Hamish nodded, then held up his hand “There is something else you’re not telling me about this teacher, isn’t there?”

“Yes.” Cash admitted, “but I don’t know if your ready to accept it yet.”

“He’s ‘not’ going to marry our Angel!” Hamish said forcefully “… Is he?” he added meekly.

Cash smiled fondly at Hamish, “No Hash, he’s not, at least not as far as I’ve been told. However he has come to the attention of the crones. He’s strong, smart, has good blood lines, and as it turns out, may be joining the clan yet.”……..

Severus groaned as he tried to move, the pain was intense, but no more so than his thoughts. His entire world had been turned upside down on him within the last few hours. Attacked and nearly killed by one vampire, only to be saved by others, and now, yet another vampire had become his devoted nursemaid. “Rick?” Sev croaked weakly, half hoping to be alone, but feeling a wave of relief when Rick immediately appeared above him, placing his hand gently on Sev’s cheek.

“I’m here Severus” Rick said softly “do you need something?” Seeing the potion master having trouble talking, Rick immediately slid next to him, using his body to prop the professor up as he piled pillows behind him to support his back and broken ribs. “Careful Severus” Rick warned when he saw the wizard weakly try to get out of bed once more. “Poppy still has to give you a few more treatments before your bones are completely healed. She tells me it actually would have been easier if he had magicked your bones away. Apparently that only takes one potion to cure, go figure.” he remarked as he handed Sev a glass of water.

“Wonderful, next time I see whatever his name is, I will make sure to request that.” Severus replied drolly. “What are you still doing here? I would have thought you would be out hunting or whatever it is you call it.”

Rick nodded “I will when I’m sure you’re safe and Poppy comes back. Until then, I’m afraid you’re stuck with me.” he said softly, “Is there anything I can get for you?”

“Yes, …..Catri” Severus replied, his voice little more than a whisper. “I miss her, I need her”

“Hush” Rick cooed, trying to soothe the professor, “I know you do, but so does he. Gustavas did the same thing to him that he did to you, only much, much worse. If she leaves him, he will die. I know you dislike him and her son, but would you have him lose both of his fathers?”

“Godfather” Severus corrected, “and what makes you think I dislike Potter? I’ve spent my entire life trying to protect him.”

“There is a difference between caring and protecting, Professor” Rick answered softly.

“Not to me” Sev replied, only to have his body contort in pain a scant few seconds later. “Please, find Catri” he whimpered as he felt Rick’s arms around him once more, cradling him as he tried to relieve some of the pain.

“I’m sorry, Severus, I know I’m not her, but I’m all you have at the moment. Stroking Sev’s hair as he softly whispered one of the many healing chants Angel had taught him, Rick finally got the professor to the point were he could once more tolerate the pain. He pulled the quilt back over the professor as the mans eyes watched him, “Is there something you want from me, Professor?”

“Yes, ….the truth.” Severus replied, his voice soft and mellow with exhaustion. He almost smiled as Rick nodded and obediently sat down on the bed next to him. “They will not allow me to marry her, will they?”

Rick shook his head “That’s not within my rights…. I have no say as far as the crones are concerned, after all, I am only a man. And they will decide who her husband will be.” he answered as gently as he could. “Only Cash dares to defy the crones, and they have made him pay dearly for it on several occasions.”

Severus winced, turning his head so the vampire wouldn’t see his tears. Rick must have thought he was asleep, but the moment the vampire moved Severus asked him one more thing. “But what if she’s carrying my child?”……..