Don had gotten home in the early afternoon and promptly fell asleep, waking up for a few hours later, grabbed some food from his fridge that wasn’t growing a new life form, then promptly went back to sleep.
By morning he felt human again.
Though he wondered how long that would last, well the being ‘human’ part.
After an extra long shower, Don took his time getting ready, putting on one of his best suits. It was when he grabbed his expensive cologne, he realized he was primping. With a sigh, he still put on some of his cologne and then left his apartment, the one he had gotten after the break up with Tanya. It was actually closer to the precinct so he could take the subway, instead of trying to drive in.
By the time he got to his desk, at least a half a dozen cops stopped him to ask how Taylor and Messer were doing, some were legitly concerned a few were looking for gossip to feed the rumor mills. He gave them the standard, ‘they’re fine, should be back in today … any word on Sassone?’
He settled at his desk, growling at the paperwork that doubled in size overnight. With a sigh, he started up his computer, and went to hunt for coffee. When he got back to his desk, he found Blade sitting next to it, trying to act casual in a room full of cops. Well at least he left the weapons at home.
“What are you doing here?” He asked, as he sat back down.
“Came into check on the kids.” He gave him a smile, then turned serious. “Hannibal landed early this morning. I let him know where you were at, so he may stop by the precinct. Might be the best way to meet him again after all this time.”
“At my work?” Don gave him an incredulous look. “I also could be out on a call, murders don’t stop for returning Mates.”
“Would you rather he show up at your apartment?” Blade shrugged. “At least here he’ll be calm, you likely don’t remember but Hannibal can be hyper, also talks a lot.”
“Why didn’t you meet him at the airport?” Don asked, wondering if there was a problem he didn’t know about. “Did you two have a falling out?”
“No. He’s my Childe and I have a lot of respect for him stepping away all these years.” He paused for a moment. “It couldn’t have been easy, but we all agreed he needed time away from New York, and what he’s been doing is important. It’s just Hannibal isn’t someone that people take to easily, he’s loud, obnoxious and …”
“Dude way to wax lyrical about my best attributes.”
Both men jerked towards the new voice.
Blade actually did a double take. The man standing before him, wasn’t the kid that left New York. Hannibal was more settled in himself, fitter, looked every inch the deadly Hunter he always wanted to be. The suit was rumpled, but the quality was high end. The hair was neat, as was the beard. “Who the hell knocked your ass into respectability?”
Hannibal’s laughter grabbed everyone’s attention. “I told Paul someone would ask that.”
“Who’s Paul?” Don asked curiously, not sure what the sudden rush of emotion was, that had gone through him.
“A friend.” He opened his arms wide at Blade. “Come on man you know you want to, just to feel up all my nice muscles.”
Blade rolled his eyes, but it was nice to know the elements of Hannibal he knew were still there, it was what made him Hannibal. He actually gave in, and stepped into the hug. He had missed him more than he realized. He patted him on the back, noticing the very distinct muscles, he had come along way from the scrawny kid he met out west. “Your looking good.”
“Damn right! I didn’t spend the past ten years getting my ass handed to me by tiny assassin to not look this good.” He turned towards Don, a softer smile on his face. “Hi, Don.”
“Do I need to worry about this Paul?” He asked then promptly groaned, wanting nothing but to start this day over.
After he had left Mac and Danny’s he had called his Mom to tell her that Hannibal was coming back to New York. She had been so excited on the phone, then made sure he understood they would support him no matter what his decision was.
‘What if he doesn’t want me?’
‘Honey you’re his Mate, he’s stayed away for 30 years to let you have a life. Accepting the fact you could’ve got married, had kids and want nothing to do with him.’ She had that mom tone, the one that demands you listen because you’re being a moron. ‘You have the power in this relationship. If you still decided that being a Vampire isn’t what you want and said no, he has to walk away.’
‘But if he found someone to be with in those years.’
‘You going to hold it against him for finding comfort, while you dated?’
‘No… but what if he wants to be with them and not me?’
‘Honey if he did, he wouldn’t be coming back to New York.’ She sighed then hung up on him, indicating she was done with his stupidity.
Hannibal stared at him with the sappiest smile. “No, believe me no. Paul is a good friend, a really good friend who has had my back, as I’ve had his. But believe me when I say, I’m here for you.” He motioned towards Blade. “Believe everything he said. I am annoying, I can admit that, but I’m also dedicated and if anyone hurts you, I’ll kill them.”
“Don’t say that in a room full of cops.” Don shook his head, but couldn’t help the flush and laughter that came with the comment. “I just started work, and well Blade can tell you what’s been happening and I’ve got a lot of paperwork.”
“How about dinner?” He glanced around to see everyone watching them, then gave him a smirk as he waggled his eyebrows. “Though I may have outed us, I can play this anyway you like.”
“I’ll text you, may need dinner brought in.” Don glanced around the room, then lowered his voice. Last thing he needed was rumors starting around the precinct. “Mind being an old friend from school, and we’ll work from there.”
“Sure where did we go to school?” He sat on the desk giving him an exaggerated wink, as he played with the pencils. “How about, I’m an old friend of the family, in town to catch up and see how things are going. You can tell everyone I’m just a big flirt, who flirts with anything that moves. Isn’t that right Eric.”
Blade shook his head, though wondering where Hannibal was going with this conversation. “I mentioned the annoyingness.”
“Yes you did, you asshole.” Hannibal gave him a glare, then smiled sweetly at Don. “I’ll come by with some food, need to stake out the good food joints.” He then looked around the precinct, voice rose slightly. “Okay where’s the good take out locations. I’ve got to feed my boy here.”
“Who the fuck are you?” One of the cops gave him a deadly glare.
Hannibal waggled his eyebrows at him. “Old family friend from out of town, why you need a date?” A few of the cops laughed. “So food joints? I’ve been in Singapore for a few years need some good American food.”
That got the place talking about the local restaurants, who had the best sandwiches, ribs, hamburgers … Hannibal turned to Don and gave him another wink, that was even more exaggerated than the first one. “See you later.”
He snagged at least ten post it notes with local numbers and addresses, and at least two personal numbers. “So if I bring you guys food, will you get me a job? Or just be typical men, and use me for my take out skills?”
A few tossed some paper at him, others laughed. Don sat back and wondered how the hell he did it, he went from the odd one in the room, to the cops already treating him like one of their own. As he left, he winked at least one, hit up on another and blew a kiss to the Captain as he wandered into the chaos.
No one was talking about Don, or the fact he technically had a date later that evening. “Oh, he’s good.”
“Yeah.” Blade smiled as Hannibal, made his way out of the precinct, making sure the focus was on him and not on his future Mate. While discovering which cops he would have to watch, ones that he could trust, and those he would just ignore. Blade would have to find this Paul, and thank him. “He’s really that good.”
Good chapter!
—Naj 🙂