Disclaimer: The dog buried it somewhere.

Chapter 33

Alucard had emptied three magazines before he slid the jackal back into the holster under his coat. Enjoying the feeling of warm steel nestling close to his ribs, he turned to the ladies that had accompanied him to the range. Integra pulled off the ear protectors and handed them to Seras who was busy taking hers off.

"Are you pleased?"

"Very."

She chuckled at the pleasure in his voice and then admonished him lightly.

"You'd better take care of that one; I don't think a replacement would come so easily."

"And I can imagine what Jane would do to you if you broke it." Added Seras, joining the conversation.

"She'd make me another I'm sure." Came the cocky response.

Integra quirked an eyebrow at the arrogance and then sighed, what else had she expected. This was Alucard after all. She turned to leave and then threw over her shoulder as she walked away:

"I'll leave the rest to you two, I have paperwork. Good night."

"Good evening Master."

"Good night Sir Integra."

Their voices followed her out of the room as she headed back towards her office. Her thoughts played on the sheer power of the weapon that had been crafted for her servant and she indulged in a brief moment of pride in her staff. It was always gratifying to have her faith rewarded.

Seras watched her master as they walked along towards the basement. She could feel that he was pleased and was about to ask him what he was going to do about Father Anderson when he stopped midstride and cocked his head as if listening to a voice only he could hear.

"I'll join you later police girl." He said and then faded away before she could reply.

She blinked at the empty corridor and then shrugged, already quite used to her master's odd coming and going methods. She changed direction and started towards the kitchens, very sure that she had seen Walter filling up the biscuit tin. Although eating wasn't a necessity and she derived no nourishment from food, she had found that a sugary treat every now and then was still a pleasure.

One of the things Alucard had done when Integra had given him more leeway with his powers, was to permanently manifest his hound .Although connected to his masters thoughts, he was a semi autonomous shadow, and as such Alucard found him useful to have roaming the mansion, people soon forgetting he was there and so becoming privy to all sorts of interesting conversations. Because of him, Alucard was aware of the discussion between Walter and Jane in the study and also aware of Jane's impending meeting with the floor – which he had promptly stopped.

Alucard shifted the sleeping woman in his arms to support her head, while her legs and one arm dangled like a rag doll. He looked down as Baskerville poked his head out from under the bed.

"Nice work." He grinned.

The hound vanished back under cover as the door opened and Walter stepped into the room. He raised an eyebrow and then sighed, pulling back the covers on the bed.

"I should have guessed she was going to be stubborn about help. I hope she didn't hurt herself on the floor."

"She never came close."

As Walter was leaving the room, he caught a flash of eye-shine from under the bed and made an educated and accurate guess as to how and why Alucard was even aware of where Jane was.

Walter had just caught Seras literally with her hand in the biscuit tin when Alucard caught up to him. They both stared at her as she turned the same colour as her master's coat.

"I can explain!"

"Miss Victoria, I think..." began Walter but was cut off by an ominous:

"That there had better not be crumbs in your coffin."

Walter turned away to hide his grin and Seras took the opportunity to flee out the other door, with her master's laughter following close behind.

"I forget that she's still so young." Walter grinned as he moved around the room, putting the kettle on and getting out cups.

"She'll grow out of it I'm sure."

Alucard watched the butler glide around and then said to him:

"I hear that your information gathering network has expanded quite nicely."

Walter stopped moving and looked at him sharply.

"It has indeed. And I take it that you brought it up because you need something?"

A toothy grin met his inquiry and he wasn't completely surprised to hear the answer of:

"Classified military records."

Jane opened her eyes to a blank wall, the white paint made warm by the sunlight flooding through the partly opened curtains. She stretched to full length under the covers and rolled over, only to come face to face with a very large and very black dog sitting on the mat next to the bed. She noted that the beast's eyes were a familiar shade of red and her suspicions were confirmed when it rose to its feet and three more sets of eyes opened up.

"That seems about right." She said to no-one in particular, sitting up and leaning back against the wall. "I'm sure I know who you belong to."

Baskerville moved closer and rested his head on the bed next to her foot, watching her intently. Jane always had a soft spot for animals and couldn't resist reaching out to fondle his ears. They were as silky as they looked and she absently wondered if his master's hair was similar in texture. As she realised where her thoughts had gone, she was glad no one but the dog was witness to her reddened face. She leaned closer to pet him with both hands and then noticed a tag hanging off his collar.

"Baskerville huh?" she addressed him in amused tones. "Someone has good literary taste."

Giving him one last pat, she climbed out of the bed and opened the curtains fully, allowing the buttery sunlight to fill the room. Turning, she headed towards the bathroom, not aware that she had gained another shadow until she was about to close the door. Looking down at Baskerville, she put up a hand to make him stop following her.

"Just because I like you doesn't mean you get to be a pervert."

She closed the door in his face and he sat down outside the door to patiently wait. He had time and after all, she liked him.