Part Seven

It wasn’t until almost seven when Giles and Kimberly arrived on the outskirts of Detroit. And nothing seemed worse to the Watcher than the lake front city, during rush hour. Kimberly was at the wheel, navigating through the congestion to their first stop...The Mariner’s Church.

Giles looked out at the factories that lined the busy streets, and marveled at the history of this “Working man’s” town. Here was where the automobile became the angel of deliverance...and it’s creator’s became gods. And, even though, Detroit didn’t have the same industrial clout as it did in it’s heyday...it still was a marvel to behold.

But sightseeing was the last thing on either of their minds. The Treasure Hunt, which began as an adventure...was now a mission...

A mission to save their friend.

“It’s not you fault,” Giles said softly, reaching out and touching her arm.

“What are you talking about?”

“You have that look,” Giles explained, “That ‘guilt look’.”

“And how do you know that look,” she snipped back, as she pulled into the old church’s parking lot.

“Because I had that look. The day...the day Jenny died.”

They got out of the car in silence, and began to walk up the long fieldstone path that led up to the brick church.

“So,” Kimberly asked, breaking the silence, “who was Jenny?”

Giles stopped and looked down at the ground, “She was....she was very special to me.”

Kim wasn’t sure if she wanted to press on...but she couldn’t help but wonder what kind of pain was hidden beneath those beautiful green eyes, “What happened to her?”

“She was murdered by a vampire.”

“I’m so sorry,” she said, taking his arm, “And you felt guilty?”

“For a long while, yes,” he nodded, “I thought, that if I were there with her, or if I hadn’t been so angry with her, before....maybe Angel wouldn’t have gotten to her. Maybe things would have been different, and she wouldn’t have died alone.”

“But, how could you have known?”

“I didn’t,” he smiled sadly, brushing her hair back tenderly, “And, I know that now. But, two years ago...I didn’t. I thought it was somehow my fault that she died. And it wasn’t. And Tamara being kidnapped, and your husband leaving you, isn’t your fault either.”

“I know,” she sighed, “But I still wonder if we never went on this stupid treasure hunt, none of this would have happened. God, Rupert, I really fucked this up, didn’t I?”

“No,” he cupped his hands on her checks, and kissed her gently on her lips, “no you didn’t. Now, let’s get what we came for and go on to the Museum...we need the next clue.”

“But, why are we wasting our time....”

“Because, we need the next clue,” he said, taking out a piece of tracing paper from the plastic bag they had bought earlier that day, “And, they won’t kill her as long as they don’t have the Cross.”

“Are you sure that’s what they want?”

Giles nodded, as they walked around to the cornerstone, “A demon named, Eddy told me that a group of vampires were looking for the Cross as well, in the hopes of destroying it. I figure, they took Tamara as a bargaining chip. The more time we waste, the longer she’ll live...and the more time we’ll have to formulate a plan.”

“And what if they decide to turn her into a vampire?”

******

Tamara shifted uncomfortably in the front seat of the U-Haul. Earl had removed the bindings long enough for her to use the bathroom at a gas station and eat, but that was over five hours ago, and the rope was beginning to cut into her skin.

“Ah, Earl?” she asked, batting her lashes at the skinny, demon driver, “Do you think you could loosen these ropes a bit? I think they’re too tight from the last time you tied them.”

“I don’t know....”

“Please,” she puckered her lips into a pout, “they’re really hurting me.” She didn’t have to lie about that one, but she figured a little friendly persuasion couldn’t hurt, “Please?”

“Wellll....” he said, pulling over to the shoulder, “Okay. But, I’m just going to loosen them a bit.” He worked on her bindings and added, “And no funny stuff...”

Relieved with the release of pressure she sighed, “Wouldn’t think of it.”

They rode in silence for a few minutes when Tamara spoke up, “So, um...how long have you been working for...ah, Marvin?”

“Oh...not long,” the demon explained, “he hired me, ‘cause he needed a driver. You know, to get the Cross and all. Hey, Red, why don’t you sing me a song?”

“The Cross,” Tamara prodded, “what’s the big deal with a stupid Cross anyway?”

Earl shrugged, “Beats me. It’s supposed to have some kind of power against vamps. I don’t know...it don’t affect me. So, how about that song?”

Tamara sighed. There was no way around this one. “Sure.” She looked out the window at the landscape that flew passed her and began to sing...

******

Nigel and Philip sped down the interstate, trying to make up for lost time. They were behind most of the pack of racers. Which meant....they were further away from attaining their objective. And now...they were a man short.

“Bloody Hell!” Philip shook his head, as he steered around several cars, “Bloody Hell!! I can’t believe he’s gone! Patty’s gone!”

“Relax, mate,” Nigel hissed, “there’s nothing we can do about it now.”

“Yeah but,” he protested, “don’t you even feel a bit responsible?”

Nigel sighed and replied, “Nope.”

“You unfeeling Bastard!...”

“Hey!” the older man shouted, “We were all aware of the risks when we took on this job! It could have easily been you....and don’t you forget that! Now, let’s keep our heads, about us. We still have a job to do.”

“It still don’t feel right,” Philip whined.

“Then how about this,” Nigel suggested, “With that sod gone...there’s more of a cut for you.”

Philip thought about it for a moment and said, “Yeah, you’re right. Oh, well, poor Patty. so sad...really.”

“I thought so.”

******

“Um, Rupert,” Kimberly yawned, as her alarm on her watch went off.

“Yes?” the Englishman blinked.

“We have to find a place to hunker down. Sleep time.”

Giles nodded, “You’re right,” he agreed, “we should find a hotel or something to rest in. I am getting rather tired.”

They only had to drive a few minutes before they happened upon a small motel on the outskirts of the city. Giles pulled the van into a parking space and wearily climbed out. He helped Kimberly out of the passenger side and the two of them headed for the main office.

It was a tidy office. Clean and organized. Nothing you would expect from a nickel and dime establishment. And for that, the tired Watcher was grateful. They had been cooped up in the van for hours. They were tired, stressed, and hurting, and the last thing they needed was to be sleeping with the rats, and roaches.

“We need a room please,” Giles asked the clerk.

The young man eyed them and asked, “Fer how long? ‘Cause, ya know, we charge by the day.”

Giles sighed, “Yes, I understand.” Looking over at Kimberly, he added, “And we will be spending the night, thank you.”

He paid the man, and took the keys from him. Silently they headed for the room, with a change of clothes in hand. It wasn’t until they reached the door, when Kimberly asked, “We’re spending the night? We only have to have six hours down time.”

“I know,” Giles said, turning the key and opening the door, “but, we are both tired, and in the need of rest. Besides, we need time to think of how we are going to rescue Tamara.”

“Tamara,” Kimberly repeated miserably, “She’s all alone right now. Probably scared half to death...”

******

“ ‘Thirty one bottles of beer on the wall, thirty one bottles of beer...’” Tamara and Earl belted out.

They where about to continue with the song, when there was a loud pounding on the back of the truck.

“Oh, well,” Earl sighed, “So much for that.”

He pulled the truck off the road into a scenic stop, and turned the motor off. Tamara could hear the sound of the back doors opening and the scuffle of feet, as the vampires exited the vehicle. She was really beginning to hate night time.

“You’ve been driving long enough,” Marvin said, stretching his tall frame, “Let Thomas take over.” he paused, as the skinny demon hoped out of the driver’s seat, “But first,” he opened the passenger door and pulled Tamara out of the cab, “We need a snack.”

Her eyes grew like saucers, “Wait....wait! I-I thought y-you needed me alive? No snacking. Snacking is bad.”

Marvin saw the hungry look on the face of his newest member of the crew and smiled, “Did I say I was going to kill you?” He pulled her close to him and bent her head to the side, “I don’t need to kill you...”

“Hey,” Earl said, trying to get in between the two, “You promised her to me! And besides, do you think the Watcher would give you the Cross if she was damaged?”

“Yeah,” Tamara squeaked, “yeah. Rupert would never....ever go along with that if you puncture the package.”

Marvin stroked her hair and chuckled, “Don’t worry, Earl. I had no intentions on dining on her. But, she can be of some use.”

“How?”

Marvin grinned, “She’s gonna go shopping for us.”

******

“I picked us up some snacks,” Kimberly said, as she fumbled with the packages.

Giles quickly moved to help her, taking the nearly tumbling paper bags from her hands, “How much did you buy?”

“Well,” she said, rustling through the groceries, “I bought munches, and sandwiches, and...oooo....coffee.” she saw the look of mild disgust on his face and added, with a grin, “And a big cup of tea for you.”

Giles took the Styrofoam cup, and a turkey sandwich from her hands and smiled warmly, “Bless your heart.”

They sat, quietly eating their dinner. It was too quite, Kimberly thought. If Tamara was there, she would had mad some kind of joke about the single bed sleeping arrangements....

Tamara.

She wished she could know if she was all right. Giles told her that they wouldn’t harm her, as long as they didn’t have the Cross...but, after all they had seen...she wasn’t completely sure. And here she was, with a handsome man, having a warm meal...sleeping in a warm bed...sleeping....

“What’s wrong?” Giles asked, taking her hand, gently.

“I was just wondering what Tam was doing right now,” Kimberly confessed, “And feeling a little guilty over what’s about to happen.”

Giles cocked his head curiously, “And what is about to happen?”

“This,” she said, drawing him closer to her.

There lips met with the tenderness of a first kiss, and quickly grew into the passion of two people in desperate need for love. With every moment of their kiss, Giles pulled her closer to him until their bodies practically fused into one being. It was a sensual kiss. It was...heaven.

Giles stood up, lifting Kimberly with him. Without missing a beat, he scooped her up and carried her over to the bed. He laid her down and began to plant soft kisses on her face and neck, while his hands slowly, and methodically started to undress her.

“We shouldn’t be doing this,” he mumbled, half hearted.

kiss

“I know,” Kimberly sighed, pulling at his shirt, “It’s wrong.”

kiss

“And inappropriate,” he agreed, removing her blouse.

kiss

“And...” Kimberly nuzzled his neck, “...oh, who cares.”

******

“Who cares!” Tamara shouted at Earl, as he practically dragged her into the parking lot of the little truck stop. “I’m not doing this!”

“I care!” Earl growled, pulling her arm, “If you don’t do this....they’ll....”

“They’ll what?” she snipped back, “Kill me?!”

“No,” he said with a seriousness that was frightening, “They’ll do much worse than that. Trust me.” He stroked her hair and looked into her emerald eyes, “Come on, please? Just this once. I don’t want to see you hurt.”

Tamara stopped and sighed, “Earl, haven’t you figured it out yet? They aren’t planning on letting me live...”

“But Marvin promised...”

“I know what he said,” she argued, “But since when has the ‘bad guy’ EVER stuck to his word? Haven’t you even watched movies?”

“Red...please,” he pleaded, “They’re watching. Just get a couple of guys to come out to the back of the truck. That’s all you have to do...okay?”

“NO!”

“ ‘Cuze me,” a large man saunder up, “Is there a problem?”

This was her chance, “You bet there is,” she shouted, pulling against Earl’s grip, “This guy is holding me against my...hmmph...”

“Hee hee,” Earl giggled nervously, “she’s been under a lot of stress and the doctor told her that she should be taking her meds. She hasn’t. I’m real sorry about that. We’ll go now. Come on honey, let’s not bother the nice man.”

“Hey,” the man followed after them, as they headed quickly back to the truck, “I said, hey! I’m talkin’ to ya.”

Tamara shook her head, trying to warn the persistent man, not to follow, but couldn’t get out more than a few squeaks. By the time they reached the truck, she was practically in tears. Her efforts to escape was about to cost this poor man his life. If only she could do something...

The moment the doors opened, and the vampires where about to leap out, something strange happened. The truck lurched forward, sending the demons sprawling onto the hard ground in a heap. This distracted Earl enough to loosen his grip on her, which in turn gave her the opportunity to wriggle loose.

“RUN!!!” she shouted at the man, “These guys want to kill you!”

The man hesitated for a moment, then bolted back toward the truck stop. Tamara, took off after him, trying to gain as much distance between her and the tangled demons as she could. But, she couldn’t get far enough, fast enough. And neither could the man.

Before she could scream, she felt a pair of inhumanly strong arms wrap around her, pulling her to the ground. She managed to crane her head over to the Good Samaritan, who was now in the clutches of Thomas, before being thrown over the shoulder’s of her capture.

Marvin climbed up into the truck and threw Tamara into the back wall. She hit the metal hard, and slid down to the ground with a painful thud. The demon quickly settled himself down, next to her and viciously grabbed her hair. “You couldn’t have just played along with it?!” he said, slamming her head into the wall, “Could you?! You had to try to escape!” he hit her head again, “Now....dinner is ruined!” He slammed her head harder, pushing his face right up into hers.

“Boss,” Earl cautioned, as Thomas tossed the frightened, half conscious man into the back of the truck, “You’re really hurting her.”

Marvin turned around and growled, “Shut up! You’re lucky I don’t kill you both! Now, get up there and drive! That little scene of hers must have attracted some attention.”

He turned back to face Tamara, and noticed her eyes were glassy. He reached around and touched the back of her head. Pulling his hand away, he saw fresh blood on it. Her blood. He licked the blood off his hand and cupped her face with both hands. She was shaking, and breathing heavy...but more out of fear than anything else.

“One kill?” Thomas growled, as he and the others had their fill, “Man this sucks! We’re gonna have to get another one. What was that? The engine was turned off, and I swear I put the parking break on. What the hell happened with the truck?!”

Marvin looked down at the young woman, who slipped into unconsciousness, and squinted his eyes, “What happened indeed?”

******

Kimberly stirred in Giles arms. He had only just fallen asleep, after several hours of intimate bliss. She smiled wistfully, at his sleeping form, trying to memorize his gentle features. It seemed like years since she felt like an attractive, vital woman...not the wife/mommy/servant she had grown accustomed to. And this handsome, dashing Englishman, made her, for at least a short time, forget the past five of her seventeen years of marriage.

She softly traced her finger around his nipples, then moving them up to his face, gently stroking the stubble on his cheek. Giles opened his eyes and smiled. “You should be asleep,” he murmured, fondling her breast, and kissing her on the lips.

“I know,” she smiled back, “but...I just want to remember this night. And if I go to sleep...it’ll end sooner.”

Giles slid his hand under the covers, causing her to gasp, “And if you don’t go to sleep, you’re going to be too tired in the morning.”

“For what?” she cooed, wriggling under his expert touch.

Giles gave her a mischievous grin and said, “You’ll see in the morning.”

“Oooo....I can’t wait.”

Kimberly rolled closer to him, taking in the warmth of his body. Before she drifted off to sleep, she said a silent prayer for her lost friend, and hoped that tomorrow will bring them closer to finding the Cross and saving her life.