The couple's vacation lasted all of three days before a supposed job fell into their laps. Apparently, there was a series of murders in the area around Loretta's estate. So, doing what they do best, the set out in search of the cause. If it turned out to be a psychotic human, they would leave it to the local authorities. However, if it turned out to be something up their alley, they both knew their vacation was in the toilet.

The night before they were to begin their investigation, they were lying in bed, neither able to sleep. Since the episode in Texas where Tootie had become infected by the malevolent spirit of Rachel Newton, Timmy had grown a tiny bit distant. He had taken everything that she had said while under the spell to heart, but it only manifested with him rolling over with his back towards her in bed.

"Timmy, what's wrong? It seems like you've been avoiding me since we left Texas." she inquired after he doused the bed side lamp.

"Tootie…" he begins before sighing and turning to face her. "…it's just those things you said back there. I took a lot of that to heart, because it stung and cut me real deep. I'm just…working things out in my head." he replied.

Typical male ego bullshit…not wanting to express their emotions and burying them! she thought angrily. She knew it was killing him inside, but he wouldn't express it. After everything he had been through, he still wouldn't open up.

"Tim, you know I didn't and still don't mean those things, including Trixie, and especially about Buxaplenty." she began, nearly puking out the name of Timmy's Richie Rich wannabe rival. "I never had any interest in him or his money, though I'm sure Vicky does." she finishes, giggling at that last part. Leave it to her older sister to want an unattractive guy just for his money.

He had told her some of the things that she had said and done while she was under the influence of the spirit, and it shocked and horrified her. The worst was actually shooting him with rock salt. Had she hit him in the right spot, the impact could've lethally affected his heart. She couldn't live with herself if that happened.

Both had several bruises and sundry injuries, and when they arrived at Loretta's, she could only stare at the two. Timmy was still wheezing, a left black eye, the outline of the stock of Tootie's shotgun on his cheek, extending to his chin, a gash over his left eye, obviously bruised ribs, and a large bruise running the length of his back. Tootie had both eyes blackened, bruises along her jaw line and chin, and she kept rubbing the crown of her head. The older psychic just sighed and shook her head.

"Ok, which one of you got possessed and tried to kill the other?" she asked wearily. Timmy only pointed to his partner in crime/girlfriend. She could only hang her head in shame.

"And let me guess, she said some hurtful, yet completely untrue crap, and you took it to heart…am I on the right track Timothy?" again, he just nodded. She just looked at him as she pointed up the stairs. "Go get yourself cleaned up young man. This one and I need to have a chat." Timmy complied, the whole incident stinging worse then even the bruised ribs every time he took a breath.

Once he was upstairs, the young couple's mentor poured two steaming cups of fresh chamomile tea and sat down across her old oak dining table, gazing at the young woman whom she always considered her own daughter. She could see the agony and pain in her amethyst eyes and it hurt the psychic's heart. Loretta knew their story, about how long it took for these two lost souls to find one another. She loved Timmy, but she always felt a kinship with Tootie.

"Child, I know all right…it's ok. I saw the hurt and shock in his eyes, much as I see it in yours. He didn't hit you until you hit that right nerve did he? He stood there and took that abuse until he couldn't take it anymore right?" the young woman didn't look at her, but merely shook her head 'yes'. "You knew the exact, right spot and you hit it with gusto. Am I right dear?" again, Tootie nodded 'yes'.

"Tiffany, I've known you two for now on three years. You have to let this episode go sugar. First, you were under the influence of a nasty spirit. Second, the boy is sensitive to that period of your lives. I've seen him beat himself up and wallow in self pity many times in the past. He loves you, and is fiercely loyal to you. Go on up and apologize, because this will only bring you closer if you do. If you don't…who knows what will happen. Take it from an old woman…don't make the same mistakes I have." she said with a sad smile.

Tootie just smiled and started up the stairs, but she stopped and opened her mouth. With a wave of her hand, she sent the young huntress upstairs to the love of her life. Loretta quietly sipped her cup of tea, remembering the man she let slip through her fingers so long ago.

Upstairs, Tootie quietly knocked on the door. Timmy responded and she entered. She found him shirtless and typing into her laptop. He hadn't felt her presence in the room, and was researching the details of the case at hand. She smiled and began to rub his knotted shoulders. He sighed and rolled his head from side to side, causing his neck to crack. He slid his hands over hers and just held them in place.

"What was that for babe?" he asked softly. He could feel the radiant smile on her face, her head now pressing into his scarred flesh.

"To help you relax…and say 'I'm sorry'. I know it was Rachel's influence, but I can't stand to know I hurt you like that." she replied.

His hand snaked up her neck and he ran his fingers through her silky soft, raven colored hair. The caress and smile on his face told her everything she needed to know. The couple sat like that for a few minutes, before he slapped his forehead and grabbed her laptop. He opened the lid and the screen lit up, showing various news stories about local assaults and murders over the four weeks.

"This is one of our cases Beautiful. Take a look at this." he said pointing to a particular story. "Apparently, Joseph Crane beat the ever loving Hell out of his long time girlfriend with a golf club, then ganked himself with a bullet to his computer. The kicker is: security cameras at his favorite bar showed that he was sitting there, casually having a beer at the exact time he supposedly killed the girl. As usual, the police are baffled."

Tootie rubbed her eyes and looked over the screen and information. She had never heard of anything like this before, and they had seen a lot. She tossed her hair over her slender shoulder and sat next to him, with her hand on his thigh. She was trying to rack her brain over what kind of creature could possibly do this.

"So what's the plan sweetheart?"

"I say we get some rest, and then go do our thing in the morning. We go over to the apartment complex and see if we can get a look at the security footage." he looked down at her, and saw the look on her face. "Just call it a hunch baby."

She yawned and nodded her head heavily. The pair fell asleep in each other's arms, foreheads touching. By the time they had awoken early the next morning, they had tossed and turned until Timmy had her in his arms, with her back to his chest. They arose, and following a delicious Creole breakfast made special by Loretta, the couple dressed in their suits and headed over to the complex where Crane and his girlfriend had been living for the past thirteen years. They were greeted cheerfully by the complex's manager.

"Hi there folks. Are you my 10:30 to look at unit 339?"

Tootie stepped up with a smile, and they both flashed their fake badges to him. "No sir, I'm Agent de Pablo, and this is my partner Agent Weatherly with Homeland Security. We were hoping to look at the security footage of one Joseph Crane."

The manager's smile froze when he heard "Homeland Security". Timmy was sure that the first thought running through the man's mind was 'terrorism'. So, thinking on his feet, he came up with a story he thought would fool the man.

"He had called us about two weeks ago, regarding a possible terrorist cell located here in the city. We believe that they found out and…neutralized him. His girlfriend was just collateral damage."

"A cell, in our town? What are they up to? Where are they?"

"I'm sorry sir, but that's classified." Tootie interjected.

That seemed to mollify the man, but not by much. He escorted them to his office and grabs the tape and shoves it into the nearby VCR. All three watch as Crane enters the building, and when he turns towards the camera, his retinas flare and turn a brilliant white. Tim and Tootie turn to each other and give each other a look. It appeared that the manager hadn't noticed, so they remained silent. After a few minutes, the Crane imposter walks out covered in blood and without a care in the world.

The two left, thanking the manager for his time and headed for the car. Once inside, they began to brain storm ideas on what to do. "I should've known that it was a freaking Shape shifter. It's the only way Joseph could've been in two places at once."

"Hell, every culture on Earth has their own shape shifter lore baby. Looks like we're dealing with a skin walker here. From my research, we've already dealt with one of it's kind back in Green Bay."

"So we already know how to take this son of a bitch down: a silver bullet to the heart. Now, the problem is going to be tracking this bastard."

"According to my research, their lairs are mostly in the sewers, hiding out until they find another victim to pose as. Then, after they take the shape, they kill the victim. Once done with whatever they do, they…well…shed."

With that disturbing thought in their minds, they head back for Loretta's to get some rest. Around midnight, they mapped out the sewer mains around the apartment complex, and descended into them. They turned and maneuvered through the foul smelling tunnels. After about two hours, they finally found a clue: a pile of cellulose looking flesh. This soon became a trail, and it lead to the shape shifter's lair.

"Ewww, this is freaking' disgusting! That thing really needs to clean up down here. I'm so gonna throw up! This is down right unsanitary!" Tootie yelled after stepping into one of the larger piles. Timmy could only chuckle at his girlfriend's need for cleanliness.

Out of nowhere, a shadow flicks against the wall, and the shape shifter takes off down the corridor. Timmy catches sight of it and takes off, gun cocked and loaded. Tootie tried her best to keep up, but soon losing both of them. She slowed to a stop, her own gun raised and ready and heaving a big sigh.

"Damn it Timmy!" she screamed.

Fifteen minutes later, Timmy came strolling back towards her, dripping wet and stinking to high heaven. Tootie went to hug/hit him, but the raunchy smell repelled her.

"What in the bluest of blue Hells happened to you Timothy?!" she yelled while holding her nose.

I lost the damn thing after it shoved me into some pipe. I managed to squirm free, but I think they flushed the pipes…" he groaned, squeezing out his stained t-shirt and shaking his limbs clean.

They made their way back to Loretta's; with Tootie trying not to puke out of the open window from the stench, and swearing he was sleeping downstairs on the couch for the next week. Once upstairs in their room, Timmy headed for a much deserved (and needed) shower.

But when he took his shirt off, she noticed something odd: he had what looked like a fresh graze from a bullet on his left shoulder. This puzzled the young woman, because she didn't think she heard a gunshot while down there. Once he was in the shower, she went into the bathroom, ostensibly to use the toilet. She asked him questions only the real Timmy would know, and he answered truthfully, in almost shocking, High Def detail.

Thinking quickly, she grabbed her cell phone and activated the camera, waiting for him to exit the bathroom. When he did, he inquired as to why she was pointing her phone like that at him. She lied, saying she got a text from AJ, asking if they'd got married yet. On the phone's screen, her boyfriend's eyes were glowing a brilliant white, and she tried her best to not audibly gasp. Stealthily, she pulled her nine millimeter from inside her bag, ready to strike.

His back had been to her the entire time they had been conversing, so he had no idea that she had her gun drawn. When he did finally turn around, he thrust his hands into the air with a shocked look on his face. With the gun in front of her, she backed him up until he fell into a chair.

"Where the Hell is he you son of a bitch?!" she barked at him. 'Timmy' began to laugh maliciously up at her, relaxing in the chair and no fear of the gun stuck into his chest. He was so relaxed that he tucked his hands behind his head and crossed his legs, sighing lightly.

"Oh, do you mean that meat head you call a boyfriend? Let's just say he's…tied up at the moment." the creature replied coolly.

Her finger drew tighter on the trigger, aching to put a silver bullet through this monster's jet black heart for kidnapping her beloved Timmy. Her eyes had narrowed to slits, and she was clenching her jaw so tight that it felt like she was about to break all of her teeth.

"Why so mad Tootie?" he asked, a smirk playing at his lips. "You know, I've been getting flashes of your boy's memories since I took his form, and I gotta say: you were a real freak way back when. No wonder he avoided you like the plague. And that outburst in Texas…whew that was one stone cold thing to do Tiffany. Exposing just how much you truly hate him, and yet keeping up this façade of romance? You are as evil as I am dear."

"Screw you asshole, none of that crap was true. That spirit twisted my memories and used that against me. And who are you calling a freak? I'm not the one running around the sewers, shedding my skin and jumping from one form to the other because I'm like a freakin' mutant!"

The creature rocketed out of the chair and began pummeling her. He had Timmy's extensive boxing skills and knowledge, and he used it to the fullest, knocking her around the room and over the bed. She shot up at him, landing punches to the gut and kicks to the head. Apparently, the sounds of the fight had been enough to draw Loretta's attention. She burst into the room, gun drawn and at the ready.

"It's the shape shifter! He's got Timmy hostage in the sewers at that apartment complex! Try to find him as fast as you can! Go!" The older lady bolted out the door, and the creature didn't bat an eyelash. The fight continued, both sides trying in vain to land that knock out shot, Tootie with her roundhouse kick, and the faux Timmy with his huge right hook.

The battle degenerated into a struggle over the gun, which had been knocked onto the bed. Tootie lunged for it, but so had the shape shifter. The struggled, with the monster riding her back and grabbing the barrel of the pistol. She tried everything she could to get him off her back, finally driving the back of her skull into the point of his chin hard. When he let her go to tend to his jaw, she was able to roll off the bed aim the gun at his chest. However, he dodged before she could pull the trigger and kick the gun out of her hands.

The war resumed, the two crashing out of the room and down the stairs. The creature grabbed Tootie and flung her into a wall with such force, it rattled various pictures and artwork off the wall and around the young woman. He loomed over her, snarling with every punch that connected with her cheeks and jaw. A particularly rough shot caught her in the nose, breaking it and sending a trickle of blood running down onto her upper lip.

Enraged by the taste of her own blood, she fired up to her feet, throwing combination lefts and rights, and adding a kick here and there to keep him off balance. She gazed upon the face of 'Timmy', and it enraged her even more. The fact that this thing had taken his form, and now it looked like she was beating the holy piss out of him hurt her. So, she took that pain and hurt and transformed it into the energy behind her punches and kicks.

They fought into the kitchen, Tootie flinging the monster over the kitchen table, and he crashed into the lower cupboards behind him. What she didn't expect was the monster grabbing a pan and swinging for the fences. He wailed away, most swings missing wildly, but some did hit, especially the shot to her shoulder. It felt like she had been shot when the pan connected. She struggled to her feet while ducking more shots.

Her hands grouped the counter for anything and everything. She finally felt the familiar handle of the silver knife Timmy had bought her for their first anniversary as hunters. He had taken it downstairs to clean and sharpen it when they first got to the house, and from the lightest feel of the blade, he didn't forget this time. She grabbed it and started slashing away, trying to weaken the creature as best she could.

It ducked away, avoiding the wild slashes as best it could and still swinging the pan. It was the oddest sword fight anyone could've imagined. They battled back through the living room, and when Tootie kicked the monster in the chest, he went flying through the front bay window. She leapt out after it, and the two struggled on the porch, both jockeying for position of dominance over the other. A well timed knee to the crotch gave her the advantage she needed.

She straddled his chest, arms poised over her head, the blade glinting in the moon light. The creature begged for mercy, but it fell on deaf ears. She screamed like a banshee, and plunged the knife deep into his chest. It struggled against the power of the knife for a few seconds, then finally succumbed and died. She rolled off and sat down on the porch steps, panting hard and pulling the knife out of its chest.

A few minutes later, Loretta's car pulled into the long, gravel driveway. Tootie rushed out to greet it, and practically yanked an injured Timmy out of the passenger seat and hugged him tight to her chest.

"I found this poor guy stumbling and wandering around the alleyway behind that apartment complex. He barely made it to me before passing out. I don't think he's seriously injured, but he could use a few days rest." Loretta said, leading the couple back inside.

"I love you babe." Timmy quietly mumbled into her ear.

"I love you too sweat heart." she quietly responded. Loretta looked over the damage to her home, shook her head, and began to clean up. With a look, she told Tootie to get him upstairs and into bed.

Over the next few days, Timmy did heal up, and both he and his girlfriend decided it was time to get back to Dimmsdale to see their families. Once he was one hundred percent, the pair said their goodbyes to Loretta, and lit out for California.

A/N: Read and review. After a hard fought victory, both Tim and Tootie deserve a much needed breather and some home cooking, but will they get it? Chances are: NOT! Next chapter we head home with the couple, and a major enemy is lurking. Thanks again to you the reader, and to my main man MisterBlue.