Authors Note: Sorry. That's all I'll say. Thanks to my weak, unpredictable, and still developing muse, here is another chapter. Not sure whether the next one will be up tomorrow, or 6 months from now, but I do not plan to abandon this story.

Disclaimer: I own nothing nor profit from this story. This is just for fun.

Please read and review. It inspires me to write more! Thanks so much for reading!

Groaning from his uncomfortable position on the couch, Graverobber stretched out his arms and legs like a grubby, overgrown cat. My aching head, ugh. I am never drinking again….well at least not until tonight. He swung his feet, still in clunky boots, over the side of the couch, and let out a yell of shock as he narrowly avoided standing on a body sprawled across the floor. As all the events of the previous night ran through his head, he let his eyes wander first to the sleeping girl, and then to his ransacked room.

"What the hell…?" he began, before spotting one of his Zydrate guns loaded with an empty vial. His hand fell to the brown, leather belt that held loaded vials, and his blood began to boil at feeling the empty clip. So this was how the chit was repaying him for his heroic work - by stealing! Why that little…

"Hey. Wake up, Sleeping Beauty," he barked, his voice calm despite his anger. He shook her shoulders roughly, pulling her up into a sitting position. Shilo emitted a groan that imitated his, and her eyes fluttered open to stare at the contorting face of Graverobber.

Despite the foreign look of her grown, battered, and drug influenced body, he hadn't been prepared for what he'd seen when Shilo opened her eyes. Dark, chocolaty, brown orbs, full of innocence and sadness, stared back, just like they had that first day he'd seen her. That day when he had introduced her to the real world outside of her homely cell, where desecrating the dead was a part of his everyday life. The look in her eyes had not been one of horror, but rather a reluctant curiosity. Perhaps her curiosity combined with his exposure of her to this nightmarish world had created this monster before him.

"Shilo," he began, blinking rapidly in hopes of bringing back the desperate junkie from the night before. Junkies he could deal with, but a young woman lost in her grief and addiction was way out of his league.

Notions of yelling at her flew out the window along with his anger, and he offered her his hand, helping her climb unsteadily to her feet. Her hand felt small and soft in his rough bear paw, and he unconsciously let his hand stay clasped around hers until she gently tugged away. "So, errr, how are you feeling?" he asked awkwardly.

She ignored his question, hanging her head to shield her eyes from his probing gaze. "I am so sorry, Graverobber. Look, I'll make it up to you, I'll pay you back. That was my last time, I swear. I …." Her words flew out in a frantic, rapid stream of worry.

Graverobber lifted her chin up so that her eyes met his. "How long," he interrupted; intrigued by the way her face was flushing red. This was obviously a topic she wanted to avoid.

"Uh, soon after Dad died. I don't know how it happened really, I just needed something to distract me. I'd lost everything." Her voice quivered, and she gulped as Graverobber removed his hand from her chin, dropping down to the couch and pulling her down next to him.

"Look Kid, you think you've lost everything now, but you keep going down this path, and you'll end up dead. I've seen it happen a million times before."

The change was immediate. The frightened and sorry looking girl in his over sized t-shirt suddenly stood straight and strong, her irritation obvious on her face. Now it was her turn to interrupt him. "That's sound advice coming from a dealer. How do you know it won't be your Zydrate that finally kills me?"

His mouth opened and closed a couple of times, like a stunned fish. He needed a minute to think about a comeback for a low blow like that. She was right though, he of all people shouldn't be warning people of the dangers of drugs. Not to mention, it was bad for business.

"It's a dog eat, dog world out there, Kid. And after all, nothing is certain but death and taxes." There, throwing in a couple of vague proverbs was much easier than actually answering the question. "Besides, you won't be getting any of my Zydrate. I refuse to supply family, friends, lovers, and close acquaintances," he counted off on his fingers, sticking his chin out, and then folded his arms defiantly across his chest.

At this, she raised her eyebrow questioningly. So, she fell under one of those categories, huh? Secretly, she hoped it was friend, but suspected it was most likely only close acquaintance. He had been the closest thing she'd ever had to a real friend, someone who had taken her by the hand, helped her, and shared the world with her, even if it had only been on a handful of occasions.

Thinking back to the night he'd rescued her from the festival, she remembered the ride home on the back of the garbage truck. They'd talked and laughed, he'd shared stories about the numerous times he'd escaped the GenCops, and she'd listened in awe and wonder. Then he had blown her a kiss goodnight, causing her to blush so brightly that she'd scrambled inside immediately. She'd had no idea there was more to life, until she'd met him.

Leaving her daydreams behind, she observed the man before her, his stance reeking of stubbornness. It seemed he really was bent on not supplying her with Z. Damn. "Well, I better get going then," she shrugged, her voice riddled with disappointment and frustration. Getting to her feet, she made her way to the door, offering a small wave over her shoulder. "Thanks again for rescuing me. I'm sure it won't be the last time."

"You've got that right, Kid" Graverobber retorted, making quick time of the space between them and grabbing her forcefully by the wrists. He stared once more into Shilo's eyes, those chocolate orbs that betrayed her emotions. He saw fear, anger, and a slight twitch that could only belong to a Zydrate junkie.

"What the hell do you think you're doing? And stop calling me Kid!" Shilo screeched, caught of guard by his sudden nearness. Her instinct should have told her to fight and run, but instead it urged her to trust him.

"You aren't going anywhere. I'm going to rescue you again, right now." Graverobber held her wrists tighter as she tried to squirm out of his grip. He pulled her, ignoring her outraged protests, and plunked her down once again on the couch. She made to stand, but he pushed her down roughly with an ordered, "Sit."

She glared angrily, but stayed in place, her lips pursed and her teeth gritted. "What are you going to rescue me from, huh? You?" she spat furiously.

Graverobber took a deep breath, ignoring the little voice that told him to let her leave. "No, Shilo. I'm going to rescue you from yourself."