Harper just laughed and sat on the couch. "A deal then. It could be a date but it would be a strange date. Sadly, not the worst I've been on." Harper was entertaining himself.

Anders sat beside him and laughed. "Me either. I have been on worse."

Harper's eyes fell to his tattoos. He was curious. "How many do you have?"

"Oh. Tattoos." He held out both of his arms. "A lot. I'm not sure I ever counted. What do you think?" He wanted Harper's opinion.

"Uh. At first, I thought it was too much but I like them." Harper had the urge to touch them. He wanted to run his fingers down his arms. "It's you. You're not like some people. They get tattoos to prove that they are different. The tattoos don't fit their personality. They're trying to be something they aren't. They try too hard."

"You don't do that. I like that." Harper lost the battle and touched Anders' arm. He traced a tattoo and then another. He wasn't ready to stop touching him. His skin was hard and cold but Harper found that normal. He was used to Eve but this was different because he was ready to tackle this vampire to the couch.

"So, are you saying you like me?" Anders couldn't help but ask. He cleared his throat twice. He took a deep breath. Harper was touching him and he almost melted through the couch.

Harper's hand slid down Anders' arm and almost to his hand and back up. His arm was sleeved out but there were pretty designs and all in black ink. Harper was relieved that there was no names or faces on his arm. No ex lovers or current lovers or anything like that. Well, his right arm anyway. Harper wanted to inspect his left one but maybe later if he got the chance.

Harper pulled his hand away. "No. I don't like you but I like that you know who you are." Harper smiled and bumped him with his shoulder.

"Right. I don't like you either." Anders wanted to kiss him. Touch him any way that he would allow. "So, an accountant, huh?" He wanted to get under Harper's skin again. Anders was uncomfortable and he wanted to make sure Harper was also.

"Does it bother you that I'm an accountant?"

Anders laughed.

"What?"

"I might enjoy how different we are." Anders was amused. He liked thinking about their differences.

"Oh, well, I love that too. I like that. I like being attracted to someone that is different. I enjoy being different. I'm always different from the people I talk to. Mostly vampires and werewolves. Well, were-people. Not all of them are wolves." Harper was kicking himself for being an idiot. He had nowhere to hide. They were on a bus. "Not that I'm attracted to you!"

"Relax. I know what you meant. You're attracted to me because I am your exact opposite!" Anders felt like making it worse.

Harper gasped and turned red. He looked at his shoes. "No. That isn't what I meant."

"What, you aren't attracted to me at all?" Anders said in a very 1-900 voice. Very sexy deep voice.

"I know what you're doing. It won't work." Harper straightened. "No. I have no interest in you whatsoever."

"Oh. That's a shame." Anders tried to sound deflated. "You were staring awfully hard at my ass as I was walking away earlier. What was that? Shopping for jeans?" He couldn't help but tease Harper. He loved watching him blush.

"What? I was not looking at your ass!" Harper was lying now. "I hate you!" They were on a bus. Nowhere to hide. He had to hold his own with this man. "Fine. Maybe we should go to the back room and work out our frustrations!"

It was Anders' turn to stare. "What?" He was sweating now.

Harper just laughed. "Good. Now you are just as uncomfortable as I am. I think we're even."

Anders had an urge to tackle Harper and hold him against something with his body. He's human. Stay away. He was losing that battle. This wasn't ending here. His eyes flashed all black. "That is a tempting offer!"

Harper squealed as Anders jumped on him. This was a mistake because Anders was lying on top of Harper now. Anders wanted to. Just a little. Harper inhaled sharply and his heart was racing. Anders' face was close to Harper's face. His body was pressing Harper to the couch. Harper had goosebumps and he was putty.

"Anders." Harper whispered.

"Harper. Sorry. I should probably..." Anders should move and speak a full sentence. If his heart still beat, it would fly out of his chest onto the floor. Maybe it would float away. He hated himself.

Harper just stared at Anders. His eyes were black and he could see his fangs. Harper looked at Anders' lips. They were fantastic. Harper knew he would be an amazing lover. Kisser. Anders could kiss him like no man ever could. Or would. He would know what to do and how to make Harper's body sing. It was already warming up. Harper wanted Anders to hunt him down and not hold back.

"Hey, lovers, we're here! Time to get off the man and get ready to rock some faces off!" Charlie smiled at the couple on the couch. He hated to interrupt them. Well, no he didn't. He was torn. Anders had never been like this with anyone, and certainly never with a human. He wanted to see if they were going to kiss but they did have a concert to get ready for.

Anders was standing with vampire speed and Harper almost fell off the couch. Damn it. He could still feel Harper's body against his. He wanted to do something about that and soon.

They were going to finish whatever that was just to get it out of his system. Harper was going to say something to defend himself but there was nothing. That was what it looked like. He hated that he wanted more. Harper definitely wanted more of Anders. All of him. He could feel Anders' lips on his lips and Anders hadn't kissed him.

Concert. Right. Anders had work to do.

Harper inhaled. "I should call Zane and check in. I need to get a hold of Hale also. Find out what is going on. See if there is any more news." He was thinking out loud and he needed something to do and he was trying to jump start his brain.

"Okay. We're going to be in the back room doing some practice when you're done come on in. Okay?" Charlie looked at Harper then at Anders and winked.

Anders looked at Harper. How was Harper all business right now? Anders' body was still trying to recover.

"Oh. I don't want to interrupt or be in the way. I know you have a routine and I don't want to disrupt it." Harper looked at Charlie. He was easier to look at.

Charlie smiled. "We don't have a routine, Harper. You're not disrupting us. Just the one that could use a little disruption." He winked at Harper and Anders growled.

Harper glared at Charlie and wanted to smile but fought the urge.

"Okay, I have done enough damage. Be in the back. You have five minutes." Charlie walked down the hall and Harper heard the door close.

"Well." Anders cleared his throat. "I'll sit with you while you call your men." He sat beside Harper.

"They are not my men." Harper galred at Anders

"Just call them." Ander's smirked. "I told you I'm not leaving your side until I know you're safe." Anders reminded Harper. Anders may not want to even after that. He had to calm down. He could still feel Harper's body and he was trying very hard not to attack and kiss him like he wanted to.

Do not attack the human. Right.

Harper pulled out his newest burner and dialed. Hale answered in a hurry. "It's me. Anything."

"Hey. I didn't order any pizza. Sorry, you must have the wrong number." Hale sounded worried and hung up. Harper didn't hesitate. He dialed a different number.

"Harper, Damn it. Internal Affairs is in the office going through everyone's files. I have no idea what's happening. The Center council is looking for Eve. They are searching hard. They interviewed me yesterday. You are safe because they don't know about you. You're human and inconsequential anyway. Sorry. They think you are inconsequential."

"The East council is in deep shit. They didn't report Eve missing and they are being interrogated. So far, they have nothing. I do know people are lying. Someone is covering something up. I just don't know what. It's all very fishy." Hale was whispering and talking fast. He had to relate everything he knew.

"The Central Council is asking tough questions and no one is safe. I'm not going to mention you because I know you didn't do anything to Eve. Some of the East Council looks very shady and they are being detained for now. I don't know but I will find out and talk to you."

"Okay."

"All I know is stay hidden. Wherever you are, stay there and don't tell me. I love you, Doll. Stay safe." Hale was gone.

"Shit." That was Anders' response. "I guess you're stuck with me."

"Too bad." Harper tried to sound sarcastic but it didn't work. Anders smiled at Harper and he dialed Zane's cell phone.

"Mr. Xactore. I was hoping you would call. I searched for that...Harper. This is you, right?" Zane wanted to be sure.

"Yes. Hi, Zane. What did you find out?" Harper asked.

"Did you find that hot singer! I looked him up. Holy shit, you are lucky if you get to hang out with him. He is just sexy! Oh, don't tell Smith that I said that." Smith was Zane's husband. "He looks intelligent. I bet he's interesting to talk to but even if he's dumb as a bag of hammers who would need conversation with a beefcake like that!"

"Zane. Shut up. What did you find out about that file I sent you?" Harper asked. He blushed. "I sent him a picture of the memory stick."

"Who are you talking to?" Zane asked.

Anders leaned closer to the phone and touched Harper's forehead with his because he wanted to. "The beefcake." Anders answered. He could hear Zane having a panic attack. Anders smiled and he was thrilled because Harper didn't move.

Harper looked at Anders and then back to the phone. "Zane. Focus." Harper didn't have much longer. He was trying to keep the conversations short. The shorter the better.

"Sorry, boss. So sorry. Right. The file. It fits a very special, specific type of encrypted computer. They are pricey and have to be pre-ordered. They are not for everyone just to have one. I sent you a couple of things and they are encrypted as ordered. This is fun by the way. I feel like a spy. James Bond or something. I could be the first gay James Bond!" Zane cleared his throat. "Sorry. Don't worry. I already wiped the computer and scrambled the signal. Smith helped out."

"Thanks, Zane. I have to go. Watch your back." Harper warned.

"Quiet here so far. Be careful and kiss the beefcake for all of mankind!" Zane chuckled and was gone.

"I hate him." Harper stared at the phone.

Anders took the phone and crushed it. He smiled at Harper. "So, you talked about me?"

Harper's eyes got big. "No. I...needed a search done." He realized Anders was probably Zane's background on his computer.

Anders glared. "You had him search me?"

Harper sighed. "I didn't know who was safe. Don't worry. Zane knows how to cover his tracks. I...that was before..." Harper stood up to get away from Anders.

Anders put his head in his hands and sighed. Harper was human and he had a rule. No humans. He never dated them or had any relationship with them. He was having a tough time not doing everything to Harper. This human. Shit, He wasn't even thinking about him as a human anymore. Anders needed some distance.

"Don't you have practice to get to?" Harper reminded him. Anders was sitting on the couch with his hands over his face.

Anders stood up. "Damn it. Yes. Come on. You're not leaving my side. You understand that, right." Anders demanded. He took Harper's hand and dragged him to the back room. Anders pulled Harper to a chair beside Krista. "Stay."

"I'm not some dog to be bossed around!" Harper resisted the stay comment.

Anders just looked at him and shook his head. Harper was tough for a human but Anders was ready to kick the crap out of him or kiss him. Maybe just kiss him. He just cleared his throat and ignored Harper.

"Don't worry. We will keep you safe." Krista promised. She thought it was sweet that Anders was so protective of Harper. A human.

"Thanks. I don't want to get anyone killed. I don't think I'm worth that much effort." Harper teased. "I hope this is over soon so I can get out of your way and you can get back to normal."

Lee smiled. This was going to be fun. Not for Anders. "Oh, sweetie. You have disrupted our normal to that point of no return and we are grateful!" He winked at Harper. "Some of us may never let you go."

Harper blushed.

"Just play the damn music." Anders growled.

Charlie chuckled and started the practice. There was no singing. Anders was saving his voice. He sipped water. Harper smiled because he knew this song. He could hear the words even though no one was singing. Someone slipped something on his head and he ducked.

"Earphones. You can hear what they are playing to. I don't sing in practice between gigs. It saves my voice. Oh, we are trying a new song tonight. Charlie wrote it." Anders smiled. He had earphones on and one was slid off his right ear. "Listen."

"Oh. Thanks." Harper just stared at Anders and put on the earphones. He could hear Anders screaming at a woman. Harper loved this song. He had to fight not to sing along.

The band practiced and started over a couple times, fixing and tweaking parts of songs. Charlie wanted it to be perfect. Anders was mouthing words and reading over new lyrics as they practiced the new song.

Harper realized that Anders really loved to sing. He thought that was weird. It was contrary to how Anders looked. This was a slow ballad. It was beautiful and Harper wondered when he recorded this. Harper almost closed his eyes to listen but stopped himself. He loved that voice.

Anders watched Harper for his reaction to the new song. He watched him close his eyes a couple of times and smile. Anders could tell Harper liked the song.

Harper looked up and their eyes locked. He didn't want to look away. Harper looked down and back up at Anders. He was still staring at Harper and Harper stared back and smiled. Anders smiled. Charlie looked at Lee and Krista. They all nodded. Anders was in love.