Dawn Forever

"John Mark! I need your help. You know I'm no tracker and you're one of Patrick's closest friends. He might not listen to me. But, he will listen to you." Alex remembered John Mark before he became Dane's second. When he was young and impetuous and so desperate to prove himself to the Sons. He would not have hesitated to rush off on some rescue mission.

Time had changed him. Made him more cautious. And he became more and more stoic and introspective, like Dane and Lucien before him, everyday. Perhaps, that went with the territory of the responsibility of the weight of so many lives resting on his shoulders. But, she hoped the John Mark, Lucien had trusted with her life and who stuck his neck out to help her, was still in there somewhere.

John Mark nodded. How could Alex think he'd hesitate to help Janine? The woman was vital to the compound, and not because she'd kept the brothers so well stocked in silk boxers either. She saved Patrick's life and gave them back their brother. They all owed her a great debt of gratitude. He slid Keene a sideways glance, evaluating the man. "Are you as good at tracking as you are with those wicked fists of yours?"

Keene grinned and nodded. "Better. Patrick's scent will stand out like a sore thumb. I'm not used to your particular smell and it'll be quickest for me to track him than yourselves. And besides, I still smell like a rogue. It might flush him out of hiding if he thinks the enemy is nearby."

"Yeah, let's just hope Patrick doesn't kill you in the process," Chance said. He didn't like this plan at all. Roark using himself for bait, Alex traipsing haphazardly through the countryside, looking for a man that didn't want to be found, and Janine packing her bags and running away from the only life she'd known in over a year. Sounded like a recipe for disaster to him.

John Mark gritted his molars at Chance's observation. Patrick might resent being tracked by a rogue. And he very well could come out guns a blazing and fists a flying. "We'll just have to make sure he doesn't."

He shrugged and herded everyone toward the locker rooms to change. His team wasn't much. It consisted of a frantic, redheaded prophetess, a rookie, and a rogue. Patrick usually went on the missions. But, since he was the mission. John Mark conceded to the fact that, that wasn't happening. "Well, you bunch of beauty queens, what are we waiting for? We've got a man to track and a damsel in distress to save. Move it Junior, go get ya'ass suited up, Alex, you too. Come on Red, you need some steel."

Chapter 25

Janine finished packing and was in the process of stuffing her things into the back of Chris's car. She was a little put out that neither Robbie or Anna lifted a finger to help her. She could have been at the compound, boxing the rest of her stuff by now. She was determined not to spend one more night in this town. Especially not if it meant shacking up at the compound for a slumber party with her self-pity. She'd had enough of that and she just wanted to get on the road. Once she left for the city, she didn't plan on coming back. "That's it. I'm ready," she huffed.

Robbie snatched the car keys out of Janine's hand and headed for the front door. Alex wasn't back yet. And there was no sign of Patrick. Short of hogtying Janine, she was out of options to get her stay. "I'm driving. You drive like a maniac. I don't want to spend the rest of my very long life maimed."

"I call shotgun," Anna chimed. She needed the fresh air. The scent of Janine's blood as faint as it was, it was enough to drive her insane. Her appetite was getting the better of her and Janine smelled pretty tempting. Anna bounded down the porch steps after Robbie and stopped to lick her lips, spotting the white cat crouched in the shrubs, watching them with his slanted, snot green colored eyes. John Mark joked that cats made a decent meal. She never thought she'd contemplate snacking on a pet. But...she wondered.

Grumbling and muttering under her breath, Janine climbed into the backseat squished amongst the trash bags that held her stuff. The neighborhood rolled past her window slowly. Robbie held the speedometer pegged at thirty miles per hour. Her speed didn't change when she reached the main highway. A redneck pickup truck honked and roared past them, leaving them choking on a cloud of black diesel. "Robbie, you drive like an old lady," Janine huffed impatiently.

"I want to get us there safely. Besides, what's the rush?" She had to do something to buy Alex some time. Finding Patrick and convincing him to return would be a trick in itself. If Janine were already gone, by the time they got back the whole thing would be for nothing. Robbie grinned and eased up on the gas. Gotta love farmers. She was in a no passing zone and what a stroke of luck, a farm implement had the entire southbound lane blocked. She followed at a breakneck speed of twenty miles per hour until she came to the series of gravel roads that eventually wound around to the compound. She slowed even further, gently rolling the car over every dip and pothole in the road. "Don't want to tear up Chris's car," she said.

Anna clued in quickly to what Robbie was trying to do. Janine fidgeted in the backseat, grinding her teeth in frustration at Robbie for driving so slowly. It was true, the gravel roads were a mess and the car might get torn up. The county did their best to keep the narrow gravel roads in usable condition. But, last winter had been harsh and between the ice freezing and thawing and the snowplows, the rural roads were more like cow paths than actual drivable roads.

Anna spotted a buck and two doe in the middle of a massive expanse of field. Contentedly nibbling on the tender green shoots peeking up out of the plowed rows. "Pull over Robbie! I see dinner!"

"You and your appetite," Robbie teased. She eased the car to the side of the gravel road and turned off the ignition. "Hmm, you know, a little snack does sound good. If you don't mind some company, I think I'll join you." She pocketed the keys and unbuckled her seatbelt. Hunting wasn't as easy as it looked and scoring a meal might take a while. Especially with the kind of noise she planned to make. Determined to delay Janine as long as possible, she accidentally on purpose pressed on the horn as she got out of the car. "Shit! There goes my dinner!" she screeched, bolting into the field after the deer.

Janine pounded her skull on the thickly padded headrest and rolled her eyes. Really? How could her friends do this to her? She was crammed in the backseat with the plastic of the trash bags sticking to her sweaty skin. Nestled amongst the bags, without the air on, and the late afternoon sun beating down on the car. It was damned hot. She fanned her face with her Coach clutch and huffed in sheer irritation. Sure she'd rather Robbie and Anna snack on a deer than on her. But, couldn't they have waited until they dropped her off?

If Robbie hadn't pocketed the keys she would have left their asses and driven the rest of the way herself. Anna and Robbie could find their own damned way home. But no...Robbie made sure she took the keys. And in these strappy sandals made more for looks than comfort, walking was out of the question on the coarse gravel. She was stuck here, cooking in the backseat while her friends, without a second thought for her, frolicked in the woods. Nice.

She could just barely make out the vague outline of Anna's red blouse and Robbie's neon t-shirt in the distance. Janine closed her eyes and rested her head on the partially rolled down window. She didn't want to watch them eat. It was too icky. She understood that if she transformed, she would be out there with them. Being totally human though, the thought made her slightly nauseous. She didn't even like rare steaks. But, if she ever did take the plunge, which since she wasn't coming back, she most likely wouldn't. There was only one other way to get fed, and that was so totally out of the question.

With nothing to do but sweat and wait, she contemplated the insanity of her life. She could honestly say she regretted none of the decisions she'd made so far. She'd had a lot of good times out here in the sticks with her fanged friends. But, her life could not continue on the same stagnant course for much longer. She was done settling for the bits and pieces Patrick threw at her. She was done with treading water and trying to keep from drowning while she waited for him to get his act together.

They were true. The things that Thomas said and her friends muttered under their breath when they thought she wasn't listening in. She didn't have time to waste. "Hurry up you guys," she grumbled. Janine had waited too long for change to come to her. If her life was ever going to be anything different than what it was. The responsibility rested on her shoulders to make it happen. And she was so ready.

******

John Mark pulled onto a narrow gravel road, edging the SUV to the steep shoulder, and parked. After two hours of driving at top speed, they'd finally reached the spot where Bryce claimed he'd last seen Patrick. The man was hell on wheels when he wanted to be and Patrick was halfway to the city early this morning. John Mark's only hope was that the trail was fresh enough to get a fix on which direction Patrick headed. He knew his friend was hurting, running from the pain. But, he couldn't run forever.

*******

Patrick climbed out of his hiding spot, and stretched. He was sore and stiff from being crammed into the tiny space under the shelter of the bridge. Somehow, despite the direction of his thoughts, he'd managed to fall asleep. He still had no idea of where he was going to go or what he was going to do once he got there. He had to go home eventually. Maybe in a century or so, he'd come back. By then Janine would be long dead. Or she'd be one of them. Either way this pain holding him prisoner would be gone.

He sniffed the air. The evening breeze blew in from the southwest, promising rain later on in the night. He frowned, drawing in a deeper breath and held it. The scent was unmistakable and disgustingly sweet. A rogue was near by. The stench of vampire carried on the hot currents of summertime air. What would a rogue be doing way out here? Scouting out the border territories planning an attack? Tracking him? Who knew? But, he was going to find out.

Despite what was going on in his personal life, he still had a duty to his brothers. Rogues typically didn't work alone. They were like cockroaches or vermin. There was never just one. He called on his instincts, tracking the smell south.

"Over here!" Keene called out to John Mark. The earthy, musky, slightly sweet and repulsive smell of a Son was faint. But, still present. The trail led north further into the low rising hill country dotted with farms. He followed the scent, tracking Patrick.

John Mark followed behind Keene. He was impressed by the big guy's abilities. He would make a fine addition to the brotherhood. Now all that was left was to convince him to go through the trials. "Well done, Red."

Keene growled under his breath. He hated John Mark's pet name for him. But, he had been called worse. Leading the way through the acres of open, grass land, following the scent, he dropped to a crouch and gestured with a nod of his head. The scent was strongest by the bridge and recent. Good to know that not even the brother's legendary tracker was immune to the blinding effects of broad daylight.

It seemed he'd found their wayward Son. And the man, hedging through the tall weeds and scrawny outcroppings of bushes did not look happy about that. Keene knew Patrick only by reputation, that and the memory of the night that Anna had fried his ass when he got in the way. Tense and ready for one hell of a fight if half of the brothers' stories about the man were true, Keene moved out from under his cover and stalked across the field to meet Patrick.

*****

Janine scrambled out of the cramped backseat. Pins and needles ran through her legs. Robbie and Alex took so long hunting that darkness was settling in by the time they returned and made it to the compound. She needed to get busy. At the rate she was going it would be the wee hours of the morning before she was loaded and ready to go. "I'll see you guys later," she huffed, limping through the garage, gasping as the circulation returned to her legs.

Anna exchanged a sly smile with Robbie. They'd managed to buy Alex at least an extra hour or two. Searching out her husband through her psychic link, Anna implemented phase two. Robbie and she had done their part. Now, it was time for Toby to do a little unscheduled maintenance to the car. Surely, he could come up with something under the hood. A mechanical failure would keep Janine safely at the compound for a while longer.

****

Chris sat on Dane's lap, watching Toby from one of the tech room's dozen or so monitors, chuckling softly as he fiddled under the hood of her car. She hoped he knew what he was doing. The printed instructions he'd googled weren't exactly reassuring. "He will be able to fix it? Right?"

Dane shifted Chris on his lap. Toby was more than willing to help out and he knew a little more about engines than he pretended to. "I hope so." Dane nuzzled his wife's hair. She felt so good in his lap. Her presence was calming, soothing his stress. He could think of a few other ways she could help him chill. But, he settled for holding her on his lap, for now.

He'd called in a few favors tonight. Even if Janine could get the car running or con someone out of a new set of wheels, she'd never make it out of town. Mack had a roadblock set up on the highway. Tonight was a perfect night to do sobriety checks. Janine wouldn't drive drunk, of course. But, that didn't mean Mack, the town sheriff and a human donor, loyal to the Sons, couldn't come up with some reason to detain her behind bars till morning.

"Janine is looking for you," Dane said, pointing to the monitor at the blonde pounding on their bedroom door. "You can't hide forever," he teased. Gently, he pushed his wife off his lap, taking extra time to cup her bottom with his palms. "The electronics closet looks really interesting. Nice and dark, private. Are you sure you don't want to go play instead?" He was only kidding. Chris would never blow Janine off for a trip to the electronics closet with him. But, he could always hope.

Chris swatted Dane's hands and shimmied her butt out of his reach. "Maybe some other time." Her husband was such a horny toad. He was only playing with her. After this latest crisis was over with, then he'd really play with her, probably in the electronics closet and a dozen other clandestine locales as well. She didn't think they'd sexed it up in the south corridor yet. But, there was always time to work their way to it later. "Well, it looks like I'm on," she smiled at Dane and winked at him over her shoulder as she left the room.

"Oh, Chris! There you are." Janine trotted up the hall. "I've been looking for you everywhere." The hallways were strangely empty for this early in the evening. She hadn't seen a soul so far. Out of desperation, she was on her way to check the tech room. The monitors and the electronic security system never went unmanned. There would be somebody there. "I need to ask a favor."

Chris lightly touched Janine's arm. Making contact with Janine's bare flesh, she sent a wave of calm along her skin. "Of course. Just ask." She saw the momentarily dazed look cross Janine's face as her abilities took hold, easing the frazzled and exhausted woman. "Why don't we go to the kitchen and I'll put on some coffee?"

Janine shook her head, clearing the fuzz. All of the sudden, the reason why she was searching for Chris wasn't such a crisis. Actually, why was she in such a hurry? There was always time for good conversation with a friend. The city wasn't going anywhere and it might be best to wait for rush hour traffic to free up a bit. And a cup of coffee would really be nice. She could use a break and a bit of caffeine for a pick me up. "Sure. Sounds good."

*****

Patrick crouched low to the ground. The scent of rogue was heavy and strong in the air. There wasn't much distance between them now. He was a good tracker, and there were other aromas on the breeze, earthy scents like his. Were his brothers nearby? Were they in danger or tracking the rogue like him? Or were they trailing him to drag him back to the compound? Could be all three. Maybe, they were on his trail and the rogue was just a bonus.

Keene pointed John Mark to the direction of Patrick's scent. The scent was very close, wafting down from over a nearby ridge. He had to be cautious. Patrick might not know that he was an ally and attack on sight. What little information he had gathered about the man led him to believe that he had a hair trigger and was volatile. He moved slowly heading toward the base of the ridge on silent feet.

Patrick prepared to jump the vampire. The rogue approached slowly with his arms out in a pose of surrender. But, Patrick knew it could be a clever attempt to disguise an ambush. He scanned the hills and surrounding level grazing lands, hissing as John Mark and Chance flanked the rogue. Nervously, he palmed the dagger strapped to his side. Ready for whatever was coming. He had only one question. What in the hell were his brothers doing in the company of a rogue?

As the man got closer, Patrick recognized him. The man was none other then the Rogue Master's right hand man. Something was seriously off about this whole situation. Patrick moved with his preternatural speed, beating the rogue to the punch, in full attack mode.

Keene tackled Patrick. The man was a good fighter, wiry and strong, fast as greased hellfire. But, he had over a century of practice in taking opponents down without killing them in the process. Pinned beneath him, Keene forced Patrick's face into the dirt and immobilized him by planting his knees into his shoulders "Listen to me! Your woman is in danger. She cannot go into the city."

"The city?" Patrick sputtered, taking in a mouthful of grass and dirt in the process. "What the hell are you talking about? Janine is with Bryce. She's under his protection." He grunted under the rogue's bulk, writhing beneath his weight in an attempt to free himself. Without any leverage, his strength was useless and the guy had to top out at an easy three hundred pounds of pure muscle.

John Mark brought up the left and Chance the right, ready to pounce if Patrick tried to make a run for it. With the way Keene had him pinned, he wasn't going anywhere. Interesting move, he'd have to get Red to show it to him sometime. But, Keene could use someone else to demonstrate the technique. Maybe, Chance. There was no way he was letting that big ass sit on his back.

Alex stood at Patrick's head, kneeling down to look him in the eye. Good thing Keene had the guy pinned down. Otherwise, given the look in his eye, he might throttle her. "Patrick, you have to listen to me. Janine is in danger. She wants you. After everything you've done to her, she still chose you over Bryce. She won't listen to reason. She thinks its over between the two of you and she's leaving town."

"It is over between us. I released her." His huffing breaths riffled the stalks of sharp green grass. He had no idea what was going on in Janine's head. But, if Alex thought he could do something to change her mind, she was wrong. After everything he'd done, the bruises, both the seen and the unseen, how could she ever love him as Alex claimed she did? "I gave up, Alex. Bryce won. Go to him."

"She doesn't want him," Alex huffed. How could a man with an ego the size of Patrick's be so insecure? She parked her butt on the grass and motioned for Keene to ease up. Patrick's face was turning a lovely shade of beat red from the pressure of Keene's weight on his back. If he passed out, getting him back to the compound would be a hell of a lot simpler. But, she needed him conscious if she had any hopes of convincing him of the truth.