Title: Second Chances (part III/?)
Author: BELOVEDbyWAR
Pairing: Henry/Mike
Rating: PG-13
TV verse: Blood Ties
Disclaimer: Not mine, not making any money.
Warnings: homoerotic content
Summary: The night after. How will they react?
Beta: luvinmike
WK: 1304

Second Chances III:

When Henry first awoke, he did not recall how he ended up in the small, dark room packed with gardening tools.

Then he remembered last night's events. He was in the basement of the house of Mike's old friend. The hunters had been able to track him due to an electronic tracking device.

If it weren't for Mike, he most certainly would be ash by now.

Mike – Detective Michael Celluci…

Henry had not thought he would ever see the headstrong blond again and, to be honest, had not been all too dismayed about it.

The tall man was only another reminder of his failed attempt at love with Vicki and the wound was still fresh.

Furthermore, they had not exactly been friendly, even if they had come to a reluctant truce at the end. Mike had never fully trusted the prince and had continuously challenged him.

Maybe his spirit, his refusal to acknowledge the vampire's superiority, had been the real sticking point between them.

Mike had only occasionally treated him like an equal and had given Henry more often than not the feeling of being something less because he was not a human. Deep inside, that had hurt. Even though Henry may be a vampire, he was not a monster!

Yesterday, Mike had been different. There had been no animosity, no barely concealed dislike. Instead there had been a strong, assertive man taking command of the situation.

And also - something else.

Henry had from time to time caught glimpses of this side of the man when Mike thought himself alone with Vicki. It was a softer, warmer side, protective of his own and – he hardly dared to say it – loving.

Yet, in the few hours, the vampire had seen a side of the other man he had never really seen before. The memory of that tall, strong body bucking beneath him, the hot delicious blood filling and healing him, warmed his vampire heart and fueled a hunger for more.

But would Mike be the same man he was yesterday or would he be back to his old, hostile ways the next time they were together?

A shuffle from outside and the turn of a key announced the arrival of said man. Soon Henry would have his answer.

Although Mike had had the whole day to think about what happened last night and how to proceed come sunset, he was still as nervous as he had been after the adrenalin had worn off.

Being early spring, it had not been too difficult to keep his friend from going in the cellar. To be honest, Tony only tried to do so once and that was to fetch some drinks from the basement where he stored them. Mike gracefully offered to do so for him.

And the explanation as to why Mike had not stayed out with his friend was easily sidestepped by mentioning that Henry would come visit tonight instead because something came up, which was essentially not even a lie. After all, attempted murder could be called something and, well, visiting he was already doing.

So, the only things making him anxious were last night's events and his own sudden change of perspective.

Last night had happened so quickly. He saw Henry get hurt and from that moment on he acted as if on autopilot: save the victim, treat his wounds, and get him to safety.

The closeness the night had brought with it puzzled him to no end.

How should he act? He couldn't remember even remotely liking the bastard before, but last night all he had felt was concern. And, unlike the incident with the priest, it was not out of a guilty conscious. It was heartfelt. He had not wanted to see the vampire hurt anymore. He had even given him his blood despite the terror he felt only thinking about the Mendoza incident.

But this time had been completely different!

There had been no pain at all, not even a slight prick as Henry's fangs penetrated his flesh. It had been pure bliss. So much that, to his utmost embarrassment, he had become aroused but soon he had not cared anymore.

All he could do had been to feel and enjoy. And enjoy he did! So much that he had shamelessly rubbed himself against the vampire. It had not mattered anymore! Not the knowledge that his partner was male… not that he was not human… hell, not even the feeling of another prick against his own had mattered anymore!

It had all come down to a feeling of belonging, a connection, and an escape from loneliness!

If this had been how Vicki had felt, Mike could understand her willingness to offer herself as a recovery snack.

Vicki… No, he would not go that route again. She had proven that she did not need him anymore and that was fine by him. He wished her the best and hoped she would eventually find her significant other; the same wish he longed for himself.

It had been a long time since he had been interested in any female companionship. After Vicki, they all seemed to lack certain necessary characteristics or were simply too innocent for his sarcastic, old self. He felt burned out, used, and simply older than his years.

Mike had hoped that a change of scenery would rekindle his former passion for life and as it would seem last night's events had if not revived, then at least revitalized, some of his former self. The whole rescue had been exiting and he felt renewed, similar to when the three of them had hunted the supernatural and life had still had meaning for him.

Who would have thought it was the undead that Mike needed to be brought back to life!

Mike still felt unsure about the whole kissing thing, though he could understand his body's need. After all, he was only human and it had really been a long time since he had last felt another's touch. But the kiss had felt even more intimate than the physical pleasure Henry had shown him, even if they had not had the chance to finish what they started.

Still, it had felt right at the moment and he had to thank his Italian genes for being impulsive when his passions were once awoken. Try as he might, he did not feel sorry.

It was only a kiss after all.

It did not mean he was gay, or something…

Only that he had felt in the mood and Fitzroy had certainly not complained. He had kissed him twice even before that! It had brought them closer and instilled a companionship they had needed. That was all!

So why did he feel so strangely giddy now that he found himself in front of the storage room door? Tony had gone shopping, - thank the Lord for small mercies – leaving Mike time to free sleeping beauty. Or would it be the beast?

Maybe that was Mike's biggest concern. How would the vampire react? Would they keep their truce or rediscover their previous rivalry? The blond detective wished for the first. And holding his breath, he was greeted by the intense, searching gaze of the ex-prince of England.

Said gaze soon changed into that of ravenous hunger and passion after Henry inhaled his scent. Mike found himself on his back, black eyes pleading him to allow it to happen, which he only too willingly did.

Baring his throat and folding his arms around the small of the vampire's back, Mike whispered:

"Do it."

The last thing he consciously registered was a soft whimper and a deep almost carnal groan that sounded suspiciously like his name before sensation took him away and he once again felt more alive than he had in the past few years.