Lex tugged at the back of the skirt, very aware its length was leaving almost nothing to the imagination in the back and the fishnet stockings and garters did not help. Abut at least the purse allowed him to carry his cigarettes.

"If I fall and break my ankle in these shoes, would ya carry me out?" Lexine hissed at Nate as they reached the door.

Nate winked. "If ye want, babydoll.. i'll carry ye IN." Lex looked thoughtful for a second then rolled his eyes at Nate, who shrugged with a grin. "Hey I will... don't believe me?"

"Going for the grand entrance?" Lex retorted. "Everyone in the fuckin' club would see and no doubt Xanatos would be amung them..." He glanced back through the parking lot at the back up.

"an yer point would be, darlin'?" Nate asked, still grinning as he tossed a wink over his shoulder at  Punk-goth eire and Drag Queen Xander... "Man those two make a cute couple.." He gave Lex a wink as they reached the door. "Sure ye don' want a ride in?"    

"It ain't a wedding reception." Lex hissed. The thumping base could already be heard. "As for those two...It's already clear Xander has a crush on him..."

Lexine heard the car door and glanced back to see Eire and Xander. With a sigh he turned back around and reached out to open the door.

Nate reached one hand out to the door handle and the other slipped around Lex's waist. With a twist and push the door swung open, at the same time as he scooped Lex up.  

Lex yelped, got a chance to see many of the heads near the door turn and knew some one just got a good veiw up the skirt. He attempted to hide his face, his cheeks burning.

Nate chuckled and set him back on his feet at the. "should be careful what ye ask fer, Lexi." He said as they headed for a booth.



~~


Xander watched Nate and Lex crossing the parking lot toward the car and had to shake his head at poor Lex and his outfit tonight.

Eire rolled his eyes at the couple and checked his coat pocket for the car keys With the except of Lex... and Xander, the outfits seemed to a bit better tonight. He had on the same but had ditched the stupid top hat, and had swapped out the coat for a nice black trench with a horned skull studded on the back. Chaos had dug it out of her closet for him. Told him he could keep to. Nate, was lucky tonight too.. although eire had never gotten a full  look at the entire outfit the other night, he'd heard about it. Leather pants, knee high black boots, the fish net shirt was still there as well as the  red coat. God that was an ugly coat...

Xander crossed his booted ankles, and waited. "If any one looks like a girl tonight, it's Lex..." he muttered, rolling his eyes.

Eire frowned and leaned a bit closer to Xander. "What do ye think they're talking about? An’ why don't they just open th’ damn door and go in?"

"Do I look like a mind reader, Eire?" Xander asked, looking at him for the closer contact. He leaned back against the door, with a crafty grin.

Eire raised an eye brow as he eyed at Xander. "Wouldn't surprise me.. with ye, anything's possible." He glanced down and saw Xander was wearing high heels again, but this time there were no straps and the heels weren't quite a high.

Xander saw him and lifted one foot  and wiggled, letting the heel drop off his foot. "In case we have to make another quick getaway..."  

Eire snorted . "Enough o’  this.. lets go. They'll get their butts in te’ door when they see us come in."

Xander pulled the shoe back on and got out of the car. At least his outfit didn't show nearly as much as Lexine's did. Poor kid...

Eire stumbled, his jaw dropping as he saw Nate sweep Lex off his feet. " I just did NOT see that..."

Xander snickered at Eire's reaction, but other wise rolled his eyes. "Yeah, `cause that was real classy..."

 Eire paused at the door to straighten his jacket and give the two another minute or two to get away from the door. He ran one black finger-nailed and be-ringed hand through his pink hair and reached out to open the door. "Ladies first." He said with a smirk to Xander, in a mock bow.

Xander purposely stepped on Eire's toes, though it wasn't hard, as he passed through the door with his chin held high.

~~
 
Lex spied Xander and Eire coming in as he slid into the booth and snickered at Xander's leopard print mini dress...

Nate saw the look and shrugged, slipping in next to him. "Only one I can think of who can pull it' off. `cept Aiyla.. girl looks good in everything." He looked Lex up and down. "Hmmm  ye might be able t'.. if it was th' righ' print and design..."

Lex gave Nate a look back and crossed his legs elegantly. "I like animal print...but it’s too...busy for me." He said with a tone, not looking at  Nate but attempting to pull the ultra mini skirt a little lower, rather then ride up all the way and show his knickers.

Nate flagged down the waitress, then leaned closer to Lex." Why don't you add a long jacket er somethiung to  yer outfits... ye could'a smuggled it int' the car. They never wouda known.."

Lex snorted softly. "Didn't quite have the time, as we were in a hurry..."

"Well if'n ye'd plan ahead..." Nate said as the waitress appeared and they ordered their drinks.  

"Yeah yeah, just did t' annoy the shit out of Xander..." Lex muttered, looking around.

Nate caught the move and followed Lex's gaze. "An’ th’ fun begins..." He took a swallow of his beer and let his gaze slip past Morgan, trusting Lex to watch him, seeking out Isaac...

Lex watched Morgan moving through the crowd on the edge of the floor before Morgan turned and looked right at him. Lex turned away quickly, swearing softly.

Not seeing Isaac anywhere, Nate turned to Lex. "Could just invite `im over.. he seemed t' have a thing fer ye last time." Lex shot him a glare.   

"It's the creepy bastards like that, that aggravate the shit out of me." Lex muttered, taking a drink. He looked about and spotted Xanatos and his pets. They hadn't noticed Nate and Lex yet.

~~

Eire caught up to Xander and leaned close. "Where too tonight? Bar, booth, table…"

"We can take a table, over there." Xander gestured to a table in the opposite corner of Nate and Lex's booth.

Eire gave another bow, letting Xander take the lead as he followed, glancing around. He noticed a few faces from the other night, but none that stood out.       

Xander spotted Jasmine disappearing into the dancing crowd and wondered if she wasn't keeping an eye on him. He glanced around casually as they reached the table.

Eire slipped in across from Xander,  making sure he had a good view of both Nate and Lex, as well as the back door.

Xander lit a cigarette and leaned back against the chair, crossing his legs and watching everything. Then he noticed Morgan flitting around the out side of the dance crowd. He sat up a little straighter.

Eire stifled a curse into his beer, his eyes glued to Morgan. He hadn't caught it the other night, but he recognized him now.

Xander raised an eyebrow. "Ya know him?" Xander asked, tapping the ashes off his cigarette.

Eire shot Xander a glare. "What do ye mean' do I know him. Yer the one who pointed him out the other night! He's the one who came out the back room.. ye stopped me and told me ye though it was him!"

"Oh, yeah, vampire boy..." Xander spared Morgan a glance, though his expression was still curious.

Eire returned his stare to Morgan, idly flipping a skull ring around his finger with his thumb...

Xander watched Morgan but his attentions were on Xanatos's pets who'd spotted Lex.

Eire began to tap his rings against the table, making an irritating click, his gaze never wavering. " So... 'Sassy'... what's th’ plan....  we wait fer Nate and Lex to make their move, then follow? Or do we say screw it and take on the vamp ourselves..."

"He isn't causing any problems yet and we don't know if he WAS the killer..." Xander replied, snubbing out his cigarette.

Eire sniffed, upping the tempo of the ring drumming. "Maybe not, but he's creepy as hell.... an’ I hate waiting..."       

"Well then, guess we can move closer..." Xander answered, shifting in his seat.
                                                   

~~

"So do we have a plan tonight?" Lex asked softly.

Nate raised an eyebrow as he took another drink, leaning back in his chair. "Thought we'd just wing it... unless ye've got a better idea..?"   

 "Wing it? Brilliant plan, that..." Lex muttered with a role of his eyes. Then perked up slightly, and said. "Fine, let’s wing it."

Nate let his gaze wander around the room again, hoping to spot Isaac... and notice a couple familiar faces heading their way. He gave a sigh. "Uh.. Lex? Ye've been noticed...." He nodded his head slightly indicating Xanatos' pets as he shifted to take over Lex's watch on Morgan.

Lex turned and saw the pets and swore. "Fuck...figures..." He drummed his fingers on his arm a moment in thought, watching them whispering to Xanatos.

  Nate reached across and took hold of Lex's hand, giving it a squeeze. "Calm down, Lexi, we played his little game the other night.. tonight our attentions are elsewhere.."

"I don't like those three...Xanatos...knows things." Lex answered with a shiver.

Nate pushed his hair back over his shoulder and patted his lap as he saw Xanatos stand up. "Care t' change seats before 'e gets 'ere? Or would ye prefer tha' we both get up and mingle.. *away* from him... we can folla' Morgan or look  fer Issac..."

Lex saw Xander and Eire get up and nodded. "Looks like the others have Morgan covered..." He said softly, moving closer.


~~
Xander watched Morgan as he got up. Eire stepped up beside Xander, wrapping an arm around his waist. Xander turned a smug questioning look  and opened his mouth to say something. "Shut up, *Sassy*.. don't spoil the moment." Eire said with a snide smirk.

Xander snickered and leaned against him, keeping an eye on Morgan. He saw the vampire approaching another man.

Eire Felt Xander tense and smirked, leaning close to whisper in his ear. "Don't freak.. I got him." He tilted his head towards the service door they had slipped out the other night.

"So what he's doing? Did he go in?" Xander asked.


~~

Xanatos and his pets approached the table with Nate and Lex. Lex sighed and waited pensively.

Nate sighed and tipped his chair back. "Fine.. jus' remember, I offered a few options t' sittin' and waitin' fer em...."

Xanatos paused at the table, gave a polite nod, with a smile, and said. "Good to see you've returned. Perhaps we can speak later, but at the moment, excuse me." Lex turned his head away from them with a smirk as the man and his companions moved on.

Nate lifted and eyebrow and gave Lex a surprised. "Well, didnae see THAT comin'.. he was... nice!"  He caught a glimpse out of the corner of his eye and saw Eire and Xander snuggling as they meandered along the far side of the room. He stifled a laugh into his beer, sending a light spray of foam over the edge of his mug.

Lex glanced at Nate. "Back up having fun, then?" He asked softly.
Xander watched Morgan talk to the man he'd approached for a moment, almost intimately. Then the crowd shifted and he lost sight. When he got a better view, Morgan was gone.

Nate pressed his lips together and nodded, his eyes sparkling. "More 'en we're havin' tonight.. "


~~
"You're right, after that grand entrance of yours we're not exactly living up to the act." Lex replied rolling his eyes.

Nate chuckled. "Hey, I offered.. yer just being a cold fish tonight."                    

Lex grinned and reached over, running his fingers over Nate's chest. "We just got here...let me warm up..."

Nate chuckled. " So what are we doin' tonight? sitting around and hopin' to catch their eye? Or should we try a different strategy?"

Lex rested his hand on Nate's chest, his head inclined toward him. "We sat around the last time...care to mingle?"

Nate  slipped out of his chair and gulped down the last of his beer before holdingout a hand to Lex. "If ye think ye' can walk.. or would ye' like another ride?"

Lex took Nate's hand, giving him a look. "I can walk for a least an hour in these things..."

Nate rolled his eyes as he wrapped an arm around Lex's waist, pulling him closer. "Only an hour?  How long if ye dance?"

"Middle of the dance floor or outer edge?" Lex asked.

Nate chuckled, lifting Lex up and swinging him out of the way of a couple moving past.
Lex shot him a glare as his feet hit the floor. "Will you stop that? Now answer the question."

Nate smirked. "Which d'ye think will get us the most looks?"

~

Eire steered them towrds the door, before he answered. "I didn't see the door open, but he was definately headed towards it.. keep an eye out.."

Xander scanned the crowd as they moved that way. He saw the man Morgan had been talking to, moving off in the other direction, but still not Morgan.

Eire reached the door and leaned towards the door. He turned a grin on Xander. " He was here.. his scents on the door... must have slipped through. Care to follow?"           
"And if we get caught?" Xander asked with a slight grin.

Eire gave him a smirk. "Don't tell me you forgot Jasmine's card from last time..." He saw the surprised look on his face before smiling and flipping a card up out of his pocket. "Good thing one of us thinks ahead." He said, returning the card to its place and opening the door enough for them to slip through.

"Smart ass." Xander replied, giving him a look. "Then you be the gentleman and go through the door first, just incase there's a mad man with an axe." Xander said, pushing Eire.

Eire grinned and slid into the hallway, and calling back the al clear. He took a step or two in each direction before turning back to Xander and thumbing towards the right. "He went thata way."  

 Xander looked that way and saw several party rooms. "Alright then, find the room he's in." He said with a look.

~
"Middle. Middle is also however were I'm more likely to stretch the time in these shoes to two hours, two in a half tops, considering all the people around...Club politics, did learn something from having out at the Raven..."

Nate guided Lex through the crowd to center of the dance floor, and pulled him close.

Lex allowed Nate to keep the lead, looking about at all the men on the four slightly wide eyed and realized there was the slight feeling of calstophobia creeping in.

Nate felt Lex tensing up as they danced. "Hey.. ye' okay?"

"I just realized how small the room is, actually." Lex replied as if it didn't matter.

Nate stopped and  looked at Lex, worried. "Lex.. yer look in' a wee pale... d'ye need to sit down?"   

Lex felt a touch light headed and dizzy, tightened his fingers on Nate's arm and replied. "Oh I don't think it would hurt, sitting down...
   
Nate started to guide Lex out of the crowd towards the nearest chair.

Lex felt his stomach turn and groaned. "Oh... I'm going to be sick." heading for the bathroom ironically still labled ladies, before Nate could say anything.

Nate  hurried after Lex, then paused outside the bathroom. Men's only club or not.. the door still said 'Ladies' and his instincts said 'keep out'. He gave a sigh and leaned beside the door.

~

Eire made his way from door to door, following the scent trail. He passed three before turning back to the third. He leaned againt the wall beside the door with a smug grin. "That would be this one..."

Xander looked at the door, then thumbed it's sign saying employees only. He reached over and tried the knob, finding it locked. "And how do you suggest he got in, Sherlock?"

Eire rolled his eyes, using his thumb to flip the rings around on his fingers again. "Maybe he picked it... maybe he stole a key... maybe he's an employee.. maybe it wasn't locked before he went in.... Pick one."           

Xander leaned against the other side of the door and slid his hand into the hip of the skirt, asking Eire. "Can you hear any one in there?"

Eire leaned closer to the door to listen. After a moment, he pulled back and shrugged. "One moving around..."

Xander slid a slim black wallet from a hidden pocket in the skirt and opened it. "So then let's find out what's behind the door, shall we?" He asked, taking out two lock picks.

Eire watched Xander as he started to squat down, then changed his mind and lowered himself to his knees instead. He smirked, watching the hall way as Xander fiddled with the door.                 

Xander eyed the lock a moment then selected the two right picks, sitting to work at moving the tumblers. He was counting under his breath.

Eire hissed at Xander. "Hurry up.. footsteps heading this way.. Down the hall and 'round the corner...."

Xander stood suddenly, sliding the picks back in the wallet. A little more then forty five seconds, not bad. "Its unlocked." He hissed, sliding the wallet back in the hidden pocket in the skirt.

Eire grabbed the handle and opened it, letting Xander check out the inside. He nodded it was clear and the two of them slipped inside, easing the door closed behind them. " thought you said he was in here..." Xander asked, surveying the empty room.  Eire narrowed his eyes as he  ed around. "He came in here.. his scent ended at the door... and its in here...."   

~ ~



The bathroom appeared empty at the moment, but Lex wasn't really checking for others. He shut a door and faught his gag reflex. After a moment, and not getting sick, he leaned against the door.

Nate sighed again, pushing open the door and calling out." Lexi? Hun.. y' okay? I'll be righ' here.. unless y' need me.."

"I'm alright...I think..." Lex answered, starting to open the door, It took him a half step to the door to realize something moved just out of his line of sight in the small bathroom. Lex started to turn, while taking another step toward the door, realizing there was some one in the shadows of the dim corner of the bathroom.

The shadow began sliding extending and starting to take shape. Lex realized that a shaft of light from the club outside threw his shadow along the wall were he stood as he watched the the shadow starting to form into a human shadow. Lex was already turning toward the door, unable to see the shadow's hand reaching out for his own shadow.

Lex had just reached the door, when he felt the cold hand slid around his throat, the other putting a rag over his nose and mouth and he smell the sickening sweet scent of cloraforme as the grip tightened on him hard. Lex attempted to struggle, but Morgan's grip tightened paintfully and the drug was quickly taking over.

~ ~

It was a storage room filled with all kinds of supplies for the party rooms. Xander eyed the different boxes of colored condoms and shook his head. "Odd place to disappear in..." He said softly, moving about the room.

Eire circled the room, before coming to a stop before Xander, a puzzled look on his face. "I don't get it... he was `ere... an' he did NOT leave through that door.. So where the fuck did he go?!"              

Xander paused at the back wall and inclined his head. Then he put a hand on the wall. "There's running water here...I think it's a bathroom on this other side..."

Eire raised an eyebrow. "Check the walls.. there's got to be a hidden door or something..." he said and tried to pick up the scent trail again.    

Xander ran his hand down the wall, first following the flow of the water, then feeling for identical pipes. He glanced at Eire. "You could help to, ya know..."

Eire growled at him, throwing him an irritated glare. "You do your thing and I'll do mine. "he said, trying to make sense out of what he was smelling. Then he walked up to Xander. "You're in the wrong place... more to your left I think.."                      

Xander ran his hand along the wall to his left and paused, feeling the spot where there were no pipes, but the wall was seamless.

Eire moved up beside Xander on the far side and began searching the wall. He growled in frustration. "It's here! It has to be..." He finally resorted to sniffing along the wall itself. Suddenly he smacked his hand against a spot about two inches past Xanders hand. "He leaned here... the scents stronger... help look  fer a catch or something..."

Xander ran his hand up and down the wall, pressing lightly in places, feeling for a panel or releash button. Something told Xander they had to hurry. He thought he'd heard Lex faintly on the other side.

Eire searched the wall, then dropped to his knees and began feeling along the floor. He heard a familiar voice from behind the wall and his stomach was doing flips....     

~ ~

Nate sighed and eased the door shut, slumping down into a nearby chair to wait. The fun of the assignment had vanished with worry for his friend.

He glanced up and noticed a familiar face leering at him from the bar. He narrowed his eyes at Isaac and saw him give a slow, creep smile before setting his drink down and moving off towards the private entrance. "Damn!" he muttered,  looking back and forth between Isaac and the bathroom door. "hurry up, Lex..." he muttered,  debating whether or not to just follow or call for Lex first.  

Nate watched Issac glance back towards him with another smirk. "That bugger is up t' somethin'..." He gave the door a shove. "Lex! Hurry up! I'll be heading fer the private rooms!" He called in not waiting for a reply he let the door close by itself as he took off, making his way quickly after Issac...

Nate saw Issac open the door and slip through, pausing long enough to cast a sinister  ing smile back at him.  Nate  reached the door just seconds after it closed and cursed as he found it locked. He spun, loking around the room, hoping to spot Jasmine incase she could help out, or perhaps Xanatos, to  try to pass on his 'suspicions' about Isaacs....

A sweet voice spoke from near by to Nate. "Stuck, cowboy?" Jasmine appeared sitting at a table, tapping something on it's surface. She glanced at the door then at Nate with an elegant eyebrow.

Nate jumped and spun at the voice. "Christ on a crutch, girl! Don' be doin' that! " He said, moving quickly to her side. "Aye, I am a wee bit. I don' suppose you got a key t' this door or something else just as handy? There's a creepy bugger i'm after... " He glanced back towrds the bathroom, not seeing any sign of Lex. "And I was wonderin' if ye might check on Lex... he's in the ladies and he's not doin' too well..."

Jasmine picked up her purse and opened it. "Let me see..." She searched through, before producing a silver key. "Skelton key." She said, standing. "And I'll check on Lexi." She said with a nod.

Nate snatched the key out of Jasmine's hand, grining. He wrapped a hand around her waist and gave her a quick kiss."Yer amazin' Jasmine! Thank'e" He gave her a wink and  spun for the door


~~

Xander ran his hands upward, still feeling for anything and muttered a curse. There had to be something...His fingers touched a spot up high and there was a click, but nothing seemed to happen.

Eire lept to his feet at the sound of the click and began shoving and pushing all along the wall. Suddenly he stopped, giving a loud sniff and frowning. Looking up, he smirked. "fuck me.... " he said softly and reached up, snagging the lip of the trap door Xander had caused to pop open.

"That's pretty ingenious..." Xander muttered, looking at the trap door a moment, then helping Eire pull it open. "Need a boost?" He asked.

Eire  snorted at Xander. "Puhl ease." he said and lept, grabbing the edge and hauling himself up through the door.  His head and shoulders reappeared a second  later and he leaned half out,  reaching for Xander. "Come on, i'll pull ye up."          

Xander grabbed Eire's hands and Eire pulled him up, making room for Xander in the rather snug little crawl space. Xander paused, looking back at the storage room and reconsidered his count when he'd picked the door's lock. "He did that awfully fast..." He muttered.

Eire caught the direction of the scent and scurried along as fast as he could. " He had a bit of a head start while we searched for the door .. he was probably already up here by the time we reached the door.. was probably why I didn't har anything. no doubt the liitl bastard has a key and knew right where to go for the catch."

Xander frowned. "So how many other little secrets is this place hiding...how many other trap doors..." He surried along behind Eire.

Eire grunted in reply then cursed. "Shit... don't suppose you smell that?" Xander paused, "smell what? dust? you're crappy excuse for a cologne..?" Eire snorted. "cloroform... very faint, but still...."           

"Then find away in there, Eire..." Xander hissed, a tad on the anxious side. "Cause if that WAS Lex we heard in there..."

Eire growled as he followed the smell another couple inches then stopped. The catch was easy to find this time and he hit it, preparing to jump down the second it opened.

~

Jasmine chuckled and headed across the room for the bathroom, gracefully making her way. She tapped her knuckles on the door. "Lexi, darlin'..." She started to push the door open.

The gate swung down just as Jasmine stepped into the bathroom. She looked up with a calm expression but didn't see Lex any where.

Eire hit the floor and spun, sensing someone in the room. Jasmine stood calmy her eyes going to the ceiling as she watched a pair oif nyloned legs appear out of the hole. "You better not rip those!"

Xander managed to land some what gracefully on his feet, stumbled slightly and looked at Jasmine. "Wha' chu you doin' in here?"  

Jasmine raised an eyebrow at Xander. "Excuse me? You two drop from the cieling  and have the temerity to question MY presence? Incase you haven't noticed, darling, this is the ladies room... " she smirked,  and started peeking into the nearest stall. "I was asked to check on a certain red head... who does not appear to be in here..."     

"So then Lex was in here...?" Xander asked.

Jasmine raised an eyebrow, turning from the next stall. "Supposed to be..." She answered. Xander looked at Eire.

The room suddenly echoed with the shrill of an alarm, and Xander started for the door with Eire on his heels. They sped out of the bathroom heading for the rear entrance when sudenly Eire grabbed Xanders arm, dragging him to a stop. "Wait! It's not th' back door!"  Xander's eyes opened wide and he started to say something. "Wait.. we went out that door, remember?  No alarm!! And yeknow these companies take longer then two days to get shite fixed...."

~~
                          
Nate checked the doors along the hall as he jogged along, testing for unlocked doors and hopind Isaac hadn't just gone through to the exit....Many of the doors were locked or leading to small closets. The locked rooms  that opened to his skeleton key, proved empty, and the closets were mostly too crammed with stuff to afford any form of hiding place. Nate cursed softly to himself as he neared the end  of this hall, trying to remember how many doors were around the corner...      

There was the heavy thud of an exit being closed around the corner of the hall, then nothing.

Nate swore and leaned around the corner, peering down its length just as he heard a second thud. Nothing. "damn damn damn." he muttered and resumed his door testing. Just as he started to reach for the next door, the fire alarm went off, indicating that the exit had been forced, triggering the fire alarms, as it should.

Nate whipped around at the sound of the alarm, confusion on his face. He'd been  standing right at the door at the time and it was firmly closed. Suddenly he began cursing louder. "Another fucking back door..."

~ ~

"Turn left instead of right at the intersection on the back halls, Half way down that side, there'll be another hall. You can't see it unless your almost right on top of it!" Jasmine told them quickly.

They yanked open the door and sped down the hallway, skidding to a halt at the interesction, almost colliding with Nate as he turned back to check the oher direction. " Morgan's got Lex! " Eire said as he sprinted down the way Jasmine had said, Xander hot on his heels,   in hand. Nate cursed louder and faster as he ran after them.

It was a narrow hall and you almost had to slid down it side ways. At the end was a  fire escape door that had been busted open. Eire busted through the end, into an alley way; Xander and Nate behind him.

Nate  was cursing and growling up a storm as the narrow confines of the hall kept him in he rear and unable to move faster. Xander burst through the door with Nate almost on his heels. The alley was empty. Eire was circling the area, searching. "Fer christ' sake, Nate! will you shut up so I can hear  !"

Nate stopped cursing out loud, but you could still hear the odd one under his breath.

Xander moved around a side of the alley. Eire stopped at the end, his head tilted to the side. He thought he heard quick footsteps. Then a scent caught him. Soft and floral. He wrinkled his nose. "Was Lex wearing perfume?"

Nate snorted. "He was wearin'a dress, E... why not perfume? Aye aye .. I believe he was... not too strong... flowery kinda......" He watched Eire as he turned and started to literally follow his nose.

"I didn't know wolves were scent dogs..." Xander said dryly.

"They're hunters, ain't they?" Eire replied back with a growl.

"Then prove the bragging you do about that nose of yours right." Xander replied.

" I AM.. now shut th’ fuck up... I got ears too, ye know." Eire said, breaking into a jog as he followed the scent trail. Nate and Xander followed along behind, Xander wincing every now and then as his stockinged foot landed on something sharp.  Eire suddenly turned and began shoving at a dumpster. "Don't just stand there, help push!"

Nate helped, shoving his shoulder into the dumpster with Eire, pushing at it. Xander threw his shoes in a box and threw in a hand, wincing as his feet scrapped, but still pushing. The dumpster slowly slide away

Nate noticed Xander stumble, and glanced down to see a shallow groove in the pavement. A quick glance showed another on the wall where the dumpster had been. It looked like  it had been rigged to move... until they'd pushed it off its track or whatever. He sighed and put some extra effort into shoving it farther.  "Enough... we've got it." Eire called and Nate saw him vanish through a hole in the wall.

Xander looked mildly impressed, considering all the effort Morgan and his accomplice had gone through and thought about grabbing his shoes, then shrugged it off, following after Eire.

Nate pressed his lips tightly together to hold in the cursing, as he stumbled along in the dark after Xander and Eire, the light quickly fading behind them. Suddenly he was stumbling forward out of the tunnel and there was a flare of light.

Xander held a match and they glanced around the small store room  with enough time to spot the door before Xander cursed the match out. "Times like this ya need some one who can keep a flame..." Xander muttered, feeling along the wall in the direction he though the door was.

"So why not just try and kill him in the club..."Eire voice out loud, while focusing on the scent.

" Maybe it's gotten too public.. maybe they got other plans..." Nate growled softly as he brushed past Xander, his eyes finding the small seam of light seeping in under the door. Eire was already there, and Nate heard the soft sound of the door being gently opened.

A softly lit tunnel extending down ward, a slight smell of damp earth, but the perfume was still traceable for Eire and he was kind of certain he'd smelled it before. Still this whole thing was getting kind of eerie and he hesitated for just a moment, before starting down the tunnel.

Nate stepped up to Eire's side and softly spoke into his ear so his voice wouldn't carry. "I signaled back up back at the alley, but who knows how long it'll take em to find us... "

"As long as I can smell his perfume I can track 'im." Eire replied softly. "Which means we have to go now...leave Xander behind if you think he'd slow us down..."
 
Xander stood slight away from them, watching them.

Nate glanced back at Xander then smacked his forehead. He dug into the deep pockets of his coat and pulled out a little black bundle, handing it to Xander. "K's idea.. pull em on.  I forgot about em earlier."  Xander took the bundle with a curious expression then snorted in amusement as he unfolded the thick soled elastic slippers, and stretched them on.  Nate patted the other pocket. "Got a pair for Lexi too.... when we find 'im." He said softly.

"Then let’s find him." Xander said, testing out the slippers. Eire was already half way down the tunnel, which steadily began arching steeper. Nate and Xander hurried to catch up with him.

Eire stopped and dropped to a squat, peering carefully around a corner. The other two came to a halt behind him and followed suit. Eire glanced back at them and tapped his ear, then pointed to the right, then held a hand flat. Nate took it to mean he'd heard something and wanted them to stay put while he went to check it out. He frowned by nodded to him. Eire quietly slipped around the corner and Nate moved up to peer around in his place. The hall ended a few feet away with two heavy looking wooden doors. Eire had his back to the one directly across from them, and was listening at the one beside it.

There were muttered voices, and the faint smell of blood, that was slowly growing stronger. Eire's nose twitched and he curled back his lip.

Xander waited restlessly, but other wise silent and still. Nate watched as Eire suddenly turned and quietly scurried back to them. He motioned them together until their ears were as close to him as they could get. "Lexi and at least two men. there are other scents but none strong enough on this end for me to tell if they’re recent. Can only hear two voices though."          
   
 Nate gave a quiet sigh, debating the next course of action. Xander raised an eyebrow as if asking what they were waiting for. Eire looked like he was ready to shift at any second. Nate glanced back down the way they'd come then turned back. He tilted his head towards the door then nodded to Eire.

Eire was already moving back down toward the door. He put a hand on it, waiting for the other two; Xander seemed anxious and was already starting to form icicles. Eire paused to listen, and consider the options, then he slowly pushed the door open. The room beyond appeared quite turn of the century and Eire spied the shadow of a figure on the wall being cast from a side room. He slid around the door, the scents getting stronger.

Nate reached out and laid a hand on Xander, who paused, turning to see what he wanted, only to see Nate had an odd look in his eyes. After a second he blinked and nodded to Xander to continue with a wink, and Xander realized that he must have being doing magic... He watched Nate slip up beside Eire and do the same, then both of them vanished from sight. Xander followed.

Eire slid up to the corner and crouched, peering around. The room at the end of the short hall way looked like a parlor out of New Orleans. There was a chair just behind the door frame, but Eire could see Lexine's feet, from the angle, slouched in the chair. He saw Morgan pass in to view, and he didn't look happy.

Nate tapped his shoulder and Eire glanced at him. Nate stuck two fingers up behind his head and wiggled them like ears. Eire smirked and rolled his eyes, but nodded and winked. He turned back as he shifted to wolf, still easing gently around the corner, slipping under the chair.

"I just wanna kill him now..." Morgan whined, while playing with Lex's hair. Isaac had his back to them, but seemed to be trying to choose a sharp blade. "Morgan...we agreed, that tonight, would be my night. You had your fun the other night..." Isaac said calmly.

Nate quietly slid first one then the other pant leg up, drawing his guns from their hiding place.  Xander eyed them enviously until Nate handed one to him with a wink. Nate slid a hand around the corner until he felt fur and gave the tail a soft tug.

Morgan was looking at Lexine, trying to decide. "Why do you always pick the pretty ones? I thought you only liked me..." He pouted.

Isaac sighed. "Morgan, do we have to go through this again?"

"But we could kill him in a completely different way…something fitting..." Morgan whined.

Isaac turned and moved over to inspect Lex, then frowned. "Morgan...did you bite him..?" There was a slight wound on Lex's shoulder.

Morgan looked at the floor, sheepishly, before saying in a pout. "No...that happened in the bathroom...don't know how..." Isaac gave him a look.

Nate scowled at the thought of Lex being hurt and suddenly gave the tail in his hand a yank, rolling forward at the same time, coming to his feet with the gun pointed inches away from Morgan's nose. Xander was quick to follow, the gun aimed at Isaac, who Eire had  tackled and knocked to the floor. The silver wolf stood between Isaac and Morgan,  as daring them to try something.

"Oh...Isaac...I do believe we've been followed..." Morgan said, sounding rather put off.

"Indeed, such an odd turn of events. But I suppose, considering that fate is such a fickle dame...because I don't think cupid has anything to do with these events..." Isaac replied.

"Are you say it was all an act on their part?" Morgan asked mockingly.

"Indeed...and not a very good one at that, on certain party members' parts."

Xander snorted. "Certain members' weren't supposed to be convincing, you dumb fuck." he growled. "Can we shoot them now? I don't like them." Eire redoubled his snarling, and made a faint for Isaac's throat. The man flinched for a second before regaining his composure... what he could while he was flat on his back on the floor.

"I suppose we're just going to have to relocate. There'll be too many bodies after this one...Would you be mad at me Isaac if I said I did bite him..?" Morgan cooed.

Isaac gave a frustrated sigh, "How many time must I tell you not to play with your toys like that!"

"So you were going to let me kill him?!" Morgan asked with a giggle.

"Probably so...it does make you so happy..."

Xander couldn't believe the things he was hearing out of these two...

Both men looked to Nate at the sound of his gun being cocked. "Y' two fucks are pissin' me off with yer babbling... Unless ye’d like extra holes in ye.. along with the hunks of holy water and silver that'll cause ‘em,  I suggest ye shut the fuck up."  Eire snapped and snarled his agreement, lunging at Morgan when the man smiled.

"My my, aren't they something?" Morgan said to Isaac, ignoring Nate. "Are you bored yet, Issac?"

"Extremely, Morgan."

"Very well." With that Morgan struck out, using vampire speed to slide around and strike Nate in the face from the side before striking at Xander.

Isaac brought his elbow around into the side of Eire's head hard, before getting to his feet, armed with a foot long blade.

Nate sensed the move coming, as had Xander and Eire, thanks to part of Nate's spell, but only enough to avoid the worst of the blows and bring their weapons to bare. Just as Morgan finished his blow to Xander, Nate's first bullet struck his chest.

Eire meanwhile had rolled to his feet and struck out at the closet target... Morgan's leg. Isaac was almost to his feet before Xanders’ bullet caught him in the stomach. Nate and Xander kept their guns on their targets while Eire kept his grip on Morgans’ leg. "Now do y'ken how fuckin' serious we are? "Nate asked.

"Indeed..." Morgan said with a gasp. "Now that you have us, what ever do you plan to do with us..?"

"Can we just shoot 'em?" Xander asked, sounding rather bored.

"Don't know much about vampires, do you?" Morgan asked with a sneer.

Nate sneered back. "Know plenty about vamps, boyo... enough to know what'll kill ya. And what'll just hurt like hell." he said with a nasty grin.

Morgan smiled coldly. "We did warn you about Xanatos..."

"Morgan..." Isaac said with a sneer.

"Well we did." Morgan replied with a sniff.

Nate gave a sigh and rolled his eyes. He nodded to Xander with a grin. "Why don’t ya have another wee go, mate."  

Xander grinned and fired another round, this time aiming at Morgan's throat.

He sniffed and gave the gun a spin on his finger. "Thanks... that felt good."  He watched the blood bubble out of Morgan throat as the silver and holy water burned and slowed the healing. "See? Now doesn't that hurt way worse then dying?"

"Ah, he's young, " Isaac said with a forlorn sigh. "Well then gents, I really do think if you’re here to do us in, please do so with out further delay, or let me get back to...what I was..."

Nate shrugged then shot Isaac again. He winced but otherwise made no move.  The bloody bullet hole in his forehead gave a few bubbles from the holy water, and slowly started to heal over. They could see the gleam of silver as the bullet was slowly pushed to the surface of the wound. "We'll get t that, I'm sure." Nate said grinning as Eire gave Morgan’s leg a shake to deter him from getting up off the floor. "We're havin a bit o' enjoyment while we wait fer our friends to arrive, thank ye."

There was a whimpered groan from the chair, as Lex began coming around. Xander glanced that way; the shoulder wound, or bite, was still bleeding. He turned his eyes to the rest of the room, wondering just how long this pair had been doing this kind of thing.

There was a brief scuffing noise from the tunnel behind them and a second wolf trotted into the room. The large brown wolf turned a toothy grin to Xander and Nate and sat down at their feet, his eyes going to Isaac. " Hey Reese.. `bout time you showed up." Xander said, trying to sound confident while hoping he was right in his guess that it WAS Reese...

A portal suddenly popped open on the far side of room and Bull's head popped in. "Man, that remote cam works damn good, hairball! We gotta team up that way more often.!" he said with a smirk at the brown wolf, and Xander gave a sigh of relief that he was right. "Yo... any one need a lift outta here?" his glance fell on Isaac and Morgan. "Or a stake?"

"Or maybe...some one could untie my...wrists, so I can get the feeling back..?" Lex muttered from the chair, looking very aggravated.

Nate moved quickly to his side, and after lying the gun beside Lex's head, pulled a knife from the inner lining of his coat and quickly cut the ropes. "Sorry,  punkin'" he winked, helping Lex sit up. "Was kind'a busy." He took the opportunity to get a better look  at the bite mark and scowled at Morgan as he pulled a hankerchief from his pocket and pressed it against the wound.

Morgan just shrugged, grinning. "Vampires, you know how it is..." Issac said wearily.

Lex raised his good hand to his head, trying to get his head to work through the fog from the drug, and the pain in his shoulder. "Right, so I noticed..." He muttered in reply to Nate.

Eire and Reese shifted back to human, and together with Xander covering them,  grabbed hold of Isaac and Morgan and hauled them towards the portal. Nate scooped Lex up in his arms and carried him behind them. "And again with the carrying..." Lex muttered...

 "Don't bitch, Lex. God..."Xander replied, rolling his eyes.

"Who really said I was bitching?!" Lex retorted.

"Lex... shut up or ye go from a comfy ride in m'arms, to getting tossed over m'shoulder. Xander, don't goad 'im or i'll feed ya to the vamps." Nate said with a smirk.

Xander smirked, recognizing the threat for the bluff it was. Bull was standing to this side of the portal waving them through, a cross bow aimed at the vamps as they were dragged through. He turned and wiggled his eye brows at Nate and Lex. "Shut up, Bull."

Morgan broke away and struck out at Eire. Eire blocked the blow. "Yo, Eir!" Bull tossed him a stake and Eire caught it, catching Morgan's next blow, holding his wrist and shoving the stake in from the side. Isaac lunged at Eire, wrapping his arms around Eire's throat and attempting to strangle him. Xander picked up the stake from the ground and brought it down through Isaac's back, kicking him off of Eire.

Nate stood to the side, still holding Lex. He gave a sigh. "Damn... guess the cops'll just have to make due with a report from Chaos and a pile o' ashes...." he said, as Bull took careful aim and fired a bolt into Morgan.

"Damn, what a shame." Lex said dryly. Xander shrugged, offering Eire a hand up.

They watched Morgan's corpse start to shrivel slightly. If Isaac was being truthful in that he was young, he probably wouldn't compose too far. Isaac however was still much too... solid.

"Yo Bull.. put one of those in this one too, will ya?" Xander said, nodding back to Isaac as they passed by into the portal. Bull chuckled as he finished reloading. "Planned on it, Popsicle." he said.

Eire kicked at Morgan's corpse as he passed, then rounded on Lex. "Wha'd ya have t' go and get yerself caught for anyway?!"

"I didn't do it on purpose, thank you!" Lex snapped back.

"Don' matter... it worked out the same.. `cept for the scare y'gave us and the bite on yer shoulder.. coulda done without those.." Nate said as they watched Isaac decompose to the point of starting to disintegrate. Eire curled his lips at the sight. "Hate th’ ones who do that... convenient for cleanup and all.. but ... too freaky."

"Well I guess that clears up the club's problem." Xander said.

"I didn't plan on getting bit. It’s not like I got up this morning planning on getting bit..." Lex muttered sullenly.

Xander snickered. "Maybe you should just take a desk job, cupcake, `cause every time you go out ya end up in some kind of trouble..."

"That's what friends are for... Y'know Xander... sooner or  yer gonna wind up in trouble.. and if y' like to have friends at yer back t haul y' out of it.. y' might want to stop being such a wise ass.” Nate said, Lex still cradled in his arms.

"What about Xanatos..?" Lex asked.

"Yeah wha' about that creep? He might not've been involved, but he is certainly up to no good..." Xander pointed out.

"An' the tunnels an’ all, yeah.. I've got no doubt he knows about 'em. We'll pass word along t’ the club owner. Nothing more t' do. Job was to find an’ stop the killers.. did tha'."  Nate stopped by the portal and looked back at Xander. 'Ye comin' or are ya staying behind to help Bull clean up?"   

Bull looked up from watching Isaac fall apart. "Huh? What? What'd I miss?"

Xander shook his head, before heading toward the portal. "I gotta get out of this outfit." He muttered.

"You're not the only one, Xander." Lex muttered in reply.

"Awwww! But you guys look so CUTE!! I wanna get the camera. Hang on!!" Bull said, as they started through the portal. "Aw come on... one picture.. Just one!!"  

 

 

 

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The Gurgi Clan & Chaos Inc.
  Skye, Ruex, Sage, Washu & Miss Frost .
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