Authors Notes:
I just want to thank Neyane for going over this chapter and making sure there weren't a whole bunch of mistakes! (To Neyane: You said it was looking okay so I have decided to post it. Thanks again!) If we're being honest meeting Ingolf was the start of the main story. I didn't think about it much when planning out the story but he is an OC... hu... weird. Anyway. Please enjoy!

The Lycanthropy of a Shrunken Detective

Chapter Eighteen

It didn't take them long to track Conan down. He was curled up in the corner of an alley hidden in the shadow of a fire escape with his hands over his ears. Murmuring to himself. "Oh…no. Not again." Mitsuhiko said sadly. The three had seen him curled up on more than on occasion over the last month overwhelmed by sent and sound.

"Conan?" Ayumi asked gently taking a step forward.

"Stay away!" Conan growled. The children jumped at the guttural noise that left their friend and shared worried glances.

"Maybe we should give him some space." Haibara said pushing the other children out of the alley. "I'll help Mr. Ingolf with Conan." She gave them each a stern glare telling them silently to stay back.

Conan let out a low warning growl as Mr. Ingolf took a careful step toward him. Hiabara spun on her hill quickly pulling a gun from her bag. "Don't approach him." There was a warning in her voice as she leveled the weapon at the man's chest. The children behind her gasped in shock.

The man froze taking in her stiff stance. "Now… that seems a dangerous toy for such a small one."

"Don't play with me. Who are you? What do you want with Conan?"

"I've already told you. I am Ingolf Corbin. I want nothing with him. I was just worried."

Haibara narrowed her eyes. "For a complete stranger?"

The man glanced at Conan catching the boy's eye as if asking a silent question. Only confused wariness came from the miniaturized detective. "He knows we have a little more in common than your everyday passerby." The man said slowly as if choosing his words carefully. "We look out for our own. Don't we boy?"

Confusion grew on Conan's face. "I… don't… what do you mean?"

The man frowned. "I am from the Ingolf family. One of the oldest. I'm sure you have heard of us… boy… what family are you from?"

"F- f- family?" Conan stuttered. "I- I don't know what you're talking about- wait. Like a pack? I guess that would make sense." Conan mumbled to himself seeming to be sorting out some thoughts before he shook his head. "I don't have one. I… am kinda new to all of this." He shrugged weakly, Haibara could see a glint of fangs from where she stood as he grinned sardonically. Then Conan shook his head giving the man a hard look. "Is that a problem?"

The man between them seemed to bristle. "No family? You were not born into family?"

"Of course he has a family!" Genta butted in. The shock of seeing Haibara with a gun was finally wearing off it seemed. From their angle, the kids could not see much but they understood that tensions were high, and Ayumi and Mitsuhiko shushed the bigger boy frantically.

"I wasn't aware one could be." Conan laughed. "I am still struggling with the concept that any of this is even real."

The man glanced at the children standing just outside the mouth of the ally, who were looking fiercely protective as they tried to hide their curious confusion. Then to the armed little girl glaring darkly at him and back to Conan. Conan was tugging at the sleeves of his jacket trying to hide what seemed to be fur. "I see. I may have caused more of a disturbance than I meant to… Entschuldigung!" He cleared his throat stepping back a bit from Conan causing the boy's shoulders to drop and his head to lift in confusion. "I am sorry." He pulled out a card and turned it in his hands a few times seeming to hesitate. He studied Conan for a few more seconds before turning to the armed girl and handing the little slip of paper to her. The girl stared at it as the man spoke again. "I was not aware- I've never-" He gave a forced smile. "If you would like to talk to someone who can help in a more "private setting" please give me a call."

Haibara shook slightly as she took the card, lowering her gun slowly. The man sidestepped around her holding up his hands and moved out of the alley. Giving a small bow to the group he tipped the newsboy style hat he was wearing and nodded before he walked away. The kids rushed in after that. "Whoa!" Genta was looking at the gun. "Is that real?"

Haibara snorted pulling the trigger releasing the bouquet of roses making the boys jump. "Of course not."

"Conan?" Ayumi was shuffling closer to their friend.

"I- I'm okay." Conan said curling in on himself more. "Just give me a moment."

"Is there anything we can do to help?" Haibara asked. "How did Hattori help?"

Taking a deep breath Conan let it out slowly. "Breathe. I need to breathe. I'll be okay." He seemed more to be talking to himself at this point. Slowly he uncurled and examined his arms. They looked normal.

"You look fine, just a bit dirty from sitting on the ground." Haibara said. "Come on… let's go to the Professors."

"Let's get lemonade!"Genta cheered.

It took a while to get the kids to leave. Telling them that Conan needed rest was not enough. Not when they were concerned enough to see him well again. So they stayed and Conan spent a board game with them while Professor Agasa tried to show them his new invention before it blew up in his face. A riddle from the friendly old inventor and a demand to play soccer the following day finally had the true children satisfied and on their way home. "I want a blood sample." Haibara said as the front door closed.

Conan glared at her. "Didn't you get one last night? Didn't you get two?"

"Yes."

"Then why do you need one now?"

"Because last night I got one from you when you were Shinichi and one from you right after you became Conan again. I would like one now."

"Why?" Conan wiped his brow.

"Because if you haven't noticed you've been showing signs of a change for the last fifteen minutes." Conan cringed looking away from her, he had noticed it was uncomfortably hot. Thought the others hadn't seemed to mind. "I want to see what's happening to your blood before the change."

Letting out a long sigh Conan agreed. "Fine, but let me text Ran again and let her know I'm staying a bit later. She's been really protective lately."

"Can you blame her?" Haibara asked cooly.

Conan watched as Agasa cleaned up the tray of cookies left by their little improv play day shaking his head solemnly. "No."

Authors notes:
Thanks for reading please review if you can! :)

(words used 1120. Date posted 04-14-2018)