Lemon in this one. Haha. Thank you to all those who R & R!!!

Tala POV:

"Damn it's really pouring out there," Paul whispered. The rain was loud to me, and the thunder was deafening so I knew it must be awful for him with his hearing being so advanced. I nodded against his chest and he cradled me closer yet as a clap of thunder literally moved our house.

"I wonder if Adrian's ok. Did we even ask where she was staying? Naturally she's not still with my step-father," I whispered.

"I don't know," Paul answered. I knew he was probably really hot right now but I was shaking. Our stupid heating system broke weeks ago and the air conditioning was on permanently. Before that really hadn't been a problem I mean Paul was so warm that anything more would just be suffocating, hell I never even thought to buy a comforter but right now it was all I could think about.

"I'm cold," I said softly, hating how despite my growing exhaustion sleep would never find me in this freezer of a house. Paul smirked and ran his hand up and down my leg. I groaned into his neck and shivered despite his remarkable heat. "Oh God let's just get ghetto with it and throw some towels over me," I groaned; impressed that less than an hour ago I was in the living room, naked, without covers. Keeping my mind off of the death of a friend, and ex lover, and confidant was the only perk.

"Hold on," Paul whispered as our home phone let out a piercing ring. I clung to him for dear life the second he began to move.

"No," I said stubbornly, making him laugh out loud and fall back on the pillow. He wrapped his arms around my slender waist and let the phone ring three more times. I strained my ears as the answering machine picked it up.

"Hey you've reached Tala and Paul. Here comes the beep figure out what to do with it you stupid fuck," the machine chirped. Paul laughed, (as he always did) at my blatant lack of manners and we both listened hard for the message.

~*~

PAUL POV:

"Hey Paul, it's Jake. Bella just called to let me know that the physic leech saw one of the worst blizzards in Washington's history headed our way; and the power going out pretty much everywhere in a sixty mile radius. Sam's scheduled extra patrol so we can find any lost citizens stupid enough to go out in this weather and requested that you, and Jared move your imprints to his house. He says we'll be gone for excessive hours and doesn't want any of them alone for extended amounts of time… Right so when you get this just kinda pack up and haul your ass over to Sam's. Bring a lot of your shit apparently we'll be there for a while. Ok bye," Jake sang. I replayed his message twice and then forced myself to look at Tala.

"Is he fucking kidding? I have work! I have a life!" she hissed.

"Don't worry about that. I'm sure it will be canceled."

~*~

TALA POV:

(Three days later)

I hated being cooped up in this fucking house. I hated sleeping on the floor and most of all I hated how I only saw Paul at night now. I stretched myself out on the couch and picked the excess fabric of the comforter off the floor. I checked my cell phone wearily and brightened immediately. Almost three in the morning. Paul would be home soon. I know it seems like a crazy time to get home, and it was but all we have to do all day is sleep and wait for our guys. No way are we going to miss our guys coming home when it's the most exciting thing that happens to us all day. Besides we can't fall asleep unless they're there to warm us anyway. I clucked my tongue impatiently and smiled at Emily.

"Come here," I said in my best whiny voice. Emily giggled but shushed me half heartedly as she pointed to Kim. As Emily moved to sit with me my eyes flashed to Kim who had somehow managed to drift off.

"Damn. Bitch can sleep through a…blizzard," I murmured as the wind howled with new found fury outside. I cringed away from the cold and the noise and rested my head on Emily's shoulder as she snuggled next to me; pulling her comforter along. She wrapped me in a hug when she saw the frown plastered on my face as I stared at her unyielding door.

"He'll be home soon," she breathed, resting her head on my shoulder. As if to back her up the lock on the door jiggled and Sam stepped through. I threw of the bundle of blankets and lurched off the couch and into the arms of Paul who stepped through right after Sam. He returned my hug only mechanically and when I looked up into his eyes I saw a cold stare that left me shaking from more than just cold.

"What happened?" I demanded, looking frantically from Paul, to Sam, to Jared, and then finally Embry. "What happened?" I repeated. Paul seemed to look through me and only Embry would meet my gaze.

"We found a little girl by the river; couldn't have been more than one. She was half frozen, we took her to the hospital but it doesn't look good," he said weakly.

"That's all?" I asked bewildered. Five pairs of shocked eyes immediately flashed to me. A sense of repulsion washed over me and I took a step back as if to redo what had already been said.

"That came out wrong. I just…" to be honest I didn't know how to finish that sentence. Bobby, Jack, and Angel would have understood and probably even said that comment. We weren't heartless, really, but we were used to death and if you allowed yourself to feel anything for more than those you know—and know well—then you'd be a constant emotional wreck (and an easy target).

"You just what?" Emily nearly shouted, sounding appalled.

"I'm just not used to having a heart," I snapped, glaring at her without meaning to. Almost simultaneously the Pack sort of shifted away from me and I felt queasy realizing this was their natural reaction when they sensed a threat; a threat they couldn't – or more appropriately wouldn't – destroy. Paul was the only one that moved forward. To my complete and utter astonishment he took my hand. My mouth opened and closed soundlessly but he just gave me a half hearted grin.

"I get it. Kind of hard not to after meeting your sister," he said quietly. I felt the slight vibration in my hand as my cell announced a call. I glanced down at the caller ID, and tried to brush off my shock as I recognized the first three numbers. I nodded towards Paul, silent, as I walked mechanically towards Emily and Sam's guest room.

"Tala where are you going? You'll freeze!" Embry called after me. I waved him off and closed the door behind me. The blankets had been stripped off the bed and the room offered no heat but that wasn't a problem. My only concern was keeping my voice low enough so the werewolves in the next room wouldn't hear.

"What?" I demanded into the phone.

"Tala Wesleyan?" A rough voice asked harshly.

"What is it with you FBI numbskulls? Yes this is Tala," I whispered furiously.

"Oh. I'm terribly sorry to bother you Mrs. Weslyan but it is an emergency," the nameless man said, his voice warming considerably.

"What?"

"If you watch the news you've heard of the rapist/serial killers that are making their way through Washington preying on the more stunning of the strippers…"

"Please make your point," I urged.

"The men we believe to be responsible—Garrett and Ian Lesan— are currently at a strip club located in Port Angeles. We understand that you are 'retired' but we read your file and you're the only girl anywhere near the area that meets the criteria. The beauty that attracts them, the ability to fend them off if that proves necessary, and the guts to actually do it." Shit. I had heard those guys. Three girls raped and murdered every month for six months because of them. Paul would never let me go. But then again if I'm going to be an emotionless bitch I might as well use my powers for good.

"They're picking out their next victims as we speak. I know that being a decoy stripper and convincing scum like that to take you home isn't exactly a dream come true but without you on the inside…"

"I'll do it," I murmured quietly.

"Excellent. On average they won't leave the club until they've been in for about two hours (probably debating which girl/ girls they want to take) and they've only been in for about ten minutes. How soon can you get to 1010 Eastwood Lane Port Angeles?" he demanded.

"Ten minutes flat," I answered. For a normal person the answer would be at least half an hour, especially with all the snow but I'd always been known for my crazy driving.

"Ok. When you get to the club go to the back. It's not crowded tonight. It's pretty much just the brothers (suspects), the strippers, the other workers, and a few other customers. When you come around back you'll see a van entitled 'Pet Groomers' knock on the door two times and we will emerge and set up your wiring."

"Ok. Bye." I clicked the phone shut and tried to ignore the numb feeling spreading through me. I turned on my heel quickly, flinging the door open and ran to the couch.

"Hey everybody I gotta go. Work emergency."