Henri – 34

 

Henri was about to say no.

 

But why? It's not like he's only got one bedroom, with one bed, and is asking me to share it with him. Not that I'd refuse. He realized that was the truth, and it didn't really surprise him.

 

"All right. If you insist," Henri replied.

 

"Good. Come on. I think you'll like the one overlooking the courtyard. It's quieter."

 

"Let me clean up first."

 

"It's got its own bathroom," Taegan told him.

 

"I meant…" Henri picked up the plates to take them to the sink.

 

Taegan laughed. "I know. Leave them. I'll get them later."

 

They were halfway up the stairs when Henri realized Taegan wasn't planning on going to bed himself. He had the gallery to run. "You're going to be dead on your feet by tonight."

 

"Not really. It's not as if I expend a lot of energy working. It's more mental than physical."

 

"Yeah. Right."

 

"Would I lie to you?"

 

"I hope not," Henri replied seriously.

 

"I wouldn't. Ever." Taegan opened the door to one of the bedrooms. It was bright and airy, and as promised, looked out over the courtyard below. Not that Henri cared at the moment. One glance at the bed with its thick mattress, and all he could think of was crawling into it and passing out.

 

"Bathroom…here," Taegan told him, putting his hands on Henri's shoulders to steer him in the right direction.

 

"Could it be much bigger?" Henri asked sleepily.

 

"Only if I knocked out the wall that separates it from mine."

 

"Then it could… Aw, never mind. I'm beginning to babble."

 

"Then go to bed. You can babble again when you wake up."

 

"Sounds good. Wait, I don't babble."

 

Taegan laughed as he walked Henri over to the bed. "By your own words, you do. Now get undressed and into bed."

 

Henri took off his shirt, shoes and socks before hesitating.

 

"You are wearing underwear, I presume," Taegan said, his gaze roaming over Henri's torso with obvious approval of what he was seeing.

 

"Yes." Henri turned his back to Taegan before stripping off his jeans.

 

"Nice ass," Taegan commented. "What I can see of it." He wrapped his arms around Henri, pulling him against his chest. "Stop being so shy," he murmured, kissing the nape of Henri's neck. "I'm not planning on taking advantage of you, despite the circumstances. First off, you're way too tired. Secondly, anything we do will be by mutual consent."

 

Henri turned in Taegan's arms to look at him. "If I had it in me right now…"

 

"You would consent?"

 

"Yes. But…" Henri brushed as kiss over Taegan's smiling lips.

 

"Falling asleep in the middle of things would be sort of demoralizing for both of us. I understand." Taegan kissed him gently. "Later though…"

 

"I think…definitely."

 

"A slight hesitation there, but I'll put it down to your tired brain not running on all cylinders," Taegan replied with a grin as he pulled back the covers on the bed.

 

Henri got the message, settling on the bed. He looked up at Taegan, beckoning with one finger. "Another kiss?"

 

Resting his hands on the bed, Taegan complied. When they broke apart, he murmured, "Sleep well."

 

Before Henri could answer, Taegan was gone. Damn, he moves fast. I hope it was because he was resisting temptation. But, as he said, I'm too… He was asleep before he could finish his thought.

Henri – 33

 

Almost as soon Ransom took Upton away, the two other men came in from the balcony. They went over to Sebastian, thanking him for inviting them to his party, and left as well.

 

"A job well done," Sebastian commented, sitting beside Emil on one of the sofas.

 

Henri glanced at Taegan and Allyn. ::I think we should leave the two of them alone to catch up.::

 

::Definitely,;; Allyn agreed.

 

Taegan stood, going over to Sebastian. "We appreciate what you did."

 

"Think nothing of it. I was glad to be of service." Sebastian smiled. "After all, it wouldn't pay for them to go running their mouths about the fact there really are shifters in the world."

 

"Definitely not," Allyn said, getting up.

 

"Emil," Henri said, "if you need someone to talk to, feel free to call me, day or night."

 

"Thank you," Emil replied. "I appreciate the offer but I think," he glanced at Sebastian, "I already have someone who will listen and understand."

 

Taking Emil's hands in his, Sebastian said quietly, "Indeed you do."

 

"Again, thank you," Taegan said. His thanks were echoed by Allyn and Henri. When they left the condo, Sebastian and Emil were deep in conversation.

 

"If they aren't a couple," Henri said while they waited for the elevator, "I have the feeling they soon will be."

 

Putting his arm around Henri's waist, Taegan replied, "Oh yes. Trust me. Sebastian will see to that."

 

"Says the man who's empathic enough to know," Allyn said, just as the elevator doors opened. Ransom was standing there, about to get out. Putting his hand on his husband's chest, Allyn backed him in again, saying they were leaving.

 

Ten minutes later, Taegan dropped Ransom and Allyn off at their apartment. Then, much to Henri's surprise, he drove into the Quarter. The sun was just coming up, so Henri decided Taegan was going to find them somewhere to eat breakfast before taking him home.

 

Apparently, that wasn't the plan—or at least not eating in a restaurant—because Taegan pulled into the lot behind his place and parked.

 

When Henri looked quizzically at him, Taegan said, "I thought you might like breakfast and, personally, I'm not in the mood to deal with any more people at the moment. So, if you can handle eggs and bacon and decent coffee…"

 

"Sounds wonderful," Henri told him, realizing he was past hungry and into starving.

 

When they got upstairs, Taegan went straight to the kitchen, collecting the makings for breakfast. Henri watched for a moment then asked, "Is there something I can do to help?"

 

"No. Sit and relax. You've had a hell of a night." Taegan pointed to the table along the wall opposite the counters.

 

"You have too," Henri protested.

 

"But I'm used to it."

 

"Uh-huh." Henri tried, and failed, to repress a yawn. "I guess the adrenaline is finally wearing off."

 

Taegan grinned as he put bacon in a frying pan then readied and turned on the coffee maker. "Thus, breakfast."

 

Not willing to sit, Henri started opening cupboards.

 

Shaking his head, Taegan told him, "Far left. And the silverware's in the drawer underneath."

 

While Henri set the table, Taegan checked the bacon, put a second pan on the stove to heat and when it had, broke several eggs into it. While they cooked, he popped bread into the toaster and soon everything was ready.

 

"Who knew," Henri said after making inroads into his meal, "that a simple breakfast could taste so good."

 

Taegan laughed. "Me? I much prefer this to some of the fancy stuff they serve in the local restaurants."

 

"Not into crepes and omelets or those eggs with Hollandaise?"

 

"Eggs Benedict." Taegan shuddered dramatically.

 

Henri chuckled, finishing the last of his meal. He was full and so relaxed his eyes began to close. He snapped them open, taking a large gulp of coffee.

 

"That's not going to help." Taegan told him. "Go upstairs and get some sleep."

 

"I… What?"

 

"Sleep. You know, lie down on a bed, pull up the covers and let nature take its course."

 

"I couldn't. I have my own bed, in my own apartment."

 

"You'll be dead to the world before you make it there. I have two guest rooms. Use one of them. Please?"

Henri – 32

 

Once they'd made a stop at Henri's apartment to pick up the last of their prisoners, the group drove to Emil's condo building. Before leaving the apartment, Taegan and Henri had brought up the trash bags with the remainder of what they'd taken from the lab—so there would be room for all eight people in the SUV.

 

"Oh, I know this place," Allyn said with a trace of envy when they pulled up in front of a warehouse which had been converted into condos. He turned to look at Emil. "You must be fairly well off."

 

Emil shrugged as they got out of the car. "I've been around long enough to have some savings and investments."

 

"Like most of us," Allyn agreed.

 

Ransom gestured for their prisoners to join them, warning them not to do anything foolish. Norm Upton seemed ready to try anyway, but a hard look from Ransom, when he gripped Upton's arm, obviously made him think twice.

 

Emil had called his friend while they were at Henri's, telling him very briefly what had happened and why they needed his help. So, it was no surprise to anyone when they were greeted as they entered the building lobby by a slender, dark-haired man.

 

He ignored the others while enveloping Emil in a tight embrace. Then he stepped back, grasping Emil's arms as he looked him over from head to foot. "The lab coat does nothing for you," he pronounced. "And you look like hell."

 

Emil snorted softly. "I'm glad to see you as well, Sebastian. Allow me to introduce you to my saviors."

 

Sebastian greeted them warmly before glowering at the prisoners. "I presume these are the men you want me to deal with."

 

"Yes, but not right here," Taegan said with a bit of a smile.

 

"Of course not. Follow me, if you will."

 

Everyone got into the—thankfully—large elevator, stepping off again on the fourth floor. Sebastian led the way to his condo. The living room was spacious, with a great deal of what, to Henri, looked like an eclectic collection of antique furniture. At Sebastian's suggestion, everyone but the prisoners sat.

 

"What are you going to do with us?" Upton asked Sebastian belligerently.

 

Sebastian smiled wickedly. "Nothing you'll remember after I've finished. Just a little mind probing before I wipe away memories of my new friends here, and anything to do with them and their kind."

 

"No." The prisoner Ransom had threatened with mind probing at the lab whimpered, cowering away. "I don't want to be a babbling idiot." 

 

Sebastian cocked an eyebrow. "Now why do you think that would happen?"

 

"He told me so," the prisoner replied, pointing at Ransom.

 

"Well he was…pulling your leg as they say." When the man shook his head in disbelief, Sebastian turned to Upton, ordering, "Look at me."

 

Unable to resist the vampire's compelling voice, Upton did.

 

"Good lord. You are a wicked man," Sebastian commented in disgust, staring into Upton's eyes. It took him a few minutes, and a few muttered curses, but finally Sebastian released his control over Upton.

 

Upton shook his head, muttering, "This is supposed to be a party. Where are the girls?"

 

"All in good time," Sebastian told him. Then he set to work on the other two prisoners. When he finished, he suggested the three men go onto the balcony to wait for the rest of guests to arrive. When they were out of the room, he told Ransom and the others, "Obviously, they think they've come here for a party. That's it. They have no memory of the five of you, other than as more of my friends. In about ten minutes, they'll think the 'party' is over. What happens after that is up to you. I can tell you, despite the fact they worked for this Xavier, only Mr. Upton did anything more than help with Xavier's experiments. Perhaps not much consolation as far as Emil and Henri are concerned. However, since those two don't remember now, I think it's safe to let them go. Upton on the other hand…"

 

"Will be arrested for the murders of Mrs. Graham and her children," Ransom stated.

 

Sebastian nodded. "Good. I implanted a motive for that in his mind. He's a petty thief they surprised in the act."

 

Ransom grinned, saying as he strode out to the balcony, "That works for me." He returned moments later with Upton, once again handcuffed and loudly protesting his innocence. Ransom took out his phone, calling for a squad car to pick up his prisoner, then walked Upton out of the apartment, saying he'd be back as soon as he'd turned Upton over to the officers.

Henri - 31

 

"He's sort of waking up," Calvin said when Henri and the others entered the room with the cages.

 

Henri went over to the one holding the shifter, while Ransom shoved Upton into the one holding their other prisoner.

 

The wolf opened his eyes to stare fearfully at Henri.

 

"It's all right," Henri said. "We're friends."

 

"In fact," Taegan said, kneeling beside Henri, "we're more than friends. We're like you."

 

Miranda joined them, asking, "Are you…? Can you shift yet?"

 

The wolf sat up shakily, his head cocked to one side as if considering Miranda's question. Slowly, he nodded, then a man sat where the wolf had been seconds earlier. "How…?" His voice was rusty from disuse.

 

"Let's get you out of here then we'll explain," Henri said, getting to his feet to go search the pockets of the dead men. He came back with a set of keys, one of which unlocked the cage. The man crawled out and, with Henri and Taegan's help, walked to a chair by one of the cabinets.

 

Allyn had a lab coat by then, which he draped over the man, asking as he did, "What's your name?"

 

"Emil Lambert." He looked at Allyn, then the others, saying a prayerful, "Thank you for rescuing me."

 

"Our pleasure," Henri replied. Then, in answer to Emil's earlier, implied question, he told him what had happened.

 

"So, the bastard is dead. Thank God," Emil said when Henri was finished.

 

Ransom added with a tight smile, "Him and two of his men. Now we have to decide what to do with the other three."

 

"Three? Oh, yeah, the one in my bathroom. That's a good question." Henri looked at the others. "Any suggestions?"

 

Taegan chuckled. "If we knew a vampire…"

 

"We did, once," Ransom replied, giving Allyn a hug when he hissed in a breath. "Unfortunately—well, not unfortunately—he's ashes now."

 

"Sirs?" Emil said hesitantly. "I do."

 

Miranda looked at him in disbelief. "You're kidding."

 

"No, ma'am."

 

"Okay, back up a second," Miranda said. "I'm not 'ma'am'. I'm Miranda, and these are…" She proceeded to introduce everyone, including Jimmy and Calvin.

 

"Now, as you were saying," Taegan said when she finished, "You know a vampire?"

 

Emil nodded. "He's an old friend." He smiled slightly. "A very old friend, as in age. We live in the same building." Now he frowned. "He must wonder where I am. We usually have Sunday dinner together."

 

"Do you know how long you've been here?" Henri asked.

 

Emil grimaced. "It seems like forever but I doubt it's been more than two weeks."

 

"Three," the unnamed prisoner called out.

 

"Dear Lord, he must be frantic," Emil whispered.

 

::More than a friend, I wonder?:: Henri said to Taegan.

 

::Perhaps. Or a father figure. No clue of course.::

 

"Do you think your friend would be willing to wipe the memories of our captives?" Ransom asked Emil.

 

"Possibly," Emil replied. "I wish he could wipe mine. At least about what happened here."

 

Henri nodded. "I know what you mean."

 

Emil looked up at him. "You were Xavier's prisoner too, you said. How can you…? How do you deal with that?"

 

"I have good friends who've helped. I suspect, from what you've said, your friend will give you the support you need."

 

"I think maybe he will." Emil looked around the room, his glance landing on the door to the lab. "Can we get out of here?"

 

"You bet." Henri gave Emil a hand up, then helped him put on the lab coat, while Ransom and Taegan released their prisoners.

 

"Where will you go now?" Allyn asked Calvin and Jimmy.

 

"If I may make a suggestion," Miranda said before they could reply. "Come home with me. Someone needs to keep an eye on the two of you until we're certain the effects of the injections Xavier gave you have worn off. I think, between me and my husband, we can do that."

 

Henri bit back a laugh at the look of disappointment on Calvin's face when Miranda mentioned John, even though the man had already known she was married.

 

"Thank you," Jimmy replied sincerely. "I hope… I have nothing against shifters but to be honest, I'd rather not be one."

 

Taegan chuckled. "It's not really a bad thing, if you're born to it. But I can certainly understand how you feel."

 

"Give me your hands," Miranda said, holding out hers. They did, and instantly the three of them vanished.

 

Ransom and Taegan marched the prisoners out of the building, while Henri helped Emil, who was still very weak. Allyn brought up the rear, flicking off the light in the cage room before closing the door firmly behind him. 

Henri – 30

 

"You realize Upton might not be here," Allyn pointed out as they stood in the parking lot beside the bar.

 

"Only one way to find out," Ransom said. "Henri, you're the only one who knows what he looks like. You and Taegan go in. Allyn, Miranda, watch the back door."

 

"Describe him," Allyn said to Henri. "I'd hate to take out the wrong guy."

 

"Medium height with blond, military-cut hair and a deep tan." Henri chuckled dryly. "As the guy said, like a surfer. That's how I remember him, from the brief time I saw him. All that could have changed since then."

 

"It's a start. If he is in there, let us know," Allyn replied before he and Miranda walked around to the back of the bar.

 

"I'll wait out here," Ransom told Henri when they were in front of the bar. "The same thing Allyn said goes for me. If Upton is here, let me know."

 

With a nod, Henri, with Taegan right beside him, entered. It was an ill-lit place, smelling of beer and cheap pine-scented cleaner. A long bar filled one wall, with tables scattered around the room. Most of the men looked like punks and thugs. The women were, in Henri's opinion, sleazy and probably hookers, from what they were wearing—or not wearing.

 

::Do you see him?:: Taegan asked.

 

Henri shook his head, walking to the bar.

 

"What'll it be, gents?" the bartender asked.

 

"Beer," Henri replied. "In the bottle." He turned, leaning back against the bar as he scanned the patrons at the tables. None of them were Upton and he wasn't seated at the bar. The bartender returned with their beers, banging them down on the bar. Henri paid him, asking, "Norm been in tonight?"

 

The bartender snorted. "When ain't he in? The guy thinks this is his second home." He pointed to a table far back in a dark—or darker—corner. "He was there ten minutes ago. Check the john."

 

"As if," Henri muttered, earning a dry, knowing smile from the bartender. He took a drink of his beer, letting the others know, ::Upton might be here.::

 

::Might?:: Ransom asked, so Henri told him what the bartender had said.

 

Just then, a man staggered from the short hall leading, Henri presumed, to the johns. It took Henri a moment to recognize him as Upton. His hair was now long and scraggly, and his complexion was pasty.

 

Upton managed to make it back to his table without falling. He picked up an obviously empty beer bottle, put it to his mouth and tipped his head back, as if wanting the final drops, then slammed it down on the table.

 

"Wait here," Henri said to Taegan, picking up Taegan's untouched beer. Going over to Upton's table, Henri sat, handing the bottle to the man.

 

Upton looked blearily at him. "Do I know you?" he muttered, grabbing the bottle.

 

"Yeah. We met maybe six, seven months ago. You were hanging with a dude named Xavier."

 

"Fuck Xavier! The bastard."

 

Grabbing Upton's shirt to pull him closer, Henri said in a deathly quiet voice, "You didn't seem to think so when you were helping him kill an innocent family."

 

"Oh, shit. He wanted their dog. Said we'd make a fortune off him. Only it wasn't really dog. It was some kind of mutant. I saw it in the lab before it escaped." Upton shuddered. "The woman, she tried to stop us taking it. It got away and Xavier said we had to kill them or they'd go to the cops."

 

"Innocent kids," Henri spat out angrily.

 

"Yeah, well, it was them or us." Upton yanked away. "Still, I decided I'd better do something before Xavier decided to lay the blame for the killings on my doorstep—and told him so. We argued. I walked." He looked cagily at Henri. "I can tell you where to find him, if that's why you're here."

 

Henri smiled darkly. "I already have. He's dead."

 

"Fuck!" Upton staggered to his feet just as Taegan appeared beside him, gripping his arm to keep him from running. "Get your damned hands off me," Upton shouted.

 

Several of the bar patrons looked over, as if they were considering whether to help Upton. They quickly decided not to when Ransom walked to the table, saying loudly enough to be heard, "Norman Upton, you're under arrest for murder," while he snapped a pair of cuffs on Upton's wrists.

 

Upton sagged in defeat as Ransom and Taegan walked him out the back door of the bar with Henri right behind them.

 

"Back to the lab?" Ransom asked once everyone was in the car, with Upton slumped in the rear seat.

 

"Yep," Henri replied tiredly. "But first we need to get rid of something."

 

"Me?" Upton asked in panic.

 

"Not yet," Taegan told him with a malicious grin.

 

Ransom tapped his lip. "I know the perfect place."

 

Ten minutes later, following Ransom's directions, Taegan pulled the SUV to the curb by a small park. Leaving Allyn and Miranda to watch Upton, Ransom waited while Henri retrieved the bin holding all of Xavier's files. Then he led Henri and Taegan to a picnic area nestled in the center of a stand of trees.

 

Henri set the bin on one of the tables, took out two files, dumping the papers they contained into the grill next to table. "Lighter?"

 

Ransom had one, which he handed to Henri. After setting the papers afire, Henri fed the contents of the rest of the files into the grill.

 

"If we had some hotdogs," Taegan joked.

 

"Cooking them over this would probably poison us," Henri replied sourly, although he did smile.

 

When every last paper had turned to ash, the three men returned to the SUV and they went back to the lab.