The soft mewing of cats and the faint smell of cigars were the first senses to greet Kate as she regained consciousness. Her eyes fluttered open and she found herself staring into dull, yellow orbs. The black cat watched her for a while, then lifted a tiny paw and placed it on Kate's cheek as if checking to see she were still alive.

"Sorry about that."

Hellboy's stone hand came into view and gently picked the cat off of Kate's chest. Kate couldn't help but wonder how the stone limb could be so gentle.

"She's curious," he said, his voice filling the room.

He petted the cat on the head before gently letting it down. His attention turned to Kate and he winced when he looked at her. Kate appeared so anemic it was a wonder she could move enough to prop herself up. Her hair had come loose from the bun she always wore it in and framed her face in an unruly mess. Her face glistened with sweat, as it had only been a few hours ago her fever had broken. Dark circles could be seen below her eyes, and her eyes themselves seemed different, the shade of chestnut dulled.

Kate had propped herself up completely, trying to make herself presentable despite her condition.

"How're you feeling, kid?"

Kate responded with a quiet chuckle. "Miserable, really."

More than anything, she was overjoyed. She hadn't thought she was going to make it the night before. It had been a relief to wake up in Hellboy's room and realize he had gotten to her in time.

Hellboy let his mouth curve into a small smile at her response.

"You went through hell last night, you know," he said, now serious and coming to sit on the bed beside her.

The bed sunk with his weight and a few cats scurried out from underneath.

"Thought you weren't gonna make it," he continued.

Clutching a fistful of blankets in her hand, Kate nodded. "I, uh…" She swallowed hard to fight back the emotion she felt. "I didn't think so either," she said softly.

A silence fell between the two that made Hellboy uncomfortable and he shifted positions.

"What happened?" he asked gently.

Hellboy knew he shouldn't be asking so soon, but he felt as though he deserved to know what brought on the severe attack after having the night he'd just had.

Kate broke eye contact with him almost immediately after his question. She was breathing heavily, and her next speech reflected this.

"I guess you've been out of the loop for too long," she said, choosing her words carefully.

Hellboy waited for her to continue.

"Last night…Ystehogol contacted me." She fell silent for a moment and then locked eyes with Hellboy. "This has been happening for a while," she explained, "but this was the first time it has ever happened when I was conscious."

Hellboy had to refrain from gaping. "How?"

Kate shook her head. "Professor Broom and I think he's sensed that I've been researching him and wanted to know who I was and why I was interested in him."

Hellboy was silent, so Kate went on with her explanation. "The first few times he contacted me were when I was sleeping. Abe thinks he isn't able to read the thoughts of someone who is asleep."

Hellboy still couldn't believe what he was hearing. "So, you're telling me this happened more than once, and nobody told me."

His tone was not questioning.

Kate sighed. "It was an unspoken rule between the three of us that this should be kept quiet. Ystehogol is obviously trying to find me, and the more people that know that the easier it is for him to read them, discover where I am, and get to me."

An orange cat jumped up on the bed and pushed its head under Kate's hand, demanding attention. Kate petted it absently as she watched Hellboy's reaction. He seemed more shocked than angry. Lines of worry were etched into his forehead, and his yellow eyes were focused intently on her.

"What happened last night?"

Kate shuddered at the memory. "He came too close to finding out who I am," she explained in a whisper which was barely audible. "If it hadn't been for Abe," she went on, "I think Ystehogol would have all the information he needed by now."

A questioning stare was Hellboy's only response.

"Abe and I have been working together to build up my resistance to Ystehogol's ability to read minds," Kate said. "Thank God for that," she whispered more to herself than to Hellboy.

"Just when I realized what was happening last night, I started to do what I had done in my lessons with Abe. I concentrated on blocking him out and it worked. I think there were a couple times when I almost lost control, and I think that if he'd been in the room with me there would've been no contest."

"So, he doesn't know anything?" asked Hellboy.

Kate hesitated. "He knows my name is Kate. That's all."

The memory was so fresh in her mind, Kate felt as though she were reliving it as she relayed the experience to Hellboy.

"I think I need to lie down," she said suddenly, and sunk back into the covers, resting her head on the pillow. It felt odd to be in Hellboy's bed, but not uncomfortable. The sheets smelled faintly of cigars and the scent was comforting somehow.

Hellboy, still absorbing everything he had been told, watched her lie there. She looked so small there in his bed.

"You know something, kid," he began.

Kate glanced up at him. "What?"

Hellboy leaned down. "You're pretty tough," he said with a smile.

Kate rolled her eyes. "Sure," she scoffed, but Hellboy shook his head.

"I mean it."

They left it at that.

They were silent for a while before Kate spoke softly. "I thought we weren't speaking anymore," she said. It felt childish to bring it up, but Kate needed to know for sure that Hellboy wasn't still angry with her.

Hellboy covered his face with his human hand for a moment before letting it drop to his side.

"Listen…I was wrong, okay? It wasn't your fault that I got grounded. And…I didn't mean what I said. You know, about us not being friends? I was just…mad."

Kate placed her hand over his which had been resting on the bed. "I get it. You're sorry," she said with a smile, finishing for him.

Hellboy nodded, but he had been watching her hand as she spoke. She'd wrapped her small hand around one of his stone fingers. He felt hesitation for a fleeting moment before enveloping her hand completely in his stone one. Hellboy glanced at Kate and saw she had been watching their hands also.

"Hey, kid," he said quietly.

Kate glanced up at him. "Hmm?"

"Don't let this whole thing get to you. We're all here for you."

Kate nodded, stunned. His attitude toward her had changed so suddenly. She didn't know this Hellboy. This Hellboy was comforting and gentle; he was nothing like the Hellboy she'd fought with a couple of days earlier.

She felt herself smiling beyond her control. "Thank you."

Hellboy smiled in return, content to sit with her there a while longer.

---

Abe heard voices as he approached Hellboy's room. He realized Kate must be in there with him. What surprised him was when he heard her laughter. Hadn't Hellboy called and said she was in serious danger? Confused, he pushed open the large, metal door slightly and peeked inside. Kate was propped up against the headboard of Hellboy's bed surrounded by cats and sipping a cup of coffee. Hellboy was sitting in his favorite leather chair, his back to the door. The two were watching television, and both seemed to be having a wonderful time.

"Watch this part, watch this part!" Hellboy said to Kate.

They focused on the screen closely and then suddenly both burst into laughter. Kate took her eyes off the television briefly to take a drink of her coffee and spotted Abe at the door.

"Hey, Abe!" she called.

Abe, no longer inconspicuous, opened the door fully and joined the pair, standing at the foot of Hellboy's bed. He gazed at the screen and saw the two were watching the Marx Brothers.

"Duck Soup," Kate explained.

Hellboy was too enraptured in the screen before him to notice Abe had entered the room. About five minutes later the film ended, and Hellboy took his eyes off the television for the first time since it had started.

"Abe!" he exclaimed, rising from his chair and patting his friend on the back roughly. "How was the trip?"

Abe rubbed the back of his neck. "Uneventful," he said simply, watching Kate with confusion. "Is something wrong? You called me quite flustered last night, Red."

Hellboy and Kate exchanged a look.

"I'll explain," said Kate finally, her expression now serious.

She went on to explain what had happened the night before, just as she had to Hellboy. Abe reacted just as she thought he would: extremely concerned.

"Good God, Kate! If this was the effect his powers had on you from a distance, just imagine what might have happened if he had been closer!" he exclaimed, coming to the bedside. "May I see what happened?"

Kate nodded reluctantly. She knew she'd relive the events if Abe planned to see them.

Abe leaned down to meet her eye-level and held up his hand. Hellboy watched the two touch palms and noted the pained expression on Kate's face which came immediately after the connection.

"Abe…" he called quietly.

Abe remained engrossed in Kate's memory.

"Abe, that's enough," he said a little louder, watching Kate squirm slightly at the flashback.

Abe broke the connection. Neither seemed to have notice Hellboy had spoken.

"This is serious," said Abe with a hoarseness not usually present in his voice.

Kate and Hellboy silently agreed, but there was nothing that could be done at the present time.

They were still in doubt as to Ystehogol's motives and had no clue where his next attack might occur. As much as Kate was determined to find out what Ystehogol was planning and put an end to it, she was, at the same time, reluctant to do so. The idea that he had come to her in a conscious state scared her more than ever. Unlike in her sleep, she was no longer protected and had to rely on Abe's lessons. The more she thought about what might happen to her if she continued on the case, the more she regretted ever coming to work at the Bureau. Hellboy had called her tough, but she felt anything but tough. She felt weak and scared and wished she was a little girl again at home with her parents there to protect her from the world. No one could protect her from Ystehogol.

The minute she felt herself becoming pessimistic, she regretted it. Abe had picked up on her worries as was staring intently at her. What she did not expect was for him to say simply, "We'll continue your lessons tomorrow, if you're feeling better," and walk back out the way he came.

Just as Kate had thought he'd left, he popped his head in one last time.

"Oh, Kate. I'll need to see you in the medical bay later, just to make sure there's no lasting damage from last night's events."

Kate nodded.

"We'll work through this," he communicated to her, and his voice rang clearly in her head.

Then, he was gone.

"Damn," said Hellboy, "I haven't seen him like this in a long time."

It was true. Hellboy could hardly remember the last time Abe was so worried. He was usually very calm when working on a case.

Kate sighed. "He's got a reason to be worried," she said, letting her head rest against the headboard.

The strain of what had taken place the night before still was having it's toll on Kate's body and mind, and the last person she needed to see at that moment was who stormed into Hellboy's room without warning. Manning looked akin to the Queen of Hearts, sporting a look that indicated he was ready to lop off Kate's head at any moment. Kate could practically see the smoke streaming from his ears. It was quite comical until he spoke.

"I asked you to do something simple. 'File those papers,' that's all I said. So, this morning I walked into the archive room expecting to see everything filed neatly and instead, I found myself stepping on piles of papers covering the floor. I gave you that simple little job, and you couldn't even handle that. Didn't I tell you that I could easily send you back to the library?"

Assuming this had been a rhetorical question, Kate merely watched him with hard eyes.

"Are you listening to me?" he yelled.

Kate responded with a simple nod. She wasn't going to bother telling him what had happened last night; he'd just assume it was a lie. In her present condition, Kate was simply content with taking anything he was dishing out, and taking it coolly without argument. There was no point in arguing with him anymore as he just wouldn't see reason.

He went on. "I don't know what the hell Trevor saw in you, but I'm thinking he made a poor choice in hiring you here. You're fit for the library, Dr. Hayward, not for work here at the Bureau."

This Kate could not brush off.

"What are you saying? Are you telling me you're going to fire me? Because I think no matter what you say, I've damn-well proved I deserve to be here and you're just pissed off because things aren't going your way. Those papers you gave me to file were almost impossible to organize, you knew that, and you also knew there was no way I was going to finish last night. You practically set me up for failure. I won't tolerate that kind of foul play, Dr. Manning, that was low, and I won't be fired because of your childishness."

For a brief time, she'd made Manning speechless. A flash of utter defeat befell his features before he puffed up again, ready to attack once more.

"What makes you think you can stop me from firing you? I'm the head of this operation! I've got the power to fire whoever I think doesn't belong here."

After watching the entire scene play out, Hellboy finally saw fit to enter the argument. "You can't fire her. Abe's gotta have someone to back him up if he's busy. You've got no idea what she went through last night. If I were you, I'd take a hike."

At this point, Manning was truly at a loss for words. When he finally seemed ready to speak up again,

Hellboy made a threatening move toward him and Manning raced from the room, turning back quickly to yell, "We're not through!"

Rolling his eyes, Hellboy looked at Kate who was smiling widely. "He's tried kicking me out of here before, but he never does. Manning's just…Manning."

Kate giggled. "You didn't have to do that," she said.

Hellboy shrugged. "Nah, you're probably right. Seemed like you were handling yourself damn well if you ask me."

Settling back into the bed, Kate let her head rest on the pillow. "I'm sick of people telling me I'm not capable of something," she replied simply.

Hellboy didn't press her further, and watched her relax into his bed.

Feeling his gaze on her, Kate spoke, slightly muffled by the pillow. "I'm sorry I'm hogging your bed."

Chuckling, Hellboy walked back to his leather chair and sank down into it. "Don't worry about it," he said. "Always thought my chair was better anyway."

He let out a satisfied sigh as he reclined back in his chair, and Kate laughed.

"What?" he said.

Kate laughed again. "I don't know. This whole morning has been so surreal, I guess. The first time I met you, I never thought we'd end up watching the Marx Brothers in your room and laughing together."

Hellboy laughed too. "You'd be surprised what being locked up down here does to you," he joked.

Kate thought for a second and bit her lip. "You regret anything?" she asked, worried he still might not be ready to accept her friendship.

Not able to get a clear view of him as he sat in his chair, Kate listened to him open a can of beer and take a gulp.

"Nope," was his only response.

Sighing happily, Kate snuggled into the blankets and let sleep overcome her.

A/N: Whew! It's done! I apologize for how long it's been lately between updates. Those last two months of the semester were killing me. But, now it's done! I've got my whole summer free, and I promise some more frequent updates. Again, thank you to The-Gothly-Emo for being an outstanding beta. Thanks also to those of you who have stuck with this story. I promise you that it will be finished. I will most definately not abandon this story. I hope you enjoyed this chapter. Remember to review! Reviews keep me going. Again, hope you liked the chapter!