Chapter 4
Damon pulled into an empty spot in the emergency room parking lot at Children's Hospital. Grabbing her bag, Nicole headed toward the door noticing all the police cruisers. Glancing at Damon, she saw his expression was as confused and concerned as hers. The doors slid open and they were hit with a blast of cold air as they entered the emergency room. It was packed with anxious parents with crying kids, all waiting to be seen. Seeing Mitch, she headed his way.
“Excuse me.” A blonde woman behind the sign-in desk spoke loudly trying to stop her and Damon.
“I'm with them.” Nicole kept walking and pointed over her shoulder. “And he's with me.”
The woman threw up her hands. “I need to see some ID.” The woman shouted after them.
Ignoring the woman, Nicole walked up to Mitch, nodding at a few of the police officers she knew. “What's going on Mitch?”
“We have a hell of a mess is what's going on.” Mitch ran his hand down his face, the shadows under his puffy eyes making him look older and more tired than she'd ever seen him. “We have a 16 year old vampire in there who killed both of his foster parents, human parents.”
“Oh God.” Nicole tried to peek around him to see if she could see the kid.
“It took ten officers to bring him down and he got a little roughed up so they brought him here. Now he has a nurse and is threatening to kill her if they don't let him go. They're going to take him out.” Mitch stepped back getting out of way of the hospital staff pulling Nicole with him.
“Who is it Mitch?” God, if it was one of her cases she was going to freak out right here and now.
“It's Stevie Richardson.” Mitch glared at the floor. “It's Chad's case and I can't get a hold of him so I called you. I want you to try to talk him down Nicole.”
“No!” Damon had kept quiet up to this point. No way was he going to let Nicole get anywhere near this kid. He knew how unstable a cornered vampire could be and he had no doubt that this kid would kill. Hell, he already had. “I'll take care of this.”
Nicole grabbed his arm. “How Damon, by going in there and turning all bad warrior vamp on the kid? Stevie was one of my cases until Chad threw a fit because he wanted to work with him and place him. I gave up the case. Now I wish I wouldn't have. Stevie is a good kid. Something isn't right about this whole situation and if you go in there we may never find out what it is.”
“Do you have a death wish?” Damon glared at her, jaw clinched. “You are human. What don't you understand about that Nicole? You have no power over our kind.”
“You're right.” Nicole nodded. “Not with violence I don't, but I can get through to these kids and I am not going to let him get hurt. Something triggered this and we need to find out what it is before it's too late.”
Damon understood, he really did, but he didn't want Nicole going anywhere near this kid who had already killed. He already had a taste of blood lust and he'll be damned if he tasted any of Nicole's.
Nicole stopped listening as her mind began to work. She could do this without violence. She knew she could. She had done it before. Seeing a teenager walking down the hall toward them drinking a Dew she headed toward him. “Hey.” She approached with a smile and cash she dug out of her pocket in her hand. “I'll buy that t-shirt off you for twenty-five bucks.”
“Seriously?” The kid eyed the money she flashed in her hand.
“About as serious as that Dew rotting out every tooth in your head.” Glancing down at her feet, then his, she took more money out. “I will give you sixty for the shirt and shoes.”
“Hell yeah!” He started stripping out of his shirt and shoes stumbling around in his haste to get the money in her hand.
“Thanks.” She pushed the money into his hand and grabbed her purchase. Toeing off her boots she starting stripping out of her long sleeved dress shirt she had worn to the club.
“Hey, what the hell are you doing?” Damon rushed over, grabbing the shirt, pulling it back down; not that he would mind seeing what she was hiding under her clothes. A quick glance around said that there were others with that same thought. Yeah not f*ckin' likely.
“I've got a sports bra underneath this. Now let go.” She shrugged from his hold and continued changing.
Damon growled baring his fangs at the kid and police officers who stood watching her undress. “Dammit Nicole.” He pushed her behind him to give her some privacy. “Couldn't you have done that in the bathroom?”
After putting on the rumpled AC/DC t-shirt that smelled awful, she grabbed the shoes and put them on without untying them. “No time and it's not like I'm going to ignite a lust fest in my sports bra. Geez vamp, chill.”
Damon glared down at the top of her head as she rummaged in her bag. “What the hell is changing your shirt and shoes going to do to help with this situation?”
Gathering her hair into a ponytail she wrapped the rubber band around it then stood. “I don't want to look like a social worker. I want him comfortable around me. I want to be on his level.”
Damon snorted shaking his head. “Human, you are crazy.”
“As a loon.” She smiled, shoved her bag into his stomach hard and walked toward Mitch. “Okay, ready.”
“Nice outfit.” Mitch shook his head. This is why he didn't fire Nicole, as bad as he wanted to at times. She went the extra mile to do her job and that was something rare indeed. “Just don't get killed. Okay. The paperwork will be a bitch.”
“Love you too Mitch.” Nicole snorted when Damon grumbled loudly. What was his problem?
Walking through the doors, Nicole gasped. At least ten uniformed cops surrounded a curtained partition with their guns drawn. Her eyes then focused on their target. A typical teenager with blonde spiky hair, his eyes huge in his pale face. Not so typical was his scrawny arm wrapped around an older nurse's throat. Slowly she made her way in front, but out of the line of fire. Obviously Mitch had informed them that she was going to try to talk the boy down because no one tried to stop her.
“Don't come any closer.” His fangs gleamed under the florescent lights, his arm tightening around the nurse's throat, making her cry out.
Nicole put her hand out. “I won't Stevie.”
“My name is Steve!” He spit out. “My f*cking name is Steve.”
“Okay, Steve.” Nicole dropped her arm. “Listen to me Steve. We have ourselves in a bad situation here and it doesn't look too good from where I'm standing and I'm sure it's not any better from where you are either.”
“Yeah, ya think?” He shuffled back a step dragging the nurse with him.
“If you let her go.” Nicole motioned to the nurse. “Everyone will leave then me and you can talk about what happened.”
“Bullshit.” This time there was less anger in his voice, more hope in his eyes.
Nicole heard the cursing behind her, but ignored it. If she could get him to let the nurse go, then these guys were going to have to give something up and getting rid of all these cops was going to be the key to ending this standoff. “One thing you need to know about me Steve is that I don't bullshit.” Nicole stood firm, staring at the boy, willing him to believe that she was trying to save his life. “I want answers to what happened tonight so I can help you. I think I know what might have happened, but we need to talk. We can't do that with you holding that nurse.”
“Why would you want to help me?” His eyes nervously flicking around to the guns. “You're human, right? So what do you care about me for? Huh?”
“It's my job to help you, plus I understand more than you know.” Nicole felt nervous beads of sweat popping out on her forehead. God, this could turn ugly so fast.
“Are you kidding me?” He screamed, jerking the woman closer to him. “Are you like that other social worker?”
“Who was your social worker?” Nicole knew exactly who it was, but didn't want him to know she knew. When he didn't answer she sighed. “Is his name Chad?”
“Yeah and he never would call me back. Told me to hang in there and that I wasn't trying hard enough to fit in. I needed to try harder and now look where I am.”
Bitter bile rose up her throat threatening to choke her. Knowing Chad had indeed arrived because she heard his pansy ass voice, she turned to glare at him. “Look Steve.” Nicole said loudly turning her attention back to the boy. “I'm sorry you got stuck with him.”
“You're a social worker?” He snorted and rolled his eyes to the ceiling dropping his head back. “God, just kill me now.”
“Everyone get out.” She turned to Mitch. “Get everyone out.”
“Nicole.” Mitch warned, shaking his head.
Turning back to Steve she took a step forward. “If I get everyone out of here will you let her go and talk to me?”
Steve leveled his gaze back to her. “Why should I trust you?”
“Because I just became your new hostage.” Nicole heard Damon cursing behind her, but ignored it. “I really want to hear your story. I'm not saying you're not in trouble for what you did, but at least everyone will know the real reason behind it and we can work on getting you a good defense team together. My boss has a lot of connections.”
“You like AC/DC?” He asked eyeing her shirt.
“Seen them every year they came to Cincinnati.” Nicole grinned, then shot an I told you so look at Damon.
“Yeah they kick ass.” He nodded seeming more at ease. “I'll let her go if you get them out.”
“Done.” Nicole turned to Mitch. “Keep someone ready around the corner if this goes bad.” she whispered so only those close to her could hear.
“What the hell are you doing Nicole?” Mitch demanded as the chief of police came barreling toward them.
“Can someone tell me who put this woman in charge?” The chief was looking at her as if she was a piece of crap on the bottom of his finely polished shoe.
“No one did, Sir.” Nicole turned back to see how Steve was taking all of this commotion. His eyes stayed steady on her, still holding his arm around the poor nurse's throat. “I can talk him down, but not with guns pointing at him from all directions. I can also get the nurse released, but I have to gain his trust and the trust I have gained so far, which isn't much, is trickling away the more we stand here trying to figure out who's in charge.”
The chief eyed the situation with a stern frown. “If this goes bad it's on your head.”
Nicole nodded, figuring as much and knew because of that fact she wasn't backing down. She never did before so why start now? She watched as the chief gave the orders and the officers started backing away slowly. Mitch and the others followed suit, until everyone was evacuated but Damon. “You need to leave Damon.”
“I can take care of this Nicole.” Damon stared over her head at the young vampire and knew he could take him out in a blink of an eye. The nurse may suffer for it, but it was a chance he was willing to take. He did not want Nicole in danger. His whole body burned at the thought of her getting hurt.
“I'm sure you can, but I still need to talk to him and I know I can get more out of him than those guys down at the police station. They still fear your kind and would rather lock him away than find out what really happened. You know this Damon. I could find out a lot from him.” She hoped he would see her reasoning.
“I'm not leaving.” Damon turned her and pushed her toward Steve. “If he doesn't go for that then the deal is off and I will take him out.”
Nicole nodded, knowing Damon wasn't going to back down on this either. At least Steve seemed to be easing up a little with the cops and guns gone. “Okay Steve. I did my part, now you need to do yours and let her go.”
“What about him?” Steve nodded his head at Damon.
“Well you see that's a problem. My friend is very protective and wants to make sure we just talk. ” Nicole turned and shot a glare at Damon who cocked an eyebrow. “He promised he wouldn't interfere as long as things remained calm, which I don't see that being a problem. So do we have a deal?”
“He's a vampire?” Steve unwrapped his arm from the nurse’s neck, but kept a hand on her shoulder.
“Yes he is.” Nicole nodded. “Is that a problem?”
“Just tell him to stay out of my head. I feel him in there probing around.” He watched Damon suspiciously.
“Done.” Nicole looked over at Damon. “Please?”
Damon inclined his head to her then turned his focus on the boy. “Steve I will do as you ask, but if you make one move to hurt her it will be the last move you ever make. She is trying to help you and is putting her life and job on the line. If you decide to take yourself down, she will not go down with you.”
Steve swallowed hard and nodded, letting the nurse go. She ran to Nicole, who quietly told her to leave through the door behind Damon. Nicole turned and walked slowly toward Steve. “Okay, now we can figure out what happened and what we're going to do about it.”
Steve took one last look at Damon as he sat on the bed putting his head in both of his hands with a huge sigh. “God, I don't know where to start.”
Nicole walked up and sat on the end of the hospital bed. She didn't have to turn to know that Damon came closer. “Listen Steve.” She sighed. “I'm going to be straight up with you. I know your file. I was supposed to be your case manager, but Chad wanted it so it was given to him. I'm sorry things didn't turn out for you under Chad's care.”
Steve snorted lifting his head up to meet her stare. “No it didn't turn out, obviously.”
Nicole nodded. The poor kid. He already had so many strikes against him before he was turned. He would be sixteen for the rest of his vampire life. No way would she want to be sixteen forever. He was the only child of parents who couldn't handle the matrimony of marriage and called it quits when he was five. Raised by his mother, who was a heavy drug user and known well by the police, he had spent time in the system on and off for most of his adolescent life. At sixteen, his mom kicked him out and he landed on the streets where he met up with the wrong people and was turned. Getting caught by the police for stealing a car, he was charged, but being a minor, he was to be released into his mother's custody. Problem was his mother never showed up to take him. He was now a ward of the state and what a bang up job they had done for the kid.
“Why did you kill your adoptive parents Steve?” Nicole cocked her head to the side ready to listen. “Let's start there.”
Taking one last look at Damon, he rubbed his hands together back and forth. “I didn't do it.” He looked back to Nicole to see what kind of reaction she had to that little tidbit. When her features showed nothing, he continued. “There was someone else there, but I didn't see who it was.”
“Okay.” Nicole sat up straighter. “Did you hear anything that would give you a clue to who it was?”
He shook his head. “I came in through the kitchen after work. I have a part time job after school. They didn't have much for me to do at Wilson's Garage so I headed home early. I was in the kitchen getting ready to grab a drink from the fridge when I heard my mom talking loudly from the other room. She was always quiet, so it surprised me to hear her voice raised. So I walked into the hall and stood there figuring she and my dad was fighting and hoped it wasn't about me.”
Nicole nodded her head in understanding. Poor kid. Wanting to belong, but afraid he never would. Finding a family, but afraid it would disappear any minute. “Go on Steve.”
His eyes focused over her head. She didn't know if he stared at Damon or nothing. “They were in the office with the door shut. I heard her saying that they changed their minds. They didn't need the money anymore and that they were not going to agree to anything. I heard another voice yelling at her telling her to shut up.”
“Male or female?” Damon asked, moving closer. Nicole flinched, hoping Damon's question wouldn't stop Steve from continuing. When Steve looked at Damon she knew that wasn't going to be the case. The kid wanted this off his chest.
“Male, and it wasn't my dad.” Steve leaned his head back and sighed again. “My dad told this person that under no circumstance would he be selling my blood to anyone.”
Nicole gave him a minute of quiet and was surprised to find Damon standing beside her. His arms crossed staring at the boy. “What happened next, son?”
Steve frowned at Damon, but didn't comment on him calling him son. “I heard the other person saying they were making a huge mistake and then I heard my mom scream and all kinds of noises came from the office. I ran, but couldn't get the door open fast enough.”
Nicole laid her hand on the boy's foot. “I'm so sorry, Steve.” Nicole wanted to scream at the injustice of it all.
“God it was awful. Neither one of them was moving. My dad was lying over my mom like he was trying to protect her. My dad wasn't breathing and I tried pulling him off her to see if she was still alive. I slipped in the blood and fell. I got him off of her, but she was dead.” Tears of blood ran down his face. “Even though we had issues, I would never hurt them. They were trying, but I'm just not use to rules and they had so many. I heard them talking last night. My mom was saying they had made a mistake and I thought they were talking about me, but now I don't think they were. God, why did this happen?”
Nicole crawled across the bed and took him into her arms, holding him tight. “I don't know Steve, but we will find who did this.”
He pulled away staring at her in surprise. “You....believe me?”
“Yeah, I do.” Nicole nodded. “And I am going to have you stay here while I go talk to the police. Okay? We will get this worked out, but you are going to have to tell them everything that you told us and hopefully something else will come to you before then.”
“Why are you doing this?” Steve wondered aloud, then smirked. “Oh, yeah, I forgot....it's your job, just like that Chad a*shole.”
Nicole had gotten off the bed and grabbed her bag. “It is my job, but I'm better at my job than Chad, so please don't compare me to him, cause I really like you.” She smiled when he laughed.
“Yeah...okay.” He took the card she handed him.
“Don't hesitate to call me okay.” Nicole turned serious. “I answer my calls and return them always, no matter how big or small the issue. You said you kept calling Chad, but he wouldn't return your calls? Can I ask why you were trying to call him?”
Steve sighed. “At first things were real hard. I mean we just didn't hit it off. They weren't bad or anything, but I just didn't think it was going to work. Then one day me and them went to the zoo and had a blast. After that things started to change for the better. When Chad did his visits he never talked to me, just my parents, and then after the last one I found my mom crying after he left. She wouldn't tell me what happened, but said not to worry about it, things were fine.” Steve shrugged his shoulders. “I don't know. I just didn't like him much.”
Nicole smiled. “Can't blame ya there.”
“I can't go back into the system again.” Steve wiped his cheeks with the back of his hand. “I am going to outlive every parent, if they're human, and I can't do this again.”
“Let's work one thing out at a time.” Nicole replied. “Okay? Now stay here and let me go get things straightened out.”
Steve nodded, then grinned. “Do you really like AC/DC?”
Grabbing she hiked her bag up on her shoulder. “Sure do.” she winked. “I'll take you to see them next time they're in town.”
“Seriously?” The first real smile flashed across the kids face. “Cool.”
“Seriously.” Nicole walked past Damon and touched his arm. “I'll be right back.”
Nicole walked out into the hall and saw only the police and Mitch. Everyone else had been evacuated.
“What happened?” The chief walked to her. “Where is he?”
“Damon is with him.” Nicole turned to Mitch. “He said that he didn't kill them, that someone else was in the house and I believe him.” She continued to explain everything that Steve had told her and Damon.
“We still have to bring him in, Mitch. He did hold a nurse hostage and if she wants to press charges there is nothing I can do about that.” The chief stated, but raised his hand before Nicole could blast him. “But he will be well taken care of.”
“Damn straight he will.” Nicole replied hotly. “I want him transferred under me, Mitch.”
“Now wait a damn minute.” Chad piped in pushing his way toward them. “I am not going to release this case over.”
“He is not a case.” Nicole growled, sounding like Damon. “He is a boy who could not get hold of you when he needed to.”
“Now you listen here you little.....” Chad got in her face grabbing her shirt in his fist before Mitch could stop him.
“Didn't I warn you about this?” Damon stepped between her and Chad knocking his hand away from Nicole. “Steve is no longer anyone's. He is a part of the VC Warriors.”
“What?” Nicole sucked in a strangling breath choking herself. Seeing Steve's beaming smile, she saw that he was happy at the new development. “Serious?”
He turned to the chief. “One of my partners is going to be coming by the station. You may ask Steve any questions you have to ask and do your process, but as soon as you are finished we will take him back to our headquarters.”
The chief nodded his head then looked at Mitch. “Can he do that?”
“Looks like he just did.” Mitch patted Damon on the back. “This is a good thing you're doing my friend.”
Damon looked uncomfortable at Mitch's praise. Turning to the boy he put his hand on his shoulder. “You are under our protection now, son. You go with the chief and answer anything they ask. You have nothing to hide. Duncan will be there soon. You'll know him. He's a big, ugly son of a bitch. You can tell him I said that.” Damon grinned down at the boy.
“This is total bullshit.” Chad ranted. “How can you let this happen Mitch?” I'm really getting sick and tired of that bitch interfering in my cases.” He pointed in Nicole's face.
“I have given you fair warning human.” Damon advanced toward Chad his fist clinched. “If you ever touch her again you will regret it.”
Mitch somehow stopped Damon from reaching Chad. “You are on report, Chad.” Mitch felt his feet sliding as the huge vampire continued his advancement toward Chad. “You better get the hell out of here before I let him loose on you. I want you in my office first thing in the morning.”
“You can kiss my ass, Mitch. I quit. I don't need your shit anymore.” Chad leaned toward Nicole. “You better watch that sweet ass of yours Callahan. You have no clue what you've done.”
They all watched Chad stomp out the door throwing his ID badge on the floor.
“You know, I can't say I'm sorry to see him go.” Mitch turned his attention back to Damon. “You okay my man?”
“No.” Damon answered his eyes wicked black. “I want to kill the son of a bitch.”
“He isn't worth it.” Nicole looked at her watch. This had been the longest night of her life. It seemed like weeks had passed since she had gotten tackled on the dance floor at Sub Zero.
As if reading her mind Damon turned back toward Mitch. “Can you take care of the kid until Duncan gets there? Nicole had a rough night before this even started and I would like to get her home.”
“What the hell happened before this?” Mitch looked Nicole over with a frown.
“Nothing really, just got tackled by Damon and some other dude on the dance floor at Sub Zero.” Nicole waved her hand around as if it wasn't a big deal.
“Yeah...riiight.” Mitch replied rolling his eyes. “Yeah, I got him. Take her home.”
Nicole waved to Steve, who was listening to one of the officers, but his eyes were fixed on the door Chad had walked out of. Seeing Nicole waving, his smile filled with gratitude as he waved back.
Yawning for the hundredth time since leaving the hospital, Nicole covered her mouth. “Man, I am getting too old for this staying up late stuff.” Walking up to her apartment, she fit her key into the door, hoping that her nosy neighbor was snug in her bed, fast asleep. With a sigh of relief, she walked in to see Pam sleeping on the couch, lightly snoring. She had sent a text to Pam on the way to the hospital to tell her what was going on, but Pam had still wanted to come and said she would just wait. Dropping her bag by the door, she turned to Damon.
“Make sure you lock up when I leave.” His golden gaze searched hers. “You were great tonight. I have never seen a human so determined to save one of ours.”
Nicole nodded, looking away embarrassed because she didn't feel like she did anything special. She did what was right. “Thanks.” She walked up to him. “You did pretty good yourself. What you're doing for Steve is wonderful and so much more than I could have ever done for him.”
“Goodnight Nicole.”
Before he could leave she walked up to him, reaching up on tiptoe she grabbed the front of his shirt pulling him closer to her and kissed him lightly on the cheek. “For a badass dude you really are a sweet guy.”
His eyes dropped to her lips and he lowered his head slowly. “And for a badass chick you're pretty sweet yourself. I won't tell if you don't.”
She chuckled softly her eyes glued to his lips. “Deal.”
“Deal.” He whispered back then dropped his head lower and caught her lips with his as his tongue licked its way inside, meeting hers. With one hand on her lower back, he pulled her up his body and deepened the kiss. Before her hands could make it up his broad shoulders to his hair, he set her down and walked out the door closing it firmly behind him. “Lock it.” he demanded behind the closed door, his voice sounding much deeper.
Nicole jumped and did as he said, staring at the door, her hands at her lips. “Whoa.” She whispered, touching her still tingling lips.
“Whoa is right.” Pam chuckled from the couch, making Nicole jump and squeal. “That was damn hot. Girlfriend, I thought he was going to take you right there.”
Nicole's face turned ten shades of red. “Shut up, Pam.” Walking to the bathroom, she slammed the door on Pam's loud laughter, a huge grin spreading across her flushed face.