Story I – Chapter 16

When Hotch, Rossi, and Kahlan got to Sebastian's door, it opened to reveal a very tired looking Reid. Rossi chuckled. "You were up all night, weren't you?"

Reid shrugged as he smiled. "I could talk to him for a week straight and I still don't think I could learn it all."

Kahlan held out her coffee to the young man. "Here, I think you need this even more than I do."

His smile grew as wide as his eyes as he took the extra-large cup. "Thank you!"

She giggled; it was the least she could do because she was sure Reid would be even more invaluable to her husband in the coming months. "At least you can sleep on the jet back."

He nodded as he looked at the other SUV parked in the driveway. "Wake me when it's time to go."

Rossi pat him on the back and they moved to allow him to pass and when they turned back to the still open door, Sebastian smiled at them. "Good morning."

Hotch frowned. "I'm sorry he kept you up all night. If this isn't a good. . ."

Sebastian held up his hand. "Nonsense! You have things you need to learn so you can head back to your life," he insisted as he led the way inside. "Besides, I found my discussion with Dr. Reid very enjoyable."

Rossi chuckled as Sebastian led them to a cozy looking den. "Enjoyable is not a term I would use when describing having to spend the whole night talking."

Sabastian shook his head. "It's been a while since I've shared so much. It was nice reminiscing," he insisted as he gestured to the chairs. Hotch took a deep breath as the others sat down, and Sebastian frowned at him. "Are you uncomfortable with this, Aaron? I don't want to overtax you with too much information, but there are things you need to know."

He sighed, sat down, and ran a hand along the back of his neck. "No. I'm not uncomfortable, I just know this can't all be fun and games," he started as he fixed the detective with his stare. "What are the drawl backs, the down sides to all this?"

Sebastian's smile left him as he sat across from his new protégé and he nodded. "You are correct, and while most of it is – if I may borrow a phrase from your friend Charles: 'is cool as shit' – there are things you need to be worried about."

Kahlan and Rossi shared a look. Leave it to Hotch to start the morning off right. "Like what?" Kahlan asked him.

Sabastian sat back in his seat and crossed his legs. "The smell of blood, for one."

Hotch frowned. "You mean like at crime scenes and such?"

The detective nodded. "It may bring the vampire out unexpectedly especially if you are starting to get hungry." He studied Hotch for a moment and then smiled. "Although, with the control you've already shown, I imagine you'll be able to put it away rather quickly."

"That's easy enough to handle," Rossi started with a grin. "We'll just make sure we're the only ones around him when we first enter a scene."

Kahlan nodded her agreement. "That or it will happen so quickly no one will even be able to see it."

Hotch looked at them. He knew they were just trying to keep this all as light as possible to try and make him feel better, but he needed to know what problems he might face. He looked back at the older vampire. "What else? What about keeping this a secret? Do I need to worry about anything or anyone coming after me?"

Sebastian winced and Kahlan scooted forward in her seat as her heart sped up. "Will the other. . . well, monsters for lack of a better word, come after him?" she asked as she looked at her husband and the concern that filled her eyes made him mentally cringe.

Sebastian sighed. "The other creatures. . . the monsters generally stay to themselves just like vampires. We all have to keep our existence a secret so we all keep a pretty low profile."

Kahlan sighed and relaxed a little, but Hotch studied him. "But?" he asked knowing one was coming.

The detective wilted. "But sometimes there are confrontations. Certain creatures have laid claim to certain areas and don't like it when others encroach. For instance, New Orleans is run by a powerful coven of witches and voodoo priestesses, and they really don't like vampires." He took a deep breath. "Upstate New York has a lot of werewolves, LA has a lot of shape shifters, and so on."

Rossi's eyes grew wide as he listened. "And all of these creatures will want to hurt Aaron?"

"No, not necessarily. If Aaron keeps himself secret, they won't even know. . ." Sebastian started.

"But if they find out?" Kahlan quickly wanted to know.

He sighed. "Like I said, most of us stay to ourselves. As long as Aaron doesn't bother them, they shouldn't bother him." He sat up. "I didn't tell you all this to make you upset with worry. You needed to know is all. You may never even meet one of the others."

Hotch ran his hands down his face. "But with the way we travel chances are that we will."

Bartles nodded. "That does make it a little more likely."

Hotch glanced at Kahlan and her eyes were darting around as her toes bounced in her shoe. Oh shit. What's she thinking now? "Babe?"

She snapped out of her thoughts and looked at Sebastian. "Does he have any mortal enemies?"

Bartles appraised her for a few moments and then looked at Hotch. "Exactly where did you find her?"

Kahlan huffed. "What's that supposed to mean?"

Sebastian's eyes narrowed. "You knew what he was, you knew how to attack me, you seem to know all the right questions to ask. . ." He swallowed. "Are you sure you're not a hunter?"

Kahlan sank back into her seat. "Shit!"

Hotch looked back and forth between the two and then looked at Rossi, and Hotch could tell Rossi didn't have a clue what they were referring to any more than he did. "Could one of you explain what the hell you're talking about?"

Sebastian eyed Kahlan for a few more moments and then turned to Hotch. "The biggest thing you need to be worried about is hunters. Their sole purpose in life is to eradicate monsters like us. If they get wind of you, they will hunt you down. It won't matter that you are a good man, that you have taken countless bad people off the streets, all they will see is the vampire and they will want to kill you."

Hotch studied him. "These hunters are human?"

"Yes."

"Then he doesn't need to worry. He could. . ." Rossi started.

Sebastian shook his head. "No. They are experts at killing creatures. They know all of our weakness and they know how to exploit them." He gestured to the others in the room. "And they will go through anyone to get to you."

Hotch wilted and dropped his head into his hands. "So I've put everyone in danger," he muttered as he shook his head.

Kahlan mentally sighed. Of course you are more worried about us than you are yourself. She shook her head and fixed the detective with a serious look. "How prevalent are these hunters? Are they truly a valid threat or is this just something else he needs to know about?"

Hotch looked at her. "It must be bad. You can see the worry on his face, Kahlan."

"And yet he has lived for almost seven hundred years. Either he hasn't run into them or if he has, he took care of it," she insisted as she held her chin up. "And if he can, than you, or we, can! They are only human after all."

Sebastian smiled as he studied her some more. "Somehow, I believe you could."

She half shrugged. "I have a few skills."

Rossi busted out laughing. "Now that's an understatement!"

Hotch studied his vampire mentor. "You have run into them."

Sebastian took a long drink of his tea as he sat back. "I have a few times over the years, and yes, I have dealt with them. To one as old as myself they aren't any more than a minor irritation, really. To one as young as yourself. . ." He sat his cup down and looked at them all. "Young ones seem to make more mistakes, draw attention to themselves, and that makes the hunters notice them. I have seen many young ones fall victim to them, but with the control you are already showing. . . Maybe you don't have to worry about them as much as I first thought. With everyone close to you knowing about it, they can help protect you, but you must be aware that they are out there."

Kahlan nodded. "Being aware of their surroundings is second nature to him and his team. No one will get to him," she stated matter-of-factly.

Bartles considered it a moment and then nodded. "I believe that." He took a deep breath and stood up. "I need a refill. Would anyone else like something? Coffee, tea?" he asked as he held up his cup.

Hotch stood up. "I'll help you," he offered.

Kahlan and Rossi shared a quick look knowing Hotch wanted to speak with Sebastian privately for a moment, so Rossi nodded. "I could use a coffee. Kiddo?"

"Please," she agreed with a smile.

Hotch gave her a small nod and followed Bartles out of the room. Once they were in the kitchen and safely out of ear shot of the others, Hotch looked at the man who had changed him but then looked at the floor.

"Something you want to know, Aaron?"

Hotch bit his lip as he looked back towards the den and the woman he'd left there. He ran a hand over the back of his neck and then looked at the vampire. "Can I. . . I mean. . . How. . ." He took shuddering breath and then shook his head. "Never mind."

"You want to change her," Sebastian offered lightly as he took three mugs out of a cabinet.

Hotch's eyes snapped to him. "You can read my mind, can't you?"

The man shrugged as he grabbed the pot full of coffee. "We are connected, Aaron," he stated plainly as he filled the mugs.

Hotch's eyes narrowed. "So you can't read Kahlan's or anyone's?"

Bartles laughed. "No. I'm not psychic. Every vampire is connected with those he changes, but it's not like you think." He turned to face him. "It's not like I can pick through your mind and know every little thought or anything. It's more like. . . I get a sense of what's bothering you."

Hotch studied him. "When you were the wolf?"

Bartles nodded. "I could tell you were worried about me hurting one of them, so I assured you I wouldn't."

Hotch took a deep breath. "And what I got in return was a feeling, too. I knew you wouldn't hurt them, yet I wasn't sure how I knew that."

Bartles nodded as he fixed his cup of tea. "The connection goes both ways."

Hotch nodded as he sighed.

Sebastian grabbed a tray. "But as per your question, you can't change anyone yet," he instructed as he put the mugs on the tray. "Normally, and I stress the normally, it takes about six months to a year for a vampire to mature enough to do it, but with you. . ." He shrugged. "You will probably be able to do it sooner."

Hotch stepped closer to him. "How will I know when I can and how do I actually do it?"

The detective gave him a small smile. "That conversation can wait. Is there anything else you want to ask here in private before we go back in there?"

Hotch's eyes darted around as his mind raced.

The older man pulled a card out of his back pocket. "You can call me any time, Aaron. I am at your disposal to answer any and all questions you may ever have. You don't need to figure this all out today."

Hotch looked at the card and then put it in his pocket as he nodded. "I really appreciate that, Sebastian, and I'm sorry I seem so needy. It's just. . ."

Sebastian laughed. "Needy?" He laughed even harder at Hotch's frown. "You are the exact opposite of needy, Aaron. You have needed me less than any other I have changed." He picked up the tray as he smiled. "I would never think to send one so young off by himself before, but you. . ." He locked eyes with him. "It's almost as if you were meant to be a vampire."

Hotch huffed. "I don't know about that." He shook his head. "It's like everyone has these high expectations and I just hope I can live up to them."

The older vampire nodded knowingly. "I think the only one you will ever have to worry about disappointing is yourself, Aaron."