, some whole, eyes wide in shock, and some in so many pieces the investigators had to resort to dental records. Men, women, children; the murderer had not given a shit. That was obvious. To make it all the more painful a rebuke for the Hellsing organization, the train doors by which the killer had made his entrance and then his exit was bent open, the metal bunching around the outline of fingers. There could be no doubt. Vampire.

The slap to their honor stung.

Integra stared at the photos in grim silence, having already fanned them out on her desk. They were gruesome, brutal, and most of all, unnecessary. One death would have done to 'show' her there was still a vampire alive. A trainload was sick and demented… then again, so was the monster behind it. Worst of all, she was useless. There was nothing that Sir Hellsing could have done, and she hated herself for it.

Now she had to wait for the summons she knew was coming, and then she could get the bastard responsible. Personally.

He waited and waited, but she didn't come.

Alucard had initially thought maybe this was punishment for something, but he'd been as close to a little angel as a fanged bloodsucker could be. He didn't even consider that she might just be running late; there was nothing to keep her and no matter what, she was punctual. Then again, if there'd been a disaster, maybe… No. That wasn't going to happen, no matter how badly he wanted it.

The No-Life King's boots thunked on the table, and he tilted his chair back. It wasn't like he didn't have time to wait. For some reason, I seem to be doing that a lot lately. It's really starting to bore me. He was just about to close his eyes, and settle into a state of repose when footsteps echoed in the corridor. Finally! The door creaked open, and his Master was silhouetted in the light from beyond. "Now, Alucard." He smiled inwardly at her tone, but his expression remained rather blank. He slid his feet off the table, and lifted out of his usual chair, and hopped the steps up to her. I wonder what happened.

"Did you lose track of time while reading?" He asked, curious.

"No. Not so fortunate."

Now he was really interested. "More paperwork than usual?"

"You could say that, I suppose." Her answer was shortly followed by a morbid laugh.

He grinned. Something did happen.

Seras stared at the television screen in horror. This isn't possible! No human could have done this! It would take more strength… more ruthlessness… more… evil. She pushed her tomato juice away from her, and found she couldn't pull her red eyes away from the scene being blared in front of her. The bar had gone quiet, as the patrons also found themselves paralyzed. A man in the back managed to look down into his drink, and muttered, "Terrible, terrible," before taking a long gulp.

The camera panned over the same bloody seats, the red-streaked walls, with an occasional interlude of some professional describing what mental state the killer must be in, how they're identifying the bodies, how they plan to ease the pain of families… it went on and on, until a representative for the crown arrived on-site. The picture shifted at the cameraman and reporter ran up to the newcomer, and fired out the question everyone had wanted to hear answered. "Excuse me, Sir? Sir! What is the plan to catch the killer?"

The man turned around. "I cannot disclose much information at this time, but a special division of the military is being sent in. Recently this particular division was put on reserve, but there is now reason to once more return them to active service. Her Majesty would like to assure the public…" He continued, but Seras had stopped paying attention. Hellsing. They're going to send in Hellsing. She numbly placed some money on the counter, and slipped out of the bar. Her feet turned towards home, and her mind kicked into overdrive.

But this means that… Bloody Hell, I don't know what this means. Why should it even matter to me? I'm supposedly really 'dead' now. It shouldn't matter. But if they're back in service, I guess I'll just be more careful… She watched her feet, and the shadows cast by the light of the streetlamps danced across the pavement. What if they do find me? Will they hunt me? She shivered, as the sound of ripping material came back to haunt her. She stopped, and placed one hand over her now-healed cheek, and one covered the invisible tear on her shoulder. I won't let them find me then. Who would they send, I wonder? Master? No… Well, maybe, I guess. I still don't know what Sir Integra might have done to him. She'd thought and thought on it, but couldn't come up with anything. She didn't even know how long they'd known each other… From Sir Integra's birth, I suppose. A picture of an infant Integra flashed in front of her eyes, and she giggled. Her mind added a very disgruntled Master holding the baby, and the image was complete. She stopped and burst into laughter. I wonder what sort of child she was… maybe I'll ask Mas- No, she wouldn't. The thought sobered her almost immediately. So, she walked on.

Soon she came to the door of the orphanage, and she fished her key out of her pocket. She was turning it in the lock when she heard the phone ring. Ahh! She shoved the door open, and closed it fast and silently behind her. She ran to the phone in much the same manner, and then breathed, "Hello?"

"Where the Hell have you been all night, Seras?"

Seras winced. "Hi, Eva."

Now it was just pissing him off.

He'd been waiting again. Alucard growled at the wall, the desk, and then the portrait of Lionel Hellsing that Integra insisted on keeping in the office. He didn't really mind; it proved to be handy for having 'conversations' with the crafty old bastard. He imagined she used it for much the same purpose. He was in no mood for any such thing right now, however. He was excited, inflamed even, and she was making him wait… again.

She'd opened the door, and gestured to the chair in front of her desk. "Sit." He'd done so, trying to bore into her with his eyes. She'd better tell him what was going on… "There's been an incident. I have a meeting with the Queen about it. You need to wait here. Don't leave the office until I return. Am I understood?" He'd only grinned in response. This was too good to be true. Walter gave a polite knock on the door, and then came in without waiting for an answer. "The car is ready, Sir Integra." She turned to look at him. "Very good. I'll be right out." She looked back at him, and gave him the full benefit of her You'd-better-do-what-I-told-you-to look, and then swept out of the room.

And he'd been sitting here ever since. Gah.

Well, not exactly ever since, he supposed. As soon as she'd gone he'd hopped over the desk and sank into her chair. So this is how it feels. It'd given him a mischievous sense of accomplishment. He'd spent some time trying to decide whether or not he'd still be there when she opened the door, but hadn't really come to a conclusion. For now, it was comfortable enough.

And so he waited, after promising himself never to be patient again.

The ride home was silent.

Integra sat in the back of the car as she had almost three months before, but this time the quiet wasn't oppressive. Walter didn't need to ask what the Queen had said, he could tell from the look on her face. She was ready to uphold her duty… again, and this time with pleasure.

Walter allowed a small smile to creep across his face, but kept his eyes on the road. Hellsing's re-activation party would be quite an event. Judging from the expression on the Director's face, she was going to make that bastard vampire her guest of honor… maybe she'd let that fiend have a dance with Alucard. He smiled a little wider, and absently continued exploring the metaphor as he drove towards the mansion.

Integra threw her office doors open, and strode in with purpose.

Alucard had risen to stand by the window, and whirled around to greet her with an impatient, "Well?" She remained stone, and just looked at him. He groaned, and then watched as she reached over and grabbed her letter-opener. She dragged her gaze down to her wrist, then pulled her sleeve back. Carefully, swiftly, she sliced a thin line in her forearm.

He took a step forward, and then another.

She did not move, only watched him.

He drowned himself in the sight and smell of the crimson opiate dripping onto the floor.

Still stone.

In one quick moment he dropped to his knees, and fastened his mouth onto her arm.

He felt her flinch as he bit down, drawing as deep as he could from a surface wound. Slowly the bonds began to weaken and shift. He could break them now, if he so chose. He didn't. Alucard let the bonds melt away, and then slowly brought his arms up to hold hers in place as he bit down further.

A solid tap on his head from the letter opener brought him back to reality.

She pulled away, and he rose to his feet. The Nosferatu flexed his arms, and smiled. It was good to be free again. She stared at him, and then smirked. "We have work to do, vampire."

He bared his teeth in a maniacal smile. "Of course, my Master."