(Ok so people this is a long chapter and I hope you like it. WARNING: Bit of a big jump in sexual suggestiveness but no actual sex but if this isn't your thing then you have been warned. I don't consider it worthy of the M rating but if you think I should shift it I will. Oh and please review. Thanks Precious Pup)
"So who is it you want me to meet? You say you want me to meet someone and then you clam up. What's going on?" Abby stood outside McGee's apartment door along with a very nervous Timothy McGee.
"Ok this actually isn't very easy. I kept thinking you're going to think I'm crazy and have me carted away or something " Tim cocked his head a little bit as if he was listening to something and then he smiled at Abby.
"Perhaps it's best if I just show you?"
Abby shrugged and stepped into the dark apartment "Ok whatever. Perhaps you might want to turn on the lights or so.."
Someone else was in the apartment. Abby froze, the hairs on the back of her neck standing straight up in alarm.
"McGee?" She whispered urgently.
"It's ok Abby he won't hurt you"
Abby blinked. He won't hurt me???
McGee switched on the light and Abby had to stop the scream coming out of her throat as everyone of her senses told her to grab McGee's hand and run as far and as fast as she could in the opposite direction.
It was a man or it looked like a man. Mostly. But Abby knew without anyone telling her what he truly was. A Vampire.
"Hello Dream Walker. We meet again."
Dante was polite even though all he wanted to do was rush to his Companions side. He almost shook with the desire to soothe away the cuts and grazes Timothy wore down the side of his face from his rapid descent onto the pavement. His beloved companion's scent alone was making his sharp fangs descend against his full lips and he almost quivered with fiercely controlled passion.
Timothy…
No. He would behave. Timothy considered the Dream Walker important to him and he had never before asked Dante for anything.
And so though it cost him dearly Dante tried to smother his demonic urges. He could appear mortal when he needed to and he did not want to scare her witless. His casual outfit of sports coat, dark blue jeans and white shirt was sufficiently modern enough to not raise any eyebrows. He would show no wings or claws to his human girl.
Dante smiled, his eyes glittering like cold ice and extended his strong long fingered hand for Abby to shake in the human manner. Abby recoiled instinctively knowing the flesh would be inhumanly cold to the touch.
"You're a Vampire aren't you?"
Abby whispered as she took in his pale skin and icy strange blue eyes and the almost delicate parchment quality of his skin. He was tall and breathtakingly handsome but it was as if he had been sculpted out of marble. Cold. Unmoving.
"Yes" His voice was soft and rich with a slight accent that Abby couldn't place.
Tim almost stuttered as he tried to choose his words carefully.
"Abby. This is Dante. He is…..he is my …friend. We met at the Halloween party you took Tony and I to. The one in the graveyard? Remember I said I met someone and spent the night talking about the stars and constellations? Well this is who I met.
I couldn't tell anyone but earlier …….in the alley….. I was attacked by another Vampire. It was Dante who saved me. That's why I needed to get out of the hospital so I could see Dante and let him know that I'm alright."
Tim chewed his lip as he watched Abby and Dante stare at each other. Should he say something? Try to explain more or just let it sort of happen? He wanted to say something as the silence was killing him but then what should he say? Would he make it worse? What if they didn't like each other? No they had to. They both made up too much of his life to not like each other.
Abby just stared as every one of the Vampire stories she had ever read ran through her mind. She wasn't even wearing a crucifix. She normally had one on her somewhere but not tonight. Isn't that always the way?
Her mind spun. Garlic. Silver bullets. No wait…wasn't that for a werewolf?
Dante smiled and quirked an eyebrow and leaned in towards Abby with a mischievous sultry whisper.
"Silver bullets are for werewolves. If you want to kill me I'm afraid it's a much more gruesome stake to the heart."
Abby flushed and stuttered a bit as she realized the Vampire had read her mind. Oh yes she had read that somewhere too, that some of the strongest ones could do that. She smiled awkwardly in what she hoped was a friendly manner at the now smirking Vampire.
Abby felt Tim's words finally sink into her mind and she looked up at him in surprise.
"And he's your….friend McGee?"
Tim nodded relieved as the silence was broken "Yes he saved me. It seems Tony and I stumbled into a young vampire's fresh kill and he decided to leave a warning. I managed to lure the other Vampire away from Tony and then I called for Dante. Abby are you ok?"
"Yes ….I think I will just sit down for a minute. Over there."
Abby went as far away from the immortal as she could in the tiny apartment. Tim handed her a cool glass of water before looking up at Dante. He knew he had about thirty seconds left of Dante's restraint before ….well he didn't actually know what Dante was going to do to him but whatever it was he didn't really want Abby watching it. He turned back to his friend who did seem a little paler than normal.
"Please just stay here. Please? I know its crazy and we have heaps to talk about but I need to see Dante for a moment. In the other room. Will you stay here until I come back?"
Tim had crouched down in front of her and had his hand on her knee trying to see if she really was alright. He looked up at her with concerned eyes.
Abby just nodded and sipped her water and peered at Dante over the edge of her glass. Vampires as fun were one thing. A real honest to goodness blood sucking immortal Vampire standing in front of her where she could feel his power and his strangeness was quite another.
Still he was very attractive.
Abby shook her head at herself. Why did she always want the ones she couldn't have? Still it really was proving to be an interesting night.
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Dante followed swiftly behind Timothy until he closed the bedroom door behind them giving them some privacy from Abby's still rather stunned eyes. Then with a spin and a push Dante growled and pinned Tim up against his bedroom wall.
Dante leaned in and sniffed his precious companion and felt the anger in him growing at the scents he found. Fear sweat, hospitals, the other vampire…. Dante needed to touch and taste his companion skin to skin.
He savagely tore open Tim's shirt and Tim heard the buttons bounce onto the hard floor like haberdashery rain. He shivered as his clothes were slit open with one razor sharp claw and he found himself weak kneed and panting as Dante began to thoroughly lick his companion clean with his demons tongue.
Trembling, naked and helpless with desire Tim remained pinned to the wall as Dante methodically mapped out his tender mortal body with his hands, claiming again his warm soft flesh to his touch, leaving behind nothing other than Dante's own scent and possession.
Mine.
Tim's blood fizzed in anticipation as he waited for Dante to claim him and sink his glorious fangs into his neck and drink from him. To take what was his. Dante's own clothes had long since disappeared and Dante covered his tanned companion's body with his own taller pale one, the cool flesh soothing the burning of the warm one.
Tim whimpered and tossed his head, banging it against the wall as Dante pinned him helpless before he kissed him deeply with a desperation born of near loss.
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Abby heard the hard thump that sounded like someone hitting the wall from the other room. She bit her lip. McGee had told her to stay here. Besides if Dante chose to hurt McGee what could she really do? Was Dante punishing Tim for revealing him to an outsider perhaps? Should she get a knife from the kitchen? Would that work like a stake if she managed to get him in the right place?
There were some more bumps and small crashes and what sounded like tearing. Abby winced. What should she do?
And then she heard a soft moan that stood the hairs up on the back of her neck. She recognized that moan. That was one of the sounds Timmy made when they were….
Oh
Ok. So maybe Dante wasn't hurting McGee exactly. Abby found herself blushing. So maybe the friend bit was a bit more like a lover? Abby found herself listening intently to the quiet sounds coming from the other room. Well well this night had certainly got interesting. So McGee was having what…. A relationship??? With an undead immortal?
Or was it a friends with benefits sort of thing? Did vampires even have sex? Abby smirked at the high pitched desperate sigh that even muffled she heard coming from the other room.
Ok well someone was having sex in there.
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"You are mine Companion" Dante whispered harshly into Tim's ear before he sank his fangs deep into Tim's neck. Tim arched helplessly and thrashed in pleasure as Dante drew deeply from his blood.
Dante's eyes spun as he lost himself in his glorious companion. So much emotion. Desire, fear of loss, terror, rapture, release, completion. He wrapped his power around them both and shared in Tim's exquisite pleasure.
More he needed more.
Dante flooded Tim with his strength, healing his many cuts and small wounds as he desperately sucked harder and took more of his glorious addictive sweet blood than he ever had before. Tim cried out as he tingled agonizingly from head to foot in complete abandon.
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Abby shifted in her chair as she found herself become aroused at the whimpers of pleasure coming from the next room. She licked her dry lips and her imagination ran wild as she tried to imagine just what Dante was doing to her sweet 'innocent' Timothy.
Oh Yeah….
Phew. Where was the cold water when you needed it?
Abby looked around the apartment as the cups and saucers in the kitchen started to rattle and the air seemed to thicken making it difficult to breathe. The lights flickered and she heard McGee cry out wordlessly. Suddenly there was a crashing scraping sound as something dragged against the bedroom walls.
What the hell was going on?
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It was too much for his control and Dante felt his clawed wings suddenly appear and he spread them wide in joyful release filling the small room as he pulled his fangs out of Timothy's flesh. His companion's body sagged exhausted against him.
Dante curled protectively around Tim's sweating naked form and licked tenderly at Tim's neck healing the wounds in his neck before turning his attention to inspect his now healed light injuries and bruises.
"Wow….ok….I…..Abby…."
Dante smiled as Tim panting tried to work a sentence together.
"You need to speak to your friend and it would be best if you could do that in private?" Dante asked
Tim simply nodded and smiled as he felt the tiny thread that linked them strengthen at the contact.
Yes…….but please do not go far. I would …..I would like you near me……
Dante licked his lips and grinned "Oh Companion I shall always be near"
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Tim coughed and blushed as Abby looked up at him with a smirk as Tim exited the bedroom soon afterwards. In fresh clothes. With wet hair.
"So where's Dante?'
"Um he's gone….for now….. I figured you and I better have a chat and it would be easier without him around. Although he can come back later if you have any questions for him?"
Abby nodded, trying to keep the smile from her face as her gentle friend and one time lover squirmed under her glance.
"So…….just felt like a shower then?"
"Ummm yeah. Dante needed to…uhhhh reconnect with me. He was worried about me and he…"
"Uh huh"
Abby smirked and Tim realized there wasn't much point in hiding what she had obviously figured out herself. He rubbed his face with his hands and still feeling rather weak kneed after his experience in the bedroom he went and pulling his computer chair over sat down directly in front of Abby.
"Ok here it is. Dante asked me to become his Companion. At the time I was looking at it as a purely intellectual thing. He has seen so much of the world and he knows so much. He was literally at the fall of Rome. He has seen empires rise and fall. He has seen science as we know it develop before his very eyes. The entire modern world has taken shape in his lifetime. He's amazing Abby. You really would like him when you get to know him a bit better."
Tim's voice softened as he admitted to himself what he had recently been struggling with.
"But its sort of gone past simply talking and sharing and we are sort of ….I suppose bonded together. I can hear him talking to me in my mind. He can share visions with me and I can feel myself changing somehow the more time I spend with him. I feel stronger and faster and I think its even changing my sense of smell. I mean changing….like at the molecular level."
Tim looked across at Abby with anguished eyes and wrung his hands together anxiously.
"I'm glad you're here Abby really….I have been wanting to talk to someone about it for ages but I just didn't know how."
Abby found herself dawn into Tim's confession and she could see how worried he was. It certainly was a lot to take on board.
"It's ok Tim….I mean it's a little out there but if he makes you happy?"
"That's just it. I mean he does but ….its complicated"
Abby rolled her eyes and just resisted giving McGee a head slap for the obviousness of that statement.
"Uh yeah of course it's complicated McGee. He's an undying immortal who lives off blood with supernatural powers and you're ..well a computer geek with a gun."
Tim sighed "I know"
Abby grinned "Still whatever you were doing in there….talk about feeling the earth move. You two were making the cups and saucers rattle."
"Really?" Tim sounded surprised before he blushed again.
"We weren't ….you know."
"Really? Could have fooled me. Sure sounded like it."
Tim coughed and wondered how to explain the best sexual experience of his life ……that wasn't actually sex.
"Vampires don't actually have sex…and I mean I'm not gay. I…you know wouldn't want to ….with a man…….but Dante's a Vampire so he isn't even human. So even if I did….which I don't …..then he couldn't…..so ummm you see I'm not gay. Am I?"
Tim looked up at Abby nervously as if her opinion held all the answers he had been seeking.
Abby looked thoughtful and tried to consider what McGee was telling her.
"Okay so let's get this straight. If it wasn't sex you two were up to in there, what was it?"
Tim chewed on his lip nervously. How did he describe it?
"Well that's what happens when he ……..drinks my blood. It forms a sort of physical and emotional connection between us and it feels….well fantastic. I can feel the power he has and he can feel what I'm feeling, my emotions. It's a sort of exchange."
Abby blinked "Wait, wait ….so in there he…" Abby put her fingers up to her mouth and hung them down like fangs either side of her mouth.
Tim nodded and ran his finger tips down the side of his neck exposing its smooth length to Abby.
"Wow. Hinky. I mean that's like super hinky. Superkalafragalicious hinky even. And it doesn't hurt? At all?"
Tim smiled and blushed again "Well I don't know what its like normally but between us two it feels pretty good actually.'
Abby looked thoughtful and the two of them sat in silence for a moment just letting this new reality sink in.
Timothy McGee was bound to a vampire.
"Do you think I could meet him again? Dante I mean? I was a bit shocked before to be friendly but I think I would like to get to know him a bit better."
Abby tried to sound confident and welcoming and thought she might just have managed it. Especially when she shoved her trembling hands between her knees so she could still the shaking.
Tim shot her a huge grateful smile before he turned and called softly into the otherwise empty apartment "Dante?"
Abby's eyes darted around nervously as she tried to see just where the immortal might appear from when she suddenly noticed what looked like vapor bubbling up from the floor.
"Uh McGee?"
Tim watched as the vapor billowed up into a tall column and solidified into Dante who then swept theatrically out of the smoke and with a swirl of his cape bowed low and deep to Abby.
"You seemed like a woman who would appreciate the classics"
Dante smiled as he indicated the immaculate black 19th century suit complete with scarlet lined cape and top hat he now wore.
Abby blinked as the cold unmoving creature of the night that she had first met now appeared to her as a completely different …well creature. His delicate pale parchment white skin now seemed to wear a slight rosy flush and his unusual eyes sparked with intensity.
With a start Abby realized exactly were she had seen that particular flush and the reality that the vampire had actually taken not just McGee's blood but apparently some of his inherent vitality as well almost shocked her.
"Uh Hi.. I mean hello. Abby Scuito"
The vampire took her proffered hand and shook it firmly before throwing himself into a chair, lounging his leg sideways over the edge while he threw his cape and top hat to land perfectly folded on the edge of the computer desk.
With a dreamy smirk and the slightest quirk of an eyebrow Dante announced "So Dream Walker. It is rare ones of my kind will allow themselves to be questioned so I would take this opportunity and ask your questions quickly of me"
Abby bit her lip. What should she ask first?
"Wait….. you keep calling me Dream Walker. What is that?"
Dante smiled indulgently "You have vivid dreams do you not? You are a Dream Walker as much as I am Nosveratu. You can feel others emotions when they are in a state of dreaming. The stronger the emotions the more you feel, so consequently pain and love are the ones you feel the most. You feel the most connection to those you know well, your friends and sometimes they don't even need to be asleep for you to sense their fears or of those around them. You do what you can to soothe your friends fears in their sleep. Sometimes you try to guide them in a certain direction…"
Abby sat back a bit alarmed that Dante had summed up so much from her so quickly. To him it was obvious. It was what she was nothing more. It wasn't to be feared or denied. It simply was.
She considered this for a moment as she thought of all the times she had tried to deny what she could feel and what she could see of her friends' thoughts. All those long anxious nights where she had wished she could simply sleep peacefully like others seemed to be able to do. Those times she doubted herself and was afraid to say anything for fear others would think her different than she already was.
Dream Walker. It had a name. There must have been others before her? She wasn't a freak or someone to be feared.
"Thank you"
Abby's words were soft but her eyes nearly filled with tears at the gift the Vampire had given her.
"You are welcome ……Dream Walker Abby"
Abby jumped as she heard Dante's voice in her head and yet knew that his lips did not move.
Tim watched the two people he was closest too talking together and breathed a sigh of relief. He wasn't exactly sure of all that had just happened there but he didn't think he needed to. Suddenly the relief that he was free to discuss everything that he had been up to and all the wonders that he had seen seemed to burst out of him.
With bright eyes and waving hands Tim launched into the night he ran through London after Jack the Ripper, no there was that time in Rome when Dante sang to him, oh oh Abby…. Dante had shown him what was underneath the Museum!
Dante watched his companion in amusement as his enthusiasm threatened to almost over balance him as he strode around the tiny living space of his apartment.
You really should come sit with me Companion and warm me……
Dante smirked from his chair and Tim smoothly slid sideways towards the vampire almost tumbling him into his lap. Tim simply ignored the gesture and still talking to Abby walked back to where he was originally standing in the middle of the room before sliding the three meters sideways again.
Tim frowned at Dante who attempted to look innocent as he sprawled over his chair in the corner.
"What?"
Abby tried and failed to hide the smirk on her face. The Dante she had first met with his cold eyes and dangerous strength had unsettled her. This Dante, who seemed almost playful she liked.
"Oh I'm sorry was there someone else in the room who had the power to move objects with their mind?"
Dante looked mildly curious as if considering the question seriously.
"I don't know…Abby?"
Tim rolled his eyes "Since when have you become Mr Comedienne?"
Since I can taste you in my mouth and feel you running through my veins.
Dante answered mind to mind and Tim faltered and blushed again. Abby could tell something private had passed between them and guessed what Dante had done.
Now that was cool!!
Tim continued his rapt description of some of his recent adventures his complete absorption in his task allowing Abby no opportunity to ask questions or even make comment so she simply smiled and nodded.
Abby watched curiously as the top button on McGee's immaculate ironed shirt carefully undid itself before watching the next button began to slide out of the hole. Abby looked across at Dante who appeared to be concentrating intently on a speck of dust on the floor.
Abby wondered if McGee would end up shirtless before he noticed he was literally being undressed from the other side of the room.
It would appear there were certain advantages to having a partner with inhuman powers.
"Dante! Stop that!"
Tim suddenly realized his shirt was practically undone and 'someone' was working on his belt buckle. Abby tried to stifle a giggle as she watched as Tim pretended to be cross and Dante pretended to be contrite.
When Abby finally looked at the clock she realized that she had been listening and asking and watching them both for hours and as she stifled a yawn she knew it was time to go home. Besides it felt like her brain was full. She would seriously need several days just to sort through everything she had learned in the last few hours.
Tim saw her try and hide her yawn and realized how late or well how early it was.
"Oh Abby I am sorry. I should let you go."
Dante stood "It is approaching the hour at which I too must leave."
Tim nodded regretfully and escorted Abby to the door. Dante didn't particularly need doors.
"Abby…..please I would wish to speak with you. In private if I may?"
Tim tried to hide his surprise but decided he would consider it a good thing that Dante wished to speak with Abby privately.
"Uh sure. Bye Abby. And thank you. I…….well I will talk to you later. Ok I will go and ….find something to do inside"
Abby leaned in and gave her McGee a hug and a gentle kiss on the cheek.
"Thank you for trusting me, Tim"
Tim blessed her with that smile of his that seemed to light up an entire country town before disappearing back into the apartment.
Dante waited until his beloved companion had made his way not only into the apartment but into the bedroom to collect up his shredded clothing before turning to speak with Abby.
"I am glad we have met Abigail Scuito. It heartens me to know Timothy has one such as you to watch over him. I believe you can now see some but not all of the dangers he faces by choosing to become my Companion. There is something I must ask of you. There are many things I can do to protect him but I cannot be with him every minute, especially through the day time. You on the other hand are with him at all the times I cannot be Dream Walker. I would ask that you watch out for him and if you have any need of me, you need only call for me and I will come."
Abby looked up into Dante's glowing blue eyes and smiled before extending her hand to be clasped in friendship by Dante.
"I will do all that I can to keep him safe for you, Immortal"
"And I will do all that I can to keep him safe for you, Dream Walker."
(After eleven pages ???? Come on you have to review this chapter even if you haven't before. Do you like the Abby/Dante interaction?)Are you still enjoying it?