Here's a new one from Shelly and myself. Standard disclaimers--characters you recognize belong to their creators, others belong to us. Hope you like! :)

Hands tucked into the pocket of his coat, Eric made his way up the stairs to his apartment, a sigh escaping him as he reached the landing for his floor. Sometimes he thought--as he opened the front door to the apartment he had shared with Shelly--that if he closed his eyes and wished hard enough, he would open them to find Shelly standing by the window, silhouetted by a sun that could scarcely rival her magnificence. That he could turn back Time and go back to that moment when everything had been perfect...

But he'd been granted that wish as he'd sat in a cell, awaiting his sentencing for conspiracy to commit murder. Granted that wish by the Skull Cowboy...or so he'd thought. In the end...it had never really happened, had just been another lesson to be learned. That as horrible as it had been, what had happened to him and Shelly had been fate...and nothing could change it. All roads lead to Rome...and every path he'd trod had taken inexorably to death.

And maybe there was some justice left in the world...for the judge had overturned his conviction, just as he'd been contemplating the thought of "life" in prison. Free as a bird, his lawyer had said as they'd left the courtroom...but freedom was bittersweet at best. Free again...but for what? To spend the rest of eternity here? Watching his few friends grow old and die and pass on...as he couldn't...

Eric shook his head, dismissing those morbid thoughts from his mind, and stopped before the door to the apartment, reaching out to turn the knob...only to find it locked. He stared at the door for a long moment, perplexed, and then heaved an aggravated sigh. After she'd fixed up the apartment, Sarah had insisted that he start locking the door, so no one could just walk in and then out again with what meager belongings he had. Had even gone down to the building's manager to get him a set of keys, when he'd turned an indifferent ear to her, and presented him with the keys.

Withdrawing the keys from his pocket he unlocked the door and pushed it open, halting just past the threshold at seeing a figure standing by the broken window. His breath caught in his throat...and released in an angry hiss as the figure turned, a beer bottle held loosely in one hand, soft features creased in a smug smile. Lifting the bottle to his lips, Funboy took a long gulp of beer and dragged the back of his hand across his mouth, turning back towards the window.

"This sure brings back memories," he said, swigging more beer.

"What the hell are you doing here?" With an effort Eric tamped down the fury that surged in him, seeing not Funboy here but sitting at the witness stand in the courtroom, spinning his lies at the behest of the D.A. Saw the smirk on his round face as he said, bitch didn't suffer enough, and remembered the rage that had surged in him, sending him over the table and flying for Funboy. Not caring that attacking him was damning himself in the eyes of the jury and judge, wanting only to wipe away that smirk, the smirk of the man that had taken part in Shelly's rape and death...

"Just thought I'd drop by...pay my respects..." said Funboy with a drunken smirk, staggering towards the window. "Let you know...no hard feelings..."

"Get...out," said Eric through his teeth. Having this bastard here, in his only refuge, made his blood boil. And if he didn't leave voluntarily...then Eric would toss him out on his ass. He'd love to toss him out the window...but a more rational part of himself said that Funboy wasn't worth it. Top Dollar hadn't been worth it either...but he'd let his rage and grief get the better of him and killed him...losing his chance to be with Shelly.

Striding forward, he went for Funboy, a hand reaching out to grasp his sleeve, but Funboy staggered back, stumbling over his own feet and toppling back towards the window. It shimmered behind him with that strange golden liquid glow that signalled the opening of the portal and Eric lunged for him, meaning to drag him back to safety. Didn't know what would happen if Funboy fell into it, if he would go through...or fall to the street below.

Panic flared in Funboy's eyes as he realized he'd misstepped and he clutched desperately at Eric, pulling him with him as he tumbled back into the golden light. For one long disorienting moment they were falling together...

And then Eric struck the ground, rolling across hard cement. He came to a halt, gasping, and pushed himself up to hands and knees, senses reeling as he took in his surroundings. Dark around him, relieved only by the feeble glow of a street lamp...and the flash of fire emitting from gun muzzles. Slowly he levered himself up to his feet, struggling to make sense of the scene before him; three police officers in full body armor, helmets protecting their heads, were firing steadily at a dark clad figure that approached them and retreating step by step. Others similarly clad lay sprawled around them, a half-dozen in all, and with them lay three still figures, decked out in what looked to be some kind of gang colors. As he watched, one gang member emerged from the cover of a dumpster to fire, his shot tearing through the throat of one cop and sending the man sprawling to the ground.

Beside him, Funboy pushed himself up to his feet, looking wildly around him. Eric lunged for him, intending to drag him down and out of the line of fire--why, he didn't know--but Funboy evaded his grasp and started to run. Only to fall with a yell as he was cut down by a barrage of gunfire. Eric hesitated, torn between going to him and saving the two police officers, and whirled to help the police officers. The dark figure had reached one of the cops--a young woman--and torn her gun from her hand, lifting her up with one hand, the other closing around her throat and fingers starting to dig into the tender flesh.

Eric hit the figure low in the back and the figure gave a grunt of surprise, releasing his hold on the cop. Rising to his feet, Eric met the other, drawing on the power residing inside him to make the transformation and facing the man as he turned. Only to blink in surprise at seeing the young man he faced was also a Crow, painted features drawn into an angry snarl.

"Back off." ordered Eric, putting himself between the other Crow and the female cop, who lay gasping and rubbing her throat. The other Crow sneered and took a step sideways, intending to move around him; Eric moved to block him, standing directly in a dim pool of light, illuminating his features, and the Crow came to an abrupt halt, fear flickering in his eyes. Muttering a curse under his breath, he lifted an arm to signal to his compatriots and spun on his heel, vanishing quickly into the darkness, the other gang members fading back as well.

Eric knelt to grasp the female cop by an arm and help her up to her feet. "You okay?"

Rubbing her throat she gave a nod and her eyes widened as she got a good look at him. "Draven?" she gasped, stumbling back a step.

"I'm not going to hurt you--" He lifted his hands to show that they were empty and the cop gave him a long wary look before going to the other cop, who was now kneeling by their fallen comrade. The other cop gave the young woman a grim shake of his head, indicating that it was too late for the fallen one, and she let her head hang briefly before turning to give Eric a look of weary anger.

"Convenient of you to show up after it's all done," she said bitterly. "Going to offer us your...protection now?" She spat at his feet, expression hard and angry before she turned away to check the others. The male cop regarded Eric with an equally weary anger before turning his back abruptly on him, following his comrade.

"I'm...sorry..." said Eric lamely but neither police officer appeared to hear him, too occupied with checking their fallen comrades. Confused, he took a step back, eyes scanning the scene of carnage, and kept moving back, spinning to stride quickly away and put as much distance between himself and the dead behind him.

For what seemed to be hours he made his way through the streets, each step confirming what he had already suspected--that wherever he was...it was not the world he had known. Fires cut the darkness of the night, sending greasy smoke coiling up into the dark sky, and brightly clad figures capered drunkenly around a burning police car, a partially charred corpse hanging halfway out a window, firing into the night as they swilled from bottles. A group of children ran shouting down the street, waving wooden cudgels, nearly bowling him over, and a man staggered from an alley, a hand to his bloody head, falling down to his knees and then to his side.

Teenagers lounged on the steps, calling insults to each other, but surprisingly silent as he passed them, though he could feel their hot eyes following him as he went down the sidewalk. At last he came to a familiar structure and he stood for a moment looking up at the round window that marked his apartment...a window that was still intact and yielded a warm glowing light. If this was a different place...then Shelly might be alive here...as she wasn't in his world...

He made his way up to the top floor and to the door to his apartment, his hand automatically retrieving his keys. Slowly, fingers trembling, he inserted the key in the lock and turned it, the door opening under his hand. Closing his eyes, he pushed the door open and stepped inside, allowing his eyes to open.

And stare in surprise at the young woman that straightened from her position by the window, blowing out the long match she'd used to light the candle. Full red lips pursed with her soft exhalation and auburn hair cascaded down past slim shoulders, framing the ivory perfection of her features, the slender column of her throat. A black leather corset hugged her torso, accentuating her slim curves, and black leather trousers clung to her like a second skin, a silver chain draped around her waist to ride low on her hips. Letting the match fall, she stalked towards him, pink tongue running over red lips as she ran her eyes slowly over him, and once she had reached him, she extended a hand to grasp a handful of his hair, long fingernails digging almost cruelly into the thick strands as she dragged his head down to mold her mouth to his.

Eric froze in surprise as Shelly ground her mouth against his, tongue thrusting insistently at his lips, and rose a little on his toes as she insinuated her leg between his, rubbing against his groin. Her teeth caught in his lower lip, pulling teasingly at it, and then she broke off the kiss, her fingers sliding through his hair as she laid a hand on his chest.

"Welcome back, lover," she said throatily, a wicked smile curving her lips as eyes glinted with desire.

He tumbled through the portal, spilling out onto the short flight of steps and then rolling down them. Cursing, he rolled to hands and knees and pushed himself up, dark eyes glittering balefully, dark pools in the starkly white face, lips painted black as night. With an angry shake of his dark hair, he cleared it from his eyes and glared around him at the sparsely furnished room. His brow knit in confusion as he looked on a room that was all too familiar...even if it lacked the stylish touches of his own apartment.

Slowly he rose to his feet, eyes still roaming the apartment around him, and he turned to look at the window, seeing the broken shards that clung to its framework and watching as light rippled beyond it...only to slowly fade. He stepped forward, extending a hand to touch it, but all he met was air and a shard of glass that ripped at his finger. He cursed, drawing his finger back, not even bothering to look as the cut sealed itself, his eyes focused on the window before him.

"What the f

It didn't take a genius to figure out that he was no longer home. Slapping a hand against a leather clad thigh, Eric paced the confines of the apartment. Glaring at the window, he cursed until he ran out of steam, then he kicked a chair across the room for good measure. Eric had figured out one thing for certain. He wasn't gonna like it here. For one thing, Shelly wasn't here. That was obvious by the fact that none of her clothes were in the closet. And judging by the pictures of her that were scattered about the room, in this alternate reality, Shelly Webster was a goody two shoes. Eric felt like puking.

Still, for all that he was angry, he was a realist as well. Since it was obvious the portal wasn't going to let him back through right away, Eric headed out the door. He would go to the the Black Out and hang for a while. Maybe he'd meet a chick who was into leather and hot sex.

With a smile curving his lips, Eric broke into a car that was parked on the street and drove off, never stopping to think that the motorcycle next to it might belong to his counterpart.

Shea was tending bar when Eric entered the Club. Even though she was the owner, she still liked to work the floor on occassion. But the glass she was filling slipped to the floor as Eric strode across the crowded room. Shea was used to seeing him in black, but not black leather pants and a black, mesh tank top. She knew he had a good body, but he'd never put it on display before. Shea's heart thumped in her chest and heat flooded her loins. And she wasn't the only woman who noticed Eric either. Every woman in the place was staring. And Eric was eating it up. The smile on his face as he strode along was that of a lascivious cat who had eaten the canary. "H-hello, Eric," Shea stuttered, as he reached the bar.

"Shea.." Eric drawled, licking his lips. He tossed his hair out of his eyes and leaned across the bar to steal a kiss. In his world, he and Shea and Shelly had often had a threesome. But Eric could tell that this Shea was a priss in comparison. Yet he held out the hope of teaching her a few things. It was obvious that she had the hots for him. "Buy me a drink?" he whispered against her lips.

"Sure," Shea replied, swallowing hard as she reached for a glass mug and filled it with beer. She had never seen Eric drink before.

Eric took a long swallow of the beer. As a Crow he didn't need to eat or drink, but he enjoyed it. Liked to smoke on occassion too, just because it irritated people. "Wanna take a ride with me?" Eric asked, as he brushed his fingertips over Shea's cleavage. For a sweet thing she still dressed sexy. Even if it was in pink.

Shea didn't know what to say. She liked Eric, alot, but he had never seemed interested in being anything other than a friend. "I'd love to," Shea confessed, but then she sighed. "Only I can't right now. Tracy called in sick so I'm covering the bar."

"I'll come back after closing," Eric whispered, stealing another kiss. Then he drifted away and out into the alley. He needed to rethink his plans for the evening. But the alley was crowded with four thugs harrassing an old drunk. A homeless guy. Eric watched them for a moment then moved to intervene. Not because he cared about saving the old guy, but because he was looking for some fun. And the punks were just the ones to provide it.

Striding over to the punks, Eric drawled, "Why don't you pick on me guys? I'm much more of a challenge."

The thug in charge tossed the old man aside. He stared at the newcomer then grinned. "You're that Draven guy," he stated.

"That's me," Eric confirmed. He crooked a finger. "Come and play with me," he singsonged tauntingly.

"You asked for it, pretty boy," the thug hissed. Then he launched himself at Eric, only to sail through thin air and hit the brick wall. He landed in a heap of garbage.

Eric sighed. "That was way too easy," he declared. "Who's next?" Eric turned to face the three other punks. But before they could respond a authoratative voice shattered the darkness.

"Police....break it up or get busted!" Albrecht gave the command as he strode into view, gun in hand. He was wearing his patrolman's uniform.

"What are you doing here, Albrecht?" Eric questioned as the punks retrieved their fallen foe and ran off. "And in that tacky uniform. Is there a costume party going on that I don't know about?" But even as he spoke, Eric reasoned that this Albrecht must be a good guy. This place was truly nauseating.

Albrecht stared at Eric, taking in the young man's attire. "I could ask you the same thing," he drawled, as he put his gun away. "Bondage party going on?"

Eric shrugged. "Don't knock it till you've tried it," he drawled. "Later, dude."

"Where are you going?" Albrecht questioned, blocking Eric's way. He had come to the Black Out in search of Eric. He needed the young man's help.

"I'm off to create mayhem," Eric replied, casually shoving Albrecht out of his way. "Job security for you," he stated, grinning at the other man.

Albrecht felt a chill creep up his spine. Something was wrong with Eric. Something bad. But even as he opened his mouth to ask what was up, Eric disappeared on him. "I hate when he does that," Albrecht muttered. Then he ran back to his car. It might mean his job, but Albrecht sensed that he'd best keep an eye on Eric, for both their sakes.

"Shelly..." Eric breathed, lifting a trembling hard to touch her on the cheek, half-afraid that she wasn't real, simply a figment of his imagination. But her skin was warm and soft under his fingers and he let them trace the line of her cheekbone, sliding down to cup her chin in his hand. She smiled and reached for his hand, guiding it up to her lips to slide his finger between them and giving it a sharp nip with her teeth.

"You're late," she scolded him, her hand splaying against his chest to press him back. Mesmerized he allowed himself to be pushed back till his knees struck the edge of the bed and he sprawled back onto it, Shelly crawling over him, eyes dark with hunger and primal lust. "Bad boys need to be punished..." She grasped one wrist in her hands and pressed a kiss to the inner flesh, allowing her mouth to trail down the length of his arm as she stretched the limb over his head. The tantalizing warmth of her mouth on his skin distracted him from her true intention and not until he heard the click of metal did he realize that she had clapped a cuff onto one wrist, securing it to the headboard of the bed.

Belatedly he tugged to free his wrist, looking in confusion up at Shelly as she straddled him, quickly and efficiently binding his other wrist. Sitting back she watched as he pulled ineffectually at the cuffs, his torso twisting underneath her, and smiled with lazy pleasure. "Umm...you know I like it when you struggle. It's so...exciting." She ran a pink tongue over her lips, eyes heavy-lidded as she watched him sink back onto the bed. Reaching out an arm to the small table that sat beside the bed, she showed him the dagger she held, eyes glinting, and laid the tip of it against the hollow of his throat. With the tip of her tongue protruding from between parted lips and eyes shiny, she applied pressure, the tip of the dagger dimpling his flesh.

"Shelly, what--"

She laid a finger over his lips and the knife punctured his skin, sending a trickle of blood down his chest. "No talking," she admonished him and grasped the collar of his shirt, raising the dagger to set the tip of it to the material of his shirt. With a slice, she cut it open from throat to waist and smoothed it back one-handed to bare his lean torso to her hungry gaze. Slowly she drew the tip of the blade up his skin, not pressing deep enough to cut, and he shivered at the feel of it, swallowing hard as she poised it over his heart. He could feel the excitement thrumming through her and the pleasure, a sick pleasure at the thought of hurting him...and it sent a chill through him. Wherever he was...the Shelly that existed here...was nothing like his Shelly. His Shelly would never have deliberately hurt anyone...or taken pleasure in their pain...

"I don't think you're getting into the spirit of it..." said Shelly with a pout and set the knife aside, sliding a hand down his jeans to grasp him as she pressed a kiss to his jaw, her mouth trailing down his throat to nibble at the tender flesh. No matter his thoughts on her, his body responded to the skillfull stroke of fingers, hips lifting to press up into her hand, and the scrape of teeth along his throat sent pleasurable chills through him. Eric closed his eyes tightly, seeking to regain control of himself, but knowing that it was a losing battle. And a treacherous corner of his mind whispered that it was Shelly, just a different Shelly...

A loud knock on the door interrupted Shelly as she started to unzip his pants and she heaved an aggravated sigh, zipping his jeans back up and giving him a parting stroke before she stretched over him to retrieve something. Sliding off the bed, she unlocked one cuff and dropped the key in his free hand, tossing her hair over one shoulder as she strode for the front door.

Reaching up to free his other wrist, Eric sat up on the bed as Shelly yanked the door open to give the person on the other side a scowl. Lifting his head, he stared in surprise as Albrecht appeared in the doorway, smirking as he looked from Shelly to Eric. "I interrupt something?" he asked archly, leaning against the doorjamb and crossing his arms over his chest.

"No," snapped Eric, struggling to suppress a blush as he tried uselessly to tug torn shirt back together. Albrecht's eyes were knowing as he swept into the room and Eric blushed deeper, averting his eyes from Albrecht. The mattress gave a soft sigh as Shelly sat down beside him, sliding an arm around his waist and leaning her head against his shoulder as her other hand idly caressed the bare skin of his torso.

Albrecht came to stand before them, licking his lips as he let his eyes roam the two of them, and Eric got the unsettling notion that Albrecht's interest was as much in him as Shelly. Clearing his throat, he tried to ignore Shelly as she ran her nails lightly across his chest. "What do you want?"

Albrecht's smirk faded, his expression becoming all business. "Eight cops got whacked tonight. Your boys are getting a little out of hand."

Eight cops dead and they were getting "a little out of hand"--anger surged in Eric as he stared hard at Albrecht but saw nothing in the older man's eyes, no remorse for his fellow officers fallen. If anything there was annoyance at this inconvenience.. "Out of hand..." echoed Eric tightly.

Albrecht heaved an aggravated sigh. "Look, you want the police department under your protection...then you got to cut down on these attacks. You want to drive them to you... not away from you." Shaking his head, Albrecht slipped a hand into his coat pocket and brought out a pack of cigarettes, removing one to place it between his lips. Replacing the pack, he patted his pockets for a lighter and lifted his eyes to give Shelly an insolent smile. "Got a light, honey?"

Smiling sweetly, Shelly slipped from the bed, hips swaying as she crossed the room, and Albrecht watched her go with undisguised interest, his eyes returning to Eric. "You know it's not easy for me to cover for you--I'm risking my own ass here. Internal Affairs has been watching me since Capshaw bought it. And things are getting kinda...tight..."

He turned as Shelly approached, holding a silver lighter in her hand, and bent his head as she lifted it to flick it on. "Thanks, hon--Jesus!" He yelped as flame shot out of the lighter, lunging back to avoid getting burned, and Shelly hooked her leg behind his, sending him tumbling down to the floor. She dropped on top of him, one hand grasping his tie to give it a hard yank, and in her other hand light flashed off the blade of the dagger.

"Get this, Albrecht. You're in this for the long haul. No renegotiating...no backing out. You run...you die." Quick as a snake, she lashed out with the dagger to cut a thin line across his cheek and laid the knife against his throat. "Got it?" she asked with a sweet smile.

"Yeah...yeah. I got it," said Albrecht, voice a little strangled.

"Good." Shelly patted him on the cheek and released her hold on his tie, moving lithely away from him. Slowly Albrecht rose, lifting a hand to touch his bleeding cheek, and he glared at Shelly, looking as if he were seriously considering committing violence against her. His eyes went to Eric and with a shaky release of breath, he rolled his shoulders and made an effort to let go of the anger.

"You listen to what I said," he snapped at Eric, stabbing a finger in his direction, and gave Shelly one last murderous look before he stalked out of the apartment, slamming the door behind him.

Eric rose from the bed as Shelly sauntered over to him, reaching up to drape her arms around his neck, kissing him almost demurely on the mouth. "He's getting tiresome. When he's fulfilled his purpose, I get to take care of him. You promised, remember?"

"I...remember," said Eric stiffly.

"Now...where were we?" asked Shelly as she drew his head down for a hungry kiss.

With an effort, Eric broke off the kiss and took her hands, lowering her arms from their position around his neck. "I need to...see someone. Take care of this...problem." He placed a chaste kiss on her forehead and spun away to find a shirt to replace the one he wore. In the closet he found only a black leather vest and with a sigh he donned it, grabbing a black leather duster as well.

Thus dressed, he slipped quickly around Shelly, flashing her a smile, and was out the door just seconds later. Shelly stared after him, hands on her hips, a frown marring her beautiful features. There was something not right here...and she was going to find out what it was.

Eric didn't know where to go. The streets were dark and foreboding and after walking one block he was attacked twice. Not a good place to be. Eric knew only one thing, he had to get back home. A thought had occurred to him. If he was in this place, then where was his double? Odds were that Eric's evil twin was in his world, and that thought scared the hell out of him.

Because he felt disoriented in this world, Eric decided to find a friendly face. So he headed for Sarah's apartment. For a kid she was a smart cookie, and maybe she could help him find a way home.

Shelly frowned to herself as she trailed Eric through the night. It wasn't long before she recognized where he was headed. Sarah's. The kid was a brat and Shelly was suspicious as to what Eric would want with her. They had finally gotten her to quit coming around last month. "What are you up to, Eric?" Shelly muttered to herself, then she slipped out of the shadows to make her way by another route. One way or another, she would learn the truth.

Eric found what he was looking for. A biker bar. Finally, some people he could relate too. This world was full of innocents and it made Eric nervous. Not that he couldn't still have some fun. In fact, that's what he intended to do. Hook up with some dudes looking to wreak havoc and chaos, and party hearty.

The moment Eric entered the bar, he felt at home. The place was dimly lit, dingy and overflowing with men and women, all dressed in leather, all drunk and high and rowdy as hell. These were his kind of people. Ready for anything and out for blood. As he strolled over to the bar, Eric felt all eyes upon him and he grinned. He knew it wouldn't take long for a confrontation, and he was looking forward to it.

A biker with greasy hair and a dozen tattoos was the first in line. His girlfriend, a blond bitch, was eyeing the newcomer, to Cal felt it was time to teach the boy a lesson. "Hey you!" he shouted, swaggering forward.

Eric turned to face him. "You talking to me?" he countered, still smiling.

"Yeah, pretty boy. I'm talking to you," Cal replied. "You wanna come in here and party with the big boys...you gotta pay the toll."

"And what toll would that be?" Eric drawled. He shook his right arm, getting ready to make his move. He couldn't wait to kick the big guy's ass.

Cal didn't answer vocally, his response was to swing a huge fist at the newcomer's head.

Eric ducked then did a spin kick, striking Cal in the side of the head and sending him crashing into a nearby table. "Oops..." Eric drawled. "I guess I don't know my own strength."

"You little bastard!" Cal hissed as he climbed to his feet. He shook his head to clear the fog and charged at the newcomer like a raging bull.

"You're a bit slow...aren'tcha?" Eric stated, as he did a back flip out of harm's way. Then he leaped onto a table to somersault over Cal's head, landing on the floor behind the big guy and kicking him in the butt.

Cal stumbled then fell to his knees as those watching howled with laughter. Including his girlfriend. In that moment Cal saw red and he was determined to see the little guy dead. To that end he pulled out a knife, turned, and threw it.

Eric was a bit surprised when the steel imbedded itself in his chest, but he recovered quickly and laughed as he pulled it out. "Ouch.," he whispered, his gaze roving over those who watched. He loved the stunned look in their glazed eyes. Turning back to Cal, Eric's smile grew cold and deadly. "You shouldn't play with knives," he drawled, as he flipped the blade in his hand. "You could hurt yourself." With that Eric launched the blade, chuckling as Cal fell to his knees with a howl, the knife protruding from his beefy thigh. "Bet that smarts," Eric singsonged, then he stepped around Cal and headed for the bar. "Whiskey," he ordered.

The bartender didn't quibble. "On..on the house," he stuttered, as he set the glass down on the bar.

"Thanks," Eric replied. He downed the shot then turned to face the patrons who were still watching him. "I think I'm going to like this place," he declared with a sigh of contentment. "Just for the record...I'm Top Dog in here. Any arguments?"

"Not from me," purred Cal's girlfriend, as she wrapped her sinewy body around Eric and claimed a kiss.

Eric kissed her back, one hand groping at her breasts. "Let's go some place private," he breathed against her lips. "You can show me...the sights."

Lela almost purred as Eric's hand brushed her crotch. "I'll show you sights you ain't never seen before," she promised, taking him by the hand and leading him towards the rooms in the back.

"Don't bet on it," Eric warned her, but he followed her willingly enough. First things first. He needed to get laid, then he would come back out and gather his troops. Like he had told the cop, he was looking for mayhem. And since he wasn't likely to find it in this world, he would just have to make his own.

"What the hell do you want?" Sarah demanded, as she glared at Eric. He was the last person she had expected to see on her doorstep.

"I need to talk to you," Eric replied, after the shock wore off. Sarah was twelve years old, yet she stood before him with a bottle of beer in one hand, a cigarette in the other. And she was dressed in black with her thick hair streaked purple and red. Eric realized that she was the exact opposite of the Sarah from his world. Still, he had no where else to go.

Sarah smirked. "You and Shelly told me to get lost...suddenly you wanna be friends?" She shook her head. "What's the matter, Eric? Smoke some bad weed?"

Eric stepped inside and closed the door. "You're the only person I can trust to help me," Eric began, then he stopped himself. The thought just occurred to him that the only people he might really be able to trust to help him were the bad guys from his world. Like Fun Boy and the like. The thought gave him a headache. He would try Sarah first. "I have a story to tell you," Eric stated. "It's gonna sound crazy.."

"I like crazy," Sarah interjected, gesturing to a chair. "Sit down and amuse me, Eric. Want a beer?"

"Yes!" Eric hissed, taking the one from Sarah's hand. He downed what was left then began his tale.

As he told his tale, Eric watched Sarah for signs of disbelief but the young girl's expression was studiously blank as she absorbed what he said, letting nothing of what she thought or felt show in her eyes. A lot like his own Sarah, hiding behind a wall of defiance, acting as if nothing touched her...but scared and lost deep inside. At last he came to the end of it and leaned forward, waiting for Sarah's response.

A sneer distorted her young features, anger and bitterness sparking in her eyes, and she pushed herself up to her feet. "That's a seriously lame ass story, Eric. You think I'm stupid enough to fall for that?" she jeered, striding to the kitchen and the battered refrigerator to yank it open and grab another bottle of beer from it.

Eric was beside her in a moment, taking the bottle from her hand to replace it in the refrigerator and closing it firmly. "I'm not lying, Sarah," he said softly.

Glaring at him, Sarah folded her arms over her thin chest, chin lifting. "You don't want me around--I got that. So what are you doing here? Trying to mess with my head?"

Eric shook his head helplessly and knelt before her, reaching out to lay his hands on her shoulders. Knew that there were no words he could speak to convince her; this Sarah had become lost in her own despair and bitterness. Only one way to reach her-- he lifted his hands, straightening a little, and laid his hands on her head, closing his eyes as he showed her the truth in the only way he knew. Letting her see the world he came from, the people he knew there that were different from those here--Albrecht, Shelly, and Sarah herself.

Slowly he lowered his hands and Sarah stepped back from him, eyes wide as her back came up against the refrigerator door. "What--what the hell was that?" she whispered.

"That's where I came from. The world I came from. Where I belong...not here," he said, extending a hand to touch her...but letting it fall short as he watched her shoulders tremble, her hand lifting to swipe at a tear that escaped her eye.

"That was--my mom...she was...not all messed up." Her mouth twisted as she looked to the closed bedroom door off the living room and then back to Eric, the barriers lowered for one quick moment. "You and Shelly--you...cared about me...the other me..." Pain laced her voice and more tears ran down her cheeks as she slid down the refrigerator, bringing her knees up tight to her chest.

"Sarah--" Hating himself for showing her that--for showing her a world that she'd never know--Eric reached out, wanting to draw her into his arms, to offer her some comfort, as he would the Sarah he knew, but she batted his arm away, eyes glittering with anger that shone through the tears.

"Don't touch me!"

"I'm...sorry," said Eric lamely. Sorry that the Shelly and Eric here had not been there to provide her with the emotional support she craved, to provide her with a refuge from her self-destructive mother. That there was no Albrecht to look after her...no one but Sarah herself.

"Why come here?" demanded Sarah, mustering some of her old belligerence even as she sniffled and wiped away the tears.

"Because...I thought I could trust you. That you could help me find a way back..."

"What's in it for me?" The tears were gone, the pain hidden behind the hardened shell she showed to the world.

Eric shook his head. "Nothing, I guess. I don't have anything I can give you...except my thanks--"

"How touching."

They both turned to look as Shelly came into the kitchen, a gun aimed at the two of them and a sneer warping full mouth as she looked from Eric to Sarah and then back, eyes narrowing as she stared at Eric. "What did you do with him then? My Eric? Kill him?" She had perched out on the fire escape and heard the entire story that this Eric gave Sarah...but unlike Sarah, she believed it. Explained his very odd behavior the last few hours and besides, once a person could accept someone coming back from the dead, there was little they would scoff at.

"I don't know where he is," said Eric levelly. The truth in a way...because he couldn't be certain that his counterpart was in his world. For all he knew there could be hundreds of alternate realities...and his own fall through the portal had sent a backlash through them...

"Oh, I think you do," responded Shelly with a sweet smile and turned the gun towards Sarah. "Tell me...or I waste the brat." Her finger tightened on the trigger, the smile turning cruel, and as she started to fire, Eric lunged between them, dragging her arm to the side so that the bullet slammed into the refrigerator. Snarling Shelly tried to adjust the aim to hit him and he grasped her gun hand to drag it up, lifting his fist to strike her. Stared into her mad eyes for a long moment, seeking some remnant there of the Shelly he had known, and then struck her in the chin, catching her as she slumped bonelessly to the ground.

Gently Eric laid her out on the kitchen floor, his hand caressing her cheek, and looked up as Sarah came up beside him. "Kill her," said Sarah flatly.

"No," hissed Eric, glaring at Sarah as he started to rise.

"Then I'll do it!" Sarah swooped down to get the gun but Eric caught her arm and hauled her bodily out of the kitchen, grasping her other arm to give her a brisk shake.

"Killing people...doesn't solve anything, Sarah. In the end...the person you're really killing is yourself. The person that you are inside here." He took one of her hands to lay it over his heart as he spoke, bending his head to look into her eyes, to see if he was reaching her.

"Too bad it doesn't work that way," sneered Sarah, tugging free of his grip. Casting a last angry look at the unconscious Shelly, she heaved a sigh and reached for Eric's hand. "C'mon...I know somewhere safe you can go. Maybe they can help you there..."

"Thanks," said Eric, giving her hand a squeeze. She scowled at him but there wasn't quite as much anger in the expression as she tried to pretend as she pulled him towards the door. Eric looked back over his shoulder at where Shelly lay and felt a stab of pain at seeing her so helpless but turned his eyes resolutely away from there. Had to tell himself that the young woman there was a stranger...because she was nothing like the Shelly he knew. Nothing at all...

He let Sarah lead him out of the apartment and down the hall.

Rolling to the side of the bed and away from his bedmate, Eric swung his legs over the side of the bed and reached for a pack of cigarettes on the bedside table, shaking one out to place it between his lips as he retrieved the lighter. Flicking on the tiny flame, he lit the cigarette and took a deep drag, letting the smoke fill his lungs before he exhaled. Lifting a hand he pulled dark hair back from his eyes as he puffed contentedly on the cigarette.

Lela sat up, moving closer to him so that she could wind an arm around his waist and press a kiss against one bare shoulder, running her fingernails lightly across leanly muscled chest. "Ready for more, hon?" she purred, slipping her hand down lower to touch him.

Eric brushed her hand away, shrugging her off him with an impatient jerk of his shoulders. "Get dressed and get out of here--I got work to do."

"But--but--" she stuttered, wide-eyed with disbelief at seeing the coldness in the beautiful young man that had been so hot just moments before. Hot and dangerous and a better fuck than she'd had in a long time...

"Go." He rose from the bed, a hand flashing out to slap her on the thigh, and she sat frozen for a moment, watching him as he padded across the floor to retrieve his clothing. He shot her an impatient look, dark eyes smoldering, and the lust that had risen in her died quickly at that look. In a few moments she got dressed and hurried out of the door, heels held in one hand.

Eric sighed as the door slammed shut and grabbed pants to drag them up long legs. Lela hadn't been too bad--with the right training she could be acceptable...but she'd never be Shelly. When it came down to it, after all the other women, she was the only one that truly understood him, that was strong enough to stand against him...and bend him to her will. The only one deserving to stand beside him when he took his place as ruler of his own domain...

He scowled as he reached for his shirt, seeing that it had been torn in Lela's eagerness to get it off him, and grabbed his coat to pull it on, forgoing the shirt. At least he'd relieved one itch...now it was time to go out and relieve another. And for that he needed to get himself together a crew. Some of the bikers in the bar had promise...

His good spirits renewed at the thought of committing more mayhem, Eric was whistling as he left the room to go back out into the bar.

Sarah took Eric through the streets, knowing with the instincts of a street kid which way to go, and eventually they came to a red brick building standing at the outskirts of the neighborhood, bearing a simple sign identifying it as the Eleventh Street Shelter. It took a few minutes of pounding on the door to get an answer and at last it opened, a young woman bearing a gun appearing there. A very familiar young woman that wore her dark hair in a kind of page boy cut, her slim form clothed in jeans and a T-shirt rather than the elegant suits her counterpart had often worn.

"India?" asked Eric in disbelief.

India's eyes narrowed as she looked from Sarah to Eric and lifted the gun to aim it at him. "Are you insane, bringing him here?" she hissed at Sarah.

"Hear him out," said Sarah breezily, slipping past India to enter the shelter. Reluctantly, India lowered the gun, her eyes suspicious as she watched Eric move carefully past her. Gun still in hand, she shoved the door closed and locked it, securing the door with a heavy bolt across it. Following Sarah, Eric went down a small hallway and out into the main floor of the shelter, where cots were lined neatly up and filled nearly to capacity.

Off in one corner two children stood hand in hand beside a man in a white doctor's coat, bent over another child lying on the bed. Shoving the gun down the front of her jeans, India strode over to them, reaching out to lay a hand on the man's arm. "Mace...we have company," she said softly.

Straightening, his arm extending to ruffle the hair of the child he'd been tending, the man turned and Eric drew in his breath at seeing Mace Reyes standing before him, clad in a long doctor's coat, the polite smile he wore fading as he stared at Eric in turn. A muscle jumped in his jaw as he took a step forward, reaching out to stop India when she would have moved to stand beside him.

"What do you want?" snapped Mace as he glared at Eric. "To drive us out of here again?"

Speechless Eric could only stare at him, consumed with his own fury at the man that had destroyed his life and Shelly's, alive here...

Mace glared at Eric. "Cat got your tongue?" he taunted. "What's the matter, Draven? Haven't you hurt us enough? Done enough damage?"

Eric took a deep breath and expelled it slowly. He reminded himself that this was a different world. A different Mason Reyes. This Mace was a good guy. He opened his mouth to respond, but was interrupted by Sarah.

"He's not OUR Eric," she stated emphatically. "Trust me on this one."

"What are you talking about?" Mace demanded. He turned his glare on Sarah. "Not OUR Eric?"

Sarah shrugged. "He's a good guy...like you, Mace. Says he comes from a different world. And I believe him."

Mace snorted. "I'll just bet you do," he drawled. "What are you smoking now, Sarah? Some new kind of whacky weed?"

"Don't piss me off, Mace!" Sarah hissed back. She would have attacked him but Eric intervened.

"She's telling the truth," he whispered, as he locked eyes with Mason. "Test me," Eric offered.

Mace knew what Eric meant. He was a Snake after all. So he reached out and touched the young man's face and in a heartbeat he was hit by a barrage of images. Visions of a place that was similar to his world, yet different. And he saw the man that Eric was. A good man. "How?" Mace breathed, after breaking the connection and stumbling back. "How did you get here?"

Eric shook his head. "I don't know. I mean...I went through the Portal and ended up here. Wherever..here..is."

"Unbelievable," Mace whispered. "So...if you're here...I wonder where our Eric is. Logically it follows that you can't both be in the same place at the same time."

"I had the same thought," Eric acknowledged. "That's why I have to get back home. Before your Eric wreaks havoc. Can you help me?"

Mace laughed, a cold sound. "Why the hell should we? If what you say is true, then we got rid of our Eric. No more suffering and pain for my people. Good riddance to him."

Eric felt anger surge through him like a flash flood. "You bastard!" he hissed, grabbing Mace by the shirt front. "You know the kind of man your Eric is and you would wish him on my world? My people?"

"He's got a point," India interjected. Although she was as tempted as Mace to say Good riddance to their Eric. He was an evil that had no match. "We have to help him, Mace," India stated. "We have to help Eric get home."

"No we don't!" Mace declared, turning away from them all and stalking into the next room.

Sarah took Eric by the hand and followed, India trailing behind him. "What if Eric helps us first?" she challenged Mace.

He took the bait. "Meaning what?" Mace countered, his eyes burning with suspicion.

"I don't know exactly," Sarah allowed. "Maybe he could track down our Eric's gang and neutralize them or something."

"That's a great idea!" India chimed. She grinned at Eric. "And it seems only fair..don't you think?" India wanted peace for her people. She was tired of living in fear for her life and theirs.

Eric felt a bit overwhelmed. "You can't be serious!" he exclaimed. "What makes you think they would listen to me? That they wouldn't recognize me as a fake?"

Mace rubbed his chin, deep in thought. "You can fool them," he stated, emphatically. "You've got the look, all you need is the attitude." Mace offered a cold smile. "Disband Draven's hoods and I'll help you get back home," he announced.

"Why should I believe you?" Eric countered, suspicion glinting in his eyes now. "How do I know that you can help me?"

"You don't," Mace allowed. "But what other choice do you have?"

Eric sighed. He had to concede the point to Mace. "I'll do what I can," he conceded. "Where do I find Draven's hoods?"

Sarah chuckled. "Follow me," she stated. "I'll lead you to the front door." With that she took Eric by the hand again and led him off.

Albrecht grimaced as he looked the dart into the tranq gun. He knew that bullets wouldn't stop Eric, but he hoped that a sedative that was strong enough to knock out a bull elephant would. This Draven didn't belong in this world, of that Albrecht was certain. Just as he knew that this Eric would do damage to both people and property, and Albrecht felt it was his job to stop him. So he took aim and fired, and was pleased when Draven collapsed into a heap. With a weary sigh, Albrecht pushed himself to his feet.

It had taken twenty four hours of surveillance on Draven to catch him alone. Eric had sent his new biker pals off on a rampage. Albrecht had been tempted to follow them, but he knew he was way outnumbered, and that Draven was the source. Best to nab him. And so it was that Albrecht approached the body, relief flooding him as he kicked it to be certain Draven was out. "Dead to the world," Albrecht whispered. as he knelt to put handcuffs on Draven's wrist. He knew it was a wise precaution. That done, Albrecht hauled Draven's body over his shoulder and headed back for his car.

But a sense of foreboding dogged him like a shadow.

From down the street it was evident where Sarah was taking Eric: to this world's version of the Blackout. Loud music poured out through the open door and there was a line of people waiting to get in, a pair of muscular bouncers manning the doors. The one standing at the front of the line checking people in gave Sarah a sneer as she wriggled under the rope but then his eyes fell on Eric and he swallowed hard. "This way..." he said quickly, lifting the rope so that Eric could pass under it easily and shooting a glare at the waiting patrons as they called complaints.

Holding onto Sarah's hand as they entered the club, Eric allowed her to lead him through the crowd, Sarah effortlessly cutting a path for them and Eric's presence widening the path. At last they reached the bar and Sarah pulled at Eric's hand, standing on her tiptoes as he bent over so that she could speak directly into his ear. "Back there, behind the bar--that's where his goons hang out." Eric looked at the bar, seeing behind it a door, and nodded to Sarah, kneeling to take her hands.

"You stay out here, okay?" he said, squeezing her hands and shaking his head as she started to protest. "I want you out here so you don't get hurt...if something goes wrong."

Rolling her eyes, Sarah nodded and Eric ruffled her hair, grinning as she ducked away from his hand and scowled murderously up at him. But through the scowl her mouth was twitching, wanting to smile, so much like his own Sarah. Angry for him not including her...but affected by his concern for her.

Slipping past the bar, he gave a curt nod to the bartender and the man stepped hastily aside to let him pass, turning his attention to Sarah as she wriggled up onto a stool. "Beer." demanded Sarah, looking meaningfully in the direction that Eric had gone and giving the bartender an evil smile. Swallowing hard, he poured a mug of beer and set it before her.

As he stepped through the doorway, Eric took a deep breath and willed himself to be calm, to adopt the kind of attitude that the Eric here would have. With a smirk firmly in place, he sauntered into the room, eyes sweeping around it to take in those that lounged here.

A dozen Crows in all and among them one familiar face; Hannah was sprawled across a black leather armchair, using a switchblade to clean underneath her fingernails, her dark hair standing up in bristly spikes and slim form clad in black leather, from jacket and brassiere to tight-fitting pants. As Eric entered the others clambered to their feet and Hannah lifted her head lazily to see what the fuss was about, a smirk curving her lips as she swung her legs over to place them on the floor and rose to her feet.

"Well, well...look who's decided to grace us with his illustrious presence," she said with a sneer as she stalked towards him, clicking the switchblade closed and tucking it into her pocket. Draping one arm around his neck, she pressed her body against his and slipped a hand between them to fondle him. "Umm...so when do you leave that slut and come stay with me?"

"When hell freezes over..." said Eric sweetly, reaching down to take her hand and yank it up, squeezing her wrist till she grimaced in pain.

"Bastard!" snarled Hannah as she yanked at her arm to free it, Eric releasing her after a moment's struggle. Glaring at him, she stepped back, rubbing her wrist, and he turned to face the others.

"What's on the agenda tonight?" he asked.

One of the Crows--a young man with cafe au lait colored skin and long black dreadlocks, dressed in tattered black jeans and a Tshirt with a red smiley face bearing a bullet hole dripping blood--moved forward, giving him an odd look. "You said we're hitting a Snake stronghold tonight...remember? The Eleventh Street Shelter."

"Change of plans," said Eric flatly. "We hang loose tonight."

One Crow--a young man with short cropped red hair--gave him a sharp look. "What's up with that? I thought you were raring to stomp some Snake ass."

"You were just a little too busy last night, from what I hear," responded Eric, sweeping them all with an icy look and gratified to see them either lower their eyes or look away. "Did I authorize a strike against the cops? Did I?" he repeated, fixing his eyes on Hannah, who lowered hers reluctantly.

"No," she grumbled.

Eric released the breath he'd been holding, the racing of his heart easing as relief swept through him. It was a gamble...but one he'd thought worth taking. The Crow that he had seen when he'd first come through to this world had been shocked to see him...and had obeyed him when told to back off. "We're turning the heat up too high--we need to back off a bit. Give it a few days...and then we go for the Snakes."

"And I say...we go for the Snakes now."

Eric jerked around in surprise at the purr of Shelly's voice and froze as he saw Shelly standing in the doorway, holding a gun in one hand and the back of Sarah's coat in another. Flanked by two Crows, she pressed the gun into the side of Sarah's head and smiled sweetly at Eric. "You come quietly...or I waste the brat. Understood?" And tightened her finger on the trigger.

Albrecht could feel Draven stirring as he strode down the stairs to the basement of his house and with a grunt he heaved Eric off his shoulder, allowing him to tall to the floor. Grasping him by booted feet, Albrecht dragged him to the nearby wall and dropped him before it, Draven moaning as his eyelids started to flutter. Working quickly Albrecht unlocked his handcuffs and then drew the short chain between the pipe lining the wall, slapping the cuffs back on the young man's wrists again. It would do for now, till he was able to get a heavier chain.

Eric came to consciousness with a jerk, yanking hard on his cuffed wrists, and kicked out at Albrecht, who had prudently remained just out of reach. Snarling, he struggled against the cuffs, attempting to free him but in vain. At last he sank back, panting, and glared at Albrecht through the dark hair that had fallen into his eyes.

"You can't hold me here!" he sneered.

Looking at him sent a chill down Albrecht's spine. He was Eric...and he wasn't Eric. An Eric that might have been, if things had been different, if the world had been different.

"I can hold you here...and I will," retorted Albrecht. "Maybe you can heal any injury...but I can keep you pumped so full of sedatives you wouldn't be able to tear free of cuffs made of paper."

Lifting his head, Eric spat at him, his spittle striking the toe of Albrecht's shoe, and began to yank again at the chains until Albrecht stepped forward to level the gun and shoot another dart into him. After a few long seconds Draven slumped and Albrecht heaved a sigh, going back up the stairs and to the trunk of his car. He had some chains there and they'd have to do till he could get to the hardware store...

But other than chaining him up, Albrecht didn't have the faintest idea of what the hell he was going to do with the young man...

Eric was in a full blown rage by the time he regained full consciousness. He pulled at the chains that bound him with all his might, but he could not break free and that infuriated him all the more. "ALBRECHT!" Eric shouted, his voice booming like thunder and echoing back at him.

"You rang?" Albrecht drawled as he descended the stairway.

"Let me go!" Eric demanded. "Do it now or I'll break your neck!"

Albrecht was careful to keep his distance as he faced the young man. More than ever he was convinced that this Eric was not his Eric. "Who are you?" Albrecht countered. "Where is my Draven?"

Eric chuckled, his anger abating a bit. He might as well have a bit of fun since he was helpless at the moment. "You're...Draven...is dead," he taunted.

"I don't believe you!" Albrecht shot back. "What have you done with him?"

"I have done nothing," Eric drawled, feigning a yawn of boredom.

Albrecht took a deep breath and released it slowly. He could see that this Eric was playing with him and it would be in his best interest to remain calm. "Where are you from?" Albrecht prompted. "Maybe I can help you get back there." When Draven merely stared at him Albrecht sighed. Then he realized what should have been obvious. "The portal...." he whispered.

Eric blanched. "You know about the portal?" he challenged.

"I know more than you would believe!" Albrecht shot back. "Stay put," he taunted, smirking at Draven. "I'll be back." That said, Albrecht ran up the stairs. He would need Sarah's help on this one. Next to Eric, she knew the most about how the portal worked.

Eric stared at Shelly, wishing he could see the sweet soul of the woman he loved. But this Shelly was cold as ice and her soul was dead. "Let Sarah go," Eric ordered, his voice taut with anger.

Shelly giggle, a sound of dark humor. "I don't think so, baby," she purred. She flexed her trigger finger. "Now...bring your cute ass over here right now, Eric...or Sarah dies."

"Fine," Eric whispered, knowing that Shelly meant business. He glided forward, hands held up, and waited for her to make the next move. "Now what?" Eric prompted.

"Now we have fun," Shelly stated, nodding to her companions. "Take him," she ordered.

Eric didn't resist when the men grabbed him for he would not put Sarah at risk and Shelly still held her gun to the girl's head. "Where are we going?" Eric challenged as he was herded out the door.

Shelly followed them, still clutching Sarah to her. "You'll see," she drawled.

"Why don't I like the sound of that," Eric mused to himself. He was dragged towards a van and shoved inside. Then he found himself handcuffed before being tazed. His last thought was of Shelly, his Shelly, as darkness claimed him.

Eric moaned as he awakened. The shock to his body from the Tazer was making itself felt. But once fully consious it faded. Eric blinked and realized that he was lying on a bed, and that he was bound to the head board with chains. He tugged on them experimentally and discovered that he could not free himself. Not a good sign. And even worse sign was the fact that he was naked beneath a black satin comforter. "Damn.." Eric muttered.

"Mmmmmm..." purred a silky smooth voice. "I like you like this." Shelly's smile was lascivious as she stalked towards the bed. She was wearing a black leather teddy with a cut out crotch. "I think that you're even sweeter than my Eric," Shelly continued as she climbed onto the bed.

"I doubt that!" Eric hissed, flinching a bit as Shelly's blood red fingernails raked his chest. "Where is Sarah?" he demanded.

Shelly laughed. "How touching," she taunted. "You're more concerned for the brat than for yourself. Sarah is alive, my pet. Don't worry your pretty little head about her."

Eric felt relief wash through him. "What are you going to do to me?" he countered. And when Shelly moved over him, straddling his thighs, Eric was sorry he'd asked.

It took Albrecht a few hours to track down Sarah and when he'd finally found her, there was no time to give her a rundown on the situation with Eric. Albrecht had already left him alone for longer than he would have liked and delaying any more might mean that Draven had found a way to get free and was even now wreaking havoc. And so he brought Sarah back to his house, telling her only that there was something wrong with Eric.

"He's down here?" asked Sarah skeptically as Albrecht opened the door to his basement and at his nod, she clattered down the stairs, anxious to see her friend.

"Sarah, wait--" Belatedly Albrecht snatched for the back of her coat and hurried his pace down the stairs, muttering a curse under his breath as Sarah sprang down the last step to hurry over to where Draven lay sprawled against the wall, the chains still blessedly intact. "Sarah!" he called in warning.

Sarah turned her head to glare at Albrecht, anger and concern warring in her expression. "Why do you have him chained up?" she demanded. Facing Albrecht she couldn't see Eric rouse behind her, drawing his legs under him for a spring, but Albrecht could, racing to grab Sarah even as Eric growled in rage and lunged at her. Turning back Sarah stared wide-eyed at the figure of Eric, teeth bared in a snarl and dark eyes wild, and reached for him with a frown of puzzlement.

Grabbing Sarah by one arm, Albrecht yanked her back against him and out of the reach of Eric's clawing hands, Eric giving a grunt as he came to the limit of his chains and was pulled back. Snarling he started to yank again at the chains, struggling like a rabid beast to be free, and subsided at last, breathing hard as he glared at the two standing before him.

"When I get free of this...I'm going to tear you both into little pieces!" he hissed, giving one last impotent yank to the chains that bound him.

"What's happened to him?" asked Sarah, unable to tear her eyes from Eric before her, heavy chains restraining him, more like some wild animal than the person she had known and loved.

"That's not our Eric," said Albrecht reassuringly, laying his hands on Sarah's shoulder.

Sarah twisted around to give him a look of disbelief. "Not our Eric? Then...who is he?"

"An Eric from another...world." Albrecht grimaced as he said the last, lifting a hand to run it over his head as he heaved a sigh. Wasn't that long ago when he would have scoffed at someone telling him this kind of story...but that was before Eric Draven had come into his life, upsetting the balance of Albrecht's world and tossing all his preconceived notions about life and death to the four winds. "I don't know how exactly it happened...but I think it's got something to do with that portal in his--Eric's--apartment. They switched places or something..." Albrecht shook his head, shooting a glance at Eric as he glared at them. "I don't think it was voluntary."

"Wow." breathed Sarah, moving forward a little and taking care to remain out of Eric's reach. Albrecht reached for her but she shrugged him off, more fascinated than scared by Eric...or this version of him. She extended a hand, meaning to touch him, and he drew back from her touch, scowling at her.

"Don't touch me, bitch!" he hissed, bringing up one leg to kick out at her...and missing as Albrecht snatched her out of harm's way.

"He's not the Eric you know, okay?" said Albrecht, giving her a little shake.

"Okay! Geez..." Sarah shot him an irritated look and then turned her gaze once more to the chained Eric, fascinated by this other Eric and the idea of there being alternate worlds. Maybe even a world where Eric and Shelly were alive, together and happy, raising a family... "So...how do we get back our Eric?"

Albrecht snorted. "You're asking me? I thought you were the expert on this kind of thing." Nervously he rubbed his chin, studying the chained young man. What Draven had said was true--Albrecht couldn't keep him chained up forever. Eventually Draven would get free...and then there would be hell to pay. But what to do with him?

Sarah shrugged. "Maybe we should take him to the portal...see what happens." As Albrecht gave her a skeptical look, she demanded, "Hey, you got any better ideas?"

Sighing, Albrecht motioned for her to stand back and removed his gun from its holster. Even though she knew it wasn't Eric, Sarah found herself turning away, not wanting to see Albrecht shoot him. As Albrecht went to free the now unconscious Eric, she bit her lip at seeing Albrecht hoist the limp form over one shoulder but proceeded him up the stairs without comment.

"Ummm...that was great."

At the brush of Shelly's lips against his cheek, Eric jerked his head aside and she curled fingers in his hair, tightening her grip as she brought her mouth against his, tongue thrusting at his lips. He started to struggle under her, only to realize that it excited her all the more, and then went limp, allowing the kiss.

With a last nip at his lower lip, Shelly straightened, her smile one of utter satisfaction as she straddled him. "You're as good as him--maybe better. He doesn't struggle as much anymore. Not like you..." She gave a full-throated laugh as he flushed, angry at his own body's reaction to her. Try as he might, he'd been unable to suppress the desire she'd roused in him, burning with shame at the memory of their union. "Hmm...you know, if we could get him back...we'd make quite a threesome." She ran a red fingernail down his chest to flat belly and lower, laughing again as he squirmed at her touch.

"Dream on!" snapped Eric.

Sighing, Shelly moved off him and slipped off the bed, striding across the apartment for the closet and some more appropiate clothing. "You're like a breath of fresh air here. Eric was beginning to get...predictable and tiresome. But now...I have a new Eric, to train all over again." Reaching into the closet she withdrew a slinky black silk dress and shimmied into it, smoothing the material down over her hips as she stalked back over to him to claim another kiss.

Glaring at her, Eric felt a stab of surprise as she showed him a key and unlocked the cuffs that bound him to the headboard. Rubbing sore wrists, he stared at her, a frown creasing his brow, and Shelly smiled coldly. "Don't forget little Sarah, now. If you behave, then she'll be treated just fine. Misbehave...and I'll take it out on her scrawny hide." She kissed him on the forehead and stepped back, turning to go for the bathroom. "Get dressed--we're having dinner out...in one hour."

Glowering at her retreating back, Eric sat still on the bed and ran a hand through his hair. With Sarah prisoner, there was nothing he could do to disband the Crows...not with Shelly pulling his strings. And if he couldn't do that...then there was no way Mace would help him get home. Assuming of course that Mace knew how to help him...

Reluctantly he rose from the bed to go to the closet. Nothing there that he would have chosen...but at least it was something to wear...

Eric toyed with his wine glass. He didn't need to eat to survive, but he was able to enjoy food and drink when he so desired. He did not desire to do so tonight, but Shelly was glowering at him from across the table. Eric preferred the glower to the lecherous looks she had been giving him earlier. It wasn't his fault he was half naked. His alter-Eric seemed to enjoy showing off his body, so all Eric had found to wear were skin-tight, black leather pants and a black, mesh, tank top. "Something wrong?" Eric queried, when it looked as if Shelly were about to hiss at him.

"You're not drinking your wine, honey," Shelly drawled.

"I'm not thirsty," Eric shot back, tauntingly. But he instantly regretted it when Shelly's eyes flashed with anger. Eric wasn't afraid for himself, but he didn't want Shelly taken her ire out on Sarah. "Sorry," Eric apologized, while attempting to assume an appropriately sincere expression.

Shelly wasn't buying it, but she enjoyed it none the less. "I like it when you grovel," she purred. Then she chuckled as she watched Eric's expression darken. He was a proud man and a bit wild, for all that he was good at heart. This Eric had fire in him and Shelly wanted him to burn her with it. Wanted to get him riled enough to let the beast inside him out.

Realizing what Shelly was doing, that she was baiting him, Eric took a deep breath and put a smile on his face. "What's for dessert?" he questioned, deciding that it was time to take matters in to his own hands.

"What are you in the mood for?" Shelly countered, licking her lips. She was interested in Eric for a sweet.

"I'm in the mood for something rich and creamy," Eric purred, deeping his voice into a seductive whisper. "And I want it topped with lots of whipped cream. And cherries." He saw the flicker of desire in Shelly's eyes and nearly chickened out of the role he was playing, but Eric decided to stick it out. In for a penny, in for a pound. "Oh...and I want lots of cherries." Eric let his eyes speak volumes as he gazed at Shelly.

She licked her lips again and smiled. "I know just the thing," she announced, signalling for the waitress. "I want a double order of cheese cake with double cherries and tons of whipped cream." That done, she shooed the waitress off and focused all her attention on Eric. "Sure you can handle it?" she taunted.

Eric let his eyes burn. "Wait and she," he teased, silently praying to himself that he could see this through. All too soon the waitress returned with the dessert, and Eric psyched himself out to proceed. His eyes still burning with the false glow of desire, Eric dipped his index finger in the whipped cream and offered it to Shelly.

"Hmmmm..." Shelly murmurred, as she licked the confection from Eric's skin. "Yummy."

"Delicious," Eric replied, as he popped a cherry into his mouth. Then he leaned over the table to share it with Shelly. And this time he was the agressive one when they kissed.

Shelly was pleased, smiling as she leaned back in her chair, and idly dipping a finger into the cheese cake and licking it off. "I want you, sweet thing," she breathed, as she eyed Eric from across the table. "Naked and dripping with whipped cream."

Eric forced a smile in return. "It's my turn to take you...my way," Eric countered. "What say we go back home and finish dessert there?"

"You read my mind," Shelly replied, rising from the table and tossing a folded bill on the plate. "My treat," she purred, then she took Eric's hand and led him from the building.

"Dark night," Eric commented, as he studied his surroundings. The air was damp with a rain that wouldn't fall and the weight of it seemed to press down on Eric. Somehow, someway, he had to find his way home. But first he had to free Sarah and make sure she was safe. To that end Eric led Shelly over to the motorcycle. But before he could straddle the bike, they found themselves surrounded by a dozen men. Dressed in gray and heavily armed.

Shelly hissed in fury. "The Shadows!"

Eric turned to glare at her. "Friends of yours?" he snapped.

"Brutal enemies!" Shelly replied, then she assumed a fighting stance. "Kill em," she ordered, then she launched herself at the leader.

"This is not good," Eric muttered beneath his breath, as he watched the leader wallop Shelly and she collapsed to the ground in a heap.

Albrecht stared at Draven. "What am I going to do with you?" he muttered, as he watched the alter-Eric struggle with the chains that bound him to the chair. It was a chair with wheels. Albrecht didn't trust Draven to be free, and he figured he could push him through the portal if neccessary. But, so far, nothing had happened. Six hours had passed, and Sarah had dozed off in the corner. Albrecht wanted to join her. It had been a long day.

"Set me free..." Draven hissed, then he laughed maniacally. "You can't chain a Crow!" he shouted. "You can't clip my wings."

"Shut up!" Albrecht shot back, irritation coloring his tone. He was sick of listening to the guy. This Draven was full of himself and Albrecht was tempted to shoot him in the mouth. But decided it wasn't worth wasting the bullet. Especially since it wouldn't shut him up for long. "I would think you'd want to get back home," Albrecht commented, moving to stand before Draven.

Draven shrugged. "Why? Lots of innocent boys and girls to play with here. Lots of fun just waiting to happen. Waiting for ME to make it happen," he chortled.

Albrecht couldn't resist. He slapped the smug expression off Draven's face. His hand hurt like hell from doing so, but he smiled with satisfaction. It shut Draven up for a moment. "I'll find a way to kill you before I let you hurt anyone in my world," Albrecht announced. He would have said more but he was struck dumb by a sudden, and blinding, flash of light. Turning towards the portal, Albrecht held his breath. Unless he missed his guess, something was coming out and he had a feeling it wouldn't be good.

At the blinding flare of light, Albrecht raised a hand to shield his eyes, wincing at the brightness, his other hand gripping the back of Draven's chair. Through the light came a figure, falling to hands and knees as it came through, and Albrecht reflexively took a step back, lifting his hand to wrap fingers around his holstered gun even as he blinked furiously to clear his vision.

Slowly the figure raised its head and gave it a slight shake, clearing stray locks of curly brown hair from her eyes. Eyes that darted around the apartment, finally falling on the three gathered before her, slim body crouched and coiled for a spring as her eyes fastened on Albrecht, narrowing. A glance to the right at Sarah as she rose to her feet, rubbing her eyes, and the young woman's eyes softened momentarily...only to harden again as she saw Eric chained to the chair.

Hissing in surprise and anger, Shelly Webster straightened from her crouch, delicate features changing before Albrecht's eyes into the hardened mask of the Crow, brown eyes glittering with her fury. "What are you doing to him?" she snarled, stalking forward.

In his chair Eric raised his head and reached out a hand as far as the chains would allow, fingers trembling with the strain. "Shelly..." he called, allowing his voice to tremble with a weakness he didn't feel. Knew it wasn't his Shelly...but maybe she could be suckered into helping him get out of this chair...and then he'd take them all apart.

"Eric--" Shelly moved forward, starting to reach for Eric, and Albrecht moved to block her...only to find himself suddenly flung backwards to land hard on the wooden floor, the air driven out of him. Gasping for breath, he forced himself up to a sitting position and tried to call out to Shelly but able to force nothing more than a wheeze.

Just as Shelly was within reach of Eric, Sarah stepped between them, spreading her arms to prevent Shelly from touching him and tossing a quick glance over her shoulder at the other Eric. "He's not who you think he is," said Sarah quickly.

Shelly drew her hand slowly back, eyebrows knitting. "Not...who I think he is?" she repeated and lifted a hand to press it to her forehead.

"She's lying to you, Shelly. You came here to be with me...didn't you?" called Eric, forcing a plainitive note into his voice, and widened his eyes in a convincing display of distress. "I'm here, Shelly. We can be together again...you just have to release me..."

Shelly reached out to push Sarah out of the way but Sarah caught her arm and clung to it tenaciously, ignoring Shelly's attempts to shake her free. "Shelly...I wouldn't lie to you...not about something like this...you know that! Please!"

Slowly Shelly looked down at Sarah, seeing the tears sparking in her eyes, and then over at the chained form of Eric. His handsome features twisted in a snarl and he struggled vainly against the chains, aiming a kick in Sarah's direction. "Meddling little... bitch!" Wrapping an arm protectively around Sarah, Shelly moved the girl back out of range of Eric, her heart aching at seeing the fury and hate in those features she knew and loved so much. "Worthless bitches...both...of you!"

"Shut up," hissed Albrecht, slapping the back of Eric's head as he staggered past him and to where Sarah and Shelly stood, rubbing his still aching stomach with one hand. He regarded Shelly with a wary respect and shot Sarah a questioning glance, still unsure of this newest visitor.

"It's okay. It's Shelly," said Sarah confidently, taking Shelly's hand to give it a squeeze before drawing her closer to Albrecht. "Shelly...this is Albrecht."

"Pleased to meet you," said Albrecht dryly and Shelly nodded in acknowledgement, as wary of him as he was her. "So where the hell did you come from?"

"I thought...I was passing through. Going on..." Shelly's eyes went to where the other Eric sat confined to the chair and her eyes shone with a hint of tears to be shed. "To be with him again--" She lifted a hand to brush away a tear and Sarah slipped her arms around Shelly's waist to give her a hug. Shelly smiled wanly down at her and ruffled her hair, lifting her eyes to those of Albrecht. "Feels like it's been...forever since I've seen him last..."

"Oh, you are just breaking my heart over here!" sneered Eric, disgust and contempt showing plainly in his expression.

"Shut up...or I gag you," snapped Albrecht and with a muttered curse, Eric fell into a sullen silence, glowering at the three of them. Rubbing his chin, Albrecht cast a weary glance at the now still portal and then turned his attention to Sarah and Shelly. "So...how many more people are going to be popping through the magical door there?" he asked sarcastically.

Seated in a chair, his wrists and ankles secured to it by metal cuffs, Eric watched as the limp figure of Shelly was carried into the room and he winced as she was unceremoniously dropped to the floor. Even though he knew it wasn't his Shelly, it still made his heart clench to see her lying sprawled out on the floor, so still and unmoving, only the slight rise and fall of her chest indicating she was alive. He tore his eyes away from her slim form and raised them to that of the man standing before him.

The man was tall and powerfully built, muscles bulging underneath the gray leather vest he wore, and his golden hair fell down to broad shoulders, a goatee accentuating strong jaw. A smile curved his lips, showing white teeth, and a gold earring glittered at one ear, matching the brilliance of his smile.

"Eric Draven...what a nice surprise." The man paced a leisurely circle around Eric, moving before him once again to regard him with narrowed blue eyes, folding his arms over his massive chest. "Remember that I told you once I'd repay you for your treachery? And all I had to be was patient...to wait for you to drop your guard. That's always been a failing of yours, Draven--your arrogance, your belief that no one can touch you...just because you're a...Crow." He sneered the last, reaching out to grasp Eric's chin and digging his fingers into Eric's skin when Eric attempted to pull away. "Maybe I can't kill you...but I can kill her."

He released Eric and moved over to where Shelly still lay, unconscious and helpless. Kneeling beside her, he ran his fingers experimentally through her hair and looked to Eric as he allowed his hand to wander across her slim form. "From what I hear she likes it rough--she'll probably enjoy what we're doing to her...at first. And then...she'll just scream..." Grasping a handful of Shelly's hair, the man pulled her head up to give her a long kiss, laughing as Eric gave an unconscious jerk against his bindings.

"Get her ready..." he told his underlings, smiling maliciously at Eric as they obeyed. Eric squirmed again in his chair, the need to protect Shelly--even if she was a vicious bitch--rising in him...

"NO!" Eric shouted the word. A part of him wanted to whisper, but he felt the rage burning in him. Not his Shelly...yet he had to protect her. His heart screamed at him to do so. Eric sensed that if this Shelly died, then his Shelly would be lost as well.

Tyrone flexed the muscles of his bulging biceps as he moved to kneel before Eric. "No...what?" he prompted, as his fingers tightened in Draven's long hair. He jerked the other man's head back and hovered over him. "What are you willing to do to save her, Draven?" Tyrone drawled.

Eric hissed in pain as his hair was pulled hard, nearly tearing out the roots. "What do you want?" he shot back. "My soul?"

"For starters," Tryone purred, then he threw back his head and laughed. "Your soul is eternal...your body immortal. I want that, Draven," Tyrone whispered. "Make me what you are."

"Easier said than done," Eric replied. He felt his stomach muscles tight into knots of queasiness. Knew that were he to kill Tyrone, the man would become a snake and more deadly than he was now. Too deadly and powerful. Yet that didn't mean he couldn't lie. "Becoming like me takes a ceremony," Eric stated, locking eyes with the other man as he lied outright.

Tyrone was surprised by how easily Draven acqueised to his demand, yet a part of him was pleased. He believed that the other man was intimidated by him. And rightfully so. "What do I have to do?" he queried, his eyes glinting with curiosity.

Eric almost breathed a sigh of relief. Tyrone was buying the lie. This was going to be almost too easy. "A blood sacrifice is needed," Eric stated. "And you'll have to let me go to set things up."

"Not a chance!" Tyrone hissed.

"You can trust me," Eric countered, a smile curving his lips. "You have Shelly."

Tyrone barked with laughter. "Good point," he conceded, even as he reached to undo Draven's bonds. "How long will it take for you to prepare things?"

Eric stretched cramped muscles as he replied, "That depends on you, Tyrone." Suddenly his eyes burned like black fire. "If you hurt Shelly in anyway. Touch her...or anything...I'll destroy you rather than give you immortality. Is that understood?"

"Perfectly," Tyrone purred. "You've got balls, Draven," he conceded. "You're not in any position to bargain with me, yet you aren't afraid to stand up to me. I like that."

"I'm thrilled," Eric drawled, as he lowered his head and turned in a slow circle. When he faced Tyrone again he was the Crow. "Say goodnight, Sweet Prince," Eric whispered, then he did a roundhouse kick and sent Tyrone flying across the room.

Shelly sat on the floor, hugging her updrawn knees. She stared at the man who looked so much like her Eric. Had been studying him for the past hour and she could see the differences. See that there was no fire burning in the dark eyes. This man's soul was ice.

Eric glared at the woman who was a pale shadow of his Shelly. "What the hell are you looking at?" he hissed at her.

"Nothing," Shelly whispered, meaning it both figuratively and literally. She smiled to herself as she realized Draven didn't get the insult and rose, gracefully, to her feet. She glided across the room to where Albrecht was sitting at a small table. "What do we do now?" she asked.

"I wish I knew," Albrecht stated with a heavy sigh. He was exhausted and did not foresee being able to get some sleep any time soon. "You got any ideas?" he prompted.

Shelly echoed Albrecht's sigh. "Not really," she admitted, then she paused. "Maybe..." she allowed, hesitantly.

Albrecht perked up, feeling a smidgeon of hope. "Tell me," he prompted.

"Maybe I can reach Eric," Shelly whispered. "Reach his soul."

"Works for me," Albrecht replied. "Do it. But make it fast, Shelly. Cause I know time is running out. For us all."

Sitting cross-legged before the broken window that served from time to time as a portal, Shelly drew in a deep breath to steady herself and rolled her shoulders to release the tension that had built there, letting her eyes drift closed. Even as she'd proposed the idea to Albrecht that she try to reach Eric's soul, she'd had no idea how exactly to do it...just that it seemed the only course. To restore things to what they had been...before.

Her mouth twisted at the thought of restoring things...and the wish that she could restore her own Eric as well following unerringly on its heels. In this world, Eric had been the one to come back as a Crow--and in her world, it had been her, unable to rest and given the chance to set things right. She who had died in this apartment--or its mirror self--and Eric that had survived long enough to reach a hospital...only to die hours later. Eric that waited patiently for her to join him, she the one seemingly doomed to roam the earth forever...

Shelly gave a shake of her head to clear it of those morbid thoughts and let out her breath in a long sigh, laying her hands palm down atop leather clad thighs. Think of Eric, of his smile and his laugh, of the warmth of his mouth on hers, the strength and security of his embrace. Of nights spent talking into the wee hours, sharing their hopes and dreams, their losses and fears. Of long lazy mornings in bed, lying in each other's arms, and how it had all seemed so very perfect, as if it were...Fate.

"Eric..." she whispered aloud and reached out with her spirit for the one she sought.

Stepping forward, Eric knelt to examine Tyrone, finding the man to be unconscious, and rose slowly, stifling the temptation to give the still form a kick. If Shelly was here somewhere, then he could take her out of here, so that she couldn't be used as a threat against him. But then Shelly held Sarah's life in her hands, hostage to his good behavior...

Eric rubbed his forehead, a sigh escaping him. A small part of himself said that he should leave her here, that this was no more than she deserved...but his heart wouldn't allow it. No matter what she had done, she was Shelly, even if she wasn't his Shelly... and no one deserved to die like that. No one.

Heaving another sigh, he went to the door of the room and opened it, pausing to stick his head out and check the hallway--empty--before emerging. Slowly he made his way down the hallway, to another door, and stood before it, his hand on the knob.

::Eric...::

His head jerked up at the call and he looked wildly around him, seeking the one that had spoken. Shelly's voice...but where was she?

::Eric!::

"Shelly?" he whispered aloud, looking once more around the hallway...only to find it as empty as before. He closed his eyes and sought inside himself, thinking that it might be there that he could find; he flinched--mentally and physically--at the touch of another mind to his, starting to shut the other out...only to realize that the presence was... familiar.

::Shelly?:: Tenatively he reached out to the presence...and in his mind's eye he could see an image of her. Black leather pants, black T-shirt, and a black coat, looking very much like his Shelly...and yet not like her at all. But closer to her than the Shelly here...

::You have to come back, Eric. Restore the balance.::

Eric shook his head. "No--I'm still needed here. Sarah needs me--Shelly--" He'd brought Sarah into danger, simply by going to her for help, and Shelly because he had been unable to protect her, as the Eric here would have.

::If you wait too long...it might be too late. The portal might not open again.:: There was a sorrowful note in Shelly's mind voice.

"Then...I have to take that chance. There has to be a reason why I'm here--something I have to do--" He trailed off, not knowing how to put it into words. It couldn't be entirely random, that he had been sent here...

And from Shelly there was no reply, her presence slowly fading from his mind and leaving him a little weak-kneed. When his legs were steady once more, he drew himself up and reached for the doorknob once more, hauling it open.

The rustle of leather drew Albrecht out of his doze and he blinked to clear his eyes, watching as Shelly rose from her sitting position to approach the portal. As she came to stand before it, golden light rippled and Albrecht staggered to his feet even as she extended a hand to touch the light, her fingers and then wrist disappearing into it.

"Hey--what're you doing?" he demanded.

Shelly gave him a small smile. "Going to help Eric." Slender arm was swallowed by the light and she took a step forward, turning into it so that half of her was consumed by it. And looked back over at Albrecht. "Another will come through--watch them both."

And with that she disappeared.

He stood beside their graves. The other Shelly was in a safe place. Escaping had been easier than Eric had expected. With Tyrone out it had been a piece of cake to simply walk away with Shelly in his arms. Eric had then found himself drawn to the cemetery. She would come to him here, he knew. The other Shelly. And even as he gave thought to her, she appeared, stepping out of a shimmer of light. A portal. Shelly...but not his Shelly. "What do you want with me?" Eric queried.

"I want you to go home," Eric, Shelly replied. She smiled at him, one hand trembling as she reached out to touch his face. Hadn't been able to do that since they had died. Her Eric was a spirit, but this Eric was flesh and blood.

"I can't go home," Eric insisted, feeling himself shudder at Shelly's touch. This one was more like his own. Sweetness and light. Strong. "I'm here for a reason," Eric continued. "I need to find out what that reason is."

Shelly understood Eric's need, the same need burned hot within her. The need to right all the wrongs in an attempt to cross over to the other side. The only way to reach her Eric. The only path back to paradise. "We don't belong here, Eric," Shelly stated, positively. "I know that something is wrong, but it's not our place to fix it. Not here."

Eric pulled away from Shelly's touch, it felt as if it burned him. His body ached with the need to touch her. To bury his fingers in her thick hair and kiss her till they were both dizzy with desire. But she was not his Shelly. "How do know it's not?" Eric challenged, his eyes burning. "How do you know that this isn't the way back?" He knew that she would understand what he was asking.

"I don't know...not for certain," Shelly conceded. "I only know that the portal won't stay open for long, and that if you don't go back now....you might be trapped here forever."

"What's the difference?" Eric shot back. "Here...or their?" He shook his head, feeling dark tears welling up in his eyes. Feeling himself changing into the Crow. "I'm alone no matter what I do," Eric whispered. "Nothing can change that."

Shelly reached for Eric's hand, gripping it hard when he would have pulled away. "Faith can change it, Eric," she breathed. "We have to believe in this world. We have to believe what is good. And we have to fight for the innocent. For the sweet souls of those who cannot fight for themselves."

Eric found himself smiling as he squeezed Shelly's hand. He felt suddenly very old. Old and eternal. "Shelly would have believed," Eric whispered. "And a part of me does too. That's why I have to stay."

"And if you are trapped here?" Shelly queried. "Then what?"

"I don't know," Eric acknowledged. "I only know that...That I have to make things better here. Better for Shelly."

Shelly nodded, knowing that he meant the other one. "She doesn't deserve your kindness, Eric."

Eric sighed then shook his head. "We all deserve a second chance." He pulled free of Shelly's hand and sank down to his knees beside his own grave.

"You're right," Shelly conceded, sinking down beside Eric. She reached out to tuck a lock of his dark hair behind one ear. "I'll stay and help you," Shelly announced. "Where do we start?"

"With Sarah," Eric replied. He would have said more but in that moment he was struck by an image. His Shelly, trapped in the fires of hell.

Another burst of light from the portal and a limp form came tumbling through, caught by Albrecht before she could fall down the three steps leading to the floor. Another Shelly, realized Albrecht with a groan, decked out like some S&M queen in black leather bustier and tight mini-skirt, feet clad in stiletto heels. From the snarl of the still chained Eric, Albrecht would wager a guess that this was his Shelly...

He carried the limp form to the opposite side of the room and handcuffed her to the old heater, straightening to look over at Eric. Draven, he reminded himself--this was nothing like the Eric he knew. Albrecht rubbed his aching forehead wearily, closing his eyes briefly. Whatever the hell was going on, he wished that things would just get back to normal...or as normal as his life had been since a punk calling himself Eric Draven walked into his life and blew it to hell--

Heaving a sigh, Albrecht went to sit down once more beside Sarah. And thought longingly about the good ol' days, when he only had to worry about living criminals and not the back-from-the-dead types...

Shelly reached out to steady Eric as he reeled, a hand going to his forehead. Gripping his arm, she leaned in close to study him anxiously as she asked, "You okay?"

"Shelly...my Shelly..." Eric flinched at the touch of her hand to his cheek, reliving again the images of Shelly trapped in Hell at the other Shelly's touch. Shelly consumed by flame, suffering endless torment--

"Shhh..." Shelly stroked his cheek, pressing a kiss to his forehead, her heart aching at seeing his pain. So like her Eric...and how it hurt to see him again... "Eric--you have to go back," she said firmly.

Eric shook his head. "No, I can't--Sarah needs me--"

Shelly placed her hands on either side of his head, forcing him to meet her eyes. "Eric, the longer you stay here, the more you disrupt the seperate realities. You go back...and your Shelly will be restored to...wherever she was. Maybe it's not right or fair...but that's the way it's meant to be. You know it's true..." she added gently.

Slowly Eric pulled free of her, hanging his head as he turned away. If he left here, nothing was going to change. The world here wouldn't change...and he'd be sending back two people that would only do more to destroy it. Sarah would die a broken, bitter spirit, never knowing a better future...

"I...can't," he whispered.

"You have to," said Shelly firmly.

Eric faced her, seeing in this Shelly the same strength of spirit and conviction that his Shelly had possessed. Delicate...and yet so very strong, sweet and stubborn and wise... "It's not fair to Sarah...to give her hope...and then leave her."

"Sometimes all we can give someone is a little bit of hope. And sometimes...it's enough." She extended her hand to him, waiting expectantly.

Reluctantly Eric laid his hand in hers and allowed her to lead him out of the cemetery.

Another explosion of light brought Albrecht up out of a half doze, his eyes automatically scanning the room for his prisoners...and widening when he saw them gone. Getting to his feet as quickly as he could, he rubbed his eyes rapidly to clear them...and jumped backwards as Eric appeared before him, one hand fumbling for his gun tucked into a shoulder holster.

"Whoa, Albrecht--it's me," said Eric, lifting his hands to show them empty.

Squinting Albrecht studied the young man before him warily and his hand slowly fell down to his side. "So you're back...for good?"

"I guess so..." Eric looked back to the window, his shoulders slumping as he faced Albrecht once more. And looked down as a hand touched his, to see Sarah stealing up beside him to twine her fingers through his. Despite himself he smiled and knelt to give her a fierce hug, tears sparking in his eyes at the thought of the other Sarah, trapped in a dark world of hate and violence.

"I missed you..." whispered Sarah, returning his hug as hard as she could.

And that made it just a little bit better.

It hadn't been easy but Sarah had managed to wriggle free of the ropes that bound her, to slip out of the house she was held in. Years of experience had taught her the tricks of survival and escape and she used these to flee from Shelly's hold. Couldn't go home... because they'd look for her there. And it was no big deal because it hadn't been home in a long time, not since she was a real little kid...

So she went to the only place she could think.

The door opened, allowing a little light to spill out and diminish the darkness, Mace holding the door with India behind him. Without a word, he opened it wider to allow Sarah to come inside and shut it behind her, India hurriedly locking the door.

As the two adults looked at her inquiringly, Sarah drew in a deep breath and said firmly, "We have to make things better."

Mace studied her silently for a long moment and then at last gave a somber nod. "You're right." A small rueful smile tugged at the corners of his mouth at the thought that it had taken a child to point out what should have been obvious.

Sliding an arm around Sarah's shoulders, India gave her a hug and led her through the hallway, back to the kitchen to get her something to eat.