Yay! One more chapter to go! Sorry I've been gone so long. I do intend to finish this story. I've just been preoccupied with midterms and writing stories on Fictionpress. Sorry! Anyway, thanks to I-Love-Moony, Alanna99, Shadowed Echo, and Incarnated-Soul for their reviews...Hope I haven't kept you waiting too long!

Chapter 38

Doug watched the blazing building for a few moments, revelling in the air he was breathing and the beating of the heart in his chest. It was a simple pleasure just to know that he was alive and that Leigh's form was beside his, brimming with living energy.

He took a glance at the detective who was gasping for breath. He wasn't exactly in shape. Doug smile and did something he never thought he would do. He pounded the detective on the back. "You did good. Very good."

The detective nodded. He didn't reply because he was still panting for breath.

Then another thought occured to Doug and he sprung to his feet. He spoke urgently. "Come on! We need to go!"

"What are you getting so worked up about?" Tross said between breaths.

Leigh shot up in realization, her wolf muscles perfecting the move. In one smooth motion she was on her feet. "The hotel! Tross' men are going to attack the hotel. And they're going to get there before we do!"

That got the detective moving, despite the fact that he was still panting with exertion. He pulled a cellphone from his pocket and pressed the speed dial and began barking into the phone. He must have been talking to the Lampton Hill police department. He spoke frantically for several minutes before he shut off the phone.

He swore under his breath.

"What?" Doug asked, his stomach churning with new worry. "They're not going to help?"

"Oh no," Tross assured him. "They'll help. But there are only five police officers in the Lampton Hill vicinity. They won't be able to pull much of an operation. They're going to try and evacuate the hotel before Rollson's men get there. Staves and Tennor are going to watch the two routes into town, pretending to be on the alert for speeders. If they see a big group of cars moving in, they'll send an alert."

"It'll have to do," Doug replied grimly. "Let's go. We need to help as much as possible."

Leigh and Doug ran for the alley and Tross turned off in another direction. He held his breath for the last ten seconds before he caught sight of the truck, his shoes crunching on broken glass and other pieces of litter strewn about the old alley way. He let out his breath when he turned the corner. His truck sat glistening and untouched. Maybe this neighbourhood wasn't as bad as he was making it out to be. In any case, it was always better to be safe than sorry.

They both jumped into the car, still dressed in the uncomfortable gear. Doug didn't take the time to remove his. He put the car into gear, spitting up gravel behind him as the truck spilled out into the street. With a few deft twists, Leigh had disrobed herself from the rubber suit. She kept on the bulletproof vest.

Doug was starting to worry how long the TryptoKeri would last before it left her system. He hoped it would last...in case they ended up having to fight.

He wondered what the men would do once they found that their boss, their supplies and their home were all history. It might be enough to call off the operation altogether. After all, this battle was a personal one. It was all about how Rollson appeared to the 'wolf community. He wanted them to fear and respect him so that they wouldn't get any ideas. But now that he was dead, would his men really honor that request? The Lampton Hill wolf community wasn't exactly their biggest threat. There were the chicago wolf gangs to worry about.

Once they had reached the highway heading out of the city, Tross turned on his flashing lights and began to speed ahead. Doug pulled in behind him and the two whizzed away.

Leigh snorted at a few people glancing over from other cars. "Now they really will think I'm pregnant."

Doug chuckled grimly. He wasn't really in the mood for jokes. There was a heavy presence in the air, like a smothering blanket about to fall over them. The tension was palpable. He knew that Leigh was only trying to lessen it, but it was hard to get into the frame of mind where he wanted to joke.

Leigh was at his side. She was safe and secure--and he was grateful for that. But what about Jamie? He wouldn't forgive himself if she got killed all because of his bad judgement. She was his sister and he had the duty to protect her. His muscles were twitching and his stomach turned the more he thought about it.

Maybe Leigh was right. Maybe light conversation was the thing that he needed to get him out of this state of mind. Telling himself this didn't really help though. He knew that the thought would be at the back of his mind no matter what he did.

The trip seemed to take forever--even at their rocketing pace. Cars moved quickly out of the way, banking on the side of the road as the duo passed. The speedometer told him that he was going about 120 miles per hour. That had to be bad on the truck. It was a used truck after all. He'd done it up as nicely as he could, but he couldn't take away the wear and tear that had been done to the vehicle over the years. It was groaning a little from the work Doug was putting it through.

Doug groaned when it made a weird sputtering noise. But it continued to run, albeit not very smoothly.

Leigh patted the dashboard with a wan smile for him. "She'll make it," she announced.

Doug only hoped she was right. They probably had a good five minutes before they hit the Lampton Hill city limits--not that it could be called a city.

Doug's cell phone jangled loudly and he nearly jumped out of his seat. He stared at the thing like it had grown two heads. It was the cell phone that Rollson had given him. Did that mean that one of Rollson's men was calling him?

He swallowed and brought the phone to his ear, pressing the talk button. Leigh was looking at him with a curious expression.

"Hello?" He asked in a dry voice.

"Hey, Doug," It was the detective. "I just talked to Staves. A big group passed him almost ten minutes ago."

"What about the hotel?" Doug said immediately.

"All the wolves have been evacuated--and the other people too," he added as an afterthought. "Except, there was this one man having a seizure and they couldn't move him, so he and his family are still in the building."

"And they won't hesitate to attack the building because there are humans inside," Doug replied bitterly, obviously confirming the detective's fear. "They'll justify the killings by saying that they've got rid of a group of werewolves and the humans died for a good cause. If they decide to attack, that is."

Leigh had drawn a breath beside him.

"And you have your doubts?" Tross inquired.

"Yes," he answered. "There will be a shift in power. The new leader might think there are better ways to be spending their time and men. Besides, once they find out that their base exploded, they'll realize they're out of provisions, money, and a place to retreat."

He groaned as the engine sputtered again. "Tross? I don't know if I'm going to make it the whole way. My truck's about to give out. It's not used to this kind of abuse."

"Hang in there," Tross replied. "If she goes on you, I'll pick you up...but try to take her as far as you can. I don't want to waste time stopping when there are more important things up ahead."

Doug nodded and then realized that the detective couldn't see him. "Yeah. Okay. We're almost there anyway."

He hung up the phone, placing it aside. He really shouldn't be using it anymore. Rollson had probably already prepaid a year for him, but it was most likely bugged too--which he hadn't realized until just this moment.

He slapped his hand to his forehead with a strangled cry.

Then he thought about what he had just said with renewed hope. He'd 1) tipped the enemy off that there were no wolves at the hotel to attack so they wouldn't likely hurt the humans inside, and 2) that their base was destroyed if they didn't already know. This could actually work to his advantage--if they were listening in on his calls. It seemed plausible. After all, if they thought they could find more information about what Doug and the people at the hotel were supposedly doing by listening in on any calls he made, they'd be far better off for their attack.

They drove passed a police car sitting at the side of the road, pretending that it was looking for speeders. Staves waved as they sped passed and into Splinter Bridge. They didn't slow down their pace despite the signs. But it was still slow going because they squealed to a stop, nearly ramming into the back of the detective's car more than once as some idiots decided it would be a good idea to get out on the road.

They were two blocks from the hotel and Tross' light stopped flashing.

His phone jangled again. He picked it up and heard Tross start. "I'm going to--"

"Not on this phone," Doug interrupted immediately, cutting him off. "Call Leigh's cell."

Then he turned off the phone, tossing it to the floor. The thing was as good as useless if Rollson's men could listen to him every time he spoke. It would be a good way to keep track of him wherever he went. He'd have to find some way to get rid of it. And soon.

Leigh's cell jangled. "Hello?" she said.

She nodded a few times and then turned to Doug. "Tross is too conspicuous," she told him. "He wants us to take a drive by the hotel to see if there's anything suspicious."

He nodded and puttered ahead. When the hotel came into view, it looked absolutely baren. There wasn't a single car in the parking lot. He moved into the sidestreet so that he could circle the building. But there was no one in sight.

"Where would I go if I didn't want to be seen?" He muttered.

"How about that copse of trees passed the houses?" Leigh suggested.

He nodded and followed her directions, moving slowly because the truck was getting worse. There was one gravel road leading into the copse of trees. He turned to Leigh questioningly.

She nodded, sending him a weak but daring grin. She looked so tired and sapped, but she was willing to try anyway. "We can handle them if we have to. The TryptoKeri's still active. We can run toward the houses. I don't think they'd take the risk--hurting some humans for one werewolf and a reformed wolf hunter."

He nodded and turned the steering wheel in a sharp right. The truck bumped along the pitted gravel road, bouncing up and down and rumbling about. The engine whined at this simple beating. As they drew farther and farther in, Doug got a weird feeling in his stomach. They were definitely going the right way.

His thought was confirmed when a dozen vehicles appeared out of the motonous view of trees. A large group of about forty men was standing about in discussion. It seemed as though they had just reached a decision because they were heading back to their vehicles when Doug's truck appeared in sight.

The men fell into alert and then there was an earth-shattering noise. So lost in the confusion, the only thing Doug could think to do was grab Leigh and dive to the floor. He was dimly aware of shattering glass pitting into his arms and legs. His back was well protected from the bulletproof vest.

The earth-shattering noise like a dozen guns shooting, paused after what must have been ten seconds, but it felt like a lifetime. Vehicles shuddered to life and then cars were whizzing passed the truck. He couldn't see them but he could hear them, slipping awfully close.

The truck shuddered, lurching to the side as one of the vehicles thought it would be a good idea to ram it. Taking the first driver's idea, another slammed into them. With a great wrenching squeal, the truck slipped down into the small ditch, bumping Doug and Leigh about. The truck pitched over and landed on its side, shuddering to a stop.

They landed against the side hard and lay there dazed while the vehicles drove away. After about ten minutes of just lying there and breathing hard, Leigh picked up her cell phone and called a number. Doug assumed she must be calling the detective. "Tross," she asked in a strained voice. "Where are they?"

There was a pause and then, "They're leaving town?"

A broad grin grew up her cheeks. "Really?"

Doug leaned in close to hear Tross' reply. "Really," he responded.

Leigh let out a relieved laugh, thanking the detective and hung up the phone. Before Doug could figure out what she was doing she'd jumped at him. He tried not to wince, his body all sore. It was too bad that he didn't regenerate as fast as she did. In one pounce she was kissing him, and by that time the pain had subsided.

He moved to kiss her back. After a few minutes they pulled apart and Doug gazed at her with a serious expression. "I have to go after them. After the men, I mean."

Leigh frowned. "What?" She asked, her tone slightly outraged. "No!"

"Yes," he replied stubbornly, reaching out to touch her cheek. "I have to know if they ever plan to come back. I need to make sure that if they are, we're prepared. I need to find out what they're up to."

"But you might get killed." Leigh snapped out. "Let someone else do it!"

He shook his head, his eyes pleading. "I know them best of all. I know their techniques, their friends, how they hide...Leigh, it's got to be me. Can't you see that?"

Leigh sighed, looking away. Her eyes looked wet. "What if I never see you again?"

"You will," he tried to assure her, even though he wasn't sure himself. "Don't worry."

"Now come on," he said with a smile and they helped each other pick their way to the front of the car. With a couple of good kicks, they were able to break the front windshield and crawl out. They trudged off through the woods in the direction where they had last left Tross.