Behind the Mirror

Ben Carson

If I'd ever expected it to happen, I never would have let anyone leave the hotel that morning. I'd never expected anything more than what we intended - a simple trip out to the university library at Daniel's request, to investigate the possibility of mythological origins to our current dilemma. Buckner and I were supposed to be protection, which Jack had insisted on for anyone he deemed a civilian, which seemed to make Nelson and Daniel the most well guarded out of all of us. The kid, David, was still allowed to come and go as he pleased, though, which I found strange. I'd tried to bring it up to Jack, and he'd cut me off. "Trust me. David can take care of himself better if we are not around."

Buckner disappeared into the washroom when we reached the university, and I waited in the hall with Daniel. We had entered the sciences, and I watched him look towards the door to one of the labs, as if pondering something. "Daniel?"

"I wonder if," he mused, "We all have the same blood type?"

I chuckled. "Might be interesting to check. Can you do it?"

"There are often supplies to do so -- in university labs." He smiled and headed for the door, and I followed after glancing back at the door of the still closed washroom. I watched him cross the room to the supply cabinets on the other side, opening doors and examining the contents of each carefully.

"What do they look like?" I asked, moving closer to him. "Maybe I can help...?"

"Gentlemen."

We turned in unison to find Buckner at the door, a hand over his mouth and a gun to his head. Holding the gun, another one of us.

"Show me your hands. Both of you. Don't even thinking about going for your gun, police boy."

I did as he asked, moving slowly, glancing over at Daniel as I did, and wondered where the hell this man had come from. "Okay, we'll do exactly as you ask."

"Good. Now, police boy, I want you to take out your gun very slowly and kick it over here. Don't try anything funny, or you'll hit him. Then the doctor does the same with the radio."

He was right, and he knew it. As much as I hated to do it, I carefully tossed the gun onto the floor at his feet. Daniel did the same.

"Good boy. Now show me your handcuffs." When I held them up, he continued. "Cuff one end to your right arm. Now back up against the blackboard, right by that pipe."

I kept my eyes on him as we moved. "Okay. Just tell us what you want from us, and don't hurt the boy."

He ignored me. "Feed the cuffs behind the pipe and cuff the other end to your buddy's wrist."

Daniel offered his left wrist silently, and I did as directed. "Sorry."

He gave his head a little shake, mouth drawn in a thin line.

"Good. Now toss me the keys." I did so, but he ignored them for a moment and moved quickly, bashing Buckner over the head with the butt of the revolver. He crumpled, and he hefted him, dragging him to the demonstration table and hauling him up onto it to lay on his stomach. He then proceeded to pull the man's tie off, using it to secure his hands above his head to the plumbing, rubber tubing from under the bench to secure his feet.

"What is -- your name?" Daniel asked softly.

The man gave a low chuckle, tugging on the tubing to make sure it was secure. "Bob. Wolverton."

"Bob. My name is Daniel -- Schreber."

"No need playing that route, Doctor Schreber. I know all the psychiatrist games. And I know who you are, both of you. And the others. He keeps notes."

I stiffened, watching him very carefully. "Who is he? What does he want from us?"

"Right this minute? Nothing." He grinned. "You two get to be my audience. I do so like an audience. And I already got cheated out of what I was promised. He was supposed to give me a tape of you two as payment. Said it was going be real hot, making two straight men fuck."

"Bastard!" I jerked against the cuffs, trying to reach him, but only succeeded in slamming Daniel's arm against the wall. "Sorry - "

"It's ok," he murmured, rubbing his elbow, eyeing the man warily.

He was chuckling, watching us. "I was supposed to see it live, you know. Had to leave to go try and pick up this pretty boy here. So I guess it's all fair that I get to fuck him now."

"Leave him alone," Daniel growled, glaring at him.

"What, rather it be you?" He smirked. "I hear you like taking it up the ass. Sorry, I prefer them young, if they have to still be breathing."

"Shut the fuck up!" I yelled, launching myself at him again, inadvertently yanking Daniel's arm again, and he soft whimper of pain. "Don't you fucking touch him, either of them!"

"Or you'll do what, Ben? Shoot me like you did your partner?" He chuckled, low and tight, standing just out of my reach. "I know about you too. I know your wife kicked you out because you became a drunk. I know you weren't even allowed to see your children. I hear you killed your sister - "

"I did not kill Angie, you son of a bitch!" I roared, regardless of Daniel's gentle tug at my other arm, calling my name.

"Oh, who did then? That's right. The mirrors." Wolverton snorted. "And they say I'm crazy. Is that why you like him, Daniel? A nice little head case for him to analyze?"

"Go to hell," Daniel replied evenly. "If you do not -- let us go, you will regret it, I promise you that."

"Oh, will I? We'll see about that. Now, if you gentlemen will excuse me, I have to make a phone call."

I watched him go, seething, then felt a tug on the cuffs and looked back to find that Daniel had slipped his arm around the pipe as far as he could, giving me more slack. "Can you reach him?"

I stretched, but my fingertips hardly brushed the soles of his shoes.

"You try. You're closer." I pushed my arm back behind the pipe, wincing as Daniel stretched out and the cuff around my wrist cut into my skin.

He managed to reach the tubing tied around his ankles. "If we untie him, Wolverton will -- know."

I thought quickly. "Can you break it in half? Tie the loose half around and then slip the end of the other underneath. The tension should keep it looking like he's tied, but hopefully if he gives it a good yank it will come free."

He nodded. "Keep an ear out for him." He quickly worked the knot in the tubing untied, then stretched it out to hold the end with his teeth. He pulled one of his strange syringes from the breast pocket of his jacket, extending the needle and carefully stabbing the tube with it until it stretched and broke. He re-tied the tubing with trembling fingers. "Can you hear him?"

"No. You're doing fine, Daniel."

He repeated the process with his other ankle, whimpering softly as the tubing snapped back when it broke and slapped him in the chin, and I wince in sympathy. It took a few tries, but finally he had it tied, and collapsed back against the wall with a sigh of relief. Then he turned his attention back to the table. "John. John, look at me."

After a few moments of prompting, the boy stirred, rousing slowly, and turned his head, blue eyes scared. "Daniel... what's going on? Why am I tied up like this?"

"Calm down. We will -- be all right. But I want you -- to tell me your real name, John."

I glanced over at Daniel. "What?"

John's bottom lip trembled, and his eyes closed for a moment. "It's... Free." He drew a shuddering breath. "What's going to happen? Who is that guy?"

"He is -- one of us, unfortunately. But the others will figure out where -- we are. They will come for us, when we are not -- back in time. Free, listen to me. It is extremely important that when he -- comes back, you must pretend to -- still be unconscious. Can you do that?"

A slight nod. "Yes. What does he want?"

Daniel hesitated, but as he went to speak, I heard a door slam. "Shh - he's back."

He fell silent and moved back toward me, hiding the slight bit of extra mobility we'd discovered by working around the pipe. I glared at the man. "You won't get what you want. Just let us go."

"I think not." He even didn't bother to look at me, his full attention on the table. "This isn't my normal thing," he said with a smirk, "I prefer the ones who don't fight back. But he needs you all alive for now. We'll just have some fun while we wait." His intentions were clear enough. He was on the table in an instant, straddling Buckner's thighs, hands pushed under him to yank his pants undone.

Buckner gave up playing dead instantly, jerking at his bonds. "What the fuck are you doing?!"

Daniel started to speak at the same time, hands clenched so hard his skin was turning white. "Bob. Listen to me. You do not -- want this. It will not make you happy, it will not -- fulfill you -"

"Shut up!" He hollered and pulled the gun from the back of his pants, cocking it and pressing the tip to the back of Buckner's head. "Shut up now or so help me I will kill the boy before I fuck him, to hell with what he wants!"

I heard a helpless whimper from Buckner, and Daniel fell silent, trembling, face flushed in anger. I caught his cuffed hand in mine and squeezed gently, catching his gaze and shaking my head helplessly as his lips silently formed my name.

"That's better," the man replied, and yanked down Buckner's slacks, who was fairly shuddering. I turned my head away. I couldn't look, but I could hear it - the simultaneous muffled cry of pain with the elated sigh as he took the boy by force. I heard Wolverton telling him how tight he was, what a good little bitch he was, narration punctuated with grunts of pleasure that I wished to god I could turn my ears from, intermixed with Bucker's gasping pleas, begging him to stop. I'd dealt with rape cases before, heard the accounts, but it was nothing compared to being here, to witnessing it first hand.

Daniel's hand released mine, and he was moving before I could stop him, out along the wall, closer to them. For a moment, I couldn't understand what he was doing, not until he started speaking, voice low and soft. "Free. Free, look at me. You are going -- to get through this. Focus on me, listen to me. I can make this -- go away. I promise you. When it is over I will -- make it all disappear. Free, I'm right here."

"Shut the hell up!" Wolverton planted a hand between Buckner's shoulders to hold him immobile, grabbing the gun off the table and levelling it at Daniel's head.

Somewhere along the line, my heart stopped beating. I jerked on the cuffs as hard as I could to pull him back toward me. "Don't shoot!"

At that moment, his cell phone rang.

Wolverton froze, panting sharply, glaring at the phone as Buckner whimpered softly under him. Six rings, and then it stopped for a moment, then immediately started again. With a string of curses, the man pulled away, not bothering to do up his pants. He grabbed the phone. "What?! I'm busy!" He marched from the room with it, and I could faintly hear angry words, but not enough to make them out.

On the table, Buckner's shoulders shook with soft, broken sobs.

"Free." I could hear the agony in Daniel's voice, see him try to control it. "Free, I swear to you I can -- take this away. But we need your help. We will try to lure him -- over here. I need you to pull your feet free, and when he is -- behind you, kick him over to us, as hard as you -- can."

There was no response, and Daniel tried again. "Free. You can do this. You can get out of this. We need you, please."

"Okay," he whispered, one of his legs already unbound from his struggles, starting to tug his other foot free, and I gave a soft sigh of relief.

"I can take him out if I can catch him off balance," I said softly, "but I'm worried about the gun..."

"Just get him in a -- sleeper," Daniel murmured. "I will take care of the rest."

Wolverton came back into the room, fuming, snatching up our radio and thrusting it at Daniel. "Get the doctor on the line. And if you try to tell him where you are, I have permission to shoot your dick off and stuff it up his ass. Same goes for the rest of you." He thumbed toward Buckner, who was laying very still, watching him carefully over his shoulder.

Daniel took it slowly, switching it on. "Hello?"

"This is Bauer."

He watched Wolverton carefully. "Jack. This is Daniel. I need to speak to Nelson."

"Daniel? Who's with you?"

He looked up at Wolverton, who nodded. "Tell him."

"Ben, John and I are with a man named -- Bob Wolverton. We are all right -- for now. I need to speak to Nelson, or he will -- hurt John."

There was silence on the other end. "Is this the same man you met before."

"No."

"How do I know that it's you? Say something in German."

"Three words only," Wolverton advised, and Daniel nodded.

"Hochschule. Wissenschaft klassenzimmer."

I had no idea what it meant, but Jack seemed satisfied. "Now Ben. Identify yourself."

"We're cut from the same mold, Jack. Now get Nelson on and let's hear them out, it's all we can do right now."

"All right. I have to go find him, so you'll have to give me five minutes."

I glanced up at Wolverton, who nodded. "That's fine, Jack."

"Okay. Be back soon."

The radio went dead, and I briefly contemplated the chances of knocking him out if I threw the radio at him. "What do we tell him when he gets back?

"That there is a cell phone in room 613. The doctor needs to turn it on, wait for a call and follow the instructions. If he follows them, we let you go alive."

~~~~~~~~~

David


"Hochschule. Wissenschaft klassenzimmer."

I had sat silently with Jack throughout the call, but as soon as the shrink passed the subtle message, I was on my feet. It would be enough for me to find them. Jack glanced up at me, and I thumbed toward the door, barely waiting for his acknowledgement before heading out. I launched myself off the second floor balcony, not caring who saw - pretending to be human wouldn't give me any advantage if I couldn't stop him.

I'd flown over the city enough times at night -their night- that it didn't take me long to find the university. From there, I could track the scent of the three of them - and one more scent that it took me a moment to place - the man who'd shot me, who'd tried to take Buckner before. As I approached, I could hear gunshots, and pushed myself faster, cursing under my breath. But as I entered the room, they stopped, and I saw the man in Ben's stranglehold, saw the shrink drive a strange metal syringe into the middle of his forehead and push the plunger.

The man started to convulse, the gun falling from his fingers.

"What the hell..."

Daniel's head jerked up to look at me, a stricken expression crossing his features. "How long have you been there?"

"I just got here," I replied. "Got your message on the radio. What did you inject him with?"

"A new -- identity," he replied, looking more than a little shaken, the tips of his ears turning pink. "It was the only weapon -- I had."

I took the man from Ben, laying him out on the floor as he gradually stopped shaking. "Where are the keys for the cuffs?"

"Right pants pocket," Ben replied, and I found them and handed them to him, watching him unlock and fuss over Daniel before patting down the attacker, who seemed unconscious for the moment. Those two would give me cavities, one of these days.

I turned to the figure on the table, hand tied above his head with his tie, pants around his knees. I felt a soft wave of pity for him, unexpected protectiveness. I started to unknot the tie carefully. "You okay?"

He looked away, readjusting his clothes as soon as his hands were free, almost emotionless. "I'm fine." He glanced over to Daniel. "Doc... thanks. You helped."

Daniel gave a little sad smile. "I was not lying, Free. I can erase the past -- 24 hours from your memory, approximately. If you wish."

I watched his lips shift and press together, and I knew the boy was barely holding together. "How is that even possible?"

"An injection. A very advanced -- chemical that can alter and replace -- memory. Similar to what I injected -- Wolverton with."

"He's not lying," Ben told him. "He offered it to me, after we met up with... the other one. The one behind this."

He glanced away, running a hand over his face, and reminded me suddenly very much of Jack, pulling himself back together. "And how is that going to explain why I'm going to be walking funny for the next few days?"

I shrugged, making my way back to the guy on the floor and poking him with my foot. "Nelson gave you a prostate exam?" I nudged the man again, who suddenly gave a very girly shriek, eyes flying open and scooting back to curl in a ball against the wall.

"Leave me alone!"

Daniel got that stricken look on his face again, and crouched down in front of him, holding up a hand to Ben as the man moved to join them. "We won't hurt you. We are here -- to help. I am a psychiatrist. This is Ben, he is a -- police officer. And the others are -- helping us. Can you tell me your name?"

The man took this in with wide eyes, fairly shaking, and I watched him curiously. Finally he opened his mouth, venturing in a very small voice. "S-Stephanie."

Daniel gave a very soft sigh and nodded. "Stephanie. The man who took you -- still has your mother and your -- brother. But we will keep you safe if you -- come with us. Do you -- trust me?"

He looked to each of us fearfully, then very slowly nodded.

Ben's voice was soft. "Daniel, you can't seriously...."

He held up a hand. "Please, Ben. I will explain everything -- once we get back."

"It's not safe - "

"Ben, please. This girl is innocent, she needs -- our help. The man who attacked us is -- gone. Completely. Please believe me."

"He's right, you know." I added, and extended a hand to the "girl", turning on just a little bit of glamour to relax the man "Hey sweetie. I'm David. Come outside with me while the doctor talks to the police, okay?" He - She followed me willingly - they always did - out into the hall, and I bought him a chocolate bar out of the vending machine partway down the hall. It made him burst into tears, sobbing brokenheartedly on my shoulder, and I patted his-her back a little awkwardly and murmured soft words of comfort until the others came back. Apparently a decision had been made, though Ben still didn't look entirely convinced, and we ushered the former Bob Wolverton into the van they'd taken to the university and back to the hotel.

As soon as we got in the car, I claimed the radio from Daniel, trying to radio back to Jack. I couldn't get a response at first, and worriedly wondered if I should abandon the van and get back faster on my own. Just as I was contemplating jumping out at the next light, the radio crackled to life.

"Hey, it's Jack. What's going on there?"

"Jack - David. We have everything under control. The perp has been... subdued. Is everything ok on your end?"

"I need you back fast," he said, and I could hear the worry and urgency in his voice even through the radio. "Ben, can you handle things there?"

Ben glanced to the back seat, to where Stephanie-Wolverton sat quietly between Daniel and I. At Daniel's nod, he nodded as well. "We'll be fine, Jack. The situation is a bit complicated, but we'll debrief when we get back. We'll hang onto the radio and call if we need help." He glanced to me and nodded, pulling over to the side of the road. "Go."

I handed the radio off to Buckner and hopped out, scaling the side of a parked car and launching, using preternatural abilities and speed to make my way quickly back to the hotel, landing back on the second story balcony. As soon as I entered the building, the scent of blood was almost overwhelming, and I followed it swiftly to find Jack waiting for me outside the second floor conference room, looking grim. "What the hell happened?" I asked, approaching quickly, and he gave a little shake of his head.

"Athos found the kid we've been looking for, the one on the bike with the maniquin. He's in really rough shape. Before he passed out, he said he was held captive by a man named Bob Wolverton?"

"Shit." I followed him inside, clamping down fiercely at the hunter inside of me that surged to break free at the sight of the wounded creature they had laid out on the conference table, broken and bleeding, unconscious. Nelson had just finished stitching up a wicked gash on his shoulder, and looked up at me grimly.

"Jack says you can help?" He didn't sugar coat things. "I can't. He has massive internal bleeding, several broken ribs, and from the sound of it, probably a punctured lung. Even if we get him to the hospital, and even if I had people who could help me operate, I don't think I could fix everything that's wrong with him."

Jack looked at me evenly. "Can you heal him? The way you did to me?"

I regarded the boy for a long moment, reached out to place a hand on his forehead, and slowly bring it down his body. I was no doctor, but a hunter knows when their pray is weak. I looked up at Jack and held his gaze for an long moment. "Yes and no. I can keep him from dying. But I can't keep him alive."

He nodded slowly. "Do whatever it takes."

"It's not that simple, Jack. Only half of the process is me. I do my thing, and all he'll be is a ghoul, like I explained before. Mostly human, but very hungry, and it will become entirely uncontrollable, until he frenzies. He won't be full vamp until he's made his first kill."

Jack stiffened a little. "First feed, or first kill?"

"I... don't know," I admitted. "I was told kill, I have made all my children kill." What a laugh it would be, if it turned out I could have just robbed a blood bank and made Michael drink another cup of wine. But then again, the ability to hunt, to kill without conscience, that was what I wanted my children to display.

Jack gave a soft sigh. "So... if we want to save him, someone else has to die."

"Very likely," I agreed grimly.

"You can't be serious." Nelson was staring at us in horror. "You want there to be two of you running around? We can hardly handle one! And who knows what he'll turn out like, look at what you did to me, for fucks sakes!"

I glared at Nelson, evoking in anger the control I had over him as his sire. "Be Silent, and Still." I ordered sternly, and he stiffened, but obeyed instantly, glaring at me. I turned to Jack - I'd deal with Nelson later. "We could always feed him Wolverton. Justice meted."

Jack frowned, and shook his head. "I don't know if I can condone that, David...."

"Are you really willing to sacrifice one of the others?"

"I will do it." I turned to where Athos stood quietly, leaning up against the door.

Jack frowned. "That's not an option."

"It is, and I believe it is my choice to make. I failed to save him - "

"There's no way you could have gotten to him any sooner," Jack cut in, but Athos shook his head.

"Jack." He gave a grim smile. "I do not belong here, you know that. This world is too different for me. I failed to save him, so at least let me give him life again. I have no other purpose here."

I held up a hand. "Athos, do you know what you're asking? You know what I am?"

"Of course," he said simply. "More than that, I know who you are. When I met you, your name was Henri de Guise, the youngest son of Charles Duke of Aumale. Your father's hope for a male heir. They say you died of consumption at the age of 17, but the rumors were that you had been taken from your bed as you slept by a demonic Revenant who drank the blood of men. Now that is what you are, correct?"

I tried to bank down my anger at his revelation, reverting to my mother tongue to make my point clear. "If you wish to have no quarrel with me, you would be wise not to mention such a thing again, oui?"

He bowed his head slightly to me in deferral. "Understood, my lord."

I turned back to Jack, irritated, but not willing to let it show. "Look. We don't have to make this decision now. Let me ghoul him, and if he can't be controlled, or if he doesn't want to be what I am, I can... reverse the decision."

"You mean kill him."

"If you want to put it that way, yes."

He was silent for a moment, then nodded. "Do it."

I looked at the boy on the table, still not particularly sure it was a wise course of action. But this was Jack's clan, and this is what he wanted. "All right. Leave me with him." I glanced up to where Nelson was glaring at me, purple with rage, and released him from my order with an apologetic smile. "I'm sorry, baby. Be at ease."

"Fuck you," he spat, and strode angrily out of the room.

I ignored him for the time being, shifting up to kneel on the table over the boy as Jack and Athos left the room. Letting the hunter take control, I bit down on my tongue and let my mouth fill with blood, parting his lips and forcing it down his throat with my power, starting to heal his injuries, starting to steal his mortality.

~~~~~~~

Daniel Schreber

The man who had formerly been Bob Wolverton was silent on the way home, as were the others. I was most worried about Free, truth told, but let him be, holding the radio and staring quietly out the window.

When we pulled up to the hotel, Ben parked by the back entrance we used and glanced back at me, a little worriedly. "Daniel... I'm going to go in first, and bring Jack up to speed on the situation with... Stephanie. I think it might be... easier, that way."

I nodded, and gave him a soft smile. "Thank you. We will be fine here. No need to worry."

He glanced over at Free, then nodded, and disappeared inside.

It wasn't long before they both reappeared, Jack angry, Ben more than a little uneasy. Ben approached the car first, opening the door and motioning me outside. I patted the arm of the man beside me, who gave me a little fearful look. "Stephanie, you are safe, I promise you. Wait here for just a moment."

I shut the door behind me, glancing up at Ben and Jack. "Is everything all right...?"

"Why does he calm down when you speak to him?" Ben asked softly, the line between his eyebrows deepening.

"It's part of the imprint," I replied, trying to read the tension in the air between them. "I am not a strong man, Ben. My former employers decided that they -- could not chance me being the target -- of random violence. So the whole city was programmed to -- feel no overt antagonism toward me."

Ben glanced to Jack, but didn't seem any more at ease by my answer. "You're telling the truth about the imprint, Daniel? You swear it?"

"Of course," I replied, a little taken aback by his doubt. "Ben, I would not -- lie to you. I swear it. I know it is hard to believe, but it is no more incredulous than -- everything else that has happened here -- or vampires, is it?"

"We need to talk," Jack interrupted. "Daniel, come with me. Ben - secure the perp, and start debriefing Buckner."

"Jack..." Ben's voice was warning, and I grew more worried.

"I'll be nice," Jack spat, then grabbed my arm and started to pull me inside. I could hear Ben talking to Wolverton behind me, telling him that they were going to take him to a hotel room where he would be safe and guarded from the man who had tried to hurt him, and I felt a soft rush of relief that at he, at least, seemed to trust me.

I was marched up to Jack's hotel room and drug inside, shoved ahead of him toward the bed as he latched the door behind him. Then he pulled his gun from the back of his pants and cocked it, levelling at me. "Sit down, Daniel."

I felt my lips part, and took a step backward. "Jack, what are you - "

"Sit down!" I jumped at his yell, and dropped into the desk chair, eyes not leaving the gun.

"Please explain to me," I started softly, "What this is about."

"I'm asking the questions," he shot back, eyes narrowed. "Now, I want you to explain to me exactly how and why both incidents we've had involved you conveniently leading others into danger."

I shook my head slowly. "I cannot answer that. I do not know why he -- targeted Ben and I. Today seems to have been -- an unhappy coincidence."

"Or you are working with them." His eyes narrowed slightly. "I don't trust many people, Daniel. And your background would make you a perfect master manipulator.

I gave a soft sigh, looking down at the table. "Is this an -- interrogation, Jack? Put the gun away. I am not working with them."

"I'm not sure," he replied, not moving from where he stood behind the chair. "Your emotions are very easy to read, which in my experience means that you are either entirely innocent, or very good at hiding."

"I would not aid them -- if my life depended on it."

"Just if Ben's life depended on it."

"If anyone's did," I shot back quickly, and felt a knot of anger twist in the base of my stomach. "I have seen too much -- death in my time, Jack. I do not wish -- to repeat the experience if I -- can help it."

"Care to elaborate on that?"

I felt myself shudder, and raised my head. "You saw the video. You saw my scars. I've seen yours. Mine were five years of constant -- coercion, torture, punishment, forcing me to run horrible experiments -- on humans, on my own -- kind."

"I never gave in," he shot back, narrowing his eyes.

"Did your captors start to -- torture and kill innocent people in front of -- you?" He stayed silent, and I shook my head slightly. "I thought -- not. You seem as though you -- would do anything within your power -- to save an innocent life. I did. I endured, while the identity of every -- human around me changed, at my hand, over and over. You cannot know the meaning -- of true loneliness unless you have -- experienced that."

I wasn't sure the impact my words had had on him, but he looked slightly less angry. "And that's why I should believe that you hate this man?"

"He has no regard for -- humanity, or life," I replied slowly, and gave a little shake of my head, biting back sorrow. "What I did... I was rescued from it by... by the man who became -- my reason for life. For sixty years, he was mine, and I his. When he died, I swore that I would never -- touch another person like that. Ever. This man took that from me. I will never forgive him -- for that."

"But you kept sleeping with Ben."

I closed my eyes. "It was already done. And Ben needed me."

"Or you realized how strong a hold you had over him and decided to make it even stronger."

I pushed my glasses up to rub my eyes with my fingertips, wearily. "Think what you like, Jack. It is not -- like that."

He stared at me for a long moment, then shook his head. "I can't risk it, I'm sorry. It's too convenient. You took them to the university, where this guy somehow found you and took you all hostage. Then seconds before David shows up, you conveniently inject the perp with some bizarre substance that changes his entire identity? Now he's here back with us and you're claiming he's innocent - "

"Mentally and psychologically, yes," I said, but he shook his head.

"What's to say it's not a ruse? You break him out the second my back is turned and you both do who knows what to everyone else?"

"Then why would I have told David -- how to find us?" I shot back. "I do not work with these men!"

Before he could reply, a knock came on the door, and I breathed a sigh of relief at the inturruption. Jack glanced back to it, but didn't lower the gun. "Who's there?"

"It's David. The kid's gonna be fine, but I really need to feed. Let me in."

Jack backed up to the door, eyes not leaving me, and felt for the latch to unlock it. Then he stepped forward. "Come in."

The door swung open, and David looked at us both in confusion. "... what the hell are you doing?"

"Getting answers," Jack said simply and shortly, and I sighed.

"Jack is concerned that there is -- a mole. Namely, myself."

David sighed, then reached out to place a hand over the end of the gun barrel, pushing it down gently. "Jack, I can smell deceit the same I can fear. Daniel's on our side. And what he says he did to Wolverton is the truth, too. He's a completely different person. You can talk to him if you wish, and I'm sure you'll come to the same conclusion."

I watched Jack fight with the words, staring at David with a strange fear in his eyes, and it struck me then that someone very close to him must have betrayed him in the past. "How do I know you're telling the truth?" He said roughly, but David didn't seem to take offence, and just shook his head slowly, hand not leaving the gun.

"Jack, I could kill everyone in this building in under ten minutes if I wished you harm. I don't play human games. If I wanted you all dead, you'd fucking be dead all ready." He gently took the gun from his hand, and leaned in to press a soft kiss to the corner of his mouth. "Come on, my warrior. Let the shrink go."

Jack gave a soft sigh, then relaxed, pulling back from the kiss and looking over to me. "I'm sorry."

I forced a smile and tried to calm my quivering nerves, standing. "I understand, Jack. May I be excused?"

David glanced over to me. "Ben's got Wolverton at the end of the hall, from the sound of it. I think they need... a slightly more delicate touch. You'll take care of Buckner?"

I nodded, and glanced to Jack. "Would you like to question him -- before I take his memory?"

Jack hesitated, then glanced to David and shook his head. "Just make sure Ben records the debrief and sends me a copy."

"Understood." I slipped from the room, and started breathing again when the door had closed behind me, wanting nothing more than to be in Ben's arms.

~~~~~~~~~~~~

Ben Carson


I watched Jack drag Daniel away a little helplessly, knowing well his suspicions about Daniel's involvement in these events, and hoping he'd keep his word about treating the man decently. For now....

For now, it appeared that I had two rape victims to take care of. Well... one thing at a time, I supposed. I looked up toward the man who still sat in the front seat, clutching the radio in one hand and his gun in the other, staring blankly ahead of him. "Buckner. Hey, Buckner. Free!"

He finally turned to me, blinking as if in a daze. "Sorry. Yeah?"

"In the surveillance room, under the table, there's a box of supplies. I need you to bring me the door latch with the padlock, the drill and the screws. Bring it up to the last room on the third floor, all right?"

It seemed to take a moment for him to take this all in, but he nodded. "Ok, got it. That's where we're keeping...." He glanced to Wolverton and shuddered, and I can't say I didn't feel for him.

"Yes. Come as soon as you can."

I managed to get Wolverton upstairs with a minimum of fuss, talking to him - her, assuring that he'd be safe, the precautions to make sure that no one would be able to get into the safe room we were securing for him. But when Buckner started installing the padlock on the outside of the door, he - she - seemed to go into some kind of hysterics, crying and clutching at me and choking out a stream of high pitched words that I could hardly understand between sobs.

Thankfully, Daniel appeared in the room within a few minutes, looking a little shaken but taking charge of Wolverton instantly, sitting him down on the bed and calming him, while I watched helplessly from the side, checking the installation of the lock when Free was done. Nelson appeared with sleeping pills, one of which Daniel talked Wolverton into taking, and once the man had passed out, we locked up the room and I gave a soft sigh of relief. "Doc, you're amazing."

Daniel managed a soft smile, though I could see that something was still bothering him. "Jack wants you to debrief Free, and record it. Then I can give him the injection." He glanced over to Free. "If you would like."

The man gave a slow nod, face still blank, and swallowed before speaking. "I - I would."

"I need to take a look at you as well, John," Nelson said quietly from where he'd been waiting, leaning back against the wall with those strange wings folded tight against his back. "Preferably sooner rather than later."

The man flinched noticeably, but drew a deep breath. "I know. I understand."

"Go now," I suggested gently. "Just meet us back in the suite when you're done.

Nelson stepped forward to place a hand gently on Buckner's arm, and the man let himself be lead down the hall toward the elevator, to I assumed the second floor conference room where he kept the medical supplies we'd purloined from the hospital.

I glanced back at the door to Wolverton's room as they left. "He really does think he's a teenage girl, doesn't he."

"A teenage girl and a rape victim," Daniel said softly, still looking a little unsettled. "Ben, I did not mean to do it to him...."

"Shh..." I moved forward cup his face gently, and he closed his eyes with a soft sigh, letting me pull him into my arms, sagging a little against me. "You did the best you could, Daniel."

"But if I had waited -- just a moment... then David...."

"Don't think about it," I replied softly, pressing my lips to his hair. "We didn't know what kind of help would come. You can't sit and second guess what happened. We're safe... that's all that matters."

He gave a little nod, but I wasn't sure he was convinced. Then he pulled back to look at me, pain evident in blue eyes. "Ben. You don't think I could be -- in league with them?"

"Of course I don't. That would be ridiculous." I sighed. "Is that what Jack said? Did he hurt you?"

He shivered, but gave a little shake of his head. "It seems David was able to -- somehow convince him of my -- innocence. I believe they are... involved."

"That would explain the sex noises from the neighbours," I said dryly, and it made him laugh softly, and relax more. I pressed my lips to his forehead gently, stroking his back gently. "Lets go wait in the suite for Buckner, all right? I'll make you a cup of tea?"

He gave me a grateful smile, leaning in to press his lips gently to mine, soft and sweet. "A cup of tea would be -- very nice."

~~~~~~~~

Daniel Schreber

Things settled down, for the most part, after the incident with Wolverton, though I had my work cut out for me. Though Jack tried to find the man through the cell phone that had been planted in the hotel, everything turned up in dead ends. I began counselling Wolverton - now Stephanie - twice daily, not knowing if I'd ever get the rest of the syringes back to give him a more age and gender appropriate imprint.

When I wasn't with Stephanie, I was with Free, who was making a much easier recovery of it. The tiny amount of chemical I had extracted from the imprint had taken, it seemed, just the right amount of time from him, so while he had been told about what had happened, he had no memory of experiencing it, and seemed to be getting back on his feet quite well.

The one I was most worried about was Brooks, the young boy that Athos had brought in near dead, who from what I had gathered was now at some point along the transformation-to-vampire scale, which was the only alternative to death. I'd managed to speak with him once, but David was barely letting the boy out of his sight, and never left him alone with anyone else, which wasn't particularly conducive to rape trauma counselling, so in the end I was forced to retreat. I had tried to speak with David about it, but was firmly and politely dismissed, and for the first time I began to see and understand the centuries old vampire hiding under the facade of a street punk... and I became rather glad that he was on our side.

Ben was alone in the suite when I returned from a morning of working with both, listening to what looked like one of Jack's tapes through headphones. He stopped it when he saw me, looking up at me with a smile. "No rest for the wicked, doc?"

I laughed softly, moving to perch beside him on the couch. "It does feel that way, sometimes. For you as well?"

He gave a little nod and a sigh, setting the headphones he'd been using on top of the tape recorder. "Unfortunately. Jack seems to think that we're missing something, some clue that'll lead us to our guy. I was going over Buckner's debrief... but there's not a goddamn thing."

He sounded a little frustrated, and I reached up to touch the side of his face gently. "I have a little paperwork -- to go through, but I am free -- after lunch?"

He quirked an eyebrow slightly, giving me the kind of salacious smile I usually only saw in private, and I felt the tips of my ears heat up, felt my heart beat faster. "It sounds like you could do with a healthy dose of R and R."

"And that is something that I -- will most definitely not get with you -- around," I said softly, having learned how much he liked it when I was shyly suggestive. He chuckled softly, leaning in to nuzzle my cheek, dropping soft kisses along my jaw, and I let my eyes fall closed, tilted my face into his kisses.

"I like the sound of that," he murmured softly, and his lips found mine, warm and yearning. I gave a soft sigh of pleasure, yielding to him without a second though, lips parting to a flick of his tongue. He caught my bottom lip between his - unexpected, but not unwelcome - sucking gently, teasing it with his teeth, and I whimpered softly against his mouth, fingers slipping into his hair to hold him to the kiss.

Behind me, someone cleared their throat softly at the entrance to the suite, and I jerked back quickly, feeling my cheeks burn in self consciousness. It was only Athos, however, who simply glanced at us and then disappeared into the kitchenette.

"Sorry," Ben said softly, brushing my lips lightly with the pad of his thumb. I smiled, but as he pulled his hand away, I froze. The scar on his palm... the one I had traced so many times with my fingertips, with my lips... was gone.

This wasn't Ben.

I felt nausea and panic all at the same time, and fought immediately to hide it, taking his hand and squeezing gently. "It is all right. We can continue later, yes?" I let my anxiety show in nervousness, in the burn of shyness on my cheeks.

"I'd like that," he said softly, and I leaned in to brush his lips with mine before pulling back, standing. "Let me finish my work and speak -- with Athos," I said, and turned from him, mind reeling at my realization, and wondering what the hell I could do about it without alerting him to the fact that I'd seen through his charade.

~~~~~~~~

Jack Bauer

We'd had Bob Wolverton - or what used to be Bob Wolverton - in custody for just under a week before our nameless foe decided to show his face, to try and infiltrate us, though I didn't realize it at first. I should have, had I been paying attention, had I considered the obvious possibility, when we all looked so similar. But when I entered the suite, nothing seemed particularly remiss. Daniel was at the desk reading through some of the info I'd pulled for him, focused on the paperwork.

Ben had settled on the couch with Athos perched primly on the arm, neither of them quite fully at ease, though I didn't blame them. The situation was strange, and far beyond any reality any of us could have imagined. The two were talking about 16th century France battle tactics, and I gave them a brief nod before joining Daniel at the table. "How are things going?"

"Jack...." He looked up at me, a little anxious. "There is something about -- the incident that I remembered. May I speak with you -- in private?"

There was a strange kind of terror in his eyes that I couldn't place, and I nodded slowly. "Of course. Your room?"

"Thank you." He turned for it, glancing back over his shoulder a little warily, relaxing a little once I'd shut the door behind us. "Jack - "

"Not here," I cut him off, speaking softly, taking his arm and pulling him into the washroom. I turned on the sink and the shower, then leaned in close, mouth to his ear, speaking as softly as I could. "I still don't know what kind of surveillance equipment he might have hidden here. I don't want to take any chances. The water will help mask our words."

He gave a tiny nod, then took a hold of my forearm, pushing the sleeve back to see my tattoo and the scars there, which seemed to satisfy him. He kept his voice low, hardly above a whisper. "Jack, that is -- not Ben out there."

I stiffened, realizing immediately that he spoke the truth. That that was what had been bothering me. "You sure?"

"Positive. The scar on his hand -- is missing. And he... he is not my Ben."

"Was he Ben when you woke up?"

Daniel flushed a little, and nodded. "But he left to pick up a few things -- this morning, and was gone for two hours...."

"Okay." I swallowed, thinking quickly. " Daniel. I need you to distract him for me."

He looked almost miserable. "Distract him...?"

"If he's trying to be Ben, he'll have to respond to you if he wants to keep his cover. Keep him in the main room, but keep his attention on you and get his back to the rest of the room."

"He has a gun, Jack...."

"I won't let him hurt you. I promise. Can you do this for me, Daniel? For Ben? We can't find him without subduing this guy, you know that."

He shivered against me, but gave a quick, sharp nod. "Give me a moment." He was still for a short time, and I felt his breath quicken. Then he pulled back, flushed and blinking back tears, speaking louder, moving to turn off the taps. "I've had enough -- of this. I will not answer any more of you -- questions, Jack!"

I caught his game, and played along without hesitation. "You're impeding the investigation. You're upset, and you're not thinking clearly."

"I'm not thinking -- clearly? Get out!" He marched from the washroom and I followed, watching him fling open the door of the room, that lead to the suite. "You insensitive -- bastard! You want to know what the hell -- happened? You have the -- damn tape! I'm not going over it again -- just for your personal -- satisfaction! Get out!"

He was flushed and breathless, and I was rather impressed by his acting ability, though I was sure the stress of the situation helped. "You're making a big mistake, Daniel."

"Get out!" He gasped after me again, then leaned back against the door frame, shivering, and pushed his glasses up to press the heels of his hands to his eyes with a soft sob. "Ben...."

The man looked up, a split second later than he should have were his name actually Ben, I observed, then moved to him, stepping close and speaking softly. "Did he hurt you?"

Daniel kept his head lowered, catching hold of Ben's shirt with trembling hands, breath coming in soft sobs. "No, no, he just -- asked me about -- I just can't talk about it, I...."

"Shhh..." he brought a hand up to touch Daniel's hair gently. "Let's get out of here, ok? Let's just go somewhere and leave this behind for now."

I glanced upward sharply. Was that his game, then? Separate us one by one?

Daniel shook his head a little, leaning in to rest his forehead against the fake Ben's, catching his other hand with his and clinging to it. Good boy. "No, no, I just... I just need a moment, please -- stay with me."

I started to move forward silently as he spoke, glancing at Athos and lifting a finger to my lips, praying the fake Ben wouldn't detect me. The pistol was easily accessible in the back of his pants, and I reached for it with my left hand, bringing my gun back at the same time with my right. Then, darting forward, I cracked it across the back of his head just as my fingers closed around the gun. The precaution didn't end up being necessary: he crumpled harmlessly at the blow.

Athos was on his feet in a flash. "What is this?"

"He's not -- Ben," Daniel said quickly, stepping back with a shivering sigh, eyes not leaving the man on the floor. "He's the one we've -- been looking for. Jack -- he must have taken Ben -- somewhere. How do we find him?"

I hefted the man, lifting him with only a little difficulty in a fireman's carry over my shoulders, not wanting to think the worst. "I'll get it out of him."

"Where are you -- taking him?"

"Someplace where he and I can have a little chat."

The doctor gave a sharp nod. "I'm going with you."

"You're staying here, Daniel."

His eyes narrowed slightly. "I'm going with you. I helped you -- catch him." I turned and started out the door without replying, heading for the empty room at the end of the hall. He followed me. "Jack. I am serious."

"Look," I replied back without stopping, "I need to do whatever it takes to find out where Ben is. If you're with me, it'll be harder to break him."

"I can -- help you."

I reached the end of the hallway and turned. "If you want to help me, get Buckner and McHenry down to the surveillance room to review the videos for the past hour few hours to see if we caught what happened on camera. And have someone find David and send him to me."

His lips pursed slightly, angrily for a few moments, then he gave a sharp nod. "All right. But when we get the -- information from him, I'm coming with you."

"Fine," I replied, then kicked open the door and took him inside. I kicked the desk chair into the middle of the room and let him tumble into it, then I cuffed his hands behind it, cuffs hooked through the rung of the chair. Then I drew the blinds and cut the ties off of them, using them to secure his ankles to the chair legs. Finally, I turned off the lights apart from one lamp, setting it in front of him and yanking the shade back to focus the light directly on him.

"Hey. Wake up." The vocal prompt didn't do anything, so I grabbed a glass of cold water from the bathroom, slapping him across the face before throwing it on him. "Wake up."

He came to with a shuddering gasp. "Jack? What the hell are you doing?"

"Game's up," I replied, not moving from my spot behind the lamp. "Next time you impersonate someone, you should check for scars."

He gave a soft laugh. "You have me there. Couldn't fake one of those."

"Where's Ben."

"Wouldn't you like to know?"

I drew the pistol from the back of my pants and cocked it. "Either you start talking, or I start shooting. Where is Ben?"

He leaned back in the chair. "You think you're so noble, don't you? You're just a thug, Jack. A government sanctioned thug. And that's what killed your wife and daughter."

I backhanded him without a second thought. "Where is Ben!"

"Go fuck yourself, Jack."

Calmly, I pressed the pistol to his thigh in just the right spot and pulled the trigger.

"Fuck!" His body jerked tense as the bullet pierced his thigh, shuddering and gasping for breath, trying to fight the pain for a few moments before finding the ability to yell at me. "You fucking shot me!"

"I told you I would. Now tell me where Ben is."

"You think you'll get the info if I'm dead?!"

I placed the heel of my hand on top of the bullet wound and pressed down, making him yell again, teeth clenched against the pain. "You would be surprised at what the human body can endure. I should know. So do both of us a favour and tell us what you did with Carson and where he is."

"How about you... untie me... and then chop your own balls off."

"TELL ME WHERE HE IS!" I backhanded him with the pistol, and when he raised his head, his lips were bloody, and it took a few slow breaths for him to stop shuddering and reply.

"Take the fire axe, wrap an elastic band around your testicles...."

I drew my hand back to hit him again, but was interrupted by a knock at the door, finally. David grinned at me when I opened it. "Hey, JB. You rang?"

I let him in. "You hungry?"

He surveyed the room and the figure tied to the chair. "You shot him in the leg? He's bleeding all over the place. What a waste." David moved toward him and swiped two fingers over the wound, making the man grunt in pain. Then he sucked the blood off. "Ug. Tastes like gunpowder."

"Well, it is a bullet wound. But I didn't aim for any major arteries, he's hardly bleeding now. Plenty left for you."

He grinned. "Good. Anything special way you want me to do this, Jack?" He took my hand as he spoke, then lapped the man's blood of my palm. I tried to ignore the soft pulse of desire it brought.

"The way that hurts, not the way that makes him hard. Just leave him alive, and draw it out as long and painfully as you can. I need him to talk."

"I can live with that." He closed his eyes for a moment, giving a soft, satisfied groan as his body -shifted- to something most definitely not human, something wild with claws and bright citrine coloured eyes, and he chuckled, low and throaty, lips curling back from razor sharp fangs. He let the man take this in for a few moments, then circled the chair slowly, twice, before stopping behind it, one clawed hand resting on his shoulder. "Are you going to tell us what we need to know?"

The man's voice held a tremor of pain, but stayed firm. "You don't need to know anything."

David looked positively gleeful. Clawed fingers caught the man's hair quickly and he darted in lightning quick to bite down at his neck, just for a moment, pulling back even as he was still screaming, tongue swiping over the blood left on quickly healing puncture wounds. "Mmm. I can do this all day if you want me to, Jack."

I regarded him calmly. "I will let him. Just tell us where to find Ben, and this stops."

"Fuck you both," he spat, trying to wrench his head from David's grasp.

The boy chuckled again, low and throaty, and even though he'd never displayed any serious aggression toward me, it still chilled my blood a little. He kept his hold on the man's hair easily, pulling his head back and leaning over to lick up the blood from his lips, then sunk his fangs into his cheek for just a touch longer than the last time before pulling back, still chuckling. "Don't fuck with us. You haven't seen even the beginning of what I can do to you."

He gave a harsh, gasping laugh. "So what if I do tell you? You'll kill me, or keep me locked up like Bob. I don't think so."

"We won't kill you," I said plainly. "We may be able to come to a mutual understanding about the rest, if you cooperate with us now."

"Like hell you will."

David dropped down into his lap, fangs inches from his face. "I can tell you what won't happen if you talk. You won't end up being tied to this chair as my personal blood bank day in and day out for the rest of your life." Then he darted in again, fangs piercing his neck again, making the man cry out and strain against the bonds on the chair, which I kept a careful eye on to make sure they held true.

There was a knock at the door, and I turned angrily. "We're busy."

"Let me in -- Jack. Now."

I glanced at David, who concentrated for a moment and shifted back, standing. Then I crossed the room and opening the door, resisting the urge to growl in frustration. "Look, Daniel - " I stopped, staring at who was with him. "Why is he - she here?"

"Have you broken him -- yet?" Daniel asked simply, staring back at me evenly.

"He'll talk soon enough," I replied with a frown. "Get her out of here."

"Let me try, Jack."

"You know as well as I do how good he is. You can't talk it out of him, Daniel."

"Let me try," he said again firmly, and I sighed.

"Fine. Ten minutes."

Daniel smiled coldly, then shouldered past me, towing Bob behind him. The figure in the chair looked up sharply, regarding them, but said nothing, so Daniel turned to Bob. "Stephanie. Thank you for -- coming with me. I know it is -- difficult for you, however this man -- can help us find the person responsible -- for what happened to you."

Bob looked noticeably distressed. "The man who hurt me? The one who has my mother?"

"That is correct. But he is not -- being cooperative. It would very much help us -- if you could tell him what happened to you and your brother, in as much detail -- as you can."

Bob shuddered, turning away and lowering his head. "I - I can't, Danny...."

Daniel turned to him gently catching his biceps in his hands, leaning close. "I know it's -- difficult, Stephanie. I would not ask if -- it was not important. Please."

Bob closed his eyes, then gave a little nod, speaking slowly, voice soft and trembling, and if I'd had any doubt before about the effects of the syringe he'd been injected with, they were gone now. Bob Wolverton was every inch a traumatized sixteen year old girl in everything but form and voice, outlining her kidnapping and the brutal rape of her younger brother, and I could see our captive grow paler, start to sweat as he spoke. Bob broke down in tears within five minutes, and Daniel touched his back gently.

"Shh, it is -- all right. That is enough for now, Stephanie." He glanced up. "David. Will you take Stephanie to see -- Nelson, and then return?"

The boy nodded, slipping an arm around his shoulders and starting for the door. "Come on sweetheart. Don't worry about a thing. You did good."

Daniel watched them go with a look of regret, then straightened, turning back to the man in the chair. "Mr. Whatever-your-name-is. I believe you were familiar -- with the former Mr. Wolverton?"

"What did you do to him?" The man asked simply, and Daniel smiled coldly, an expression that was almost as intimidating as David, taking one of his strange looking syringes from the breast pocket of his jacket.

"I trust this is -- familiar to you? You stole the others from me -- without knowing their value. They contain the entire contents -- of a human memory. A complete lifetime in a single -- syringe. Where I come from, we experiment on people. We change their identities -- every night. To see what makes them tick. So it seems that your -- analysis of me was incorrect. We are more alike -- than you can imagine."

The man stared at him evenly. "I don't change people's entire identities."

"No. You merely -- damage them. But no matter. Bob was, most unfortunately, an unavoidable -- situation. You had stolen my bag, and I only had two syringes -- with me." He held up the syringe. "This one belongs to -- her eleven year old brother. Would you like to -- become him?"

The man's eyes narrowed. "If you inject me with that, you'll never find Carson. Not before he starves to death."

Daniel shook his head. "I have the ability to -- recover and analyze your memories just as easily -- as I can replace them. But I would prefer to do this -- the easy way. Wouldn't you?"

The man was silent for a long moment. "You're bluffing."

"Perhaps. But your only other alternative is -- to spend the rest of your life not being able to get hard -- unless you are being anally violated -- by a large animal. Do you like Saint Bernards?"

"Bull. Shit."

Daniel looked up at me. "Jack. Please secure his head. Make sure he is -- entirely immobile."

I raised an eyebrow at him. "You can really do this?"

His face was completely schooled. "Of course. You know that I -- would not endanger Ben."

I nodded, moving behind the chair and putting the man in a headlock, tangling my free hand tightly in his hair to keep him from struggling. "Do it."

Daniel leaned in and raised the syringe. "Last chance."

"Go to hell!"

Daniel gave a little nod, placing one hand on his forehead. The metal fins of the syringe flipped out and the needle extended with a small mechanical whir, which I watched, fascinated. Then he centered the needle on the man's third eye and started to carefully press it into his skin.

"FUCK! STOP!"

Daniel froze, hand still on the syringe, not pulling it away. "Hold very still and tell me -- what you know, and you will be -- fine."

The man shuddered under me, gasping. "Mayflower building, downtown. Basement level. He's unharmed. Please don't do this."

"And where is my bag and -- syringes?"

"With him. I swear it."

Daniel paused for a moment, then removed the syringe carefully, twisting something on the bottom to make the needle retract, closing up the fins. "If you are lying, or if he is -- hurt, I will not stop next time. I promise you that."

The doctor glanced up at me, and I gave a sharp nod, tucking my pistol into the back of my pants. "Let's go." David returned at that moment, knocking softly, and I opened the door for him. "Stay here for a moment, I'll send someone in to watch him. Come meet us out front, I'll have a car running."

He nodded, and I started down the hallway, trusting Daniel to follow. "You did good. Were you bluffing?"

I heard a very soft, grim laugh. "A little. I would not have injected him. It would have entirely erased -- his memories, beyond recovery. But I knew he would crack, when presented with -- the evidence. His type is too attached to their -- sense of self."

I looked over at him as we reached the suite. "With the alternative you gave him, I think anyone would be."

"This is true," he replied plainly, but a hint of a smile played at the corners of his mouth. Then he looked at me seriously. "I am coming -- with you, Jack."

I hesitated, then nodded, swinging into my room and grabbing my extra pistol, handing it to him. "If a situation arises, don't get in my way."

He nodded seriously, pocketing the gun. "Thank you, Jack."

I stepped into the suite, to find that Athos had pushed aside the dining table to go through elaborate sword training routines. "Hey. Athos. I need you to take Nelson and his gear down to the end of the hall and see to the man there. Whatever you do and whatever he says, don't let him free. He is a traitor and extremely dangerous."

Nelson had settled in the suite while we were gone, and set down his book with a soft groan. "What the hell did you do, Jack?"

"I only shot him in the thigh. He'll live." I turned from the room to his muttered cursing, catching up to Daniel at the elevator, and headed downstairs.

~~~~~~