It looked like 6 pages was too short for my first story, so… gonna have a longer chappie. Thank you, Office Girl, for you're review. Made me happy, like I said

Disclaimer: yeah, yeah, we all know I don't own Firewall the movie don't rub it in!

…But I will own up to the creation of Marie, her co-workers, Raul, Zen, and Fredrik. Hands off!

I hate fainting. Sadly, I have been neglecting my eating habits and therefore I've been fainting more. Don't look at me like that, I eat like a horse. I wouldn't be a size 10 if I didn't.

"You're a size ten?" Shit. Am I saying all this out loud?

"I told you if you didn't eat right I was going kick your ass!" Zen? I decided to open my eyes, and I was welcomed with a bright light behind two heads in front of me. One was Raul, because no man could look that pale. The other individual was my best friend, Zen.

Zen glared down at me. Zen was my best friend in the whole entire world, and we have since the 1st grade. Zen was a handsome guy, and if we weren't such good friends, I would have made a life long mission to make him my boyfriend. Zen (and no, that wasn't his real name) was a beautiful Native American, with long black hair that on many occasion's, I got the luxury to brush. He had strong features that many of the Native American's have, except instead of a broad structure, he had a slim waist, very muscled. He looked down at me, smirking. "Oh, hey Zen. What's up?"

"Well, you appear to be the damsel in distress at the moment, and your Knight in shining armor rescued you." He jerked his head in Raul's direction.

"Oh hell no. And I'm not a damsel." Zen chuckled and lightly punched my shoulder.

"She's all right. Thanks for bringing here, I'll take it from here." Raul was about to say something when I interrupted.

"Oh NO he isn't. I snarled, sitting up and momentarily seeing stars. "E gads…!" I waited till it cleared, then glared at Raul. "You are ass high in lemon's, asshole!" Raul looked a pleasing shade of green. Did I mention Faeries were highly allergic to lemons?

"I think you should run." Zen told him.

"ZEN! Don't you dare!" The little bastard named Raul…vanished. Leaving a rose. I jumped down from the table they laid me down on and stomped on the rose multiple times, except I slipped and fell on my ass. "Dammit!" The dress I was wearing fluttered all around me, finally settling on the ground, and I hastily arranged it so it wasn't revealing too much. Zen has seen me naked plenty of times (the risks with sharing a house with a guy) but I didn't want to add onto the number of times. Hey, I was a good girl. It would embarrass the hell out of me.

"I would assist you only if I thought you were going to tell me what's gotten you so worked up." Zen commented lightly. I glared up at him.

"Help me up, you long-haired bastard." Yes, I was angry. He chuckled and helped me up, and helped me onto a chair.

"I'm making you tea whether you like it or not." He informed me. I glared at him.

"God, you're like the British!"

"I'll take that as a compliment. You're also going to tell me whom that pretty boy is that I suddenly found on our doorstep." I sighed and watched him prepare the tea for us. He sat down, and I filled him in and the weird shit that's been happening in my life.

"Wow. You've had a exciting day…" He told me, a smirk on his lips. I nodded, sipping my tea.

"Yeah. Makes me wish I lived in, I dunno, Antarctica. Raul is on my death list for life for leaking, and now I might be in some serious shit. I dunno what to do." I took another sip to calm myself. "Any advice, roomie?"

"I suppose run for the hills wouldn't work; after all, they have super cool powers like flying."

"Yeah. Supernatural-1. Marie-0."

"Sorry. I'd say go see what Physco-vamp. wants. Except I'd bring a friend." I stared down at my toes, thinking. Zen was always so supportive, and I wish I could have him with me when I face Viktoria. I told myself firmly I wouldn't; if things got out of hand, I definitely didn't want him there. I couldn't look myself in the mirror if he got hurt and it was my fault. I looked up at him, sighing.

"I dunno a lot of people who would go with me. Supernatural that is." I looked at him, helpless. "I know some people here and there, but nobody like Viktoria."

"Yes, you do." He set down his tea, folded his arms, crossed his legs, and looked at me. I squirmed, unused to his thorough glare.

"I do?"

"Yes. We both know somebody…" His glare continued, and then it hit me.

"Oh hell no, Zen." His glare lifted and was replaced with a concerned one.

"Marie…"

"NO! I mean it! I will not ask him to assist me, okay? He's an X! I'm not going to appear on his doorstep, asking if he'll help me!" I rose from my chair, glaring down at him. "You can't make me, either, Zen! I'll find somebody else!"

His voice held that impatient, yet still patient thread to it that made me think he was secretly twenty year's older. "Yes, you will." He looked up at me, his elbows on top of his knees, his hands intertwined. His warm chocolate brown eyes evil. "You're not going to be at his doorstep, because I'm going to call him."

"You're what!" I screeched, not believing what I was hearing.

"Shut up, I'm not finished." He took another sip of tea. "You're going to have me come, too. And cut the "I don't want you hurt crap" I can defend myself better than you can. Just let me go, and I'll watch from the sidelines. Okay?" He asked me, a silent pleading in his eyes.

I stared down at him, my shoulder's slumping. I'd been beat, and I wasn't used to that feeling. Zen usually kept his nose out of my affairs. I mean, we'd talk about it and all, but we'd never get involved unless the other one wanted us to. I didn't want him involved. I didn't want to be the one to screw up his life. A girlfriend was supposed to do that, not a life long best friend. I was the latter, and didn't want it to change. I carefully sat down and tried to think things through.

Zen could take care of himself. That was true, and I knew it because when we were little we used to walk to his self-defense classes together. I watched him, occasionally studying, and then after two hours he got dressed and we headed homewards. He really could take care of himself. Anybody who could fight like he could would have no problem taking down a human, or more than one for that matter.

But this was different. This wasn't a human. This was a 300-year-old vampire known for her deceiving and cruelty. She had the power of an army of men, and that Zen could not handle. Viktoria wanted to see me, and now that Raul had told me he spilled, I knew what it was about. I think that no matter what I was going to do, I was going to have to work for her. The thought was very unsettling. Working for vampire's usually meant getting shot.

Somewhere in the back of my mind, I realized that Zen was reaching for me. He slid his arms underneath my knees and put his arm around my shoulders, then lifted me up. I didn't cry out, or look surprised. He had done this many times's before, when we both needed comfort. I knew the routine well. He sat down and gently laid me on his lap, and I laid my head on his shoulder, and I thought while he waited for my answer. Finally, I managed to get my voice under control. "You do what you want to. I'm going to bed now." Zen nodded and released me, letting me slide out of his grip. I crept toward the stairs, but before I went up them I turned around and prepared for what I was going to tell him.

"I might have to end up working for her." I admitted slowly. He nodded. His eyes were serious, yet kind at the same time. "It bother's me."

"If it didn't, I'd be the who would be worried. Vampires are some nasty shit. When you told me you were dating one, I almost…" His eyes looked faraway.

"That was number one dating mistake. I won't do it again." I said firmly. That should be in those dating books that tell you all the dos and don'ts. Vampire's were trouble.

I dated a vampire a while back, just out of high school. He was what everyone expects vampire's to be: tall, handsome, old. And I had to see him again.

Shit in a basket!

"I know you don't want to see him again, but…" Zen said, hesitantly.

"You're right though; I need some serious back up. You call; I'm taking a bath and I'm going to attempt drowning myself." He chuckled a bit at that.

"Right. G'night, then" I nodded and climbed up the stairs, thinking.

Damn vampires. Damn faeries. Damn… everything. I reached the top of the stairs and checked the clock: 10:34 p.m. Yup, bedtime. I stopped and massaged my temples, feeling helpless. I tried to distract all my troubles by noticing the dust on top of a picture frame. It was time to clean.

Zen and I came to Chicago after college and fell in love with the house. It wasn't really a house; it was built into the houses beside it, like a solid row of houses without a piece of yard separating them. It was old, with real red brick. On the inside, original wallpaper from the 1930's was still in beautiful condition. It was light red and pink long stemmed flowers, which I absolutely adored. Yes, I am a sap.

The woodwork in the house was all dark cherry wood, polished until gleaming. The walls, some of the bedrooms, and the dining room floor was made from it. The kitchen had a black and white tile floor, with dark cherry cupboard's. The house had 4 bedrooms, two bedrooms, a medium kitchen and dining room, a small library, and a large living room. It was perfect. We bought it that day.

I sighed, a small smirk on my lips. Dammit all, I was getting more sentimental every year. At this rate, "sap" would be a major understatement when I hit my 30's. I went to my room and picked out my pajama's, and hit the bathroom for a much needed bath. "If Zen used up all the hot water, I will decapitate him." I said to myself, feeling the water with my fingers.

My bathroom (one was upstairs, the other was downstairs) was modeled by moi. The deal was he designed the bottom bathroom, while I modeled the upstairs. I was very tempted to paint it all pink, just to watch his jaw drop (it was almost worth trying) but I resisted the temptation. Instead, I kept the wallpaper and flooring, but the bathtub, sink, and toilet was replaced.I replaced them with an old-fashioned bathtub that stood on four leg's, the type that looked like a foot without the toes. It was white, to match the sink and toilet. The sink was really nice; it also looked like the old fashioned type. I wasn't much of a designer, but when I was finished, I couldn't resist: "Marie-1, opposite opposing forces trying to screw up Marie's bathroom plans-0." Zen called me a loser. I called myself brilliant.

The water was hot, and I eagerly stripped and jumped in, the water still running. I promised myself I wouldn't get out for a good half hour…. Until the water turned cold.

Zen heard Marie start cussing loudly and smiled, letting out a chuckle. Perhaps he should have left her some hot water.

"I think that I should try that more often." He mused to himself, smiling. Shaking his head, he grabbed the phone and dialed the dreaded number. Zen felt his smile dying as he heard the dial tone start.

Fredrik was a vampire from Germany in the late 1700's. He was blonde with husky blue eyes, and Zen hated him with a amazing amount of passion. He wanted nothing more than to smash his little face into microscopic mush. "Freaking bastard." He muttered out loud.

So of course, that's when Fredrik answered.

"Hallo?" Thick German accent. "Who are you calling a bastard?" Zen cursed himself in 15 different languages.

"I'm sorry about that, talking to somebody. This is Zen, Marie's roommate." Zen heard a snort and chose to ignore it. "We need a favor."

"I don't want to hear it." Zen took a tip from Marie and counted to 10 in his head.

"You might want to. Ever heard of Viktoria?" Silence on the other end of the phone. "If you could, I'd like you to accompany her there for protection tomorrow evening."

"Guter Gott!" He breathed, which Zen identified as, "Good God!" "So it's true, then?" Fredreik seemed awed.

"What is?" Fredrik snorted.

"You do not know? It's the newest bit of gossip, about Marie's talent. The entire vampire's at both court's are talking about it, and I have news from a reliable source that they god's are talking about her too. The lad, Raul, erred greatly when he, as they now call it, "spilled the beans". He paused for emphasis. "She's the most sought after toy in the UnderGround.

"Don't call her a toy, Fredrik." Zen snarled, angry.

"I'm just telling you what is being said, Junje." Fredreik said, annoyed. "
You're behavior will not get your favor granted. I suggest you calm down."

Zen growled, annoyed. "Fine. I'm sorry."

"You better be. Sowieso, I would not be surprised if many will start to call. Raul attracted serious people of The Court's, and this will not pass by unnoticed. Perhaps if the faerie was proven wrong…?"

Zen thought of that. It would solve all their problems, except.. "No. They would execute the boy, faerie, whatever the hell he is for lying to them, right?"

"Ja."

"So Marie would not go for that. I'm going to cut this short. Are you going to help or not?" Zen was impatient. He needed to know if he could find somebody else.

"Ja. I feel that I need to mention, however, I am not a powerful vampire, and Viktoria is much older than I."

"Marie says she's about 300 years old, aren't you guys equal in power?" Zen asked, puzzled. Vampire metamorphic shite, all of it and it was hella confusing.

"Nein. Marie is wrong, very wrong. Viktoria is a Master; she hold's a place of power in the Western Court. She seeks power for herself, or the King. I have heard rumor's that her power is over 500 years old."

"Shit." Zen said, gripping the phone a bit harder.

"Ja." Fredreik sounded serious. "No good to mess around with. I will appear tomorrow, but after that you are on your own." He hung up.

Zen stared at the receiver. "SCREW YOU!" He snarled, and slammed it down on the cradle, promptly breaking a leg off. "God damn sonofa-!"

"Zen! I'm going to murder you! That was cold!" Marie came into the living room, and stopped in mid-stride. "Uh, am I interrupting something?" Zen held the phone and cradle near his crotch, looking at the ground, his face murderous. "You're not going to break the phone or anything, right? That, or it looks like your going to try and masturbat-"

"NO!" He looked extremely put-off. Marie looked at him thoughtfully, then her eyes danced for a moment and a grin spread on her face, and the next moment it looked serious.

"'Cause, if you, ya know, need a vibrator or something, I got the hook up's. It not at all healthy to use a phone for those type things, you might electrify-" He looked up, mortified and blushing.

"STOPPIT!"

Marie erupted in laughter.

After calming him down (and teasing him a bit about unhealthy sexual addictions) I headed for bed. I wished him good night and prepared for bed. My room was moderately small; it had a small dresser, chair, and a small table with a lamp on it. I also had a small walk-in closet. Sadly, my bed took up most of the room.

My mother and father had six children, so luxury's like big beds were ridiculous. When I got enough room and could afford it, I bought a large mahogany bed frame from an old lady at a garage sale. The lady told me it was very old, and it was visible to the eye. It wasn't like it was in bad shape or anything, but it did still have the traditional carvings and such. I loved it, and bought it on the spot. She had Zen build a small ladder to go with it s she could climb up on it, and she was in Heaven. I crawled in, read a bit (Newsweek) and then promptly fell asleep as soon as I placed it on my table and turned off the light.

Sometime in the middle of the night, I woke up. I turned and saw that it was three in the morning. "Blasphemy!" I said crossly, turning the other direction to settle into a better position so I could go back to sleep. When I turned, I was looking into kitty-cat gold eyes.

"What the-?" I began to yell, but it quickly put its hand over my mouth.. I kicked out, but the thing was now straddling me, and binding my wrists. In the darkness, I couldn't see anything except those large kitty cat gold eyes…

"Hello, Marie Charlotte Cross. We're going to go on a little night trip…" It purred, a deep sound in its throat. It sounded female, and it would have to be something that was damned quiet, like a… cat? I immediately stopped moving, panic setting in.

This was not good. This was a cat. Kitty cat eyes, purring, quiet, evil, definitely a cat. Was this the Egyptian Cat Goddess? Or one of her… dunno… evil kitties? Bad, bad thought. If I ever meet Raul again, I am going to kick his pretty ass, I thought furiously. Deciding that evil kitty cat bitch (I liked that nickname for her…) wasn't going to let me go, I start thrashing around ferociously. "It won't do you any good. Her Highness wants you for her services…" Definitely. Not. Good.

"Fuck your majesty, and fuck you!" I yelled against her hand, but it actually came out, "Uhk oow ramamy un nook oo!" So much for my brilliant comebacks.

Kitty cat bitch decided a gag was in order. Maybe it was because I decided to start gnawing on her hand like a hamster? "Fighting back won't help, you know!" She said, a little breathlessly.

"I oont ware!" (I don't care!) A thought suddenly struck me, and I suddenly rolled to my right, and I screamed as I rolled like a snowball down my ladder (which hurt like a bitch) and hit my head on the side of the wall. My poor head was seeing little birdies, but I hope it was worth it; Zen was a light sleeper and would surely hear that. After all, the man knew when I would get up and eat his ice cream, for heaven's sake! Kitty cat bitch made several loud curses and pounced on me, quickly binding my legs. She had previously managed to get the gag in my mouth, so I couldn't yell. She finally managed to tie my feet together (after I kicked her in the crotch, HA!). I was hauled over her shoulder and now I knew she was a cat: she had a tail.

Now, I've warned you that I'm a bitch. She obviously wasn't used to the whole kidnapping thing, because she didn't tie the thing over my mouth very tightly. After a few good head shake's, I was free of the bandana and could see she was heading down the stairs. Anyway, back to my bitchy self.

I saw the tail and a thought struck me. I immediately spit out the gag she had in my mouth, and closing my eyes, I tightly chomped on her disgustingly fuzzy tail. She let out a very cat-like hiss and I yelled, "DIE, YOU KITTY CAT BITCH!" As we fell down the stairs.

When I hit the bottom, I quickly kicked my legs at her, and rolled away. I was really pissed off and embarrassed, rolling around my house, so I picked up some dignity and managed to get up to my leg's. I turned to see her looking rather murderously back at me, and I decided hopping was in order. So, I promptly turned the other way and was about to start screaming my American-Canadian ass off, when I heard a huge thump and Zen yelling. By this time, I had made it to the kitchen and I ran to the knives.

I was never going to forgive that bitch. I went from sleeping about naked men to hopping around my own house. Bitch, bitch, bitch! I thought ferociously, trying to angle myself to get one of the knives. Suddenly the noises stopped. Fearing that perhaps kitty cat bitch had done in Zen, I quickly grabbed the wooden handle of the knife and started back towards the stairs. While doing this, I tried not to think of how dangerous having a knife in my teeth was (not to mention, hopping around with it). Idiot Marie, that's me!

I was a little ways into the living room when Zen appeared. It made me stop hopping and almost topple over. Zen was… well, nude. Never seen a naked man, but I sure as hell could get used to it. After my brain comprehended the nude part, I noticed he had a Japanese sword in each hand.

We both stared at each other for a moment, Zen with his sword's, me hopping around with a knife in my mouth. I am proud to say I recovered first, though if I saw myself I'd probably stare a while, too. Then, I'd immediately go try and leave the country. I spit out my knife and it clattered on the floor. That cleared my head a bit. "PUT SOME BLOODY CLOTHES ON, WILL YOU?" My virgin eyes couldn't take anymore. He blushed red and quickly grabbed a throw pillow on the sofa, holding both swords in his hand, pillow in the other. A small smile was on his face…

"Well, well, I have to say I never would have expected this." NO. I knew my face was starting to turn tomato red.

"Go get some bloody clothes on." I muttered, looking at the floor.

"Hmmm, I think I'd rather not…" Baasstarddd. I told him so. His shoulder's shook with laughter. "It's worth it, seeing you hopping around like that. You remind me of a rabbit, hopping around like that…" He started laughing.

Now it was my turn for some fun. "At least I'm not the naked one around here." He stopped laughing and grinned wickedly.

"It doesn't bother me, but I think it bother's somebody else in the room…" He began to move the pillow…

"NO! STOPPIT!" He laughed out loud again. "I take it kitty cat bitch is gone?" He tried to stop laughing and settled for chuckling.

"Yeah, she left."

"Good. She has some sense to run away from a naked man wielding Japanese swords. Where did you get those, anyway? I didn't even know you had those." He looked at me slyly and I knew he wasn't going to tell me. "Fine. Just get these ropes off me, will you?"

"I'm going to have to walk towards you without the pillow…"

"Okay, I'll wait." I said hastily. He chuckled.

"Okay, but I don't think that's wise. Cat woman might be back, or lurking somewhere."

"I'll take my chances. Just go get some clothes on!" I shrieked. His laughter followed all the way up to his room. "Damn bastard." I found it odd, though, that I'd never seen him naked before. Sure, I've accidentally (okay, okay, and sometimes not-so-accidentally...) walked in on him before, but all I've seen it leg and upper body. A bit of a shock for me, really. I heard him coming down the stairs, and so I hopped over to the couch and sat down, carefully avoiding the knife. When he came down, he was wearing scrumptious-looking blue jeans and an old T-shirt. He was soon down beside me and cutting the ropes off me, making light-hearted perverted jokes about me the whole time.

"Shove off, you dick." I said, my adrenaline gone. He scowled at me, puzzled. "Zen, what did Fredreik tell you?" Zen sighed and leaned back on the floor, staring at me, almost in a pitying way.

"He basically told me that it's bad. You're the talk of the supernatural world. Congrats."

"Damn. I dunno if I can deal with this, Zen. I just got kidnapped from my own bed. I could have died if you weren't there." He chuckled a bit.

"Dunno 'bout that. You were looking pretty threatening hopping around with that knife…" He sobered at my expression. I have good reason to believe it looked murderous. Oh wait, that's because it was.

"Not funny," I chided. I was just feeling depressed now.

" I got some good new's, though."

"Enlighten me."

"Fredreik is coming tomorrow."

"Oh! That's sooo wonderful." Sarcastic, me?

"Hey now, be good. It's better than nothing, right? Wait, don't answer that." He knew me well… "Here's the deal; you get my room and I'll guard you."

"Oh Shining Knight…!" I said sarcastically. He grinned and winked.

"Only the best." I sobered quickly, and shook my head.

"I couldn't sleep after this. I'm going to go take a walk or something…" I got up and walked to the kitchen for some pop tarts. A girl's best friend.

"You have to sleep, you have work." He reminded me, following me into the kitchen, putting on the kettle for some, who would have guessed, tea.

"Zen, I just cannot get to sleep after this. Just… I know I couldn't, ya know?" He stared down at me for a while, his eye's hard. For the second time that night, I squirmed. After a while, he signed. "Okay then, I can't make you do anything." He went into the hall and put on his coat and checking his wallet. "What movies do you want me to pick up?" I stared.

"…Huh?"

"I asked you what movie's I should pick up. I'm heading to Blockbuster's and picking up some movies for tonight. I warn you though, I refuse to watch your religious crap or chick flicks." He said, serious.

I started to laugh, looking at him. After a moment, I calmed down. "You're getting movie's for me?" I was touched.

"Yeah, and I'm staying up and watching them with you, too." He reminded me.

"Sorry, but I can't let you do that. YOU have work tomorrow." Zen worked at a dance studio, and he was the manager.

"I can handle it. Remember; I was the party animal at college. Now give me the damn list of movie's you want, bitch." He mock-growled at me, wiggling his eyebrows.

Zen watched as Marie's eyes slowly dropped and her body relaxed. She had been so jumpy, she almost screamed bloody murder in the middle of The Firewall with Harrison Ford. He felt the knot of worry loosen when her eyes finally closed and her deep breathing started. Chuckling, he took a sip of tea and watched her, and he didn't need a mirror to know his face had gone soft.

Watching her, he felt the usual sense of peace. He didn't feel pressured, or hounded. Today had been stressful; their had been a cat fat with two of the dancer's today and he'd had to interfere. Later, he'd found out that one of the girl's had fought over who got to dance with him.

He took another sip and his eyes gazed over her. Even in sleep, she had her brow creased from all her worrying. He knew even in sleep she was never relaxed. He remembered when she was young and she'd have nightmares of all the thing's that came out of those damned books.

He lost his pleasant line of thinking and scowled again. The first time he'd seen it happen it was because of him. He quickly shook his head, annoyed with himself. He wouldn't think of it. Instead, he made himself think of what she looked like when he came down to check if she was okay: she was hopping madly, her hair disheveled, a knife in her mouth, and a killer glint in her eye. She looked so pissed. She also looked so adorable.

His phone rang and he quickly picked it up, flipped it open and read the caller ID: "Margaret…" His voice rang with bored tolerance, and he had a strong urge to turn his phone off. He couldn't do that though; he might get an important call from the boss at work. Sighing, he pushed the green talk button and walked into the kitchen. "Hello?"

"Zen! I have been trying to get a hold of you all day. You don't ever reply to my calls, and you don't even to both to call me in the first place! I haven't even seen you in a week! Where have you been?" She shrieked at the phone. Zen had a nagging feeling she was pissed.

"I've been working." Truth. "And I've been really busy." Lie.

"Well you haven't been working for a straight week, Zen."

"Close to it, though." Lie.

"Too busy for me then, that's what you mean?" She was beginning to permanently damage my eardrums..

"Too busy for this shite, yeah. Good Bye, Margaret." He said firmly into the phone. He hung up and put his phone on silent. It ended better than he expected. No more late night phone calls, and no avoiding his phone. He was a free man.

Well, not so free.

He looked down again at Marie, then at the clock. He figured she should not be going to work tomorrow. Somehow he didn't want to imagine her panicky with a coffee machine anywhere near her. Wouldn't want her to be fired for inflicting bodily harm on one of the customers…

He leaned back and sighed. This was the beginning of a bloody war, he could tell. Marie was going to have a long road ahead of her. Not like she'll be alone, though he told himself, smiling as he watched her sleep. I'll be watching her the whole way through…

He got up and walked over to her, hovering. Gently, he bent over and pressed a small kiss to her temple, and to his delight she sighed and snuggled closer to him. Smiling, he brushed her hair aside and straightened.

"I can wait for my love." He said softly. The wind answered him.