Blueblood

Story: Blueblood

Chapter 23 Not Jerry, Wayne

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

Adult Readers, Sexual Situations, Sex

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Not Jerry, Wayne

We could have new possible allies with the agents of the Military Intelligence. Jerry would soon be on the serum and maybe, just maybe, he'll be able to speak. I needed sleep! I had been up since the beginning of evening the day before. I did sleep hard. It was three the following afternoon when I woke up. Yet, I wasn't alone. I rolled over to see Colin sitting up in bed reading.

"You didn't have to stay in bed," I said smiling at Colin.

Colin smiled down from his book. "No, I didn't." He quickly checked where he was in the book and then tossed it aside. Literally, he tossed it aside. "I also didn't have to get up." He stretched out beside me. "It's Sunday afternoon and we don't work until tonight, so I stayed with my favorite person." He smiled kissing me.

I brought him down closer. "You're my favorite person, too." We began to make love. "This is a nice way to wake up." I grinned.

We finally got up and came down at about five o'clock. Of course, Colin was ravenous.

I chuckled as he was eating. "Don't let it get away." I patted his hand.

Colin shrugged. "I'm hungry."

I smiled touching his face and kissed him while he was chewing. "I know."

"So, what's on the agenda for Jerry?"

I smiled when he said that. "You're really wanting to work with Jerry?"

Colin smiled a little guiltily. "I think I need to." He looked at me. "I am still a little jealous of Jerry." He put a hand on my arm and raised his hand to stop the objection he knew I'd have. "It's stupid, I know. We don't need to rehash that. I think maybe if I spend time with Jerry, I'll see him as you do."

I thought about what he said. "So, he's not just a wild vampire to you now?"

"No," Colin said. "I'm seeing him as a victim. I don't see him as a child, but..."

I took a deep breath. "He is a child right now. He doesn't talk, but he understands me. Since I've been taking his blood to him when he wakes up, he doesn't hiss or growl or does anything aggressive." I tried to get him to see that. "Other than Dave and Debbie coming at the time of feeding, he reacted violently to them because they are a target. Taking that urge away, he is a very nice guy...he expresses emotions. He laughed the other day! He saw me last night and he hugged me!"

Colin looked startled. "He hugged you?"

"He was glad to see me. He was worried about me coming back." I explained. "Does a wild vampire worry about anything other than getting blood?"

Now Colin was thinking about what this meant. "I don't know. I never tried to find out." He looked at me again. "He doesn't talk but he communicates?"

I shrugged. "He doesn't have to talk. I can tell what he means or wants. He smiles now and he is calm. He's in there, I just want to reach him."

Now Colin's smile softened. "I can't imagine anyone else can, but you. What can I do to help?"

I shrugged. "He's only been here a week, but he's improved so much even without the serum."

Colin laughed. "Maybe my jealousy was a little justified. You really like him."

I couldn't believe he said that. "I do. You will, too. Just spend some time with him." I suggested. "And you have nothing to worry about. You're my husband. You come first." Colin nodded as the others came in for dinner.

"Hi, guys!" Chuck greeted as he sat down. "How are things?"

"Fine." Colin smiled.

Shelly also sat. "About Jerry..." She started and hesitated.

I looked at her. "What about him?"

"Chuck was telling me...he may not have been that wild." She said hesitantly.

I laughed with a doubtful expression. "He was wild. He was very wild, but he's coming along nicely."

She sat forward. "The reason I ask...he wasn't hunting any person when we caught him."

"He wasn't?" Colin asked.

"He was feeding on a sheep." Shelly began. "He didn't take too much to get him corralled and in the cage."

"Really?" I sat back.

"Maybe if I'd given that other vampire a chance before..." She began.

I shook my head. "No, Shelly. Don't start second-guessing." I said firmly. "The vampire we encountered with that runner was after that woman and we know it."

Colin raised his hands to stop the discussion. "We may want to rethink our patrols." He said simply. "Give the wild vampire an option."

"Like what?" Shelly asked.

"I suggest you take blood with you," Colin said.

"Like Jerry, he may not recognize what a bag of blood is. There has to be available blood to lure the vampire." I thought. "Of course, if they are clearly in pursuit of a human they need to be stopped whatever the cost. If it's like Jerry, offer the option." I looked at the clock. "Oh! It's nearly sunset. There's a vampire that needs his blood."

Colin smiled. "I'll be with Jerry and Devon tonight." He told them and came with me.

I got the blood and we just made it before the last of the sun went below the horizon. We watched as Jerry began to wake and stretch. He sat up and looked around, not anxious at all. His gaze came to me, and he smiled.

"See?" I said to Colin as I waved at Jerry. "He smiles!" The cage door was open all the time now and I just walked in taking the blood bags out of the canister. "Hi, Jerry!"

I was stunned when he opened his mouth and attempted to reply.

After a few attempts, I touched his shoulder. "That's okay. You're trying. You will talk when you're able." I said handing him the blood. "No pressure from us."

I used association with him. Showed him pictures of things and waited for a response we could see. I watched as Jerry kept looking at Colin. He wasn't sure about Colin. Perhaps because Colin was always seen with me, Jerry thought he should risk trust.

George was continuing to work with what he could get from Jerry. He came over to me and tapped me on the shoulder. "I need to speak with you."

"Sure," I said getting up. I always left Jerry with a touch. "I'll be right over there."

George got me away from Jerry. I smiled as Colin moved closer to Jerry and began talking to him.

"I don't know how he will react to the serum," George confessed.

I frowned. "Was there a problem with the sample you took? You put the serum with the sample, right?"

He nodded. "Yes."

"Will it work?" I asked.

He gave a hesitant nod. "Maybe." He sighed. "The human parts of his venom may help the reaction. Ours does. He just doesn't have that much." He explained. He looked at me. "It will hurt."

I nodded. "It did with us."

He shook his head. "I mean, it may hurt longer, perhaps more." He shrugged. "I tell everyone before, and they accept the chance. How do I ask Jerry if he wants this?"

I looked at Jerry. "He doesn't deserve this," I said sadly and sighed. "I can get through to him on some level. I'll tell him."

George nodded. "You may want to wait until Monday night."

"Because of the doctor Dave and Debbie are bringing?"

George shrugged. "Seeing Jerry will add credence to our claim."

I nodded. "I'll wait until then." I smiled as I saw Colin laughing at something with Jerry. "I'm glad Colin is relating with Jerry. I'm glad Jerry is relating to Colin." I looked at George. "He tried to speak tonight."

George's eyes widened. "Did he?" He smiled looking at Jerry. "I'd love to do a brain scan."

My eyes widened. "You mean like a CT or MRI?"

George shook his head. "Nothing that traumatic for Jerry. I have a skull cap he can wear. It will measure the areas that are active in his brain when we stimulate him."

I shrugged. "We can do that. There are a few hours left. Do you want to do it now?"

George nodded. "Why not?" He went to his lab table and brought out this soft, cap thing. It had electrodes on it. "You put it on him." He handed me the cap. "This goes in the front."

I shook my head. "He won't hurt you, George." I reminded George.

George smiled. "He probably won't, but I know he won't hurt you."

I held the cap up. "No wires?"

"Wireless," George said going back to the computer.

Going to Jerry, I sat by him. "Jerry." He looked at me. "We are still trying to help you." Jerry smiled and nodded. "Good. What we'd like to do, is find out what's going on in your head." I had to laugh when he looked puzzled and covered his head with his hands. "No, we're not going into your head." I held up the cap. "I'd like to put this on you. It will tell us what's going on. No pain." Jerry relaxed and nodded. "Thanks, Jerry."

We again used some pictures and things to see if he'd react. After a few hours of this, I saw Jerry yawn. I looked at the clock and realized it was nearly sunrise again.

We had a good night. Colin was more relaxed, and Jerry was, too. I grinned at Jerry. "It's nearly bedtime."

Colin looked at me. "Aww." He said disappointedly.

I chuckled. "You boys can play again tomorrow." I shook my head.

Jerry smiled and stood up. We watched as he struggled, his mouth was working. A second or two later... "...ank ou."

I was startled, but then...

"Holy SHIT!" George exclaimed suddenly. He turned to us. "What did you just do?"

Colin looked puzzled. "Jerry just said something!"

George looked back at his screen. "That explains it." He pointed. "The scan was pretty active, but just now the area of his brain...the speech center went crazy!"

I went to the computer and watched the scan. "Sorry, I can't read that."

He pointed to the computer screen. He pulled up the 3D image of Jerry's skull. "The areas active is highlighted in red. When he spoke, the areas of the brain, the area that controls speech lit up like the fourth of July!"

I nodded. "His brain is working!"

"It's working overtime," George said nodding. "This so interesting!" He sat down and began looking over the scan.

"It's almost sunrise," I said. "Jerry is tired."

George nodded and waved. "That's okay, I've got hours of information to sort through."

Colin came up behind us. "George." He said putting his hand on George's shoulder. "Do not forget Burke."

George looked torn now. "But this is..." he looked at the screen.

"...not going anywhere." I finished. "It's saved on the computer, isn't it?"

George looked disappointed. "Yes." He said sadly. He stood. "Fine. I'll do it this afternoon."

I walked back to Jerry and pulled the cap off his head. I grinned at Jerry. "You did great, Jerry!" I hugged him. Jerry smiled at me.

"...ank ou." Jerry said again.

I hugged him again. "You are so welcome, Jerry."

Jerry smiled and this time struggled another time. "No...erry." He said. "I...ayne."

I smiled more. "Duane?"

He shook his head. "No...wa...wa...wayne."

I looked in his eyes. "Your name is Wayne?"

He nodded.

I took his hand and shook it. "It's nice to meet you, Wayne."

Colin had come up behind me. He was smiling at Jerry...or Wayne. "You can talk!" He smiled at Wayne.

Wayne was working to get it out. "...ard."

I smiled. "But it seems to be getting easier." I looked at the clock. "I'll be back, but you need to rest." I pointed to the clock. "It's sunrise."

Wayne nodded.

"I look forward to hearing more," I said to Wayne.

After Wayne was resting as peaceful as a vampire can, we went back upstairs. Once Colin had consumed a good meal, we went upstairs to bed.

I waited for Colin to finish in the bathroom. When he came out he was smiling.

"You were right," Colin said as he came to get in bed. "Wayne is a nice guy."

I smiled as Colin stretched out beside me. "I'm glad you see that."

"He spoke," Colin said amazed. "I have no doubt that was because of you."

I shook my head. "He did that on his own. I may have helped him get to that part of himself, but it was all him." I sighed. "This is one of the first times...other than Gabriella...I feel like I'm doing something positive."

"Later today, we have people coming from MI5," Colin said, but his face was not saying it as a necessarily good. "I hope I was right trusting Dave."

"We need their backing," I nodded. "We should contact Ruben, Congresswoman Chance, and Senator Cook. Get them ready."

"Good idea." Colin smiled as he kissed me. When he quit, I chuckled as he yawned.

"We'll pick things up from this point after a few hours' sleep," I suggested kissing Colin.

At dinner...or in our case, breakfast. We gathered waiting for Dave, Debbie and whomever they brought with them to see what we were doing. It was decided to not go patrolling tonight. We had asked Dave to make it as near sundown as he could make it.

It was Nigel that brought not three guests, but four. We all rose as the new guests arrived.

Dave Burrows smiled, but he was a bit...cautious. He waved at a woman who was...almost a little plump. She was in her late fifties but tried to look forty. Her hair was grey done in an attractive style and she was about five feet and five inches. The word matronly was the best descriptive term. The other was a man...the word for him...was bored. "This is Doctor Hathaway. Dr. Jolene Hathaway. She's been utilized from everything from Forensics to possible contagions and germ warfare." Then he turned to the man. He was in his late forties, balding with hair that was turning grey at his temples and dusted in his formally black hair who wore a nice suit I knew wasn't off the rack. "This is Eric Maddingly. He is...my Unit's Director." Dave looked at us. "He insisted on being included."

"Why, may I ask, was it important that we come at this hour?" Director Maddingly asked gruffly.

I didn't need Colin's abilities to sense this would be a tough man to convince. "Boy, you don't waste time," I growled.

Director Maddingly frowned. "My time is valuable."

Colin nodded. "And so is ours." He said with equal gruffness.

"If you'll come with us?" I said coming around the table. "I'll show you why it was important you came at this hour." I smiled. "I need to get something." Nigel and his wife knew to have the canister needed ready which I got. I was hoping Wayne would react to these people true to his nature. We began walking to the barn.

"What have you been told about what we're doing here?" Colin asked.

Director Maddingly was outwardly appearing put upon. "David said something about a contagion? That you were working on something to battle it? His lack of information about what sort of contagion was trying my patience."

"Seeing is believing," I said leading them down to the storage area. I smiled to see that Wayne was up and looking for me. I wasn't disappointed as Wayne's nose twitched and he caught their scent immediately. He instantly threw himself violently against the bars and hissed reaching to grab them. George had locked Wayne's cage when he went down for this reason. What I liked was Dr. Hathaway's lack of reaction. She didn't scream or even jump, but Director Maddingly did jump back.

"Good GOD!!" Director Maddingly said in shock. "What the devil..."

"Not the Devil, Director Maddingly," I said. "This is Wayne. He is a vampire." I waved at Wayne who was now hissing and showing his fangs.

"Intriguing!" Dr. Hathaway said and even came closer to Wayne. She was fascinated. "A real vampire." It wasn't a question. She knew what Wayne was.

"He's dangerous!!" Director Maddingly said and looked like he would go forward to stop Dr. Hathaway.

"Don't be silly, he's in a cage." Dr. Hathaway said logically. "These people seem to have him controlled."

I grinned at her. "I'm glad you see that." I looked at Wayne. "What did I ask you not to do, Wayne?"

Wayne looked at me and sort of stopped hissing, but he still bared his fangs and was still silently hissing.

"His name is Wayne?" Dr. Hathaway asked.

"I'd called him Jerry before I found out," I said. "I've made some good progress with him the past week."

"Progress!?" Director Maddingly asked stunned. "He should be destroyed!"

I looked at the man. "Why?" I backed up until I was next to Wayne's cage. Wayne was right next to me. "He's not threatening me."

Colin walked next to me as he smiled. "He doesn't threaten me, either."

I opened the canister. "I have what he needs," I said as I offered a bag of blood to Wayne who simply took the bag and started consuming the blood.

"But he would have attacked you," Colin said. "You are a target. We're not." He smiled at Wayne. "He is a vampire. We'll show you the evidence. He would be dangerous." He said watching Wayne consume the whole bag and I offered him the second bag. "There are other vampires here." He said, "...in this room."

Director Maddingly was looking around to see another like Wayne. "Where?"

Colin smiled. "That's the point. You can't tell."

George came up to us. "We'll tell you when you're ready to listen."

"He should be in a controlled lab at least!" Director Maddingly said still unnerved.

"He is," George said. "In my lab."

"What credentials do you have?" Director Maddingly asked.

I smiled. "He has quite a few."

Colin nodded. "Anyone who knows me, knows I hate this period where there are questions to get up to speed. So, here it is. Vampires are a worldwide problem. They are in the United States and in every corner of the globe. They aren't monsters, but victims of a venom. Innocent people who were bitten and now carry this condition. There is no one better to deal with it than we are." He patted George's back. "This is Dr. George Holms, and he has worked with this all his life. No one is more acquainted with what's going on than he is." He looked back at Director Maddingly. "You have them in England." Colin laughed. "You have a lot of them in England. We're treating them."

Now Director Maddingly was again the proud man he appeared to be when we first met him. "Well, if you're expecting any government funding..."

"Wrong," Colin said. "We're not asking for a dime. We're simply wanting government awareness." He explained and went to George's table and got some papers. "Here is the contact number and email addresses for Congressional contact in the United States, also Senatorial contact and FBI. Have them checked out, but contact them, they will tell you. They have been backing us for some time now."

Director Maddingly took the pages as he read them.

Dr. Hathaway was still more interested in Wayne. "You have a treatment? Can he be cured?"

George shook his head. "No, but we can take away the threat." He then explained about the venom, how Wayne's venom was working as far as he had found out. He explained about the others that were being treated. They began to talk about more scientific findings and treatments. Director Maddingly was listening, but he still wasn't quite there.

"Your knowledge is good." He said. "You could assist Dr. Hathaway."

George smiled. "No, she could assist me."

"She has two doctorates!" Director Maddingly said.

Colin grinned. "George has six."

George smiled. "Well, really seven, but that field was unrelated."

"Seven!?" Dr. Hathaway asked as her eyes grew. "But you're so young! Even exceptionally bright people need time."

George smiled scratching his ear. "Well, I'm not that young. I've been a practicing physician over ninety years. I've been working on this for about sixty years."

Director Maddingly frowned. "Don't be ridiculous."

"I'm a vampire, too," George said.

Colin smiled. "So am I."

"Me, too," I said waving.

Now Director Maddingly was looking more astonished. "But that's...you were eating! You were in the sun!"

George nodded. "And under treatment."

Director Maddingly was still trying to accept this new information and was struggling. "We've come to weddings here. There were vampires here all along?"

"Not just here, but in London, too," Colin said. "We rescued a young woman, a vampire, Saturday night that was in London. There is a few there as well."

Now Director Maddingly had almost reached his limit. "All this can be proven?"

George nodded. "I have the readings, scans, and findings." He waved at the computer. "Not only here in the database, but in my head."

"Wayne will be treated, but we need more information to deal with this threat," I said. "He is not going anywhere. If we let you have him, you'll be starting at the beginning. By next week, I hope he will take the treatment well and be like us."

Dr. Hathaway was now looking at Wayne more intently. "But he's very primitive. If you were the same as he is, how could you come up with this?"

George smiled. "Well, Wayne's venom is different." Then he went on to explain the differences he found and theories.

I smiled and went to the door to the cage of a now much calmer Wayne. I opened the door and saw Director Maddingly look in fear as I entered the cage. "Hello, Wayne."

Wayne looked at me and smiled. "De on." He said.

I smiled at his attempt at my name. "We're going to be doing something soon." I began. "We have medicine for you," I said sitting on the cot by him. "We need to talk about that first." Wayne nodded.

Colin came in with us. He knelt in front of Wayne. "This medicine should help. I took it. Devon took it. It made us better."

George came in as well. "I've studied what we got yesterday. Whatever venom he got...it seems to block neurotransmitters in the brain. The venom enhances his visual and motor control but inhibits his speech center." He sighed. "It is amazing he can talk at all. I guess when the venom isn't needed to find the blood, it relaxes. That's what helped Wayne to be able to use that previously unused portion of his mind."

I took Wayne's hand. "I won't lie to you, Wayne," I said softly. "It hurt me. I watched it hurt Colin. It will hurt you, too."

"Understand," George said to Wayne. "We're not talking about a short run pain. It will last several hours. We'll have to do it every day for a while."

Colin nodded. "But, if it works...it did for me...it will take away this hunger for blood. You'll be able to go outside in the day." He smiled. "Perhaps even think clearer."

"We want to give you a life back," I said.

Wayne looked from George to Colin and then to me. I've said it before, if he had the tears that could come, he would be crying. "..ease." He begged.

I nodded. "Then, we'll get ready. We'll begin tonight."

Before I could move, Wayne grabbed me in a hug. He then grabbed Colin and did the same and with George.

"I'd say he knows and wants this over," I said to George as I was hugging Wayne.

George explained what we were going to do to Director Maddingly and Dr. Hathaway. He picked up a bottle of the serum and a syringe. "This will be hard for Wayne, but he knows what, but just not the extent. You're welcome to stay and watch."

Dr. Hathaway looked at this as exciting. "I can't wait."

George smiled at her and went back in the cage. He opened Wayne's shirt and prepped his chest. "Okay. I have to stick this in your heart the first time. It needs to restart your heart." He explained. "It will hurt," George said sadly. "I'm sorry." Wayne nodded. George took the syringe and inserted the needle and pushed the serum in.

I had seen others react, but this time, Wayne arched his back it hurt so much. Colin and I both were instantly by Wayne's side each taking a hand of Wayne's each. It was so extreme and like others like Colin and Gabriella, it hurt me to see. "We're not leaving you, Wayne," I assured. "We'll be here the whole time. You're not alone." I had tears and I was crying. I saw that Colin's face wasn't dry either.

It was horrible to watch and even though I knew it was for the best...my emotional attachment was making it worse. I loved Colin. It hurt me to watch him go through this, but...Wayne was...agonizing.

Even Dr. Hathaway was cringing a bit. "Is there nothing you can give him for the pain?"

George shook his head. "With the venom in him, it wouldn't work. There's no pain relief I can give." He said helplessly. "When he gets the serum to a level I can, but until it does..."

Even Director Maddingly was a bit bothered. "It would have been easier to just kill him."

"He's a man!" I said as I cried. "He's human!" I turned to him. "If this was you or your son...or just someone you gave a damn about..." I held Wayne's hand against me. "He will get better."

It was almost more than I could stand, but I had to be there. It did take a little longer before I saw that pulse come back once, then again and again. It had begun to work!

It did take longer than Colin, Willie, or me. It was eight hours of Hell! He finally slumped and the pain faded. I was wiping Wayne's face where he sweated! I felt me exhale in relief as he settled down. I was smiling when I saw Colin wipe his face to get rid of the tears he'd shed.

"It worked?" Dr. Hathaway asked.

George shook his head. "It worked the first day." He admitted. "That means it will work, but he has a few more injections to take." He leaned back against the bars. "I know doctors are supposed to have more objectivity, but something about Wayne..." he shook his head again.

Director Maddingly walked forward. "He has to do it again?"

George gave a sad nod. "It will start to work faster as we go through this, but yes."

Colin looked at Director Maddingly. "I not met a vampire yet to refuse even after the first injection."

"Life as a vampire is so...terrible," George said. "I think if there was a chance and they could die, they'd risk it."

I looked at Wayne's face. "He had blood flow." I pointed to his color that had gotten pinker.

Colin took my hand. "Come on, we need to be awake for him tonight. Let's go to bed."

"Can we find a room for him near us?" I asked as I knew I looked terrible from crying for hours.

Colin nodded. "I would insist on it, or we would move to be near him." We stopped in front of Director Maddingly. "You've seen the truth. We don't want anything other than for you to know what we're doing here. We don't need a penny from you." Colin waved at Wayne. "He's one of many; all British citizens who need help. What you do now will be important." Colin pushed each word tapping Director Mattingly's chest. "Don't let them down. You can speak to Edwin, Sarah and Matt. They're vampires too." We both saw Director Mattingly's eyes widen. "They were born and raised in the surrounding towns. Your agency is to protect the citizens of England. So, protect them." Colin pulled me close to him. "I'm taking my husband to get some rest. We have another long night tonight." I don't think Director Maddingly knew about the marriage as his eyes widened again. We hadn't been introduced as a couple.

In our room, Colin sat beside me on our bed. "We did the right thing." He said more to comfort himself than me.

I leaned on Colin. "Like a friend told me," I smiled. "I know it here." I tapped my head. "I'm having a hard time in here." I pressed on my own chest. I sighed. "It has to be better than what he's gone through. He begged us to give him the serum."

Colin fell back on the bed and lay there. "What is it with Wayne? That one serum insertion hurt me more than Gabriella when she started taking the serum."

I went back next to him. "Because, in spite of the fact that he's a vampire, he's sort of innocent. A gentle soul." I smiled.

"I think Director Maddingly and Dr. Hathaway will work out in the long run." He chuckled. "That Maddingly is the manifestation of the stoic Brit." He went to a fake British accent. "Keeping a stiff upper lip."

I chuckled. "He can't help it. He's English." I came closer to Colin. "So are you."

"And you!" Colin said.

"Scottish actually." I corrected. "Part of the British Empire grudgingly, but most definitely Scottish."

"Really? I thought it was Irish."

I sort of nodded. "Yes, but I know it's Scottish. The original spelling was M'Ghie." I spelled it. "There is also MacGhee and Magee." I spelled them both as I rolled on top of him. "And you're closer to as you are only a generation or two away. I'm quite a few." I sat up. "I'm more American than you!"

Colin rolled his eyes. "Oh, really?" He pulled me down and rolled us so he was on top. "But you still love me, right?"

I grinned. "Yeah." I pulled him into a kiss. "But you know that."

Colin grinned. "Yes, I do. You know I love you."

I kissed him. "Yes, I do."

We did sleep...eventually. We woke up about noon and got up and cleaned up and went down for lunch. We were surprised to see Dr. Hathaway at the table.

"You stayed," Colin said to her as we sat down.

She smiled and laughed a little. "How could I leave? I want to see how this turns out." She looked at us curiously. "You both went through that?"

Colin nodded. "We had to. Wayne had it a little rougher, but it will hopefully be the same results."

"Where's Director Maddingly?" I asked.

"He had a meeting the Minister of Defense." She said. "He was a little...uneasy about this whole thing. He will be back. What happens tonight?"

"When he wakes up, we'll begin to move him into the house," I said. "If he was able to break the blood dependency. We'll see how he tolerates UV rays." I gave a shrugging nod. "He will begin his transition from vampire to something...more human."

Dr. Hathaway smiled. "With this serum stopping the venom from working, he may be able to speak more?"

I gave a shrugging nod. "I hope so. He's pretty sharp even with the venom. He might surprise all of us."

She sat back nodding. "How is it he has a venom different from yours?"

Colin thought of the best way to explain. "There seem to be different kinds of vampires. I was bitten by a man I had known before when he was human. Whatever bit Wayne is thought to be more primitive." He shook his head. "We don't know."

She smiled. "And you're not getting anything from this?" She asked doubtfully.

I chuckled. "Oh, no, we're doing this for purely selfish reasons." I smiled. "No one wants to be alone. Now, we're not."

She nodded. "That's true." She looked around the lavish dining area. "You're in a beautiful home at least."

Colin smiled. "Well, Edwin Dunning was a surprise. He and the original owner were both vampires."

"The life you describe is nothing like the many stories."

I shook my head. "No, it isn't."

Colin looked cautiously at Dr. Hathaway. "I hope Director Maddingly uses discretion with other people."

She smiled. "Eric Maddingly can be a bit...pretentious. In the end, he's fair." She shrugged. "Who'd believe him if he told anyone?"

Colin and I did some catching up with the others. My mother was busy with the vampires that were getting the serum now and were not yet ready to get the discs. We knocked and went into Lilly's room.

"Hi, Devon...Colin." Lilly smiled and looked so much better. She had moisture in her eyes and color! "I saw the sunrise yesterday. It was glorious!"

Colin and I grinned at each other. Colin nodded. "I know and you'll never forget it."

Lilly smiled. "And your mother, Devon!" She shook her head. "She is so sweet and...she's dating a vampire!?" She asked not really believing it.

I chuckled. "Yes, it sort of runs in the family," I said taking Colin's hand. "I dated him before I was turned." I hurried along to beat the question I knew was coming. "I was bitten, but not out of the need for blood, but to keep from making him suffer."

Lilly smiled. "So, you're the vampire couple, not Paul and me."

Colin nodded. "I suppose we are."

Now there were four teams going out on patrol. All led by a veteran patroller as well as local support from the vampires that resided here.

Willie was getting his team together with Sarah as a tracker.

"Willie," I said grinning. "You haven't asked Mom?" I knew he hadn't.

Willie looked helpless. "I'm waiting for the right time." He explained. "It needs to be perfect. The right mood and the right setting."

I grinned. "You should take her to somewhere nice," I said. "Perhaps London?"

He looked at me. "You think I should?"

Colin chuckled. "Of course!" He gave Willie a manly hug, one of those one-armed one's guys had a tendency to give that's not overly mushy. "It works for Devon and me."

"Why not this weekend?" I suggested. "We can make the reservation tomorrow and you can even get someone to drive you." I chuckled. "Mom wouldn't dare drive. Can you drive?"

Willie frowned. "I haven't in a while."

"There's a great Rolls you can borrow. Edwin would love it!" Colin said. "I know there will be a local that can take you. You'll need to make plans for him as well."

"Just treat her like the queen she is," I said. "You'll do fine." I hugged him quickly with more emotion and with both arms. "I look forward to her squeal."

We were joined by Dr. Hathaway and to our surprise, Evan Bennett, Sarah Bennett's grandson was there.

George smiled. "We may have to think about building something to put a lab in." He said. "This lab is getting crowded." He grinned and brought Evan closer. "Evan wanted to sit in on this. He said he was interested in taking a more active position with us."

I smiled. "Great!" I looked over at the still slumbering Wayne. "How's Wayne?"

George smiled but gave a slight nod. "His heart rate is falling, but that's to be expected. He'll get the other dose tonight. He looks better!" He looked at the canister I was carrying. "Good move. I'm not sure if the craving has ended. We'll soon see." He said. "I hope it's working as we hoped. I've never done one of these vampires, but we'll find out. When he's awake and before we give the next dose, I need to get a sample of his blood."

"We'll wait before we move him then." I nodded. Looking at my watch, I could see it was nearly sunset. Colin and I went in the cage with Wayne. He had color. Not much, but it was there! "When we do move him." I grinned. "Maybe Gabriella can trim his hair." I looked at him. "He does have that Wolverine look."

"Or Dagwood." Colin chuckled. He looked at me and my puzzled expression. "Oh, come on. Blondie?"

"The singer?"

"The Sunday newspaper comic strip!" Colin rolled his eyes. "Infant."

I jabbed him in the gut slightly. "Comic books I know. Newspaper is...old fashioned."

Colin just huffed.

It was like clockwork when Wayne moved and began to wake up. He opened his eyes and I smiled at him. He had moisture now. His eyes were dark, which I knew, but they were chocolate brown. He smiled at Colin as he sat up. Then he frowned as he rubbed his chest.

"Ow."

I nodded. "Yeah." I smiled. "Ow." I held up the canister. "Are you hungry?"

Wayne sat up and thought. Then his eyes widened. "No!" He said in delighted surprise.

Colin smiled as he sat by Wayne. "Great!"

"It will be another day before we reintroduce food to you," I said sitting on the other side of Wayne. "Your body has to get used to working again."

Wayne nodded. He was still having a little difficulty with words. "I...understand." He did a circle at his own temple. "Fog...clearing...not gone." He smiled. "Yet." He pointed to his chest. "Again?"

"You have a few more doses," Colin said.

I pointed to George. "He needs some blood to make sure you're getting what you need. He needs more blood."

Wayne nodded. "Okay."

"We're going to ask you later what you remember," Colin said. "Not now, but you can think about it now. We're hoping with more serum the fog will clear up completely and you can tell us."

Wayne frowned and pointed to himself. "Remember." He said sadly. "Horrible."

"I can only imagine," I said.

Dr. Hathaway came to the door of the cage. "Am I safe now if I come in?"

Wayne looked at her. "No...hurt...you."

"We'll be with you the whole way," I reassured again.

Wayne smiled. "Thank you."

George took the sample of his blood and tested it. "We may have to wait one more day before we move him to the house. This venom is trying like mad to reassert itself and take control again."

Colin nodded. "One more night on the cot shouldn't hurt him."

I looked at Wayne as he talked with Dr. Hathaway. "His speech is better," I mentioned. "He says he remembers." I looked at Colin and George. "Maybe he can shed light on these other vampires." I shook my head. "I don't want to overwhelm him tonight."

George smiled. "He still has a ways to go."

At about eleven that night, we got ready for another dose. As bad as it had hurt before, Wayne was willing to do it again. Not happy about it, but knowing it was working and therefore worth it.

George came to Wayne. "With us, we took it in the arm the next day." He frowned. "I'll feel better if I put in your heart again."

Wayne nodded. "Bad...vampire...this." He laid back down.

Once again, George inserted the needle and injected the serum. It didn't take long for the serum to again cause the pain. Wayne was more prepared for it, but it still hurt a great deal.

I looked at George. "Is it possible to do a lower dose more often?"

George shook his head. "That is an idea. The serum is doing the job adhering to the venom, but the venom is trying to regain control. When he goes to the house; I need to get that blood level up." He put the syringe away. "A vampire no longer fearing the sun is needed, but to get there, I may have to increase the times given." He frowned again. "I may be making a more concentrated disc for him to keep the needed blood level."

Dr. Hathaway talked with George most of that night going over his research and findings. She was finding out about the serum and its chemical composition. Colin and I remained with Wayne again holding his hand and refusing to leave. It was again a long night, but he, at last, stopped writhing and lay still. I didn't need to touch his neck to see his pulse had returned to near normal again.

The next night we came down and Wayne looked even better. More color was in his face and he had again moisture in his eyes. George did another test of his blood.

"Not quite stable yet," George reported, "but I think he can be moved to the house."

I grinned at Wayne. "You are being moved to a bedroom."

Wayne looked surprised. "I...don't...know...where...am."

Colin chuckled. "Boy, are you in for a surprise."

I smiled at Wayne. "How's the fog?"

Wayne nodded. "Clearing." He smiled. "Think...better."

"Good!" I said and walked with him to the door of the cage. "We're taking you to a room. We'll show you where Colin and I sleep. If you need something, that's where we'll be."

Wayne nodded and looked at Colin and me. "Married?"

Colin nodded. "Yes, we're married. Does that bother you?"

Wayne shook his head. "Jealous." He smiled and patted both Colin's and my arms. "Lucky." He thought. "What...year?"

I frowned. "What year is it?"

Wayne nodded.

"It's 2021," I said.

Wayne looked surprised.

"What year do you remember? What was it when you became a vampire?" Colin asked.

"1973," Wayne said.

"Unfortunately, we can't send you back in time," I said softly. "I'm sorry." I didn't want to remind him of things until he was ready. "Let's see where you'll be staying."

Just leaving the barn his eyes widened at the gardens and the house that loomed brightly lit. Going into the house, his eyes grew even more. "I remember...this place."

"You've been here?" Colin asked.

"Never," Wayne answered. "Too fancy."

"Well, now you're staying here." I smiled.

We showed him where we were staying on our wing. Then we showed him to the room he would be in. He did what people did when the saw our house the first time and did that little turn to see it all.

"We'll be bringing you food tomorrow," I said. "Are you hungry now?"

Wayne shook his head but smiled at where he was staying. "Not yet. Will I be eating again?"

I nodded. "Of course, you will. You need nourishment."

Wayne sat on the couch in front of the fireplace, but on the edge of the couch, like sitting back in it was...not welcome. "I knew about the ones at night. That speaks, but hunt. I saw you and the ones that catch me." He said. "I see others like I was. Have you seen the others?"

Colin walked over to Wayne. "Others? We have been helping others that can speak to become like us."

"The others? They're not like us?" I asked.

Wayne shook his head. "No...not like you." He frowned. "There are others." He was getting better at speaking but sometimes had to work out what he needed to say. "The others...naked..." he pulled on his own hair. "...no hair."

"Bald?" I asked.

Wayne nodded. "Bald everywhere." He sighed. "I've seen only two." He shuddered. "I was bitten by one. Naked and no hair anywhere."

I looked at Colin. "The ones we're looking for?" I asked Colin.

"When our friends found you. You didn't fight them." Colin said.

Wayne nodded. "I sense...the people, not vampire, but feel different to me. I see vampires with them." He shrugged. "The vampires like you. I curious. I was scared, but I didn't fight."

I looked at Colin. "He wanted to get caught," I said to Colin. "A vampire, no hair and naked? We've never seen those."

Colin looked at Wayne. "Do you remember where you were bitten?"

Wayne nodded. "In the mine." He was struggling with coming up with sentences. "I was...working in a mine." He explained. "I survey."

"You weren't a miner?" I asked.

Wayne shook his head. "No. I would map routes." He explained. "Some mines are old...and new ways to mine...I was mapping old tunnels...go back in."

"Mines that may still have something in them and they were going back in." My eyes widened.

"You had to be good in math."

Wayne chuckled. "Yes." But now, he could produce tears and he began to cry silently. "I'm grateful you have done this...but..."

I came over and sat by him on the couch. "But?"

He wiped his face. "I was married." He said sadly and now cried more. "We had just found out she was pregnant."

Colin sat on the other side of him. "I'm sorry."

Wayne sniffed and nodded. "I don't know what happened to her." He sighed. "2021? Did she have the baby? Was it a boy or a girl?" He looked at me. "Were they happy? Are they still alive?"

This was a whole new ballgame. "What was your whole name?"

"Wayne Dawson Scott." He said. "My wife was Rosalind."

"We can find out," I said rubbing his back and then I thought maybe he wouldn't appreciate that now. I stopped.

Wayne looked at me sensing I didn't want to crowd him. "You have always cared about me." He said as he cried. "Even when I was that...horrible... thing. Please, don't stop now. I need you." He looked at Colin. "I need both of you." He turned into me and buried his head against me, which I held him there.

Colin and I both held him while he cried. "You're not alone, Wayne," Colin said. "We'll talk more about the others. When you feel better about talking."

There was nothing we could say to make it better, but we just sat with him until George came in. "We need to give the next dose." He looked at Wayne who was crying. "Are you okay?"

Wayne shook his head. "No."

I smiled at George. "He misses his family."

"Sure, he does." George smiled sympathetically.

"I did, too," Colin said.

I stood up. "While you're getting him ready, I'll send a message to Stan. I'll see what he can find." I left George and Colin with Wayne. They would understand. I hadn't lost my family. They could relate more to that than I could. I quickly got on the computer in the library and sent Stan the message with the information I had been given and knew he could find it. I brought the tablet with me. I came in the room again as George had Wayne on the bed and was inserting the serum. It again started the pain and he suffered again. Colin and I remained as always with Wayne. In many ways, it seemed Wayne wanted the pain, to take his mind off his personal pain. Another day and another sunrise. Only this time, Wayne was in a comfortable bed and asleep. Colin and I really didn't talk that much that morning but went to bed quietly.

"I knew what he felt," Colin said.

I looked up at Colin. "I know."

"The problem is...Gabriella is alive and here." He sighed. "Who knows about his wife and child?"

I nodded. "We will. If there's anything about them in records, Stan will find them."

"What if it's not good news?"

I smiled a little bitter. "He deserves to know."

The next night I answered my emails and I smiled at what I found. Colin and I went to Wayne again, but this time, we didn't wait for sunset. Knocking on Wayne's door.

"It's open," Wayne said quietly almost too quiet.

When we entered, he was looking completely lost.

"Why am I doing this? Why take the serum?" Wayne asked. "My wife probably moved on. Why am I doing this? I should stop the serum and just walk into the sun!"

"I have a reason for you not to." I smiled and held the tablet up. "Wouldn't you like to meet your grandchildren?"

He looked up suddenly. "Grandchildren!?"

"Three." I smiled. "I'm sorry, but your wife died five years ago from cancer, but you had a daughter, she was adopted by Dennis Tyler. Her name was changed. Your wife and Dennis raised a daughter, her is named Katie. She's married and lives in Edinburgh."

Wayne's mouth was open, but he wasn't saying anything. Shock.

"Katie had two girls and a boy," I added bouncing as I told him of the grandchildren. "And guess what the little boy's name is."

Wayne still wasn't saying anything.

"Katie named him," I looked at him, "Wayne!"