"…reckless, irresponsible thing to do! Are you listening to me?"

Kate turned her head abruptly in Manning's direction from where she'd been watching agents pass by outside the conference room.

She nodded and Manning grunted.

"I don't think you understand the gravity of the situation. You're not a trained agent and your carelessness could have caused another agent to get seriously hurt."

Kate let out a slow breath.

"The library was clear," she explained, slowly and calmly.

Manning slammed a fist on the long metal table Kate sat at.

"That's not the point," he yelled, then pinched the bridge of his nose. "The fact is, you're getting too involved in this case and it's endangering the other agents."

He paused, watching her with a stony look.

"Therefore, I'm pulling you from this whole…Ystehogol business."

Kate pushed herself up from her chair angrily.

"What?"

Her voice had risen considerably and she watched him incredulously.

Manning gave a curt nod. "I'm restricting you from researching this case any further."

"The reason I'm here is to help Abe with extra research. He's got too much going on to be able to-"

"You're dismissed," Manning interrupted, beginning to light a cigar he'd pulled from his jacket pocket.

Kate couldn't believe it. All she'd been trying to do was get some more information to help her with the research. She couldn't possibly learn everything she needed to by staying at the Bureau every time Ystehogol killed.

Remaining for a moment to stare disbelievingly at Manning, Kate huffed and stormed out of the conference room. She continued to walk briskly through corridors, not knowing where she was going. She was too angry to care. Who the hell was he to tell her she couldn't work on this case? He didn't know how serious this was becoming. He had no idea of the dreams Kate had had. If she wasn't allowed to research, she'd never be able to find Ystehogol's next target and stop him before he struck.

Agents were watching her with puzzled expressions as she rushed past them. Stopping suddenly, Kate turned and headed in the direction of the library, hoping to catch Professor Broom. When she reached the library, she heard raised voices from inside. She pushed open the golden doors and saw Hellboy staring angrily at Broom who was sitting behind his desk. As she approached, their attention turned to her and she suddenly found herself under the livid gaze of Hellboy.

"Well, hope you're happy," he snarled.

Kate was slightly out of breath, and leaned against a leather chair near by, returning his gaze with her own baffled expression.

"Excuse me?" she breathed, not ready for more yelling.

Hellboy scoffed. "I'm grounded. Damn, if I just hadn't listened to you-"

"Wait, you're telling me this is my fault?"

Hellboy looked to his father for help.

"Hellboy knew better than to let you go with him," explained Broom, seeming exasperated.

Hellboy turned on Kate again and brushed past her on his way out, muttering a sarcastic, "Thanks." When he'd gone from the room, Kate looked at Broom.

"Professor, it wasn't his fault. I asked him to take me with him."

Professor Broom held up his hand. "While that may be, he knows better."

"But, it was my fault for putting the other agents in danger."

Broom narrowed his eyes and tilted his head to watch her over the rims of his glasses.

"The other agents? Dr. Hayward, I grounded Hellboy because he knew better than to put you in danger. Hellboy knows you aren't trained to be out on the field, and he should have exercised better judgment."

Confused, Kate came forward and leaned on the desk.

"You mean you were worried about me? Not the others?"

Broom nodded. "They can take care of themselves, Dr. Hayward. They have been trained."

While Kate was appreciative of the fact he was worried for her well-being, she was still upset with Manning, and her tone was harsher than she meant for it to be when she spoke.

"I'm surprised anyone around here cares about what the hell happens to me."

Broom gave her a half smile and Kate shook her head, upset with herself for taking out her anger on Professor Broom.

"I'm sorry," she whispered.

Broom remained silent, sensing she had something else to tell him.

Kate sat across from him in a chair.

"Manning took me off the case."

Professor Broom sighed and leaned back in his chair.

"Tom Manning has the right to remove agents from cases as he sees fit."

Kate leaned back as well, defeated.

"Then there's nothing you can do?"

Broom shook his head sadly.

Kate blew out a puff of air, upset but not knowing what else to do. Looking at Broom, she became serious.

"Professor, the books those men were studying were all on the same subject: paranormal beings. I'm certain they knew about Ystehogol and knew he was coming for them. They must have been trying to figure out some way to stop him from killing them."

Broom leaned on his desk. "I believe you're right. Those men were Martin Aarden and Anthony MacCarrick, and both were previous B.P.R.D. agents."

Not surprised, Kate nodded. "Ystehogol must have some reason for these killings. It can't be a coincidence that these former agents are being murdered. I need to find out…"

Kate stopped when she remembered she was forbidden from researching further into the case.

Broom, sensing her distress, said, "Don't worry, Dr. Hayward. We'll take the information you've compiled and consider it in solving this case."

Kate nodded wearily and watched Broom rise from his chair.

"Well, it's been a busy day, and it's getting quite late. I believe I'll get some rest."

Kate stood from her chair as he ascended the spiral staircase. She had just turned to leave the library when he called her.

"Dr. Hayward, please be sure to inform me of any other information you come across," he said, then with a wink, continued on up the stairs.

Kate stood glued to the floor and put her hands on her hips. Broom had just given her permission to ignore Manning's orders. Shaking her head, she left out the golden doors and walked down the corridor, still not believing what she'd just heard. She began down the hallway leading to her room when she quickly changed her mind and left down a different hallway. When she came across the massive metal door, she wasn't alone. Agent Clay was standing in front of Hellboy's room, watching her come towards him. He shook his head when she neared him.

"I'm sorry, Dr. Hayward, but no one can see him right now."

Kate crossed her arms in front of her.

"Please, Clay? This is important."

Again, he shook his head. "I'm sorry. I really can't let you in."

Kate sighed and began to leave when he looked down at his watch.

"Well, time to get Red some dinner."

He pulled out the key to the metal door from his pocket and dropped it.

"Whoops. Well, I guess it'll be safe there while I'm gone."

Clay shrugged and began walking down the hallway, giving her a knowing glance before he turned the corner.

Smiling, Kate picked up the rectangular key and put it into the hole on the door. The door made a few loud noises as it opened, and Kate looked around to see if anyone was around before she slipped inside. Immediately, she heard crackling noises as she stepped and glanced down to find candy wrappers beneath her feet. Rolling her eyes, she surveyed the room, but saw no sign of Hellboy. A soft 'mew' caught her attention, and she knelt down to pet an orange tabby who had rubbed against her leg. The cat began purring and Kate picked it up, cradling it in her arms.

She cuddled it a moment before she heard Hellboy say, "What do you want?"

Kate looked up from the cat and saw an irritated Hellboy with his arms crossed. She let the cat down, not taking her eyes off of Hellboy.

"It was my fault you were grounded-"

"Yeah," he interrupted.

Kate rolled her eyes and forced herself to continue. "I just wanted to-"

"Apologize?"

Clenching her fists, Kate looked away from his burning stare. "Yes."

A minute or so passed as Kate waited for him to respond before Hellboy chuckled derisively.

"What? You waiting for me to forgive you? What's it matter to you?"

Kate placed her hands on her hips.

"I'm trying not to screw up two friendships in one day," she explained through clenched teeth, remembering that she and Myers still weren't on the best of terms.

She'd hoped he would have at least been respectful of her apology.

"Who the hell ever said we were friends?" Hellboy asked in disbelief.

Kate was shocked. What caused the sudden change? Earlier he'd been comforting her after her ordeal with Myers. Now he was claiming they'd never been friends?

"I just assumed that-"

"What? That just 'cause I was nice to you meant we were friends? Sorry, kid. No such luck. Don't you remember? I said that as long as we played nice, we'd get along okay."

Kate was becoming angrier by the second. He was insinuating she had done this to sabotage him.

"You think I meant for this to happen? Well, how the hell was I supposed to know you'd get grounded? This is a bit of an overreaction to having to be stuck in your room for a week," she argued, feeling her face turn red.

This was ridiculous! What was this really about?

Hellboy waved her off.

Scowling, Kate said, "Fine, whatever. You don't want to try and be friends? Well, that's fine with me."

She couldn't take it anymore. He was upset about something else, she knew it. Whatever it was, she'd just have to wait for him to tell her what really was bothering him. He knew there was no way she'd been able to know he would get grounded for letting her come on the field with him. Even when he was grounded before, he wasn't this upset about it; he'd even snuck out! Clearly, something else was wrong.

Kate turned abruptly and began to leave when her heel got caught in a crack where the door should have been. She feel forward and landed painfully on her side, looking back to see the heel of her shoe still stuck in the crack.

Hellboy, having watched the entire ordeal, let out a booming laugh. Kate quickly picked herself up off the floor and pulled off her shoes. She leaned down and pulled the heel from the crack in the floor and threw it at Hellboy, hitting him square in the chest. He ignored it and continued to laugh. Groaning irritably, Kate carried her shoes and left as fast as she could, heading back to her room and wondering what else could possibly happen to her to make her day even worse than it already was.

Hellboy watched her leave as his laugher died down. He crossed the room and sat in his favorite chair, facing his televisions. He hadn't meant for things to go that far. At first, he'd been simply upset with himself. Father had been right; it was his own fault for getting himself grounded. He was simply unwilling to admit it, and it was so easy to take it out on Kate.

What had really thrown him off guard was when she'd called them friends. Friends? He hadn't considered it until then, but he supposed they were friends. Somehow, that admission coming from her had just been overwhelming, and he'd gotten carried away. Hellboy sighed. Well, they used to be friends. The things he'd said to Kate were incredibly hurtful. Hellboy propped his elbow on the arm of the chair and rested his chin in his hand, replaying their argument in his head. What had caused him to say those things? All she'd done was try to apologize. Hellboy hated to admit it, but he knew he was in the wrong. Sighing again, he stared blankly into a blank television screen. He knew he'd have to fix this somehow, but he had no idea how to do it. Rolling his eyes, he grabbed a beer can on the table next to him, only to find it empty. He grumbled and crushed the can, tossing it aside. Damn, why did women have to be so sensitive?

---

Kate had just finished putting on her pajamas when there was a knock at her door. She grabbed her robe from her closet and quickly tied it before opening the door. Myers smiled at her from the hallway.

"You feeling okay?"

Now that he mentioned it, Kate was not feeling okay. The nausea she'd felt from seeing the dead agents had not let up since then, and she was fighting it back even more now that he brought it up.

Kate nodded anyway. Stepping aside, she motioned for him to come in. She took a seat on her bed and he sat beside her.

"Clay said he heard you and Hellboy having a fight."

Kate huffed. "Great," she muttered, sarcastically.

If he'd already told Myers, who knew how many other agents already knew about their scrap.

Myers leaned his elbows on his knees.

"Hellboy's just being Hellboy, you know," he offered, watching her intently.

Kate rolled her eyes. "Yeah, that seems to be the excuse for everything he does."

Myers shrugged. "He talks before he thinks sometimes. I'm sure he'll come around."

Reaching behind her, Kate grabbed a pillow and hugged it to her chest.

"I doubt he's interested in apologizing to me."

Kate realized suddenly she hadn't apologized to Myers for the night before, and knew this was her chance.

"John, I uh, wanted to say I was sorry."

He nodded and smiled charmingly at her.

"No worries. At least I can say I've never been turned down by a woman as pretty as you."

Kate smiled and elbowed him lightly.

"Ha! If only that were true," she joked.

John's face became serious then, and he leaned in closely and kissed her lightly on the cheek.

Unfortunately, it was at that moment Kate realized she couldn't hold back the nausea she'd been feeling anymore. When he pulled back, Kate hurriedly jumped off the bed and rushed to the bathroom, slamming the door behind her.

As she vomited into the toilet, Myers leaned on the other side of the door, smiling knowingly.

"You'll get through this, I promise," he called through the door, comfortingly.

"Tomorrow will be better."

Kate believed him.

A/N: Wow, I think Hellboy was a little harsh, don't you? So, I'm incredibly sorry for the long wait. Life got a little crazy. I hope this chapter made up for the wait, but if it didn't you have the right to complain and I'll understand. Thank you for all your lovely reviews and support. I love to hear from you. Please take the time to leave a review. Thanks!