Mike is Right

Henry raised a shaking hand and gestured to the couch. Mike sat and Vicki went to stand behind Henry's chair. Henry started speaking with the raspy breathy speech of the very old, "Mike you're right. There is something in the park and it kills. Something I can't fight." He started coughing and Vicki handed him a fresh glass of water. As he tried to lift it to his lips and Vicki added her steadying hand so that he could take a sip. When the glass was safely returned to the table, Henry patted her hand saying, "Don't cry."

Mike swallowed seeing his favorite enemy brought down so low. He wanted Henry dead, but not like this. See Vicki attending to Henry's needs broke his heart. His emotions played across his face and Henry slowly nodded for Mike to speak. He started, stopped and finally said, "You royal bastard."

Henry wheezed, "Yes I am." He glanced up to where Vicki was standing, "Sit where I can see you." She came around from behind the chair and sat at his feet. "I went to the park three times in the last week. The last time I was attacked. The vampire in me gave no warning. All of my senses failed. I couldn't breath, see, or hear. There was unbelievable pain as I fell. An old man helped me to my feet and told me the second attack kills."

Mike shook his head in denial. "There have been no bodies found in the park. No unexplained deaths."

Henry held up his trembling hand, " The second attack takes the body too."

Mike squared his shoulders, took a breath and asked, "You look like hell. Are you dying?"

Vicki looked at Mike as if to say, I didn't think you could be this cruel. Henry felt her anger, and used one finger to stroke her cheek as he said, "I know what I look like. I know how I feel."

Mike rolled up his sleeve and held out his wrist. "Will my blood help?"

Henry closed his eyes overwhelmed with such an offer from a man who hated the very idea that vampires existed. "You humble me with you offer, but I can't accept. Your blood won't help me. Mike what you need to do is find all the that survived an attack. Get as many details as you can." He stopped speaking and leaned back in the chair to get his breath.

Mike rung his hands and said, "That won't be easy. Crowley is still watching me. I can't walk too far from the line without getting a slap down."

Vicki spoke for the first time. "I'll pull Jamus and Lana from their assignments. I'll get another agency to finish up the open cases. Give them what you can. I can do computer research on the park from here. I'm not leaving Henry alone."

Mike started to get up as Henry said one more thing, "Promise to keep everyone away from the park at night."

He gave a nod and walked out the door. Vicki got quickly to her feet and followed him. Mike heard her behind him and tried to keep his face turned away. Vicki reached out and saw there were tears in his eyes. He spoke in an undertone, "That bastard can maintain dignity in any situation. I can't hate him. I don't even know why I try. How are you going to help him? God forgive me but I want to help him too." Vicki gave him a hug and allowed a small touch of vampire to soothe and comfort. "Do what he asks. Give Jamus and Lana all the information you can about complaints in the park. Anything, everything. Leave Henry to me. Go. I have to get in touch with my staff." She gave him kiss on the lips, "Don't be ashamed to love him." Mike walked down the steps pulling his cell phone from his pocket as he went. "Celluci here, anyone still in the records room? Yeah some late research. Tell her I'll be there in ten."

Vicki opened the door and saw Henry sitting back in the chair with his eyes closed. Resting he looked more like himself but with snow white hair. When she got closer she could see his tissue paper thin skin and age spots on the back of his hands. The finger nails were yellowed and the fingers twisted with joints swollen. All his years seemed to be taking their toll at one time. "Henry you're going to drink my blood."

He opened his watery red rimmed eyes and looked sadly at her, "I can't. My vampire is dead."

She stopped her hand from slapping him, "It's not dead. I would know. My vampire would know. It's hurt. Let me help you. Can't you feel my vampire crying for your's?"

"I feel only pain. Maybe I should sit here until the sun comes in the window."

Vicki stormed into the kitchen and found a knife. She made a small nick in the largest vein of her right wrist. Blood welled up as she came back into the room and stood behind Henry's chair. "Listen to me. You will not die before me. I won't have it. Open that damn mouth of yours." She placed her left hand on his forehead to keep his head tilted back as she pressed the right wrist to his lips. "Now swallow or I swear I'll get a tube and force it down your throat."

Henry smelled the sweet metallic scent of her and licked a drop from his closed lips. Vampire stirred deep within him, tasting it's own daughter self. It's one love. It's reason to come back. Henry's lips parted and his tongue took a single drop. Too soon, he tired, stopped licking and vampire saliva caused the wound to heal. She came around to the front of the chair. His eyes were closed. She started to head down stairs to her computer when he said, "I felt my vampire. Stay."

"I need to work from my computer. Come down stairs with me. I can carry you."

"Get my laptop. I can't move and don't want to be alone." Vicki hurried up the attic steps and found the computer at his writing desk.

Henry was sitting straighter in the chair then he had been. He opened his eyes at the sound of her returning and smiled. "One drop at a time. Your blood is calling to my vampire."

Stop here or keep going? Your call.