A/N: Wew, that was a long time between updates too, but I kinda had writers block at one point. Plus I've been ultra busy with my other fics. BTW, I've started posting Reunion on Archive of Our Own with the lemons, if you're interested. I'm editing as I go, so it may be a bit before the whole things uploaded. (Call it a journalist form of OCD if you want. I just can't help editing every time a reread a fic.) Enjoy!

Kagome's eyes darted around her in the growing light from the door. She jumped to one side of the door, pressing herself as flat as she could against the wall. She held her breath as a large shadow decorated the stairwell. 'Please don't see me! Please don't see me!' Kagome's mind screamed in panic. The space she occupied between the wall and doorframe was barely big enough for her. One slight movement would likely draw the man's attention.

The older man that had tangled with Vincent earlier, rubbed an idle hand over his throat. "Stupid kid, who does he think he is bossing me around like that?" Kagome watched the shadow as the man turned to glance over his shoulder at the cage. Inside Vincent was beginning to stir. "But I'd better tell the boss anyways. He'll want to question them." Kagome continued to hold her breath as the man walked up the stairs not bothering to close the metal door behind him.

Her breath came out as a whoosh and she sagged against the wall, when the door at the top finally closed. She slowly peeked around the corner into the open doorway. She wanted to be sure there wasn't anyone else to worry about. There were no other guards but her eyes did land on the ever vigilant camera. The camera was high on the wall, nearly at the ceiling. She was far too short to reach it. Then her eyes fell on the cord plugged into the wall.

Apparently the security system had been installed as an afterthought. 'If I can unplug the camera, then I can try to get them out without anyone noticing.' It was likely that someone would notice the camera out eventually but it would buy her enough time –hopefully.

Kagome skirted along the wall, keeping out of the camera's eye, until she was able to reach the plug. She pulled it loose and then bolted for the cage. Vincent was on his knees shaking his golden head, trying desperately to clear the fog. Beside him on the stone floor was Inu Yasha in his human form. He was still unconscious, not able to recover as quickly from the drug as normal.

"Inu Yasha! Vincent!" Kagome hissed rather loudly.

Vincent blinked up at her through his haze. "Kagome?" Then his eyes shot wide. "Catherine? Where is Catherine?"

Kagome pulled at the door to the cage, but it was locked. "Upstairs. I made her stay there."

"What?" Vincent was confused. How had Kagome gotten to them? And why had she forced her to stay behind? It would have been better for the two to remain together.

"I had to jump out the window." Kagome moved to the loose bar, they'd been working on earlier. "I didn't want Catherine to risk injuring herself or the baby." She pulled at the bar and it nearly gave way.

Vincent eyed her. "What are you doing?"

"We almost had this one loose earlier." She narrowed her eyes at him. "Can you pull it loose?"

Vincent rose, still somewhat weak from the tranquilizer. "I will try." Taking hold of the bar, he gave a solid yank and the bar popped free. Before he register what was happening Kagome had squeezed through the gap and scrambled to Inu Yasha's side.

She bent over him, brushing the hair from his face. "Inu Yasha, please wake up." She brushed a hand through his raven locks and pressed a kiss to his lips. 'Oh, Inu Yasha, I'm so glad you're here!'

His lips twitched and his eyes fluttered open. He gasped at the sight that met him. Kagome was there, tears streaking her cheeks. He reached out a tentative hand to touch her. Was she real or was he dreaming again? One of her tears fell on his face and he had her wrapped in his arms in an instant. "Kagome…"

She nearly sobbed with job. He was there. He was alive and well. She clutched at his haori with desperation. "Oh, Inu Yasha! I was so scared!"

He sat up raining kisses over her face and wiping away the tears. "By Kami, I've missed you, Kagome." He wrapped her tightly in his arms again. "I'm here now. No one will ever put their hands on you again!" He found her lips kissing her deeply.

Vincent cleared his throat, causing the couple to look up. "I hate to interrupt, but there is the matter of our escape to deal with."

Inu Yasha glanced around him, noticing his surroundings for the first time. "How did we get here? Where's Catherine?"

"They were holding us upstairs, we got one of the windows loose and I jumped out to come find you. But we still need to get her out." Kagome explained.

His eyes widened. "You jumped?"

She rose, ignoring his overprotectiveness, and he followed. "Maybe, you guys can get out through here." She slipped back through the bars with relative ease.

Vincent frowned. "I do not believe I would fit. The space is far too narrow."

"Maybe I can." Inu Yasha moved to the space. He was able to get one leg and his and shoulder through but when he tried to pull the rest of himself through, he couldn't get any farther. He frowned. "Well, damn."

"We must do something, quickly. The guards will surely be returning soon." Vincent prompted.

"You go on without us, Kagome. We'll get out and-"

"No!" Inu Yasha was cut off by Kagome's panicked cry. "No way! I'm not going anywhere without you!"

His brown eyes softened. "You have to, Kagome. I need to know you're safe."

She shook her head vigorously and pushed her way back into the cell. She threw her arms around him. "No. I don't want to leave you. Please, Inu Yasha. Please don't make me go." She choked on a sob as she buried her face in his chest.

He held her small trembling body tightly against his. He couldn't do it now. He couldn't make her go, even for her own good. He sighed, burying his nose in her hair. "Don't worry, I won't."

Vincent was eyeing the place the bar had come free. The floor was a natural stone. That was probably how it had come loose. It was made of soft sandstone. He gave the bar beside the freed one a hard jerk. It moved some under his solid weight but not enough to free it. Inu Yasha eyed him. He looked down at his human hands. He didn't have his regular strength but that didn't mean he was a weakling in his human form either. He gently moved Kagome aside and stepped up beside Vincent.

The older hanyou understood. "Together." Inu Yasha propped a foot on another bar for leverage and the both began to pull. It moved but not enough.

Inu Yasha stepped back cursing. "How long is it till sunrise, Kagome?"

"I'm not sure, maybe a half hour or so."

Vincent lifted an eyebrow. "What happens at sunrise?"

"I'll get my strength back." He explained narrowing his brown eyes on the bar.

Vincent shook his head. "That will be too long. We cannot wait. We must get to Catherine, before Kagome's escape is discovered."

Inu Yasha cracked his knuckles. He flicked an eye at his mate. "Give us a hand Kagome."

The miko nodded and she took hold of the bar, Inu Yasha stepped behind her and wrapped both hands around it as well. Vincent nodded, taking his previous stance and grasping the now loosened bar. When the three pulled as one, the bar finally gave way flying across the cell and hitting the far side. It made a horrendous noise as it hit the metal bars and fell to the stone floor. Kagome and Inu Yasha fell back onto the floor as well, Kagome landing in his lap.

Vincent heaved a sigh of relief. At last he'd be able to get to Catherine. He pressed his large bulk into the opening. He still had to exhale in order to get his large chest through the bars. Inu Yasha and Kagome quickly followed him out. Together they crept up the staircase, Inu Yasha's hand wrapped tightly around Kagome's. Vincent paused at the door at the top, trying to listen for voices. After just a moment he cracked the door open.

As soon as they had left the safe darkness of the stairwell there was shouting. Three men came charging around the corner, guns in hand. Inu Yasha shoved Kagome aside as he and Vincent hurried forward to disarm them. Kagome cringed as the ceiling above her was struck with a bullet, raining plaster on her head.

Vincent threw one man across the room while grasping the gun from a second, which was where the bullet had come from. Inu Yasha was landing blow after to blow to a third man's midsection. Between the two they quickly disarmed and disable their assailants. Unfortunately the ruckus had brought the house to life. Heavy footsteps echoed in the hall above and more shouting came from outside.

Kagome grabbed Inu Yasha's arm. "Catherine's upstairs! We should hurry!"

"Yeah, looks like we're about to have more company." Inu Yasha growled.

As they turned the corner to go up the stairs, they all stopped cold. Catherine was there, held tightly in their captor's arm. Gabriel pressed the blade he held against her throat. "Back up."

Vincent snarled baring his long white fangs, the demon side of him coming to the surface. "Let her go!"

Gabriel's tone remained cold and steady, pressing the blade firmly against the milky white skin of Catherine's throat. "I said back up."

Vincent flexed his claws at his side, doing everything possible to restrain himself. Slowly he took two steps back and Gabriel moved from the foot of the stairs, backing into the living room. The front door flew open and four more thugs pointed their guns at the companions. Kagome recognized the large man in front as their jailer. Inu Yasha pushed Kagome protectively behind him. He'd already had a run in with these modern weapons and knew the damage they could do. The hanyou watched the men with a fierce glare that still lacked its usual intimidation.

Vincent, however, didn't even notice them as he matched Gabriel step for step, the fury inside him growing by the moment. Gabriel paused as he came to an open pair of French doors leading onto a patio beyond. "I had hoped we would come to a civilized arrangement. All I desired was a few pints of your blood. You are a fascinating specimen."

Catherine's eyes narrowed. 'Specimen! Vincent is no lab rat!' Vincent's eyes flickered to her for a moment feeling the sudden rage from her.

"Now, if you would be so kind as to return to the cell, I will honor our agreement. Her freedom for yours." He removed his blade from her throat momentarily to wave it in the direction of the basement. "All you have to do is turn around and go back."

Catherine took the moment to elbow him. Gabriel was temporarily stunned and that was all it took. Vincent flew forward, slashing with his razor sharp claws. Gabriel's knife was flung across the room as gunfire echoed in the entryway behind them. Gabriel only had a split-second to react as Vincent crashed into him. The two men went sprawling onto the patio beyond.

Kagome struggled to breathe from her position on the floor. Inu Yasha's solid body covered hers. She took some peace from the knowledge that he was breathing and clutching her tightly. There had been no escape this time, no way to avoid the piercing shards of metal. She wasn't certain if either of them had been struck but even if they hadn't, they wouldn't walk away this time. There were too many guns trained on them and they were both tired and weak. She closed her eyes. 'At least we will die together.' She rested her head on the floor. "I love you, Inu Yasha."

There was a gasp from the doorway. "Kagome?" Slowly she opened her eyes again and gold met brown. His silver locks forming a tent around them. He smirked when her eyes widened. "I love you too, but don't give up on us just yet."

From the doorway a man cursed. "What the hell is he?"

Inu Yasha stood, pulling Kagome up with him. "I'm you're worst nightmare." He growled and flexed his claws as he backed Kagome into the living room area.

Kagome scanned the room, searching for anything to aide their escape. Then she saw it, it lay across a table no more than a five feet away. The hilt seemed to glisten in the morning light. She squeezed his shoulder. "I'm getting Tetsusaiga."

"What?" He gasped as she sprang across the doorway and the men opened fire again. He had just enough time to duck behind the doorframe. "Kagome!"

"Here, Inu Yasha!" She grabbed his sword and threw it to him.

He caught it with a grin. "Now these bastards are going to pay!" He glanced at his mate. "Stay down, Kagome." She complied flattening herself to the floor on the other side of the doorway and covering her head with her hands. The gunfire had stopped and footsteps now approached.

Inu Yasha stepped from his hiding place to brandish the transformed sword. The oldest man in the group laughed. "Hasn't anyone ever told you, never bring a knife to a gun fight." He raised his rifle along with his companions.

Inu Yasha smirked. "This is no knife." He unleashed the wind-scar, sending the men flying. The side of the mansion exploded in its wake, making the whole house quake.

Behind them, Catherine turned on the patio to watch the front of the house burst outwards. She didn't have long to determine the reason why as she turned back to Vincent. Gabriel had somehow managed to break away from him and was backing into the yard. "All I wanted to do was find out what you were. Don't you want to know? Or maybe you do. Just tell me and all this can be over." Blood dripped from Gabriel's chin where Vincent had sliced him across the face.

Vincent roared. "And for that you kidnapped Catherine!" He stalked his prey, eyes narrowed and full of rage.

"I would have let her go as promised." Gabriel slipped a hand behind his back, grasping the hilt of his pistol. "But this has become far too much of an inconvenience to me now. It's a pity really, I did want to keep you alive."

Catherine's heart sprang into her throat when she saw the flash of metal. "Vincent, look out!"

There was the crack of the gun and Vincent's roar. Gabriel fell to his knees, blood gushing from his throat where Vincent's claws had ripped it open. The man stared at Vincent as he gurgled, trying to breathe, finally falling forward into the puddle beneath him.

Inu Yasha came charging outside, still ready for battle, Kagome not far behind. Catherine didn't notice them as she ran across the patio to her guardian angel. "Vincent!"

He turned in time to catch her as she threw herself into his arms. He clutched at her, breathing in her scent. "Catherine…"

She stepped back after a moment and stared down at her hand, which was covered in blood. "Vincent, you're hurt."

"It is only a flesh wound, my love." He assured her, pressing a kiss to her brow. The bullet had grazed his arm and that was all.

She wrapped her arms again around him. "I was so worried." He held her close, nuzzling into her hair.

Inu Yasha and Kagome approached. He wrapped an arm around her waist. They watched the sun rise to bob just above the horizon. Vincent gazed down at the beautiful creature in his arms. Even a sunrise such as this held no light to Catherine. "Let's go home."

Kagome sighed. 'I wish we could go home.'

Inu Yasha nuzzled her ear as if reading her thoughts. "We'll get home, Kagome. I swear." She responded with a slight nod, wrapping her arms tighter around him.

The couples returned to the house where Catherine found something to wrap Vincent's arm in. Kagome and Inu Yasha went to find the videotapes of their cell and destroy them. Then they found a car that was undamaged by the wind-scar and headed home, at last together never to be separated again.

A/N: I sure am glad that slim balls dead...I hope you liked it. If so, don't for get to review. :)