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His gun was filled with lead Regardless, being shot hurt Really, really hurt

And he shot

I wanted to shout, curse, cry Instead I ran

At first all I could think of was getting away, so I accelerated in the general direction of Cuba However, when an to heal the hole with the bullet still inside, I detoured to the cabin

Approaching fro but trees, heard only the wind Leaping onto the back porch, I iined myself human and suddenly I was

The talisman resided in the pocket of Jessie’s pants back at the junkyard Even though I didn’t appear to need it anyet it, just as soon as I re bullet fro back and forth in the blink of an eye The lack of pain and agony was a definite plus

Making use of my suddenly opposable thuht into the bathrooht made me flinch even before I saw myself in the mirror

Dirt streaked s; fiery red scratchesaardly, I tried to see my wound, but I couldn’t

The bullet see ht just driveto have to ask for help, and I hated that

I opened the bathroolance at my face and he cursed, then shoved his way into the room

I snatched a towel off the rack and clutched it to my breasts Stupid He’d already seen and touched everything already

"What the hell happened?" Nic demanded

I wasn’t sure where to start

"I woke up and you were gone No note Nothing"

Nic shoved his fingers through his hair,me of the coarse blond locks of our dreae out of my head That child wasn’t real, could never be real, and I had to re but boxers Too bad I didn’t have time to ads and dripped onto the floor

"What the - "?

Nic yanked the towel free and spun me around I was so shocked, I let him

"Who shot you?"

"Guy in the junkyard The owner, or ht watchman"

"I take it you were furry at the ti to have a discussion"

I glanced over ht an expression of such violence cross his face I was shocked - and a little bit charmed

I could take care of- but it was kind of nice for once to have someone else want to look afterand schooled his face into the stoic et in the bathtub You’rea mess"

"Good idea" I cli at the junkyard?"

Quickly I explained about the phone call, the Edsel, the watchhostly wolves When I was done, Nic stared atnew?"

"I’ve never heard of them But now I knohy I saolf shadows at Lydia’s and caught the scent of wolves when everyone else swears there aren’t any At least I’m not nuts"

"Just able to see, ss no one else can," he said dryly "Do you think the disappearing bodies are related soht for a host wolves didn’t do ainstpeople Besides, Sheriff Stephenson was killed with a knife, then marked with a huot two problems instead of one"

"At least"

"So what’s the deal?" He waved at ht olves could heal da"

"We can Trouble is, I’ that out"

He didn’t argue "Got any medical instruht Co down, Nic peered at my left cheek Funny how a little bullet and a lot of blood took care of any sexual interest inmy true nature had already killed that

"Will left a few things," he said "Hold on"

He returned a few minutes later with a s blades

"Filleting knives" Nic began to root around in the medicine cabinet concealed behind the mirror over the sink "Willfor?"

"Alcohol"

I snorted "As if I’ll get an infection"

"Hu a clear bottle, he doused the smallest of the knives, then withdreeezers fro with his hands

"Turn around," he said

"No problem" I didn’t want to watch

Nic splashed my butt with alcohol, and I nearly jumped out of the tub "Hey! What did I say about infection?"

"Can you proet furry if I accidentally cut myself with your blood all over h saliva when I’e"

He was right I had no idea as happening toI knew, or thought I kneould be wrong

"Leave it," I said "I’ll live"

"I’ot the handy-dandy antidote If I get infected, you can cure er had the forh to remember off the top of my head None of them were

I hadn’t heard fro to worry If he were to disappear, along with everything I’d invented, the world, as well as -time trouble

Nic poked me

"Ow!"

"Hold still or you’ll have more holes than you already do" He punctuated his words with another jab

"I’ve alot it"

I stared at the bathroom tile and waited for hiainst the bathtub, then rolled toward the drain, co to rest on top of the steel trap

Nic picked up the bullet "Constantly ae"

He lifted his gaze and in his eyes I sawelse I couldn’t quite place before he turned away, tossing the instruain with alcohol

"You’d better take a shower"

His voice was remote once ined the softer e his face

I turned on the water Even if Nic could get past s about me he didn’t know and never could

"The wound’s already healed over," he murmured

I couldn’t see the hole, and I didn’t really want to Yanking the shower curtain closed, I let the heated water wash the blood from my skin If only it could wash the blood from my hands - or should I say paws?

"Youon?" he asked

"Suit yourself" I stuck my head under the spray

"Who called you?"

"I thought it was Edward"

Noasn’t so sure

"Does he have your research?"

"I hope so"

"Not having it That’s bad?"