"We are going to have peace even if we have to fight for it."

-Dwight D. Eisenhower

                                                                                 ***

When Galloway woke up, it was dark and silent. She was in her room. Sitting up carefully, she looked over to find it was close to two in the morning.

She also found the bowl of Logan's salve sitting on her bedside table. Galloway reached over with a groan, still sore, and scooped up some of the fragrant goo. Experimentally, she rubbed it gently onto her lip and wanted to moan with delight when the soreness was sucked away, leaving nothing but a pleasant cooling sensation.

Scooping up more, she slathered it onto her chest, which was where she hurt the most, the pain condensed right over her heart. She sighed and lay back down, reveling in the feeling of not hurting and made a mental note to buy Logan something amazing and expensive. Using Theron's money, of course.

Drifting back to sleep, she had the thought that she really should thank Sirius for bringing Logan here.

When she woke up again, it was an acceptable time to be alive. She sat up and stretched, grinning when the movement didn't elicit any pain. She threw back the blankets and all but skipped into the living room to find a note on the kitchen table.

Curious, she picked it up. In scrawling handwriting she didn't recognize, it read: I'll be back. Probably.

Galloway rolled her eyes, crumpling up the note. Not so idly, she wondered what he could be doing as she made herself some coffee.

She unwrapped her arm to find a neatly puckered scar climbing from the crease in her wrist up to the middle of the inside of her forearm. Frowning, she traced a finger along it, suspecting it was permanent.

Strictly speaking, Galloway should have been a tapestry of old battles. But so far, the only things she found that left scars were silver bullets, werewolf bites and demon blades.

Since Theron couldn't touch silver at all, she guessed he'd used a demon blade and sighed. She supposed it was a small mercy, the fact that he'd used a demon blade. If he'd used a normal knife, he probably would have had to cut her three or four times to get enough blood for the ritual.

That didn't mean she appreciated the scar, though.

While Galloway waited for her coffee, she took a shower and used some more of the salve Logan had made her.

She spent the rest of the day lazing about, doing nothing but watching TV and snacking on whatever she found in the fridge when she wasn't dozing on the couch. Every now and then she would pretend she wasn't curious about what Sirius was doing, but found it to be too much work.

It was dark again when the front door opened. Galloway stifled a yawn, then looked over when she heard the jangle of keys being thrown onto the small table next to the door. Trying to find the energy to glare, she asked, "Did you take my car?"

"Yup," Sirius said, taking off his jacket as he threw a grin in her general direction. "But I got you something."

"You took my car?" she asked again, turning off the TV before wandering over to the window. Looking down into the parking lot, she sighed out a breath of relief when she found it in one piece.

"I also got you something," Sirius said, his voice impatient.

Galloway flopped back down onto the couch and looked up at him. "So?"

"So..." he huffed, "don't you want to know what it is?"

"It better be good since you took my car," Galloway muttered and he sighed.

"Chocolate-covered honeycomb," he said, sounding defeated, tossing a brown paper package into her lap. She looked down at it, then back at him, frowning. He shut his eyes briefly and shook his head sadly. Opening his eyes again, he looked at her, incredulous. "You've never had chocolate-covered honeycomb?"

Galloway shook her head. "Nope."

He muttered under his breath then let just one claw slide out and slit open the paper for her. When she still hesitated, he picked up one of the pieces delicately and hovered it in front of her mouth. 

She raised an eyebrow at him and he mirrored her. Daring her.

Galloway rolled her eyes and leaned forward to take a bite, calling his bluff. Just as she opened her mouth, he snatched it away, popping the candy into his own mouth. Her eyes went wide and she looked at him, irritation and attraction mixing together in a way that should be impossible.

Around the honey comb, he said, "It's good. You should try it."

Galloway did and just about melted as easily as the honeycomb did on her tongue. It was amazing, the sweet perfectly balanced by just a touch of salt. Around her own piece of candy, she said, "This doesn't give you a pass for taking my car. Where did you even go?"

"Around," Sirius said absently, now pouring himself a drink.

Galloway shook her head when he offered, eating another piece of the comb. When he didn't say anything more she sighed, unable to find the energy to press him and turned the TV back on.

"So this is what an immortal Soul Collector from Hell does on her nights off?" He came around the counter and stared at the TV, the ice in his drink clinking musically. "She watches old X-Files re-runs?"

Galloway stared at his glass. She'd never seen him use ice before. Finally, she nodded, turning her attention back to the screen.

"Why?" he asked, amused.

Galloway couldn't help a laugh before she answered, "Because my life is a freaking X-File. Besides," she looked up as Sirius came closer and batted her eyelashes, "I want to believe."

Sirius rolled his eyes before settling next to her on the couch, the movement too graceful to be considered a flop. Swirling his drink around, he asked, "So does that make me Mulder and you Scully?"

Galloway scoffed, "No. Obviously I'm Mulder. You're just the sidekick who gets proven wrong a lot."

"That so?" he asked, taking a sip. He didn't sound offended, just interested. He turned his head, staring at her and she could feel his gaze burning into the side of her jaw. Finally, she looked at him as his eyes traveled up to hers. Their shoulders were brushing. He murmured, "Do you think I'm spooky?"

Galloway was overwhelmed for a moment by his eyes, but eventually she managed, "No."

"Well," Sirius started. She bit her lip gently, ignoring the fact that all of her nerve endings seemed to have migrated to where his shoulder touched hers. Sirius leaned forward, getting even closer before he whispered, "I think I'll just have to do something about that."

She stood up quickly when he moved to lean into her and he fell over onto the couch. Propping himself up onto an elbow, he tilted his head and said, "Must you always be so difficult?"

"Must you always be such a pain in my ass?" Galloway snapped back, feeling hot then cold then hot again. He was going to kill her.

Or she was going to kill him, whichever came first.

"Looks like you're feeling better," he said, getting up and stalking toward her, eyes narrowed, focused on nothing but her. Hunting her, as ironic as that was. His voice silk, he said, "I'm glad. It's good you're not sick anymore. I guess that witch is good for something after all."

She took a step back toward her door, then stopped. She was done retreating. She'd give him a chance, though. Her voice low, she said, "Stay away from me, Sirius."

"Make me," he growled and lunged at her.

It was the first time anything had ever slowed down in Galloway's life. She had the time to think that she finally understood what people meant when they said a fight made everything slow.

Up until now, she would have sworn that was one of the biggest lies ever told.

But she saw everything in minute detail.

The way his pupils dilated, the play of muscle under skin. The smile that just barely curved his lips.

She watched as he swept a clawed hand at her and blocked it, her forearm slamming easily into his wrist.

There was a breathless moment.

Then the world went right and it was all fast.

Sirius grabbed her arm and pulled her into him, trying to use his greater strength to trap her. But she was faster than he anticipated. Her fist connected with his stomach, his chest, then just barely clipped his jaw.

He danced away from her, feet moving lightly over the wood floor, then dove back in, testing her guard. He got a solid kick to the shoulder for his efforts and circled back out of her reach with a choked laugh.

Galloway circled with him, hands held loose and ready in front of her face. Smugly, she thought there was no way a Hellhound had trained in any hand-to-hand combat. 

She was proven wrong when his foot lashed out, popping into her thigh, then her ribs. Her arms automatically tightened to defend her sides and his fist crashed into her shoulder, knocking her to the side.

That's when she knew he was playing. Otherwise, he would have gone after her unguarded face.

She felt her lips curve up into an answering smile she didn't mean to give him and settled into an easy stance. This, at least, was a game she could enjoy as well.

It didn't seem fair to let him have all the fun.

Back and forth they went, testing, paying for mistakes with solid hits that wouldn't leave any real damage.

Galloway thought she had the upper hand when Sirius got too far inside her guard. He had a smug, triumphant light in the back of his eyes and he would pay for it.

She blocked his next strike with the inside of her wrist and stepped in until she was almost pressed up against him. She laughed when he let out a startled huff as she swept his foot out from under him, sending him to the floor.

She punched him, the hit landing neatly on his collarbone and laughed again.

Her laugh turned into a gasp when he chopped his hand against the back of her knee. It gave out, forcing her to the ground. She tried to get back up, but Sirius lunged at her again. They both ended up splayed out and tangled up on the floor.

She sighed and tapped his shoulder, signaling that he'd won this round.

She frowned when he didn't let her up.

He kept the length of his body pressing steadily into hers, his fingers warm and rough as they wrapped around her wrists. His face framed by a halo of midnight hair, he looked down at her and said, "I told you to make me."

She rolled her eyes and bucked up a little. Not enough to dislodge him, but enough to let him know she was done with the game.

Sirius tilted his head again and whispered, "Maybe you weren't trying hard enough."

"At the moment, I don't want you dead," she snarled, wiggling harder. He was heavier than she'd expected. "If I was really trying, you'd be bleeding."

"So would you," he taunted.

She turned her face away and with a weary sigh said, "Get off me, Sirius."

"Why?" he breathed and she could feel the question cool on her neck. "Don't quote the rule book at me again, Galloway."

He growled and she nearly went to pieces as it shook his chest, rolling through her. She looked back up at him, his mouth just brushing her jaw and said, "I won't quote the rule book at you."

"Oh?" he asked, his mouth curling a little at the side.

"No. I wouldn't do that," she said, giving him a coy little smile.

He narrowed his eyes at her, suddenly suspicious, but she could tell he was intrigued as well. She let her smile widen and strained up until her lips were just brushing his ear, his hair like rough silk against her mouth. Whispering, she said, "Let me go, Sirius."

He had to pull back even farther to look at her now and that took some of the weight pinning her down away.

"Now why would I do that," Sirius started and she jerked her knee up, bringing her leg between his body and her own. She let out a sharp breath and, putting all of her strength into it, shoved him to the side, off of her.

She couldn't stop the laugh that burst out at his surprised face. She scrambled to her feet, but Sirius was too fast. She backed up and he sprang at her, tackling her into the couch. It knocked the breath from her. He trapped her hands again and a laugh shook him, his eyes glittering and gorgeous as he stared down at her.

Galloway had the sudden, irrational thought that he just didn't play fair. Then she shook her head when she remembered that wasn't the real problem here.

The problem was that she should feel threatened with him on top of her like this. She should have been working harder to fight him off to begin with.

Crossly, she couldn't help but blame Logan and his stupid advice.

Sirius laughed again, the sound rich and warm and he lowered his head, mouth hovering just over hers. Galloway's lips parted ever so slightly and she could taste mint and honey.

He gazed at her through heavy lidded eyes and tilted his head down, shifting to where his mouth pressed into her throat. Just into the hollow above her collarbone.

Traitor that it was, Galloway's body trembled and she felt him smile.

Looking up, Sirius laughed, the sound coming from deep in his throat and he murmured, "I win."

Galloway closed her eyes and sighed. "What do you want? A freaking ribbon?"

"Well, since you technically still owe me, how about that kiss?" he asked and her eyes widened, all of her fears starting to sing through her head, just like always. Except now, Logan's question battled with the fears and started to argue against her reasons for denying Sirius anything.

She kind of wanted to smile, some little part of her finding it amusing that her less responsible, more suicidal side would sound like Logan. Especially considering that he was way more level-headed than she was.

Another part of her found it worrying that she had so many voices in her head. That probably couldn't be a good thing.

She blamed Sirius. He seemed to be the root source of most of the different voices.

She bit her lip, turning her head away and Sirius whispered, "Can't you trust me? I promise I won't run and tell on you."

Looking back up, she said, "I don't trust anyone, Sirius."

He smiled wryly. "Why so suspicious?"

Galloway shook her head, still chewing at her lip. "I'm a Hunter. Jaded is part of the job description."

"I didn't say jaded," Sirius said, his voice still a low growl. "I said suspicious."

She was silent, turning her head away again and he sighed before saying, "I didn't peg you for a sore loser."

Letting go of one of her hands to trace a finger along her cheekbone, he murmured, "If you want a rematch, just start the game again, sweetheart."

Galloway frowned, considering, then dismissed it. Fighting again wouldn't do any good. If anything it would probably just make him more attractive. She sighed internally.

Either way, she lost.

Sirius' mouth tugged into a cocky smirk when she looked back up at him. Sudden fury sparked in Galloway, mixing with the thousand other emotions clamoring for her attention.

Before she could really think it through, she brought her free hand up and knotted her fingers into his thick hair just above the nape of his neck, dragging him down to her. She crushed his mouth to hers hard enough that it was almost painful.

His hand skimmed down her neck and shoulder, until his arm wrapped around her waist, pressing closer.

Her body betrayed her again when his teeth scraped the delicate skin of her lip and she sighed. Her mouth was still hard on his, but not quite as resentful. If it was anything, it was hungry now.

A very small voice warned this was stupid, but it was easily ignored when Sirius' fingers started exploring the smooth skin of her abdomen, climbing steadily higher.

Sirius shifted and then they were falling. She huffed when they hit the ground and dimly registered that she was now on top of him and he was on the floor. He released her wrist and pulled her hair out of its ponytail, dragging his fingers through the mass of blonde that now cascaded around him.

Galloway's fingers went to the collar of his shirt, fighting briefly with his tie before getting it undone and starting on the buttons of his shirt.

He bit lightly on her bottom lip, and her fingers tangled themselves in his hair again, her tongue sliding into his mouth, that small voice now completely gone.

Sirius sat up with her in his lap and she kissed down his throat, biting his collarbone just like he'd done to her in Vegas. He groaned low in his throat and Galloway was impressed when he somehow managed to stand up. Her legs locked around his waist, arms clinging to his shoulders, lips making their way back up to his mouth.

He'd started toward the bedrooms when Galloway's phone rang.

They both froze, the sound as effective as a bucket of cold water. Her mind was flooded with an assortment of voices reciting rules and letting her know how stupid she really was.

Galloway practically flung herself away from Sirius and picked up the phone, answering.

"Did you get the folder?" Theron's voice asked, making her entire body freeze over.

Galloway looked around and sighed when she found the manila folder and its contents scattered around her coffee table, most likely knocked off when she and Sirius had...

Her face paled, then just as quickly burned with a flush as she said, "Yeah."

"Then get it done," Theron said before hanging up.

She looked over to find Sirius buttoning up his shirt, face nonchalant as he looked intently down at one of the papers. Looking up at her, like absolutely nothing had happened, he said, "New York. Should be fun."

She shook her head, beating a hasty retreat to her room and took a quick shower, trying to banish her memories before she had to spend any time with Sirius in an enclosed space.

Shivering under the cold water, she had the uncomfortable thought that maybe she didn't play fair either.

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I couldn't resist the X-Files thing. Sorry, but not really.