Okay guys i'm so sorry about the long wait! You must be ready to kill me. I'm sorry to say that this chapter took ages to take shape and is more of a filler than anything else but the story should get going in the next chapter or it should if it goes as planned...
Disclaimer: I own nothing but the plot... Wish i owned Ash and Quinn but nope they aint mine!
Reviewers:
Altaira: Thanx for the review! I'm so sorry about the long wait things going on in my life that i couldn't change so i'm sorry about that. The next chapter should be here quicker... I hope...
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Now without anything more to say here is the next chapter...
The Best Offence Is Defence
Chapter five: Safe House
"And just in time too."
Quinn said as he took the turn off towards their final destination in hiding. They turned left off the main Interstate and down onto one of the connecting roads towards the safe house and their final destination.
As the Day breakers got closer they got a bit dejected as it hit them again that they were moving further and further away from the main battle. "Look guys I know we don't like it but we have to think that they are others that are leaving that don't want too." Mary-Lynette said.
"The Wild Powers are the main force in this coming battle and look at them. They've had to run and hide. Every single one of them has never known anything but to fight and they're having to run."
She looked at Ash and then looked at Quinn whose hands were white as they gripped the steering wheel.
"This obviously isn't our fight and when it comes to being our turn I'm sure it will come calling." Rashel looked at Mare. "Mare's right. We always end up fighting one way or another. So when the time comes we will fight and we will fight well."
"I know that." Quinn said at last looking at Ash. "It's just that Ash and I aren't used to having to run from a fight. I was an Elder on the Council I was the one that was always sent in to fight and Ash was always causing fights and fighting for the Night World. I know we will fight but it's just hard."
It's hard for me too Quinn, Rashel said softly in his head. I was the Cat for so long having to run when I know some of my friends could need my help is not the easiest thing for me to do either and you need to understand that too.
"It's hard for us all." Mare said understanding the conversation between Quinn and Rashel without being able to hear it. "But we have to accept that this is what is happening now and that when Thierry needs us we will be called."
"Still doesn't make it any better." Ash said sullenly. "No it doesn't.' Mare agreed but we have to accept that this is what is expected of us and unfortunately it means that for the time being we are not at the core of the fighting."
Although the four Daybrakers were disheartened at their situation they knew that Mare's words made sense. If Hawk was truly gunning for them then they could do more harm than good in Las Vegas and Daybreak didn't need any more danger surrounding them at the moment.
They had enough trying to avoid capture thanks to the mole that Lupe was now tracking somewhere in England.
"Pull over here." Ash said half an hour later we still have two hours to go I'll drive." "One of us could drive guys." Rashel said from the back. She could tell the boys were tiring and that near miss on the Interstate had definitely shook them all up.
"Mare and I will take over the driving for the next hour and you guys can have a break. We're perfectly capable of driving."
She said looking at her soul mate with narrowed eyes as he seemed to be weighing up the options with Ash.
"Yeah that might be a good idea." He said at last. "Want anything from the service station Shelly?" He asked as he got out the car. "We'll all get out." Mare said opening her car door. "Goddess knows we all need to walk a bit. We've been in the car too long."
They all nodded in agreement and got out the car. Quinn held the keys up and locked the car and then he put his hand in Rashel's and followed Ash and Mare into the service station.
They found Ash and Mare in the service station haggling over which sweet to have. Ash and Quinn may not have to eat but it didn't mean they didn't enjoy it. Chocolate and sweets were Quinn and Ash's downfall and Rashel always found it amusing to see his eyes go huge with childish delight at the sight of chocolate.
They also had a stash of blood in the glove compartment and a hidden compartment in the boot of the car and Rashel knew it wouldn't be long before Ash and Quinn would have to feed especially after today.
She looked at him and he seemed paler than usual and his eyes were dilated. You and Ash will need to feed soon won't you?" She asked telepathically. Yeah. He seemed surprised as if he hadn't actually thought about it until Rashel had mentioned it.
Quinn pulled her over to where Ash and Mare were squabbling good-naturedly about what sweet stuff they were going to have. It took another fifteen minutes but they decided on their sugar rush and then Mare and Rashel also bought sandwiches since the boys would be looking at other means of getting their nutritional value.
They walked round the service station for another ten minutes and then headed back to the car. They knew the sooner they got to their designated Safe House the better it would be for them.
Rashel got the keys off Quinn and jumped in the drivers seat while Mary-Lynette got in the passenger side and picked up the map. Ash and Quinn went round to the boot made a show of getting stuff out and putting stuff in and Rashel smirked knowing the true purpose they had been to get their lunch. They needed to be at their full strength.
The four Daybreakers might be running and they were slowly getting further away from the action but as the tail had proved they still might have had to fight before they were truly safe.
Ash and Quinn having got their lunch climbed in the back seat and then Rashel pulled out the car park and back onto the main road. When they were on the road Poppy's voice came over the radio.
"Where are you guys?" "We're about two hours away from our destination." Mary-Lynette said picking up the radio and speaking into it. "Any other problems?" Poppy asked in a tight voice. "No just the one tail."
Mare reported but Quinn picked up the anxiety in Poppy's voice and snatched the radio from Mare earning him a glare, which he ignored.
"What's going on back at base Poppy?" Quinn asked. "It's not base." Poppy said realising that she had gave herself away. "It's the Wild Powers they're having troubles." "What kind of troubles?" Ash said sharply. "Kaitlin had another vision and there were five trackers on their tail. There was an accident on their road. They're ok but they have to loose the tails before they can disappear."
"Damn it!" Ash said. "Don't worry guys they're the Wild Powers they can handle it." Poppy said sensibly. "It's just turning out to be more problematic than we thought. "It usually is." Mare said. "We'll check in, in an hour." "Do." Poppy said. "The last thing I need is not being able to get in touch with you." Then the radio went silent.
"This is getting ridiculous!" Mare said angrily. "Daybreak is falling apart." "We always knew it might come to this." Ash said grimly. "In the run up to the Millennium Battle we knew it could get messy and it is."
Rashel had said nothing through the whole exchange just concentrating on driving and so Quinn decided to talk to her telepathically.
Shelley? He asked. It's all right to be upset you know. We all are. Rashel's hands tightened on the steering wheel. It's just so hard I'm used to being in control and now it feels like everything has been taken out of my control and I don't like it. I hate it Quinn. I hate it more than having to run.
I know. Quinn said soothingly hating that she was hurting. Don't you think we find it hard too? He asked softly. Don't you think I hate it too? He asked desperately. Hawk Redfern isn't the only reason that we have to run It's because I'm not strong enough to fight yet. Because I was shot. I know Kaitlin had something to do with me being taken off the missions until I was recovered and it makes me feel weak.
You're not weak. Rashel said quietly You just have to understand that even as a vampire you have limits. You nearly died Quinn and if you had I don't know what I would have done.
Nah, I'm not leaving yet. Quinn quipped things were just starting to get good. He felt Rashel smile and was pleased that he had lightened her mood even just a little bit.
"Not long now." Mary-Lynette said good-naturedly in an attempt to lighten the mood. It was difficult to forget why they had to make this trip as it was but if they could they wanted it as far back in their minds as they could. All four, as if by unspoken agreement had decided that they were treating this as a holiday, a vacation because they hadn't had one in so long.
"It seems like such a bloody long way." Rashel said comforted by Quinn's earlier words. "I still can't believe we were talked into this. We should have stayed at the mansion." Ash said. "Agreed." Mare said.
"But then Kaitlin would have stayed and while I hate the thought of running I'd rather run and know we had a better chance against the Night World than stay and fight at a disadvantage."
Rashel nodded her head in agreement. What Mary-Lynette was saying made sense and what was more it meant that they could all stay together and be in contact with Daybreak in case they were needed.
Another half an hour passed and suddenly Mare pointed out the window. "Thank the goddess!" "The Ocean." Ash said his eyes flashing blue with relief. "It won't be long before we can settle in the Safe House before Thierry calls us with our next move."
They all acknowledged this fact with undisguised relief. They might not have wanted to run but they were all treating this like a mission and since Daybreak was shutting down it was quickly turning into one. He He
They reached the Safe House and as Rashel brought the car into the designated space they couldn't all help but to draw a sigh of relief. They'd made it with only a slight hiccup along the way.
They unpacked their things and retreated into the safety of the Safe House calling Poppy and James to say that they had made it. "Good." James' voice said. "We thought you were cutting it a bit close.
"Yeah in more than one way." Ash said as he spoke to his cousin and moved his and Mary-Lynette's stuff from the car to the house. "I don't think I want to know." James said. "Which of course means that Kaitlin already told you." Ash rolled his eyes.
"Pretty much." James agreed. "How are they doing? Have they managed to get away from the tails?" Quinn asked taking the phone from Ash. "They reported in about ten minutes ago and they were doing okay Kaitlin and Delos had to do some fancy moves I think but they're okay. So I think we're all good for the moment. Keep in contact guys this is getting serious." James said. "Will do." Quinn said and then disconnected.
They got in the house and locked it up. Quinn went to the kitchen and opened the fridge. "Nice." He said showing his fangs. "What?" Rashel said. "Look vampire paradise mixed in with human cuisine." "God," Mare came up behind them, "That looks so wrong."
Ash shrugged, "well its better than letting it go off. You know you love us Mare." She laughed and pushed him off. "I know you two definitely made our lives more exciting." Rashel laughed and said, "And I definitely didn't think that was possible."
Quinn hugged Rashel his eyes dancing. "I light up your life my darling." She hugged him. "Of course you do." They kissed briefly and then Quinn turned and looked back at the fridge.
"Okay, so what are we going to make?" "I would think yours would be quite easy blood ala mode." Mary-Lynette said looking at the two vampires. "I wasn't talking about us." Quinn said grinning. "I was talking about the two of you. As much as we'd like you to you can't get your meals from blood." Ash stood at Quinn's shoulder.
"What can we make?" "Wait," Rashel looked at them both. "The two of you can cook?" Ash and Quinn looked at each other and blushed. "I thought you hated humans?" Rashel said her hands on her hips grinning. "I was one once." Quinn defended. "Sure it was along time ago but I was one once and besides my other half is human it's a bit hard to hate them once something like that happens. We're learning."
Ash nodded. "Eric and the guys have been showing us stuff. Cooking is our new skill." Ash said proudly. The girls looked at each other and smiled. "We'll see about that when you've finished. We'll leave you too it."
With that Rashel and Mare walked away trying their hardest to keep from laughing at the ridiculousness of it. Rashel and Mare decided to unpack while the boys occupied themselves in the kitchen.
"I never thought I'd find myself here." Rashel said at last. Mary-Lynette looked at her. "What do you mean sweetie?" "Well I was a vampire hunter before. The Cat, they called me. I hated Daybreak and I hated vampires more. Then, well Quinn changed all that. We had our scuffles but he was there for me. He left Hunter for me." Mary-Lynette smiled. "I know what you mean."
"Two years ago Mark and I didn't even know that vampires existed let alone that witches and shapeshifters existed as well. To be honest I didn't think that Ash would come back. I knew he had so much to do, so much to accomplish. I didn't know how I would fit in."
You fit in because you made me realise I could change, that I could do all these things. Ash's voice was gentle through the bond. I couldn't have done any of this without you and I never would have left you and not come back for you.
The reassurance made Mare's insides light up with promise. Thank-you she whispered back across the bond and felt Ash's acceptance of it. "I can't believe I have a soulmate, a person who belongs with me with all my faults and things." Both Mare and Rashel said at the same time. They looked at each other and grinned.
"That's the most amazing part about all of this." Rashel said. "The fact that Quinn is my soulmate and belongs with me never ceases to amaze me." "Tell me about it." Mare said. "I don't know how to handle it sometime."
"How about you stop thinking about it and just be with us because we want you to be." Quinn's voice entered the room. "Coz it's so hard to believe at times." Rashel said without missing a beat.
"Well you better start believing it coz it looks like we're gonna be here together for a while yet." The girls smiled and then the boys said, "Right we're done come and see."
The girls looked at each other and then shrugged and followed the boys out. It turned out the boys had cooked pasta one of the easiest food groups but their efforts had not gone unnoticed by the girls and while the girls were eating the boys disappeared with the blood ala mode to come back.
Later that evening they were sat watching TV settled together one the sofa when Quinn and Ash suddenly sat up right. "Quinn?" Rashel asked quietly. "Get down." Ash told them both as he got up and moved to the window staying under the window ledge.
"What's going on?" Mare asked quietly. There's someone outside sweetie. Ash said through the bond. What? She asked this was meant to be a Safe House only Poppy and James truly knew where they were going how could there be someone outside?
"Stay still." Quinn said quietly and got up to join Ash.
The boys slithered round to each side of the window and then peered out. Mare and Rashel saw their faces contort in horror and move away from the window.
The girls dived off the sofa and hit the floor and stayed there just in time to see the something fly at the window and the glass shatter everywhere.