Why Don't You Do Right?

[Simon Montague]

The lights dimmed then faded completely leaving her in darkness. She had locked the doors but simon had crept in just before that. Now he waited. Now he watched. Watching was one of the things he did best.

While he watched his victims he set himself a long list of questions that he would have to answer about his victim before he actually made a move. The first of which always being why her, why this particular woman. Now that his eyes had begun to adjust and he could see her pale skin in the moon light he thought of a couple of reasons that suited him. Her voice, her vulnerability, he liked the mystery although he could sense the depth she carried in her songs and it made him hungry for her.

He waited, he watched. Biding his time til he was certain of her capitulation to sleep. The girl had worked hard and it shouldn't have taken her a long time to doze.

[Derek Burke]

Derek looked through the windows of the building, it obviously hadn't taken her a long time to clean the lights were already out. Nathalia was heading back home and he had come back to get his keys but stopped for a smoke just in the alleyway, when he had returned the lights were out.

Derek cursed. His keys were in there and Vanessa was already gone or so he believed.

Quickly thinking over scenarios he figured he wouldn't get into too much trouble were he to simply break in, hell he was Derek Burke, he wouldn't get in any trouble whatsoever.

With that he removed his wand and attempted to get inside. When he found magic wouldn't work, he vented his frustration out on a window using his elbow.

[Vanessa VanRyan]

(I apologize, but it's just me and switching accounts is tedious it's all from Vanessa now)

The glass shattered. Derek probably meant to repair it once he had gotten inside, but Vanessa didn't know that. She also didn't know that he was the one breaking things. A smal squeal of surprise and terror escaped her lips.

She cursed inwardly, she had been holding herself so still and silent in hopes that if there was someone there she'd be able to surprise them by feigning sleep. She couldn't do so anymore.

She knew the bar like the back of her hand, having spent only a little time there, she could still maneuver in the dark, and did so quickly and quietly to where the switch was for the light. Holding her breath and pointing her wand at the dark shadow in the door way she tensed, wishing her stomach felt more secure, wishing she was anywhere but there. She probably could have apparated but it didn't occur to her, besides she was tired of running, with an apprehensive determination she flipped the switch.

For a split second she thought she saw another shadow disappear but with relief she realized only Derek was there.

"Merlin Above!" she cried out, before tears actually came to her eyes. The pressure and the fear had created a storm inside of her, and relief was allowing it to flood out. She leaned against the wall dropped her arm to her side and slid down until she was holding her knees, still sobbing.

Being a guy and dreadfully not understanding what was going on Derek still rushed to her side and pulled her in his arms. It was the only way to deal with crying women.

For a long time he simply held her and soothed what frayed nerves he could until all that was left was a hiccup here and there. When she lifted her head to look at him he gave her a sheepish smile, "Feeling better?"

She wiped her eyes with the back of her sweatshirt and shook her head, "Not really...you frightened me." she accused without heat.

"What were you doing here with the lights off? I thought you had gone home."

She was in a frazzled enough state to admit, " This is home...well tonight it is."

"What?" Derek looked around then once more at the small girl, she couldn't possibly mean...

"I'm staying here. I think Nat knows...I don't really have anywhere to go." she answered then suddenly realized what she had said, "Don't tell Stu." she ordered. She didn't realize how much he had tensed up.

Unbelievable, she was sleeping in a bar, even more unbelievable was that he cared. There was something about Vanessa that touched on his protective nerve. Perhaps it was the fact that whenever he went to Stu's and tried to lavish his protectiveness on Nathalia it was effort somewhat wasted, and he knew that. Nathalia could handle herself, she was sharp and self sufficient. Clearly the girl in front of him wasn't or she wouldn't be sleeping in a bar. Still there was something else that he couldn't quite place, some sort of infinite sadness in her eyes and in her voice when she sang. She was still such a mystery and Derek didn't like mysteries, they led to surprises.

"I won't." he promised then he sighed, " Cher...you know I can't leave you here now." he said in a caressing tone that usually earned him whatever he wanted from the opposite sex.

"What do you mean?" she asked tilting her head in an innocent fashion that made him want to either choke her or laugh, he did the latter then stood up and offered her a hand which she took and stood after him. She was so much smaller than him, again his protective instincts kicked in. He was going to have to do something about that...

"You're coming home with me tonight. I'll have you fed, washed, and in an actual bed, and without any protests from you young lady."

She sputtered for a moment with actual indignation, then she caught the softening in his eyes. Some time during their small rivalry in the past few weeks of her working there, they had developed some kind of relationship. He wasn't proposing anything indecent, in fact it looked like all he wanted to do was take care of her, and she had been proud for far too long. She nodded, " Fed...you say?" she asked.

He grinned and grabbing his keys, repairing the window, and taking her hand, they were gone. Neither noticing the seething black entity they left behind.