Blueblood

Story: Blueblood

Chapter 13 Getting Willie Back

Author: Eric McQueen (mcqueen.richarderic@gmail.com)

Adult Readers, Sexual Situations, Sex

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Getting Willie Back

As good as things were going we didn't hunt every night, so the following night we left VUN before sunset to check on Willie. Colin and I discussed it and Colin decided that Willie had to come with us. He couldn't stay hidden forever. As Colin explained before, Willie really didn't have a day and night. He was a vampire, but content to stay in the old, abandoned tunnels and never left. He woke when he woke and hunted when he was hungry. We got to the old, abandoned ticket office for the abandoned portion of the track. Colin knew where the key was left since he was the one that put it there all those decades ago and Willie never changed where it was stored. He wasn't there. Colin took the time waiting to...straighten up? It was going to be messy, so why bother? He was careful not to disturb Willie's treasures. Then I figured, what the Hell? I helped straighten up. It was something to do while we waited. It was later when we heard someone down here. Colin went to the door and saw Willie pushing his shopping cart full of new treasures he'd have to sort through and place.

"Hello, Willie," Colin said leaning on the door jamb as he spoke softly to the man so he wouldn't scare Willie.

Willie looked up and nodded. "Hello, Colin." He looked at me and looked a little confused. He thought a few seconds, but had a problem, but said. "And Colin's husband." He thought a second. "What was your name again?"

I smiled. He really was a sweet man. "I'm Devon, Willie."

"Devon." Willie nodded and then he looked puzzled again at Colin. "Weren't you just here?"

"No, Willie," Colin said stepping aside to let Willie and his cart by. "It's been a few weeks."

This time, Willie looked more confused. "Has it?" Then he shook his head. "Seems like yesterday to me."

Colin sighed and pinched his nose in frustration. "Okay." He took a deep breath. "The reason I'm here...you aren't safe here, Willie."

Willie looked surprised. "I'm not? Why?"

"Because they can come down here any moment and you'd have to run away!" Colin stressed. "Where would you go? Willie, you won't survive up there! Not without help. Can't you see that?"

"I'm not leaving." Willie shrugged and said simply.

"If someone from the city comes down here and discovers you, you'll die! They will find out what you are and see you as a threat." Colin said pleading. "...it will happen. This isn't a life, Willie. You will die. Either you come with me, or we bring you to the surface at dawn, I'll give you a kiss good-bye and you can walk into the sunlight!" Colin sounded like this was hitting him hard as his voice broke a little.

Willie was now looking panicked at Colin's insistence. "If I do that, I'll die!"

"You'll die if you stay!" Colin said. "Any way you deal with this as what you are. You are a vampire! You will die one way or another!"

"But you'll kill me if I don't go?" Willie asked in shock.

"I'm trying to save your life, Willie!!" Now Colin was shedding tears. "I love you, Willie! You mean more to me than my own father. He died nearly 180 years ago! You were with me for decades! I'm trying not to lose another father. In many ways, you are that father!" He walked closer to Willie. "I am begging you, accept my help, please. You won't be safe here forever. I want you around." He took Willie's shoulders. "All those years ago, you saw this person, barely alive, struggling to make it and took pity on him. You saved my life, Willie! Let me save yours." He pleaded. "We spent all those years hiding and we're still hiding. You're in danger if you remain here. We up there are still hiding, but we have other places to go now. You don't. Come with us. Please."

Willie was now shaking. "I can't." He said softly. "I can't go out there. I'm not right!" Willie said and would be crying if he had tears. "You think I don't know I'm not right? I confuse time, I sometimes remember things and other times, I can't! Before, when I did live up there, I wasn't wanted then! No one wanted me then and certainly not now."

"I do, Willie," Colin said as tears came more. "I mean what I say, I love you, Willie. If something happens to you and you die...and I could have done something to stop it...how will I feel if I don't insist!? I will be destroyed if you're killed, and you will be destroyed if I don't do something." Colin smiled. "Here's what you said to me many times. This is what's happening and here's how it's going to work. You're coming with me away from this Hell you've lived in all for almost a century." He grabbed Willie in a hug. "I will take care of everything, Willie. I'll get you out of here. You'll come back with the others like us..." he looked back at me. "...which includes Devon. There are others there who know what we are and don't care. They know we're not the threat. They will love you, Willie. Just as I do."

I nodded with a smile, having to brush a tear that was coming from my own face. "I'm beginning to, Willie."

"I'll take you somewhere safe. You can take the serum or not, I don't care, but you have got to be out of here." Colin said. "If you love me at all, please, let me do this."

Willie looked very uncertain now. "I do love you. I always did, but..." he pointed to the roof of the tunnel. "Out there!?"

Colin nodded. "I'll be with you the whole time, Willie." Then he smiled. "If you take the serum..." he grinned. "...I'll buy you a steak."

Willie looked surprised and you could see his mind trying to remember. "A steak?"

"They are delicious. I'll buy you one every day! Hell, two a day. Three even! Anything you want. Whatever, you have to come with us. Please!"

Now, Willie really was shaking. You could see the terror he had at the very idea of going out there. I touched Colin's arm making him look at me. "You said medicines affect us? Maybe George can come down here and give him something to calm him down?"

Colin nodded. "He can." He looked at Willie. "But I won't lie to you, Willie. I know the idea is scary, but you need to do this. I'll get George down here and he can give you something. You'll go to sleep here and wake up safe somewhere else." Colin looked into his eyes closer. "Please. Don't you trust me? I would never hurt you; you know that. Please."

Willie was now looking very uncertain. "I'm not right." He said again weakly.

"Who cares?" Colin smiled. "You're right by me. So, you confuse today with yesterday and other times. I don't care! I love you, Willie. I promise to take care of you." Colin bowed slightly. "I should have done this sooner because you can't stay here." He pleaded. "Not anymore. Say you'll come with us."

Willie was wavering at last. "They'll make fun of me. They always did. That bomb when I was in the war messed me up." He pounded on his own head.

Colin shook his head. "No, you're not messed up, not really. You're a good man, Willie. I don't just love anyone. You're my father. Believe me. I would never hurt you. I'll make sure, no one will make fun of you." He smiled again. "You can meet my daughter."

"Gabriella!?" Willie smiled. "That was so long ago. Even I know that."

"She's a vampire, too." Colin nodded. "She's alive and out there. I know she'll love you."

Willie looked at his collection. "What about my treasures?"

"We'll take it with us," Colin swore. "I'll make sure everything is packed very carefully and everything will come with us. You can arrange them in your room." Colin was getting excited that Willie was giving in. "I promise, it will all be there. If you take the serum..." he said very seriously. "It will hurt at first. I won't lie." He pulled up his pants leg to show his calf. "But not always. I don't anymore and can go in the sun. If you decide not to, fine. I'll build a room for you and all you need to do is come out at night. There is blood available without hunting. A friend, John Burke has these animals that give some good blood." He smiled. "I've had it and it's damned good. I'll make sure you have enough."

Willie looked at Colin. "And you won't leave me?"

"Never again," Colin nodded. "I'll be there. If just down the hall, but I'll always be there."

Willie was still shaking, but he nodded.

"Call George," Colin said to me without looking.

I had my phone out smiling. "On it." I realized there were no bars for any signal. "I'll go where there's Wi-Fi."

Colin looked back at me. "Thank you."

I grinned and leaned in kissing him quickly. "You did it all, but you're welcome." I leaned closer to his ear. "You're a good man, Colin."

I went back out to the platform and called George.

"Yes, what's up?" George asked casually.

"Colin's convinced Willie to come to VUN," I said.

There was a pause and then a chuckle. "If anyone could, Colin could."

"Colin said something about giving him something to calm him down. Perhaps put him to sleep until we get him there."

"That would be best," George said. "He never comes out from the underground. The world will be a shock for Willie."

"We had the same problem with Gabriella," I said remembering. "You can do it?"

"Give me an hour," George said. "I'll be there."

"You might bring a van." I chuckled. "Willie wants his treasures secured and moved."

George laughed. "Oh, yes, his treasures. We'll be there. We'll need help moving his treasures."

"You know where," I said.

"I do. See you soon."

Going back to Colin and Willie, I saw Colin sitting what Willie had for a bed. At least it was a bed. Colin was softly trying to tell Willie it would be okay. Willie was still very worried and not certain.

"George will be here in about an hour," I told Colin who smiled and nodded.

I watched as I saw how close they were. Colin had told me some of it. Willie was more a father to him than his real father. Willie never left Colin. He never died. For decades Willie had helped Colin get along down here and survive. There was more to a vampire's life than just taking blood, though that was a big part of it. Colin didn't kill a man to get his blood, he assisted to die, yes, but never killed. He would have become one of those hunter vampires we ended without much thought because he was alone. If anything, Willie helped keep Colin's purpose. Colin wouldn't have died, not physically, but the man inside would have died from being alone. Colin had survived for decades before he got here, but Willie helped Colin stay human. Colin did the same for Willie.

Having been a medic in the military, I recognized the damage done during the war. I suspected that was the case with Willie. Post-Traumatic Stress, Shell Shock and probably a head injury that never would heal as a vampire. During the first World War, they didn't have treatments for these disorders. I walked over to Willie.

He looked up at me, he jutted his head toward Colin. "You married him!?" He asked me as if the idea of marrying Colin was hard to believe. "It's about time someone broke through his thick exterior. He was so stubborn and...moody."

"Was he always that way?" I asked smiling a little.

Willie nodded. "More so. Can you believe it?" He grinned. "When I first encountered Colin, he'd just gotten here. I had been down here a while. He was much darker inside, in his soul. It was a few weeks or more before he even spoke to me." Willie laughed. "When he did, I realized he was from the South. I had no idea!"

I smiled. "But he did speak?"

Willie nodded. "Usually a word, maybe a sentence...not much." He shrugged. "It was nice. I wasn't alone anymore."

Colin frowned. "And you won't be now anymore. I promise."

Willie nodded, but he looked at Colin. "I'm scared."

Colin took his hand and squeezed it. "I know. It will be fine. You'll see."

We didn't talk too much after that until I heard someone move outside the ticket office. I saw George come in followed by four others. They had two crates with them. George came up the platform and came in the office carrying a little cooler.

"Hi, Willie." George greeted.

Willie looked at him and nodded. He looked again at George like he'd forgotten something. "Was your hair always that red?"

George chuckled. "Always has been." He nodded as he brought out a small kit from his pocket. He pulled out a loaded syringe. "This is for the best, Willie. As a vampire, the only circulation will be done by venom. Venom only circulates after feeding, so..." he opened the cooler and pulled a bag of blood. He inserted the needle in a port on the bag and shot the liquid in the blood. George handed Willie the bag. "It's good blood, or so I'm told."

Willie took the bag. I don't think he'd ever seen a bag like it before. Colin took the bag and showed him where to get the blood out. "Just suck here." He smiled and patted Willie on the arm. "He's right. It is good blood. I've had it."

"And I won't be hurt?" Willie asked hesitantly.

"No." Colin nodded.

Willie took a sip, and I watched his eyebrows rise. "Hey! This is good." He drank faster. "I thought for a second, I was getting the shot." He chuckled.

George chuckled. "You have no heartbeat. The only thing circulating is the venom once you feed. It's the only way."

Willie took Colin's hand. "I hope I'm doing what's best."

"You are." Colin nodded.

It wasn't long before Willie was looking sleepy. "I feel strange."

George nodded. "You're supposed to. Just relax."

Willie nodded. "Okay."

It took a few more minutes and Willie was asleep. Getting Willie ready was a little more time-consuming. A pair of men loaded Willie on a gurney I hadn't noticed them bring in. Then they began getting Willie's treasures together.

"Be careful with those." Colin urged. "They're important to Willie."

They nodded and began packing the crates carefully.

I took Colin's hand. "You're doing the right thing, Colin."

Colin smiled. "It will be more difficult for him than it was for Gabriella. We need to be careful."

I kissed him. "But he won't be in danger now. You will be with him."

Colin nodded. "I love you." He bumped his head gently against mine.

"I know."

Getting Willie back was not hard...well...it was hard maneuvering things back up. What impressed me was George had things planned out perfectly. Two of the men he brought with him were in EMT uniforms. The other two were dressed as city transit employees, complete with badges! When we came out on the platform, there was a cop that saw us and stopped us.

"What's going on here?" The policeman asked seeing the gurney.

George smiled. "Well, this man was found in an abandoned portion of the subway. I'm taking him to the hospital to have him checked out." He pulled his American Medical Association badge. "I'm Doctor Holms. He'll be a patient for a while."

The cop frowned looking closer at Willie. "Geez, he doesn't look alive!"

George shrugged. "He won't be if we don't get him treated."

The cop nodded. "Yeah, sure." He waved us on. "Go, go!"

It was night, so Willie was fine when we got him in the van and took him to VUN. Getting him upstairs we put him in a room that was completely enclosed. No windows here, so when the sun came up, he'd be fine.

I looked around the white painted brick room. "It's a little sterile in here." I looked at Colin. "Where are they taking Willie's treasures?"

Colin stood up thinking. "I guess storage for now. Until Willie decides to take the serum or not. He'll have a room, but it will be with us. You and me." He cocked his head at me. "You do know that, right?"

I looked at in mock horror. "What!? I had no idea I'd be living with a vampire!" I grabbed Colin and brought him in a hug. "Of course, he will live with us. You didn't bargain with having my mother live with us."

Colin chuckled as he kissed me. "Well, I didn't expect the woman that showed me my own property would be living with me, but I get her son. It is more than a fair bargain."

I nodded and said seriously. "I know this man is your father. Where else should he live?" I patted Colin on the chest. "Now, about those treasures. Is there any particular one he favors?"

He chuckled. "Pretty much all of them. Those crystal goblets he always kept clean. That porcelain doll."

I nodded. "I'll get those and some others." I waved at the room where there was a bed and a couple of chairs and that was it. "This place needs...something. Something familiar to him."

I spent the next few hours getting the things he loved and other assorted others. As I was walking back to the room where Willie was and I ran into Gabriella.

"Hi, Devon. Where's Dad?" She asked.

I smiled at her. "Well, he's busy." Should I tell her? "Has Colin ever mentioned Willie to you?"

"Willie?" She asked.

I laughed a little and patted her arm. "Maybe you should come with me," I said and led her back to the room. Opening the door, I saw that Willie had awakened and was talking to Colin a little groggy but talking. Colin was sitting on the side of the bed holding Willie's hand.

"...I told you, I'd take care of you, and I will." Colin said looking up and smiling at me and Gabriella. "Hi, Gabby!" He stood and waved at Willie. "Gabriella, this..." he smiled at Willie. "...is your grandfather."

Her eyes widened. "My grand..." then she frowned. "That's neither Grampa nor Grand. I knew your dad, I met Mom's dad and he isn't either one." Then she smiled. "Unless there's something you haven't told me."

Colin chuckled. "Well...he isn't your mother's or my father...physically. When I came up here to New York, this man took care of me for decades. He's more my father than Grandpa ever was. So, he is your grandfather."

Willie sat up a little more, but he was shielding his eyes. "Can we turn the lights off or something?" He asked. "I can't see well."

I nodded. "Sure." I went to the wall and pulled the switch I knew would dim the lights. "I guess living in almost perpetual darkness, this would be difficult."

Willie looked at Gabriella now. He smiled. "She's lovely!"

Gabriella approached a little hesitant. He was dressed like the homeless, in layers and as Colin said, the only real growth was our fingernails and hair. His black and grey head needed a haircut and a shave. He didn't always shave, so he had a few days growth on his face that was mostly white. She stuck her hand out to Willie. "It's a pleasure to meet you. Willie, wasn't it?"

Willie nodded. "That's me." He looked around. "Is everyone here a vampire?"

Colin looked a little sheepish. "No, the four men that helped us move you were fully human. George you knew as a vampire. Gabriella and Devon are. There are a few others here, but mostly they're human."

Willie wasn't as anxious as I thought he would be, but he wasn't at ease yet. I had a feeling he was staying calm on purpose, but maybe not feeling it.

"Is this too much for you right now, Willie?" I asked.

Willie looked a little embarrassed. "A little." He nodded.

I took Gabriella's hand. "We need to give him some space now. You'll be seeing him a lot more later." I said to her.

Gabriella looked confused. "What's wrong?"

I leaned next to her. "I'll explain," I said taking her out of the room. Outside I smiled. "He's a sweet man and loves Colin a lot," I explained. "But he's been isolated for several decades underground in New York's abandoned subway."

Gabriella nodded. "And?"

"He was damaged in World War One," I explained. "He forgets things and his ability to track time is a little...faulty."

Gabriella looked sad and held a pitying look and then back at the door. "Oh, that poor man."

I smiled as she said that. "Colin says he saved his life when he came up here."

Gabriella nodded. "Okay. I guess Daddy loves and trusts him. Therefore, important to him."

I nodded. "Very."

"Then I'll get to know him," Gabriella said smiling. "I know he must be special with Daddy's ability to sense people." She looked at me. "I know what it's like to have the world be different. If you need help..."

I pulled her in kissing her on the cheek. "I knew you would." I grinned. "Just give him a few days. I don't even know if he'll take the serum."

Gabriella nodded, understanding. "It's not easy, as you know. I'll be available." She said and turned to leave.

I nodded as she walked off. I went back to the room with Colin and Willie. Willie was having a little more trouble now as he was shaking.

"...I can't do this." Willie said upset. "This isn't my home."

Colin sighed and rubbed his back gently. "Neither was that subway office. You were at home there for so long and not here yet. Give it a chance, Willie."

"I'm trying!" Willie almost cried. "It doesn't feel right."

"What's wrong with it?" Colin asked.

Willie shook his head. "I don't know."

I frowned for this could be a problem. "Should I get George?"

Colin nodded. "Please."

Once again, George came and gave him...whatever, mixed in the blood he had on hand and got Willie to go to sleep.

I watched Colin's face and it was full of stress thinking about what to do. He would refuse to leave, so I didn't ask him. "Colin, what did you plan for Willie if he didn't take the serum? Is there a room for him?"

Colin shook his head. "I was going to make one."

I nodded. "We're starting that room now." I looked at the cinder brick room, it was better now with some of his treasures. "We need furniture and other things. No harsh overhead lights, some softer indirect lights. It still looks sterile. We can work on building a room in our apartment..."

Colin grinned coming to me and pulling me into a hug. "I love you, Devon."

I grinned. "Now you tell me!? All this time I thought it was all about sex."

Colin's eyebrows waggled. "There's that, too." He said kissing me deeply.

I chuckled. "I love you, Colin."

He embraced me tightly. "I know you do."

Colin was staying with Willie and Colin had become such a constant presence in my life, I missed him. Stupid, huh? Willie was important to Colin, and I would be there when needed, but I wasn't needed right now. I went to see Stan and Mark.

It was still dark out and I wasn't sure they were up or doing something else. As cautious as Stan was about Mark's injury, I didn't think they were doing something else yet. I came to their door again and I saw it was cracked open again. Did they ever shut the door? Peering in, I saw Stan leaning over Mark, who was lying on the bed, but they were kissing. Stan was kissing Mark very deeply and Mark was returning the kiss with equal passion. Mark was pulling Stan closer. I knocked on the door and saw Stan try to stand up quickly, but Mark, unashamed, wasn't letting him go.

I chuckled. "The door was open," I said lightly leaning on the door jamb. I shrugged. "That was a pretty good kiss. A little PG but getting to the R rating. If you were thinking of going X, you might want to close the door. Triple X and definitely close the door."

With Stan's fair complexion he began to turn pink immediately. Mark however just smiled as he refused to let Stan's hand go as he shrugged. "It was spur of the moment."

I nodded. "Colin and I have those spur of the moments a lot."

Stan nodded grinning. "So, I noticed."

I came in further. "So, what's the word on how you're doing, Mark?"

Mark grinned. "I've been up and moved around some today. I should be up tomorrow longer." He looked a little irritated at Stan. "If he lets me."

Stan shrugged. "You push too hard, Mark. All I said was to take it easy."

Mark nodded. "And then was stuck to my side the whole way." He chuckled.

"I didn't want you to get weak and fall." Stan pointed out logically.

Mark grinned. "I know." He looked behind me and then looked puzzled. "Where's Colin? I didn't think you two could travel alone."

I smiled sadly. "Well...there's another man in his life."

Stan and Mark now were very curious, looking with equal looks that said, you're kidding.

"He had a man that looked out for him back in the 1920s or 1930s...he is like a father to Colin," I explained. "We brought him into the VUN."

Mark nodded slowly. "I see."

"You will see hopefully soon." I grinned. "Right now, Colin is with him until they decide what to do."

Now Stan did not understand what the indecision was about. "What is there to decide? He takes the serum." He said simply with a shrug.

I gave a shrugging nod. "Well, he's sort of...different. He's special." I then explained what I felt I could share about Willie. I was beginning to feel like I was intruding on Stan and Mark. So, I ended it with. "I hope you know you can freely express affection between each other around here. There's no one here that will bother you about it." I chuckled and added. "As long as it's PG."

Mark grinned. "I think we can keep it under control."

I went back to Willie's room where he was still asleep. Colin was still there, waiting. Colin looked up at me and gave a sad smile.

"I'm sorry we're not spending more time together," Colin said.

I smiled. "We've got a good life and a long time to spend together. This is important to you." I came over and kissed him. "I understand." I looked around the room. "Now, I need to get some things in this room." I was starting to go and get some things when Colin stopped me.

"Thank you for understanding, Devon. This is going to be hard for Willie."

I nodded and pulled the only other chair over and sat by Colin. "What he needs is space," I explained. "How many people did he deal within a day, a week or even a month?"

Colin shrugged. "Practically none."

I held my finger up. "That's the first thing and what was his routine on a daily basis?"

"Get up, find his needed blood and go hunting for his treasure," Colin said.

I nodded. "And now he's off that routine. I think, for now, we should limit Willie to just you, me, George and maybe Gabriella. I will get this room set up with more things. He was used to that clutter of the ticket office." I chuckled. "We'll have the lights off except for the indirect lighting to make it darker. We'll slowly add more people, but he needs something to do." I explained. "Tonight, while most everyone is gone for the day, we can bring him out and take him around here. Show him what it's like here and get him used to VUN. Keep him occupied." I shrugged. "He might even consent to let George examine him. I can't help but think he had a brain injury back during the war. That and PTSD."

Colin nodded. "You think he has Post traumatic Stress?"

I nodded. "I'd almost bet the farm on it." I frowned. "If there's something that can be treated...if he does have a brain trauma...there are medications, but I don't know if George has given medications like that to a vampire."

Colin listened and nodded, but he was smiling more. "I guess we'll see." He looked at Willie. "He was fine underground. He felt safe. Now, he doesn't."

I kissed Colin again. "I know you'll do whatever you have to, to make him feel safe again. I'll start getting some things up here."

I spent several hours getting some furniture up in the room. I got a few lamps and turned the overhead lights out. Willie woke as I was working but seemed a little more relaxed. Tables and a desk were brought in, and I even brought in a TV. I wondered if he even knew what it was for. There were radios back when he was human...I thought. I even got his needed blood. Colin and I ate in the room with Willie.

I looked at Willie who was looking at the tray I wheeled in on a cart. His eyes grew when he saw how much I managed to bring.

"What's that?" Willie asked, but his nose was sort of turned up.

"Colin's and my dinner," I explained. "Colin eats a lot." I chuckled. I removed the cover and showed the two steaks on a plate. "This is Colin's." I removed the other cover and my single steak. "This is mine." Complete with the baked potatoes and all the stuff that goes on it.

Willie leaned forward and shook his head. "It doesn't smell right."

Colin nodded. "Well, if you decide to take the serum, it will." He pulled his steaks over and began to cut some of his and took a bite, relishing the taste. "Man, this tastes so good!" He said with a mouth still full of steak he was still chewing. He looked at Willie and smiled. "I hope you're feeling better about being here."

Willie nodded. "I'm getting there." He looked at the room. "Your husband was nice to make it more comfortable for me."

Colin nodded drinking his iced tea and frowned. "I told them before, sweet, iced tea." He shook his head. "Northerners." He got the sugar packets out and dumped the sugar in and stirred. Drinking it he still shook his head. "It's not the same. Only Southerners make good, sweet, iced tea." Then he sat back. "Are you cold, Willie?"

Willie shook his head. "We don't really get cold."

"I can now. What I'd like..." Colin began, "...I'm going to get some clothes for you." Then he chuckled. "You could use a haircut. Or just a good combing."

Willie's eyes widened as he touched his hair that was clean, but below his ears and little haphazard. "I usually just cut it myself." He rubbed his chin. "I guess I should shave, too."

Colin nodded. "You've met Gabriella. She used to cut my hair. She can cut yours if you'd like her to."

Willie nodded. "Sure."

Colin smiled. "There's a bathroom down the hall I've taken you to. I'll take you there and you can shave, shower and change. Does that sound good?"

Willie smiled. "With hot water?"

Colin nodded. "Lots of hot water."

Willie nodded and looked at me. "I sometimes didn't even bother. I had to heat up the water I used, so sometimes I just dealt with cold water."

"You don't have to now," I pointed out. "There are some nice things about the world. I hope you'll become more a part of it."

Willie nodded and looked at Colin. "I'm glad you came back." He said softly. "I'm glad you care about me."

Colin smiled sadly and took Willie's hand. "I always will. I was gone a while, but I'm never leaving you again."

I said before if Willie had tears, he probably would be shedding them.

Later we took Willie down the hall to the bathroom. I made sure there was no one in the hall or in the bathroom before we took him. Willie was looking at the hall and ceiling with those overhead lights. These modern lights and things were new to him. The hall was like Willie's room had been, clean, but kind of sterile. White. Colin had managed to get some clothes for Willie, guessing at his sizes. Willie looked at the big bathroom that had several shower stalls. I started the water and got it warm. I showed him how to increase the heat or turn it down and then handed him the soap and shampoo. The concept of modesty probably didn't occur to Willie now. He began taking his clothes off immediately. I had been wrong about Willie. He wasn't in his late fifties or early sixties when he was turned. With his clothes off, I saw he was younger. Shave off about ten more years because what I saw wasn't what I assumed. We were all male, so he just took his clothes off without thinking about it, but what I saw was a man that had been in the military, and he had definition in his muscles. He was a vampire, so that didn't change. He was about ten years older than Colin and he wasn't a bad looking man. I looked at Colin. "I'll go talk to Gabriella and ask her if she can cut his hair."

Colin nodded.

I got Gabriella and I took her to the bathroom. I peered inside to see Willie was done and dressed from the waist down and told them she was here. Bringing Gabriella in the men's bathroom she walked up to Willie.

"Would you like a haircut?" Gabriella asked Willie. "I'll even shave you if you like."

He smiled. "Sure."

She sat him down, took out the sheers she'd brought and began shaping it up and with a straight razor she shaved him. I was startled when I looked at Willie. He was not an old man at all! Dressed now from the waist down, hair cut neatly, dark brown on top with grey at his temples and few grey in the hair near his temple and ears, but his chest showed muscles. The hair removed from his face made him look much, much younger! He might have tempted me! But I had Colin and wanted no one else, but he was a very nice-looking man!

"Damn, Willie!" I smiled big as I looked at him. "You must have been a real ladies man!" I grinned. "You're beautiful!"

Willie's eyes grew. "What!? No, I'm not." He chuckled. "I haven't done anything like that in a long time. Even I know that has been a long time."

Colin grinned. "Then we can make up for it. You have time."

Willie frowned. "With this brain," he tapped his head again. "...who'd want to have anything to do with me?"

I walked over to Willie and put my hand on his shoulder. "There are people here that would love to have something to do with you, Willie. The brain part we can work on. I'm sure there's something we can do. I've dealt with the military, and I know what can happen. There are treatments now. I promise to help you. You're a very nice man. You're kind and you have a good heart. Colin loves you. I can say I love you too now."

Gabriella nodded. "I like you. I'm getting to the love part." She smiled. "I can honestly say. It won't be long until I do love you."

I nodded. "My point is no one should be alone. You know that. Colin has an almost sixth sense about people and he loves you."

Willie smiled and looked at Colin. "Yeah, he does." Then he grinned, he looked at Colin and me. "But I don't bend that way." He waved his finger back and forth from me to Colin.

Colin burst out laughing. "Don't knock it till you try it, Willie." He grabbed me from behind. "Besides, we're taken." He wrapped his right arm around me and held up his left hand to show his wedding ring. I held my left hand to show a matching ring.

"Whatever you decide to do." I continued going back to Willie. "You know Colin and I will be beside you. You're family. Whether you were born to it or not. You are family."

"And that includes me." Gabriella nodded and added. "Grandpa."

Willie smiled and thought a minute. "That serum hurts, doesn't it?"

Colin nodded. "It will at first. Yes. I won't lie. You'll be tired after the pain goes away. It does for the first few days while your heart is restarted."

Gabriella smiled and leaned down to Willie. "But you'll see the sunshine again. It's a scary world, but it's also beautiful." She showed the back of her arm where her disc was inserted. "After a week or so, you'll be given one of these and the pain stops. You'll get a life back. We all have."

Willie nodded standing. "Let me think a little more, but..." he nodded and then looked at Colin. "I trust you, Colin. You think I should take it." It wasn't a question.

Colin nodded. "I want you happy, Willie." He hugged Willie. "If you take it or not." He held Willie back a little. "I'm not letting you go again."

Willie nodded. "I'll let you know." He scowled at Gabriella. "Grandpa!?"

We headed back to Willie's room. Gabriella walked ahead with Willie as they talked. He looked so...different. After he'd gotten cleaned up he looked almost human again. His eyes still needed moisture and his overall skin needed moisture, but he looked good.

"He's doing well," I said to Colin quietly.

Colin nodded. "He is...for now." He said sadly.

I was not prepared for that. "For now!?"

Colin nodded. "He has...these moments." He looked for words to tell me. "He's fine right now. He has these moments when he just...phases out. He gets...this look and he's unresponsive. When he comes out of it...his loss of time is worse, and he can't seem to hold on to anything." He tapped his own head. "His thoughts are scattered."

I looked at Colin. "That sounds like PTSD! Are there triggers?"

"Triggers?"

"These triggers usually is something that will bring on an episode. A sound or even a smell will throw them back into...whatever he experienced." I explained. "Don't see me as an expert, I'm not claiming to be one, but many veterans will be thrown back to...whatever trauma they went through."

"What can we do?" Colin asked.

I thought before I said anything. "There's a website on dealing with PTSD. Willie's been dealing with this himself; like his need to be alone most of the time; his lapses with memory and time." I patted Colin's arm. "I'll get one of the tablets."

Going to the website, there were things suggested to deal with Willie. So far, we were doing what was needed. The part about him being a vampire had its own problems and complications. This was unknown territory.

We stayed with Willie a while when I noticed Colin begin to nod. He'd been up for over twenty-four hours. So, had I. I knew Colin wouldn't leave, so I went to one of the other rooms we had for holding people and got a second twin bed and wheeled it in Willie's room. Colin saw what I was doing and gave a small smile.

"Good idea," Colin said looking over at Willie who was lying on his side away from us and drifting off himself. He stretched smiling. "I am beat." He walked over kissing me. "I know you are."

I nodded. "We maybe vampires, but we need sleep."

Colin lay down on his side and patted the space just in front of him. "Let's do this."

"In the morning, I'll get us our own clothes and we'll shower down here, taking our turns, but not leaving Willie," I said sitting on the bed.

Colin nodded kissing me. "I love you, Devon."

I smiled and nodded. "I love you, Colin."

Our whole schedule was upside down. It was sundown when we woke again. Willie was sitting up, looking at us with a sad smile.

"Know where there are any rats?" Willie asked us grinning. He wasn't anxious about the need for blood. He didn't hunt like other vampires did.

Colin shook his head. "No more rats, Willie."

I chuckled. "Let's do the bathroom thing and then I'll get your meal, Willie and then I'll get ours," I said touching Colin.

Going to fetch Willie's needed blood, I returned and handed Willie two bags of blood. Then I went to Vamps to get Colin's and my meal. Willie again looked at the abundance of food and frowned but didn't comment as he saw us eat.

"I guess there's no way to try the serum first?" Willie asked quietly as he sucked on a bag of blood.

Colin shook his head. "There isn't." He smiled at Willie. "But it works. You'll have a much better life if you do."

Willie was thinking as he drank his needed blood and then started on his second bag. "All or nothing."

Colin nodded. "Yes, it is."

I looked at Willie. "I know there are things you don't remember, and somethings you can't forget," I said quietly. "When you do remember, things get mess up in your head."

Willie nodded. "I can't help it."

"I know that" I said calmly. "I also know it's not your fault. Things we see in war never leave us. It's been a century since you fought in that war, but there have been wars since then. I've dealt with the victims of a war recently. I don't know of a person like us, a vampire that has suffered from that kind of trauma. I assume the basic psychology still applies so treatment will be the same."

Willie sat back with a sigh. "I suppose there's no choice."

Colin shook his head. "Of course, there is a choice. You can remain what you are, but you don't have to be by yourself anymore."

Willie nodded. "Okay." He looked at Colin and said with sudden conviction. "I'll do it." Then he smirked. "It hurts a lot?"

Colin nodded. "I'm afraid so."

Willie drained the last of his blood. "This is good blood." He sighed. "I'll miss it."

Colin shook his head. "You won't. Trust me."

It was later when Willie consented to the serum. He was very uneasy when we took him to George's lab. He kept looking at the many different things, the computers, and monitors and various items George used. It was all new to him. When George came in he smiled at us, but he looked at Willie.

"Willie!" George said startled when he saw Willie. "You look...almost normal!"

Willie grimaced. "Yeah? Well, I don't feel normal. Colin said this hurts."

George nodded. "We have to counteract the venom in you. It will start your heart again. Yes, it will hurt."

Willie sighed. "Well, let's not waste time talking about it. The sooner we start, the sooner it ends. What do you need?"

George prepped him and inserted the needle into Willie's heart. It was just as horrible as the others and for me. I watched Willie writhe in pain but smiled when I saw the vein in Willie's neck as his heart again began to beat. He had a pulse once again. This went on for several hours before he finally relaxed and went to sleep.

"Day one is over," Colin said grimly.

I patted Colin's arm. "Only a few more, then George will make a disc and it won't happen anymore."

We waited for Willie to wake up from his sleep. When he finally did, he grimaced as he sat up and rubbed his chest.

"Damn!"

Colin nodded with a chuckle. "Yep, that about sums it up."

Willie looked at Colin. "You did this every day for how long?"

"A little more than twenty years," Colin said.

"Damn," Willie said again.

"I still had pain, but it only lasted a few minutes later," Colin explained. "The discs are new. No pain now."

Willie sat up which Colin helped him do. "Lucky me."

We still kept Willie's exposure to just me, Colin, George, and an occasional visit from Gabriella. I grinned as Willie began arranging the room he stayed into his particular taste. He was making himself feel at home. He stopped at the TV.

"Is this a radio?" Willie asked touching the TV.

Colin nodded. "Sort of. You've seen movies, right?"

Willie tried to remember. "I don't remember."

Colin nodded. "Well, they showed pictures on the screen and people moved around on them?"

Willie's eyes widened. "Oh, yeah!" He looked at me. "They were getting to be very popular. A Nickelodeon?"

I nodded. "Sort of, this allows you to see them here," I said picking up a remote. "But these are in color and has sound." I looked at him. "Do you want to see something? It's a good preview before you see the world." I turned the TV on. I watched as Willie's eyes grew when the picture came up. I had turned the volume down at first. "Where is the sound?"

"I wanted you to see the picture first," I explained and turned the volume up a little.

Willie sat in a chair I brought in that was comfortable for me, so I knew it was comfortable for Willie.

He looked at Colin and me as we sat on a small sofa. "Wow, this is like..." he waved at the screen. "...a window into another world!"

Colin nodded. "What's great is there are a lot of worlds to see. You will see something you want to see." He said changing the channel.

For the next few hours, Willie was spellbound as we watched. Colin showed him which buttons to push to bring up the menu and channels, how to find one and pull that program up. Willie was becoming a couch potato fast. I dozed off for a while and was awakened as I heard.

"Willie?" Colin said getting up from beside me and going over to Willie. "Willie!"

Looking at Willie, I saw the blank look on his face. I looked at the screen to see a war movie or something on. The scene was showing a battle with the bombs going off, the sound of machine guns and men yelling. I grabbed the remote from Willie. "He's having an episode," I said to Colin and thought what to do. I went to the wall and turned the room's overhead lights on full and then I used the remote to go to a rock station I knew that played hard rock and heavy metal music and turned it up to where it was nearly too loud for me. "He needs the outside stimulation to get his mind back." I grabbed Colin and held him back. "Don't touch him! If his mind is in a battle, he could react to you as the enemy. He won't see you, but he may see you as the enemy." I went to a bucket of ice we'd gotten for Colin's and my drinks. Fortunately, there were a few ice cubes still at the bottom. "I hope he's at least a little more human now to feel this," I said and put the ice in Willie's hand. We watched as Willie's eyes held some horror at what he was seeing. It took a few minutes when he suddenly jumped up, threw the ice down and looked with terrorized eyes at the room. He hurried to a corner and crouched down there holding the walls. I pushed Colin toward Willie. "He'll recognize you, I'm sure. Don't touch him, let him touch you, but talk to him."

Colin nodded and walked slowly over to Willie and knelt beside him. "Hi, Willie." He peered in Willie's face, but Willie was looking all around, but not at Colin. "Willie, do you know who this is?" I watched as Willie finally looked at Colin. His face was confused a little, but slowly he began to recognize Colin. I went and turned the TV off and then turned the overhead lights off.

"Colin?" Willie asked and looked around the room. "Where am I?"

"You're safe, Willie," Colin assured. "This is where you're living now."

Willie was trying to remember. "I...I don't..." he looked a little helpless. "I don't remember." He said softly in a heartbreaking voice.

Colin nodded. "But you know me. I won't hurt you, Willie. You know that. You're safe. I promise."

I walked closer to Colin. "Offer your hand."

Colin held his hand out to Willie. "Trust me, Willie. I won't let them hurt you. Give me your hand." Willie looked at Colin's hand. I could see the conflict in Willie's eyes. He was lost, but he knew who Colin was. Willie slowly reached his hand out and gave it to Colin, taking it.

Willie grabbed Colin in a hug. "It was horrible!" Willie said shutting his eyes, but this time, he had moisture...a little and I watched as a tear form.

Colin nodded standing them both up, but not letting Willie go. "I know. I saw it."

Our modern world had some good things. One of those things was the cell phone. I called George and asked him to come down.

George came down and looked as Colin sat with Willie on the bed where Colin sat rubbing Willie's back gently. "His blood is flowing again..." George said softly. "...but he's still a vampire. He'll need more serum soon." He thought. "I'd feel better giving him something when he's further along. The injections would work better." He pulled out a small vial. "I'll try this orally. It should help him relax a little...I hope."

When Willie did finally relax, he lay on the bed and went to sleep.

Colin sat with me again on the sofa. "The war was a century ago."

I shook my head. "Not for him." I pointed at Willie. "That memory was current. For him, it was just a few minutes ago. What happened was a century ago, but his mind replayed it like he was just there." I frowned. "I understand why he chose to be down there alone. No triggers down there."

Colin gave a shrugging shake of his head. "I'm glad you knew what to do."

"I only knew from what I experienced when a medic and other veterans. The website gave some good pointers." I looked at Colin's worried face. I smiled and leaned in kissing him. "He's getting treatment, Colin. Long overdue, but he's being treated. We'll just up the game as we go along." I pulled Colin to me. "He'll get better. I promise."

"I hope so." Then Colin smiled. "Actually, he is the one person I've known the longest."

"How long was that?" I asked.

Colin thought with a shrug. "Sixty...seventy years?"

"That's longer than some people live! That's way longer than most marriages! I'm jealous!"

"We never...a marriage without any of the fun parts!" Colin huffed as he thought what to say. "You weren't born yet."

I shrugged. "I'm still jealous."

"I married you. Now I have the fun parts." Colin kissed me again. "My favorite person and the one I love the most."

"Okay." I smiled. "That helps."

George came back when it was time for some more serum. He spoke to Willie. "Can you remember what we were doing?"

Willie nodded. "In pieces." He looked around the lab. "I remember coming here...when was it? Yesterday?"

George nodded. "It was. If we don't give the next injection, we'll have to start over."

"No!" Willie shook his head. "We don't start over. I do remember the pain." He started to open his shirt. "Do it."

George grinned stopping him. "Okay, but not in the chest now. I gave it there directly in the heart to restart your heart, now I just need an arm."

Willie nodded and then rolled up his sleeve. "Whatever."

As with the others and me, it was almost as painful as the first. Colin and I watched again as Willie hurt so badly. It seemed like it just kept on going. Once he relaxed and it stopped I think I let out a breath I didn't realize I was holding. Willie again was asleep.

This time, when Willie woke up, I had gotten Colin's and my meal and a little for Willie.

Colin grinned at Willie. "Here we go." He picked a plate that held a little bit of a chicken dish I brought up from the restaurant. "Smell this."

Willie looked as he always did, not certain, but once the plate got under his nose, I watched his eyebrows rise. "Say, that smells pretty good!"

I nodded. "But take it easy. Your stomach hasn't worked in a hundred years digesting food, only blood. You'll want to take it slow."

Willie nodded to us. "Okay." He picked up a fork and had to remember how to use one. Once he had it in his hand he took a bite. His eyebrows rose again, and he smiled. "Wow! This tastes damned good!" He ate a little more and a little faster.

"Devon just told you..." Colin warned with a chuckle.

"I know, I know...take it easy." Willie shook his head. "But it's so good!" He chewed a little, but his mind was going over something else as he became serious. "I...I appreciate what you two did...when I had that..."

Colin nodded grasping Willie's shoulder. "How could we not? You mean a lot to me, Willie."

"And you mean a lot to me now," I added. "I said it before. I mean if even more now. You're family."

Willie smiled at that, but he tapped his head again. "This...damned brain of mine. I can remember some things..."

Colin squeezed his shoulder. "It's not your fault, Willie. None of it is."

I sat back. "You know? I think a lot of it because you never came above ground."

Willie looked a little surprised. "What do you mean?"

"You lived one very long constant night down there, Willie." I smiled. "Even a vampire is regulated by the sun. It comes up you go underground; it goes down you get up and hunt. Colin even told me you really didn't have that schedule. You got up when hungry and fed, it didn't matter what time of day, it was always night for you."

Colin nodded. "He's right." Then he grinned at Willie. "But I'll promise you this...after the next injection of serum. You, me, George Gabriella, and Devon will be on the roof watching the sunrise. Not a picture of the sun, not on TV! The actual sunrise!"

Willie looked a little worried about that, but he nodded. Sunrises for vampires was death if not hiding. He thought and then brightened. "I can't wait!"

He got the third dose of serum. The pain came and once again it was agony. He gritted his teeth and looked at Colin. "Tell me again this is worth it." He muttered as he still held his teeth shut.

"You'll see it yourself in a few hours," Colin said wiping his own tear at seeing Willie suffer.

As with all of us, the pain didn't last as long as the first two. I was so glad when he relaxed and went to sleep.

He woke up a few hours before dawn. Gabriella and Alex had patrolled that night and before they turned in came up to the lab. Colin and I thought Willie could stand meeting a new vampire, so we invited both Gabriella and Alex to the roof.

Gabriella smiled at Willie when she came in holding Alex's hand. "Grandpa, this Alex Chance."

"Her fiancé." Alex grinned with a bounce looking at Colin. He stuck his hand out to Willie. "It's nice to meet you, Willie." He grinned. "Or do I call you grandpa, too?"

Willie gave a frowning smirk. "We'll see."

Colin's eyes widened as Gabriella held her hand up to show her new diamond. He held his hands up to stop everyone. "Hold on! What? When did...who...?"

Alex grinned and nudged Gabriella. "Hey, she asked me! I said yes."

Colin rolled his eyes and then looked at Gabriella and Alex. "I'll deal with you two later." He smiled as he turned to Willie. "Do you want to see the sunrise?"

Willie nodded. "That's the reason we're doing this, right?"

"That's a very important reason," I said.

Willie had been asleep when he got there. He was not prepared for the elevator ride to the roof as he saw the door open and hesitantly walked after us. "We're up how high?"

Colin chuckled. "About sixty stories."

Gabriella turned back to Willie. "At least you knew what it is. I'd never seen one before when I rode the first elevator!"

Once on the roof, Willie was staring in awe, not at the sky, but at Manhattan.

"All this was above me?" Willie asked as he looked around the city. "I knew it was big, so many lights, but..."

Colin nodded. "Yes, it was just above our heads." He put an arm around Willie's shoulder and pointed. "But see?"

Willie looked at the horizon which was getting brighter. It was the first little bit of sun that broke the horizon and Willie looked down at himself. He did as Gabriella had done; rubbing his arms as the tingling started. "It doesn't hurt. It kind of tickles." He looked up as more of the sun rose and as it got higher, his eyes got wider. "I'd forgotten...how... beautiful it is." He said in a whisper. "How could I forget?"

"You won't be able to forget it now," Colin said quietly. "Welcome back to life, Willie."

Now there was moisture in Willie's eyes as I watched the tears fall.