Cool water lapped at his thighs as he scooped its shining surface in his hands only to release it over his body as he cleansed his skin. Each time he bent over to scoop more water into his massive hands his muscles rippled tantalisingly underneath his taut olive flesh. Every motion of bending over offered a more than pleasant view of his tight buttocks and a preview of what lay on the other side of them. Wrapped up completely in his motions he wasn't aware that he had an audience, that someone was watching him intently. As far as he'd known there had never been anyone there, his perception didn't change until he heard a slightly startled intake of breath. Turning around slightly so that he had a better view of the bank he searched it for the source of the strange sound he had heard. After a minute's searching his eyes fell on a woman, a blush tinted her cheeks as she appeared to struggle to keep her eyes at his head. A smile creased his full lips as he waded towards her, from what he could see of her face her blush deepened the closer he came to her. Once he was close enough he held out a hand for her to shake.

"I'm Rico." He spoke with a mixed accent.

It took a moment for the woman to take the proffered hand and reply, "I'm Trixie."

"Pleased to meet you, Trixie."

"Can I ask you a question?"

"Shoot,"

"Aren't you…shy? I mean, me being a total stranger and you being…"

Rico's smile grew, "Totally naked? No, when you have as many brothers and sisters as I have you don't get shy. You get used to people always being around."

"That must be tough sometimes."

"It can be. Especially when you live with your twin brother, Alejandro can get in the way sometimes."

"Ah, I'm an only child so I don't have that problem." Trixie explained, "Can I ask you another question?"

"Sure,"

"How's your mum? I heard she got released from hospital this morning."

"She's fine. She's in the capable hands of Alejandro. If you want to go and see her you're welcome to, she's in mine and Alejandro's airship. Just help yourself up there, Alejandro won't mind and mama would love the visit."

"Cool, thanks. I might take you up on that, see you later Rico."

Rico watched with a smile as Trixie headed for his airship. He'd meant to ask her how Sportacus was but there would be time for that later. With his audience gone he waded deeper into the lake before diving in. It was easier to wash this way and it had been so long since he'd been swimming. With long, powerful strokes he pulled himself through the shallow waters without a care in the world marring his beautiful features.

Detectives Knight and Schanke sat nervously watching Captain Cohen. For the past two minutes she'd been drumming her fingers on the top of her desk as if trying to find a way to say what was on her mind. Neither of them had tried to prompt her into action and neither was sure if they should, neither of them was willing to have their head bitten off.

"Ok gentlemen, I have news for you and it isn't good." Cohen said finally ceasing her drumming.

Nick nodded, "What is it?"

Cohen laid it flat on the table, "Uniforms searched the old warehouse Cain had laid himself up in. They turned the whole place upside down but there was no one there."

"Damn!" Schanke exclaimed bluntly.

"It gets worse. During the search one of the uniforms went missing, they found him with his throat slit from ear to ear a few hours later."

Both Detectives knew what this meant and looked around the room uncomfortably. Their eyes fell on nothing as they searched for what didn't seem to be there, taking in a deep breath Nick looked back at Cohen.

"What do you want us to do?" He asked.

Cohen gave him an answer straight away, "Get down to the Raven. Take some armed uniforms with you. We're going to need to put Robyn and her friends in protective custody, it's the only way. If he got in the Raven before he'll get in again. Stay vigilant, gentlemen and stick together."

Debriefed sufficiently both Detectives rose from their chairs and left the office. One made a phone call while the other went to start his car; it was going to be another long night. In ten minutes they were on their way escorted by some marked police cars armed with uniforms that were armed to the teeth. Despite these precautions none of them felt completely safe, it felt to them as if death were waiting around every corner and there was nowhere to hide.

A bright light was being shone in his eyes. Its glow distorted his vision and began to agitate him. Lifting a hand as if to brush away the offensive brightness he found it caught in something. For a few moments he tried to pull his hand away but whatever held it refused to let go forcing him to cease his struggle. He was forced to endure the light for what seemed an eternity longer before it disappeared leaving only darkness. With the light gone temptation began to form in him to open his eyes. Afraid that it might come back he opened one eye and then the other slowly. The light didn't return and he allowed his eyes to search the room around him.

"Ah Sportacus, you're awake." A voice stated pleasantly.

Sportacus turned his head in the direction of the voice, "Doctor Cole? I thought you were in Wales."

"I was indeed but now I'm here. I came for the wedding and what a sorry sight greets me when I arrive; Robyn missing, Kit missing, Ché missing, Greta lying flat out on the ground and you half dead."

"How is Greta?"

"She'll be fine. She took a real beating but there's nothing that won't heal. I discharged her this morning, she was kept in overnight for precautionary observation but there was nothing to really concern me. You, on the other hand, weren't so lucky."

"Will I recover?"

Doctor Cole looked shocked, "Of course! Of course! There's no reason at all why you shouldn't. You were seriously injured but after a good few hours of surgery and a new body full of blood you're well on the road to recovery. Whoever hit you hit you hard and they could certainly wield a knife but what confuses me is that they seemed to deliberately miss all of your vital organs. It would have been the blood loss that would have killed you, not them."

"Do you know how long I'll be here?"

"Seeing as you heal faster than most people I'd say you could be sent home in about three weeks, maybe even less, but you will have to take it easy. No gallivanting around saving people or doing any of that flipping stuff for a while. If you overdo it or catch you doing any of the things I've banned you from I'll have you back in here on an agonisingly long prescription of bed rest."

Sportacus grimaced; he didn't like the sound of that at all.