Chapter 12 - Don't Wake Me, I'm Dreaming.

I'm yawning again. There's just no way I'm going to be able to stay awake too much longer.

"Hey Wyrmripper?"

"Yo?"

"How long till we get where we're going?"

"Oh, we won't get there till tomorrow."

That makes me blink. That's some ground we're going to be covering. I thought packs usually stay in the same territory.

"Wow, some distance. Well do you mind if I pass out for a bit? I'm struggling to stay awake here. "

"Nah mate, you get your head down."

"Brilliant. Thanks" and I do just that, curling up on the bench.

"Shift up bro, I'm knackered too, there's enough room for us both on there." says Rain.

I stretch out and move back, feels better than curling up I gotta admit. Rain lies down beside me and yawns widely. I give him a smile but that's all I manage as my eyelids feel like someone turned them to lead. I close them and feel myself drifting off.

It's weird. No, seriously. You don't sleep when you're a vampire, you die. So going to sleep again after all these years is just fucking bizarre. I mean, it starts off the same way, you close your eyes, but that's where it changes. With being a vampire you just die and wake up the next night, that's all. Yet my eyes are shutting here and it's like being pulled down into a warm fuzzy black blanket.

There's also dreams. Can't forget those. Did I mention that my mind often isn't my best friend? Except this time there's no visions of Colt or Leonis. This time I'm facing down that fucking creature again and I'm not winning. Rain jumps in and he's getting hurt! I can hear him whimpering! No! NO!

The thought wakes me up and I realise that I really can hear Rain whimpering. I look at his back and gently lever myself up to check on him. He's fast asleep but he's whimpering and twitching. He must be having a bad dream as well. Soothing is looking over at me and Rain, his eyes flicking between me and Rain but the look on his face was a mixture of concern and restraint. I give him a soft smile and slide my arm around Rain, tenderly stroking my little brother's head. His twitching slows down and eventually stops. The whimpering fades out and he starts to calm him down. I hope he's dreaming of something better now.

Soothing nods and turns away. My heart hurts again. I know it's all psychological, that my heart doesn't actually hurt and is causing me pain. It's seeing someone so kind not being able to trust you. I know that the world doesn't work like that, yet it's like you can't quite accept it and as long as you hold on it'll change.

I'm laying down again, I need to go back to sleep. These thoughts aren't helping me though. I slip my arm around Rain and hug him, hearing a very contented sigh come from him. I smile, there are some things I can change and do something about right now. Like getting some rest. I'll do my best, what else can be expected of me?

"Wake up you two! We're stopping for a bit." Wyrmripper's voice rouses me from my slumber. I sit up yawning and stretch out.

That kip has made me feel a whole load better, wonder how long I slept for? Eh, who cares, I'm feeling good now and that's the important bit. I take a look out of the windows and then out of Wyrmripper's door as he hops out of the cab. Looks like we're at a truck stop, great, I could do with stretching my legs. I clamber out Wyrmripper's side as Rain is stretching and waking up. Soothing appears to be reading something in a newspaper, so I leave them to it.

Landing outside on the floor with a grunt, Wyrmripper glances at me as I do, I turn to ask him something when I'm hit with another not pleasant sensation. My groin and lower stomach suddenly hurt and are screaming at me to do something. I must have put my hand there and flinched or something because Wyrmripper pipes up.

"Dude, you ok?"

"Nrgh, I don't know, my stomach and groin hurt, they ache."

Wyrmripper smirks "When was the last time you went to the bathroom?"

I widen my eyes, I'd forgotten about stuff like that. With how everything had been since he became human, it wasn't exactly something that had managed to come up.

"Ummm..."

Wyrmripper sniggers at me. "Well its over there. Don't tell me you need to be potty trained again?"

I flip him off and walk off indignantly. There's only so much grandstanding you can do and my body was telling me that I don't really have time for that so I get to the bathroom. Thank fuck we'd stopped in one of the nicer truck stops I'd ever seen. The bathroom was surprisingly nice as well as clean. I hadn't been dead long enough to forget how this works, so I use a stall and take care of things.

God that feels better. I get out and wash my hands, looking up into the mirror, I get my first honest to god look at myself since all this began and I realise with a start that I'm looking rather different. My tattoo is gone and my hair is now longer so that my fringe sweeps my forehead. My body is bigger too. Not massively, but its definitely got some more definition. Muscles that I had the start of have come out on my arms and chest. My face has changed too, I look a little older. Shit. Of course, I'm mortal now. I'm going to grow old.

I was expecting that revelation to scare or worry me. But it doesn't bother me as much as it should. I look at the new me in the mirror, realising that the worst part of all of this that bothers me, is that I need a freaking shave. I've got some serious stubble and I gotta get rid of that.

Ah fuck. There's something else I hadn't thought of. Money. Going to need to get a job or something in order to provide for myself. I haven't got a scrap of cash to my name and all I own, I'm currently wearing. Same with Rain actually. Gonna need to sort him out too. A sigh slips from my lips, this is going to be more difficult than I originally thought. All the things I used to take for granted, or more aptly, I was handed on a platter the moment I became a vampire, were all gone. This was a new start for me in more ways than one, fuck only knows where to begin.

"LET ME GO!" I hear a scream outside. The fuck?

I run outside and down the side of the bathrooms, there's an alley and I can hear there's people in it. I'm up to the edge of it and looking around the corner. There's four guys wearing black biker jackets surrounding some kid with blue and white striped hair. That's not good, but what's worse is the guy lying on the floor behind the kid. What the fuck happened and why the hell didn't I hear anything whilst I was in the bathroom? In fact, looking around, no one else seems to be paying attention to the alley other than me. Something else is going off here, this isn't your usual SEP field. Why do I keep blundering into these things!?!

"Shut up you little faggot!" there's a smack sound and the kid hits the floor.

There's a serious rush of anger through me and I barely manage to keep a grip. My vision is tinted red a little. Fuck, I really have to do something, but I can't shift to my werewolf form. Colt told me that it's forbidden for humans to see it for some reason. But he also said there's a form just before that, I remember now! He shifted into it that one night.... NOW IS NOT THE TIME TO BE THINKING ABOUT THAT ALEX! Come on! Get it together and do the goddamn same. Colt told you it's harder to get into that form but it's just a slight addition to human looks. I close my eyes to focus and let some of my beast fill my skin, getting a little larger and feeling my clothing straining against my body to accommodate the larger size. Must ask Soothing later about my clothes, I should really have ended up naked the times I changed.

I can smell everything again. My eyes are sharper, it's the same as my hyper senses when I was a vampire, beautiful. However I can smell something in that alley that I haven't smelled in 'quite' some time. Weretiger. I wonder how Lawrence and Tyr are doing? Not the time Alex!

I step around the corner and make my way towards them. I can smell the leather of their jackets, the sweat from their bodies and the fear from the young lad. Not good, I need to take care of these idiots fast. They smell human, how the fuck could they take down a weretiger?

Screw the thoughts, take em. I rush down the alley, forgoing any more stealth in order to deliver a nice flying kick to the side of the closest goon's head. I think he's out of it, but I don't really have time to check as the other three saw me coming at the last moment and I need to take them on. The first guy swings for me, I don't have any way of dodging so I just brace myself as the guy's fist connects with my stomach. I'm almost as shocked as him as I don't feel a goddamn thing. I feel the next guy's hit though as it clocks me one across the jaw. OUCH! Ok, now I'm pissed!

This is where I discover that although you need training to use the rage of the inner beast, that you can draw on it at any time and use it as a fluke. Guy three hasn't bothered attacking, he's pulling something from the back of his jeans. I move fast a fuck, simply put. We're talking almost as fast as Celerity when I was a vampire. Right hook to guy who punched my stomach and he's going down. Guy two cops my elbow to his face as I step in close and he's going down as I spin around and launch a backwards roundhouse at goon number 3.

Shit. He ducked under it! He's got a fucking knife out, brilliant. Need to end this fast. Plan B. I actually growl at him, deep and move forwards as I do. His eyes widen and I can see the whites all the way around. Good, he's scared. He lunges forward with the knife at me like I expected. Twisting to the side I grab his arm and control the knife as my other hand grips the back of the his head and I apply subtle pressure. By subtle pressure I mean I smash his face into the nearest wall until he lets go of the knife and goes limp. I drop him. He's not dead, that's close enough for me. Now to check on the weretiger and the kid.

I turn around and the kid is over the guy who's laid out, shaking him gently and saying, "Wake up dad, please wake up!".

"Let me take a look at him kiddo."

He looks up at me, he's got deep brown eyes and his hair is a weird combination of blue on one half and white on the other. He's got an oriental look about him and his frame is thin with muscles, swimmer's build I'd guess.

"You don't look right..."

I chuckle "Yeah, sometimes happens when I get pissed off kiddo. Sorry. But I am a paramedic and I need to take a look to make sure your dad is alright, ok?"

He nods and sniffles as I kneel down besides his dad. I check for a pulse and find it there, turning him onto his side in the recovery position I check for breathing. He's breathing fine. A check at the back of his neck and head and there it is, a lump forming. They must have belted him on the back of the head, no wonder he hadn't shifted and kicked their asses.

"I sometimes do that when I'm pissed off too." The kid murmurs.

I smile at him then stop dead. What? Wait... I take a deep breath in through my nose. The guy below me doesn't smell of weretiger.... The kid does! I must have been staring or something because the kid looks at me.

"What?"

Erk. I shake my head "Nothing. Your dad seems to be alright from what I can tell. Though he's going to need a scan to make sure there's no internal bleeding. We'll need to call an ambulance."

"NO!"

The force of him saying no actually makes me jump.

"We... We can't go to the hospital. Dad said we mustn't go there, it's dangerous."

Urgh... "Well, where's your dad's car? Is your mum around?"

The kid looks down and looks about ready to cry. Well fuck. I bet I've just stepped right in it there. What's the odds on these two doing a runner from something and hitchhiking here only to get caught by the assholes here.

He sniffles. "Me n dad, we hitchhiked here, mum is dead. We had to... Leave where we lived."

Called it. Never a bookie around when you've got a dead certain bet, is there? Well fuck. I don't know if this kid even knows he's a weretiger and the dad is still out of it. What the fuck am I gonna do here?

I almost slap myself as I remember that I'm not alone anymore. I have 3 other people to turn to here, one might have a better idea.

"Wait here ok? I'm going to get my brother. Keep an eye on your dad okay?"

He nods at me and I move to the end of the alley where I came in and look around. There's Soothing near the truck. I wave manically at him and he eventually spots me and jogs over.

"Jeez, what's up with you, run out of toilet roll?" but his face changes to concern as he notices that I'm not in my human form

"Fuck no. I just rescued a weretiger and his dad. They're doing a runner from something, but his dad is out cold." I point down the alley at the two, the kid knelt down besides his dad.

"How do you know the kid's a weretiger?" Soothing frowns at me.

"Short version, I've smelled one before. The dad took a smack on the back of the head, he's got a lump but I can't tell if there's any internal injuries."

"And the other four are your handiwork then?" Soothing jerks a thumb in the goon's direction.

"Yeah. Look, I can't just leave the kid like this, it's like a bad movie. They're legging it from something, mum is dead, dad is out of it and I don't know if the kid even knows he's a Khan. If the dad pops his clogs then the kid is probably going to go buggers and start cutting people up."

Soothing is starting to smirk a little at me.

"What's so funny?"

"You realise you get more English as you get wound up? It's kinda funny cos one of these days someone ain't going to understand a word you say."

I give him a glare, but sigh in defeat. "No, thanks for the info. But seriously please? Do you have any ideas?"

"Sure, just need you to move the kid away from the dad for a bit. Like, out of sight of him so I can do something about the dad."

"There you are!" Rain comes jogging over to us both. "I was worried, you were taking forever... What's the matter is ... Something.... Wrong....?"

I blink a couple of times as I realise that Rain isn't looking at me or Soothing, but at the lad down the alley. It occurs to me that they're probably about the same age, but judging by the look on Rain's face, I don't think the age is what he's paying attention to. I look over at Soothing, he's got an eyebrow raised and gives me a shrug.

"Umm, we've got a slight issue here." then a grin appears on my face as an idea forms in my head.

"In fact, you might be able to help! C'mere!" I grab Rain's arm and head down the alley as he splutters out incoherent sounds and the odd syllable that sounds like 'wait' or 'what'. Not sure what he's asking, but it doesn't really matter.

"Yo... Huh, I didn't ask your name did I kiddo?" The weretiger looks around and I hear Rain gasp softly.

"Oh, I'm Rin"

"Cool, I'm Alex and this is Rain, my little bro." I pull Rain up beside me.

"HI!" he squeaks in a very loud voice and promptly blushes. How adorable! Little bro's first crush. I wonder if they do baby albums for my first crush or something.

"Hello there... Rain.." replies Rin

Whoa, was it my imagination there or did his voice get a little deeper? I mean, it wasn't actually deep to begin with, in fact it wasn't deep at all, but just then it was definitely a shade deeper, like it was meant to be alluring. Seems to have had its effect though, Rain is blushing like a bastard and can't stop staring. Daww.

"Rain, we should have a first aid kit in the truck, would you go get it please?" Rain makes a funny sound and I roll my eyes.

"Rin, could you go with Rain and get the first aid kit? He'll at least point you at the right truck, I get the feeling that his mind isn't quite with it. Don't worry about your dad, my friend and I will wait here until you get back." I motion to Soothing.

Rin actually smiles and stands up, moving past Rain and to the end of the alley, Rain's eyes never leaving him.

"Well, come on." he says.

Rain shifts rather quickly and I hear the two talking as they walk away.

"Good luck convincing Wyrmripper." Says Soothing as he kneels down next to Rin's dad, placing a hand on his chest.

"Convincing me of what?" Wyrmripper steps around the corner. "And who's the kid with Rain?"

"Weretiger, his dad got knocked out cold by those four muppets and the pair of them are on the run from something." I point at the goons I'd knocked out.

"Uh huh, so the kid's a tiger huh? They're rare around. So what are you wanting to convince me of?"

"Errrrr..." I wince. Soothing has got me pegged. Unless the dad comes around and has some amazing idea I can't object to, I want to take the pair with us.

"Oh fuck me you want us to take them with us don't you?"

I wince, yup he's got it figured out pretty fast.

"Okay, one, don't make offers you can't follow through on. Two, I can't just leave them like this. I know it's not 'your' responsibility, but these two need help that other's aren't going to be able to provide. On top of that like I said to Soothing, if something happens to the dad, it'll be only a matter of time before the kid goes buggers and has to be put down."

Wyrmripper is scowling at me, then he looks to Soothing and the guy on the floor. I look at the two as well, just before Wyrmripper's hand clouts me across the back of the head.

"Ouch!"

"One, don't be cheeky to me if you want into our pack. Two, you're right. We can't leave them like this. Let the dude wake up first, we'll go from there."

I rub the back of my head, that hurt! I make a mental note not to piss him off or make with the flirty. But there is a plus side as Soothing is grinning.

"Couldn't help yourself could you?" he says.

I smirk and blush. "Hey, being dead and then alive again didn't make me any less of a perv, just now I can enjoy the deed a bit more. Providing I don't ask someone who'll see how many walls they can bounce me off that is." and I have to fight not to look at Wyrmripper.

There's a groan coming from Rin's dad, looks like he's coming to. I hear voices behind me and see Rain and Rin standing there. Rin is holding onto Rain's arm. It's cute. It's almost like a hallmark moment. If this was a film, they'd be turning to each other and about to kiss right about now. Though their attire is seriously different. Rain's rather grey t-shirt and worn blue jeans against Rin's black jeans and baggy rock t-shirt. To be honest I'm surprised he's not wearing a collar or necklace either would work well with that ensemble. Though he does have a pretty slender neck.

My eyes narrow. Years of feeding from necks and you'd have thought I'd notice shit like this faster. Rin had no adam's apple. If I wasn't still in my half form, I'd have assumed that Rin was petite. But with these eyes, I notice now. Rin isn't a boy.....

What the hell have we found now?