Blueblood

Story: Blueblood

Chapter 22 I Named Him Jerry

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

Adult Readers, Sexual Situations, Sex

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I Named Him Jerry

Colin smiled at George. "Forgive me for thinking about my husband first. You know I love you, George."

"Yeah, yeah," George said, but smiled. "Now, I need to get to work."

"We go back to London Saturday night," I said taking Colin's hand. "We have another vampire to retrieve."

Willie shook his head. "Another vampire? We're going to need more room."

"She found us." I shrugged.

Colin looked around the underground storage area. "Perhaps we need to expand this."

"At the rate we're going, we will be crowded." Alex nodded. He smiled at me. "I thought you were having a good weekend without vampires."

I shrugged. "We seem to attract them."

"But it was a great weekend nonetheless." Colin hugged me close.

Willie nodded with a grin. "I see that." He turned to me. "I need to talk to you, Devon."

"Sure." I nodded.

Willie smiled at Colin. "You can stay, but I really need to speak with Devon."

Colin nodded. "Is everything okay?"

Willie nodded. "I think so, but..."

Colin held his hand up. "No problem." He kissed me holding my face and ran his thumb over my cheek. "I'll be inside." He thumbed back to the house and left.

Willie and I walked slowly back to the house through the gardens. Even this time of year it was impressive. There were hedges that had been shaped in sharp squares along the path we walked. In the yard were hedges shaped into various large animals that Edwin said were about fifty years old. It was nice and relaxing. There were flowers that bloomed now, it wasn't that cold. I didn't have a clue as what they were except for the roses. I knew them.

"I'll just come out and say it," Willie said somewhat nervous. "I love your mother."

I nodded. "That's not really news, Willie."

Willie chuckled. "I suppose not. The problem is...she asked me to make her a vampire." He turned quickly to me. "I've told her absolutely not, I refused to even consider it..." He sighed frustrated. "I just think of the Hell I went through...I would never want that for her. I don't want to hurt her."

I smiled as I put my arm around his shoulders as we walked. "I'm glad you don't want to do this but think about it. She doesn't want to hurt you either, William."

He grinned at me when I called him by his name as mother did.

"I love her," I said. "I love you. I can think of no one better for her." I said seriously. "Colin was also refusing to make me a vampire. He didn't want to hurt me either. I told Mom that she and you had to decide." I stopped. "I can't believe I'm advising you about my mother and your love lives, but..."

Willie nodded. "That's what family does. They become involved." He smiled and shrugged.

I nodded. "What you, Colin and every vampire I know here went through their own Hell." I smiled. "I didn't go through that," I said as we started walking again. "I was bitten out of love. That was different."

"But I'm still risking your mother's life," Willie said sadly. "We're fine as long as we take the serum, but if we run out, or George dies..."

"Willie," I said stopping again. "Life is risk. What we have is kind of cheating. We have the venom, but hardly any of the side effects. If it happens...and we don't get the serum...you lived a hundred years below the ground. You never killed anyone. Mom wouldn't either. You adapted. You don't want to hurt Mom. She doesn't want to hurt you. She will if she doesn't get the venom. She'll die and you may not. You'll be alone. I knew that about Colin. If I didn't become a vampire, he would end up alone and I couldn't do that to him. You make her one and then do everything in your power to see that her life is not Hell. Just as Colin does for me." I smiled as Willie was thinking. "Do you really love Mother?"

His eyes softened as he smiled. "More than life."

"Enough to go through the serum again...and the pain?"

The idea of the pain again I could see was laying heavy in his eyes but nodded. "It will be worth it."

"You've just answered your own question. It's worth it." I pulled Willie into a hug. I looked at him and grinned. "Do I call you Dad now?"

Willie laughed at that. "I think Willie is just fine until I marry her." He grinned. "I kind of want to do that before we do that other thing."

I nodded. "Okay. Have you asked her?"

"That was coming." Willie nodded. "I wanted to talk to you first." He hugged me quickly. "Thank you, Devon." He cocked his head. "Are you sure you're only thirty?"

I nodded. "I have the unaltered birth certificate as proof."

Willie laughed as he walked with me back to the house. "Yes, yours is real!"

I hugged him again. "I know what the answer will be, but thanks for telling me first."

Willie smiled and was about to walk away but stopped. "Will it be...legal?"

I smiled again. "Are you worried about taking advantage of her?"

Willie shrugged. "I want to do it right."

I chuckled as I walked up to Willie again. "Is my wedding legal? I'm married to a man that was born over two hundred years ago. He shouldn't exist, but I declared in front of a bunch of people that I would love him until time ends."

Willie nodded smiling. "I wasn't there yet."

"Are we married?" I asked.

"Oh, yeah. You are."

"The same thing for you." I smiled. "You'll be married."

Willie now looked very sheepish. "I should..." he thought, "...get her a ring."

I smiled brighter. "Willie! You're a romantic!"

He threw his arms out. "Who hasn't done this in quite a while!" He smiled very humbly. "Can you help me pick it out? You know her tastes and..."

He was nervous! "Relax, Willie! We can pick out a great ring." I smiled. "You still have the card, right?"

Willie nodded as he dug in his back pocket. "I'm not been able to spend anything. I only paid for dinner a few times." He held up his VISA debit card.

I nodded. "And you have you're ID?"

Willie pulled out his state ID. "Right here."

"We're having to go back to London next weekend," I said.

His eyebrows rose. "Oh?"

I nodded. "You heard; we found another vampire in London. Lillian Palmer. We promised to go get her. Have you logged on to the computer and checked your balance? You've probably got some nice change in that account." I shrugged. "We'll be in London we can get there early. We can find one there."

"Sure." Willie sounded relieved. "Thank you." He sighed. "I just want to do this right."

I smiled as I patted him on the arm. "You will. You love her." I said stated the logic.

Back in the house, I wondered where Colin had gone. Thornwood was big and finding one person was always a challenge. I heard conversation and clink of silverware on china as I walked in the corridor. Entering the dining room, I smiled as Colin was eating as he talked with Edwin.

Colin looked up and smiled as I came in the room. "Everything okay?" He asked.

I nodded coming to the table and sat down next to Colin. "Very much okay." I grinned and then looked at him seriously. "Don't say a word to anyone yet, but Willie's going to ask my mother to marry him," I said in a low voice so it wouldn't carry through the somewhat cavernous interior.

Colin smiled. "Excellent! Now, he's really going to be our father." Then his look became puzzled. "And...is he turning her?"

Edwin's eyes widened. "What!?"

We spent the next fifteen minutes to half an hour telling Edwin what would happen and got him to calm down about my mother becoming a vampire.

At the end of our conversation, I knew the topic needed changing. "What were you guys talking about?"

Edwin chuckled. "This..." he motioned to the surrounding house. "...is nice. Having other vampires as ourselves helped, but it's getting expensive."

Colin nodded. "Of course, it is. Groceries alone has a hefty price because of me. I can guide you to some investments that can help, but we were discussing incorporating Holms Laboratories with Thornwood." He smiled leaning back in his chair.

I just blinked, not understanding. "We were going to."

Edwin chuckled. "I didn't know that!"

Colin patted Edwin on the shoulder. "There was no way you should have. We, as a group, need cohesion. The United States and England don't have to work together, but I think we should. If for no other reason so we're not alone. I think Holms Laboratories should buy in a silent partner. That would cover some of the expenses and future ones."

Edwin was visibly more relaxed. "You've done so much." He shook his head. "The serum alone was worth it. What you've done for me, Sarah, Matt..."

I smiled. "So, you're willing to become part of VUN?"

Edwin looked confused. "The VUN?"

Colin rolled his eyes and smiled. "The Vampire United Nations." He put his arm around my shoulder as he put his head against mine. "My husband has this thing about names. He thought Holms Laboratories was clinical."

"This can be the VUN-UK!" I said logically again watching Colin smile and Edwin's eyebrow rise. "Vampire United Nations United Kingdom?"

Colin chuckled. "Too many uniteds together."

"VUNGB?" I suggested. "Vampire United Nations: Great Britten?"

Colin smiled as he patted my arm. "We'll work on it." He waved at the plates. "Eat! I was starved, we haven't eaten since lunch!"

I kissed Colin smiling. "That was only five hours ago. I can make it." I looked at Edwin. "Seriously, Edwin, we don't want to overtake you here in Thornwood. You should oversee all that happens here. There will be jobs that can be done...meaning these people can be on a payroll. Just like Willie, Alex, Gabriella...all the vampires that came with us are."

Edwin smiled. "The others would like that." He chuckled. "We already have enough for a team to patrol the surrounding towns."

Colin nodded as he chewed on his...chicken. "We'll take them out with us on a few patrols to get their feet wet." He waved his fork as he spoke. "Whatever form of governing voice, you have to come up with. No one's telling you what to do." He sighed. "We sort of became...the governing voice in the United States. Not because we were elected, because we were there." He shrugged. "How you do it, is up to you."

"You need a computer as we have in Manhattan," I said.

"And your version of Stan," Colin said. "He and Buddy, that's what he named the computer, have an almost intimate relationship." He chuckled. "Much to his partner Mark's dismay."

"But Stan's a wizard with it," I said smiling as Colin nodded. "He can do almost anything."

"Okay," Edwin nodded. "So, you were saying about another vampire in London?" He said to Colin.

I came out of our bathroom having done my evening rituals and smiled at what I saw. Colin was sitting up in bed, no shirt, his arm stretched out lazily over the pillows where I slept, but he patted my side of the bed. You might be tired of hearing this but seeing him made my heart race! He was so...sexy! I didn't need much more of an invitation. It wasn't just physical, it was him! We had a wonderful few hours!

After we had collapsed contently afterward from another satisfactory lovemaking bout we fought to regulate our hearts and breath.

"This is turning out quite well," Colin said as his lips caressed my neck.

I chuckled, knowing he wasn't talking about our recent lovemaking. "We're back to the vampire stuff?"

Colin bumped his head against me. "Sorry."

I ran a hand over his chest. "It's fine. That's who and what we are." I shrugged. "Yes, I think it is going quite well." I frowned. "With that new acquisition we have out in the barn, we may get some answers." I sat up. "I should be down there now."

Colin frowned. "Why?"

I waved at the window. "It's night! That's when he's active." I was about to throw the covers off when Colin grabbed me back down.

"He'll be there tomorrow," Colin said pleading. "Tomorrow night!" He smiled. "Besides, he's sedated."

I looked at Colin with a smiled. "Is he?" I rolled to face him. "And where is George right now? He's not with Burke!" I pointed out. "I know George is dedicated, but..."

"Burke knew this before they got involved," Colin said. "I don't think Burke feels neglected."

"I would!" I pointed out. "If you were that tunneled in work, I would feel neglected."

Colin nodded. "Fine. Talk to George to remind him, but not tonight." He said pitifully pulling me back down next to him. "He'll keep!" He said kissing me again deeply and consuming. "So will the other vampire."

We made love again.

The next morning, I went down to the lab...former storage area...whatever. There was George working as he always did, adjusting the microscope and looking at what he was seeing. I looked over at the vampire we'd gotten that was now unconscious. "George."

George turned, startled. "Oh, Devon!" He touched his chest to slow his heart, "You were right! There is a difference in the venom!" He waved at the specimen glass slide under the microscope. He looked back. "I think this vampire got bitten by a very old vampire and maybe different than when a wild vampire makes another vampire. This is like the venom we all carry, but different. Ours is more..." he thought of a word, "...advanced? Evolved. This is very simple and...almost primitive." He turned and I saw the look of excitement in his eyes. "This has to be what started it all!" He said happily.

"Primitive?" I asked coming over to his microscope.

"I wish my computer was here!" George said mournfully. "I wish I was in my lab! I need to do a breakdown on this. Molecular and DNA analysis!"

"But it's different how?" I asked.

George nodded. "Remember, I use our own blood to make the serum for each of us. We have...more...human things in our venom." He turned to face me. "The venom of each vampire is changed by the vampire. It becomes our own venom." He pointed to the other vampire. "He doesn't have all those. The venom you have is made by Colin. If you are a full vampire and bite someone, it will be your venom that you made from Colin's. You still retain partially, Colin's version of the venom. Basically, we are carrying venom that has changed over thousands, maybe millions of vampires!" He got up and walked toward the unconscious vampire. "He doesn't have all of those."

"Why?" I asked thinking that was incredible. "How can he have venom so primitive?"

George threw his hands up in frustration. "I don't know! The vampire that bit him is more original, therefor very old. I need that computer!"

I chuckled. "It's coming," I said giving him a hug more to reassure him. "It's going to be fine."

George nodded and waved at the vampire again. "I need more."

I looked at the vampire. "More? More wild vampires?"

"Yes! For comparison! I can't base a decision of this one vampire."

I chuckled. "We have some out there. We just need to get them." I smiled. "But where would we keep them?" I looked around the storage area.

"We have to make somewhere," George said simply.

"Sure." I nodded grinning. "This is very exciting."

"It is!" George nodded smiling bigger. "We were lucky...and I'm just theorizing...since we became more...civilized as humans, the vampires that made us have been biting in the city!"

I frowned. "Wait. How can that happen?" I asked. "The serum only works with humans..."

George nodded. "We're the only givers and receivers." He pointed out. "We may not be the only givers."

I know my jaw hit the floor. "Another giver? Something else is out there?" I waved toward the outside world. "They aren't vampires?"

George shrugged. "I don't know. Doing the comparison of my blood and his, he has a lot fewer things that make him human, but he does have some...that's why he was able to learn as you said."

Now, I was looking at this new vampire and felt sorry for him. "It may not be his fault at all." I shook my head. "It isn't his fault!" I said. "He was a victim, the same as we are."

George nodded. "I think so."

"Okay," I said as I did what Colin did. I began pacing in a circle as I thought. "We continue to test him."

"Of course." George nodded.

"But when we've got more information," I said. "He gets the serum," I said firmly.

George nodded. "Sure, we reduce further risk."

"Yes." I shook my head. "More important, we need to get him back!"

George nodded. "You're right." He smiled. "It's easy to forget he is human."

I sniffed the odor again. "Maybe we can clean him up?" I asked. "Give him some proper clothes?"

"When we can handle him," George said doubtfully.

I knelt by the cage. "I think he can be. We need to be ready. When he wakes, he'll be hungry. We give him the needed blood and he will be more controllable. I just know it." Then I remembered why I had come. I stood up to look at George. "Where's Burke?"

George looked puzzled a moment and then looked around. "He was..." he looked around the storage area. "...he was here a while ago."

I smiled at George. "I know this is exciting. I'm excited about it, too." I grinned. "John is your partner."

George now looked guilty. "And I've been buried in this." He nodded.

"Which is understandable, but don't forget him." I urged with a smile. "It is important we stay connected with people. It's important to keep the connection with that one person that means something to us." I said. "When Colin and I took off this recent weekend, it was so important we stayed connected. You need to do that with John." I saw George nod. "You do love John?"

George nodded. "I do."

"Go tell him that," I said. "This vampire will be here later. You need your equipment. You've done all you can for now. You have time."

George nodded. "He needs to be watched." He said about the vampire.

I nodded. "The sun is up. He won't be able to do much if he wakes early. Which, I don't think is possible. Besides, we have others to do that," I said. "I'll send someone to relieve you. You need to be with John."

George smiled. "You're right again."

There were other vampires there that were more ready to begin a life on the serum having the discs put in. I found someone of the new locals to relieve George. I told George that I was coming later to begin getting to know this new vampire.

I again sat with Colin in the library as he was doing business on the computer. Holms Laboratories was fine financially, but the business needed monitoring, which Colin did very well. He glanced at me as I sat near him. Getting to a stopping point he sat back.

"Well?" Colin asked with a smile.

"George has some good theories." I began. "Disturbing theories," I said sadly.

"Oh?" Colin frowned. "What theories?"

"Our venom is more...evolved than that of the vampire we caught."

"Evolved?" Colin frowned.

I explained what George told me.

"He thinks something else is out there?" Colin asked. "Why have we not seen them?"

"It's all theory until we can do further analysis, but from what George told me." I nodded. "It's possible."

Colin shook his head. "Another wrinkle." He got up and walked over bringing me to the couch and sat with me. "What about him and Burke?"

I nodded with a chuckle. "George is all scientist most of the time, but I got him to see there was someone important in his life. He's back with Burke now."

"Good." Colin smiled kissing me gently. "Having that person in our lives is so important." He said as his voice was muffled as he ran his lips over me. "He just gets too involved."

"He's driven." I shrugged as I returned his affection.

Chuck came bursting in. "Sorry, guys." He said as we sat up at his sudden arrival. "But we're being watched."

I sat up more. "Watched? By whom?"

Chuck shook his head. "They have to be human, but I'm certain we are. They're professional, like Shelly and me." He looked over his shoulder. "Whatever equivalent agency like the FBI here."

"The Royal Protection Office?" Colin asked getting up.

"I don't know," Chuck answered in a hurry. "They aren't on the property, but they're watching through high powered lenses."

Chuck led Colin and me back to the terrace that overlooked the gardens. He looked as if he were pointing out things on the grounds.

"So, just look like I'm pointing at some things around the estate," Chuck said calmly. "Now, look at the bluff to the northeast." He passed a pair of binoculars to us. "Now, scan around, but look where I said."

I pushed the binoculars away. "That's okay. I see them." And I could. Not only could I see better at night, but like some animals that can see things you never understood how they could, I saw two people looking through scopes at us. "A man and a woman; dressed like sightseers but looking directly at us."

"Do we go to them?" Chuck asked. "We can't just let them watch."

Colin nodded as he was looking also without the need for the binoculars. "What will they see?" He asked Chuck and me. "What they will see is people coming and going, a lot at night, but nothing extraordinary. If they suspect a crime, they'll come."

"If we find another vampire and bring it here?" I asked.

"We do it at night." Colin shrugged. "It's usually a covered container, but until we get more places to keep them, that won't happen." He smiled pulling me toward him and embraced me. "I'm just giving them something to see now." He grinned at me kissing me gently. "We'll just be careful and wait and see what they want."

I slept early so that I would be awake that night with our new vampire. I came down as the sun was getting ready to set with the blood our new guest would crave. It didn't take long before I saw him stir. George was ready, so was Alex and Willie. They were standing away to make sure he wouldn't get out and cause damage. Colin came down shortly after the vampire woke up. Again, the vampire was looking around and hissing.

"Jerry," I said to him. "That's what I'm going to call you, rather than just the vampire."

The response I got from him was the fangs showing.

"Yes, I know what you want." I smiled and opened the container I brought. I held a bag of blood up. "Remember how to get it?" I asked as his eyes changed from aggressive to curious. "I showed you." I pulled the bag up and showed the port where he would drink from. "I even heated it." I shrugged. "Blood is blood, but we both know there's nothing as satisfying as blood from a warm body," I said as I walked closer, but kept my eyes on Jerry. "I won't hurt you. You don't have to hurt anyone." I came closer.

"Devon," Colin said softly, but clearly not liking I was getting closer.

"I'm okay," I assured without looking back at Colin. "Here, Jerry. I'm giving the blood to you."

The vampire I named Jerry held wonder in those eyes that so desperately needed moisture, reached out and took the bag quickly. He opened the port, and the blood was pouring down his throat.

Colin walked up behind me. "Jerry?"

I chuckled. "I don't want to call him that vampire." I shrugged. "You know I like naming things."

"And then what?" Colin asked.

I looked up at George. "George needs to oversee what happens, but I'm going to try to reach Jerry."

"I got a message my equipment arrives tomorrow," George said. "I'll just watch tonight."

After the first bag, I offered a second. Jerry looked surprised but took the bag without as much desperation. The other sad part was when Jerry had to go to the bathroom, he just went. He only pissed ammonia right now, but it still smelled. He was not a wild animal! He was a man that had something horrible happen to him.

"We need to treat him more like a person," I said softly.

"He's a monster," Colin said.

"Because he was made to be one," I said softly. "The venom is making him this way." I turned to Colin and begged him to see. "He's a victim."

Colin nodded reluctantly. "I guess."

"He was made a monster. Did he ask for it?" I asked them all.

"They always die!" George explained again. "If we caught them, they fought so hard, we had no choice." He hoped I would understand. "Not all of the wild vampires become a vampire like this. They wouldn't let us catch them."

I nodded. "Sometimes they become overwhelmed by the venom, I know, but not this one." I pointed to Jerry. "You saw for yourself; he has a venom in his blood that isn't like the venom in our blood." I pleaded again. "Stop seeing him as a monster. See him as a victim." I said firmly. "I will try to reach him."

Colin nodded as he walked to me. "Okay, we understand." He hugged me.

The others left me with George and Jerry. I waited until Jerry had consumed another bag and gave him the third, but he turned his head. Even they knew when they've had enough. "Okay, are you listening?" I asked Jerry. What made me smile was his expression. He looked at me puzzled and cocked his head like he was trying to understand. "Am I making sense to you?" Jerry gave me another twist of his head. "You are listening to me, that I see." I smiled coming closer, but still out of reach. "I just want to help you," I said again. "Now that the hunger has been dealt with, maybe we can try to connect."

I spent most of the night speaking with Jerry calmly and quietly. We did that quite a while, but then I noticed Jerry was getting sleepy. I rose smiling at Jerry. "Okay, I see you're tired," I said kneeling next to the cage. "I really want to help you, Jerry," I said to him. "If you understood anything I said, please understand that. I'll be back tonight."

I got upstairs and went to the house. I stretched and yawned as I went in. I waited for Colin and the others to return from patrol. They had taken some of the other local vampires out to show them what to look for.

I wasn't disappointed long. I heard them talking on their way toward the dining room.

"...it smelled like nothing I've smelled before." Sarah was saying to Gabriella as they came around the doorway.

"It is so easy to follow once you pick it up," Gabriella said to her. She looked up and saw me and smiled. "Hi, Devon!"

"Ladies." I greeted back bowing slightly. "Did you have any luck?"

"We got the smell of one." Sarah smiled. "Only we lost it in an abandoned mine."

"We weren't going to follow her in," Gabriella said. "It was dark and dangerous."

"But you know which one now," I said. "Maybe we can get her tonight?"

Sarah shook her head. "It was more of a dodge from us." She said. "An escape. It didn't smell like she'd been there before."

I heard other voices, one I knew very well and began smiling before I saw him. Colin walked in with Edwin and Matt. He looked up and smiled at me.

"We missed you!" Colin stated coming to hug me. Kissing me gently he smiled. "I missed you." He said as his lips traveled over my lips and cheek.

"That's good." I grinned. "I missed you, too."

"Did you and Jerry have a good night?" Colin asked.

I nodded. "He's really not so bad."

Colin looked puzzled. "Did he talk?"

I shook my head. "No, he was still mute, but I don't think he could if he had something to say. We'll find out later, but he seems very interested in what happens around him."

Colin nodded. "You still believe he can be saved?"

I nodded. "I don't see why not. Even with this other venom, he pays attention." I shrugged. "I can't believe there's nothing we can't do for him if we try."

Colin smiled at me. "I'm sure we can."

Chuck came in with Matt and Edwin. "Did you tell him?" Chuck asked Colin.

"I just came in," Colin stated a little sourly. He looked at me. "We were followed."

I stood away a little from Colin. "What? The same couple watching us?"

Chuck nodded. "I think so." He frowned. "They used similar tactics we use with the FBI when tailing a suspect."

Colin nodded. "I almost hope they did see what we were doing. If they saw us chasing a vampire..."

"Maybe we should go meet them," I suggested.

Colin looked doubtful. "If they are affiliated with the government or agency working for the government, it might be good to have an ally with them. Or they could be something else." He frowned. "Whatever they are, when they think they have something, we'll see them." Then he brightened. "I'm hungry."

I laughed as I hugged him again. "I know. It's been hours!" I said shaking my head. "We need to get you something to eat before you pass out!"

Even with me being a vampire, I didn't have his appetite. I was glad he couldn't really gain weight; otherwise, he'd be three hundred pounds! Food tasted good to me, but I didn't relish eating as he did.

We went to bed for the morning. I woke up around 2 pm. Looking outside, I saw a truck being unloaded near the barn. George was talking to whoever was unloading the cargo and I didn't need to hear him telling the men unloading to hear him instructing them to be careful. It was a good bit of equipment, but George would be happy now.

"We have to upgrade the barn," I said smiling as I watched.

Colin came over behind me and looked as well. "He needs a sterile environment."

I shrugged. "It can be done." I smiled. "Jerry isn't that sterile right now."

Colin grinned. "You're getting attached to Jerry."

I looked at Colin surprised. "Well...yes. It isn't his fault he is what he is." I chuckled. "When his hunger is gone, he's sort of...sweet."

Colin was now surprised. "Sweet?"

"I sense he has intelligence," I said simply. "The venom did something to his mind, but inside, he can be...almost funny." I said turning to Colin. "He watches me and tries to understand. You can see it. He needs cleaning up, but once his blood hunger is done, he's calm and pays attention." I hugged Colin. "I look forward to what George finds out."

"How are we getting him clean?" Colin asked.

"Well, that's tonight," I said. "We'll be hooking up a shower in the storage area. Once his hunger is gone..." I held my hand out, "...and I'll be careful. I'll have people watching the whole time. I'll get him in the shower and give him some clothes. He really does stink."

"Are you still going to try to get venom from him?"

I nodded. "We'll see if he's cooperative."

Colin nodded. "I'll be there, too."

I was going to say that wasn't necessary, but Colin gave me the no arguments look. "Okay." I kissed him gently. "Thanks for worrying."

Colin smiled. "It's my joy." He kissed me. "You're important to me."

We had worked to get George his equipment set up. The main computer was upstairs in an area we had set aside and set apart from the barn by some clear plastic sheets that cut down the dust and dirt. Downstairs, he had cleaned up a lot of the area. They were installing a floor down there to help keep the dirt out. They had set up a shower for us to use. Not only for Jerry but should something potentially be hazardous that spilled, we could shower quickly, too. There was one of those portable toilets now. I came down with the bags of blood. I also carried some clothes I had gotten for him. Colin was right behind me.

Just like clockwork, as the sun began to set, I saw Jerry begin to stir. He could be a threat and I didn't kid myself about that. He sat up and...well, we all stretch when we wake up. He did, too. Looking around like he was orienting himself to his surroundings, he hissed.

"Okay, Jerry," I said calmly. "You're a scary vampire." I said in a droll way and not scared at all. "We'll have no more of that."

Jerry looked at me confused and his mouth opened, and he hissed again.

"Oh, stop it, Jerry," I said lightly as I would to someone who was being slightly annoying, but not really annoyed. If you never see a vampire look surprised, it was sort of comical. I held up the container I had the blood in. "You don't need to do that. I have what you need. I'm not scared of you." I said scolding like you would a child. I chuckled. "I'm also not stupid."

He stopped hissing as he looked at me. No one had ever reacted as I did. He began reaching through the bars.

"Of course, I'll give it to you. Behave yourself." I said. "No hissing," I said opening the container. The blood was again heated to make it like body temperature. I walked closer to him. I glanced back at Colin and gave him the look that said for him not to react. In fact, Colin was smiling at what he'd seen. This time, Jerry simply took the bag and sat down opening the port himself and drank the blood. "Good, Jerry."

George came in with Burke and Alex. "How is Jerry?" George asked smiling at what he was seeing.

"He's doing well." I nodded. "He woke up a little cranky, but he calmed down once he knew he was getting what he needed." I looked back at Jerry. "I wonder if he'd let me shave him and cut his hair?"

Colin frowned. "You'll need scissors or a knife to do that. I vote no."

I chuckled and nodded. "Okay, I won't do it tonight, but he might feel more human after a bath."

After the second bag, Jerry calmed down a lot. He looked at me curiously.

"Jerry," I said to him. "My name is Devon," I said pointing to myself. I pointed to Colin. "This is Colin." I waved at George. "That's George." Jerry followed what I said when I pointed. "Since I don't know your name, I'm calling you Jerry, okay?" I did it again calling each by their name. "Who's Colin?" Jerry looked at Colin. "Good. Who's Devon?" He looked right at me. "You can learn." I brightened. "Okay, Alex, Burke, Colin and I are going to ask you to do something." I walked even closer to Jerry. I knew Colin was getting tense because I was too close to Jerry. I didn't need to look at my husband to know that. "You stink," I said holding my nose. I pointed to his clothes and held up the new clothes. "You need to take that off," I said, demonstrating as it looked like I was taking my shirt off and then motioned for him to do the same. Jerry looked puzzled a moment and then looked down at himself. His hands went to his shirt. I nodded and he simply ripped it off. I grinned. "Good!" I did the same with the pants. His clothes were tatters, so all he did was rip them off as well. It was barely on from all the tears over the fabric. There was nothing sexually attractive about a naked bearded male vampire. He had what every male member of the human species had. "Is the shower ready?"

Alex nodded. "It's ready."

"Not cold or too hot," I said. "I don't want him startled." I walked carefully to the cage door. "Be ready." I had the key to the lock and unlocked the door. Removing the lock, I carefully opened the door of the cage. "Okay, Jerry. Let's get you cleaned up." I said holding out my hand to him. "You've fed and you should be calm now." I smiled again to Jerry. "Trust me, Jerry," I said as pleasantly as possible. "Come on." I encouraged. Alex, Burke, and Colin were right there. I patted them on their shoulders. "These are friends. We all want you to be our friend. We won't hurt you." I said holding my hand closer to Jerry. Jerry looked at my hand and slowly reached out and took mine. His hand, like everything else about Jerry was filthy, but he came with me to the shower. It took about an hour to get him clean and to understand what he was to do with the soap, but when he was done, we got him dressed and back in the cage. I even had a cot set up for him. I smiled at Jerry. "You did well!" Then Jerry, to everyone's surprise, smiled back! He smiled! He was still looking like a vampire, but he looked so different now. I could see that his eyes were dark. Probably brown and his hair was dark brown. There was no gray in his beard, he had been a young man. He had the musculature of a man that worked hard before he was turned. He was even somewhat hairy on the chest and where men were normally hairy.

"Can we get him to bite on this?" George asked me holding a specimen jar. It had the membrane on top to bite on. "I need that venom. You can probably convince him better than I can."

I took the jar. "We want to help you, Jerry." I demonstrated biting the membrane, but didn't, of course. "Can you do that, Jerry?"

Jerry watched me, but he took the jar and did what I asked. I had never seen the venom, but now...fluid shot from his fangs and was astonished to see the clear yellow liquid gather at the bottom of the jar. Jerry looked at me as if to ask if this is what I wanted. I took the jar and gave it to George. "Thank you, Jerry." I patted him on the shoulder.

George took the jar immediately to his computerized microscope and put it in.

"Jesus, Devon," Colin said coming behind me. "I can't believe how well this has gone." He said marveling.

"Why wouldn't it?" I looked at Colin. "He is a predator. He wakes up, but with no blood around for him to get, he hunts. He has to attack. Giving him the blood, he doesn't have to hunt or attack." I shook my head as I watched Jerry. "I think he was a nice man before." I sighed. "I'll be glad when we get him on the serum. Maybe I can get him to talk then."

Colin put his arm around my waist. Jerry looked curious but didn't react badly. "I just know he trusts you."

"I hope so." I grinned at Jerry. "But tomorrow, I cut his hair and trim up that beard." Jerry smiled back! I already liked Jerry, but now I knew he had been a nice man. I was determined to get him back!

It was Wednesday afternoon when we were interrupted as we were eating an early dinner so I could work with Jerry, and they could go patrolling. Colin was still staying with me. He was trusting Jerry more, but not enough to leave me alone with him.

Nigel came in the dining room followed by the man I had seen watching us. "There is someone here to see Mr. Addams." He told us.

"I'm afraid Edward's not available," Edwin said standing from his place at the table. "Is there something we can help you with?"

The man was a...blondish-brown head of hair with blue eyes. Tall like Chuck. He was in his mid-thirties. "I'm David Burrows." He pulled a badge out. "I work with Military Intelligence. I want to know what's going on here."

I looked at Colin. "Okay, here's Mulder, where's Scully?" I asked quietly Colin who had to hide his sudden amusement. He obviously watched the X-Files.

Edwin smiled. "Well, that's a broad question. What specifically are you asking about?"

"Edward Addams is the owner," David said.

"He is on the deed." Edwin nodded. "I can answer any questions. My name is Edwin Dunning." He came forward to the man and put his hand out.

"Who are all these people and what are they doing here?" Investigator Burrows asked but shook Edwin's hand.

"These are our friends," Edwin said and proceeded to introduce us. Edwin turned to the investigator. "But I think you already knew who they were." His eyes narrowed. "You've been observing us for a while."

Colin stood. "I come from the United States. We are investing in Thornwood. Is that a problem?"

"You know we have been watching you?" The investigator asked.

"Let's cut through the I know something, but not telling what part," Colin said. "We'll answer any question."

The man nodded. "Okay, we've seen a lot of activity here recently. This is a place for wedding and parties, but I don't see a lot of parties here. There was a shipment of equipment brought here. We saw the cargo and we know its medical equipment and computers. We need to know why."

I stood up. "We'll show you," I said.

Colin turned to me. "Devon." He said quietly.

"Colin, think about it." I urged. "We only got this far because the FBI stepped in." I waved at the investigator. "If he is Military Intelligence, be it MI 5 or 6 or whatever, we need the alliance." I shrugged. "He can't argue with what he sees." I smiled at the man. "You'll see and that's when you'll understand clearly." I smiled. "We're not a threat. We're trying to help."

The man nodded. "Okay."

"We'd like to finish dinner if you don't mind. Join us." Edwin invited. "What brought your attention?"

The investigator sat. "We got a report about a group of Americans that was wandering around through towns up here." He chuckled. "Some wild stories, but when we investigated...we got nothing. We began watching and...there you were." He waved at Colin, me, and the others. "And here you are."

We went about our meal while the investigator sat patiently. Sarah and Matt came, looked puzzled at our new guest, but didn't ask any questions. They all knew he was human. It was just before sunset when I came to the investigator. I was carrying Jerry's blood in the container. "Okay. It's time."

Colin came up behind me. "What you do after you find out, will decide many things."

The man's face held confusion when Colin said that.

"Do you want to call your partner to be sure you'll be safe?" I asked.

His eyebrows rose. "No. She knows where I am."

Chuck came up, he'd been there listening. "And ready to call for backup if needed."

The investigator turned to Chuck. "Will it be needed?"

"No, but it's what I would do when facing an unknown," Chuck smiled. "You need to listen and keep an open mind."

There were a few of us that went to the barn. I pointed to the computer and other equipment on the ground floor. "Here is the computer you mentioned...the medical things also, but some of it's down here. Now, you'll see why we need it." I pushed the plastic aside and took him through to the door that led below. Taking the steps down, I led him in where George was working and had been since noon.

The investigator looked at the cage and the man lying on the cot. "What? Why is this man in a cage?"

George looked up and looked startled at the arrival of a stranger. "What the..."

I held my hand up to stop George. "You're about to find out, Mr. Burrows." I walked to the cage and smiled as Jerry was beginning to stir again. Only this time, he sniffed and sat up quickly. He looked directly at the investigator and hissed loud! His fangs were instantly showing. He was in full predator mode!

The investigator jumped back a little. "Oh, SHIT!!!!" He almost screamed.

Jerry threw himself against the bars and was now hissing constantly trying to get to the man.

"Jerry!" I said sternly. "Stop it!" Jerry looked at me and he did stop. I held the container of blood. "I have what you need. You can't feed on him." I motioned Jerry back. Jerry stopped hissing and backed up.

"What the hell is that!?" The investigator asked in wide-eyed shock. He had been reaching for his sidearm, but we had it removed when he came in. He was Military Intelligence; he could carry a gun in England.

"What do you think he is?" Colin asked simply. "He's a vampire."

The man looked at us as if we'd lost our minds. "A vampire!? That's impossible."

"Yet, there he is," Colin said waving at Jerry.

"Kill it!" The man shouted urgently.

I stood in front of Jerry. "Absolutely not!!" I walked toward the investigator. "I forbid it! You won't touch him! He's only interested in you because you're human and a target."

The man looked at us, but his mind was working. "He didn't react to you. Why?"

Colin smiled. "Because..." Colin began, "...we're vampires, too."

The investigator was now looking at all of us, absolutely stunned!

The investigator looked so...blown away by what Colin said, he just kept backing up.

George looked at Colin in horror. "Colin!"

Colin frowned at George. "We need allies!"

The investigator was shaking his head. "This is a joke." He said refusing to believe.

I questioned Colin's telling the man, too. I walked to Colin. "Colin, maybe..."

Colin looked at me. "I'm right, Devon." Colin urged me to believe. "You know I have these feelings...I think we should trust him."

I looked and Colin was right. "You're right," I said moving my head toward his and placed it against Colin. "I'm sorry."

Colin looked at the investigator again. "I'm trusting you, Mr. Burrows. I've just outed a lot of people. Was I wrong to tell you?"

The investigator was still looked at as he is working it out in his mind. "But it's just..." he said again, "...impossible."

I looked at the investigator. "What's impossible? That Jerry is a vampire?" I waved at Jerry who was still looking angrily at the investigator. "Or that we are vampires?" I opened the container. "Maybe it will be easier once Jerry calms down." I picked a bag of blood out of the container. "He has a need that's making you are a target. The reason is simple as to why he doesn't see us as targets. We are already vampires." I said and turned to Jerry. "Here, Jerry. This will help." Gone was the snatching of the blood. Jerry simply reached for the blood and drank it. The investigator was working on the idea, but he was still having trouble. "I saw you eating, and you were walking in the sun!" What he believed was arguing with what he saw. I had it too, at first.

I nodded. "All which can be explained," I assured. "If you're willing to listen."

Colin smiled. "I have the feelings about people, Mr. Burrows. Tell me I wasn't wrong to trust you."

The investigator was beginning to relax a little. "Dave." He said.

I smiled. "You say that because?"

"It's my name. Dave." The investigator said. "So, explain about..." he looked at Jerry. "...him."

"This is a man that became a victim," I said. "He is a nice man inside. I know it."

Dave shook his head. "He's hideous."

"At one time, he was a woman's son. He is in his thirties, I think. He may have been someone's husband or lover." I said. "He had a life." I frowned. "Your first reaction was to kill him."

Dave shrugged. "I just...reacted."

I nodded. "Of course, you did."

"We are vampires, but we have a treatment that we take," Colin said. "It makes us able to have a life." He looked at Dave. "There are people here that need you."

Dave's eyes widened. "I can't do this alone." He said simply. "Can I call my partner? She needs to witness this, too."

Colin nodded. "Certainly. We'll wait for her before we explain more."

It was while Jerry was consuming his second bag that George came over.

"You let them in," George said.

Colin nodded. "We need him."

"But you didn't ask anyone!" George said in a loud whisper. "He could betray us."

I was with Jerry who was finishing the second bag but looking at Dave very carefully. I was confident with my connection with Jerry now. I rubbed his arm through the bars as he drank his blood. I looked at George. "Has he been wrong about people in the past?" I asked.

George looked at me and had to shake his head. "I don't want this time to be that one time he is wrong." He looked again at Colin. "That was very dangerous."

Colin smiled with a nod. "I know."

A few minutes later, Dave said he needed to go to the surface and returned with the woman that was his partner.

"This is Deborah Saxon," Dave said. "We're both with MI5."

Edwin nodded. "Which part?"

Ms. Saxon shook our hands. "We gather information." She explained. "Possible foreign terrorists." She said not quite pointedly.

Dave chuckled. "Well, it was terrifying, but they aren't Terrorists."

Ms. Saxon looked at Dave. "So, what are they?"

Showing her Jerry who was satiated now and calm. She looked baffled.

"Now, you were going to tell me how he's different from you?" Dave asked.

"No." I smiled. "We were going to explain why we're different. We aren't like him." I said touching Jerry. "But we aren't like you, either."

We explained what we are, what Jerry was as far as we knew. We ended with them as they were taken upstairs where Colin and Edwin were going to explain more about what we were. I knelt by Jerry. "That wasn't fair, I know," I said to Jerry. "I'm sorry." I grinned as Jerry smiled at me. "I'll take that as your forgiveness." I felt nothing from Jerry, but good feelings. I raised a portion of his hair. "Do you mind if I clean you up more?" Jerry looked puzzled again. I touched my hair and the brought some of his hair into his vision. He snickered! A vampire that laughs? He then nodded. I nodded and went to get some scissors.

Matt was watching me. "You know Colin will have a fit if he finds out about this."

I looked back at Jerry. "Jerry's not a threat." I wasn't as good as Gabriella was with Willie, but he looked so much better! I even could trim his beard. What was there was a long time growing. It had been years...decades...since his last haircut and shave. Looking at him when I was done, I smiled again at Jerry. "My goodness, Jerry. You're a heartthrob." Whether he understood or not, he smiled as he ran his hand over his face. I looked at the abundance of hair on the cage floor.

"Can we get another sample of his venom?" George asked. "The venom begins breaking down almost immediately..." He held out the jar.

I held the jar up to Jerry who smiled and did it again. This time, I didn't guide him. He remembered and gave his sample and handed the jar back. I looked at Jerry. "I will clean up." I pointed to the door of the cage. "I'm not shutting the door. Can I trust you?"

Jerry smiled.

I did clean up and Jerry remained where he was. George kept looking at us but continued to work. It was a few more hours before our guests returned with Colin, Edwin, and Willie.

Colin looked at Jerry and looked surprised. He looked at me and shook his head. "You said you were going cut his hair." He shrugged.

"Can we see what you have?" Deborah asked.

Colin went to George. "What can we show them?"

George smiled. "Quite a bit now." He motioned to the computer he was working with. He pointed to the screen. We've all seen the DNA breakdown. Little slots that showed the various alignments. "This is a normal human DNA chain." He looked at Chuck. "His, in fact." He pointed to the screen. "This is ours." The screen changed.

Deborah nodded. "I understand what I'm looking at, but reading it is not my strong suit."

George nodded. "Very well." He hit the buttons again. "This is the breakdown of the venom we have in us." He ran a finger over the readings. "This shows our venom contains many parts of the human nucleotides. The order and make up show many parts that are human." He hit the button again. "This is Jerry's." He ran his finger over the screen. "He has some human nucleotides, but not nearly as many." He looked at Deborah and Dave. "He is what he is because of this."

Deborah nodded. "Can he be treated?"

George gave a shrugging nod. "He'll be my first one that is...what we consider a wild vampire." He looked at a petri dish. "I'm testing his blood and venom with the serum now."

Colin walked over to me and kissed me gently. "He looks almost human." He grinned. "But why does he remind me of Hugh Jackman in that movie? The X-Men?"

I looked back at Jerry. He did sort of look like Wolverine. "It wasn't consciously done." I shrugged and grinned. "He is handsome though."

Jerry was smiling almost nonstop now.

Deborah didn't dare to come close to Jerry. She looked at Dave. "We don't have the clearance to really do anything." She looked at George. "Can we have one of our medical people look at this?"

George frowned. "If he does it here." He pointed at the computer. "This network and computer is secured. I won't risk letting it slip out to others." He words were friendly, but he was making sure they knew it would be hard to hack into.

Deborah nodded. "We have a doctor we can use." She smiled. "He doesn't have nearly the decades of experiences, but he can be shown and understand." She looked at George and then me. "And you don't want anything?"

Colin shook his head. "What we want is to attack this vampire problem head on. There are literally thousands out there around the world. We can only do one place at a time. We chose here because a vampire came to the United States that is responsible for almost every vampire there...she came from here."

"Here?" Deborah repeated. "Where is she now?"

"In a holding area run by the FBI," I said.

She nodded. "Okay." She sighed as she pinched her nose. "This is all...so...unbelievable."

I chuckled. "I know." I put my hand on Jerry. "But if we can help someone here that's suffering, like Jerry here. It's worth it."

The meeting with whomever they had in mind would be the following week. In the meantime, I worked with Jerry. I was very pleased with how much he was trusting me. He no longer was anxious or violent. Getting a guaranteed supply of blood, he knew he didn't have to be. More importantly, he remembered!

It was later after the sun was rising, that we came back upstairs and got something to eat.

Colin smiled. "You were right." He said softly. "I was wrong."

I looked at Colin in surprise. "Wrong about what?"

Colin gave a grudging nod. "About Jerry."

I smiled at Colin. "You were wrong about what with Jerry?"

"You saw him as no threat. I only saw him as a dangerous vampire."

I chuckled. "You weren't wrong, Colin. He is a dangerous vampire." I nodded. "He still will be if not supplied with blood and finally the serum. I'm not sure how he will make out."

Colin took my hand. "With you guiding him, he'll be fine." He smiled again. "You've become very attached to Jerry."

I nodded. "Sure. I just know he's a good man. Right now, he needs someone to look out for him. That's me."

"How will he make it when we go to London?"

I frowned. "I promised Willie I'd help him pick out the ring for Mom. We promised Lilly we'd be there." I shrugged. "I'll tell Jerry what will happen. I think George can handle Jerry one night."

That Friday night...into Saturday morning. I told Jerry what was going to happen.

"Okay," I said to Jerry. "I will be gone when you wake up."

He understood me because I saw his eyes become worried.

I touched his arm. "I'm coming back, I swear," I said in a hurry. "I'm not leaving you, Jerry," I assured. "I wouldn't do that. I really like you, Jerry. I will be back. In fact, I will be back before you go to bed."

Jerry was comforted a little, but he was still worried.

We went to London as soon as I was finished with Jerry. This would be a long day. I slept on the way to London. Gabriella came with us as we went to London Jewelers and got Mom a ring. She was there to help Lilly, but we told her she was there to help Willie pick out the ring.

Willie shook his head as they handed him the ring in that distinctive box. "I can't believe how expensive this is!"

Gabriella nodded with a smile. "It's a marque solitaire. She'll love it." She assured. "She'll love it because you gave it to her."

At the agreed time, we were waiting for Lilly at the agreed spot. We waited. The agreed time came and went. It was two hours after the agreed time Gabriella sat up suddenly. "I feel them." She frowned. "I smell them."

"Them?" I repeated. "How many is them?"

Gabriella shook her head as she sorted her senses. "Two...I think."

We got out of the SUV. Now, I was sensing the two. We saw the figure running toward us. It was Lilly. I saw the man running after her.

"Help me!" Lilly shouted.

Willie, Colin, and I stepped forward as she ran to us. Gabriella was right behind as Lilly came within arms' reach. Lilly stopped when we stepped in front of her, blocking the male pursuer.

"Stop!" Colin shouted and the male vampire did stop.

"That's Paul," Lilly explained. "The man that made me this. He was following me. He knows something's going on."

"Paul," I said. "This is not the way to win her back."

The man stopped. "She's leaving me?" He asked, not believing it.

"She's a grown woman," Gabriella said. "Why should she remain here? She's chosen a way out. She can do that."

"Lilly!" Paul said pleading.

"I'm going with them," Lilly said firmly. "There is no us anymore."

Willie stepped forward. "Don't even think about doing anything. She has chosen."

We helped Lilly in the SUV and Colin drove away.

Lilly sighed in relief. "I wasn't sure you'd wait." She smiled. "Thank you for doing that."

I turned to Lilly. "As you can sense. These two are vampires like me and Colin. This is Colin's daughter Gabriella and my future stepfather, Willie."

Lilly shook their hands. "It's so good to meet you all." She smiled. "I am so glad to be out of London."

We got back to Thornwood before sunrise. Gabriella, Willie, and Colin were taking Lilly to the underground room to be safe.

"I promised Jerry I'd be back," I said to Colin. "I've got to see him."

Colin nodded. "I'll be down soon."

I raced back to the barn and ran downstairs. George was talking to Jerry, but Jerry was pacing. He looked up at me when I came down.

"Hi, Jerry." I smiled. "I promised I'd be back."

Jerry looked like a ton of worry was suddenly lifted. We hadn't locked him in for a while. The door was open and he rushed to me.

I smiled as he grabbed me in a hug! A hug!

George sighed. "Thank god." He said. "He was like a caged tiger, pacing, not sitting down or relaxing..."

I hugged Jerry back. "It's okay, Jerry. I'm back." I smiled. "I promised I would be." I rubbed his back. "I'm glad to see you, too."

"It will be sunrise in an hour," George said as he walked out of the cage. "He's all yours."

I pulled Jerry back into the cage. "I'm sorry, Jerry. There were some things that took a little extra time."

If Jerry had tears, he would like many, he'd be crying. He put his head on my shoulder as I rubbed his back as we sat on the cot.

Colin came down almost as Jerry was getting too sleepy to stay awake. He frowned but didn't say anything.

I got up and moved Jerry back on the cot as I lay him down. "I'll be here when you wake up. I promise." Jerry nodded and closed his eyes. I remained until he went into the state all vampires not on the serum go when it becomes day. Well, almost all. Willie was the exception as he had one long night. I looked over at Colin and I will say, I've never seen that face like it was. His whole stance was his arms folded and he was shutting down. I stood coming out of the cage I saw Colin turn away and go back upstairs without a word. "Colin." He didn't stop. I took off running after Colin. Catching up with him in the garden. "Colin Wentworth!" I said loudly. "Stop!" I watched him stop and he stiffened but didn't turn around. "We don't do this," I said coming to him. "We don't have emotions we don't express. I thought that was a thing that made us great. We tell each other everything. Don't shut down on me now." I said coming around him so he could see me. "You're jealous."

Colin looked frustrated and even a little ashamed. "I can't help how I feel!"

I nodded. "Okay." I touched his arm. "Jerry is dependent on me. I give him blood when he wakes and talk to him all night...he's a child! He's got the body of a full-grown man, but in his mind, he's a child."

Colin nodded. "I know that." He said helplessly. "I see how...dependent he is on you. I see how you respond to him." He closed his eyes against his thoughts. "I know..." he tapped his head, "...what he is in here. I see the closeness and I feel..." he tapped his chest, "...something else I feel in here."

I nodded. "I'll say it. I love Jerry." I confessed. "I do. I won't deny that. He is very dependent on me. He trusts me. I love you, but I'm in love with you, Colin. You know that."

Colin grudgingly nodded. "I know!" He said pitifully. "Why am I feeling this way?"

I smiled. "Well, I've heard of fathers becoming jealous of a baby when a new baby comes in the parents' lives. His partner is now focused on someone else."

Colin's eyes grew. "How does the child..." he thought. "He's not our child."

I grinned. "Isn't he?" I came up to Colin. "The fact is, he's my child, not yours. At least that's what you seem to think."

Colin shook his head. "What?" He frowned, shaking his head again. "Maybe. I don't know."

I took Colin's arm in mine. "And you know what helps?" I asked as we started walking back to the house.

Colin smiled. "What?"

"That's a treatment?"

I gave a shrugging nod. "Of a sort. The other thing is...you need to be more involved with Jerry's treatment. You can help me not to become too attached. When he goes on the serum and he gains some independence, you can help me tear away from Jerry. I may have a tougher time than he will."

Colin chuckled. "That sounds like a plan." He leaned in kissing me. "I'm sorry for my bad reaction."

I put my arm around his waist. "You can't help how you feel. We'll just promise to deal with it." I tapped him on the chest. "No walking away," I said. "Agreed?"

"Agreed." Colin smiled. "I love you, Devon."