Nick dropped Willow off at the precinct to see the sketch artist, leaving her with strict orders not to go anywhere until he got back. Before leaving the precinct to follow up on his lead, he first checked the police database for anyone by the name of T. Acton living on Rushbrook Street.

Surprisingly, what Nick found seemed to confirm what Aaron had told him. There was a house on Rushbrook Street that was owned by a Tobias Acton. The house had apparently been handed down from father to son, remaining in the family for over a century, but there wasn't much else known. The man in question was apparently independently wealthy and a known philanthropist who had made a few generous donations toward medical research of one kind of another, along with the upkeep of a specific grave in the local cemetery - one shared by a Mrs. Lorelei Acton, nee Bishop, born 1801, died 1832, and a child, Elizabeth Acton, born 1825, died 1832. None of this information told Nick much about the man and even less about why he might have been wanted to send Nick a message, threatening or otherwise.

With a final kiss to Willow and a promise to be careful, he snagged a patrolman to accompany him, and off they went in search of one Tobias Acton.

The house itself was, as Aaron had said, the big one. Compared with the others on the street, it towered, four storeys of Victorian grandeur, and just as Aaron had said, there were shutters closed fast over every window. There was little sign that the place was inhabited, aside from the tracks leading to the garage that obviously housed a car of some kind, and the footprints in the snow leading to and from the house itself. Mr. Tobias Acton evidently not only had money, but came from money as well. But there was nothing there to prove that he had anything to do with the incident that morning.

Nick gazed at the house from the patrol car, knowing in his gut that this was the place, but now that he'd found it, the mystery only deepened further. Who was Tobias Acton and why had he sent Nick a note that seemed to warn him that someone was watching him' Why did Nick's safety interest him and, perhaps more disturbingly, how did this Acton know someone was stalking him' The more answers Nick found, the more questions those answers raised. After a moment's contemplation, he decided there was only one way to find. "Stay here, and if I'm not back in one hour, call for backup," he instructed the patrolman before climbing out of the car. He had a feeling this Acton character wouldn't take kindly to Nick bringing a stranger into his home.

He was certainly right about that. No invitation had been extended, after all; Nick was probably pushing his luck just being here in the first place. As he climbed out of the car, however, there was the first sign that there was life in the house after all. The front door opened, and from the shadow that fell over the porch emerged a woman, middle-aged and red-cheeked in the cold, a handbag tucked securely over her shoulder. "I'll see you tomorrow, Mr. Acton," she called over her shoulder. "Thank you again!"

From inside the door came a male chuckle, and an answer in a cultured tone. "Do stop thanking me, Dora. Just make the most of it!"

Nick wasn't there to chit chat with the woman exiting the house, and only nodded a greeting as he passed her on his way up the walk to the porch. At least, he knew the man in question was at home. Hopefully, he'd be willing to talk to him. He wasn't a suspect, after all. Nick just wanted some answers. "Hello!" he called, before the door could be shut in his face.

Perhaps oddly, the man of the house did not come out onto his porch to greet the detective, remaining in the doorway. He was just as Willow had described - dark hair, greenish eyes, handsome face, looking to be in his late thirties, his clothes of a superior cut and tailored to perfection. He lounged in the doorway, hands in his pockets, seemingly unconcerned by Nick's appearance. "Good morning," he said pleasantly. "Can I help you?"

"I'm Nick Gregory," Nick replied as he came to a halt on the porch, just outside the door. The man fit Willow's description. He was handsome, by most standards, and about the same age as Nick, though there was something odd about him that Nick couldn't quite put his finger on. "You tell me."

The man's eyes focused on his, somehow sharper, more intense in his gaze than he should have been. "Your wife is somewhere safe, I assume," he said quietly, low enough that only Nick could hear him. "If not, I would recommend that you make certain of it before spending time on me."

Nick's only reaction to the man's inquiry was a curious arch of a eyebrow, but his reply was as calm as it might be were they only discussing something as mundane as the weather. "She's safe. May I come in?"

A flicker of approval made itself known in the other man's eyes, radiating out from him in such a way as to encourage Nick to feel pleased with himself for having common sense. He nodded, pushing out of his lounge against his own doorframe. "Of course, detective. Do come in." Turning, he stepped into the confines of the house, clearly expecting Nick to follow him.

Nick frowned thoughtfully as he followed the man into the house. He noticed the flicker of approval in the other man's eyes, as well as the fact that he already knew who Nick was and that he was a detective, despite not having been told that. He apparently knew where Nick and Willow had spent the night. What else did he know, Nick wondered.

Despite the lack of natural light in the house, the place was as light and airy as possible, an effect achieved with carefully placed lighting in specialized positions throughout the place. Mr. Tobias Acton, for that was indeed who Nick's new companion was, led the way into a spacious living room, gesturing toward a luxurious looking couch. "Please, take a seat," he said with disarming charm, lowering himself to the edge of an equally luxurious looking armchair. "I imagine you have questions. I hope you were not too hard on young Aaron."

"You've been expecting me, haven't you?" Nick asked, not wasting any time beating around the bush as he followed the man into the house. He glanced to the couch, but remained standing. "You knew the note would lead me to Aaron and Aaron would lead me to you. Why' What do you want' And how do you know who I am?"

Tobias chuckled gently. "Believe it or not, Detective Gregory, I want to help you," he said, as though it were the most natural thing in the world. "You have been making progress in your investigation, have you not' The one you are hunting is now hunting you, and he is making no attempt to hide that fact. He is dangerous, and he is out for blood. Had you not removed yourself and your neighbors from your home last night, I believe he would have gained access. The death of the dog was regrettable, but there was no other way for me to warn you of the danger. I did not mean to frighten your wife. I was merely attempting to be certain she was safe and alone within your apartment."

Now this bit of news pissed the nearly unflappable Nick Gregory off just a bit, especially the mention of his wife. "You were the one who was prowling around outside my house last night' You were the one who killed the dog and scared the hell out of my wife?" And like most men who jump to conclusions when the safety of the one they loved most was involved, so did Nick. He balled his hands into fists, though he remained where he was, jaw clenching in barely-repressed anger. "Who the hell do you think you are, and what do you mean the one I'm hunting is hunting me" I could have you arrested for what you did last night!"

"That is a long tale." Tobias paused, returning to his own seat, putting himself on eye level with his guest. Neither one of them had yet spoken aloud of the creatures they were discussing - of what he himself actually was. It seemed to go without saying, but there was no doubt that it would be said if he went on. "Longer than you may be comfortable to remain here. Perhaps you should speak with your companion outside before we begin."

"How do I know you won't decide to kill me once he's gone?" Nick countered, curious, but not quite trusting of Tobias just yet. He could just as easily be lying as telling the truth, and there was no proof he himself wasn't the killer, and yet, if he really wanted to kill him, he probably would have done it already.

Again, this brought a chuckle from the throat of the man sitting across from him. "My dear boy, if I wanted you dead, I would have done it myself last night," Tobias reminded Nick cheerfully. "Or I could have killed both you and your wife this morning. I venture to point out that on both occasions you were entirely too vulnerable for comfort, and on neither occasion did any harm come to either of you."

"What would you have me do' Wear a cross around my neck and hang some garlic in the window?" Nick replied, sarcastically. It wasn't that he didn't believe the story that was being told him or the proof that was slowly mounting up, but he wasn't really sure how much of the myths and legends were true and how much were nothing more than old wives' tales.

"What I would have you do is drop the case and move yourself and your wife out of the country by the end of the week," Tobias informed him, so utterly serious that it was impossible to find humor in his statement. "But I don't think you're going to do it, are you?"

Nick frowned in annoyance and worry. He had been thinking about doing just that, though not outside the country. It would take both time and money, both of which he was lacking. On the other hand, he was willing to do everything in his power to keep his wife safe. "We've been talking about moving," he admitted, not revealing any more than that.

"To Europe," Tobias made it absolutely clear. "There are systems in place in Europe that have existed for as long as we have, systems that prevent rogues from targeting any individual, from drawing attention to us. America is too young, and too populated by those who wish to exist outside those rules to be entirely safe."

"You're asking me to give up everything we've built here to move to a place where we don't know anyone, don't have jobs, or even a place to stay. I don't know about you, but I don't have those kinds of resources. We've saved a little money, but not enough for that kind of a move. We'd be broke in a year," Nick pointed out. "There's one thing that doesn't make sense to me," he started, changing the subject, at least momentarily. "If you are what they are, shouldn't you be trying to help them, not me?"

"Let me put it to you in terms you will understand," Tobias said sharply, obviously offended by Nick's insistence on lumping everyone into a general view. "You are human. Hitler was a human. If he were alive today, would you be on his side, simply because you both share humanity?"

Nick didn't have to think too hard or long on that, replying simply, "Point taken." He moved to his feet, not because he was getting ready to leave, but because he sensed this conversation was going to take a lot longer than the hour he'd told the patrolman. "Would you excuse me" I need to step outside a moment."

"Of course. Take whatever time you need." Tobias nodded to him, rising to his own feet and moving into what was presumably the kitchen, no doubt to occupy his time while Nick was otherwise engaged.

Nick made his way back through the house to the front door and out onto the porch. It had been two years since he'd quit smoking, but what he wouldn't have given for a cigarette right about then. He pushed that thought from his mind and started toward the patrol car, leaning down to speak with the patrolman for a few minutes and let him know he could be on his way and that he'd call when he was through for a ride back to the station. Nick watched as the car pulled away, glancing back at the old Victorian house a moment, before yanking his cellphone from his pocket to dial Willow's number.

The phone rang twice before it was answered, proof that Willow had been holding it in her hand rather than leaving it in the bottomless depths of her bag as she usually did. "Hey, baby," she answered it, sounding relieved. "Are you okay?"

"Hey," he replied, just as relieved to hear her voice as she was to hear his. "Yeah, I'm okay, but this is gonna take longer than I expected. I don't think we should spend another night in that hotel. I hate to ask you this, but can you stay at the precinct until I'm done here" I don't want you going out alone, especially not at night."

She sighed softly. "I guess," she agreed reluctantly. "Not the perfect place to spend the day, but maybe someone'll let me help out with something. I didn't even bring a book."

"I know. I'm sorry, baby, but it can't be helped. I'll explain later. I'll be there as soon as I can, but it might be a few hours. I sent Evans back with the car. He's at your beck and call all day. Anything you need, ask him. If he gives you a hassle, he answers to me." He switched ears, glancing back at the house again and the surrounding neighborhood, getting the feeling he was being watched, though he knew it was ridiculous. "How's it going with the sketch artist"'

"Oh, that's okay, I know Evans." Again, Willow sounded relieved, glad to have been given a shadow she was at least familiar with. At the mention of the sketch artist, she snorted derisively, almost audibly rolling her eyes. "Are you sure this guy isn't just some art graduate you picked up because he couldn't get a job anywhere else? Seriously, I tell him a detail, and he fudges it so badly ....this sketch is going to look like Quasimodo."

"Do your best, but it might not matter. I'm close to cracking this." Or more accurately, being told just who it was they should be watching out for. "I can't tell you much more than that right now, but it's really important that you stay indoors, especially at night. Have you got that, Willow" If I'm not back by dark, wait there, and don't go anywhere alone, hear me?"

"I've got it, Nick," she told him, resigned to taking orders for now. "Nowhere alone after dark, wait for you if you're not back, stay indoors. I hope you're taking your own advice there, Kringle."

"Nowhere alone at all, but especially not after dark," he corrected her. "I don't think we're dealing with your run of the mill serial killer here, Will. If I'm right, we're dealing with something far more sinister and dangerous." He made no comment regarding his own safety, needing to make sure she understood the danger she was in first and foremost.

"Would you like me to lock myself in your office and hide under the desk?" she asked him rather pointedly. Though she seemed to have a mild manner, rarely displaying much in the way of passionate emotions, she did understand that there was danger to her, and she didn't like it when Nick spoke down to her, whether he meant to or not. "Or maybe I should swear an oath right here and now to do whatever you tell me to do' Or just maybe you can trust me not to be an idiot."

"Uh, yeah..." Nick replied, not really getting it, though he'd gone through a brief period when he was quitting smoking where he couldn't be without something to keep his mouth busy. Nicotine gun had become his crutch of choice, until he was finally able to give that up, too. He leaned over to pour himself a cup of coffee, black, no cream or sugar. Whether he preferred it that way, or just wanted the full effects of the caffeine kick was hard to say. "So, tell me, why was that woman here earlier and why was she thanking you?"

Tobias looked nonplussed for a moment before he smiled. "Oh, Dora is my housekeeper," he explained without reserve. "Her husband was in an accident a few months ago, and medical bills do stack up. I may have accidentally paid for the best course of physiotherapy I could find."

"Accidentally, right," Nick said, taking a sip of the coffee before setting it on the table at his side. "And Dora knows what you are?" he asked, curiously. He was starting to get the impression that there was far more to the man seated before him than met the eye.

"Of course." There was a suggestion that the thought of having an employee who didn't know the truth about him was utterly inconceivable. Tobias shrugged. "It must seem very strange to you, detective, but secrecy is as much a millstone as it is a shield. If I am to continue as I am, then some people must know the truth about me."

Nick accepted this without argument, as it seemed to make perfect sense, but once again, each answer only led to more questions. How had he become what he was" Why didn't he need to sleep during the day' And perhaps most perplexing of all, how had he survived all this time and why hadn't this other....creature....tried to destroy him' But one thing at a time. Nick took up one of the little sandwiches, looking it over as if to ensure it was actually edible.

"I assure you, Nick, there is nothing in there that Dora would not happily eat herself," his host informed him as he inspected the sandwich suspiciously. "I myself fed two nights ago, you need not concern yourself with your safety. You wanted to know my story ....Well, as I have said, it is a long one, and a tragedy, at that. Hardly on the same level as Shakespeare, I'll grant you." He settled himself more comfortably. "I was born on October the fourth, 1799, right here on this land. My father, also Tobias, was a highly respected member of the community, elected to the seat of mayor when I was seventeen. I am telling you this so you may verify it later."

"Hold the phone," Nick reluctantly interrupted. "Fed" And what - or should I say who - exactly did you feed on?" he asked, pointedly. Unexplained deaths involving blood-drained humans was precisely how he'd gotten involved in all this in the first place, and he wanted to know just what the man fed himself on if not human blood. Rabbits, perhaps" Gerbils"

"His name is Harold Wilmer," Tobias told him, again holding nothing back. "He lives at 27, Lexington Avenue, and he is one of many people within this city who acts as ....I am inclined to call them donors. His blood was given willingly, Detective Gregory, and as I am sure you will discover when you check on him, he is still very much alive. As I said, I have not willingly taken a human life in almost two hundred years."

"A donor," Nick echoed, arching a curious brow. "How much blood do you need to live exactly' And if you don't have to kill for it, then why are dead bodies popping up around the city on a daily basis?" He was not accusing the man - or whatever he was - of lying, but if he didn't have to kill to sustain his life, why did others"

"It is not necessary to drain a person to the point of death in order to feed, Nick," Tobias told him firmly. "Not necessary at all. Those who do kill for the pleasure of it, the power it gives them. They feed as much on the fear of their victims as the blood they steal. Indeed, there are some of us who feed only on animal blood, but alas, this is not an option that is open to me at this point."

"Why's that?" Nick asked, curious again. If he was going to hunt this....thing....he was going to need to know as much as he could. Though he hadn't talked to Willow about it yet, he was leaning more toward fighting than running. Running was for cowards, and he was no coward.

"It is a matter of strength," the older man said carefully, needing to make this point clear without unduly unnerving his companion. "Animal blood, while perfectly suitable, weakens us to the point where we might as well be human again. If I am to fight my enemy, then I must be as strong as he is. To do that, I must drink human blood. Because I need not expend energy to subdue my donors, I need not feed so much as he. Am I making myself clear?"

"Yeah," Nick replied, biting into one of the sandwiches finally, pleasantly surprised by the flavor. "Okay, so..." he started, pausing a moment to chew and swallow that bit of sandwich. "Why hasn't he tried to kill you? Or is that what he came back for?"

"He got what he came for, that first time we met," Tobias sighed, and in that sigh was the weight of his years, the pain and anger he carried for one act so very long ago. "He destroyed me, the one man who stood against him at that time. He thinks me defeated, long gone. I cannot reveal myself to him too soon, or he will defeat me again."

It seemed they had circled back around to the beginning again, and Nick knew if he wanted to hear Tobias' whole story, he'd have to hold off on the questions until the man was finished with the telling. "Okay, why don't you start from the beginning again?" he asked, before popping the rest of that sandwich into his mouth.

Tobias seemed to laugh a little at this concession to curiosity, forming his thoughts before he began again. "When I was twenty years old, I joined the police force," he told Nick calmly. "At twenty-one, I met and fell in love with a beautiful girl named Lorelei. I loved her very much, but she was poor, of no background. My mother, in particular, was always very vocal in her low opinion of the woman I married, something I doubt ever helped to cement any real sense of family in my wife. But we did marry, and a few years later, we were blessed with a daughter, Elizabeth. Over time, I rose through the ranks, and eventually I became a detective. I was happy in my work, and in my home. I had good standing, a fine reputation, and a family I adored. I was very much like you."

Except for the daughter part, maybe. Nick and Willow had not yet been blessed with a child, though they had been considering a family, if only lately. He nodded his understanding, encouraging the man to continue without interruption.

"Then, in my third year as a detective, I was set to investigate a series of deaths," Tobias went on, moving quickly to the meat of his tragedy. "The poor of our community were living in terror. Something was stalking them at night, stealing their children, their wives, draining them of blood and leaving their bodies for anyone to find. Each time there was little in the way of evidence. What few descriptions we were given could have been of anyone. But we did have one conspicuously new face in town. He was calling himself Count Josef Christopherson, citing a family line that originated in Sweden. I had met him a few times. He was very charming, very distinctive in appearance. But I never saw him during the hours of daylight. My suspicions were first aroused when it was noted by my clerk that several of the victims were related to the staff of this count's lodgings. At one crime scene we discovered a gold cigarette case, dented and gripped tightly in the hand of the man who had been killed. It had been bought here, in the city, and the man who had bought it had said it was for Count Josef Christopherson.

Nick expected he might say that, and though he had not discussed it with Willow yet, running away didn't sit well with him. He considered a long moment before replying, choosing his words carefully, neither agreeing or disagreeing with the vampire's plan, until he had a change to discuss it with his wife. "You're right. We're not so very different. I got into police work because I wanted to help people, because I wanted to keep them safe from all the crazies out there. Josef is just another case, just another crazy. If I walk away now, if I turn my back on the people of this city, how am I any better than him?"

"You'll have a pulse," Tobias pointed out bluntly. "And your wife will be safe. I make no threats, nor do I make any promises. Yes, there is more than just me keeping the peace the police don't know about, but we are constrained, and we cannot be everywhere at once. Nick, put your pride to one side and think about what I have told you. Josef Christopherson delights in the dealing of death and pain. He is stronger than you, he holds Lorelei over my head. You are a good man, and you are in his way. He will enjoy destroying you, as he destroyed me."

Once again, Nick quietly considered the other man's words. Man, not vampire, deeming that no matter what Tobias had become, he was at heart still more man than monster - ironically, perhaps even more human or humane than many people he knew. "There's only one thing in this world more important to me than justice, than vengeance, than my job, than anything, and that is the safety of my wife. We've been talking about leaving the city, about starting over somewhere else, buying a house, raising a family. I wanted to finish this case first, but if you really think she's in that much danger, then there's only one thing to do and that's leave."

Relief made itself known in Tobias' old eyes as he nodded in approval. "I can have you both out of the country within two days," he told Nick, moving to the edge of his seat. "If you and your wife are willing, you are welcome to stay here, in this house, until the time comes for you to leave. Do not concern yourself with money or contacts - you have been paying me rent for the last five years, I will not charge you for such an abrupt departure. I have contacts of my own in Europe I can refer you to who will assist you in finding work when you arrive there. But you will be safe, Nick. That is all that matters."

For perhaps the first time since Tobias' eyes had turned yellow, warning Nick that he was no mere mortal, a look of stunned surprise made itself known on Nick's face. Apparently, the man - no, vampire - had been keeping an eye on Nick and Willow for years, like some secret benefactor or guardian angel, even. Now that Nick knew the whole story, this didn't shock him so much as did the invitation to let them stay there a few days and the offer to pay all their expenses, at least until they were settled and able to support themselves again. It went against Nick's nature to accept such kindness, such generosity, such charity even, and yet, for Willow's sake, he really had no choice, at least, until the danger had passed. And that brought him to yet another question. "What are you going to do about Josef" He needs to be destroyed."

"Yes, he does," Tobias agreed. "I have a plan, but in order to put it into action, I need the agreement of the council here in the city. We do not, as a rule, invite trouble to come and visit, but in this case, the trouble I propose inviting may well be worth the risk."

Nick arched a brow, surprised again by this bit of information. "The council" You mean of vampires," he filled in the blank, somewhat skeptically, despite all Tobias had told him.

The vampire chuckled as Nick suddenly regained skepticism. "You're not quite ready for that information," he smiled, lifting his head slowly. His eyes seemed to focus on something a long way away for a brief moment before suddenly snapping back to Nick's face. "We have talked too long. By the time your patrolman returns with your ride, it will be dark."

Though he wanted to know more, from the look on the detective's face, it was true that he was not quite ready to know about all about the things that went bump in the night. It was too much, too soon. Like most mortals, he needed time to let it all sink in. Nick's gaze strayed toward the windows, but it did him no good as they were so heavily curtained as to not let in so much as a speck of light. He suddenly felt a little stifled within the dark confines of the old Victorian, a strange desire to step out into the daylight and breathe the cold wintry air, reminding him he was human. He wanted to see Willow again and know that she was, indeed, safe. He wanted to kiss her sweet lips and take her as far away from this place as possible. He moved to his feet, pausing a moment to snag another sandwich at the insistent rumbling in his stomach. "How do I contact you?" he asked, as he stuffed the sandwich in his mouth and reached for his cellphone to call Evans and summon him back to pick him up.

"I have a cell," Tobias told him, though the way he said it, it seemed as though he'd been a little later than the rest of the world in accepting that he probably needed a cell phone. He rose to his feet, scribbling a number onto a piece of paper which was pushed into Nick's hand. "Bring your wife back here. Between us, she will be safe."

"She's not gonna like it," Nick remarked, though in all honesty, he didn't like it much either. He took the slip of paper and immediately entered it into his contacts, hesitating a moment before naming the entry simply T, rather than Tobias. He shoved the slip of paper in his pocket to dispose of later and reached for the cup of coffee to take a last swig to wash the sandwich down. "If I'm gonna get back here before dark, I gotta get going," Nick remarked, noticing the time on his cell phone with some alarm. He'd given Willow orders to stay put, until he got back. Hopefully, she'd had the sense to listen. He dialed Evans' first. The sooner he told him to get back here, the better.

"I'll make up one of the rooms and have some of your belongings transferred here while you are gone," Tobias nodded. "If you need me, if at any time you feel unsafe, call me. I will come as quickly as I am able."

Nick nodded his head to acknowledge Tobias as he started toward the front door, his head tilted into the phone that was pressed against his ear, his voice heard first asking about his wife's safety before instructing him to come back around to pick him up. He didn't bother to offer any thanks to the vampire, not yet anyway. As unbelievable and unlikely as the vampire's story sounded, somehow Nick knew in his gut that he was telling the truth. Now it was just a matter of convincing Willow without her freaking out. ((Will Nick and Willow be able to escape the vampires to live happily ever after? Stay tuned to find out! Humongously humongous thanks to Willow's awesomely awesome player! :D ))