Drew grabbed her favorite hat off the hook by the door. The baseball cap had 'I dig that' written across it. She'd been given the hat by an old friend of hers when they were just finishing up their master's degree. She stared at her flats that sat ready to be slid on. She smiled. Today for the first time in a few weeks, she wouldn't need them right away. She bent over stuffing them in her tote bag. She grabbed her steel toed boots from the closet and did them up. She'd gotten dressed in khaki shorts, leggings under, and her grey long-sleeved shirt with the university of Toronto logo on it. A shirt she didn't mind if it got dirty.

She was officially allowed back. A Monday she'd been itching for. She wasn't just going into the office today. She'd be back out in the dirt having fun looking for treasures. She grabbed her lanyard with her badge and info off the hook and slung her tote bag over her shoulder. She locked up the flat and made her way to the university. She practically skipped her way into the building.

The sun didn't peak through the buildings around her just yet, the sky was just beginning to turn a lighter blue. The people didn't hustle around her as she hurried on. It didn't take too long to reach her office.

She tossed her bag on the desk. She grabbed her large bottle of water, that had been on her desk. She gulped it down not caring if it was at room temp. She'd fill it at the cooler on her way out. Hydration, key to when in the sun even if it was nearly the end of September. She grabbed her sunscreen from her bag beginning to slather it on rubbing it into her exposed skin. Her early years had reminded her even if she'd never burned before didn't mean it wouldn't happen.

She put her foot down off the chair before her, she pulled the legging up to make sure to rub some into her ankles in case they got exposed at all.

"Highly inappropriate for a lady to be in such state."

She snapped her gaze locked on her open door, where the cold words sneered out.

Caius.

"Good thing I'm not a lady. Now kindly fuck off you walking corpse. I have work to do. I'd return you to the cemetery, but I think you know where it is." She waved.

"You little harlot—"

"Granddad, it's time to move on from this realm." She dismissed him switching legs.

His mouth twitched and he attempted to walk into her office. She glared at him, challenging him to mess with her on such a good morning. Assholes really did know how to sense out a good mood and fuck it up.

"Caius, what brings you to Dr. Danvers' office?" Aro appeared stepping into sight.

She stepped off the chair not taking her eyes off him. Drew exhaled hand on her chest trying to calm the racing organ. She really didn't want to play fuck around and find out with the man. There was just something about him that caused an urge to stir in her to punch him.

She wasn't a violent person… most of the time…. This asshat though could have a monk willing to beat his ass. As long as they didn't touch the face. She'd personally take care of his handsome mug.

No. No. No.

She tried her best not to cringe. Sure, he was somewhat attractive like his brothers. In that old man way. He was aesthetically pleasing if she looked the right way. The moment he opened his mouth though, Drew was keener to sucker punch him, than kiss him. She prided herself on dating for personality over looks. She felt lust and submitted to it like any other human. The ones who stuck her though were good people.

Caius' crypt keeper ass became dirt the moment he spoke.

The man's nostrils flared, and he glowered at her. She watched his fists balled tight, but he did nothing. He only turned on his heel and left.

Aro shut her door bringing her attention to him. Her cheeks burned and she bit her bottom lip. He had to of heard what she called him.

"I —he started it." She blurted.

Aro chuckled shaking his head. "Caius tends to do that constantly. I've told him time and time again to play nice with the staff."

"I don't work for him." She defended arms crossed as he approached her.

"Indeed, you work for me." He whispered before quickly pressing a kiss to her lips.

"We're at work." She squeaked.

"It is only six thirty in the morning. I believe this is personal time." He smirked.

"Smart ass." She rolled her eyes.

"You enjoy cussing," he mentioned allowing her to move back a few steps.

"Like you said it's personal time." She shrugged.

"Surely a highly intelligent woman such as yourself, can find other words?" He challenged.

"I haven't had coffee. What you get is what you get. My turn for a question. Why in the fuck are you hear so early?" She asked. "I'm starting to think you may have a small obsession?"

Aro paused his jaw slightly tightened. His brow arched as approached her again.

Drew was backed up keeping her gaze on his dark eyes. They were fixated upon her. She gulped straightening up. She barely registered the wood against her hip of her desk.

His arms caged her against the desk. She craned her neck to keep their stare connected. Her heart slammed harder each inch he closed.

"Doctor, your language is appalling. I frankly am beginning to desire to correct it. In a way, which you may remember." He whispered leaning in to her right side. His lips tickled the shell of her ear. "I merely was passing by your office dropping off some important paperwork to the dean of this university. One I fund and own the building of."

She wondered if Aro would make her kneel in front of him. Images of Aro holding her up against the wall as he had his way with her at a punishing speed, flashed in her mind.

"Sorry sir." She blurted leaning back.

"Such language I've never been fond of outside a private setting. Even then." He pulled back sliding a finger under her chin. "Enjoy your first day back in the field. Remember it is half days. My brother is to help with the reports on those bodies after all."

"I'm sure Azrael will have an alarm set. You're surprisingly not the only one who seems to worry I do too much." She huffed.

"You have an aversion to people caring so?"

Drew saw his head tilt and brows pucker a bit. Her stomach rolled as she bit back her knee jerk responses. He was merely curious. He meant no harm. She took a deep breath to calm her racing heart.

"Some habits take longer to get rid of. I'm used to doing a lot on my own to get by. It's been a long time since someone has been deeply invested in me." She explained. "Look, it's a long story. One I'm sure we'll need to talk about eventually. Right now, isn't the time nor the place. Let's leave it at that, no more to spoil this good day."

"I will respect your wishes." He murmured lifting her hand kissing it.

She shuddered as he pulled back, her cheeks warm.

"Have a good first day back."

"Will you want a report today?"

"A weekly update should suffice, unless there is a major breakthrough."

"Alright, I should go get a coffee before I head out."

Drew looked out on the site. The early dawn sun was barely above the horizon. The familiar crumbled walls of stone still piling. The hazard signs near the stairs. She wasn't too early she noted seeing Azrael was handing out sections. She made her way over to him. They'd done this together so often the last few months. She was off kilter.

"Danvers, you're out and about. Welcome home. You're on the far west corner top floor." He didn't look away from his clipboard.

"You're practically benching me to the sandbox?" Drew crossed her arms. "Why?"

"Each square foot is important Danvers."

"Shouldn't I be at least where the bodies were found? It is my specialty."

"Dr. Danvers, is perfectly capable to be back in heading the dig." Davina cut in stepping up from the stairs.

A lamp already set up on her head with a hard hat. She'd switched her glasses for contacts and safety glasses.

Azrael pinched his nose. "Danvers, I'm not arguing it. I hate enclosed spaces anyways. Get equipped and get down there. If you get hurt again, you're becoming a lab doctor for the rest of this project."

She sighed biting back her snide comments. She'd been hurt. They were merely worried for her safety. "Deal."

Drew headed over to the small tent set up with safety equipment and began sliding on the hard hats and lamp. She strapped the walkie onto her waist belt. Gloves were given to her along with a dust mask.

"Welcome back Danvers," Moira nodded to her. "Be safe."

"Will do. Good to be back." Drew waved heading back to the rest of her team.

Davina explained how far they'd gotten. Down the full set of stairs and a down through a hall way. A small room had been dug out where they'd found the mummies. A few artefacts, and open spaces. They would need to get down the hallway. According to the blue prints they had a good layout to get through. One they were still working through and digging out. The rate they were moving at this project could take years. If not decades. Or until Aro declared it of no use and closed it down.

She really didn't want to think on the idea of Aro getting bored with the place. the site had so many treasures that deserved to resurface and be cared for.

Drew grabbed out her shovel. "Are we still using hand shovels?"

"Unfortunately for a little while longer. The ground penetrating radars are a bit useless with fully knowing what we are looking at down here. We've marked how far we believe this fill in extends before we hit open space. There is always a chance of traps or being off by a bit. These are mostly guestimates."

"The Turi family was a bit cautious."

"Could you blame them? Power comes with the threat of death." Davina shrugged. "The more you have the more you are at risk."

"Are you sure philosophy was not for you?" Drew questioned a playful smile on her face.

"Philosophy made me break down too often. First year was rough."

"Agreed. My first-year class had me questioning reality." Drew agreed.

They got down the many steps and through the small entrance to the hall. She carved away the hardened dirt built up with time. Her shovel useless without it being complete dirt. It was stone, mixed with dust and centuries of dirt. The many stones were pulled out and tossed up the chain of people.

Drew chiseled carefully into the next layer of stones. The shadows on top revealed that the rubble didn't extend fully to the top any longer. There was a darkness staring back at them that slanted down ever so slightly. It reminded her of the old mining tunnels she'd explored during her summers in Northern Ontario. She'd go down as far as she could before she got scared and ran out. It thrilled her so, finding old coins and rusted tools. A few tetanus shots were given those years.

Now she was equipped and given a headlamp to make sure she was safe.

She pulled the next large stone, careful lifting it from the top. She passed it off to the next two hands. A few more came down and were tossed out. She was met with large hall way. It was a foot down the basement hall extended in layers of stone jutted from the walls uneven, a few stones around on the ground. It was arched allowing for people under seven feet to move with ease. It was a lot narrower than she wished. They were lucky there wasn't any catacombs down here.

She saw a few indents of what looked like doors. The end a fork in the tunnel.

"Torch." She reached back.

Davina complied peeking over her shoulder. "Creepy."

"Look how far it goes." Her voice echoed off the walls.

Drew turned to the rest of the crew. "The Chamber of Secrets been opened."

She smiled moving back to get out, her watch alarm going off.

"Okay everyone, that's lunch. We'll get some people in the make sure it's safe to proceed. Once we have all clear from health and safety, we can begin to excavate it." Drew directed before making them all head back out.

They climbed up the winding ways exiting to the surface few. She grabbed out her rag and wiped her forehead and neck of the sweat that had built up over the last few hours. The early autumn sun was only a fraction better over the summer heat. A small breeze ran over her. She rolled her sleeves headed for the safety tent.

"Azrael!" She called.

The man popped up from his side across the site. "I've been summoned?"

"We've got through. All layers of stone covering the tunnels. We've freed it all." She reported taking the water bottle he offered her.

"Amazing! Get the report written up and delivered to Sir. Turi." Azrael instructed.

"Why me? Scared of him still?"

"Always, darling. He has a soft spot for you. Any news he will not try anything with you."

"I'll have it for him later today then. Food then I must meet his brother for the work on those bodies."

"That still has me scratching my head how those mummies were found with the bones." Azrael mused.

"My hypothesis is that the mummies were from a display for the mummy trades. The rest were the bodies that were given to other people."

"Fraudulent mummies?" Azrael gagged.

"It was one of the biggest commodities amongst Europeans. The medicinal purposes and such."

"Sounds like a way to die of disease or something." He shuddered.

"Probably did." She laughed pulling out her phone.

She waved to her teammates bringing her safety gear back to Moira and headed back inside. She hit call for Aro.

"Cara mia," he greeted.

"We've got access."

"Pardon?"

"The basement has been opened. We can walk further inside. The stones are gone." She reported. "Would you like to tell us now what we are looking for exactly?"

"Now, doctor where is the fun in that? It is a classified reason." She could here the smile in his voice.

"Come on Aro,"

"Patience darling is a marvelous virtue."

"Curiosity has always been my Achilles heel." She shrugged.

"I am starting to learn."

"Did you want a full report done up today or have it ready for Friday?"

"We will discuss in person at the end of the week. I am sure you will have lots to share with me."

"Of course, talk later Aro."

Drew leant over the information she and Marcus had accumulated that afternoon. They'd correlated a lot of evidence showing her hypothesis was correct. The Turi family had been involved with fraudulent schemes. They wouldn't be the first to have done some shady dealings in their time.

She had so many questions on the partial mummy but there were no accounts in the journals showing its arrival or purchase. She rubbed the back of her neck looking over the photos of the mummies.

"Let us end it here for the day, yes?" Marcus stood stretching beside her.

"Yeah, we aren't going to get much more done today." She agreed shutting her laptop down. "So, Marcus, what is it you usually do for work?"

"I work in the archives. I provide resources to the university mainly. I am a professor as well when needed."

"Huh, never took you as the professor type," she tilted her head looking over the man before her.

He may have dressed like all her old professors, but he didn't look it. He was ten times better looking than all her old mentors. He offered a polite smile.

"It keeps me social, according to my brothers I do not spend enough time amongst the living."

She chuckled. "I can relate to that."

His smile spread to his whole face causing his face to wrinkle around his dark eyes. She leant closer to him. Her heart picked up speed, her stomach fluttered with butterflies.

What would it be like if she leant forward, pressed her lips to his? Would he be as cool to the touch like Aro? He was a lot larger, would he cage her in?

Was she feeling something for Aro's brother?

She blinked a few times stepping back. "I should get back to my other reports and schematics. We broke through to the full basement finally, it's going to get busy the next few weeks."

"Wonderful to hear, be safe down there, Dr. Danvers." He straightened pushing his chair in.

He collected his things and bid her a good day. She watched him leave, she deflated, cheeks burning.