Chapter 1

Blood and bullets. Those were two normal things that these two see every day but, this time was different. No blood, no bullets, and one dead body. A teenage girl, no older than fourteen, had been left for dead behind an old building and lodged into a dumpster; headfirst. The night had started off gloomy but for Colorado, this night was gloomier than usual. The clouds had a stormy hint to them as they formed a black curtain in the sky. No stars, no moonlight. Just the shine of flashlights and the dancing of red and blue lights as they blocked off the crime scene.

"Detectives, nice of you to show up." An elder gentleman nagged.

"Sorry Chief, this asshole doesn't know the meaning of 'now." Hedix shot a glare at Frost who had let out a big yawn.

"Hey, that was the best sleep that I've had in a while and you had to go and ruin it." Frost slammed his hands into the pockets of his black leather jacket.

Hedix rolled his eyes and followed Chief under the yellow caution tape that blocked off both sides of the alleyway. Hedix looked around disgusted. Every step he took, he took with caution. He knew what happened in these alleys. People sold and abused drugs, leaving their used spoons and needles scattered on ground. You could even find a used condom occasionally, which took Hedix by surprise seeing how no one in his generation had even heard of protection. Hedix looked back to find Frost casually making his way underneath the tape.

"Could you be any slower?" Hedix asked annoyed.

"Actually, yes I could. But if I went slower, you'd have an aneurism." Frost smiled.

Chief had stopped in front of the dumpster where the girl had been found. "Alright boys, here we are."

Hedix peered into the trash, frowning at the sight. The girl was young, probably just started high school. What in the world was she doing in a place like this?

"Any witnesses?" Frost asked.

"None that saw what happened to her. Only a homeless man who found her like this." Chief replied.

"The homeless man did it." Frost announced confidently.

Hedix's face went from a frown to a glare. "And what evidence do you have to prove that?"

Frost shrugged "Just guessing. I'm going to go question him."

"Yeah, you do that." Hedix turned his attention toward the garbage. "Can we possibly get her out of that? I find it disrespectful if we leave her in there."

Chief nodded and went to request the help of the fire department that had arrived on scene. While waiting for assistance, Hedix began looking around the area. His eyes darting from wall to wall. Up and down. Nothing he could see yet. Rubbing the back of his neck, Hedix looked at the sky; the clouds still looked like a storm was on its way. Taking a deep breath in and letting it out slowly, he turned back around to see the fire department gently lifting the girl out and laying her on the cold concrete that made up the ally. Hedix made his way to the girl that laid lifeless. Her body was ice, there was no color in her skin and her eyes had no life behind them. Hedix wrinkled his nose and placed his hand over his mouth.

"Sorry Miss, but you stink." Hedix whispered and began to examine her body a little.

"You find anything?" Frost asked as he approached behind Hedix.

"Not a thing. She's totally clean. What about you?" Did the homeless man say anything useful?"

Frost shook his head. "I could barely understand him. All I got was that he found her and then he asked for money."

Hedix smiled, then turned his attention to the girl. Pulling a pair of blue latex gloves out of his pocket and sliding them on his hands, he began to gently pull the girls hair out of her face. Long and blonde it used to be, but now brown due to the trash, mud and dirt. Frost began to take his own pictures of the scene, stepping from side to side and then taking pictures of the surrounding area.

"Detective, we need you." A voice called from the entrance of the alley.

"Which detective? There's two of us." Frost glared back.

"The one actually doing his job. Detective Cole."

Frost wrinkled his upper lip and looked back at Hedix, who was smiling as he walked past. Frost stuck out his tongue like a child and proceeded to take more pictures. Hedix made his way over to the officer.

"What is it?" Hedix asked.

The officer pointed to a green and black substance on the end of a fire escape ladder. Hedix nodded towards the officer and tilted his head in question. "Frost."

"What?"

"Come here. I need you for a second."

Frost shoved his hands in his pockets and walked over to Hedix. "What?"

"Look up. What's that look like."

Frost tilted his head upward "Looks like snot."

Hedix rolled his eyes "With black in it?"

"Fine, snot laced with Heroin." Frost smarted off.

"Get a sample of it." Hedix growled and walked away.

Frost let a short exhale escape his nose and proceeded to get a sample of the slimy green and black substance that was on the ladder. Grabbing a swab, Frost gently took the sample and carefully put it into a little sample container. Frost then put the sample in a black suitcase for later testing when suddenly his spine tingled, making his muscles tense up. Frost quickly took to his feet and scanned the area. The coroner had arrived along with his team, packed the girl's body and sent her to autopsy. Nothing around the area seemed unusual to Frost, but the feeling was still there. Frost looked up at the sky, still a black covered sea. Frost picked up the suitcase and went to find Hedix, who was talking to the coroner. They seemed in every deep conversation, but this was something Frost needed to run by Hedix.

"Hedix." Frost called out.

Hedix looked back "Hold on. Yeah please keep me updated on anything you find." Hedix finished the conversation with the coroner. "What's up?" Hedix turned his attention to Frost.

"I got a nasty feeling dude." Frost mentioned.

"What kind of feeling?"

"The one where all my nerves stand on end." Frost looked at Hedix with a concern.

Hedix's eyes widened. "When did that happen?"

"After I took the sample off the ladder. I just got this chill and my body tensed up. I don't know what it was, but I can still feel it."

Hedix grew worried. When Frost got these kinds of feelings, it typically meant that Frost was sensing something supernatural. Hedix learned, from working with Frost for a long period of time, to trust whenever Frost said, 'he got a feeling.' Looking down the alley at the ladder where the sample was, Hedix tried to see if there was anything abnormal. Nothing seemed out of the ordinary.

"Can we go get a drink man? I need to take off the edge." Frost asked.

"We're still on duty Frost." Hedix argued.

"I know. I don't plan on getting shit faced. I just want something to calm my nerves. This feeling is stronger than the ones I've had before."

Hedix looked at Frost, who seemed to have a begging look in his eyes. Letting out a sigh, Hedix made his way over to their Chief and proceeded to tell him what was going on and what they had planned to do. Chief knew all too well that he needed to trust Hedix and Frost on their decision. Chief gave Hedix a nod and sent him back to Frost, who was waiting for a response.

"Alright, let's go. Chief said don't come back smelling like we swam in alcohol." Hedix informed.

Frost nodded and loaded the back of the cruiser with the suitcase and other items. Hedix climbed in the driver's seat and turned on the engine. Frost sat in the passenger seat and closed the door. Putting the car in reverse and pulling away from the scene, the cars atmosphere was tense; with the radio on low and the streetlights fading as they passed them. Fifteen minutes had gone, and Hedix had pulled up to a local bar; The Dawn. The bar had been open for a while, but on days like today was when the boys would stop in for a little something. Hedix walked in first and found a seat at the bar, Frost right behind him.

"How are you doing Detectives? Hard night?" The bartender smiled.

"A Little Ronnie. Jack and Coke man." Hedix ordered.

"Coming right up. What about you Detective Rosado?" Ronnie asked as he fixed up Hedix's drink.

"Um, Scotch on the rocks."

Ronnie nodded and proceeded with the drinks. The bar had jazz music going over the speakers, the lights were dim enough to create a homey vibe and all the evening drinkers had made their appearance. Some sitting and talking about business and some with lover issues. Plus, the occasional drunk one at the end of the bar drinking their life away. Frost leaned over the bar and placed his hands behind his neck and interlocked his fingers, letting out a sigh. Hedix paid him no mind, he knew what he was going through and just needed this time to relax.

"Alright boys, one scotch on the rocks, and a jack and coke." Ronnie said and slid the drinks in front of them.

"Thanks Ronnie. So, anything interesting going on lately?" Hedix asked, taking a small sip of his drink.

"Not much man. It's surprisingly quiet these days. I did have one person come in here the other day. I almost had to call the cops. Came in here, almost started a fight in my bar. I was almost about to get arrested myself." Ronnie cracked his knuckles and smiled.

"Can't have that happen." Hedix laughed.

Ronnie smiled and was called over by another customer. Hedix looked at Frost who was almost done with his scotch.

"Damn, calm down." Hedix raised his eyebrows.

Frost let out a breath. "Sorry."

"Feel any better?"

Frost shook his head and finished the last of the drink. He knew they had to return to work, after all it was only 8 in the evening.

"You ready to go?" Hedix asked as he downed the last of the jack and coke.

"Yeah, I suppose."

Frost and Hedix paid Ronnie their dues and began to make their way out of the door when Frost and Hedix were pushed back by a customer bolting through the door, making a B-line for Ronnie. The man, mid-forties, about five ten, a brown beard and already smelling like alcohol, made his way over the bar, grabbing Ronnie by the collar, lifting him off the ground and slamming him into the wall behind him. Liquor bottles broke against the floor and counter as they came down from the shelves.

"You son of a bitch. What did you do to my daughter?!" The man said enraged.

Those words raised a red flag for Frost and Hedix. Not letting Ronnie get beaten up in his own bar, Frost quickly made his way over the counter, closing his left hand into a fist and connecting it with the man's cheek, making Ronnie fall to the floor and the man stumbling to catch his balance. Everyone in the bar was on their toes, trying to get a glimpse of the action. Hedix climbed over the counter and help Ronnie to his feet. Making sure that Ronnie was okay, Hedix ran over to make sure Frost didn't kill the guy.

"Detective Rosado, stand down." Hedix voiced behind him.

Frost angerly looked back and did as Hedix ordered.

"Denver Police Department. My name is Detective Cole and the gentleman that just landed one on you is Detective Rosado. What's your name man." Hedix introduced himself as he flashed his badge.

"John."

"Alright John, so what's going on?"

"That son of a bitch did something to my daughter. I know it." John raised his voice.

"Alright and what makes you say that?" Hedix questioned.

"Cause, I saw that bastard's car a couple days ago. He pulled up and my daughter got out of the passenger's side. She came in the house like it was nothing." John slurred his words a tad.

Hedix raised an eyebrow and looked back at Ronnie, who was talking to Frost. Hedix knew Ronnie had a wife and two kids, so something like this seemed a bit off. He also suspected that the man was already drunk and probably just wanted to fight. Turning his attention back to John, who was glaring at Ronnie.

"Alright man, I'll talk to Ronnie and we'll see if we can find out what's going on. But I have to say, I don't think there's anything we can do if we do find something."

"Put his ass behind bars!" John pointed at Ronnie with anger behind it.

"Alright sir, can I just have you exit from behind the bar and sit outside on the curb for me. I need to find out more from Ronnie." Hedix asked nicely.

John nodded and calmly exited the bar and did what Hedix asked of him. Hedix rolled his eyes, took in a deep breath and let it out slowly. He turned and walked back towards Ronnie.

"Alright Ronnie, What the hell is he talking about?" Frost asked before Hedix could.

"I have no clue man. I know I dropped a young lady off at her house one night after I called a cab for her friend who was supposed to be her ride home but got plastered. I mean that girl had to be ten sheets to the wind, and I wasn't letting her drive. Nor was I going to let a young lady walk home at twelve o-clock at night. So, I offered to drive her home." Ronnie rubbed the back of his head.

"Do you have any proof of that?" Hedix asked.

"Yes, I have the cameras that are hooked up in here and then I have the cameras in the bar's car. The car that I use to drive drunk asses around that don't leave the bar until it closes."

"Alright, let's look at the cameras." Hedix insisted.

Ronnie escorted them to the back of the bar where all of the video surveillance had been recorded. Hedix and Frost watched what Ronnie had described, had come true. They then proceeded to watch the car's video tapes, and everything had checked out.

"Alright Ronnie, thanks man. We'll get the gentleman out of here. Let us know if you need anything else."

Ronnie nodded. Hedix and Frost made their way out of the bar, talked to John and sent him on his way. Making their way back to the station, Hedix made a quick stop. Picking up some coffee to hide the smell of alcohol on their breath and some chips for the long night ahead. Hedix and Frost walked through the double doors to the station. Tonight, wasn't as lively as others but there was still a few that didn't know how to behave on a Friday night. Hedix entered the elevator along with Frost and made their way to the fourth floor of the station. The fourth floor was where all the offices were. Filled with cubicles left and right, only the important people had their own offices. Hedix plopped down in the leather computer chair and leaned his head back. His cubical was lined with pictures of his family, his mother and father, plus his brothers and one or two pictures of the family dog. Frosts cubical on the other hand was the complete opposite. Pictures of anime characters and trading cards scattered the cubical walls. He maybe had a picture of a girl or two, but those were mostly girls he wished he had. Frost slouched down in his chair and let out a big sigh.

"Something interesting happen! Please!" Frost moaned to the ceiling.

"You bored?" Hedix questioned.

"Yes."

"I got something for you. Go down to the lab and see what we got for the sample you collected." Hedix smiled.

Frost rolled his eyes. He hated going down to forensics, but for the sake of the job he had to do it. Slowly getting up from his chair and with regret in his eyes, he walked into the elevator and made his way down to the basement. The elevator doors slid open and the lights from the lab blinded him as he walked in. Everything smelt like a hospital in there. He was glad Ruby kept her workspace clean, but he hated the smell of latex and disinfectant.

"Ruby?" Frost called out, clearing his throat.

"Frost!" A little voice rose above the bookshelves that were guarding the examining area.

Frost made his way around and saw Ruby looking through her microscope. Her long black and pink Ombre hair hung down and laid softly on the desk. Ruby was a beautiful girl with light fair skin and caramel brown eyes that were covered by her glasses. Ruby looked up from her scope and smiled at Frost.

"What can I do for you love?" Ruby asked poking her chest out and placing a hand on her hip.

"Hedix wanted to know what you got from that sample?"

"Oh, the snot looking stuff. Well, I can tell you it's not snot. It's not anything I've seen before and when I did the DNA testing, nothing came up in our system. Come look at it." Ruby stepped back and presented the microscope it was under.

Frost peered through the scope; a confused look came across his face. What was on the other side of that scope was something he had never seen. He knew what blood looked like even what a piece of snot looked like or any other body fluid, but this wasn't anything like that. The glob looked like it was filled with antifreeze, after it had been spilled on the ground and with what looked to be fuzz. Ruby couldn't even explain it, and Ruby could explain everything. Frost looked at Ruby and Ruby shrugged her shoulders.

"Ok, yeah that's weird." Frost scratched his head.

"I told you."

"You sure it's not DNA?" Frost questioned.

"Yes, I'm sure. It doesn't even have nucleotides, or anything to even consider a genetic code. I don't know what I'm looking at, but I can tell you, it isn't human. Also, that fuzzy looking stuff in there, that was the swab you used to collect it. This stuff ate the swab Frost." Ruby raised her voice as she plopped down on her round spinning chair.

"Well, Hedix isn't going to like this. Alright, thanks Ruby." Frost smiled and waved as he walked to the elevator.

Ruby waved and blew him a kiss, which he refused to catch. Reaching the fourth floor again, Frost was cut off at the door with his badge, gun and jacket being shoved into his chest.

"Let's go, hurry up!" Hedix yelled and rushed down the stairs.

Frost attached his badge and ran after Hedix, who was almost completely down the stairs. Gathering in the car and turning on the lights and sirens, Hedix and Frost sped down the streets weaving in and out of traffic.

"What the hell is going on?" Frost asked, still trying to put his jacket on.

"A shooting just happened."

"Where?"

"Ronnie's." Hedix almost choked on the word.

Frost could hear the worry and the frustration in Hedix's voice. Frosts' anger shot through the roof. Each of them worried for Ronnie and prayed that nothing happened to him. The air got denser as they approached the bar. When they arrived, the ambulance, fire department and three more officers were already on scene. The red and blue lights flashed so brightly that it almost felt unreal, and to the two of them, flashing lights were considered normal. Hedix ran up to the 'Do Not Cross' tape and flashed his badge. The officer guarding the tape had let him in with Frost close behind. The bar was a mess. Broken glass was everywhere; shattered from gun fire. Bullet holes filled the mirror behind the broken bottles and the liquor seeped into the holes and drained onto the floor. The boys rounded the corner of the bar, and their hearts sank; their breathing stopped. Their worst fear had been made reality. Ronnie laid on the floor, lifeless eyes looked up at the ceiling with bullet holes in his chest, his blood pooling around him like a sea of red wine. Hedix had to hold back the tears he wanted to shed, because as a detective, that was frowned upon. Hedix turned around and looked at Frost who was burning with rage. Frosts eyes had glazed over with tears and shined a bright ice blue that could light up a room.

"Frost. Your eyes man." Hedix choked down the knot in his throat as his voice quivered.

Frost turned around, blinked and wiped the tears that escaped his eyes. Frost held back every ounce of his anger.

"Officer Daniel." Hedix called over to him.

"Yes Detective?"

"Did you happen to catch the person who did this?"

"Yes Detective. He's in the back of squad car ten."

"Thanks." Hedix said and took Frost out to the squad car.

From the window of the squad car, they could see the man's face, it was John. Frost's upper lip curled, and his fist tightened. "I knew I should've beat him to a pulp when I had the chance. Can I kill him now?" Frost clenched his teeth together, trying to hold them back from enlarging.

"No. The officers will take him down to the station and we'll see him down there. Then we can grill him till he bleeds him from his ears." Hedix growled.

"RONNIE!" A women's voice wailed though the commotion. Frost knew the voice; it was Ronnie's wife Sarah. Sarah pushed her way through the officers but was stopped by Frost and was immediately put into his embrace. Sarah sank to her knees, Frost holding her as she cried out for Ronnie and begged for everything to be a dream. Frost couldn't hold back the tears anymore. His eyes began to water and drip onto his arm that was holding Sarah. Frost and Hedix had been friends with Ronnie and his family since they both started out as regular officers. Sarah gripped at Frosts shirt, begging and begging for him to bring Ronnie back to her. Frost kept quiet as Hedix ran to them, kneeled and joined the heart broken embrace. Hedix looked at Frost who was silently crying, trying not to show his face to anyone else. Seeing that, Hedix couldn't stop his eyes from tearing up and running down his cheeks. The coroner brought Ronnie's body out in a black body bag that laid on a gurney. Sarah gazed up and saw them taking him away in something she never thought she'd see.

"How am I going to tell the boys?" Sarah questioned through her sobs.

Hedix and Frost looked at each other. "I don't know Sarah, but if you want we can be there when you do." Hedix wiped away the water on his cheeks.

Sarah nodded and sat silently in Frosts arms, with tears still rolling down her face. Hedix looked around at the lights of the emergency vehicles and the commotion of the scene, the feeling of disconnection from the reality around him had set in, everything felt like it was all a bad dream.

"Frost we got to go back to the office. Squad car 10 left with that fool already." Hedix said, coming back to reality.

Frost nodded and looked at Sarah. "Sarah, do you want us to drop you off at home?"

Sarah shook her head. "Could I come back to the office please? I need to speak with Chief."

Frost nodded and helped Sarah to her feet. They proceeded to the car, helped Sarah in and took off to the office. The air was thick with sorrow. They could hear Sarah's soft sniffles in the back seat. Frost and Hedix felt nothing but heat and anger. Hedix could tell that Frost wanted nothing more than to rip John apart limb from limb with his own two hands: claws and all. Within fifteen minutes, they arrived at the office. Sarah had gone into the Chief's office and the boys proceeded to the interrogation room where John had sat handcuffed to the table. Behind the one-way mirror, Frost's eyes shined bright as ice.

"Frost calm down. Don't do that here. We don't need the whole station to flip their shit." Hedix looked at Frost.

Frost turned away from the mirror. "Then you better go in there, because if I do, I don't know if I can control my anger."

Hedix nodded and walked into the room with John. John sat silently with his head down. Hedix didn't bother pulling out the chair, and with a hard bang of his hands on the table, John had jerked his head up in shock.

"Nice to see you again. I thought we took care of you the first time. What pushed you to return and murder the man?" Hedix's voice shook.

John didn't say so much as a peep. Hedix clenched his hand into a fist and tried to control his breathing, but with everything inside of him, his anger got the best. Tears began to roll down his cheeks and as a tear hit the table, Hedix's arm had reached over, grabbed John by the collar of his shirt and pulled him in close.

"Why did you kill Ronnie! What the hell is your problem?" Hedix shouted with pain behind his words. His heart was about to explode from the overwhelming feeling of bitterness.

John kept his mouth shut. Hedix couldn't control what he did next. Cocking his other arm back, balling his hand in a fist. Hedix threw his arm forward making a quick connection with John's jaw, knocking him back onto the floor and pulling the table along with him. Engulfed in fury, Hedix made his way around the table that had fallen on top of John, but before he could land the bottom of his shoe on Johns face, Frost had come in putting Hedix into a full nelson and pulling him back towards the door.

"Can we get some help in here?!" Frost called out to two officers that had been walking down the hall.

Frost continued to drag Hedix out of the room as the officers helped clean John up and put him back into one piece. Hedix struggled to get out of Frosts grip, but when they were far enough away from the room, Frost let go of him. Hedix jerked away from Frost's arms and walked around their office in the attempt to cool off, putting his arms up and interlocking his fingers behind his head, breathing in through his nose and out through his mouth. Frost sat silently as he watched Hedix pace back and forth. He couldn't believe Hedix was this worked up. He was usually the one to keep his cool and be the one to pull Frost off, but this time, it was the other way around.

"Sorry Frost." Hedix said quietly.

Frost shrugged. "You're fine man. We all lose our cool every once in a while."

"Yeah but not me. Ronnie was just…" Hedix paused and fell silent, placing his hands over his nose and mouth.

The office was silent. Only the noises of the printer and fax machine and the unanswered rings of the phones. The night had gone by quickly with the questioning of John and arresting him for the murder of Ronnie. John was convicted with First Degree murder and sentenced to life in prison without parole. As the sun rise started to show its pink and yellow hue, Hedix and Frosts eyes had matched the sky, pink, from exhaustion and tears. It was almost time for them to go home and get some sleep, but first they had to stop by Ronnie's house to make sure Sarah and the kids were holding up. Pulling up to the house, Sarah was sitting on the front porch, wrapped up in her grey and pink rose patterned robe and drinking her morning tea. Her eyes had bags underneath, looking like she hadn't slept a wink. Her head was down so she didn't notice the boys pulling up.

"Sarah?" Hedix said softly, trying not to startle her as he walked up to the porch.

Sarah looked up slowly, her eyes were blood shot from crying all night. She attempted to smile at the boys, but the smile turned into a tired smirk. Hedix walked up the steps to the porch and knelt down, wrapping his arms around Sarah. Frost stood back and leaned on the stair railing.

"Where are the boys?" Hedix asked.

"Inside." Sarah responded.

"Did you tell them yet?"

Sarah nodded.

Hedix looked to Frost and motioned for him to go and check on the boys. Frost nodded and entered the ranch style house.

"Milo? Lonny?" Frost called out.

Milo's head appeared around the corner. His blonde hair was a mess, and he was still in his superhero p. j's.

"Hi Frost." Milo waved.

"How are you doing kid?" Frost questioned.

Milo shrugged. "I mean, I get it. But Lonny, he's hurting. I don't know what to do Frost. He's my younger brother and I don't know how to help him. I have to protect him, but I can't protect him from this."

Frost peered around the corner to see Lonny sitting at the kitchen table with a cup of tea, his tears salting the raspberry and lemon liquid. "Let me talk to him ok."

Milo nodded and went outside to see how his mother was doing. Frost made his way to Lonny and placed a hand on his shoulder. Lonny looked up and immediately turned around, wrapping his arms around him, letting his tears stain the front of Frost's shirt. Frost looked down and wrapped his arms around Lonny.

"Dad's really not coming home anymore is he." Lonny asked through his sobs.

Frost let Lonny go, knelt to his level and wiped his tears from his cheeks. "Listen to me very closely Lonnie. Your father loves you very much. He loves your mom and your brother, and the bar. There are a million things that I wish I could tell you, but I just don't know how. I do know that somewhere, up in heaven your dad is looking down on you, wishing he could hold you, your brother and your mom in his arms and tell you everything is going to be alright. I also know that he wouldn't want you to cry. He would want you to be strong and continue to live your life to the fullest, because you and your brother have your whole lives ahead of you. So, instead of thinking that he will never come back, instead, know that he is always here looking down on you, protecting you, even though you can't see him. He's always in your hearts and he lives through your memories. Me and Hedix will do everything in our power to protect you guys, but can you think of anything your father would want you to do in his absence."

Lonny sniffed. "Probably take care of mom."

Frost smiled. "Anything else."

"Take care of the bar, and Milo."

"Exactly. So instead of crying, go out there and reassure your mom that you'll be alright. Cause now her main concern is you two boys." Frost said and stood up.

Lonny nodded and took off to the front porch. Frost followed him out and saw Lonny hugging his mom.

"Mom, I'll be alright. Me and Milo. We'll take care of you and the house and the bar, ok." Lonny smiled.

Hearing those words from Lonny's mouth, Sarah began to cry, pulling Milo and Lonny into her and embracing them both. Looking up from the middle of her boys, she nodded and mouth 'Thank you' to Frost and Hedix. Hedix nodded and smiled. Waving goodbye as the boys began to take their leave, Frost and Hedix walked to the car and began to drive home. They both lived in the same apartment complex, so carpooling was easy. Getting home, Frost parted ways with Hedix and went up to his third-floor apartment. Coming through his front door and closing it behind him he noticed something was off. The smell of his apartment wasn't the same as he left it. Frost looked around cautiously and walked through the kitchen. Nothing seemed out of place, but something still felt off. Shrugging it off, Frost had made his way into his closet to change clothes when the light in the closet had turned off.

"What the hell? Did that shit burn out?" Frost snarled.

Proceeding to find his phone, he turned on the flashlight and shined it up towards the light. Within seconds, Frost was pushed down to the ground by a force so strong that the impact of him hitting the floor had knocked the wind out of him. Coughing, trying to gasp for air, Frost opened his eyes to see a pair of bright neon yellow eyes staring back at him. Frost frantically tried to fight off whatever was holding him down but couldn't escape.

"Who are you!?" Frost questioned through panic.

The eyes didn't speak, but a smile of paper white teeth shone through the darkness, some of the teeth were sharp like vampire teeth. Suddenly a rip of pain came through his chest and a warm sensation flooded his skin.

"You. Will. Die. This time." The teeth spoke and suddenly disappeared leaving Frost laying on the closet floor, clinging to his very own life. Trying to reach for his phone, Frost had wasted so much energy trying to get to a phone that his vision was fleeting from him.

"Fuck." He grunted beneath his teeth, but before he fully passed out from the pain, Frost managed to get Hedix on the other line, leaving nothing but the sounds of his labored breathing when Hedix answered the phone.

***

"Frost, dude answer the door." Hedix screamed through the closed front door.

Forcing his entry, Hedix kicked the door open, ran around the apartment and found Frost clinging to life as he lied helplessly on the floor; his breathing becoming shallow. Hedix reached for his phone and called in the emergency. Within minutes, the fire department and ambulance had made their way up to the apartment and had Frost on a gurney, wheeling him out and placing him in the truck. Hedix was right by his side the whole ride there and all the way up into the emergency room. Unable to go beyond the surgery doors, Hedix waited on the outside.

Three hours had gone by and Hedix, Chief and Ruby had been on standby in the waiting area for any news. A white lab coat then appeared in the doorway.

"Mr. Rosado's Family." He announced.

Hedix stood up and almost knock the doctor over with how fast he had run up to him.

"Is he ok?" Hedix panicked.

"Are you related to him sir?"

"I'm his partner. Denver Police Department." Hedix flashed his badge, put it away and immediately grabbed the doctor by the collar. "I am not losing two people in two fucking days; you might want to tell me before my coroner has to examine your body." Hedix threatened with fire in his eyes.

The doctor, terrified, swallowed his saliva "Yes, Frost his fine. He's out of surgery. But there was something we couldn't explain when we went in to stop the bleeding."

Hedix let the doctor go, took a step back and listened to what else he had to say.

"There was a green substance in his blood stream. We tried to remove as much as we could without draining all of his blood. We don't know how it will affect him the future, but he's fine now and stable. You can see him if you want."

Hedix nodded and followed the doctor to Frost's room. Frost was hooked up to an IV drip and laying there peacefully sleeping. Hedix sighed in relief and sat next to his bed side. The freshly made scars on Frost's chest were wrapped up tight but Hedix refused to look at it. Chief sat on the other side of him and looked down, something was bothering him.

"What's up Chief?" Hedix asked, trying to drive his own attention away from Frost's current condition.

"Well, I'm just wondering if I should contact them."

"Contact who?"

"A lab. They help special cases like Frost. I'm just wondering if it's something that they can handle?" Chief rubbed the stubbled on his chin.

"Well, it's worth a shot." Hedix convinced him.

Chief shrugged and reached for his cell phone. "Hello. Is Ally there?"