A/N: Sorry I've been so long updating this. I have a number of projects ongoing. This story will take a little time to develop, please be patient.

Rose sat in the window seat of her loft apartment sipping a glass of merlot as she watched the shifting colors of sunset across Prospect Park. What to do now, pondered Rose. Her life was good now, she was sorely tempted to help Samantha come to terms with what had happened and be done with it. However, questions about Damon and Elena niggled at her and refused to allow her to put the circumstances out of her mind.

Rose glanced down at the day ring that stayed on her right hand ring finger. She had taken a major risk, getting involved with them back then and the result had changed her life for the better. Instead of simply existing, trying to survive just another day, she now had a future, something to plan for.

Since that day, she virtually worshipped the sun. She had spent 500 years in the darkness, now she couldn't get enough light. When she purchased the lease on her loft apartment above her practice she had contracted a complete remodel, it's principle objective was to let in as much light as possible. She almost hadn't purchased the place since it didn't face east to catch the morning sun but the view of the park below was irresistible. Now she didn't regret the decision, she still caught a little of both the morning and evening sun and she could get a full view of the light on the trees, water and people below.

Rose took another sip of wine as she inventoried her life. Digging into Samantha's story would bring her nothing but trouble, Rose was certain of that. Samantha was going to be trouble as it was. She had all the signs of someone who was going to want to be turned. Rose wondered if there was anyway of turning Samantha away from her conviction that vampires were heroes without risking exposure herself. If Samantha learned she was a vampire, Rose would never be able to get rid of her. Rose ran through the session in her mind; had there been another way other than confirming that yes indeed Samantha had had a true experience with vampires? Rose shrugged her shoulders, of course she could. All she had to have done was act like any normal therapist and tell her that it was all a result of a reaction to a traumatic event, yet her conscious wouldn't allow her not to provide the constructive help Samantha needed and nothing was more disruptive to the mental and emotional well being than to try to convince someone that what they had actually seen didn't really happen.

So what to do now? She would continue seeing Samantha but let Damon and Elena, assuming they were the vampires Samantha had seen, go on about whatever they were doing. Rose knew the best course of action for her personally was to stay away from them. She was confident they were doing okay by themselves, they didn't need her, and they probably didn't want her around. Rose smiled to herself, for sure Elena didn't. Rose would try to advise Samantha regarding vampires by giving as accurate a history without giving herself away. She would have to manufacture a story explaining her own knowledge. If Samantha then chose to put herself in jeopardy by pursuing them on her own, well, that would be on her. After all, there's only so much you can do for a person.

Rose wondered what would happen in the future if Samantha did manage to get herself turned, would she come back to look Rose up? Rose shrugged; it wouldn't really matter at that point. Satisfied, Rose finished off her glass of wine with a single gulp. It was settled then, she would provide Samantha as much quality information about the supernatural world as practical. She would have to invent a story. She could borrow from Elena's life for that. She will say she had an adolescent crush on one brother who turned out to be evil. The other brother, the good one, tried to protect her and was killed in the process. Yes, that would work, just enough romance to capture her interest mixed with a healthy dose of the brutal life most vampires live.

Satisfied that she had a workable plan, Rose began to think about making preparations for the next day's lineup of patients when another thought occurred to her. Right now, the police had dismissed Samantha's story as a hysterical teenager's imagination gone amuck. What about when a body turns up? Rose knew that even if the vampires tried to disguise the nature of the injury, the fatal wounds would still be distinctive. Had there been other vampire related deaths in the city recently? Considering the size and nature of its population it was a natural hunting ground for vampires as well as all the other human predators that existed. Even so, it was an unwritten policy among vampires not to draw attention to themselves by hunting in one city for very long and, once they realized another vampire was present or had been there recently, moving on to another location.

Rose did not want to be caught by surprise by a sudden interest in serial killings by the police. Rose certainly liked to avoid contact with the authorities for good reason, however in this case she thought she should at least touch base with the office and identify herself as Samantha's therapist. If the authorities suddenly develop an interest in the case, they might think it odd that Rose hadn't done so. What was the policeman's name? Rose checked her notes; Roderick, that is his name. She would have Miriam track him down and make an appointment. Satisfied that Rose had resolved all the necessary points regarding Samantha's case, she went about her normal evening activities.

The next morning Miriam easily tracked down the policeman and made an appointment. "His name is Steven Roderick. He's a sergeant with the 11th precinct and I've made an appointment for you at 7:30 in the morning, tomorrow. I hope that's not to early, you said to make it before your morning appointments."

"7:30 is good Miriam, thanks. How did he sound? Did he sound interested, annoyed, bored, defensive, how would you assess his mood on the subject?"

"I don't know, it was a quick conversation. He didn't question why you wanted to speak to him when I explained your interest. I would say it was simply matter of fact."

Rose nodded, a little relieved. A simple professional conversation between would be perfect. No undue curiosity or hostility was all that she wanted. She put the matter out of her mind as she prepared to see her first patient of the day.

Rose woke early the next morning and arrived at the precinct a little early, she had overestimated the time it would take to get there, New Yorkers weren't known for getting out an about before 8:00 am.

When she announced her presence to the desk sergeant and that she had an appointment to meet with Officer Roderick he looked her up and down appraisingly. As Rose had adjusted to living a normal life, at least as normal as a vampire can live, she had developed more of an interest in fashion and now habitually dressed well whenever she went out. Rose realized that it was unusual for an attractive, fashionably dressed, professional woman to show up at the precinct like this so early in the morning.

"Well, Dr. Stanton, you've managed to beat Sergeant Roderick in this morning. I'm afraid you'll have to wait." Uncertainly the sergeant glanced around the waiting room at the various unsavory characters lounging around. "Uhm – I'll have another officer come and escort you back to Roderick's desk."

Rose smiled at the sergeant. "Thank you sergeant, you're very kind."

It wasn't a minute later before a young police officer escorted her back to the office area for all the police detectives. He gestured at a desk covered in papers and paper coffee cups.

"That's Sergeant Roderick's desk. You can wait there, ma'am."

Again Rose smiled her thanks and sat down. Curiously she glanced at all the papers wondering if there would be anything about Samantha showing. As she waited she wondered again whether there was any way that Damon Salvatore wasn't one of the vampires involved, and even if it was Damon, who was the woman? Was it really Elena? However, a more important question for Rose was why did she care? Her thoughts were interrupted when a police sergeant walked up to her.

"Dr. Stanton? I'm Sergeant Roderick. It's just my luck that the day I'm running late I also have an appointment with someone perfectly punctual. My Lieutenant was giving me grief about being late. What can I do for you?"

Rose looked Sergeant Roderick over assessing how she should proceed. He appeared in his mid-forties, was just under six feet, and his brown hair was showing some gray although it was still thick. Rose noticed his brief appraisal and how his attention focused on her breasts. She remembered Samantha's observation regarding how he didn't really want to believe any part of her story and realized that he was not particularly interested in being nice to women.

"Thank you for agreeing to see me, Sergeant. I believe my assistant explained that I am a therapist and I have a patient named Samantha Cavendish. Do you recall her?"

Roderick nodded and pulled out a file from his desk. "A supposed attempted rape with an outlandish story about vampires. How could I forget? I'm afraid you're being made the butt of a joke or adolescent cry for attention. Surely you don't give the girl's story any serious creditability?"

"Actually, yes I do," replied Rose. "Of course, I don't believe the vampire part, but the rest of her story is based on fact. I am convinced that someone tried to kidnap and rape her, and a couple that happened by rescued her. The vampire part of course is a hysterical subconscious reaction trying to create a view more palatable to her than the actual reality."

"Your saying she imagined the vampire part, but not the rape part. I suppose, that makes sense in a weird kind of way," Roderick grudgingly conceded. "So what do want from me?"

"First of all, I believe you should leave Samantha's case open in case a pattern is detected. Either a pattern of rape victims or rescuers." Rose pulled out her business card and handed it to him. "If either occurs, please give me a call. It would be beneficial to Samantha if I can fill her in with actual facts to replace the fabrication her mind has created."

Roderick examined her card and then placed it in the file. "You said first of all, what is second of all?"

"The fact that it is probable that someone did intervene on Samantha's behalf and her resort to fabricating an obviously hysterical account of the rescue suggests that it was particularly violent in nature. You might want to be on the lookout for a body turning up and check the hospitals for someone seeking care for unusual injuries."

"Doctor, you do realize that a lot happens in the city. You're asking me to be on the lookout for a needle that may or may not exist. Although we don't get as many murders as television would suggest, they still happen, and in regards to injuries, they are common. How am I supposed to determine whether a dead body or injured victim is relevant?"

Rose stopped to think on how to be more specific without damaging her creditability or causing suspicion later by seeming to know more than she should. "Considering the nature of her fabrication, I would suggest any severe wounds to the neck should be considered."

Roderick thought for a moment, staring thoughtfully at Rose. "Would you call a decapitation a severe wound to the neck?"

Rose's interest was definitely alerted. As grisly as it sounded, decapitating the victim afterwards would certainly disguise the nature of the cause of death. She knew that Damon was fully capable of being sufficiently ruthless to cover his trail by such an act. However, the downside was it tended to attract undo attention. "That would certainly account for Samantha's hysteria."

Roderick shook his head. "No, the head was taken off post-mortem. However, there is no other cause of death so the head must have been removed to hide the actual cause, or as some form of ritual, or both."

"Where was the body found?"

"It was pulled out of the Hudson. By sheer luck a sailing vessel came across it before it went out to sea. Time of death does fit Samantha's story, and they've identified the body and he has a record for being a suspect in several violent sexual assaults." Roderick thought for a moment. "I'll pass this on to the homicide detectives who have the case. I imagine they are going to want to talk to Samantha again. You say she's given up on the vampire line?"

Rose hesitated, beginning to wish she had dropped the whole matter. "She understands why she believes she's seen what she has. That doesn't mean that her memory has been sharpened to recall what actually happened. She still remembers it the same way. I wouldn't say she is a reliable witness in regards to specific details, just that the actual event did occur."

Roderick nodded. "Understood, still, I'm sure the detectives will want to speak with her. Will that be okay?"

"I'm not her attorney or her parent, you'll have to ask them. As her therapist, if the detectives are considerate and respectful I see no harm."

"Actually, I'm sure they'll want to talk with you as well. Let me see if they are available." Roderick reached for his phone.

Rose glanced at her watch, it was just a little after 8. "I need to be back at my office at nine. I can't wait around very long."

Sergeant Roderick spoke briefly over the phone and then hung up. "That's not a problem, they're not in at the moment. Their names are Jo Martinez and Mike Hanson, I'll pass your card on to them. I'm sure they'll be in touch."

Rose stood up and extended her hand to shake the Sergeant's. "I'll look forward to it and I'll give Samantha's mother a heads up that she can expect a call."