"Yes, I'm with Jackson."
"Hey, Skippy, looking a little peaked there. Don't forget to take your iron pills."
Connor frowned at Sarah. "You couldn't even wait until morning?"
Jackson laughed. "Don't blame her; I could see it all over her face."
He sat next to Sarah, giving her a peck on the cheek. "What's up?"
"Jackson's fangs aren't working."
"Really? Can that happen?"
"Well, it's just with Elisabeth."
"Hmm, maybe it's because she doesn't know yet and you feel guilty."
"One night of vamp sex and you're a friggin' expert now, huh?"
Sarah broke in, "He might have a point you know."
"I hardly think that after all this time my fangs have suddenly developed a conscience."
"Yes, but you've never felt this way about anyone before."
"Christ. I don't know, maybe you're right. I'm tired of thinking about it. It is what it is and I'll just have deal with it." He was really more concerned about explaining things to Elisabeth than anything else. Connor started chuckling, and Jackson glared at him. "I'm glad you find this amusing."
"No, sorry. I just thought of something else."
"Please share, I could use a laugh."
"I don't think so. I value my life too much."
Jackson rolled his eyes. "I won't kill you, just spit it out."
"Well, I wonder if they have Viagra for vampires." Sarah and Connor cracked up. Lucky for them, Jackson's cell rang. It was Elisabeth.
He bounded up the stairs to his room as he answered. No way did he want this conversation overheard. "Hi beautiful."
"Are you all right? Are you ill?"
"No, not at all, just a little crazy I think."
"What do you mean?"
He wracked his brain for excuses that would be plausible. "I guess I owe you an explanation."
"It's just that I'm worried about you."
"No need to worry. I'm fine. Let me see if I can make sense of this for you… I have been fighting very hard to keep my feelings in check so as not to scare you away. Tonight I started to lose control, and panicked. I decided to leave before doing something to upset you."
"Couldn't you tell I wanted you to stay?"
"I wasn't sure, thought it might be wishful thinking on my part."
"Jackson?"
"Yes?"
"Do you want to come back tonight?"
"More than anything."
"I'll be waiting."
He practically flew down the stairs, but didn't make it out the door before Sarah asked where he was going.
"I'm gettin' some, human style."
She clapped her hands. "Oh, goody!"
Approaching Elisabeth's house, Jackson felt rattled with uncertainty. He tried to push it away, but all reason escaped him. No woman had ever affected him this way. There would be no sport here, no games and certainly no manipulation. He was in a place, emotionally, that was totally foreign, and he couldn't begin to predict how this night would unfold.