Bridge the Vampire Slayer: Season I Chapter 7: Sky, a power rangers fanfic

Episode 7: Sky

In the Master's lair, Collin was chucking stones into a pool of water, the stones coming from the Master's hand. Darla came into the lair.

"Zack didn't return from the hunt last night," the Master told her.

"The Slayer," she scowled.

"Zachary was strong, and he was careful. And still the Slayer takes him . . . as he has taken so many of my family. It wears thin. Collin, what would you do about it?" he turned to the child.

"I'd annihilate him," he said blandly.

"Let me take care of him, Master. For you," Darla pleaded.

"You have a personal interest in this," he noted.

"I never get to have any fun!" she pouted.

"I will send the Three," the Master vowed.

"The Three?" Darla was intrigued now.

In the Bronze, a boy and girl chased a cockroach across the floor.

"Got it!" the girl yelled in triumph and then dropped it into the jar by the barkeeper. "Free drink, please."

"Ah, the fumigation party!" Z grinned as she and Bridge sat at a table in the Bronze.

"Hmm?" Bridge looked at her.

"It's an annual tradition. The closing of the Bronze for a few days to nuke the cockroaches?"

Bridge continued to pay no attention, "Oh."

"What's it like where you live?"

Bridge looked at her and smiled, "Sorry . . . I'm just thinking about things . . ."

"So we're talking about a guy?" Z leaned forward.

"Not exactly a guy. For us to have a conversation about a guy, there'd have to be a guy for us to have a conversation about. Is that a sentence?" he frowned.

"You lack a guy," Z smiled.

"I do. Which is fine most of the time, but-"

"What about Sky?"

"Sky?" Bridge looked at her, "I can just see him in a relationship. 'Hi honey, you're in trouble! I'll see you next month'!"

"He's not around much. It's true," Z sighed.

"When he is around . . . it's like the lights dim everywhere else. You know how it's like that with some guys?"

"Oh yeah!" Z looked over to where Jack was dancing and making a fool of himself.

He danced up to a girl, "Hey Annie!" saw her boyfriend, "Dino. Just leaving!"

He back away and bumped into Syd, who yelped.

"Ouch! Please get your extreme oafishness off my two hundred dollar shoes!"

Jack, being who he was, had to apologize, "I'm sorry, I was just . . ."

Syd, being who she was, had to embarrass him, "Getting off the dance floor before Annie Vega's boyfriend squashes you like a bug?"

"Oh, so you noticed."

"Uh-huh."

"Yeah, thanks for being so understanding."

"Sure."

"Y'know, hey, I don't know what everyone's talking about. That outfit doesn't make you look like a hooker!" he laughed and then went back to Bridge and Z.

"Boy, that Sydney is a regular breath of vile air! So what are you guys up to?"

"Just sitting here and watching our barren lives blow by . . ." she saw something scuttling about the floor. "A roach!" she stomped it.

"I'm gonna go," Bridge got up.

"It's early! We could dance!" Jack offered.

Bridge winced, "Rain check. Bye!" he was out the door in seconds.

Z held her shoe up to Jack, "Free drink?"

Bridge walked down the street, looking as though someone had kicked his puppy. Sky watched from the shadows, his eyes sad. Bridge turned around as he felt a presence, but didn't see anyone.

He walked past an alley and heard something take a breath. He sighed and turned around.

"It's late, I'm tired and I don't wanna play games! Come out!" he yelled.

One of the Three jumped to the sidewalk beside him and Bridge whipped around, a stake in his hand. Another member of the Three caught his arm in mid-swing, while another caught his other arm. They dragged Bridge into the alley while he struggled to free himself and pushed him against a fence. The first one approached him.

"Okay, I don't wanna fight all three of you . . . unless I have to!" he snap-kicked one in the stomach, elbowed the third and tried to punch the second. He blocked Bridge's swing and kneed him in the gut, before hurling him back against the fence. The other two recovered and strengthened their hold on the Slayer, while the second moved towards him, death in his eyes. Bridge struggled to get away from the others, fear evident on his face.

The vampire advanced on Bridge and pulled his head to the side, exposing his neck. He leaned in to bite him, but was pulled off by-

"Good dogs don't . . ." Sky punched the vampire in the face, "bite

Bridge got over his shock long enough to react to the two vamps holding him. He used their support to launch a twin straddle kick and hit them both in the face. One of them recovered enough to slam him back against the fence while Sky continued to fight the other two. One of the vamps tore an iron bar out of the window.

"LOOK OUT!" Bridge screamed.

Sky turned around as the vamp swung the bar and got sliced on the chest. Bridge smashed an open palm into his opponent's chin and kneed him in the gut before launching a snap-kick to throw him back. He saw Sky bent over in pain and about to be stabbed again, but Bridge side-kicked his attacker and fell back against Sky. He helped him up.

"Run!" the Slayer yelled.

The two of ran out of the alley as the Three recovered to give chase. They jumped over the bushes in front of his house and Bridge opened the front door.

"Come on! Get in!" Bridge said frantically.

Sky ran in and Bridge slammed the door shut on one of the vamp's hand. They began to look about the house, peeking in through the windows.

"It's alright. A vampire can't come in unless invited," Sky informed him.

"I've heard that before. Never tested it though," Bridge looked at him gratefully and then noticed the wound. "You're hurt. I'll get some bandages, you . . . take your jacket and . . . shirt off."

Bridge walked into the kitchen with Sky behind him. As he got out what supplies he needed, Sky took of his shirt and jacket, revealing a griffin straddling a large 'S' beneath his right shoulder.

"Nice tattoo," Bridge commented, trying to hide the heat rising up in his cheeks at the sight of Sky's muscular body.

"Thanks," Sky gave him a small grin.

"I was lucky you happened to come along," Bridge frowned and then looked up at Sky, "how did you happen to come along?" he began bandaging the wound.

"I live nearby. I was out walking," Sky lied smoothly, trying to focus on his excuse and not on the fact that Bridge was standing barely inches away from him and his hands were on his body.

"So you weren't following me? I kinda thought you did," Bridge smiled.

"Why would I do that?" Sky smiled back at him.

"You tell me. You're the Mystery Guy that appears out of nowhere. I'm not saying I'm not happy about it tonight, but . . . if you are hanging around I'd like to know why."

"Maybe I like you," Sky looked down at him.

"Maybe," Bridge and they smiled at each other. He started as he heard the doorbell ring and rushed out. He opened the door, pulled his mother into the house and closed it.

"Hi! What are you doing?" Maya smiled at her son before frowning at ho fast he pulled her in.

"There's a lot of weird people out at night," Bridge warned her.

Sky walked into the living room, dressed, behind Bridge.

"Hi," Maya said with a tinge of suspicion.

"Hi," Sky said stoically.

"Mom, this is Sky. We ran into each other on the way home," Bridge lied quickly.

"Nice to meet you," Sky shook Maya's hand.

"What do you do, Sky?" Maya asked.

"He's a student," Bridge interjected and got a disbelieving look from his mother. "First year community college. He's been helping me with history. You know how much I'm lacking there."

"It's a little late for tutoring. I'm going to bed and Bridge-"

"I'll say goodnight and do the same!" Bridge said brightly as his mother walked up the stairs into her room.

Bridge opened the door, "Good night! We'll hook up again soon and do that studying thing!" he said loudly before slamming the door shut. He turned to Sky, who was standing behind the door, and led him up to his room.

"I don't wanna get you into anymore trouble," Sky started out.

"And I don't want you dead," Bridge said, deadpanned. "They could still be out there!" he looked around his room and then at the bed and his eyes widened. "So, uh, two of us . . . one bed. That doesn't work. You take the bed. You're wounded."

"I'll take the floor," Sky said with a tone of finality.

"But . . ."

"I've had worse," Sky tried to assure him.

"That's . . . comforting. Why don't you check if the Fang Gang has left and, um, keep your back turned while I changed?" Bridge blushed brightly.

Sky smiled at his obvious shyness and then turned to the window while Bridge began to change.

"I don't see them," Sky informed him.

"I'm the Chosen One, so its my job to fight guys like that. What's your excuse?" Bridge asked without looking at him.

"Someone has to."

"What does your family think of your career choice?"

"They're dead," Sky said shortly.

Bridge finished changing and walked up to him, resting a hand on his shoulder.

"Was it vampires?" he asked quietly.

"It . . . it was," Sky managed to get out.

"I'm sorry," Bridge's quiet voice had a soothing tone to it.

"It was a long time ago."

"So this is like a vengeance gig for you," Bridge nodded.

Sky turned to face him and his breath caught as he looked down at Bridge, who was wearing a red sweatshirt and blue sweatpants.

"Y-you look good even when you're going to sleep," he stammered out before he could stop himself and inwardly kicked himself as Bridge blushed brightly at the unexpected compliment.

"Well, when I wake up, it's an entirely different story," he smiled. Bridge walked over to his bed and handed the comforter over to Sky while he settled on the floor next to his bed.

"Sky?" Bridge's voice came out of the darkness as he turned off his lights and looked over the bed at him.

"Hmm?"

"Do you snore?"

"I don't know. It's been a long time since anyone's been in the position to tell me."

Sky turned his head to smile at Bridge who returned it, before settling down to get some sleep.

"He spent the night? In your room? In your bed?!" Jack freaked out.

"Not in my bed. By my bed!" Bridge corrected him.

"That is so romantic!" Z gushed, "did you . . . did he . . ."

"Perfect gentleman," Bridge and Z exchanged smiles. Both of them would always talk about their relationships with each other.

"Hello? Guys, wake up and smell the seduction! It's the oldest trick in the book!" Jack said in disbelief.

"What? Saving my life? Getting slashed in the ribs?" Bridge frowned at him.

"Duh! I mean, guys will do anything to impress others these days! I once drank an entire gallon of Gatorade without taking a breath!" Jack grinned.

"That was pretty impressive. Though there was an 'ick' factor later . . ." Z nodded and trailed off.

Cruger came in to hear part of the conversation and sighed, "Can we steer this riveting conversation back to the events that happened earlier in the evening?"

"Fine," Bridge sighed and sat down.

"You left the Bronze and were set upon by three unusually virile vampires," he put a book down in front of him, "did they look like this?"

Bridge glanced at the picture and frowned, "Yup. What's with the uniforms?"

"You encountered the Three. Warrior vampires, very proud, very strong," Cruger said gravely.

Z looked at him in disbelief, "How do you know this stuff? How do you always know what's going on? I never know what's going on!"

"Well, you weren't here from midnight until six researching it," Cruger pointed out.

"No, I was asleep," Z nodded.

"You know, that's a sign that someone is seriously repressed," Bridge said to Cruger with a grin.

"Do you derive pleasure from taunting me?" Cruger asked him with an annoyed tinge in his voice.

"Um, yes?" Bridge couldn't hide the amusement in his voice.

"Uh, o-obviously you're hurting the Master very much. He wouldn't send the Three for just anyone. We must step up our training with weapons."

"Bridge, you should stay at my house until these samurai guys are history," Jack said seriously.

"What?" Bridge turned to him with a raised eyebrow.

"Don't worry about Sky. Z can run to your house and tell him to get out . . . of town . . . fast," he trailed off at the glare he was getting from Z and the confused look Bridge had on.

"Bridge and Sky are in no immediate danger. The Three, having failed in their task, will return to the Master and offer their lives as penance."

"We failed in our duty. Our lives belong to you," one of the Three said as he handed a wooden spear to the Master and bowed his head along with the others. The Master handed it to Darla and walked over to Collin, kneeling beside him.

"Pay attention, child. You are the Anointed, and there is much you must learn. With power comes responsibility. True, they did fail, but also true, we who walk at night share a common bond. The taking of a life -I'm not talking about humans, of course- is a serious matter."

"So you would spare them?" Collin asked blandly.

"I am weary and their deaths would bring me little joy," the Master stood up.

Darla staked the first of the Three and then dispatched the other two quickly.

"Then again, sometimes a little is enough."

In the library, Cruger had put out the 'Closed For Filing' sign out the door and was now taking weapons out of the book cage while Bridge examined the various weapons.

"Cool! Crossbow!" he took it out and eyed the bolts, "huh. Check out these babies!" He picked one, "Goodbye stakes, hello flying fatality! What can I shoot?" he asked while bouncing on his toes.

Cruger looked at him, disturbed, "Um, nothing. The crossbow comes later!" he took the weapon and the bolts.

"Aww," Bridge pouted.

Cruger took out two staffs and handed one to Bridge, "You must first become proficient with the basic tools of combat. And let's begin . . . with the quarterstaff. Which, incidentally, will, uh, require countless hours of vigorous training. I speak from experience," he frowned as Bridge yawned.

"Cruger, 20th century? I'm not gonna be fighting Friar Tuck!" he rolled his eyes.

Cruger put on his protective gear and grabbed his staff, "You never know with whom or what you'll be fighting. And these traditions have been handed down through the ages. Now, you show me good, steady progress with the quarterstaff, and in due course we'll discuss the crossbow. Put on your pads."

Bridge smirked and picked up his staff, leaning on it's end casually, "I don't need pads to fight you."

"We'll see about that. En garde!"

Cruger tried to strike Bridge in the face, but the Slayer leaned back and then pulled up his staff to knock Cruger's upwards and out of his hands. He then punched him in the face which, thankfully, was protected by the pads and then knocked his legs out with a sweep. Cruger landed on his back, staring up at Bridge who had one hand on his staff, another on his hip and was smirking victoriously.

"Good. Let's move onto the crossbow."

"Sky?" Bridge called out as he entered his room the following evening. He closed the door and looked around for the man in question.

"Hey," Sky sat up from where he was crouching by the window.

"I brought you some dinner. Sorry, it's a little plateless," Bridge handed him a plastic bag filled with food. Sky looked at it and put it down on Bridge's desk.

"So what did you do all day?" Bridge tried some small talk, trying to ignore the fact that his crush was in his room.

"I, uh, read a little."

Bridge noticed his diary was out of place and stared at it in open-mouthed horror.

"And thought about a lot of things. Bridge, I-" Sky started out but was interrupted by Bridge, who was busy freaking out.

"You read my diary?!" he shrieked and put shoved it into his closet, "that is not okay!" he came back to him. "A diary is like a person's most private place! You don't even know what I was writing about! 'Hunk' can mean a lot of things, bad things. And, and when it says that your eyes are 'penetrating', I meant to write 'bulging'!"

"Bridge . . ."

"And 'S' doesn't even stand for 'Sky' for that matter, it stands for . . . 'Schemmel', a charming foreign exchange student, so that whole fantasy part has nothing to even do with you at all . . ."

Sky sighed and walked up to Bridge, putting his hand over his mouth to stop his babbling, "Your mother moved your diary when she came to clean your room. I watched from the closet. I didn't read it, I swear."

"Oh," Bridge said, his voice muffled by Sky's hand on his mouth. Sky withdrew it and Bridge's eyes widened as he realised what he said, "OH!"

"I did a lot of thinking today," Sky continued with what he had been saying earlier, "I can't really be around you. Because when I am . . ."

"Hey, no big. Water . . . over the bridge, under the bridge," Bridge himself grinned at his words.

"When I am, all I can think about is how badly I want to kiss you," Sky whispered, moving closer to Bridge until they were inches apart.

"Over the . . . dam . . ." Bridge's mind stopped working as he processed Sky's words. His breath quickened as he asked the next question while looking up at Sky, "Kiss me?"

"I'm older than you, and this can't ever . . . I have to go," Sky turned to leave before he kissed the Slayer before him.

"H-How much older?" Bridge stuttered.

"I should . . ."

Bridge came up to him until they were barely apart, " . . . go . . . You said . . ."

Sky lost his control at that point and planted a passionate kiss on Bridge's lips. Bridge's arms automatically slid around Sky's neck while Sky slipped his own arms around the Bridge's waist, crushing him to his body. The kiss became more and more passionate until Sky suddenly let go of Bridge and turned away, backing up a couple steps.

"What's wrong?" Bridge murmured.

Sky turned to him and growled. Bridge screamed in shock as he saw the yellow, glowing eyes, the ridged fangs and the ridges in the forehead. Sky turned away from him and jumped out the window, just as Maya came running in.

"What's wrong?" she asked alarmed.

"Nothing. Just saw a shadow," Bridge said as he looked out the window. He couldn't believe what had just happened.

He was a Vampire Slayer in love with a vampire.

Bridge walked silently up the stairs with Jack, Z and Cruger.

"Sky's a vampire?" Z asked in shock.

"I can't believe this is happening. One moment we were kissing and the next . . ." Bridge broke off and sighed before looking pleadingly up at Cruger, "Can a vampire ever be a good person? Is that possible?"

Cruger sighed at the depressed look on Bridge's face. Clearly the Slayer was having problems about this and he didn't want to be the one with bad news, "A vampire isn't a person at all. It may have the movements, the memories, even the personality of the person that it took over, but it's still a demon at the core, there is no halfway."

"So that would be a 'no', huh?" Z sighed and Bridge sat down on one of the benches in the courtyard with her.

"Well, then what was he doing? Why was he so good to me? Was it all some part of the Master's plan? It doesn't make sense!" he said frustrated and a couple tears slipped out of eyes, which he quickly wiped away.

"Alright, uh . . ." Jack sat down next to Bridge, "you have a problem, and it's not a small one. Let's take a breath and look at this calmly and objectively. Sky's a vampire. You're a Slayer. I think it's obvious what you have to do." He grinned, but it faded at the murderous look on Z's face and the fact that Bridge hadn't acknowledged what he had said at all.

Jack looked at Cruger for support and the Watcher stepped up, "It is a Slayer's duty-"

"I know you have feelings for him, but it's not like you're in love with the guys, right?"

Bridge looked away and Jack freaked out.

"You're in love with a vampire?! Are you outta your mind?!" Bridge gave a deadly glare, but Jack was saved from a painful situation by Syd.

"What?!" she shrieked, looking in their direction.

"I mean, how could you love an umpire?! Everybody hates them!" Jack made up quickly, but Syd didn't even notice them as she chased after a girl wearing the same dress as her.

"Where did you get that dress? This is a one-of-a-kind Todd Oldham. Do you know how much this dress cost? Is this a knockoff? This is a knockoff, isn't it?! Some cheesy knockoff! This is exactly what happens when you sign these free trade agreements!" she continued to rant until she went inside the school building.

"Wow, you think we have problems . . ." Bridge chuckled slightly along with Z.

Sky came into his apartment after unlocking the door and looked around. He spotted his lamp and turned it on, revealing books stacked up on his desk. He felt a presence and straightened up.

"Who's there?" he called out.

"A friend," Darla's voice floated out of the shadows as she came out wearing a Catholic schoolgirl outfit.

"Hi. It's been a while," Darla grinned.

"A lifetime," Sky said blandly.

"Or two. But who's counting?"

"What's with the schoolgirl look? Last time I saw you, it was kimonos."

"And last time I saw you it wasn't high school girls. Don't cha like?" she came closer to Sky, "remember Budapest? Turn of the century? You were such a bad boy during that earthquake."

"You did some damage yourself," Sky tried to keep his cool.

"Is there anything better than a natural disaster? The panic. The people lost in the streets. It's like picking fruit off the vine," she approached the window. "Nice! You're living above ground, like one of them. You and your new friend are attacking us, like one of them. But guess what, precious? You're not one of them."

Darla drew back the curtain slightly, allowing a ray of sunlight to stream in. Sky stumbled back, blinded by the sunlight, and out of it's range.

"Are you?" she grinned.

"No. but I'm not one of you either," Sky scowled.

"Is that what you tell yourself these days?" she sighed and walked up to the fridge, opening it to reveal bags and bottles of human blood.

"You're not exactly living off quiche," she pointed out and closed the fridge. "You and I both know what you hunger for," she sauntered up to Sky, "what you need. Hey, it's nothing to be ashamed of. It's who we are. It's what makes eternal life worth living. You can only suppress your real nature for so long. You can feel it brewing inside of you. I hope I'm around when it explodes."

"Maybe you don't wanna be," Sky growled.

"I'm not afraid of you. I bet that boy is, though. Or maybe I'm underestimating him. Talk to him. Tell him about the curse. Maybe he'll come around. And if he still doesn't trust you, you know where I'll be."

Darla left, leaving a fuming Sky behind.

In the library, Bridge Z and Jack were looking through some books for any reference to Sky.

"I think I got something!" Cruger announced from behind Jack, startling him.

"Can you warn us before you do that?" he complained.

"There's nothing about Sky in the texts, but it suddenly occurred to me that it's been ages since I've read the diaries of any of the watchers before me," he ignored Jack.

"That must have been so embarrassing when you thought he had read your diary, but then it turned out he hadn't, but then he felt the same way . . ." Z began to talk to Bridge, but trailed off at Jack's look, "I'm listening."

"There are some mentions of two hundred years ago in Ireland of a vampire named Angelus, the one with the angelic face."

"They got that right," Bridge sighed wistfully.

Jack cleared his throat and everyone glanced at him, "I'm not saying anything. I've got nothing to say."

"Does this, um, Sky have a tattoo beneath his right shoulder?" Cruger asked.

"Yeah. It's a griffin," Bridge nodded.

"Now I'm saying something! You saw him naked?!" Jack exclaimed, but no one paid attention.

"So Sky's been around for a while?" Z asked.

"Not long for a vampire. Uh, two hundred and forty years or so," Cruger said sheepishly.

"Well, he did say he was older!" Bridge said with a sad grin.

Cruger began to flip through the book, "Angelus leaves Ireland, uh, wreaks havoc in Europe for several decades, and then, um, about eighty years ago, the most curious thing happens. He comes to America, shuns other vampires, and lives alone. There's no record of him hunting here."

"So he is a good vampire!" Z exclaimed, "I mean, on a scale of one to ten, ten being someone who's killing and maiming every night, and one being someone who's . . . not."

"I say that there's no record, but vampires hunt and kill. It's what they do."

"Birds gotta fly, fish gotta swim," jack commented.

"He could have fed on me. He didn't," Bridge frowned.

"Question: What was he like a hundred years ago, pre here?" Jack asked.

"Like the others. A violent, vicious animal," Cruger looked down.

Darla walked up to the Master and Collin, "Don't think I'm not grateful that you letting me kill the Three-" she started.

The Master smiled and interrupted her, "How can my children learn if I do everything for them?"

"But you've gotta let me take care of the Slayer."

"Oh! You're giving me orders now!"

Darla smirked and walked away, "Okay, then, we'll just do nothing while he takes us out one by one."

The Master raised an eyebrow, "Do I sense a plan, Darla? Share . . ."

Darla smiled deviously, "Sky kills him and comes back to the fold."

The Master sighed, "Sky! He was the most vicious creature I ever met. I miss him."

"So do I."

"Why would he kill him if he feels for him?"

"To keep him from killing him."

The Master turned to Collin, "You see how we all work together for the common good? That's how a family is supposed to function!"

"Okay, let's review," Z said groggily as she and Bridge sat in the library at night. "When was the Reconstruction?" she frowned as Bridge didn't answer, "Bridge?"

"Huh?" he seemed to come back to earth. "Oh! Uh, reconstruction began after the . . . construction, which was . . . shoddy, so they had to reconstruct," he said lamely.

"During the Civil War," Z sighed.

"Right, the Civil War. During which Sky was already a hundred and change . . ."

"Are we gonna talk about boys, or are we gonna help you stuffy history?" Z asked.

Bridge looked at her and grinned. Z grinned as well and slammed the book shut.

"Sometimes I have a fantasy that Jack's gonna grab me and kiss me on the lips!" Z said with a huge smile.

"You want Jack, just speak up already, girl!" Bridge laughed.

" No! No speaking up! Cause that leads to nervousness and sweaty

palms!" Z shook her head.

Unknown to them, Darla was watching from the stacks.

"Okay, here's something I hafta know. When Sky kissed you, before he turned, how was it?" Z asked eagerly.

Bridge sighed and looked up dreamily, "Unbelievable!"

"Wow! And it is kinda novel how he'll stay young and handsome forever, although you'll still get wrinkly and die, and . . . oh, and what about the children?" she trailed off at Bridge's look, "I'll be quiet now."

"No, it's okay. I need to hear this so that I can get over him and . . ." Bridge trailed off with a sad look on his face. "Like Jack said, I'm the Slayer, and he's a . . . vampire. God, I can't! He's never done anything to hurt me . . . I need to stop thinking about this. Okay, let's give another half an hour and maybe something will sink in. And then I'm going home for some major moping," Bridge changed the subject and h and Z got back to their work.

Darla smiled and moved away.

Maya moved about the house, trying to get dinner ready for herself and her son. She sighed as she tried to figure out what he was up to these days. Bridge would go to bed and she would always find some blood on his clothes. She was worried about what he was doing, the company he was keeping and most importantly, why he was coming down for breakfast in the morning with bruises which weren't there the night before. She heard a knock on the door and opened it to reveal Darla wearing her Catholic schoolgirl outfit.

"Hello?" Maya smiled at the girl.

"Hi! I'm Darla? A friend of Bridge's?" Darla smiled.

"Nice to meet you!"

"Likewise. He didn't mention that I was coming for a study date, did he?" Darla put on an innocent look.

"I thought he was studying with Z tonight," Maya frowned.

"Yeah, Z is the Civil War expert, but I'm the War of Independence expert. My family kinda lived through it," she smiled.

"Well, please come in. Would you like something to eat?" Maya walked to the kitchen.

Darla walked into the house and followed her, "Thank you for inviting me into your home. I would like something, yes."

"Something small, or something big?"

Darla looked at Maya's neck from behind and vamped out, "Something big!"

Outside, Sky walked up to the closed front door of Bridge' home and was about to knock before he bowed his head and began to walk away. He heard Maya screamed and wheeled around, running to the back door and kicking it open, to see Darla biting Maya.

"Let her go!" he yelled.

"I just had a little, there's plenty more. Aren't you hungry for something warm after all this time? Come on, Sky. Just say 'yes'!"

She shoved Maya into Sky's arms so that he could see the bite-wound and smell the blood. He struggled with himself and then looked up with his game-face on and snarled at her.

"Welcome home!" she laughed and walked around him and out.

"I'm home!" Bridge said cheerily as he entered from the front door before stopping cold at the sight of Sky holding his mother's lifeless body in his arms with his fangs bared.

Sky went flying through the living room window and landed on the lawn. Bridge came up to the broken window and gave him a death glare while clenching his fist tightly enough that blood was beginning to stream from the small puncture wounds his nails were cutting in his palm.

"You're not welcome here. If I see you again, I'll kill you," Bridge said coldly, trying to hide the fact that he still couldn't bring himself to kill Sky on the spot. The vampire simply looked at him until he turned to go for the phone.

Bridge knelt beside his mother and grabbed he nearest phone. It slipped in his grasp since the blood had made his hands slick.

"I need an ambulance at 1630 Revello Drive! My mother cut herself and she's lost a lot of blood! Please, please hurry!" Bridge looked at his mother and clenched her hand in his own.

Jack and Z came in through the back-door and Z immediately rushed to his mother.

"What happened?" she said in shock.

"Sky."

Cruger rushed down the hospital hall, trying to find Maya's room while the teens were already in there.

"What happened mom?" Bridge asked, leaning his chin on his recently bandaged right hand. They had thought Bridge had attempted to kill his mother, judging by the blood on his hands, but Maya had dismissed that thought by saying Bridge had not been home.

"Your, um, friend came over . . . I was gonna make a snack . . ." she frowned.

"My friend?" Bridge frowned as well.

Cruger came in time to hear the last part.

"I guess I slipped and fell on . . . what looks like a barbeque fork. Which we don't have," she looked at Cruger, "Are you another doctor?"

Bridge turned and saw Cruger, "Mom, this is Mr. Cruger."

"Oh. What's he doing here?" Maya asked confused.

She's definitely related to Bridge, Cruger thought, but said, "I came to wish you a speedy recovery."

"Boy, the teachers really do care in this town!"

"Mom, get some rest," Bridge got up and pushed the others out of the room. They walked down the hall, Bridge intent on heading to the library. Cruger stepped in front of him, "Bridge . . ."

"This is all my fault . . ." Bridge sighed.

"No, it isn't," Z put her hand on his shoulder.

"No? I invited him into my home. Even after I knew who he was, what he was, and I didn't do anything about it . . . because I had feelings for him, because I cared about him."

"If you care about somebody you care about them. You can't change that by . . ."

"Killing them? It's a start," Bridge shrugged her hand off and continued his path.

"Bridge!" Cruger came in front of him.

"You can't stop me. the Three found me in front of the Bronze. He did too. He lives nearby."

"This is no ordinary vampire. He's faced the Three! This is gonna take more than a simple stake."

Bridge managed to get past Cruger and walked the way to the library, his voice floating back, "I know."

Bridge went to the library and took the crossbow and a few bolts out of the book cage.

"He's out hunting you now," Darla giggled, "he wants you dead."

"Leave me alone!" Sky growled.

"What did you think? Did you think he would understand? That he would look at your face -your true face- and give you a kiss?"

Bridge was training himself with the crossbow. He had put up one of the posters of a no-smoking AD. He took a practice shot and nailed the figure in the heart.

"For a hundred years you've not had a moment's peace because you will not accept who you are. That's all you have to do. Accept it. Don't let her hunt you down. Don't whimper and mewl like a mangy human. Kill! Feed! Live!"

Sky growled at the last words and pushed Darla against the wall and pinned her there.

"Alright!" he yelled.

"What do you want?" she whispered.

"I want it finished!"

"Good. You're hurting me," she smiled, "that's good too."

Bridge held the crossbow ready and stopped outside the Bronze. He headed towards the entrance, but heard glass breaking above him and turned to the noise. He looked around and went to the wall where a ladder was resting. He climbed up without a moment's hesitation.

"So how is Bridge doing in history?" Maya asked Cruger who was watching her.

"He lives for the 'now' moment and history is very much . . . he's trying, so there's no reason . . ." Cruger tried to make up something, but Maya but him off with a piece of shocking information.

"He's studying with Z, he's studying with Darla, so he's making an effort right?"

"Darla? I don't believe I know . . ." Cruger frowned.

"His friend. The one who came over," Maya informed him.

"Darla came over? She's the friend you mentioned?"

"Yes. Must have scared the poor thing when I fainted. Someone should check on her."

"Yes, you're right. I'll do it," Cruger grabbed his coat and left.

"That school is amazing!"

Cruger met up with Jack and Z, who were standing outside.

"We have a problem."

Bridge came down the stairs, crossbow in hand and looked around. Sky quickly hid in the shadows, but Bridge felt his presence and wheeled towards his general direction.

"I know you're there. And I know what you are," Bridge said coldly.

"Do you?" Bridge turned towards Sky's voice.

"I'm just an animal right?" Sky growled.

"You're not an animal. Animals, I like."

Sky came out of the shadows and Bridge trained his crossbow on him.

"Let's get done with this!" Sky yelled.

He morphed into his game-face and ran at him, jumping up on a pool table. Bridge followed him with the crossbow and tried to shoot him, but missed. Sky jumped into the catwalk above where Bridge couldn't see him and then swung down, kicking the Slayer in the back, knocking him towards a pool table and causing him to lose the crossbow.

Bridge braced his right hand on the table and used his momentum to swing up towards the other side of the table without colliding into it. He winced as his right hands began to sting, but ignored it and grabbed a billiard ball and threw it at Sky. It missed again, but this time, Bridge made his way around the table and launched a kick at Sky, sending him against the wall. Bridge dived for the crossbow and rolled on his back, aiming it at Sky, who growled at him.

Sky morphed back into his normal form and Bridge kept his crossbow trained on him, but didn't shoot.

Come on! Don't go soft on me now!" Sky yelled.

Bridge launched the bolt and it struck the wall next to his head.

"Little wide," Sky commented.

"Why?" Bridge frowned as he sat up, "Why didn't you just attack me when you had the chance? Was it a joke? To make me feel for you and then . . . I've killed a lot of vampires. I've never hated one before."

"Feels good, huh? Feels simple."

"I invited you into my home and you attacked my family!" Bridge yelled.

"Why not? I killed mine. I killed their friends . . . and their friend's children. For a hundred years I offered ugly death to everyone I met, and I did it with a song in my heart."

"What changed?" Bridge looked at him as Sky's voice started in a casual tone but became pained as he continued.

"Fed on a girl about your age. Beautiful, dumb as a post, favorite of her clan."

"Her clan?"

"Romany. Gypsies. They cast a curse on me and restored my soul."

"What, they were all out of boils and blinding torment?" Bridge narrowed his eyes.

"When you become a vampire the demon takes your body, but it doesn't get your soul. That's gone! No conscience, no remorse . . . it's an easy way to live. You have no idea what it's like to have done the things I've done . . . and to care. I haven't fed on a living human being since that day," Sky said, his eyes shining with unshed tears.

"So you started with my mom?" Bridge asked, but there was not as much harshness in his voice as there had been before.

"I didn't bite her!"

"Then why didn't you say anything?" Bridge asked in disbelief.

"Because I wanted to! I make walk like a man, but I'm not one. I . . . I wanted to kill you tonight," he looked away.

Bridge looked at his bow and then back at Sky. He put it down and walked up to him, tilting his head to the side, fully exposing his neck to Sky, "Go ahead."

Sky simply looked at him and Bridge moved a couple inches away, "Not as easy as it looks."

"Sure it is!" a female voice said and Bridge and Sky turned to see Darla step out of the shadows. "Do you know what the saddest thing in the world is?" she said casually.

"Bad hair on top of that outfit?" Bridge commented.

"To love someone who used to love you."

Bridge glanced at her and Sky, "You two were involved, I'm guessing?"

"For several generations," Darla smiled.

"Well, you been around since Columbus, you are bound to pile up a few ex's. You're older than him, right? Just between us, you are looking a little worn around the eyes," Bridge pointed.

Darla smiled and glanced at Sky, "I made him. There was a time when we shared everything, wasn't there Angelus? You had a chance to come home, to rule with me in the Master's court for a thousand years, but you threw that away because of him. You love someone who hates us. You're sick. And you'll always be sick. And you'll always remember what it was like to watch him die. You don't think I came alone, do you?"

"I know I didn't," Bridge kicked up his crossbow from the floor and pointed it at her.

"Hmm, scary," Darla commented and then pulled out two pistols, "Scarier!"

She shot at Bridge, who was shoved out of the way by Sky. Bridge rolled to his feet and saw Sky stagger back into a post from the gunshot.

"Don't worry," Darla smirked at the horrified look on Bridge's face, "bullets can't kill vampires. It can hurt like hell though!"

Darla shot at Bridge again, but he was ready. He did a shoulder roll over the pool table and crouched behind it. Bridge reloaded the crossbow quickly, while Darla giggled.

"So many body parts, so few bullets. Let's start with the kneecaps. Can't have fun dancing without them!"

Bridge jerked up from the pool table and fires of a shot. The bolt hit Darla in the stomach and she bent over with pain. She straightened up quickly though.

"Close, but no heart."

She raised the gun again, but unknown to her, Jack, Z and Cruger were watching from the air vent.

"We need to distract her!" Jack thought up. Z gestured for them to duck and then took a deep breath.

"Bridge, it wasn't Sky who attacked your mom. It was Darla!" she yelled.

Darla turned towards the voice and fired off a round of bullets which missed them since they were ducking. Sky managed to pry the bolt of the wall while Darla turned her attention to Bridge again and jumped on the pool table. Bridge stood up and pulled the table, causing Darla to fall on her back. He shoved the table away and ducked as she let out another volley of bullets while sliding away. Bridge ducked behind the counter and Darla began shooting bullets at it. One bullet pierced his right upper arm and Bridge couldn't help but let out a cry of pain. Darla heard him and began advancing on his hiding place.

"Come on Bridge! Take it like a man!" she laughed.

Sky came up behind Darla, roared and plunged the bolt into her heart from behind. She let out a cry of pain and turned to her see attacker.

"Sky?" she said in disbelief before she turned to dust. Bridge came out from behind the counter, clutching his right arm, blood seeping from his fingers. Sky looked up from Darla's ashes and the two locked eyes for a minute before Sky turned to leave. Bridge watched him go.

In the Master's lair, the Master himself screamed in rage. He smashed several objects in the room before sinking to his knees in grief. Collin came over with his usual blank expression.

"Forget her," he said. The Master turned to him in anger.

"How dare you? She was my favorite . . . for four hundred years!"

"She was weak. You don't need her. I'll get you the Slayer."

"But to lose her to Sky!" he yelled, "he was to have sat at my right hand, but now . . ."

Collin put his hand on the Master's shoulder, "They're all against you. But soon you shall rise. When you do . . . we'll kill them."

The Master smiled as Collin took his hand and led him away.

"Ah, the post-fumigation party!" Jack sighed.

"Okay, so what's the difference between this and the post-fumigation party?" Bridge cocked an eyebrow.

"Hardier cockroaches," Jack supplied.

"So, no word from Sky?" Z asked.

"No. It's weird though. In his way, I feel like he's still watching me," Bridge frowned.

"Well, in a way he sort of is. He's right over there," Z pointed behind him and Bridge turned around to see Sky standing in the shadows by the staircase. He got up and began to head towards him.

"I don't need to watch because I'm not threatened. Just gonna look this way," Jack turned around so his back was facing the couple while Z looked on.

"I just wanted to see if you were okay. And your mother," Sky sad stoically.

Bridge smiled slightly and looked at his right arm, "The bullet just grazed my arm, so no need for a doctor or anything. Cruger bandaged it and I just have to wear long sleeves for a while. She's good too. How are you doing?"

"If I can go a little while without being stabbed or shot, I'll be okay," Sky joked and then turned serious, "look, this can't-"

"Ever be anything," Bridge completed, "I know, for one thing, you're two hundred and twenty four years older than me."

"I just . . . I gotta walk away from this," Sky said, but didn't move any further away from him.

"I know. Me too," Bridge nodded, but neither of them made a move to increase their distance. "One of us has to go here," Bridge whispered.

"I know," Sky whispered back.

They looked at each other for a moment longer and Sky stepped forward, taking Bridge's face into his hands and softly kissing his lips. Bridge responded and moved his hands around Sky's neck while Sky's hands slipped down to his waist.

"What's going on?" Jack asked Z while still facing away from Bridge and Sky.

"Nothing . . ." Z commented while watching Bridge and Sky continue their passionate kiss.

"Well, as long as they aren't kissing," Jack nodded.

Sky pulled away from Bridge and bit his lip.

"You okay?" Bridge asked.

"Yeah, it's just . . ." Sky looked down for a second, but Bridge followed his gaze and gasped at what he saw.

On Sky's chest, which was exposed by the collar of his shirt, there was a burn mark in the shape of a cross. Bridge looked down at his own neck where the cross necklace that Sky had given him was hanging.

"Oh no, I totally forgot! I'm so sorry! Why didn't you say anything?!" Bridge asked Sky, concern in his voice as well as guilt.

Sky smiled and brushed his fingers on Bridge's lips before retreating into the shadows, but not before one last sentence.

"I never noticed the pain."

FINALLY! You have no idea how long I've been waiting to write this chapter! It's finally done and Sky returns to his post as appearing and disappearing character. Four more chapters before the end of Season One and then I'll work on another couple fics before staring on Season Two, where Sky will regain his permanent character status permanently!