"do you want some help?"

alex glanced up from the grill she was scrubbing and smiled at bev. "no, i'm almost done. you go ahead with the others."

bev nodded gratefully and hurried to collect her coat and purse and follow the others out the back door. alex took a moment to enjoy the cold breeze that wafted through the room as the door opened and closed. it was always hot in the kitchen by the end of the night, hours of cooking tended to raise the temperature several degrees despite the top-rated ventilation system she'd had installed. the breeze felt nice.

sighing, she turned back to finish cleaning her station. as the owner, she could have made someone else perform this chore, but alex was rather possessive of her station. it had been hell for her to see peter workingat it, switching things around and touching her tools. she was glad it was her own again.

smiling to herself as she finished, alex put away her cleaning gear, and then removed her hat and apron as she headed into her office. it was saturday night and they closed later on saturdays. still, normally she would have sat down and done a little paperwork before heading home; but now that cale was handling the paperwork, there was nothing for her to do, and she was glad of it. she didn't know if it was because she'd gotten out of the routine during those few weeks she'd been overseeing the new restaurant, or if she was fighting off a bug, but she was incredibly tired tonight and eager to head home.

alex hung her apron from the tree in the corner of her office, shrugged into her coat, and then paused to cover a yawn that left her eyes watering. dashing away the moisture, she grabbed her keys and purse and headed for the back door, hoping that the blast of cold air that awaited her outside would wake her up for the drive home.

as much as she'd been expecting it, the frigid wind that slapped at her as she stepped outside had her gasping breathlessly. squinting her eyes against it, she quickly locked the door, and then gasped with surprise when she was suddenly grabbed from behind. she managed a half shout before an arm snaked around her neck, cutting off the sound even as another arm banded around her waist. when she was then lifted off her feet and carried away, her surprise turned to panic.

she dropped her keys and clawed at the arm around her neck even as she began to kick, aiming for the man behind her.

when neither action had any effect, alex reached behind her head and dug her nails into the first flesh she found. a shouted curse was her reward, and then the arm around her throat pulled out from the curve of both of hers, which were now over it. something cut into the side of her face as it did, and she gritted her teeth at the pain. her assailant tried to grab for her hands while maintaining his hold around her waist. but she had two free to his one, and he finally gave that up and punched her in the head.

alex moaned as lights exploded behind her eyes, and then the arm around her waist was suddenly gone. her feet hit the ground with a jarring impact, and immediately slid out from beneath her. she crashed backward onto the icy tarmac, and there was a second explosion of pain, this time one that seemed to start at the back of her skull and vibrate forward through her brain.

for a moment, all alex was aware of was that pain, and then she realized she was being dragged across the icy ground by one arm. she was trying to gather herself to struggle again when bright light suddenly splashed over her. she heard what sounded like the skidding of car tires and then a loud horn blaring before her hand was released and she flopped loosely to the ground. moaning, alex curled into a ball on the frozen ground and grabbed for the back of her skull, trying to hold her exploding head together.

the blaring horn stopped abruptly and was followed by the faint sound of a door opening and rapid footsteps approaching. "alex? are you okay? "

she forced her eyes open to see bev squatting beside her, looking her over with concern, as she muttered, "thank goodness i forgot my glasses and came back. that guy was attacking you."

"yes," alex agreed, though she couldn't have said if she was agreeing it was good bev had forgotten her glasses and returned, or that, yes, indeed, that man had been attacking her.

"can you get up?" bev asked, glancing nervously around.

realizing that the girl was worried her attacker might return, and that it was a distinct possibility, alex forced herself to uncurl and sit up. bev immediately moved to help her, taking her arm over her shoulder and clutching her about the waist as she stood upright. working together, they managed to get alex upright and on her feet just as second car pulled into the parking lot.

alex glanced toward it, frowning when she recognized cale getting out of the vehicle and hurrying toward them.

"what happened? did you fall on the ice?" he asked with concern, moving to her other side.

"i'm fine," alex said rather than explain.

it was bev who blurted, "someone attacked her."

alex grimaced, and then waved her hand when cale turned sharply on her. she repeated, "i'm fine. bev forgot her glasses and came back and scared him off."

cale glanced around as if prepared to chase after theculprit, but apparently not seeing anyone, he turned back, then paused to bend down, and she heard the jangle of keys. he'd found hers, she realized, as he straightened with them. holding them in one hand, he used his other to catch her chin and tilt her face up to his. "you're bleeding."

alex didn't know how on earth he could tell in the darkness surrounding them, then frowned as she realized just how dark it was. she glanced toward the light over the door that usually lit up half the parking lot.

"what's wrong with the light?" bev asked, glancing that way now herself.

"i don't know. i'm sure i turned it on," alex muttered, and then started to shake her head but pressed a hand to her forehead at the pain that caused. "we'd best go in and get your glasses, bev, so you can get home."

not waiting for an agreement, alex started toward the door, grateful for cale's supporting hand at her arm. her legs were a bit shaky still. at the door, he used her keys and unlocked and pulled it open, then ushered her inside.

"where's the light switch?" cale asked, pausing inside the door.

"i've got it," bev said, and the overheads suddenly flashed to life, making alex wince as the bright light knifed right through her eyes and into her head. she heard the other woman flip another switch several times. "you did have the outside light on, alex, but it's not working. it was on when i left though," she added, a frown in her voice. "maybe the bulb burnt out."

"i'll look at it before we leave," cale said grimly,urging alex forward. she moved willingly enough, but was grateful when he drew her to a halt in the kitchen and didn't make her walk all the way to her office. movement seemed to just exacerbate the pain radiating from the back of her head, and she couldn't hold back a moan when cale suddenly caught her at the waist and lifted her to sit on the counter.

of course, he didn't miss the sound, and she noted the concern that crowded onto his face as he peered her over. when he then began to move his hands through her hair, alex guessed he was looking for a bump, and said, "it's in the back."

cale immediately moved to her side and began to feel around the back of her head. he paused at once when alex sucked in a sharp breath as his fingers found the lump.

"it doesn't appear to be bleeding," he muttered.

"your cheek is bleeding though," bev said, peering at her worriedly.

"i think it was his watch, or a ring," alex said, recalling the sharp pain as his hand had dragged across her face in the struggle.

"you need to go to the hospital," cale decided.

"is the cut that bad?" she asked, reaching instinctively to her cheek, worried it might be some horribly disfiguring wound that would scar.

"no, but the bump on the back of your head is huge and still growing," he said grimly, and then glanced to bev. "could you get some ice and put it in a towel or plastic bag or something? "

"of course," bev murmured and moved off at once.

"i don't need to go to the hospital," alex said quietly. "i didn't lose consciousness or anything. it's just a bump."

"you could have a concussion," cale said firmly. "it's better to have it checked to be sure everything is all right."

"he's right," bev agreed, returning with ice in a baggie. "better to be safe than sorry."

alex rolled her eyes as cale took the bag, but then winced as he pressed it to the back of her head, sending pain radiating outward through her skull again. she bit her lip until it eased a bit, and then let her breath out on a sigh. "fine. i'll stop at the hospital and have it checked out on my way home."

"i shall take you, and then deliver you home if the hospital says it's all right," cale said firmly, and added, "we can call the police about the attack from there."

"why?" alex asked dryly. "the guy is long gone, and i didn't see who it was. i also don't particularly feel like filling out a stack of reports about some mugger they'll never catch."

"was he mugging you?" bev asked doubtfully. "it looked like he was trying to drag you behind the dumpster. i thought it was a rapist when i pulled up."

cale glanced to her sharply. "did you see his face?"

"no," the woman admitted apologetically. "it was dark and it all happened so fast." she shrugged, and then added, "but it could have been peter."

"peter?" cale asked sharply.

"the head chef who quit," alex said on a sigh. "i don't think he'd have done this though."

"i don't know," bev said with a frown. "he was pretty upset the other day when you refused to hire him back. and he did say you'd be sorry."

alex frowned at the suggestion.

"come on." cale caught her by the waist again and eased her off the counter to stand. "i want to have you checked out."

"i'll come too," bev said, hurrying to her station to grab her glasses. the steam in the kitchen tended to fog them up on her, and she always took them off and set them on the shelf above her station before cooking.

"you don't have to come with us bev," alex said as cale began to urge her toward the back door. "i'm sure i'm fine. you go on home and relax."

when bev hesitated, cale added, "i'll call after we've seen the doctor to let you know if everything is all right or not."

"all right then," bev said reluctantly, and moved past them to open and hold the door for them to exit. she waited with them while cale used alex's keys to lock both doors, and then walked with them across the parking lot to where bev's car still stood, engine running, lights on, and driver's side door open. she's lucky someone didn't drive off with it, alex thought on a sigh.

"at least it will be warm," bev muttered, as they stopped by the open door. she then paused, and said, "please don't forget to call me. i'll be up all night worrying if you don't."

"i won't," cale assured her solemnly. "go on. we'll wait until you set off."

when bev glanced to alex, she caught her hand and gave it a squeeze. "thank you."

bev smiled faintly. "and here it usually annoys you when i forget my glasses and come back."

"never again," alex assured her wryly.

"yes it will, but that's okay," bev said with a chuckle, and gave her a quick hug, then turned and slid into her car. they waited until she'd started her vehicle and set off, then cale urged alex to his rental car. she didn't bother arguing that she could drive herself to the hospital. truthfully, her head ached so badly the idea of squinting against the lights of oncoming night traffic was an unpleasant one. she was grateful to leave the driving to cale.

cale paced the hall outside alex's bedroom for the four hundred and fifty-third time, and then paused before the door and listened. this time rather than miserable sighs or restless rustling, he heard a steady, deep breathing that indicated sleep. he immediately reached for the doorknob and eased the door open just enough to peer in. she was definitely asleep. she lay curled on her side, her hair a mess about her face and her mouth open, a thin line of drool leaking from her mouth.

cale smiled faintly, relieved to see that the lines of pain no longer carved her face. after arriving home, alex had twice assured him she felt fine, and he needn't stay, but those pained lines had told him she was suffering. he eased the door closed again, and then headed downstairs, pulling his phone from his back pocket as he went.

by the time he turned into the kitchen on the main floor, he was punching in bricker's number. cale had called bev before they'd left the hospital to let her know alex was okay and he was taking her home. alex had been standing beside him when he'd made that call; but this call was trickier, and he'd wanted to be sure she was sleeping and wouldn't overhear before making it.

"yo, cale," bricker greeted, answering on the second ring. "to what do i owe the pleasure? don't tell me you've decided to go ahead with my idea of sleeping in the van in front of alex's house? if so, say the word and i'm on the way, buddy."

"no i haven't changed my mind about that," cale said grimly. "and please tell me that tonight was not some bright plan of yours to get alex and me under the same roof."

"tonight?" bricker asked, sounding uncertain. "no, i don't think so. why? what happened?"

"you didn't get one of your buddies to attack alex so that she'd be concussed, and i'd have to stay here the night to watch over her?" cale asked, not really thinking he had but wanting to be sure. bricker seemed to have some wild ideas. he was young enough to forget how fragile mortals were. and while the thought had just been a passing idea of possible culprits behind the attack, once it had slid through his mind, he hadn't been able to shake it. however, bricker's horrified gasp and true shock now were hard to feign, he decided as bricker cursed volubly and quite prolifically over the phone.

"no! of course i didn't have alex attacked just soyou could get your groove on. christ! what kind of man do you take me for? she's sam's sister! not to mention the best damned cook around! jesus! she-is she all right?" he interrupted himself to ask.

"she has a mild concussion. she'll be fine. she's supposed to take it easy for a couple of days though."

bricker grunted and then returned to his rant. "i can't believe you'd think i was behind her being attacked. sitting in a van twiddling my thumbs while you bone up is one thing, but attacking her? no way."

"bone up?" cale asked uncertainly.

"get a boner," the man explained, and then added, "or an erection to those of us too damned old to know modern lingo ... not to mention be able to judge character anymore. you've spent too damned much time alone if you thought i'd-"

"i didn't really," cale said quickly, hoping to bring his rant to an end. "it's just that since it achieved what everyone was so eager to have happen, it occurred to me it might not be an accident."

"well, of course it's not an accident," bricker snapped, still apparently annoyed. "you don't accidentally attack someone, but i can promise i wasn't behind it. and i know mortimer wouldn't do something like that either. as for julius, i don't know him all that well, but i don't think he would ... now, lucian might," he added dryly. "that old hard-ass isn't above doing anything so long as it achieves the wanted end. he'd think nothing of clubbing a gal over the head and dragging her to his cave."

"how did you know she was dragged?" cale askedsuspiciously, drawing a return of anger and another curse from bricker.

"i was speaking metaphorically," bricker spat. "christ, you really do think i'd do that kind of thing. what kind of guy do you take me for?"

"the kind of guy who suggests burning her house down so she has to come stay at my hotel," cale said dryly. it had been one of bricker's many very bad suggestions earlier that night.

"it was a joke! i was joking. man, you old dudes are as lacking in humor as you are in wooing skills," he snapped.

a small silence fell. when bricker spoke again, cale could hear the frown in his voice and knew the man had thought of something.

"i gather you didn't see who it was?" he asked.

"no," cale admitted.

"but it was an immortal?"

cale hesitated. "i can't be sure of that. i didn't see him, and alex didn't say anything that might reveal that it was. what are you thinking?"

bricker was silent so long cale didn't think he'd answer, but then he said reluctantly, "we've been having some trouble with a particular rogue. a nofanger," he added grimly.

cale stiffened. his cousin, decker, had mentioned this at the wedding reception in new york. a no-fanger named leonius had kidnapped and turned decker's life mate, dani, as well as her teenage sister, stephanie, and seemed to want them back.

"i know about leonius from decker," cale said now.

"but what would make you think he'd wish to harm alex?"

"well, one of his sons attacked alex and sam's younger sister, jo, planning to take her back to his father. he seemed to think leonius would enjoy gaining a little revenge on us through her." he let that sink in and then added, "it's possible this is the same thing. not likely," he added quickly, "but possible."

cale frowned. "i don't know. she has had an awful run of bad luck lately, and i've been wondering if it was all connected."

"yeah, she has," bricker agreed, and then said, "but i don't think leonius or his sons would bother with the little problems she's been having."

"those little problems damn near ruined her," cale murmured, thinking about all the wrong deliveries and defecting employees.

"maybe, but leonius isn't the kind of guy who seeks revenge by ruining people. his type of revenge is more a rape-and-torture-type deal."

"bev said alex's assailant was trying to drag alex behind the dumpster."

"trying, huh?" bricker said thoughtfully. "not likely an immortal then. any one of us could pick her up with one hand and take her wherever we want her to go. hell, we wouldn't even have to pick her up, we could make her go where we want with mind control ... well, the rest of us could. not you, of course."

"hmm," cale murmured, but the revenge business was still in his head. now that he was thinking it, this whole situation reminded him a great deal of the eventsleading up to the deaths of his father and brothers. they'd suffered a lot of accidents prior to the ambush as well: defective weapons, suddenly wild horses throwing their riders, and fires. they later realized that those "accidents" were all due to his father's competitor, who had been working himself up to the ambush that killed cale's father and so many of his brothers.

"i'll talk to mortimer and see what he thinks, and then get back to you tomorrow. in the meantime, you should really get to sleep and get those shared dreams going."

cale grimaced at the suggestion, and reminded him, "she has a splitting headache, bricker."

"i thought that was a married woman's complaint?" bricker responded quickly, and then laughed at his own joke as he hung up.

cale shook his head and snapped his phone closed with a sigh. justin bricker was an annoying little punk. and cale was actually starting to like him.

running a hand through his hair, he glanced around the kitchen. alex had said to make himself at home. it was a good thing since he was now hungry ... and for more than food. unfortunately, alex wouldn't have a couple of pints of o positive around. she would have food though. cale would settle for that for now. he wasn't sure how much of the cramping in his stomach was for food and how much was a need for blood. if the food helped, he'd hold out until morning. if not, he'd have to call and see if a special delivery could be made.

cale moved to the cupboards and began opening them. there was loads of food, but it all seemed to bein boxes or cans with cooking involved. he wasn't in the mood to try that again, so tried the refrigerator next. he'd struck gold. there were several premade meals inside, all merely needing a moment or so in the microwave. cale had seen alex use the microwave at the new restaurant several times. she'd brought him lunch every day this last week when she'd checked in to see how things were going, and he'd watched her pop them in the microwave and punch buttons to set it working. he could do that.

cale chose a plate of lasagne, set it in the microwave, and then peered at the panel. it took him a couple of tries, but then he figured out that he had to hit cook, how long he wanted it to cook for, and then the start button to work the machine. sighing with satisfaction as the microwave began to hum, cale stepped back, and then reached for his phone when it rang.

"yeah," bricker said as soon as cale said hello. "so lucian happened to come in as i was telling mortimer about alex's being attacked, and then sam overheard part of the conversation, and now they both want-hey!"

there was a rustling, and then lucian barked, "i'm sending bricker over to read alex's mind and see if she caught a glimpse of her attacker. if it's an immortal, i want to know."

"she said she didn't see him," cale said calmly.

"she's a mortal with a head wound," lucian said dryly. "she doesn't know what she knows."

"right," cale said on a sigh, and then thought to ask, "if bricker's coming over, have him bring some blood."

lucian grunted what might have been agreement, and then apparently handed the phone to sam because her voice was the next to speak.

"bricker said alex was all right. she is, isn't she?" she asked anxiously.

"she's fine," cale said soothingly, glancing toward the microwave when a small popping sound came from inside. the saran wrap covering the dish had swollen like a balloon and now had tomato sauce splashed inside as if the sauce were boiling and bubbling, though it didn't appear to be.

"bricker said she had a concussion," sam said, reclaiming his attention.

"a mild concussion, yes," he admitted. "but she never lost consciousness, so they said it was all right for her to come home so long as she took it easy for the next couple of days, and there was someone here to keep an eye on her, which i'm doing," he assured her. "i've checked on her several times already and intend to continue checking on her through the night. i'll also stick around and keep an eye on her tomorrow."

"good," sam breathed, and then asked worriedly, "she's supposed to take it easy the next couple of days? what about the restaurant?"

"i guess i'll have to find someone to cook for her tomorrow night," cale said with a sigh, wondering who the hell he would find for that.

"good luck with that," sam said dryly, and then warned, "even if you do find someone to replace her at the restaurant, i don't envy you trying to make her takeit easy. she's not a good patient. she'll fret at staying in tomorrow."

"well, the doctor said she was to take it easy, so she'll just have to take it easy," cale said grimly. "we can stay in and watch movies or something."

"yes, well i recommend you start with that, but if she gets stubborn, suggest antiquing," sam told him.

"antiquing?" he asked with surprise.

"yes. just look around you. alex loves antiquing, and it's not very strenuous. she'll walk slowly through the shops to look at everything, and you can recommend breaks for coffee and lunch between each place."

cale didn't have to glance around. he had noticed several antiques when he'd followed alex in earlier. he'd never heard of antiquing before, but guessed it was buying old stuff and supposed he could bear it to keep alex from doing anything too strenuous.

"bricker's ready to head over, and he wants his phone back, but would you mind calling me tomorrow to let me know how she is? or have her call?" sam asked.

"yes, of course," cale said, giving a start as a much louder pop sounded from inside the microwave. turning, he saw that the plastic had burst and tomato was now splattered on the door's glass window. he started toward the microwave, but paused as bricker's voice sounded over the phone.

"i'll be there as quick as i can, but it will probably take forty-five minutes or so to cross town," he announced.

cale grunted in response and continued on to the microwave, peering in with worry at what was supposed to be his meal.

"is there anything you want me to bring with me or pick up on the way?" bricker asked.

cale peered at the mess inside the microwave, but shook his head, and said, "no thanks. there's plenty of food and coffee here."

"right. see you soon then," bricker said.

cale nodded and hung up before he realized his nod wouldn't have been seen. shrugging, he slid the phone into his pocket and peered at the microwave panel, searching for the button to shut it off. he'd check his lasagne, clean the inside of the machine and put it on for another ten minutes if it wasn't done. he'd put a different cover on it though. unfortunately, while he'd watched her press buttons, he hadn't really paid much attention to what alex used to heat things up in the microwave, but it seemed obvious he needed something heavier than that plastic wrap. maybe a plastic lid would be better, he thought as he spotted a button labeled clear/stop and pressed it.