The Late Night Low Down Undead Blues

[disclaimer] This is a work of fiction. No challenge to existing copyrights
is meant, most notably whoever's got the rights to 'Re-Animator' the movie, and/or
whoever's got the rights to Lovecraft's canon. I think it's Chaosium these days.
Anyway, I'm not making money off this, and neither is anyone else. I'm only
in it for the amusement. [/disclaimer]


          Hallie had come to expect Cain turning up late for his tutoring sessions and leaving her
alone. And she had come to expect West turning up the moment the coffee began to
percolate. But she was not used to him turning up with a limp that she heard dragging the
whole way down the hall and his arms and neck scratched and torn.

          "Holy shit, West, what happened to you? You look like you lost a fight with a lawn
mower!"

          "It's nothing, " he shrugged, "Fell down the stairs."

          "Onto what, a porcupine?"

          "A box of croquet equipment, actually."

          "Jeez, be more careful next time."

          He looked off into the distance. "Oh, I'm taking some precautions."

          "I certainly hope so." On impulse, she reached out and brushed a scratch on his cheek.
"Are you sure you're okay?"

          "I'd be better if you didn't poke at my wounds, " he replied mildly.

          "Sorry."

          "No matter. Daniel's left again with Miss Halsey. Will you be staying to study?"

          "Not tonight. I've got a few library books to return, or else they'll come up past due
and I'll apparently be...What was that again?" She flipped the book open to the back
cover and strained to read the fine print at the bottom of the card envelope. "I will be fed
to a shantak. Whatever that means. It doesn't sound good, anyway."

          "Indeed."

          Again, surprising herself, she reached out to touch his cheek. "I'd better get going if I
want to make there before they close. Be careful, all right?"

          The look he gave her was unreadable, but his tone was still mild. "I'll do my best."

          Cain had ditched again. This time he'd left a hastily scribbled note that had taken her
fifteen minutes to puzzle out- apparently he was getting a jump start on reducing his
handwriting to the normal physician's scrawl- informing her that he was out again with
Megan for dinner and would proceed directly from there to his shift at the hospital.

          Hallie shrugged and fished a folder out of her backpack, stowing it under the note.
This had been happening more and more often of late, and she'd taken to leaving him a
typed summary of the chapters he was working on, with her own notes and sample
questions, and on the rare occasions where he did show up they went over any questions
he had. Apparently her strategy was working; Dr. Bierce had been as close to cheerful as
she'd ever seen him the last time they'd had a meeting. He was even talking about
recommending her for another, supplemental scholarship, which would mean that she
could quit half her tutoring jobs next semester and possibly- dare she think it?- get a day
off.

          The noise of the cellar door hitting the wall jolted her out of her reverie, and she
reached for the baseball bat Cain had taken to keeping on the counter. The words echoing
through the hall were definitely human, though, and most of them would have made a
sailor blush.

          She set the bat back down as West came snarling through the doorway, snatching up
an empty glass from the drainboard.

          "Is something wrong?"

          His glare felt like a physical blow. "Yes, actually, " he snapped, enunciating each word
clearly as though to a child, "I am stymied in my current line of research. I am on the
verge of a solution- it is within my reach, but I am unable to see it clearly. I am distracted
and angry, and I find nothing more intolerable than those moments when my reason will
not obey my will."

          Hallie looked him over slowly. "Mm."

          "What do you mean, 'Mm'? I am on the verge of a breakthrough that will change life
as we know it, if I could concentrate enough to find the solution, and all you can say is
'Mm' ?"

          The glass shattered in the sink, and he turned away violently.

          "I happen, " Hallie said calmly, and West paused in the doorway, "To have heard of a
good cure for writer's block. Scientist's block. Whatever."

          West turned to look at her patronizingly. "And that would be...?"

          Hallie shrugged and looked away. "Sex. Or, more specifically, orgasm."

          West blinked.

          "I don't have time for this, " he said finally, "I have serious research to accomplish."

          "No, seriously! I'm not being flippant. From what I've read, it releases endorphins in
the brain, eases tensions, is good for headache-"

          "Yes, yes, I've read the material. What do you suggest? That I masturbate until my
mind is clear? Or are you volunteering to join me in my room so that we can rut like
animals? The fate of humanity, saved via a quick fuck."

          "West, you smooth talker you, " Hallie snorted, "When you put it so romantically, how
can I say no?"

          West picked up a plate that had been left in the dish drainer. "Right, I've had enough
of this. You can see yourself out."

          Hallie took a deep breath. "I'm...I'm not kidding."

          He paused in mid-throw. "I beg your pardon?"

          "Look, you're pretty obviously wound up, and you said yourself you can't get any work
done. Doesn't it make more sense to try something that might help you, rather than
waiting around and hope that it goes away on its own?"

          "And I am to believe that you are actually volunteering to go to bed with me in order
to facilitate my research."

          "I...something like that, yeah. Mostly because I'd like to on its own merits, but the
research thing is a useful side effect."

          West sighed, running a hand through his hair. The anger drained out of his face,
leaving him looking very tired. "All right."

          Hallie blinked. "All right?"

          "Did I stutter?" he snapped, "Unless you're backing out now."

          "No, I- I'm just a little surprised, that's all. I thought it would take more to convince
you."

          "I am staring defeat in the face simply because I cannot concentrate. It would not take
much at the moment to convince me to try self-trepanation. Your suggestion is much
more practical, and, it goes without saying, slighty preferable."

          "Wow, you're willing to admit that sex is better than a hole in your head? Try to curb
your enthusiasm."

          West rolled his eyes and led her down the hallway.