[A/N:] Thanks to panther-skull for the review! Here's chapter three, enjoy! Underlined = phone conversation on the other end

Chapter Three

Ryan woke up to light filtering through Natalia's windows. She was practically laying on top of him with her legs between his. He brushed his lips against her eyelids and they fluttered open. She smiled.

"Good Morning," he whispered. Natalia leaned down and kissed him passionately.

"Indeed," she said breathlessly.

__________

**3 Days Later**

Natalia methodically dusted the dagger for prints and gasped when cold, hard hands wrapped around her mouth.

"I see we meet again," William said darkly. "This time, I'm going to kill you."

He brushed her hair away from her neck and sank his teeth into her flesh. He drank her blood greedily until Eric walked past the lab. Eric withdrew his gun and began firing at William. William dropped Natalia's limp body and jumped out the nearest window. Eric ran over to Natalia and laid his head against her chest, listening for a heartbeat. He heard one, but it was very faint.

"Alexx! I need medics now!" Eric shouted. Alexx and two other doctors came running when they heard Eric. The doctors placed Natalia on a gurney and wheeled her out of the room.

"Eric, what happened," Alexx asked when Natalia was gone.

"I... don't... know," Eric said raising his eyebrows. "When I walked by he had his hand over her mouth and he was sucking on her neck. It looked like he was sucking her blood."

"Eric, I need to get to the hospital now. Call Ryan and tell him what happened," Alexx said frantically before she ran out of the lab.

__________

Eric pulled out his cell phone and dialed Ryan's number.

Wolfe?

"Uh, hey Wolfe. I-uh... Natalia was attacked again by William. This time he bit her on the neck."

Where is she?!

"She's at the hospital. Alexx just left." Eric heard a click on the other end.

__________

Alexx ran into the hospital and up to the check in desk.

"I'm looking for Natalia Boa Vista."

The secretary looked through various folders until she found the one she was looking for. "Ah, Natalia Boa Vista. She's in ICU," the secretary told Alexx.

"I need to see her. Now."

"Sorry. No visitors in the Intensive Care Unit."

Alexx! Where is she?!" Ryan shouted as he busted through the doors.

"Sir, she is in ICU. No visitors," the secretary said impatiently.

Ryan pulled out his badge. "CSI Ryan Wolfe."

"Oh, I'm terribly sorry. Seventh floor, room 176."

Ryan nodded. "Thank you."

"Ryan, do you remember that vic. Thad Damien?" Alexx asked when they got on the elevator.

"The one with the bite marks?"

"Yeah. Does this not seem eerily familiar? I mean she was bit on the neck and her blood was sucked."

The elevator stopped and they stepped out.

"I don't know Alexx. But I'm going to find out."

Alexx nodded, and they found Natalia's room and went in. She was unconscious. Alexx walked over to her and peeled back the bandage on her neck. It exposed two bite marks, like the ones on Thad Damien. Alexx flipped open her phone and called Horatio. She stepped out to give Ryan some privacy.

Ryan took Natalia's hand and squeezed it.

"I'm so sorry Nat. Please come back. We need you-I need you." Ryan took off the tie clip he always wore and clipped it on her hospital bracelet. "I love you Tali," he whispered before kissing her forehead.

__________

"Horatio, Natalia just got attacked by William. She's in the hospital," Alexx told Horatio over the phone.

Is she alright?

"Well, she's unconscious. But do you remember Thad Damien?"
I do Alexx.

"Well Natalia was bitten by William and the bite marks look exactly the same."

I'll call you back Alexx. *click*

__________

Horatio walked down the dark alley with a large bag of blood in his messenger bag. It was fresh-still warm. He laid the bag in the center of the alley and waited.

"Good afternoon."

Horatio looked up and saw a man hanging by his pinkie finger from a window ledge.

"Ah, Phillip. So nice to finally meet you in person. I brought the payment we discussed earlier," Horatio said, gesturing to the bag of blood. Phillip smiled, flashing his teeth.

"Excellent. Why don't we go somewhere more private to discuss the matter at hand."

Horatio nodded, and Phillip jumped down from the window ledge.

"Follow me," he said as he picked up the blood and walked deeper into the alley.

Horatio followed him to a storm drain. Phillip lifted the cover effortlessly-something a human couldn't do without tools. Phillip jumped straight down, but Horatio decided against it and used the ladder instead.

They walked down ancient corridors with intricately carved arches and paintings that would put Michelangelo to shame.
Phillip entered a room through large wooden doors. The room was simple with a desk in the middle.

"Please, take a seat," Phillip said, gesturing to a chair. Horatio obliged and Phillip sat down behind the desk.

"Is William Stewart part of the Brotherhood*?" Horatio asked.

"Yes. Why do you ask?"

"He attacked one of my CSIs. Twice. She is in the hospital."

"I am ashamed to hear that one of our own attacked an Innocent**. It sickens me. I will send Simon and Timothy to hunt him down. I am truly sorry."

Horatio nodded. "Thank you."

__________

Natalia awoke that night. She looked down at her hands and smiled when she saw Ryan's tie clip on her hospital bracelet. She laid her head back against the pillows and dozed off. Ryan came in a few minutes later. He took her right hand and gently placed a ring on her middle finger.

*Brotherhood- An ancient clan of vampires that only drink donated blood.

**Innocent-Basically a human.