Sparks of Ice

"You're a werewolf, aren't you? Jump, for Christ's sake!"

"Jump and do what exactly? Throw you up there?"

"Get out and get help!"

"And leave you?! Nick'll KILL me! I don't know him that well, but I know he will!"

"I'll kill you if you don't do it!. Would you rather die now or later? Do it, find help, get me out and he won't!"

Hating to do so, Keith braced himself and forced himself to jump as high as he could in human form. She watched anxiously. After several jumps, his fingernail brushed against ice and he fell back down to his knees, fingers cold and in pain.

When he didn't move she screamed, "What the hell are you waiting for? Do it again!"

"It's too late," he growled, holding his sides, trying to find warmth.

"Do it! It isn't solid ice yet! Or am I going to have to kick your ass?"

"I CAN'T!" he yelled at her. "I'm not like your other well crafted werewolves!"

So, with her free foot, she did kick him on the butt. He went forward slightly and growled lowly at her, moving a good distance from her and hugged himself.

"Coward," she spat. "You're right, you're not like other werewolves. They would have died before giving up! Yet there you cower!"

"Can't you even face that we've lost?!"

"We've only lost when we've stopped trying. Oh, that's right, you *have*."

"There's no way I can get through that ice!"

"You're a loser, that's what you are." She pulled herself back to where the ice was blocking the hole and concentrated hard on flying up.

He turned away from her. "Where is this Kyle?!"

"He's not here," she replied, realizing that if he had been, the werewolf above them wouldn't have been there, free to attack.

"Why the hell not? What have you got us into?!"

"I don't know why he's not here!" She jumped as high as she could.

But she just couldn't reach the height needed without flying. Besides, what did she really think she could do? Elbow her way out? She couldn't do too much in her crippled state. Damn it all to hell… she sword mentally, then tried reaching Kyle through the link she had since her animal to call happened to be wolves. Nothing. Eyes narrowing, she slumped against a wall and glared at Keith.

****

"Yeah, but hey, the Ferikorov will accept him," Kyle's voice said as it rattled off an address and stopped.

"That isn't me," Kyle Locke told Nick.

"Sure sounds like you."

"It isn't," the werewolf growled. "Why would I tell them to go to a cave?!"

"How the hell would I know? Werewolf thinking ain't my strong point."

"What is your problem with werewolves?" Kyle growled at him. "You sure enough don't have a problem with vampires!"

Damn it, V's in trouble, don't let this screw up finding her! he yelled at himself. "Can you find whoever did leave the message?" he asked.

Kyle softly shook his head. "It's a voice changer, I suppose, that they used. Why don't we make a trip to that place?"

"Yeah, let's."

Kyle led the way out the door.

****

"Burrr. I hate New York. I hate it. I hate it. I hate the smell of vampire and doggie shit. Burrrr."

Natasha Romero was frankly freezing her butt off, even decked out in the heaviest military winter gear that she could get her hands on. The five-foot-ten, blonde blue eye hunter sighed as she danced slightly in place, using the binoculars to scan the perimeter. Snow, snow, and more snow.

"Ahh…what do we have here?" she murmured to herself, seeing a car pull into view.

She swung the binoculars around to take a closer look. Then she focused in on the inside occupants of the car and grinned a little, seeing two men. Neither of them were hard on the eyes. The driver's light brown hair was short. If he hadn't been frowning he would have been adorable. His leather jacket was zipped up tightly. She couldn't see a hat but then again; he was still inside the warm car. She smiled as he looked around. Yes, definitely cute in that boyish innocent way. The passenger wasn't bad either with his medium brownish-blonde hair, a five o'clock shadow, and his eyes looked somewhat like emerald, although the binoculars weren't that great on that part. She watched the driver put on a hat, and then they got out of the car.

The taller of the two men, rolled his shoulders a little as he jabbed his hands into his winter coat and nodded to one direction to separate. The other nodded and melted away. Natasha went after the shorter one with the light brown hair. He intrigued her but she couldn't say why. Rifle in hand, and crossbow slung over her shoulder, she followed him silently. That was, until she realized she had lost him. Her finger moved near the trigger as she looked around for him.

She heard someone clear a throat. "Lookin' for me?" drawled a male voice.

She turned around, rifle aimed at him.

"Drop it," he said, his own gun aimed at her chest.

"Drop yours."

She watched him shake his head. "I got you first."

Natasha stared him on. "You're in my territory."

"Last I checked, this is a free country," he retorted.

"Not with me. Get out of here while you still can."

"Then I might as well put you down like the rabid dog you are."

"Excuse me?"

"You heard me."

"Shooting a woman? I like your style."

"Oh, did I mishear you? 'Not with me. Get out of here while you still can.' Sure sounds to me like you're about to kill me for just being anywhere near you."

She smirked. "Yes and no. There's things around here that you don't need your pretty little head worrying about."

"Like werewolves? Vampires?" he asked ever so casually, sick of her attitude.

She fell silent. "Just who the hell are you?"

"Well that's disappointing," he said sardonically.

Natasha kept the gun aimed at him. Nick's aim didn't waver.

"Who are you?!"

"The guy who's really sick of your attitude." When he still saw no sign of recognition he added, "Guess you see too many naked men to remember'em all. Do you kill them all too?"

She appeared confused for a moment, then her eyes darkened. "Vampire's boy toy."

"Not the description I'd use."

"I must admit, you have better qualities naked."

Nick's eyes went hard. "Now you can drop that rifle or get shot."

"Not until you've told me what the hell you're doing here!"

"Free country, remember? I don't have to tell you a damn thing."

The rifle lowered a bit and she fired of a round next to his foot. "Next one won't miss."

A bullet slammed the rifle away, the gun remaining steady. If she moved just in the slightest, he would fire. Her eyes narrowed, but she remained silent as she glared at him.

"Now what the hell are you doing here," he demanded.

Silence.

"Or would you prefer a bullet?"

"If you're going to shoot me, shoot me and get it over with."

He was mightily tempted to do just that. She whispered a prayer under her breath before she braced for her last moment. Still, he didn't shoot.

"What are you waiting for?"

He growled under his breath. He damn well should pull the trigger but he couldn't. Not just yet, anyway.

"What the hell are you doing here?" he demanded again. <.div>

"It's none of your concern." <.div>

"Yeah, it is, since I don't want to get shot in the back."

"Leave now and we don't have to worry about it."

"Except I'm stayin' here so yeah, I'm not about to let you try to kill me."

"You are a fool!" She spat at him.

He yawned, bored. A loud howl sounded from the direction that Kyle had disappeared. Nick swore under his breath, walked forward and scooped up her rifle, then moved behind her.

"You're comin' with me. We're gonna investigate what's goin' on, where that sound came from."

Natasha moved forward without another word as she waited for the right time to act. Silently, Nick brought her with him as he searched for Kyle. As he walked forward, he saw Kyle's coat on the snow covered ground. He swore as he looked around for footprints.

"Holy shit," Natasha swore softly, an Australian accent laced in her voice.

He could see footprints and blood so he started to follow the trail. They both froze when they saw two hairy beasts standing between eight to nine feet tall fighting. Nick found he had no idea which one was Kyle. He pushed the woman into the snowbank, to hide from the fighters as he pulled out a clip of silver bullets. She pushed herself up and watched. Nick kept her in his peripheral vision as he watched the fight as well. Nat slid off the crossbow from her shoulder and readied it between the werewolves and Nick.

Nick reached over and pressed his hand down on it, pushing it into the snow. "Not yet," he whispered.

"Why the hell not?"

"Because I don't want you to shoot the wrong one," he said truthfully.

"They're both monsters."

"Just wait," he said, keeping his hand on the crossbow. "If the wrong one wins, you can shoot then."

"The wrong one? What's the difference?"

"One of them is tryin' to help me."

Her eyes hardened as she stood up and looked at him. "Then you know where Ryder is?"

"Who?"

She licked her lips and sighed softly. "Keith Ryder. He was last seen with your bitch."

He smiled coldly. "He's one of the monsters, you gonna kill him when you find him?"

She punched him hard in his face. He hit her back with the gun, smashing it across her cheek. Before she could move again, he caught her wrist in his free hand. "He's a werewolf now."

A gash opened on her cheek as she glared at him. "Thanks to your bitch! She sold him out!"

"First time either of us met him, he was already a werewolf."

"Liar!"

"I don't really give a shit if you believe me."

She kicked his kneecap hard from the side and rolled to her feet.

He pulled her forward since he still had hold of her wrist, and gently laid the gun barrel on her cheek. "Do anything and I will put the trigger," he whispered.

"Get over what happened. Your vampire ain't all innocent." She spat in his eye.

He released her arm and hit her hard enough to knock her out before she could react, then he looked around for something to use to tie her up with. As his head turned, one of the werewolves flew past him and slammed to the ground, dead. He whirled around, gun aimed at the second one, still not sure if it was Kyle or not. The werewolf cocked its head to the side before it stretched upwards then transformed back to human, bones popping and shifting sickly. Damn it looked painful. Nick relaxed slowly as he saw it was Kyle.

"We got another little problem," he said, revealing himself.

"Besides me freezing my ass off?" Kyle shivered as he looked to Nick and the woman. "Who's the hottie?"

"She hunts vampires and werewolves for a living. I have some clothes you can borrow, back at the car."

Kyle's expression from good humor quickly turned serious. "What is she doing still alive?"

Nick was asking himself that very question as he used a fireman's hold to carry her. "I saw your jacket this way."

"Maybe I should go back in form?" Kyle wondered to himself and looked at Nick. "I'm sure we'll find the cave faster that way?"

He shook his head. "I can't tell you apart from other werewolves."

"You're comfortable with me naked? Cos I'm not. At least outside."

"I said that I got some clothes in the car you can borrow." He started to walk off.

"What crawled up your butt and died?" Kyle asked, following him.

"You wanna get warm or not?"

"Okay. What did she do?"

"Oh, wanted to kill me for even being here, wanted to shoot both of you, need I go on?"

Kyle jogged up beside him. "It's something before tonight. What is it?"

"What are you talking about?" Nick asked as he led the way back to Kyle's coat.

"Nick, I've known you for a while now and it's no secret that alotta hunters would give anything to see V and even you dead. So tell or I walk."

"Tell you what?" He was genuinely puzzled.

"Happened. What'd she do?"

"I just told you, she tried to kill both of us."

"Mmm-hmm." He left it at that, deciding he'd ask V later.

Nick stopped by the jacket, looked down at the blood on the snow then asked quietly, "You okay?"

"Yeah," Kyle brushed it off, then picked it up and shrugged it on.

"Hope that wasn't your blood," he said as he quickly started to walk back to the car.

Kyle didn't reply to his comment as he walked.

"You really think stayin' in wolf form will help us find V?" Nick asked after a couple of minutes.

"Well, if you say that this…Keith whatever is a werewolf now, I should be after to smell him and even her better. I move faster in my other form."

Nick sighed, hating the necessity of it. "Will you do me a favor?"

"What?"

"Wear something around your neck, so I can tell you apart from other werewolves while we're here."

"Like what?"

"I don't care if it's a strip off my shirt, or part of the blanket I've got in the trunk, just something so I'll know it's you."

"Hmm. Well, I'll transform now so I won't rip whatever it is. Just don't make it too tight."

"Promise."

Kyle sighed. "I better get a large dinner after this." Then he transformed.

Nick walked as fast as he could back to the car, set the woman down on the snow so he could unlock the trunk, picked up the blanket and cut a strip off it. Taking it, he wrapped it around Kyle's neck then tied it off, making sure it wasn't choking the werewolf. He used the rest of the blanket to wrap around the woman after he had used the rope also in the trunk to tie her, then he placed her in the trunk and shut it.

"Don't go too fast, Kyle, let me follow you."

The werewolf nodded its head, and then set off. Nick followed, close behind. Kyle moved as slow as he could for Nick to stay with him as he stretched his smell far as he could, searching for V's scent.

The furry Kyle led Nick at least two miles away from the car until he stopped and growled lowly at the large cave. Nick looked around carefully before he approached it. Kyle stood to his full eight and a half inches, hearing footsteps. Two werewolves appeared with several other men in camouflage gear. Nick had two 9MM Browning in each hand before he could be stopped. He started firing as the other men did and Kyle took out his rage on the two weres.

Nick was very glad he had thought of the way to make Kyle stand out, as the werewolves blurred together in their fight. He threw himself into what cover he could find as he shot. He click the trigger when the magazines dropped to the ground and he reloaded before he looked over his shoulder and counted to three, then stood up and fired at the remaining targets. He hit two of the three. A bullet grazed against his right shoulder and he swore as he took out the last and looked at Kyle's fight. They were still moving too fast for him to interfere effectively so he decided to take care of his shoulder.

"Ow, ow," he swore lightly as he pressed some clean snow against the wound. Of course, it quickly turned red. He used more snow until he saw the bleeding had stopped, then he quickly pulled his jacket back on, again swearing as he moved his shoulder.

Standing tall again, he looked at the werewolf that was thrown to the ground, and finding it wasn't Kyle, he shot the beast with his .45 that was in his left shoulder rig and loaded with bullets and filled the werewolf's head with three silver bullets. One permanently dead. He looked around for the others. Kyle and the other were still going at it, and Nick noticed the blood covering both of their fur coats. He watched, gun ready, and when he had the clearest shot he would get, he fired. With a clean shot to the head, the werewolf dropped dead and Kyle staggered a bit.

Nick ran forward. "Kyle, you okay?" he asked, not knowing what kind of answer he would receive.

Kyle's head shook slightly as bones cracked and he ran towards the cave. Nick ran after him. Not before too long, Kyle stopped suddenly and Nick rammed into him, not being able to see in the dark. It was a drawback, being human. He heard faint yelling, but from where? It was too muffled to tell. Kyle moved over until he slipped and slid on ice. Then he went flying.

"Kyle?"

Kyle howled. Uneasily, Nick moved slowly and carefully into the darkness, wishing there'd be a flashlight to pop out somewhere like they did in the movies, but of course this wasn't the movies and this was his lucky…bad as usual.

"Kyle? Is V around here?"

Kyle howled in agreement. Now I really need a flashlight. "Where?" he asked.

The werewolf made yet another sound that didn't help Nick much.

"V!" he screamed, staying put. He didn't need to go sliding and end up hurt, or worse.

A long silence followed him before he heard her voice yell back, "Nick?!"

It was very muffled and he wasn't sure if he was hearing things so he yelled again. Again, she yelled back his name.

"Where are you?" he hollered.

"Down here in this hell hole!" she yelled back. "Keith's in shock or something!"

"Kyle, can you get up?"

Another sound effect, then he felt Kyle's fur brush up against him. He shivered, and then reached out to catch hold of him. Kyle's large, furry paw led Nick's down to the ground and on top of the ice.

"She's under this?!"

Kyle howled. "Are there any other werewolves around, besides Keith?" he asked.

Silence.

"Will you be all right here, if I go back to the car to get some stuff to help us?"

More silence. "Kyle, you even there?"

Kyle now made sound, acknowledging him.

"Will you be all right here, while I'm gone?"

"Awoo."

One. Yes. "Okay, I'll be back as fast as I can." He released Kyle's fur.

Kyle watched him leave as he pawed at the ice. He knew that he could break it, but breaking it without falling in was the problem. He padded to the front of the cave and sat down, to wait and to guard.

****

Natasha growled in pain as her arms and legs started to cramp up. She tensed as she heard snow crunch outside, and a key scraping. Ten…nine…eight…seven…She squinted her eyes as a bright light blinded her.

"Don't even try it," a voice warned her.

"Try what?"

"What you were planning," he said, holding her hair by the scalp as he looked for a flashlight and a crowbar. He already knew where the rope was.

"Gah! Bastard, let go!"

With his free hand, he dropped the crowbar onto the snow, and pocketed the flashlight he found in his toolbox.

"I got a deal for you."

"I want nothing from you, pig!"

"Fine, then stay here while I drag your boyfriend out."

"So you do know where he is!"

"Just found out now."

"I bet…" She tried to free herself, but when she couldn't, she said, "What's the proposition?"

"You help me free both of them, then you never get into my face again."

Natasha looked at him. "Fine. Just never cross paths with me."

"I said never. I won't go out of my way to run into you but if we do, then you don't try to challenge me. Same goes with V, she's off limits to you now."

"Unless she comes after me or near Keith."

"She's trying to help him."

"She is trying to kill him like she did before!"

"Then stay here."

Natasha's eyes narrowed before she forced herself to agree with his offer. "The second I think you're trying to double-cross me, I will kill you." He watched her eyes and when he was sure his statement had sunk in, he untied her. "Carry the rope, we're gonna need it."

"Tell me what I'm walking in on."

"They're trapped in a cave, under a layer of ice, I have no idea how deep. We've already dealt with other werewolves and humans, don't know if more are still in the area but so far, haven't been bothered again."

"Yeah, so far." She grabbed the rope.

"So you let me know if you find any more, preferably before being attacked."

She rolled her eyes at him. "Can I even get my crossbow back?"

"If you can prove to me that I can trust you."

"I can't. Besides, I try to kill you, we'll both end up dead."

At least she sounded like she had discovered her brain. Silently, he started to lead her to the cave.

"If we get killed by any furry things, our stay in hell won't go over easy."

"Then don't get killed, it's that easy."

"Then don't get killed, it's that easy," she mocked.

He ignored her as he swept the area with his eyes, just in case any more bad guys were around, besides the one with him. She walked past him, brushing against him hard. He let her, wondering when she would realize she didn't know exactly where her loverboy was. She kicked snow out of her way as she looked back at him. "Feeling old already?"

He didn't answer.

"Pick up the pace old man or it'll die."

"Go right ahead, if you want to sound like an elephant," he drawled as he continued to walk at his own pace, slow enough to be able to see clearly without missing details as he walked, fast enough that he didn't feel like he was taking too long. "Maybe there are a few others I've missed."

"Few others what? Monsters?"

He nodded. "Or people working with them."

"Well, since I can't defend myself, point me where they are and I'll go there."

"What if they intercept you? No, we're staying together." He marched forward.

"Then give me my weapons."

"So you can shoot me? Hah!"

"Do you think you can save them alone? And what if a werewolf does pop up? You won't stand a chance."

"That's why you're here, to help," he said coldly. "I've got silver bullets in my gun so, yeah, I do stand a chance. Now shut up and follow me."

"Make me shut up."

"You really are too stupid to live, aren't you."

"You really can't get your finger out of your ass, can you?"

"Get yourself killed, do the world a favor." He walked quickly, following his footprints.

"You first."

He supposed they must have finished with the opposition or surely her mouth would have led them to the two of them by now. She followed him when he took lead again. When they reached the cave, Nick found blood leading away from its entrance.

"What is it now?" Romero growled.

"Trouble."

"Go on and tell."

He caught her wrist and followed the red spatters.

"Where are we going?!"

"Finding out what happened to my friend," Nick said through clenched teeth.

"And the other two?"

"If I could trust you to not try anything against V, you'd be there right now, workin' on freein' them."

"If Keith's there, I'll grab him and leave her."

"Yeah, down below I'm sure."

"Fine. If he dies, so does she."

Nick stopped abruptly. Natasha squared her shoulders and watched him quietly. He swore inwardly as he moved to one side for her to see what had stopped him, not that he thought she would be swayed by it. Kyle's hands had been tied over his head in silver chains and on a tree branch; his head slumped downwards to rest against his chest. His naked, bruised and bloodied body was nearby two other werewolves still in their furry forms feeding on leftovers of some human.

"Dear God," she swore softly, grabbing for Nick's gun at the small of his back and aimed at one of the two werewolves.

A heavy bar of metal knocked the gun out of her hands. "Uh, uh, uh," said a man, holding a gun on them both. "You don't want to miss the show, do you?"

"Now just who the hell are you?"

"Your Master of Entertainment for this evening. Sit down." Neither were given the option of refusing. Strong hands pulled them back, to kneel in the snow, a gun barrel placed at the back of their heads.

Natasha glared at Nick. "This is your entire fault."

Nick entertained uncharitable thoughts about her as their hands were tied behind them. Her eyes narrowed as she planned for a way to escape, waiting for the right time. She felt a chain wrap around the ropes holding her wrists and ankles together, attaching them so she couldn't walk. Her face was then slammed into the cold snow as a leash was wrapped around her neck and she was dragged as Nick was. It was hard to say which one was more pissed off.

One of the werewolves that was near Kyle transformed back to a six-foot-six male and grinned widely at the blonde and her companion. "Well," he murmured with a deep tone, "I captured the vampire and the unknown outsider, then the great Kyle, and now…what, two hunters?"

Nick opted for silence, to make them wonder about him for as long as possible.

"Hmm. Well, you should be a tasty meal for my wife," he declared, eyeing Nick in a gay way and licked his lips.

Nick remained stone cold calm outwardly as he desperately thought about how to free himself. The man moved forward slightly as if to touch Nick, then thought better of it and moved towards the blonde and smacked her soundly. If they had thought he would be outraged, they were wrong.

"Take her away to the others. Angie!" he barked to the werewolf who rose.

She howled as she caught hold of the chains holding Natasha's limbs together.

"Good luck," Nat whispered to him before she was carried away. Soon it was only Nick, the man a small army of men, and Kyle. He hadn't expected her whisper and he wasn't sure if she'd really meant it.

"So, tell me…" the man purred into Nick's ear. "Who are you? I could make you something great or you can be a meal ticket." He stayed quiet. The man brushed his fingernails against Nick's cheeks.

"So easy to make you into a member in Kyle's pack that I'm taking over."

He fought hard against the impulse to show fear.

"Nothing could save you against the change, either. Imagine that…the woman could even be your first kill."

Couldn't happen to a better person. Still, he refused to show any emotion.

The man sniffed deeply and roared with laughter. "You seem to like that idea, yes?"

"If you're going to do it, just do it," he said, bored of the posturing.

"No!" Kyle yelled weakly. "You…cannot do this, Jack!"

"Sure I can."

"Then…you are begging…for hell from the vampire…"

"This is her pet?!?" Jack was astounded. "Still, nevermind, she won't be escaping her new home."

"She is calling…on the wolves…were and not…I feel it…your confidence will be your demise…you bas…bastard." Kyle's teeth chattered together in the iciness. "On the damned…elements."

"I don't feel any such thing. You're lying, trying to save your pathetic hide."

Kyle looked at Jack and despite the agony he was in, he roared with laughter. Nick hoped that Kyle wasn't lying.

"Why don't you take a trip to…where you left her…you piece offf furrball…shit."

He stared Kyle in the eyes then snapped his fingers, dispatching one of the werewolves to go and check on her. Kyle shivered from the bitterly cold weather.

***

Keith curled up into a ball. V, who had been meditating and resisting the urge to drain the werewolf, slowly opened her eyes, hearing the noise and smelling werewolves above. She looked at Keith.

"You coward, stand up!" she said harshly. She'd have pity for the man later. "Our chance is here!"

She had to go over and knee him before he looked up at her.

"Listen to me, I am very pissed off and hurting. I would like nothing more to do than tear out your throat and use you as my personal fountain of youth. You can either be dinner for me, or help me to see another day…er…night."

Too slowly for her liking, he uncurled.

"You have to transform. My hands are still worthless."

"I can't," he whimpered. "I've been shot with silver."

She scrunched her nose up and mimicked him in a tiny girlish voice, "I've been shot with silver so I'm gonna be Va'Shanna's food! Wah! Wah! Pity on me! No you idiot!" She vamped suddenly and whatever patience she had left snapped. "You used to be in Special Operations, have you sunk so low to let yourself be food for a vampire and werewolves?!" She kicked him.

Glaring at her, he tried to change.

"Do it now!" she growled at him. He growled as he continued to try to change. V looked back up to the hole. "Hurry!"

Slowly, he started to spout fur. Va'Shanna watched the activity from above, then decided she was preparing for nothing when the werewolves walked back out. She slumped against the wall and watched Keith. The spouting of fur stopped and he dropped to his knees in pain. She stared at him in disgust.

She closed her eyes again and concentrated on calling her wolves and the other werewolves from Kyle's pack, Ferikorov. It was hard to do, to focus on anything besides the red-hot pain of her ruined hands. But, with much experience in such pain, she pushed it to the side as far as she could and smiled very faintly as a wolf's howl sounded from outside.

"That's it, come closer," she whispered.

Sounds of paws scratching the ice sounded from far above. If she had been human, she would have had no hope of hearing it. She smiled, waiting. She wondered when Nick would come back; she hoped it would be soon.

V, waiting so intently on her wolves to finish digging under the ice, didn't notice Keith's stare and how he studied her with a smirk on his lips.

Come on, come on, she thought, staring up at the ice. Suddenly huge chunks of ice started to fall down and V forced herself to move with the ball at the end of the ankle shackles to avoid being hit. Now all she had to do was get out of the cave. One werewolf jumped down and snarled loudly as it smelled Keith.

"Get me out of here!" V demanded.

The werewolf moved towards V and snapped off the shackle around her ankle before picking her up in its arms. Then it bounded over to stand beneath the hole. Keith groaned. He didn't move as the werewolf leapt upwards. White and grey wolves were standing on their paws, waiting as the werewolf used one arm to pull himself out of the hole. The other arm held Va'Shanna firmly against him. Slowly, it lowered V to the ground. She was still on the ground when fur blurred as it passed by quickly.

"What the?" she wondered softly out loud. It looked like Keith. She swore softly, then looked at the werewolf. "Nod that big head of yours if you know who Kyle is."

He nodded.

"Ok…are there any other werewolves here on our side?"

Again, he nodded.

"Then take me to him."

He picked her up and loped off.

***

Meanwhile, Nick's kneecaps and shins were freezing over quickly, since they were covered in snow and the temperature was dropping. He was not in a good mood. Neither was Kyle. Both men hated feeling so helpless and unable to do anything than be captives to some morons. Jack looked around, then picked up Nick as Keith came into view.

Nick's eyes narrowed. Where the hell is V if Keith's here?!?

"They're coming," Keith explained as his voice changed followed by his face and body shifted and he appeared no longer a man, but an Asian woman with black hair and her body was wrapped up in gauze like wrapping. Nick outright stared at the woman who had looked like Keith.

She smiled at him and walked towards Jack. "Can I get him?"

"If you wish."

Her smile widened and she moved closer towards Nick. He glared at her. She tapped his nose. He snapped his head back and bit the tip of her finger. She punched him with the other hand. He only bit down harder on her finger. Jack dropped him and slammed a fist in the middle of his back. He fell heavily to the frozen ground.

"Bastard," she cursed softly.

Out of breath, he couldn't retort. The growls and howls of wolves and werewolves alike sounded not too far away.

Fighting hard to breathe, he managed to say, "You're... gonna... get... torn... apart."

"I doubt that."

His returning silence was borne of certainty, not of doubt. A herd, or packs, of wolves rushed up to meet Jack's men. Nick couldn't move, still being chained. Something or one, jumped on Jack's back and attacked his head violently. Nick rolled as best he could, trying to get out of the way. Jack transformed into his werewolf state and threw the body down next to Nick. The wolf reared back up and flung himself at Jack again. The shapeshifter started to run towards Nick and gasped as V jumped down and wrapped her arms around the shapeshifter and sank her fangs into her neck and fed. She morphed, turning into a block of steel, pushing V's fangs out.

V dropped to the snow covered ground and snarled, kicking with vampiric strength to kick at the block of steel's center. Her leg shot right through and was swallowed up as the steel flowed and reformed around her in the shape of a sealed bottle. The thick glass shoved her legs her legs together and squeezed her arms tightly, leaving her no room to move. V growled lowly as she tried to break free. But with no room to maneuver, she couldn't. Nick cocked his head to the side to look at V and the others. Then he froze, feeling hot air brush against his neck.

He realized it was Jack in his werewolf formed and he roared loudly before a gun shot went off and he roared in pain, dropping beside Nick as blood oozed from his knees.

"Only one person can kill him and that's me," Natasha groaned softly with a werewolf at her side.

Great, I'm dead, Nick groaned inwardly, not moving.

She moved over to him quickly. And bent down to look at the restraints, then she looked at the werewolf. "Help him."

Great, I'm gonna be a furball instead, he thought. He knew that it was very easy to become a werewolf, if one was susceptible. Natasha moved off to join the fight, as the chains were snapped in two, freeing Nick's hands and feet. Still wearing the now useless wrist and leg restraints, Nick forced himself to his feet and pushed himself over to V. It was her turn to not look very happy. Having carried the chains with him, he smashed them against the glass. The glass did not shatter, instead it let go of V and turned into a shadow and ran off. Nick caught her before she could try to give chase.

Glancing down at her ruined hands he said, "We might as well sit this one out."

"You're seriously gonna make me?" She sighed, looking him over. "What happened to you?"

"I don't wanna talk about it." He helped her over to a tree trunk, brushed it as clear of snow as he could then helped her sit down. "How are you?"

"Let's not talk about it either."

"How badly do you need to feed?" he asked, as he pulled out his .45 just in case he needed it.

"Badly. With the ice and my hands, I need about a life now." She leaned her head against the tree trunk.

"Then let's get you outta here."

"But what about Kyle? No one gets left behind." She looked out towards the fight and frowned. "And would you please tell me why a vampire hunter is here?"

"She was lookin' for her boyfriend."

"Keith?"

He nodded and helped her stand up. "I'll come back for Kyle after I make sure you can feed."

"NO!" she said sharply looking at him. "He saved my life a long time ago. Aid him first then me."

"V, you already admitted how bad the hunger is, I promise I'll be back fast for him." He pulled her as he started to walk.

"Nick, please. I can find something. I always do."

"If I have to, I will pick you up and carry you back to the car," he warned her as he continued to lead her away.

"Nick," she growled lowly.

He caught her wrists and held up her hands. "You can't do much like this, you need to feed as soon as you can."

"And neither can Kyle being hung like meat!"

He picked her up and slung her over his shoulders.

"Dammit Nick!"

Once he maneuvered her into the car, he offered her his wrist. "Do not kill me, take as much as I can spare then get yourself to the hospital and finished feeding while I free Kyle."

Her upper lip curled slightly as she looked at his wrist. Her fangs had already descended. "Are you sure?"

"Yeah." He knew he couldn't back out now.

She laid his wrist across her arm and bent her head down to lick at his skin before she bit into his wrist, a small crunch sounding afterwards. He braced himself as much as he could against the pain. Within seconds, she pulled back, licking her lips. He couldn't believe how weak he felt. She winced as popping sounds came from her hands and fingers. He watched, fascinated, as they healed.

She wiggled her fingers a bit. "Much better."

Carefully, he pulled the keys out. "Come back after you feed." He reached behind the seat and pulled up a duffel bag of weapons and other goodies.

"Sure you'll be fine?"

"Course I will."

"Please do…" She looked at him, hating to leave him to fight by himself, but she knew he had to. "I'll find you."

"I know." He summoned up a smile for her. "Drive safely."

"Be safe…" Slowly, she put the car in gear and drove off.

Groaning, he started the trek back to Kyle. Most of the fighting had died down now. He ran over to Kyle. Kyle's eyes were closed and he was either dead or had passed out. Nick hoped it was the latter.

Natasha came up beside Nick. "Who's that?"

"Friend who was helpin' me look for V and Keith."

"I found Keith."

He nodded. "Didn't think you'd be with any furball but him."

"Let's just get the guy down, huh?"

"Yeah." He looked for his lock picks.

Natasha looked Kyle's body over and shook her head slightly, trying to avoid his lower proportions and the bruises decorating his flesh.

"Kyle, you awake?" Nick asked as he worked on the locks holding the chains together.

The blowing of the wind was his only answer. He figured it was just as well that Kyle was unconscious. He looked around for the furball that the hunter had been looking for but didn't see him.

"Is he still alive?"

"Kyle? Yeah."

As he picked the locks open and the cuffs opened, Kyle dropped heavily to the ground. Nick rolled him over, so his back was flat against the ground. "Where's your friend?" he asked.

"Looking around for anyone else."

He nodded as he braced himself to pick up Kyle in a fireman's hold.

"Where's the car?"

"V has it, she'll be back soon."

"How do you know that?"

"What is this, twenty questions?"

"Do I look like I'm dating a corpse?"

Nick walked off, knees buckling but he didn't fall.

"Need help?"

He didn't answer since it took all of his concentration to keep moving and to not fall. Shaking her head, Nat slowly followed afterwards. He was ready to collapse when he reached where he had parked the car. He dropped to one knee as Nat hurried over to them. She surprised him when she started to take off her jacket and wrap it around Kyle, trying to cover him much as she could. He started to protest, that she needed her jacket, then remembered how icy cold she was and kept his mouth shut as he tried to make Kyle comfortable.

"We should use our body warmth to try to keep him warm," Natasha suggested after a few minutes when they settled Kyle on the ground. Nick stared her at her wordlessly.

"Rather him freeze to death?"

He shook his head. "I'm surprised you even suggested it."

"You don't know me."

His gaze on her was hard. "Yeah, I do know you." He shifted to huddle against Kyle.

"Only what you want to know and believe." She followed suit, wrapping herself around Kyle without touching Nick. She closed her eyes and tried to ignore the coldness.

"Keith told you not to kill us, didn't he," Nick said flatly. "Otherwise, you already would have tried."

"No. Well, yeah with V and the others, but I respect you. Starting to anyway."

He snorted, not believing her for a second. She didn't retort.

"Kyle, wake up," Nick said quietly but firmly.

Nothing. Nick shook his shoulder insistently. "Wake up."

Kyle kept sleeping. Swearing under his breath, Nick fumbled with his glove, getting it off after a couple of minutes so he could check Kyle's pulse. He had a surprisingly strong pulse going. Nick released his arm, then quickly covered his frozen hand again.

Natasha squinted one eye open and looked at Nick as her teeth chattered in the coldness. "I thought that vampires…had taken him. The woman that led the operation…looked like Remirez…" she said suddenly and slowly. "And from what I read and learned of Remirez's past, she was a deadly…and…merciless killer. I was wrong." She shivered. "Keith told me about the labs and the rescue you and Va'Shanna led. T-told me everything. And I guess I…I don't know. I owe you, and by not going trigger happy on you or her, that's all I can offer for now."

Silently, he nodded. "Don't go trigger happy on either of us, ever again, or territorial. That's payment enough."

Natasha rested her head on Kyle's shoulder.

"Do you agree?" he asked, biting off the words.

"F-fine."

He watched her for a long moment, then fell silent. It seemed an eternity before an engine was heard. All three were nearly frozen when the car stopped. Va'Shanna slid out of the car and ran towards them. As she woke Nick, she gasped softly as a werewolf jumped down next to where Natasha laid.

"Nick!" she called urgently, straightening to face the werewolf.

He shivered, slowly opening his eyes. "Mmm?"

Stiffly, he stood up when he saw the fur covered body standing nearby. It growled lowly at them.

"Don't suppose that's your boyfriend," Nick muttered under his breath.

Natasha slowly opened her eyes as she shivered. "Keith?"

The werewolf roared a little. None of them could tell if it was in agreement or not. Though it didn't do any harm and slowly, it transformed back into a man that dropped to his knees. Nick turned to Kyle and caught him under his arm, as V did the same on the other side. They pulled him inside the car and laid him across the backseat. The heat was blasting in the car. As they did that, Natasha ran forward and wrapped her arms around the figure. When Nick looked back, he saw tears trickling down the blonde's cheeks.

Leaving V to finish wrestling Kyle into the car he walked over. "Is he okay?"

Natasha looked at him, slowly pulling back from Keith. "He will be when we get home…"

"Need a lift?"

"You're offering?"

After ten seconds passed, he nodded. "Yeah."

"Do you have room?"

"You two can squeeze into the back with Kyle."

She nodded. "Thank you."

As he helped her move Keith into the back of the station wagon he asked, "How'd you get here, if you didn't drive?"

"To make a long story short, the werewolf that took me away threw me in the same room with Keith. We talked and he…transformed and helped me out of there and kept the weres off for long as possible till I could find a gun."

He shook his head. "I mean, how'd you get here, when you first threatened me."

"Oh. That. I flew with my group." She looked down. "Five of them were killed two days ago and I'm the only survivor."

By now, Keith was settled in next to Kyle. "Where do you want us to drop you off?"

"Nearest motel."

He shared a look with V; he had no idea where the nearest one was.

"Emm…okay," V said slowly.

He watched as she crawled in next to Keith, then he walked to the shotgun seat and let himself in as he wondered if he would ever be warm again. V pulled off. Nick leaned forward, trying to capture all of the warmth he could. The drive was long, if not tense. It also passed mostly in silence except for the noises of the engine and the heater. When they reached a Motel 6, V pulled in to drop Natasha and Keith off. Keith remained in the car until Natasha secured a room, then Nick helped her get him inside without being seen. It would be hard to explain a naked man in the bitter cold.

Once they got inside the room, Keith disappeared into the bathroom while Natasha looked at Nick.

"Thanks for the ride."

"You're welcome."

"Look. I know we'll never be on good terms…but if Keith needs…you know…help…could he come to you guys?"

He nodded. Natasha nodded slightly too, mostly to herself.

Knowing V would probably blow up when he told her he added, "So can you... if you need it."

"Thank you. It's really for him."

"I know." He turned to leave.

"I hope your friend gets better soon."

"So do I," he said, half because it was the expected response, half because he really did want Kyle to heal soon. With that, he closed her door and walked back to the car, sighing to himself. V was going to kill him, when he told her.

When he did get back to the car, V had positioned herself so she was watching Kyle. No, she didn't love him in the way she did Nick, but she felt like a sister to him, because she did care for him as a close friend and felt responsible for him.

"How's he doin'?" Nick asked as he got back in.

"He's doing okay, I suppose. He's healing slowly, but I think with what you and that thing did helped him."

"What thing?"

"Body heat." V looked at him. "I should get him back to his pack though…there's something that they do that…is behind my comprehension. It's a furball thing I believe."

"You meant the hunter, when you said that thing, didn't you."

"Yes. I don't like driving people around who have tried to kill me in the past. Much less try to kill my boyfr--husband."

"Oh, then you're gonna be real happy with me."

V slowly looked at him. "What did you do now?"

"She asked if her boyfriend could come to us, if he needs help, and I agreed." He stared out of the windshield straight ahead. "Then I told her if she needs help, we'd help her too."

A long silence followed after. "I could…see the man…but…her?! Nick!"

"It'll get her off our backs if she sees us helping him. I hope she never does ask for help, but I figured it'd be better to offer."

V closed her eyes and let out a slow sigh. "She could call the government on our asses at any time." She shook her head. "I don't trust hunters…especially blonde hunters that work within the government."

He glanced over at her. "You'd die of boredom if something didn't happen, admit it. This'll keep us on our toes."

"Y'know, if I didn't love you so much, I'd hurt you."

He smiled at her. Shaking her head a bit more, she re-started the engine and pulled out of the parking lot.

"How are you doin'?" he asked.

"Much better."

"Do you still need to feed?"

V shook her head. "I filled up."

"Okay." He looked down at his wrists, then fished out his lock picks. The next ten minutes were occupied by him ridding himself of the wrist jewelry.

"How are you though?" she asked while he did so.

Sore, humiliated, pissed. "I'm fine."

"Yeah, and I'm pure. Really."

"I'll survive."

She glanced over at him worriedly.

"I'm about as you'd expect, all right? I'll deal with it."

V returned her attention to the road, falling silent. Neither spoke during the rest of the drive home.

***

When they arrived home, V carried Kyle in and went upstairs to tuck him away in a bed in one of the guest quarters. Nick followed her up and watched, then traipsed back down to the living room when she finished.

"You should go change clothes," V observed.

He sat down. "In a couple of minutes." After his ankles too were bare, he stood back up, then walked over to her and caught her hand gently. "Let's go to bed."

She leaned against him. "Yeah, I'd like that."

He wrapped his arms around her and they did just that.

Shadows of Surrender

Back Into Exile