Living

[Alexis Reese James]

Lights flickered on the stage as a beautiful blond stepped up to the microphone and moved to the beat of one of her favorite old rock songs. Plucking the mic from its resting place, she closed her eyes and felt the music fill her soul. Her voice was husky as she opened up to blow the crowd away with the first lyrics.


"You're struttin' into town like you're slingin' a gun
Just a small town dude with a big city attitude
Honey are ya lookin' for some trouble tonight
Well all right"

As the first words drifted over the crowd, the club went wild. There wasn't a woman in the place who couldn't relate to the message being delivered by the sassy woman on stage.

"You think you're so bad, drive the women folk wild
Shoot 'em all down with the flash of your pearly smile
Honey but you met your match tonight
Oh, that's right

You think you'll knock me off my feet 'til I'm flat on the floor
'Til my heart is cryin' Indian and I'm beggin for more
So come on baby
Come on baby show me what that loaded gun is for"


Hearing the shouts, Lexi grinned madly and threw her whole soul into the song. This was what it was all about.


"If you can give it I can take it
'Cause if this heart is gonna break it's gonna take a lot to break it I know tonight
Somebody's gonna win the fight
So if you're so tough
Come on and prove it
You heart is down for the count and you know you're gonna lose it
Tonight you're gonna go down in flames
Just like Jesse James

You're an outlaw lover and I'm after your hide
Well you ain't so strong, won't be long 'til your hands are tied
Tonight I'm gonna take you in dead or alive
That's right

You break the laws of love in the name of desire
Take ten steps back cause I'm ready baby
Aim and fire
Baby there's nowhere you gonna run tonight
Ooh that's right

Well you've had your way with love but it's the end of the day
Now a team of wild horses couldn't drag your heart away
So come on baby
Come on baby
Come on baby you know there ain't nothing left to say"

Tossing her wild mane of long blond locks, Lexi was unaware of the stir of the audience. She was completely lost in the music as she swayed and threw her voice into the body of the song. The spotlight lite her up and made her seem larger in life as she waved a hand out over the audience and smiled. For an older woman, she didn't look a day over thirty five even though she had long since pasted that marker.

"You think you'll knock me off my feet 'til I'm flat on the floor
'Til my heart is cryin' Indian and I'm beggin for more
So come on baby
Come on baby, come on"

If you can give it I can take it
'Cause if this heart is gonna break it's gonna take a lot to break it I know tonight
Somebody's gonna win the fight
So if you're so tough
Come on and prove it
You heart is down for the count and you know you're gonna lose it
Tonight you're gonna go down in flames
Just like Jesse James

Tonight you're gonna go down in flames
Just like Jesse James
Tonight you're gonna go down in flames
Just like Jesse James

I'm gonna shoot you down Jesse James"

Finishing up with a final big bang, Lexi dropped her microphone and motioned towards her band. Erik's guitar solo was the soul and breath as the last few nights drifted away. Laughing in pure exhilaration, the beautiful blond threw back her head and spun around in circles on stage.

Since the death of her husband, she'd been barely living but tonight .. Tonight she felt as if some weight had lifted with the music. She grinned when Erik went right into his favorite Nickelback song, "Savin Me" and her foot began to tap to the beat. As he took the mic, Lex faded into the background to back him up and enjoyed the music for a few more minutes.

[Darian Raniari]

Darian sat in a shadowy corner, watching intently.

He smiled charmingly at a cute young waitress as she set a glass of wine before him, making her flush and scamper off, flustered. He chuckled to himself as he took a drink, knowing he cut quite the figure in this, his most expensive, black three-piece silk suit, with it's silver and diamond cuff-links. As usual, he'd let his thick, dark brown hair hang loosely about his face and shoulders, but for this particular occasion he'd also donned a pair of dark black sunglasses, to hide any accidental eye-shine due to the lights in the club.

This was a delicate undertaking, and he knew he had to be incredibly careful. With Dr. Nicodeau it had been easy, really. A bit of charm here, a large check there, and she'd been ready to basically eat out of his hand. This woman, though, Lexi, was a far different case. She was dangerous, very dangerous, and Darian knew he was walking a fine line tonight. She wouldn't hesitate to kill him, if it came to that, and it very well might.

As he took another drink of his wine, he watched her on stage, nodding slightly. Ah yes, Lexi Blair... She and Sastre went way back, almost as far as the hunter and the vampire himself. The question was, though, how close were they really, or how close had they been? Sastre had severed ties with nearly all of his old friends some twenty-five or so years before, right after the deaths of his lover Solphi, and his mentor the Old Man. And now, there weren't many of those friends left alive even, as the rigors of hunting and the ravages of old age had begun to take their toll.

But there was Lexi, dancing and singing on stage, so full of life! Darian grinned, shivering a bit in anticipation. Please, please let them have been close, or at least let them still be in some sort of contact (though he really doubted the last, as Sastre had been living the "lone wolf" lifestyle for far too long now). He would love to be able to hurt her, to taste her blood, to see the stricken look on Sastre's face when he realized that Darian had once again taken something precious from him...

Let them still be close, Darian thought cruelly, so that I may rip her away from him.

[Athrun Knight]

Athrun watched his friend of many years preform on stage. She's still Lexi he thought as he sipped on his bourbon. the last time Athrun had saw Lexi was about a year ago when a case brought him in the area, that was normally the time he ever saw her. This time though was different. He figured he would drop in and surprise her this time.

Special Agent Athrun Knight, the hunter and the Marshall. He knew that his age would catch up with him eventually, and he would not be able to do either job soon. At 55, Knight was not what he used to be.

When the Crowed started to clap he stood up and clapped with them. He didn't think she would see him from where he was standing. But, he knew he would be able to catch up with her later. He sat back down at his seat at the bar and leaned over so the bar tender could hear him. "Hey, when you get a chance tell Lexi an old friend is here to see her" he yelled to him over the noise of the cheering crowed.

((OCC: I really hope you remember me from the other site XD))

[Alexis Reese James]

As the songs played on and the crowd responded with the same enthusiasm that they had for ages, Lexi couldn't help but smile in wonder. She and Erik had been partners for over 27 years and they'd never failed to bring the house down. Although she didn't take the stage nearly as much as she had in the old days, every time she did she felt the thrill of excitement sweep through her just like it had when she was a bright eyed youth looking for her first shot at fame.

Only, now days, there wasn't any dark and handsome man watching her with a knowing grin and both her kids were grown and off living their own lives.

In fact, she'd been a widow for a decade now and her kids had long since stopped relying on her to kiss their hurts away. Now days, she lived only for herself and it was, quiet simply, boring as hell. So much so that she'd slowly started taking the floor more and getting back into the hunting community.

Not that she'd told her oldest that. He'd no doubt have more conniptions than his father would have if he'd still been alive. Some things were just better undisclosed.

Shaking her head a bit inwardly at her thoughts, Lexi caught sight of Erik's questioning glance and nodded. Stepping forward, she took the spotlight again before smiling at the crowd and slowing it down a bit. As the firsts notes of one of her favorite songs rang out, she closed her eyes and launched into a dramatic rendition of "Its all Coming Back To Me Now".


"There were nights when the wind was so cold
That my body froze in bed
If I just listened to it
Right outside the window

There were days when the sun was so cruel
That all the tears turned to dust
And I just knew my eyes were
Drying up forever

I finished crying in the instant that you left
And I can't remember where or when or how
And I banished every memory you and I had ever made

But when you touch me like this
And you hold me like that
I just have to admit
That it's all coming back to me
When I touch you like this
And I hold you like that
It's so hard to believe but
It's all coming back to me"

Tracing a path along the stage, the slender blonde sang her heart out. As she did so, she allowed her gaze to scan the crowd and she waved a bit to a few of the familiar faces.

"There were moments of gold
And there were flashes of light
There were things we'd never do again
But then they'd always seemed right
There were nights of endless pleasure
It was more than all your laws allow
Baby, Baby, Baby

When you touch me like this
And when you hold me like that
It was gone with the wind
But it's all coming back to me
When you see me like this
And when I see you like that
Then we see what we want to see
All coming back to me
The flesh and the fantasies
All coming back to me
I can barely recall
But it's all coming back to me now

If you forgive me all this
If I forgive you all that
We forgive and forget
And it's all coming back to me
When you see me like this
And when I see you like that
We see just what we want to see
Al coming back to me
The flesh and the fantasies
All coming back to me
I can barely recall but it's all coming back to me now."

As the last refrain of the song faded away, Lexi smiled and took a bow. The glimpse of a handsome, older face by the bar caught her attention and she narrowed her eyes to gaze in that direction. As she did so, she realized it was indeed and old friend and she practically bounced from the stage. Before she did, however, she stopped to whisper to Erik and then gave one more wave before descending the stairs.

Making her way through the crowd, the slender blond scanned the crowd and felt a trickle of unease swamp her. She wasn't sure why she suddenly felt as if danger lurked but she immediately went on alert, scanning the shadowed corners even as she spied her old friend and made her way to him.

"Mr. Knight!! You sly devil you!! What brings you to town, handsome? Its been much to long!!' she drawled in greeting. "You don't call, you don't write... I'm not feeling the love here, mister!"she continued with a teasing note even as she turned to keep her back protected from attack.

[Athrun Knight]

Athrun sipped on his drink and continued to watch the show as Lex did her thing up on stage. The bartender tapped on his shoulder, He leaned back to talk with him. "She'll be down in a little bet gunny, She don't sound happy with you Marine" he said with a grin.

Athrun laughed and nodded his head "I think I can handle her" He said still laughing. Athrun's neck hair stood up on end a little. He felt that something was off in the club. He did not know weather it was his hunter instincts kicking in or his marshal training kicking in. But something was definitely off. He scanned the club but didn't pick up anything. Because of his federal agent status he was permitted to carry a fire arm so he felt a little better.

When Lexi made it over to him and playfully scolded him He laughed and raised both hands "I have been swamped with work, this is the first night i haven't been pinned up in my office or out chasing leads, I'm sorry" He said before giving her a hug and a small kiss on the cheek like a older brother would give his younger sister.

[Alexis Reese James]

Laughing slightly, Lexi returned Athrun's hug before stepping back. As she did so, she trailed her eyes over his form and then tilted her head. He was still looking good even though a trace of gray had peppered his hair and the lines of maturity had deepened in his laugh lines.

Having known him for years, the slender blond took in his appearance with a glad heart even as a trace of sadness infiltrated her smile. While she enjoyed seeing old friends, it always brought back memories of another man who's been so vitally alive in those days that it seemed as if his ghost stood right there with them. Thankfully, these days, it wasn't nearly as painful and she was starting to live again for herself.

Putting on a huge smile, Lexi waved to the bartender and then nodded to Athrun. Her blue eyes danced with happiness as she ordered a glass of red wine and then eyed him over the brim as he ordered his own drink. While she waited, her gaze slid around the bar again and the hair at the nape of her neck seemed to rise. She could feel something out there ...watching her. The sensation was as real as the air she drew into her lungs and her senses sought out the beckon of danger.

Unfortunately, the nightclub was so packed, she couldn't make heads or tails of who it was that watched her. Damn it to hell. Oh well, in her experience, the person... or thing.. would make itself known soon enough.

Turning back to her friend, she wondered if he got the same sense as she did. Watching his expression and taking in his stances, she had the feeling he did. However, she didn't vocalize her concern as she sipped her wine.

"How are things at the office? Anything.... unusual come up??" she asked lightly, knowing he'd understand her hiden meaning.

[Darian Raniari]

Darian smiled to himself as he followed their conversation, even from the other side of the room.

So, he was a hunter too, huh? Or at least that's the impression Darian got of him, and from the implication behind Lexi's question. The man had an air of confidence and danger about him that Darian had seen in only the best and most accomplished hunters... He would certainly have to tread carefully. Dealing with Lexi on her own was going to be tricky enough, but now that this "Mr. Knight" was here things could get ugly.

He scowled, shifting uncomfortably in his seat. Damn hunters... And unless he was mistaken, their accursed instincts had kicked in and they both seemed a bit on edge. He shook his head, fighting the urge to just hurl his table at them in a rage. No, he had to keep his composure. He had to go about this the right way...

But not just yet. He would wait a bit longer, just a bit, and see exactly what sort of information he could get from their conversation. Darian had learned a long time ago that, to the right person, information could be worth far more than any amount of currency...

[Athrun Knight]

Athrun smiled as his own drink was topped off. People often asked him how he could stomach to drink something that strong. The answer was easy, it had alcohol in it. He thanked the bartender then took a sip. He looked around again scanning the people. He still had that horrible feeling in his gut that he and Lex were being watched.

Lexi looked very good for what she had been through. He could tell by the look in her eyes that Max's death still affected her. Though she had gained back her smile and the look in her eyes that fit her so well. He met her when he was looking for his sisters contacts and he made fast friends with Max and Lexi. He gave Lexi's daughter his silver star metal when her father had passed away as a reminder if she ever needed anything, He would be there.

When Lexi asked her question he did pick up on her hint. He pulled out his cell phone and began to type a text message. "O the usual you know, always something going on. Never anytime to relax" He said dropping the hint that he picked up on what she was saying. He finished his text message then looked up at Lex. "That pen set with the name plate you gave me for my birthday looks really nice on my desk, took a photo for ya" he said making it look like he was handing her a picture on his phone. Instead it was the open text he had been typing. The text read

"I sense it, possibly something nasty watching us, don't you have safe guards on your clubs to keep big nasties out?

[Alexis Reese James]

Taking a sip of her drink, Lexi allowed her eyes to scan over the crowd once more and then turned back to Athrun with a smile. When he offered her his phone, she laughed softly and then pretended to admire the picture while she read the message.

"Oh yes... that looks very handy, indeed. I have matching ones here just like I did at the Cat's Meow. I thought you might like the same..."

Knowing her old friend would read between the lines, the beautiful blond gave a delicate shrug and decided there was nothing to be done for it at the moment. If there was someone in the midst, they would revel themselves soon enough.


"So, Mr. Knight... Are you here on business or pleasure? Seeing as you have a drink in hand, I'm assuming your off the clock? Its been far to long since we've had a bit of fun together." she teased.

[Athrun Knight]

Athrun took a sip of his drink as he hit the lock button on his phone. He slipped it back into his holster next to his gun then turned to Lexi. When she asked him if he was off he nodded and sat his drink back on the bar.

"Very true, first night I've been out of the office before 11 pm in months, I feel like this badge is permanently indented into my waist." He said leaning up against the bar pulling his badge off his belt and holding it up. He then clipped it back onto his belt and picked up his drink again.

"We have been working on a human trafficking case for months and we finally made arrests yesterday. Cant give you the details but anyone who can sell kids for slavery deserves to be tossed in to the pitts of hell" he said before taking another drink. He looked at Lexi and smiled
"so Mrs. Blair how are your kids doing?"