Zane was taken to Hale's office for questioning. They just needed a statement on record. Charlie followed and stood outside the office waiting. He wasn't leaving Zane. He sigh because he knew he was in trouble.

"It's pretty simple" Zane was holding an ice pack wrapped in a soft towel. His face was sore but he was happy to be alive and he owed that to the hot vampire.

"Smith called me and asked me to meet him at a restaurant. I ordered a drink because he was running late. The next thing I know is that I'm handcuffed and tied to a chair with a monster headache."

"I found out that my marriage was just for show. He had been spying on us for a year and the only reason he married me is so I wouldn't get suspicious." Zane took a breath and a drink of water. He was a little dehydrated.

"Smith was delivering information to Nero the whole time in return for becoming a vampire. What a dick! I think it was a waste because we didn't do anything with any councils. We have clients that are in the councils but it was nothing to do with the videos. We didn't even know about them."

"Eve did but she didn't share that information with us until she knew she was about to be caught. She had been spying on Nero for some time and they were catching on. Smith told me that much but I didn't get any more information out of him. I do know it was just select members and not all of them."

Zane took a breath and drank some more water. "Take your time. I know you have been through a lot. How are you feeling?" Hale asked.

"Thanks." Hale gave him another water and took the empty one. He was going to need food too. Hale would get him back to Jack's and get him fed. "I'm okay. I'm relieved that I didn't die! Thanks for the rescue, Hale. I'm happy that Harper has good friends."

Zane took another breath. "So, they thought that I knew more about that memory stick and when I didn't, they used me as bait and a pon for bargaining." Zane was pissed and hurt. He cursed Smith and divorced him several times in his head.

The enforcers released Zane to Hale and Charlie. They took Zane to Jack's house to rest.

Zane didn't remember much about the ride to Jack's or the walk up the stairs but he remembered the bed. It was soft and big. He sunk in and slept. He jolted awake and hadn't realized he even fell asleep.

"Easy. Just brought you some food." Charlie smiled a worried smile at Zane.

"Shit!" Zane sat up and ran his hand through his hair. "Stupid dream." He rubbed his face, which hurt and dropped his hands.

Zane dreamed that Smith was running at him with fangs. Now, the hot vampire was in his room.

"I didn't mean to wake you. I don't want you to starve." Charlie looked at the food on the tray and then at Zane. He sat the tray on the side table and sat on the bed facing Zane.

"I'm sorry about your husband. I am." He didn't feel terrible because he killed Smith. He just felt bad for Zane and he would kill Smith again if he was given the chance.

Zane smiled and looked at his hands. "I...I owe you a thank you." He sighed. "You killed Smith, right?"

Charlie nodded and looked in Zane's eyes. His right eye was swollen a little and black just under it. The left one was bruised all the way around. His left cheek was bruised and he had a cut on his lip. Charlie was happy to sit on the side of the bed next to Zane. Charlie looked into Zane's pretty blue eyes.

"I'm sorry. Yes. I'm the one who killed..." He was interrupted because Zane dove on him and planted a kiss on his mouth. Charlie kissed him back because he couldn't resist. When a man kisses you, you kiss him back. It would be rude not to, right?

Zane backed up and blushed. He knew his face was red. He was sure that he blushed. "Shit! Sorry. I just wanted to say thanks."

Charlie laughed. "I got that and you're welcome." He looked at Zane and just stared.

Zane studied Charlie. He was very handsome, if that was still a thing. Sexy. Charlie had long dark hair that he pulled back and stormy green eyes. When he smiled his whole face smiled and his eyes lit up. Zane just wanted to look at him.

"Don't feel bad. I wanted to kill him but I wasn't in the shape to, so thanks for the assistance." Zane smiled and looked at his hands again. "That stupid bastard." Charlie saw the red marks for the handcuffs around his wrists.

"Remind me not to get on your bad side." Charlie teased. "Good to know what your limit is." He watched Zane.

Zane was beautiful. He was tall and muscular. He had pretty blue eyes and light blond hair that was short and spiked on top. Charlie looked at his hands. His fingers were long and elegant. All of Zane's limbs were long. He had a few freckles on his nose and Charlie liked that. They were light and hardly noticeable.

"My limit is someone trying to kill me."

Charlie smiled. "Noted. Don't try to kill you. Got it." Zane had tears. Charlie touched his beaten and bruised face. He gently wiped the tears with his thumb.

He cradled Zane's face gently in his hands. "I would kick the shit out of anyone that tried to hurt you." Charlie promised.

Zane laughed and more tears fell. Charlie leaned in and kissed his face. He couldn't stop himself. Zane closed his eyes and sighed. Charlie kissed both of Zane's eyes and his lips. Zane kissed him back and the kiss deepened. Zane sighed again and Charlie let go and backed away. He looked into Zane's blue eyes and opened his mouth to say something but the words got stuck.

There was a knock on the door and Harper gently opened the door. "Sorry to interrupt but I need to check on Zane."

Harper knew he was picking a terrible time to visit. He closed the door and sat on the other side of Zane. Charlie had backed away when he heard Harper knock. Harper hugged Zane hard.

"Ouch. Too hard!" Zane hurt. "I think that some ribs are bruised, at the very least. Have you been working out?" He stared at Harper.

Harper smiled. "No, I'm a vampire. It's a long story. How are you? That's a stupid question. Sorry. I am so sorry!" He shed a tear as more pooled in his eyes.

"I'll live thanks to..." He looked at the man next to him. He just realized he didn't know his name.

"Charlie." Charlie introduced himself. "Hi." He smiled.

"Zane." Zane smiled back. "Hello." Zane turned red. He had kissed this man and didn't even know his name. They both laughed. "Right. Thanks to Charlie."

They were just looking at each other. Harper took that as his cue to leave. They never noticed. He shook his head and went to tell Anders. Anders was going to make this tough on Charlie. This was going to be fun.

"Sorry. I don't normally kiss random men." Zane explained as the door closed. "I can't believe I did that. That was so inappropriate."

Charlie smiled. "I haven't kissed a man in a long time." He watched Zane. They both laughed for no reason. Zane felt stupid.

"But you do kiss men?" Zane asked and shook his head. That was terrible.

Charlie smiled. "Clearly, I do, but it's been awhile since I had a date. I try to stay busy." He looked at the food on the tray. "You better eat before Anders comes in and makes me leave for distracting you."

"I can't have that, can I?" Zane smiled. He took the bowl of soup from Charlie and began to eat. Charlie propped up a couple of pillows for Zane to lean on. The soup was perfect.

"Thanks, Charlie." Zane said as Charlie finished fussing over the pillows. "Cream of mushroom is good for my sore face." He didn't have to chew. "I will have to cut out kissing until my face heals."

Charlie looked concerned. "That's a damn shame." He could still feel Zane's lips on his. It felt as though they were tattooed there.

Zane nodded and finished his soup in silence. He was afraid he would say something stupid and very inappropriate. He was already being inappropriate and didn't need encouragement.

"You sure can take a punch!" Charlie was impressed and needed to change the subject. Smith hit hard.

"Hey, just because I'm gay doesn't make me a pussy!" Zane assured him.

Charlie laughed. "Noted. That's good to know."

"Which part, taking a beating or the gay part?" Zane thought he should clarify.

"Gay. The gay part is good news." Charlie smiled and gently touched Zane's lips to his. "Very good news. I don't want to hit you. Ever. Now, eat." Charlie wanted to make sure Zane ate the grilled cheese also.

Charlie cleared the dishes once Zane finished eating and was going to leave Zane to rest. Zane grabbed Charlie's arm. "Hey. I'm coming right back. I promise. Rest or Harper will fire both of us." He smiled and touched Zane's hand and gave it a light squeeze. He knew that Zane was too scared to sleep or be alone right now.

The dream was back and darker. Zane woke up with a scream in his throat. He stopped the scream and was breathing heavily. Someone had arms around him and he sank into them and closed his eyes. He slept dreamlessly and woke up still wrapped in Charlie.
"Thanks for staying." Zane whispered. He noticed it was still dark outside. He had no idea what time it was. Hell, he didn't even know what day it was.

"Welcome. I had nothing better to do." Charlie teased.

Zane smiled. "That's just sad."

Charlie chuckled. "Right!" He held Zane tighter and Zane sighed. That didn't help. Charlie closed his eyes. He was in deep shit. He couldn't imagine hurting Zane. "Harper's worried about you so you may want to venture downstairs soon and see him. He doesn't want to disturb you."

Zane sighed. "He's a sweet person." He rubbed Charlie's arms. He liked touching Charlie. "I'm glad you don't think like him."

Charlie nodded. "Me too. So, you want to go out and get some dinner when you can eat or when Harper allows you to go out? We can talk?"

"Nice segway." Zane teased.

"I thought it was smooth." Charlie smiled and heard Zane laugh.

Zane shook his head and turned to look at Charlie. "Real smooth." He watched Charlie smile. "Well, I'm a widower now, sure, why not."

"Don't get too excited. "'Sure, why not!'" He did his best impression of Zane. "Hey, I'm a catch!" Charlie smiled at Zane. He was defending himself.

Zane smiled and agreed. Charlie was a catch. He was sexy. Tattooed and muscled. Pierced. Zane was feeling better. He was quiet and thought back to the fight. He saw Charlie. He knew he was a vampire and he watched the vampire kill Smith. The enemy. What happened to his world?

Charlie noticed that Zane was quiet. "Uh, you okay?"

"Oh, I was thinking about...reliving it, really. So, you're a vampire." Zane stated. It was stupid to ask that.

Charlie shifted. He was nervous. "Yes. Does that bother you?"

Zane thought about that for a moment. No, it didn't bother him. He never felt safer. "No. Anyone that looks like you, could be an alien and I would be attracted and sooo not bothered." Zane was entertaining himself.

Charlie laughed at that answer. "Good. I would hate to stalk you like a weirdo. I'm sorry that you were married to a dick. I would never...sorry." Charlie cleared his throat.

"What? You would never what?" Zane had to know what Charlie would never do.

Charlie looked worried. "Tie you to a chair and punch you." Charlie finished and flinched.

"Uh, thanks. Good to know." He smiled at Charlie.

"There are other things I would tie you to but not a chair!" Charlie smiled as he commented.

Zane laughed. "Don't tease me, Charlie, or make me laugh, my face hurts."

"Just wait until you feel better, Zane." Charlie threatened. "We better leave this room before I do something stupid." He wanted to stay in bed with Zane.

"Right. I've had enough surprises for one day. When I feel better I'm taking you up on that offer. We can be stupid together." Zane smiled at Charlie as he helped him up. Zane grunted just a little.

His ribs were killing him. He took a couple of punches in the ribs. Charlie looked at Zane and kissed his forehead. It was the only part that wasn't bruised or swollen. Zane closed his eyes and sighed. Charlie wrapped his arms around Zane and they just stood there. This was what Zane needed right now.

"Thanks." Zane whispered.

"Any time. I wish I could say I was just being nice." Charlie smiled into Zane's hair.

Zane chuckled and melted into Charlie. "Right. Who said I needed you to be nice?"

"Shit!" Charlie cursed and backed away, giving them just a little space. "What am I doing?"

Zane shook his head. "I don't know. Flirting with an injured human. I just figured this was your thing."

"No. I...I really don't date very often. I work a lot even when we're not touring. I write a lot of the music and stay busy. I don't spend a lot of time with humans. Well, I don't spend a lot of time with vampires either." Charlie touched Zane's arm and slid his hand up to his shoulder and down to his hand. "I don't know why I want to touch you. This is ridiculous."

"Hey, I agree. Touch away. I will not complain." Zane smiled and blushed. He looked down and shook his head. "What was that?" He looked up at Charlie. "When I first saw you, I don't know. I got goosebumps and when you growled at Smith, I damn near melted into a pile of goo on the floor. What was that?"

Charlie took his hand away from Zane. "Uh, I don't know. I was pissed when I saw you tied up and bruised. When Smith punched you, I almost lost my mind. I don't know. I have this strong need to protect you."

"I didn't even leave the room to take your dishes to the kitchen. I set them in the hall and yelled for Anders. When I turned around you were already asleep, so I slid in beside you as creepy as possible." Charlie smiled.

"Great. Thanks for that. I keep having hideous dreams. I was happy to wake up in your arms. It's weird because I knew it was you before I opened my eyes." Zane stared at Charlie.

Charlie was silent and stepped to Zane, closing the gap. "I can find out and let you know, if you care."

He touched Zane's less bruised cheek. Slid his hand to the back of his neck and gently pulled him in for a very gentle kiss. Zane didn't argue and didn't want it to stop. Zane kissed Charlie a little harder and moaned. Charlie backed away a little.

"You okay?" He didn't want to hurt Zane.

"Shut up." Zane demanded and leaned back in to finish the kiss while Charlie smiled. It was Charlie's turn to moan as Zane deepened the kiss and wrapped himself around Charlie.

Anders was talking to his dad since they were waiting for Zane to wake up. Humans took longer to heal and Anders was worried. His dad told him everything. How he got started and how he met Eve. Harper was destroyed about Eve and Krista was keeping him company. Anders needed some father/son time.