DISCLAIMER – I own none of the characters and all things Morganville are completely owned by the amazing Rachel Caine (:

NOTES – Well here's the next chapter. Not that great but i have a plan now –rubs hands together in an evil mastermind way- but anyway, hope it's not becoming to dramatic or ..blah so yeah - R&R pleeeease 3

CHAPTER FIVE ~

It did hurt – but she'd known it would. Myrnin struck like a cobra, sinking his fangs into the side of her neck. Claire shuddered again with fear and repulsion, conscious already slipping, head beginning to loll. She wondered vaguely if this was it – if this was how she was going to die. And she never even got to say goodbye to Shane, or tell him she was sorry and that she loved him. And then, the darkness took over, and dragged her away...

Waking up was hard. Claire felt groggy, exhausted. For a second, she thought she was back in the Glass house, with Shane sleeping beside her; but then she turned her head and felt the cold hard of a wall behind her. She frowned, and as she moved she felt pain shoot along the left side of her neck. Raising a heavy hand, she gingerly touched her neck, feeling the stickiness of what she could only presume was blood, and gasping at the pain. Her eyes flew open, flickering at her surroundings crazily as she tried to remember where she was.

And then she remembered. Her eyes widened and she scrambled upright properly, having slumped during her unconsciousness. She didn't remember falling – maybe he'd propped her up. He... Myrnin. Her eyes searched the lab, hand falling from her bloody neck as she looked around her for him.

"I'm so sorry Claire." The low, quiet voice murmured from her right and she snapped her head around, wincing and gritting her teeth against the pain of both a converging head ache, and the bite wound. It didn't feel like two normal punctures...it felt more like he'd sliced at her neck. That meant he had to have been real thirsty ... but if that had been the case then why hadn't he drained her? Her eyes watched Myrnin warily, surprised slightly to see him in a similar position to her – slumped against the far wall, eyes watching her warily.

Claire said nothing, the words stuck in her throat. It wasn't okay, she couldn't say that. But she knew she couldn't just sit there. Claire struggled to stand up, weariness dragging at her limbs, pain radiating in her neck, head, shoulder and also her wrist. She vaguely remembered Myrnin grabbing her wrist and shoulders, and when she glanced down, she saw dark bruises had already formed. She grabbed the edge of a desk close by her to steady herself, feeling her balance slipping.

Myrnin stood up fast, taking a step toward her and then hesitating. It was obvious he wanted to help her, but he daren't. "Claire...i never meant to hurt you. I've been so focused on the machine i haven't been feeding regularly enough, and when you where so close to me...i just, couldn't stop. I'm sorry."

Claire nodded. She knew he couldn't help himself – he was a vampire after all, it was nature. It was her fault. Everything was always her fault. She took several deep breaths and opened her eyes slowly, chewing her lip as the world tilted slightly around her. She glanced at Myrnin and felt a stab of ... something. Fear maybe? Guilt? Sadness? And then she saw the look on his face, and her eyes dropped to the floor. She'd never seen him look so uncomfortable, so guilt-ridden...so vulnerable!

But Claire couldn't offer him any words of advice or consolation, all she could do was check the time on her phone and run a hand through her hair, feeling emotional exhausted, as well as physically.

"I have to go." She said quietly, voice shaking and weak. "I'll be back tomorrow." Claire made for the door, then changed her mind, knowing that in her state, she'd never get anywhere fast enough. It was evening, and it was dark, and she was not in a good state to go wandering into vampire territory. She stumbled toward the door behind which she would be able to make a portal directly to the Glass House. She pulled open the door, trying to draw up some energy from somewhere to tune into the right frequency.

"Of course. Tomorrow." Myrnin said just as quietly. Claire managed to find the right frequency, looking directly into the sitting room of the Glass House and feeling a sense of longing to be in that scene. There was no one in sight, and she frowned, wondering where they were. "I told you not to trust me Claire. I can't be trusted." She was sure she heard Myrnin whisper, but she was too weary to pay attention really, and she stepped through straight into home.

Claire's knees almost buckled as she stood in the lounge and let the frequency slip, feeling the portal shut behind her. She looked around, eyelids threatening to close. She knew she should clean up before she ran into someone – particularly Michael – and at least try and hide it, and so she shuffled toward the stairs, one hand covering the large wound in attempt to slow the bleeding. Most of it had congealed, but there was still a little blood seeping down her neck. Her hair was no way long enough to hide it, or the bruising on her wrist and shoulder.

That's when she saw him. Shane. Sitting on the stairs halfway up with his head in his hands, shoulders hunched and looked every bit anxious and frustrated. Claire hovered at the bottom step and bit her lip. She watched Shane as his breathing changed rhythm, speeding up a little, and his posture straightened. He knew she was there.

"Nice to know you haven't been kil-" And then he looked up, and his words died in his throat. Claire wondered if she looked that bad, then again, if she'd seen Shane turn up after hours with a pale face, red streaks of blood congealed down his neck and along his shoulder, she'd have been just as horrified. He stared at her in horror for a full second before bounding to his feet and putting his hands on either side of her face, eyes darkening as he caught sight of the ravaged bite mark and then he gazed into her eyes, protectiveness burning clearly within them.

"Claire who did this to you?" He asked, voice low and intense as his right thumb stroked her cheek gently. She gazed into his eyes and tried to shake her head. Claire saw something flash across Shane's face, but it was gone before she could identify it. Pain maybe? Guilt? She hoped it was neither.

"Claire?" Eve had picked up Shane's words from the kitchen and come out to investigate, followed by Michael (who could evidently smell the blood). Both of them froze as they took in her appearance and immediately Eve clapped a hand to her mouth in shock. "Oh my god Claire." She made to rush forward and hug her, forcing Shane to drop his arms and his gaze. Claire was still shaking, and she weakly returned the hug before pulling away, looking between the three of them.

"I'm fine." She said before any of them could say any more. She knew Shane wasn't going to be satisfied with that – and just as she'd known, he opened his mouth angrily.

"No you're not, Claire. Have you seen yourself!" Claire bit back an angry retort as her eyes searched his and she saw the real reason behind his fury – fear. He was afraid for her. Her stomach dropped and she looked down, avoiding their eyes.

"He didn't mean to do it." She said quietly, and she could tell as the silence pressed upon her eardrums that all three of her friends now knew the culprit.

"Myrnin." Michael confirmed with a murderous frown, and Claire glanced up at him with a nod. She waited for the explosion, and sure enough, Shane let the words fly.

"What do you mean 'he didn't mean to do it'? Of course he did Claire; he's a vampire – a fact you continue to forget! Is this what he called about? Was this the 'something' he needed you for? You're blood!" Shane yelled and Claire winced as her headache protested, shaking her head.

"N-no. There's a problem...with the machine." She sighed and put a hand to her forehead. "Please, i know this is my fault, but please stop shouting." Claire whispered, but Shane shook his head in disbelief.

"This is not your fault Claire. It's his." And Shane was suddenly moving around her and heading for the front door. Claire caught on quickly and her eyes widened; she tried to hurry after him but her balance was unsteady and she staggered a little, forced to pause and rest on the wall in the hallway.

"Please don't." She whispered, head pounding. Shane turned around, door half open, expression closed off. Whatever he was feeling right now, he didn't want her to see.

"I let him off before. I warned him what would happen. He's hurt you Claire, i can't let him off." Shane spun around and made to exit the house, however there was a flash of colour as Michael suddenly appeared, arm smashing out to push the door out of Shane's grip and slam it shut. Shane glared at Michael, who glared right back, saying nothing. And then...it was as if the fight went out of Shane, and he slumped slightly, turning to look at Claire.

Michael and Eve hovered for a second, and then shuffled awkwardly away as Shane suddenly took the few steps between them and wrapped his arms tight around her. "I'm sorry. I'm so sorry." He mumbled into her hair, careful not to touch the bite on her left side. Claire shook her head slightly, resting her head on his shoulder and putting her arms around him, breathing in his scent and revelling in his comfort.

"No, I'm sorry. I'm sorry about earlier – it was my fault we argued. It's my fault for this." She whispered back, feeling the guilt ease as she finally managed to apologise.

"Don't be. It was my fault to. I just... i just can't believe i let this happen. I should've gone with you, not shouted at you." Claire smiled and rolled her eyes.

"You can't protect me from everything, Shane." She said sadly with a small smile, pulling back a little and biting her lip. He looked at her as if to say 'yeah i can' but said nothing, knowing she'd just argue right back.

"I'd wrap you in bubble wrap if i had to." Shane said teasingly, thumb stroking her cheek gently. Claire half grinned.

"Which wouldn't be very convenient." She said.

"True. How would you be able to make me Taco's otherwise? We'd have to live on Chile." Shane smiled and then frowned as his eyes flickered to the bite wound again and he gingerly touched it, pulling back as she winced.

"Let's sort this out..." He said gently, and took her hand, leading her toward the kitchen.

Once Claire's neck had been cleaned and bandaged by an incredible gentle Shane, they sat down for some quickly made Pasta before retreating to the lounge. They'd all just sat down when Eve suddenly jumped back up, eyes turning to her.

"We never got to go sledging!" She complained. Shane rolled his eyes, one arm around Claire as she rested her head on his chest, struggling to fight her exhaustion.

"We can always do it tomorrow Eve. Can't sled in the dark around here. Plus, none of us want to." Shane grinned and rolled his eyes as Eve flipped him off. And so, instead of going outside and pushing and pulling each other around on a wooden sled whilst keeping a lookout for vampires, Michael tossed Shane a controller, and then eventually Eve and Claire joined in. Michael tagged Eve for his team whilst Shane tagged Claire, and so they were equally matched (the girls weren't great, but the boys were). It was odd, Claire thought, how before she'd come here, games involving the blowing up of a fictional character with a grenade launcher or something along those lines boring. Now however, she was really into it – until her eyelids began to droop and the controller was taken from her slack hands. Tired, content and comfortable, Claire drifted off into a much needed sleep.

Sorry, i think the end's a bit rushed. But wait...there's more to come – I'm going to go on to explain more about the hackers, and there's definitely going to be more fun ..and drama.