Disclaimer: It got burned, sorry.

Author's note: I hope this meets your expectations. Please note that no matter what I do, I cannot get this to upload with the paragraph spacing that I originally used, so please forgive me if it seems to run as one long page.

Chapter 26

Major Ferguson had set up the central command post inside the mansion's communications centre. There he had several staff listening to all the channels used by the assault force, evacuation crews and so on. He made decisions, confirmed orders and manipulated resources. He had also already designated the area for where the wounded were to be brought, and Hellsing's private medical staff were already on hand to receive them. It wasn't long before the first medical transports began arriving.

He had also sent transports to the munitions factory to retrieve more supplies for the main ammunition store – which had been nearly depleted by the initial deployment. Deep in his heart he hoped that none of the restock would be needed, but he didn't plan to lose just because he had run out of bullets. Standing outside for a moment of fresh air, he watched one of the trucks arrive and wasn't completely surprised to see Jane in the front seat.

After shoving the duffel bag at Tim, with her stern warning not to get dead, Jane had hitched a ride on the next truck out. She couldn't wait at the factory for news and there was no way that she wasn't going to be there when Josh got back. It had been their tradition while in active service to meet each other after a mission. Hopping out of the truck, she thanked to the driver and trotted over to Ferguson and gave a quick but sharp nod.

"Major."

"Miss Smith."

"If I can ask, where are we in the op?"

"They're about to take the third floor. I'd better get back inside, would you care to join me?"

"No thank you, I'll go make sure the junior recruits are stacking things where they belong."

Watching him vanish through the door, she ground her teeth and then made her way over to the depot – the words 'Miss Smith' echoing through her head and burning in the back of her throat.

Tim had initially planned to reach the third floor via the lift shaft but re-entry had been made impossible. So they were crouched on one side of the floor with Commander Frost using the communications to exchange information with the first team, which were on the other side of the floor. They could hear the infantry below them, clearing the stairwells for their exit and they could only hope that they could move fast enough to lessen the losses that they were surely taking.

A signal from Commander Ives and Oliver armed and threw the last ball of hell through the doors. The shrapnel was still falling when they burst through. Behind them, the doors were pulled shut and the bright sparks of welding glimmered through the fine gaps.

Heavy machine gun fire rattled, the infantry having reserved their larger ammunition for the last push. Tim and Oliver were frantically piling up the dynamite packs while making sure that they weren't grabbed from the shadows that remained. They were nearly finished when Tim caught a glimpse of white in the far back of the room. He tried to peer past the ghouls but didn't see it again.

The first fire team were already at the door, as Tim and Oliver came rushing along, followed by the second team. As he was running, Tim again glimpsed a shape out the corner of his eye and he stopped, this time getting a better look. He urged the soldiers to go past him, saying:

"I'll catch up, I need to check something."

Thinking that he was referring to the explosives, the soldiers retreated, making sure that they swept Oliver along with them. Tim had by now found his flashlight and pointed it at the back of the room. His heart clutched in his chest as he realised that he was looking at a child, a little girl dressed in a white hospital gown. Reason and logic went out the window as he turned and took steps towards her. Ghoulish hands reached for him and he was grabbed before anyone could do anything.

Oliver realised that his partner wasn't with him and turned in time to see Tim being seized by the ghouls. He started to fight his way through the soldiers, who grabbed him and said:

"We can't. We have to go!"

The little girl stood up and started to walk through the ranks of ghouls, who parted to let her pass. As she got closer, Tim realised that he'd made a fatal error and started to fight his way free of the hands holding him – but it was in vain. He looked at the doorway where Commander Frost was still standing, holding onto a frantic Oliver.

"Close it!" he screamed. "Shut it now!"

His last sight of his team was of his commander's salute. Then he was pulled back into the room by the ghouls.

Alucard had made his way out of the basement and into the tunnel, following the acrid scent of his prey. He was fully aware of the fledgling upstairs, and was also aware that the forces confronting it could deal with it. Crouching to move through the low tunnel, he probed outwards and caught mental flashes now and then and realised that was he was chasing was truly insane, beyond even the edges that he himself had skirted from time to time. He reached the end of the tunnel and emerged into the starlit night. The air was filled with the smell of cordite and blood, and he inhaled deeply – enjoying a moment of nostalgia. Then he turned in a slow circle, seeking his prey. It hadn't gone far – in fact it was crouching against the same building that he had passed coming in, muttering to itself.

"No, they weren't good. They couldn't do it, they weren't worthy. I have to find them that are worthy, I have to save them, and I have to save all of them."

Alucard's lips twisted in disgust and in a single moment, he had appeared in front of the pathetic creature, grabbed the scruff of its neck and lifted it up so he could see its eyes.

"You scum, they're not yours to save -they can save themselves. You should have worried about saving yourself." He hissed.

Knowing that he wasn't going to get any fight out of the madman, he gave into his temper and tore its head from its shoulders. Dark blood fountained up and splashed across his boots, adding to the stains from its children. Dropping the pieces, he turned and stalked away. Behind him the remains turned to ash and began to blow away in the breeze.

His actions had not gone unseen, but unused to his released form, the soldiers on the ground gave him a wide berth, and many stood stock still in terror and watched till he was out of sight, whereupon they shook themselves back to reality and focused on the task at hand.

Picking up on the frantic chatter flying across the comm channels, Joshua had trained his sights on the third floor but he couldn't see into the dark. Cursing, he frantically switched to night scope, a horrifying scene coming into o focus. He screamed into his mike for silence, praying that he would be in time.

Back in communications Ferguson hear Josh's demands for silence and reiterated it as a command. Silence fell across all channels and Josh sent up a quick thanks.

"Tim."

"Josh? Oh thank God, Josh, you're here."

"I promise Tim."

"Tell Jane I'm sorry."

This exchange was heard by many, but wasn't understood except for a few.

Seras was about to ask Joshua what he was doing, but the set look on his face stilled the words in her throat. Josh didn't notice her, he was too busy. It felt surreally like time had slowed and he watched his own hands as he pulled his magazine and ejected the cartridge already in the barrel. He reached for one of the red painted bullets and with steady hands, loaded it. He lifted his scope to his eye and took careful aim.

Seras took a look in the direction of Josh's aim and could see that the little girl had passed through all the ghouls and was now standing in front of Tim, who then did a surprising thing. He sank to his knees and held his arms out at his sides, almost as an invitation.

Tim spread his arms and closed his eyes. He had a moment to feel little hands fasten onto his shoulders and then there was nothing, just peace.

As he was watching, Josh spoke quietly.

"I swear to God, Queen and Country – it won't be you."

As soon as the girl touched Tim, he pulled the trigger. He watched impassively through his scope as the customised armour piercing round entered the back of Tim's head and punched out from the back of the vampire's skull.

"Last vampire target silenced." he announced, pulling off his headset.

He didn't hear the last of the soldiers pulling out of the building, nor the orders to fall back and take cover. He turned his back and leaned against the wall next to his rifle and closed his eyes. He didn't see the tears glimmering in Sera's eyes, nor her reaching for him but then pulling her hand back at the last moment.

Commander Frost called for the clear signal from all the teams. Once he had heard everything he needed to, he called:

"Contact."

The well placed explosives did their work beautifully.

The gas lines ruptured with a shocking sound, and every last window exploded into the night in a glittering swathe. This was followed by the sharp sounds of the dynamite packs going in sequence. The building began to bow inwards when the oxygen tanks went. The flame raced along the pipes laced throughout the structure and the whole thing seemed to be bathed in liquid flame. It incinerated ghoul and Hellsing soldier alike and added its own power to the destruction. The building crumpled in on itself and came to rest in a pile of rubble and smoke. Flames still danced through the ruins, and would continue to do so for a while.

Integra listened as the reports of success came flooding in and leaned back into her chair. She closed her eyes in a moment of silent prayer and then opened them to see Walter watching her. They shared a moment of silence, words unneeded and the she looked down at the clock.

"It's almost dawn. We may as well get started on the rest of it. Ferguson is sending the casualty reports over, so you'd better unlock the door."

"Of course Sir Integra." He nodded.

He stood up and opened the door, and packed up the innumerable cups that they had used during the night.

"Walter, I'll be needing my bla..."

He cut her of mid sentence with his terse reply.

"I've already laid it out."

He slipped silently from the room, leaving Integra to shake her head ruefully.

Josh and Seras were taking a troop lorry back to the mansion, as she couldn't face another helicopter trip. She was worried; he'd not said anything since he'd pulled the trigger that last time. She sat next to him on the bench, glancing at his face from time to time, but his eyes remained closed. She was desperately thinking of something to say when she felt his warm hand tentatively creep into hers... And so they returned home, holding hands in the dark – like lost little children.