The sun shone between the crack in the curtains as it set. Venn sat across the table from Reed instead of his usual place at Reed's side, picking at his food. It had been a week since Reed had tied Venn in the basement. Venn was still skittish around Reed, tensing every time he touched a rope or chain and flinching from his touch. Reed had apologized profusely for several days. He had given up on the third day when Venn had snapped and shoved him against a wall, growling like a wolf and threatening to cut out Reed's tongue.

Reed finished his food and gazed across at Venn. "You should eat something." He nodded to Venn's unfinished plate of food. "It'll be a long night."

Venn stabbed his fork into a chunk of broccoli and examined it. "I'm not hungry," he said coldly.

Reed almost pointed out that Venn had barely eaten anything in a couple days, but bit his tongue. The last thing he needed was to make his sidekick angry as well as suspicious and wary. "It's a pity Mrs. Hearth couldn't give us more information on the haunting. You say you couldn't find anything more on it today?"

Venn shook his head. "Just that her husband was shot in a hunting accident. Nothing spectacular. He wasn't even buried nearby." After a pause he added sharply, "But I told you that yesterday."

Reed winced, the tone of Venn's words stung. It had been like this all week. Everything directed at Reed outside of client interviews had been biting, cruelly sarcastic, or generally cold. It was frankly a miracle he hadn't quit yet, and Reed wasn't about to bring it up.

As always, Venn offered no apology. He set down his fork and slid his chair back. "I'll get our gear. The cab should be here any minute."

Reed nodded sullenly, withdrawing back into himself. He watched Venn stalk away. He bowed his head after Venn disappeared downstairs. He rubbed his eyes and groaned quietly. He was exhausted. He honestly didn't know if this case would be safe for him with his levels of tiredness. He leaned his forehead into his hands with a sigh.

A few minutes later, the honking of the night cab jolted Reed out of a doze. He got up slowly and stretched.

Venn came up the stairs with two packs. He thrust one into Reed's arms as he walked past. The pack was heavy and Reed would have dropped it if he hadn't been expecting it.

Neither of the two said a word until they got in the taxi. Reed leaned forward and gave the driver the address. As they pulled away from their house, Reed prepared himself mentally for the hostile silence coming from Venn. It would be a long ride.

They arrived at the farm at around ten o'clock, much later than Reed would have liked. Before they even got out of the night cab, they could see a weak green light coming from inside the barn. It faded when the cab pulled to a stop.

Venn got out quickly while Reed paid the driver. After a minute, Reed climbed out. They looked at each other and Reed took the opportunity to search for any sign of forgiveness in Venn's expression. He found none.

As before, neither spoke as they approached the barn. They could have gone in to talk with Mrs. Hearth, but the waiting would have only made the ghost stronger.

Cows mooed inside the barn. They didn't sound particularly agitated, but neither boy could really tell. Reed had limited experience with cows and he hadn't exactly made one mad on purpose just to know what it was like.

Venn gestured to the door, drawing his rapier with his other hand. "Your turn. I did that wardrobe a couple days ago."

Reed didn't complain. Opening that wardrobe would have meant death for Venn if the pair of them hadn't been immune to ghost touch. He stepped up to the door and took the handle in both hands. "Be ready."

Venn dropped into a fighting stance. He gave Reed a sharp nod, the kind of professional nod he used to give when he had first been hired. It cut straight to Reed's heart and made him turn his attention quickly to the door.

The hinges whined loudly as Reed hauled the heavy door open. Nothing leaped out at them, but when Reed looked through the door, he stood there in silence.

Venn stalked up behind him and elbowed Reed. "Hey, snap out of it." He looked into the barn and raised an eyebrow. "Is that... a cow?"

Reed nodded slowly. "Uh huh. Yep. That's a cow."

Venn made an odd expression and nodded. "Huh. That's interesting."

"Yeeep."

The two stood in the doorway looking at the cow. It had green ghost fog swirling around it. The eyes were as black as Venn's. It stood as tall as Reed's shoulder and was very heavy. It looked over at them.

"Well... this is not at all what I expected..." Venn said. He stepped slowly into the barn on silent feet with Reed right behind. He glanced around, looking for anything that might be a Source.

The cow snorted and took a step toward the pair. If a cow could look murderous, this cow managed it. It opened it's mouth and spoke in a low voice. "Let's go fishing."

Venn blinked. "Fishing... well that makes it easier to find the Source. Theres fishing tackle around here somewhere."

Reed raised an eyebrow. "You're not going to question the talking cow."

"It's a ghost. What were you expecting?"

Reed sighed and drew his rapier. "I'll distract it. You find the source."

Venn didnt object like he normally would have. Instead, he looked around the barn. It was dark, lit only by the dim other light from the cow. There were four stalls on each wall, they had clearly been empty for quite some time. Something glittered weakly on the rafters high above their heads. There was a room in the back right corner of the barn that was closed off. The cow stood between the stalls, blocking the way to the room.

Venn looked up. "I'll go up if you can get to that room back there."

It wasn't lost on Reed that Venn would normally have offered to go for the back room. He nodded though, not wanting to start a fight. "Sure. Move fast."

Without another word, Venn sheathed his sword and started climbing up one of the stalls. The post he had chosen had become the chosen home of probably a dozen woodpeckers.

As Venn got above head level, the ghost cow charged straight at Reed. Reed swept his sword in a wide arc. It struck the cow, and was stopped by bone.

Reed's surprise at his rapier actually making contact distracted him long enough for the cow to ram its head into his chest. He was thrown back against the barn door, his rapier flew out of his hand. He barely managed to roll aside as the cow kicked at him.

Venn glanced down, looking concerned. He made an effort to climb faster.

Reed struggled to catch his breath as he staggered to his feet. Unfortunately he had rolled in the opposite direction of his rapier. Fortunately, however, he now had a clear shot to the back room.

Reed immediately bolted for it. Something thumped behind him but he didn't look back. He dove through the door and slammed it shut behind him.

The room was completely empty. Not even a table. There were a few pegs on the walls, but nothing hung from them. Reed gazed around for a moment before he realized that he hadn't been followed.

As he flung the door open, Venn shouted in pain. "REED GET OUT HERE!"

Reed was already out of the empty room and looking up. Venn had made it to the rafters. Unfortunately, the ghost was standing above him, now in the form of an old farmer with a straw hat. The rest of the details were lost to distance.

Venn was dangling by one hand. His other hand held his rapier tightly. He waved it at the spirit to keep it back. "A LITTLE HELP WOULD BE NICE!"

Reed cursed. He glanced around and noted a ladder behind a stack of haybales. He rolled his eyes, if Venn had only waited to get back here. He ran for the ladder and started climbing.

He kept glancing over at Venn as he climbed. The ghost had turned away to look at Reed. Venn sheathed his sword and grabbed the beam with his now free hand.

Reed reached the rafters without being stopped. The ghost had stood watching until Reed stepped onto the rafters. Then, it stepped back toward Venn. Venn shouted something in Italian. He pulled himself part way back up.

"The lure! Theres a lure a few steps in front of you!" Venn had taken his eyes off the ghost as he struggled to pull himself back up. "That's got to be the Source!"

The ghost took advantage of Venn's distraction and lunged forward. Reed shouted a warning, pulling out a silver net. The ghost grabbed the front of Venn's shirt and yanked him up into the air. Venn struggled against the ghost, cursing loudly in Italian as the ghost held him out over the drop to the floor.

Reed froze with the silver net in one hand ready to throw over the source. He stared at the ghost. "Venn... dont panic."

Venn cursed, this time directing it at Reed. "Get the Source, Ponytail! Hurry up!"

Reed hesitated. The ghost laughed drily and shook Venn slightly. "Let's go fishing!"

Venn kicked at the ghost. "NOW REED!"

Reed snapped out of his trance and flung the silver net over the lure. The ghost vanished and Venn fell.

Reed almost lost his balance as he leaped down the rafter toward Venn. "VENN!" He leaned over as much as he dared.

Venn fell onto the body of a cow, which Reed hadn't noticed before. The body broke Venn's fall, but Venn still let out a sharp cry of pain. He rolled off the cow, coughing and gasping.

Reed relaxed and returned to the silver net to secure the source.

They returned home around five in the morning. Both were exhausted and frazzled. Venn hadn't broken anything, but he had terrible bruises up his back and he'd sprained his wrist. Reed was fairly sure he had fractured a rib or two when he had hit the door.

Reed collapsed on the couch almost instantly. Venn disappeared downstairs to put their equipment away.

Reed woke up two ours later. He stretched, frowning. His hair felt tight to his head. He opened his eyes and almost jumped in surprise to see Venn lounging near his feet like usual. He held a book with a dark green cover and gold letters that read 'Spirits and Ghosts - Tales of Terror.'

Venn looked over the top of his book as Reed reached up to feel his head. He ran his hands over his hair and stopped when he hit where it was woven together. He pulled his ponytail around to look and found that it had been braided tightly and knotted at the end. Reed looked up into Venn's smirking face.

That was all Reed needed to see before a grin spread across his face. "Good to have you back, Venn."

Venn grimaced and ran a hand through his hair. "Hey, let's not reference that... yeah?"

Reed nodded and started working at the tangled knot at the end of his braid. "Reference what?" He asked innocently.

Venn gave him a grateful smile and for the first time in a week, the silence between them was comfortable.