Disclaimer: Not mine.

Authors note: This was a long time coming and I felt that it was time to shift gears somewhat.

Chapter 34

After getting dressed and making the bed, Jane was at a little bit of a loss as what to do. She would normally have gathered up her things and quietly left but her coat and keys were nowhere to be found. Neither were her shoes for that matter. There were however, a pair of slippers at the door. Turning to look at Baskerville who was again sitting on the bedside mat, she asked:

"You don't strike me as a shoe-eater but I don't suppose you know where my things are do you?"

Given who the hound belonged to, she wasn't really surprised when he went to the door and looked back at her expectantly., Shoving her feet into the slippers, she opened the door and followed him as he padded confidently down the hallway.

Baskerville knew that breakfast was being served in the blue dining room and so made his way there – quite sure that Jane would follow. He had already memorised her face and her name before she had arrived due to his master's interest in her, however he had taken it upon himself to memorise her scent also since she smelled nice. Nosing open the door he sat next to a chair and wagged his tail expectantly.

Jane shook her head ruefully as the hound settled next to a chair in the dining room. The table was set for a rather large breakfast and Walter was just coming in from a side door with a steaming tray. He didn't look at all surprised to see her, indeed it appeared that he had been anticipating her arrival.

"Good morning Jane. I trust that you slept well?"

"Good morning and yes, I did thank you."

Neither of them mentioned that she didn't remember getting into bed nor that she hadn't listened to instructions.

"Have a seat."

Walter invited her to the table as he placed the tray on a sideboard and opened it up. She obliged and was fiddling with her napkin while various dishes were placed in front of her. To her dismay, it appeared that she would be the only person at the table.

"Is Sir Integra not coming to breakfast?"

"She had an early teleconference so unfortunately she cannot join you. She did however offer her invitation for dinner this evening."

"I think I should be going home Walter – I can't stay underfoot the whole day."

Walter paused in his stirring of the teapot and his face assumed a faintly embarrassed expression.

"I'm afraid that the ruse of the washed-out bridge has become a reality during the night. Until the repairs are made, it really isn't possible for you to return to London."

Jane bit back vocabulary not suited for the table and stabbed at an unoffending sausage. Her frustration wasn't that she didn't want to be there, but rather that she felt that she didn't belong. Nobody enjoyed feeling like a pickled onion in a fruit salad and she liked it even less than that. She was about to insist on taking a back road when a warm weight landed softly on her feet and she looked down to see Baskerville resting his head on them. Somehow the furry warmth eased her discomfort and giving up the argument, she resumed her breakfast in earnest.

"So what do you suggest that I do for the rest of the day then?"

"Since the weather is currently fine, perhaps a turn in the gardens? Might I suggest that you look on this not as a confinement but rather an unplanned holiday of sorts?"

Jane mused over Walters words as she started on tea and toast and decided that if she was stuck then she ought to make the best of it – after all, opportunities like this didn't come knocking all the time.

"Would it be possible to read about the history of Hellsing? There's not a lot of records for obvious reasons."

Walter smirked a little as he remembered an earlier request for classified records and then said:

"Of course, there are extensive writings in the main library and you are welcome to peruse them at your leisure. Ask anyone you see to direct you."

"Thank you."

She finished up her tea and then stood from the table. Unused to being waited on, she asked:

"Can I help with the dishes?"

"Certainly not!" was the scandalised reply.

"But..."

"No. Now please go and amuse yourself. There are gumboots in the room off the front door since the grounds are bound to be muddy. Off with you."

Walter's tone brooked no argument and so Jane left the room with red cheeks and a hurried step. Baskerville followed next to her and she decided that a walk would be nice to settle the largest breakfast that she had eaten in ages. She had no trouble remembering the way to the front door from her room and was soon striding through the immaculately kept gardens, Baskerville padding alongside her.

Although the morning was as fine as Walter had predicted, Jane kept to the areas of dappled shade and away from large patches of pure light. Like many red-headed people, she didn't brown in the sun – she nearly spontaneously combusted. She grinned as she realised that she shared a trait with Seras. Toying with a random stick that she had picked up, she thought of tossing it for Baskerville and decided against it. It didn't suit him, like her earlier opinion that he wasn't the kind to eat shoes. She roamed without direction, enjoying the fresh air. The grounds were extensive and she wandered a fair distance, unaware of the sun fading and dampness beginning to gather in the air, dusting her hair and Baskerville's fur with fine droplets.

Passing between some bushes, her eyes were drawn by the sound of water and she noticed a small pond off to one side. Immediately turning in that direction, she squatted by the edge, trying to see if there were fish gliding in the black water. It was only after a few minutes that she realised that the day had gone overcast – since she had been in the shadows the loss of the sun hadn't registered.

A random raindrop on her hand alerted her to an imminent shower and she stood, trying to gain her bearings. The mansion was a littler further than she had anticipated and she grinned down at Baskerville.

"Shall we race?"

She took off running as fast as she could but was soon overtaken by the fluid speed of the hound. Giving chase, she let go of all her inhibitions and ran as hard as she could after him, laughing as she went. Despite her efforts she couldn't outrun the weather and her jumper was damp by the time she reached the door where Walter was waiting for her. Pulling it off, she tied it around her waist and then plonked down on the floor and tugged off her boots while fending off an exuberant Baskerville. Clearly he was enough of a dog to enjoy a good run.

"That was fun." she accepted a towel from Walter and briskly rubbed her face and head with it.

"Indeed."

She reached for the muddy boots, intending to clean them but Walter got to them first. He dangled them out of reach and said:

"Not a chance Jane."

She fixed him with a mutinous expression and was about to speak when he cut her off.

"I would hate to argue with you and have to start calling you 'miss' again."

Jane knew that he would do just that if she pressed the issue further and decided to let him do whatever he wanted.

"So what's on the Hellsing Holiday Camp agenda next then?"

He chuckled at her sarcasm and indicated that she precede him into the main hallway. Following with the boots, he indicated the left stair case.

"Up on the second floor, turn left and the third door down is the secondary library. I took the liberty of putting out the history volumes that you were interested in. The fire is going so you can warm up as well."

"Thank you very much."

Touched by his thoughtfulness, she slipped on upstairs on sock feet, followed by her furry black shadow. The library was easily found, although it was more a reading room than a library. A large wing-back chair and sofa were arranged around a bright fireplace and nearby a small desk held a stack of volumes. Examining them, Jane could see that they were modern prints, correctly assuming that the originals were too valuable and most likely too fragile to be handled. Leaning back into the chair, she opened the first one and started reading. A familiar weight on her feet warmed them and she was soon engrossed in history to the point that Walter's entry with a tray startled her.

"I thought that you might like some hot chocolate and a biscuit."

"Are you sure we should have food in the same room as these books?"

"It's quite alright. I'm sure you've already noted that these are copies of the originals – exact copies I might add."

Jane had by this time crossed to the small table where he had placed the tray and accepted the mug he held out to her. As she sipped, she realised that he seemed about to say something and then cut himself off.

"Yes?" she asked.

"Oh, well..."

"It's the hair isn't it?"

Jane had pinned her unruly mane when she had gone for her walk but the run and subsequent rub-down had dislodged most of them and she could feel the curls practically crawling up her back as it dried completely.

"It's rather..." the usually articulate man fumbled for a word.

"It is, isn't it?" she grinned.

He nodded, not trusting himself not to laugh as a shorter lock formed a corkscrew just behind her ear.

"Just ignore it. I promise I'll put it in order when I go to supper."

"As you say. Enjoy the reading."

Walter departed, leaving Jane to while away the afternoon in warmth and history. At some point, she went to get the next volume and passed the sofa, where she found a small blanket and decided to take advantage of all the hospitality offered. Lying down, she propped her head against a cushion and snuggled under the blanket, opening her book again. Shortly afterwards, she again felt weight on her feet and lifted the book up as to look underneath it to find Baskerville had jumped onto the sofa with her.

"I'm not sure if that's allowed..."

A canine grin followed her statement and she shrugged, returning to her reading.

"Well, I wont tell if you don't."

He chuffed softly and closed his eyes, allowing a state of semi-sleep to come over him. It must have been contagious because at some point, Jane rested the book on her stomach for a moment and her eyes drifted closed without her consent.

And that is where Alucard found them – woman and hound sleeping on the sofa, bathed in firelight. Baskerville soon opened his eyes, aware that his master had arrived but before he moved, Alucard held up a finger, and intoned:

"Shhh."

Alucard studied Jane's face and was satisfied that the dog's waking hadn't disturbed her, although was slightly surprised that she hadn't woken when he had entered the room, what with her prior training. He surmised that she was still fatigued from the production of the jackal. The vampire toyed with the idea of startling Jane awake just to enjoy seeing her jump and be flustered, but decided against it. There would be other times to scare her and her tiredness was partly his fault. Besides, he was curious to see what face she would make when she woke up to find him watching her. With this though in mind, he settled himself into the wing-back chair and allowed her to go on sleeping