North American Vampire Council & Past Calling (Hypernaturals 12 & 13)

Brilliant

"What are you waiting for on turning?" I asked DeWayne curiously.

"I worked my entire career to make Captain. I'd like to do this job for a while. Besides, you all need a friend on the force. Once I turn, I have to stop being me and start over as a new me. Not ready yet." DeWayne explained.

"That makes sense. It is very hard to find your life suddenly upside down. It has happened to me twice in the last decade. First the turn. Now this Council thing. I will make you a deal though: Once you turn, you do have a job if you want it. The first male member of Crew. Kind of like what you do now. It turns out I have some pull there, so don't be afraid of the turn from the point of view of what you do next. I'll make sure you have a soft landing on Crew if, and only if, you want it. First husband and wife members of Crew. You'll probably turn before Denise marries me."

"Hey!" Denise said loudly. Vampire ears. "Don't be so sure of that! You see the way I am dressed, right? You know what bed I am sleeping in tonight, right? I just left a trail of horny people over there telling them I'm sleeping with my boss!"

"Oh, brother." I said. "I thought you and Helen were getting together?" I asked back.

"We are." Denise said. "Same bed. Do not underestimate my ability to go all night long."

"She has you there." Dewayne said. "In any case, thank you. That gives me more to think about, because I honestly never thought about that idea, and I like it. Carol and I both on Crew would be fun."

"Whenever you are ready, my friend. You are not wrong about needing a friend on the force either. Morgan is planning on us getting arrested for lewd public acts at some point" I said. If I am going to be head of Crew than at least I can do this kind of thing." I clapped his shoulder to underscore it.

"That sounds like Morgan. Always liked the sex in public places." DeWayne agreed.

"Past tense, DeWayne?" Morgan asked.

"Yes: You are going to need a friend on the force. I am familiar with that tone of voice. It usually proceeds 'take off your pants' while in the parking lot of Taco Bell." DeWayne modified.

"I like Taco Bell, my Morgan" Jessica said.

Anne and Nice came over for hugs. They have been making the rounds of the table, waiting for their turn.

Anne hugged me and said "Denise looks good, Adrian. So does Jessica."

I know Anne well enough to know those are not statements about their matching outfits.

"She does. They do." I replied.

I hugged Nico, but kept Anne close. "Anne? Question? My one business question I am allowing myself tonight. When are you and Denise going to begin taking downtime? The idea of two Leads was so that you, for one, could go off with Nico now and then, and do what new lovers do. You know... take art classes together."

"You mean paint each other?" Anne asked.

"That, Adrian, is a question I was just asking her." Nico looked at Anne in anticipation of her answer.

"Once we have Boot Camp up and running. There is too much work for even two of us. Hell. Luciana is stepping way up or we'd both be crushed. All the standard Crew stuff plus all the new things? It's more than two full-time jobs. I am not complaining mind you, but Nico would like more of my time than I can give him right now. I love that he wants it, and me."

"Painting. Interesting idea." Nico mused.

I looked around the crowd. Saw Luciana talking to a small cluster of Crew, including Olivia.