AN: See? I told you I'd make up for last chapter! We get some . . . action in this chapter.

Beetlejuice: *waggles eyebrows suggestively*

Um, yeah, not that kind of action. So this chapter probably has a high T rating or a low M rating. If you've read the rest of my stuff, you'll know that means blood. Thanks to Morbid Crow, HeartRose, Calm-Waters and Dark Angel Erissa for their reviews. Kisses!

Chapter 7: But She's Touching His Chest Now

Our agreement was Beetlejuice would pretty much let me do my stuff during the week, and I would stay in the Neitherworld from Saturday afternoon until Sunday evening. I thought it was a great plan!

Until today.

Which is Saturday.

This was to be the first time I stayed the night at a guy's house. Of course, I hadn't thought of that during our negotiations. Nope. That thought came to me this morning when I woke up.

And I was damn certain if I didn't show up at the Roadhouse in five seconds, he'd come drag me there.

"Might as well get this over with," I mumbled. This time when I world jumped, I made sure I was standing. You'd think I'd learn that lesson the first time. But no. I had done it again. And I wouldn't be surprised if it happened another time. That kind of stuff took me forever to learn. Like drinking forty-six ounces of tea and I can't exactly go to the bathroom because I'm alone at work. I know full well the consequences of drinking that tea, but I still do it anyway.

Ignoring the void that still fucking annoyed the hell outta me, I popped into the living room of the Roadhouse. I dropped my overnight bag on the table in between the couch and the entertainment center, and dropped into the armchair. I almost draped my leg over the arm, but remembered I was currently in a skirt. Sitting up straight, I crossed my legs. That was a close one.

Beetlejuice was ignoring me, laying on his back on the couch, one arm behind his head, and the other up, holding a silver chain with a ring on the end. He was twisting the chain, watching the ring spin.

"Who was she?" I asked quietly. I'm a hopeless romantic, so I could sense these things. And I didn't really expect an answer, so if I was wrong, it didn't matter.

"Lydia," he said. Did he just answer my question?

"That's a pretty name," I said. I always did like that name. That and Anastasia.

"Yeah. Me and Lyds . . . we were best friends."

"But you wanted more?"

"We had started datin'."

"What happened?"

He glanced at me before he answered. "When she was seventeen, some men hurt her. Real bad. I fixed it, and then I killed them, so they couldn't do it again. That was when we started datin'. Her eighteenth birthday was six months later. The Powers That Be had managed ta figure out what I had done, and they used a spell to fix all that. I haven't seen her fer twenty years."

"Oh my God. That's . . . that's horrible!" Why did they do that? He was only trying to protect her! I wanted to go give him a hug, but he wasn't done talking.

"She was the only thing that mattered. The only thing that still matters. I don't give a damn about anyone else."

My expression froze in shock. What? I thought we were friends!

"And when I find her, we're gonna be together again."

"What are you gonna do until then," I asked, somehow managing to keep my voice even.

"I've got you ta keep me entertained," he said.

Entertained?! I stood up, and glared at him. "I thought we were friends."

He looked at me confused. "What?"

"But I guess I'm just a plaything," I said, angry. "Know what? Fuck you, Beetlejuice." I turned to walk out the door.

I heard him get up and say, "Kitty, wait! I didn't mean--" before I slammed the door shut.

As I walked down the twisting road, I angrily swiped at any tears that escaped. I didn't know why I was crying. I knew there was something like that in his history. All the times he had a distant look on his face. All the times he'd suddenly glare at me when I did something. All the times he got depressed. I don't think he knew I knew about those times. But he was my friend! Friends pay attention to that kinda thing! But I guess I wasn't his friend. Just something to help pass the time. Bastard.

"Hey there, beautiful!"

I jumped when a guy suddenly appeared on my left. He had short dirty blond hair, and the pale skin of a dead person. His pale blue eyes glittered as he looked at me. He was wearing jeans and a white T-shirt, and plain white sneakers.

"Um, hi?"

"So, tell me what a gorgeous girl like you is doin' walkin' around all by herself?"

"I kinda had--" I didn't get to finish before he grabbed my hand and ran his thumb over my ring finger. His nails were a dark orange. Poltergeist?

"No wedding ring, so I'm guessin' boyfriend troubles?"

"He's not my--"

"Well, let me tell you, he's a first class idiot!"

I smirked. "Why is that?"

"'Cause Juice should know better than to let his little kitten out all by herself."

"Wha--" but everything went dark.

~*~*~*~*~*

My moan came out kinda funny due to the cloth tied around my head, gagging me. I tried to rub my face, but I couldn't move either of my hands. Opening my eyes, I saw my wrists were tied to the arms of the chair I was sitting in. Leaning over, I saw my ankles were tied to the legs of the chair.

Well, fuck.

"Hello, gorgeous."

I jerked back when Blondie's face was suddenly right there in mine.

"You've been out for awhile, sweetheart. I think I might have overdone it. Oh well, there isn't any damage, and I had fun while you were unconscious," he said with a leer.

I must have looked shocked again, because he was laughing as he walked away. Oh my God, I've been kidnapped by a . . . a . . . God I didn't even know! I whimpered and fought against my bonds.

Then what he said finally clicked.

Ohmygodohmygodohmygod!!! I've been violated!

"There's no use trying to escape, baby doll," he said when he came back. He knelt in front of me, and I really didn't like the way he had his hands on my knees. "You can't get out. Besides, where would go if you did?" As he talked, he had gotten closer, hands sliding up my legs. Stupid. His face was in head butt range.

I attacked him like a cobra. I threw my head head forward, and connected with his forehead with a loud crack! He jumped back with a yelp, holding his head, and glared at me. I gave him my best growl around my gag. Fuckin' bastard. That's what he got for touching me.

Then he backhanded me, and I my head snapped to the side. I could taste the metallic of my blood.

"Don't you dare attack me, you scrawny little bitch!"

"And don't you fuckin' touch her!" There was a flash of bright green, and when I turned to look at Blondie, Beetlejuice was kneeling in front of me. "Hey, Kitty," he said, untying the knot behind my head.

"I thought--" I started to say once the gag was removed but Beetlejuice interrupted me.

"No questions," he told me, moving to the bonds at my wrists. "We gotta get outta here before Alpha gets up."

"And you've failed, Juice," I heard Blondie--no, Alpha say. He came up behind Beetlejuice, grabbed him, and slammed him against the wall.

They were talking, but I was too busy trying to undo the rest of my bonds. When I got the last one on my ankle, I heard Beetlejuice scream.

No.

He was hurting her. That little bastard was hurting my sister. I ran over to them, and picked her up to get her away from him. He was behind me now, and I guess he thought he could hurt me, too. His hand's around my throat. Idiot. His thumb was right over my mouth. I bit down. Hard. I could taste his blood.

He was hurting my Kowai.

I growled again, and launched myself at Alpha's back. I grabbed the side of his neck, and jerked the collar down to expose the area of the curve between his neck and shoulder.

I bit down, and his blood spurted into my mouth.

It was cold, thick. And it tasted . . . sweet. But I couldn't place it. And it tasted like electricity.

Something in me snapped, and I bit down harder, my nails digging into his skin. I could feel the electric chill run down my throat and into my system. I wanted more. I couldn't stop.

I heard someone call my name.

I ignored them.

Alpha was getting weaker.

He was dropping to his knees.

I heard my name again.

Why wouldn't they shut up?

Didn't they know I was busy?

"Kylie!"

I jerked my heard up and looked at Beetlejuice. Then I looked down at Alpha. There was blood all over his neck, and it was staining his shirt. I let go and stood up, taking several steps away from him. He just laid there.

Beetlejuice was standing in front of me, his hands on either side of my face.

"Kylie?"

I opened my mouth, and a chunk of Alpha-flesh fell. Ewww. Maybe I should have opened my mouth before I looked up.

"Beej, I--I vamped on him." Ahhh, I was all vampire-like! "Oooh, I don't feel so good . . . ."

"No fuckin' duh. Come on, Kylie," he said, and next thing I know, I'm hanging over his shoulder.

Oooh, I really didn't feel good.

I heard him call for Ginger and Jacques, and I could only make out bits and pieces of what they were saying.

". . . happened?"

I could feel bony hands help me on to the couch. I kept my eyes closed.

"Ginger, go get . . ."

"Okay."

" . . . bucket of some kind."

"Oui."

My eyes fluttered open when I felt something warm press against my forehead. "Beej?"

"Shhh, just relax, Kitty."

"'Kay," I mumbled and closed my eyes again.

"Jacques! Where's that damn bucket!"

I could hear the skeleton say some stuff in french. Judging by the tone, I'd guess he was swearing.

"Kowai, I think I'm gonna hurl."

"Yeah, I know. That's why I need the damn bucket!"

I guess he finally got the bucket. He made me sit up, and any control I had over my stomach was gone.

Good thing I had the bucket.

I clutched it in front of me while I purged my system off all the blood. And apparently stomach acid. That was gross.

My throat burned, and my stomach muscles were yelling at me. I flopped back down, and I felt the warm thing on my head again. I touched it, and found out it was a wash cloth.

Somebody took the bucket, and I felt the couch shift. I opened one of my eyes and saw Beetlejuice sitting next to me, holding the wash cloth to my head.

"What the fuck were you thinkin', Kitty?"

"I heard you scream."

"So? I can take care of myself. You, however . . . ."

I opened my other eye, and saw red staining his jacket at his shoulder. "You're hurt."

"It's just a scratch."

"Fuck that, scratches don't bleed that much. It needs to be clean," I said, trying to stand up.

"Kylie, sit. It'll heal! Ya don't need ta worry about it."

"Yes, I need to worry about it. Take off your shirt," I ordered, slipping out of my jacket. I tossed it on the armchair, and snatched the wash cloth from him. "And how the hell do you know my name?"

"I heard yer mom say it," he replied. He winced as he removed his suit jacket.

"Oh," I said.

After he had taken off his tie and shirt, I sat sideways on his lap. I dipped the wash cloth into the bowl of warm water (At least, I think it was warm. Having cold hands kinda throws off your ability to accurately feel temperature.) behind me on the coffee table. When I went to start wiping away the blood, I stopped.

Alpha tasted sweet, and I knew I had tasted whatever it was before.

Did all poltergeists taste the same?

Before I was able to process what I was about to do, I leaned forward and licked his shoulder.

"Kitty?! What the fuck?!"

"You taste like vanilla."

"Of course, I fucking taste like vanilla!"

"Alpha didn't."

"No, he wouldn't! We all taste different! Energy signatures."

"Oh," I said. Again. Then I started wiping away the blood.

My mechanism for dealing with things I have no idea how to deal with (and being kidnapped and possibly . . . possibly . . . yeah, not thinking about that, fell into this category) was to laugh. It usually was an awkward laugh, but it was still a laugh. That also included cracking jokes. Usually inappropriate ones.

"I just had a brilliant idea, Beej."

"What."

"Bondage."

"What?!"

The complete and utter shock on his face was priceless, and I started cracking up. Man, now I couldn't finish what I was gonna say.

"It means 'scary'," I said instead.

"No, I'm pretty sure bondage means I tie ya up 'cause yer kinky like that."

"No, silly, kowai means scary!"

"Ya think I'm scary?"

"I think you can be. I don't know, I just thought it fit."

He didn't say anything, and I finished cleaning his wound. It looked like like a scratch now, but I knew it had been worse before. I guess ghosts heal pretty quick.

"Um, Kowai?"

"Yeah?"

"He said he . . . while I was unconscious, Alpha said he . . . ." I couldn't finish.

"I'm not gropin' you," he said, and placed his hand on my chest. Then he leaned forward, and pressed his ear against my back.

"Um, Beej, what are you--"

"Hush."

I shut up.

It seemed like forever before he said, "Kitty, you can breath, y'know."

I rolled my eyes, and let out the breath I had been holding.

He sat up, and smiled. "He didn't touch you."

"How do you know?"

"Just trust me, okay?"

"'Kay. You can move your hand now. Otherwise, I'll assume you're groping me."

He laughed, and moved his arms so they were around my waist before he pulled me closer. When he tucked my head under his chin, I tensed up.

"Kylie, don't tell me no one's done this fer ya."

"Um, no." I guess today was for first times! Oh, crap. If sex somehow managed to get in this picture, somebody was gonna get punched. Or castrated with a rusty spatula.

I could hear Beetlejuice breathing, and I relaxed against him.

"What's that sound?" I asked after a few minutes.

"What's it sound like?"

"I dunno."

"Then I can't tell ya what it is."

"Like a," I paused, trying to figure it out. "Rushing?"

"My heart."

My brow furrowed. "I don't understand."

"A ghost is made up of energy. Energy gives off heat. A ghost's heart has ta keep the blood in constant, even motion to keep us cold. If not, we over heat, and it can get pretty messy. Then we're in the hospital for a month, trying ta get back ta normal."

"So your heart's kinda like a turbine?"

"Exactly."

Wow. That was kinda awesome.

~*~*~*~*~*~*

"How is she?" Ginger asked the ghost.

Beetlejuice tilted his head to look at the girl asleep on his lap. "She's doin' better than I expected."

"That's good," the spider said. "If she sleeps like that, her neck will be sore."

"I figured. I wanted to wait before I moved her. Don't wanna wake her up." He slipped his arm under her legs, and slowly stood up, trying not to wake her.

Beetlejuice managed to carry her to his room, and laid her in his coffin shaped bed.

Kitty rolled over on her side, and curled up in a little ball.

He smiled, and slid her goggles off her head, setting them on the bedside table. Then his smile faded, and he brushed aside the lock of honey brown hair that fell in her face.

"Yer not a plaything, Kylie. Yer more important than I wanna admit," he said quietly. He lightly kissed her temple and left.

Damnit, she was complicating things.

AN: What do you think of the end?