Pay with Blood (May be R)

Daniel smiled, hearing their friends at the door. He moved into his and Lith's bedroom and started looking for something to wear. He should at least dress up for this a little bit he figured. Besides, he wanted to look good for Lith.

Markus looked into the house when Lith opened the door. Happy to hear that the little ones were coming. It was always a fun event when the children were excited... he couldn't remember the last time he had gone to an official festival... he was a fair bit excited as well.

Daniel emerged from their room dressed up, nothing too special, but it was a tad bit nicer than what he would usually wear. He came out into the room and went to help the girls get around.

Markus watched the two talk for the moment, listening in on where they would be meeting. He nodded when Mera turned around. "Sounds good... tonight should be fun." he said with a little smile.

"No worries... come on you two..." he said scooping both of them up in each arm carrying them to their room. "Lets get you two ready..." he said looking up at both of them.

Markus seen the dress she was picking out and smiled. He knew it looked beautiful on her. He picked out some of his dressier clothes as well. "So how do you usually celebrate this holiday?" he asked. It had been a long while for him.

Daniel carried the girls to their room and started going through their clothes. "Alright... lets see here..." he said to himself. With the girls help, he managed to find good clothes for them. Then he helped them brush their hair, all around just getting them ready.

Markus listened. "It sounds wonderful..." he said. The dancing sounded good to him, he looked at her in her dress, how pretty she looked. He smiled as he finished up himself. "I actually can't remember the last time I've been to an event like this." he said with a little smile. "You look lovely." he said.

Daniel looked up at her, he was practically drooling over her. He managed to keep himself in check though, not wanting to act that way in front of the kids... but still. "You look beautiful..." he said with a little smile. Obviously an understatement.

Markus moved over to her back and helped her with the laces. "Thank you..." he said. As he finished up the last lace, he went down lightly and kissed her neck... "Mmm... we best get going..." he said. "Tonight will be fun..." he said giving her a little smile.

Once more, the girl's presence was the only think keeping Daniel at bay right now. He swallowed lightly and stood up. The girls were ready and heading towards the door. Daniel took Lith's hand as they all headed down the path.

Markus looked down at her and smiled. Holding her hand as they walked, happy to spend this night with her. He walked along the path with her until they reached their meeting place.

Daniel stayed with his family that night, dancing with Lith, having fun, it was a wonderful night... until... he heard the gunfire... the rage... his heart sank when he seen who had recieved the bullet.

Markus watched the calamity happen... it was a wonderful night. He danced with Mera, sneaking a kiss every now and then, looking to her with nothing but love and adoration in his eyes... then... the next thing he knew, she was on the floor... a pool of blood around her. At first he was stunned... to stunned to do anything. He stood, knowing the bullet was meant for him... knowing that he should have been the one to take the bullet. He rushed forward coming to his knees. "Mera... Mera! Oh gods... Oh Luna... please..." he said... he felt tears starting to come from his eyes.

Daniel watched for a moment... seeing a member of his pack... two members of his pack in such pain. His emotions went wild for a moment... from sadness, wondering if Mera would pull though... to anger, to find the man responsible... to fear, his girls... his Lith... it could happen to them... his eyes scanned about for the man who shot.

Markus held her lightly. "You're... you're going to be ok... you're... you... you can't leave me..." he said... he let tears flow down his face... talking, more trying to convince himself than anything. "I'm... I'm alright... Mera... Please... you cant... I... I love you... I love you so much..." he said.

Daniel picked up his girls. "Time to go... come on..." he said, Daniel wasn't playing with them... he couldn't right now... he could only hope that Markus could get the silver out of her before it was too late. He made sure the girls were not facing the scene...

Markus looked down at her, he seen as her eyes started to close. He kissed her lightly and lifted her. Markus didn't say another word... he didn't even know he had a voice to speak... he knew that... there was a chance... a small chance... but that didn't matter... He needed to get that silver out of her... maybe... maybe it would work. He brought her back to his office and got to work. Knowing full well what was on the line, he just hoped he wasn't too late.

Daniel sat at home with the kids... not knowing what would happen... would this incident turn into something more... would he have to take his pack and leave for fear of their lives... he promised to make this place a home for his family... he prayed that they wouldn't have to run anymore... he worried about Mera... he looked to the little girls... he knew they would have questions... he tried to answer them as best he could without exposing them too much to the more harsh side of reality.

Markus heard noise from her, she was still alive. "Next year... love I promise... we are going to go next year... the two of us and the child..." he said to her. He looked over her body where the wound was... it wasn't looking too good... he got ready to operate... there wasn't too much time. "Stay with me love... please love... don't go to sleep, not yet... I need to get you stable..." he said. He started working... he had his tools ready It would hurt, he did use some medicine to dull the pain, but time was of the essence. He knew this would most likely be the longest night of his life...

Daniel stroked Sabe's hair. "I don't know..." he said. He couldn't lie. "I know that Markus... Pappa Markus is doing all he can. If anyone can save her, it would be him." He said. Aleisha started to cry lightly, she was usually quiet... rarely even cried. Daniel hugged her tight. He hated seeing his little girls like this. He picked up Sabe as well. "We just have to pray..." he said. "It's all we can do..."

Markus heard her scream. His mind numbed... he forgot that she was a shifter... he was so used to working on humans... he had forgotten that the medicine wouldn't work... but he had to hurry. He couldn't stop. She said she felt cold. He didn't respond for a moment, knowing that he had to stay focused. He managed to get the bullet out of her, he prayed not too late. "Mera..." he said. He started dressing the wounds... getting the bleeding under control. "Mera... stay with me... I love you... I need you... I... I can't live without you..." he said. He stroked her face lightly, before kissing her. "Mera..." he said once more... tears starting to well within his eyes... he had done all he could... he just hoped it would be enough.

Daniel simply closed his eyes and prayed with his little girls. Knowing there wasn't anything else he could do. He didn't want to leave them alone so he could go see Markus and find Lith... but he couldn't take them for they didn't need to see Mera in such a state. He just put his trust in the two, hoping with the girls that things would turn out alright. Daniel opened his eyes once they finished praying. It was past their bedtime... he figured he should start getting them ready

Markus was almost surprised when he seen Lith there. He was so focused on his work, knowing the vital importance he had not noticed the helping hands. How she held Mera down... Markus looked up at her. "Y-yes..." he said. "I... I just... I just wish I could do more..." he started looking away lightly, back at Mera. "I'll just be in the other room love..." he said. "Rest... get better... you... you'll be fine... tomorrow, we can dance again... just the two of us..." he said. He kissed her once more before following Lith out of the room... he planned to sleep close tonight.

Aleisha was the same way as her sister. She cried a bit in bed, worried about Mera, but after a bit, she managed to get some sleep. Daniel still sat up waiting. He sat in their living room... in somewhat of a daze... his mind running about a mile a minute.

Markus was somewhat startled by this news... one of their kind turned on the humans? The one responsible now dead, he looked back at Lith, knowing the knowledge in her words. "Where do we go?" he asked, trying to keep his eyes off of the door where Mera slept. He hated to move again, his life was finally taking in some sense of normality, but he knew that if there was truly danger, especially now with the kids... leaving was the safest route.