Nikki approached the room housing the divergent group with trepidation. They'd want to know where she'd been and why, and she simply wasn't ready to tell them. Inhaling slowly to try and calm her nerves she slipped through the open door.

The atmosphere that greeted her was everything she'd expected; tense, hostile and prickly.

The family room was the most intact space in the house. The windows still held on to the glass and the furniture, although musty and worn remained dry and useable. Two sofas set at a right angle to one another claimed the farthest walls, separated by a small coffee table. A threadbare rug in the center of the room covered the floor, hiding the scruffy floorboards and adding a little warmth to the neglected space.

The giant fireplace, which proudly commanded centre stage, was full of debris and no longer useable. Half the mantle had given way and now blocked the chimney but it was still impressive to look at. Nikki had once tried to clear it but as soon as she moved anything the whole lot had threatened to cave in.

The two Guardians were resting on the sofas with their Charges and Nikki took the opportunity to quickly appraise the two humans. Joanne, a tiny, frightened slip of a woman had her knees pulled to her chest and her large green eyes glued to Ezekius. It was obvious she was terrified and who could blame her? It had been a long, frightening night.

The man chatting to Sam seemed much more at ease with the situation. His brown hair was styled in a way that showed he took time with his appearance. He was good looking but Nikki got the sense he knew it. Nate was polished as opposed to Sam who was scruffy but effortlessly gorgeous.

"Nikki."

Dipping her head she acknowledged Josh but declined to go to him.

Confusion crossed his face as he found himself once again caught between his loyalties. He wanted to go to Nikki and hold her tight but he was unable to leave Joanne. She was suffering heavily with shock and she needed him the most. Turning away from the woman he loved he returned to his Charge and busied himself fussing over her.

Sam was making a show of relaxing on the sofa but Nikki didn't buy his act.

"Where did you disappear to?"

"I've already told you, she was sweeping the building to ensure your safety." Ezekius positioned himself at her shoulder in a blatant act of solidarity. "Now if you don't mind, we need to ask you a few questions."

"Me?" Sam was obviously caught off guard.

"Yes. Think hard, have you ever seen a Hunter before tonight?"

"Hell no, and I don't care for your tone."

"You're entirely sure of this?"

"Positive, I had no idea they even existed. Why?"

"Can you discern if he's lying?" Ezekius asked Nikki tersely.

She closed her eyes for a beat hating that they'd been back in her life for less than twelve hours and already the tension and stress was too much to take.

"No, I don't think he's lying."

Pulling her cloak tightly around her frame she shuffled to her usual spot by the window.

Nate eyed her warily and Nikki noted his unease but let it go. It was to be expected, she could just imagine the things Sam had told him about her.

"I asked a question." Sam growled. "Damnit would you two stop with your silent conversations, it's really starting to piss me off."

Nikki's brows shot up and her muscles tensed as she bristled at his words.

"YOU'RE growing weary of it? It's upsetting YOU?" Ezekius spat. "YOU didn't have your voice stolen, you didn't have your humanity dragged out of your skin whilst you screamed silently in agony on the cold floor. I'm so sorry that this is an inconvenience for you Guardian, surely, we must try harder to extend our welcome. After all it WAS us who invited you here."

Impulsively Nikki looked at Josh. His hazel eyes flashed to hers and before she could react he stepped up. "C'mon, we're all on the same side here. Why don't you both dial it down a notch or two?" He glanced back at Nikki, an apologetic smile adorning his beautiful face.

'Thanks,' she mouthed appreciatively as she mentally calmed Ezekius.

"Zeke, please. I'm exhausted and they're scared. Can we just get this over and done with as quickly and easily as possible? I just want to sleep now."

She heard his deep inhale and watched with a mix of gratitude and relief as he nodded. "You're right. This is neither easy nor favourable for any of us."

"No it's not." Josh rushed to agree.

"You need to speak for me, let them know what I'm saying." Nikki felt his resistance but he didn't refuse.

"Nikki wishes me to speak for her... She wants you to know, Sam, that my reaction is down to our fear..." Ezekius scowled and rounded on her. She arched her brow and dared him to contradict her but he couldn't. He tensed his jaw and growled quietly.

"Fear?" Nate voiced his thoughts. "Why are you scared? You're demons."

Josh glowered across the room at the young man gawping at Ezekius. Although he knew what Nate had said was true, he was struggling to accept Nikki's new status.

Across the room Nikki turned. Looking through the dirty glass she took in the gardens as the sun rose to illuminate their unruliness.

"Ah the naivety of youth," she chuckled to herself.

"How ironic that it should be you to make that observation," Ezekius quipped before answering Nate.

"Demons are capable of the same emotions as you, young charge. Most, however, are cripplingly arrogant which more often than not is the cause of their downfall."

"Huh?"

Showing the patience Nikki knew so well, Ezekius fanned out his cloak and sat on an ancient dining chair they used to prop the door closed.

"Demons have just as many foes as you. Especially rogue ones such as myself and Nikki. The demon we faced tonight shows no allegiances. From what we know, they are a separate entity and they strike relentlessly. They do not care for whom you fight, they are merciless in their pursuit. Having watched them for some time we have unearthed a few facts about these formidable creatures. They seem only to hunt at night and they prefer to stay away from heavily populated areas. As witnessed by yourselves, if you are human or Guardian you cannot see them, however, once you know of their existence, their capabilities, you are then able to see them. We don't know why this is."

From her vantage point in the corner, Nikki scanned the room discretely.

Zeke was holding court, with all eyes on him, except for Josh. He flipped his gaze from the demon to his Charge who was fighting sleep in his arms. Her scared eyes leaked silent tears as she clung to Josh so tightly her knuckles turned white.

Burning with jealousy Nikki looked away. She was uneasy with her resentment of the red head but she couldn't fight it. The small woman had taken her place and the green-eyed monster within Nikki wouldn't let that lie.

If you eased her worried mind, Josh wouldn't have to stay so close to her...

The stray thought cut through her jealousy. Nikki moved her eyes to Zeke, suspecting that he may have placed it inside her mind, but he seemed too preoccupied with Sam and Nate to be responsible. Toying with her new idea, Nikki decided that she had little to lose and everything to gain. By helping Joanne she might even gain empathy for her, which in turn, she hoped, would settle some of her envy.

"But what do they do? Why are you so scared?" Nate was still questioning Ezekius and it seemed that Sam was more than happy letting his Charge do the talking.

As casually as she could, Nikki moved to perch on the sofa arm a few feet away from Josh. She caught Joanne stiffen but she soon relaxed as Josh whispered soothing words in to her ear and tightened his hold.

"They kill us. From the few encounters we have had--"

Nikki shuddered at the memories Ezekius' words stirred, earning a concerned scowl from Josh.

"--we think they're an energy parasite. They drain the life force from their victims, not just their blood but their actual life. If you were to believe that demons had souls then I would offer that they feed off them."

Again Nikki shivered, recalling the way a different Hunter had pinned her down and robbed her of sight. Unable to see or scream she had suffered in a prison of dark silence as the monster had pulled all the warmth from her body. Her breathing had sped and she'd struggled to choke the air down into her lungs. Closing her eyes she found herself once again in the wet grass, being pushed into the soft earth whilst the thing crushing her, cruelly tortured her to death. It took her a moment to realise that the cold hand gripping her arm was not that of the Hunter but of her faithful friend Zeke.

"Nikki had a particularly frightening encounter with one, but she's recovering well."

Pulled back in to the room, Nikki looked around to see all eyes on her. She lowered her chin and turned away, hiding her scars behind a dense curtain of hair. She wasn't ready for any of this.

"What happened?" Josh's voice cracked as he forced out the words.

Curling herself up in to a tight ball, Nikki closed her eyes and readied herself to relive the night.

"I could tell you, but perhaps it would be more pertinent to show you?"

Nikki's eyes opened wide and she gasped. "What the hell? What are you doing? This isn't fair, I'm not ready for this!"

Zeke smiled kindly back at her, squeezing her arm softly.

"I know but if they are staying around then I think it would be helpful if they knew what they were up against."

"What's she saying?" Sam asked gruffly, glaring at Nikki.

Ezekius turned on him, his eyes flashing dangerously. "Watch your tone Guardian. I won't remind you again." His unpleasant voice grew harsher with each word until even Sam shrank back.

Biting her lip, Nikki dragged herself to the middle of the room. She faced the window and soaked up the heat from the orange sun as it flooded into the space.

Inwardly she longed for the time when trust was not an issue and Sam had defended her with everything he had. But she had become overpowered by the seductive charms of the Prophets and sacrificed their friendship the moment she kissed him. Nothing she could do would change that and even though she and Sam had talked it out, she knew things would probably never go back to how it was, how she wanted it to be.

And then there was Josh. The nights she had spent stalking various towns and cities, picking off demons and slaughtering them, she had always ended the massacre, in her place of shelter, thinking of him. The hours she had laid awake wistfully longing to return to him but now here he was, and even though it seemed their love had survived, it wasn't enough to rebuild their relationship. It seemed that his ancient mystic role as Guardian was more powerful than his heart.

What's the point? Her heavy heart weighed her down, pulling her to her knees and bleeding out the hope she had rediscovered earlier.

"Don't lose sight of your goal. Remember what we are working towards."

A pair of hands ran from her hunched shoulders, down her arms and pulled her backwards in to an intimate hug. Leaning back against Ezekius, Nikki rested her head on his shoulder and for the millionth time, thanked whichever deity was listening for blessing her with such a true and loyal friend.

"I would not have survived this without you, Zeke."

"Nor I, you, Nikki."

A wry smile tugged at the corner of her mouth. She knew the things Zeke had done in his lifetime, and some were particularly unpleasant, but he had more than redeemed himself in her eyes and for that reason she refused to let him burden all of Sam's misgivings alone.

"Okay, let's show them, but not the Charges, they're protected, let's keep them that way."

Ezekius hugged her tightly and she smiled at the gesture that was unquestionably drenched in humanity. She wasn't the only one who had changed over the last two years. With his only companion an ex-human, Ezekius had lost a huge portion of his demonic characteristics.

"Nikki is willing to show you how the Hunters operate, but not your Charges. The less they know the more protected they are."

Sam looked visibly shocked at the sudden turn around. Looking over the couple in the middle of the room he caught Josh's eye and cocked a brow, communicating silently with his friend. Sam shook his head and scowled but at what Nikki was unsure. Eventually he met her gaze.

"We want to know, just not right at this second, okay? Can you give us a little time?"

She dipped her head in acknowledgement, reading between the lines. Josh wasn't ready. His Charge needed him and he was obligated to stay with her.

Obligated or desired?

Nikki balled her fists and ignored the insidious thought that seeped like poison through her veins. Instead of spitefully resenting Joanne for monopolising Josh she could put herself to good use and actually help the poor girl. If she wasn't Josh's Charge, she knew she would have stepped in already. Gritting her teeth she swallowed down her bitterness and resolved to be a better person.

Stepping towards the woman cradled in her lovers' arms she pushed hard to get past the boiling envy. Josh looked at her uneasily, sending a fresh emotion cascading through her. His distrust shoved a searing hot dagger through her racing heart and she hesitated as she began to raise her fingers to the Joanne.

"She wants to help." Ezekius growled, making his infuriation over Josh's reaction obvious.

Josh mentally checked himself, hating his gut reaction at having a demon so close to his Charge. "I, I didn't mean anything," he stuttered shamefully.

Avoiding his eyes, Nikki kept her focus on the floor. She would do what was necessary and then take solace in the rafters to metaphorically lick her wounds.

"Nikki, I..." He wrapped his fingers around her arm, grasping hold of her tightly.

His hand burned her flesh but she refused to look at him. She couldn't. There was too much pain and confusion where he was concerned and if she was to help Joanne she needed a clear head. Slowly she pried his digits off her scarred arm.

"Nikki-" She heard the agony in his voice and silenced him before he could derail her. Holding up a finger she inhaled a shaky breath.

"She's going to help Joanne." Ekekius informed the room.

At the mention of her name, the red head began to tremble. "Oh God no, I-"

"It's okay, don't panic. Don't be scared. No one here will hurt you."

Plastering a pacifying smile on her face Nikki reached towards her intended subject and waited for permission. She needed Joanne to accept her if this was going to work. Risking a peek at Josh, her heart lurch as their eyes met.

Joanne stared doe eyed at her Guardian. "Are... Are you sure?"

Josh nodded. "Completely. I trust her with my life. I trust her with everything I have, including you."

As his words echoed through the empty mansion, Nikki held back the tears that stung her eyes. In his own way he was trying to show her how he felt and although almost meaningless to Joanne, they tipped the balance for Nikki. Weather intentionally or not, Josh had just secured the safety of his Charge. There was no way that Nikki would allow anything close to her now, not whilst she was still alive to prevent it.

"Ingenious move but was it a sophisticated manipulation or a gesture of the heart?"

"I want to believe the latter." Nikki admitted, glancing over her shoulder at Ezekius.

"Okay." Joanne whispered shakily.

Nikki advanced slowly, careful not to spook the terrified woman in front of her. She smiled warmly and raised her hand, gently taking hold of Joanne's. Calming her thoughts she let her free hand rest on Josh's shoulder as she skilfully drew him into Joanne's psyche.

"Joanne, I know this is all very frightening, but what Josh said was right. I will never hurt you." She nodded at her companion. "And Zeke would never hurt you. I know we look scary but you are safe here with us."

Joanne glanced at Josh for reassurance and he smiled broadly down at her.

"You can trust her."

"My name is Nikki and that is Zeke. We're friends of Josh's and although it doesn't seem it, Sam's too. We argued years ago because I lied to Josh and Sam. I thought I had to save them but as it turns out, they were right all along. I should have listened to them, and I'm telling you as someone who's been in your shoes, make sure you listen to them." Nikki spoke slowly and simply, determined to make this younger woman understand her every word. "Now I know how frightened you are and I want to take that fear away. Would you like that? To not feel so frightened?"

Joanne nodded vigorously.

"Okay, here's what I want you to do. Close your eyes and think about the last time you were truly happy. Take me back in your memories to a time when happiness was all you could remember and you had everything you wanted."

Nikki waited as Joanne sifted through her memories, shocked that most of them revolved around her childhood. She watched as the nervous woman relived a Christmas morning. 

"Tell me, in your head, what's happening."

Joanne began to talk through her version of events, but Nikki wasn't listening. Instead she was beginning to lift the fear. Like unpicking a complex stitching pattern she pulled at the ends of Joanne's terror, tugging the threads until they eventually unravelled and came loose. It was a slow and meticulous task that drained Nikki but she kept her unwavering concentration until the end.

"And now," she began, swaying under the dizzying weight of the emotion she had lifted from the human, "I want you to slowly count back from five, when you reach zero you'll be completely relaxed and calm."

Joanne's lips moved silently as she repeated the numbers Nikki showed her. When she breathed the zero, her body went slack and she passed out completely.

"She'll be asleep for a few hours now, let her rest." Ezekius informed Josh, nonchalantly scooping Nikki up and cradling her in his arms.

"What?" Josh looked from Joanne to Nikki, "What the hell?"

"Nikki has learned a few tricks to help her survive. This one she acquired from a Sever Demon a year ago. Usually she uses it the other way, to project out her emotions and overwhelm her enemy but today she has absorbed all of Joanne's fear. She's put her in a state of relaxation akin to sleep but that means that she has had to consume all the negativity your Charge held. As you can see it has exhausted her. She needs time to recuperate so if you don't mind--"

"Wait! Will she be okay?" Josh carefully laid Joanne out before reaching out to try and take Nikki.

"She will be fine. I am well practised in this particular curative, I think it better you stay with your Charge and I'll stay with mine."

Spinning on his heel Ezekius strode towards the door but before he had taken two full steps Sam shot forward and blocked his exit. "I don't think so, you're not leaving this room."

Ezekius bared his teeth. "I am taking Nikki to rest unless you would prefer her driven half mad by the debilitating terror of another."

Josh swallowed nervously. "Can it do that? Can it hurt her?"

"Can it hurt her? Of course it can hurt her, now step out of my way!"

"Sam! Let him go!" Josh's tone was full of authority as he physically dragged Sam out of the way.

Ezekius swept from the room, carefully cradling the young demon he had grown so close to, muttering insults under his breath. Whilst Nikki was full of guilt and shame for her actions, Ezekius burned with indignation. In his eyes the two Guardian's had no right to treat her this way especially after she had gone out of her way to protect them. He continued his silent raging until he laid her limp body down and covered her over. Making sure she was safe and warm he backed away, heading back downstairs to keep a close eye on the men, leaving Nikki to recover in the creaking rafters of the giant old house.