Till You Come to the End: Then Stop

By Shiinmaru-dono and Sho-dono

Author's Note:

Wow, we're starting this massive thing and all I keep thinking is Rick O'Connell from the Mummy staring at Hamunaptra and saying, "Here we go again." I then promptly think of the catastrophes (plural, more than one) that followed. Yeah, that totally doesn't bode well at all. Hope this isn't a self-fulfilling prophecy but…I have a feeling that his will get far too big to manage. Seriously, ever heard a writer complain about how her/his characters (borrowed or otherwise) seem to take on a life of their own? Yeah, that's happen; it's not a lie or exaggeration – Sho and I have been relegated to the rolls of nannies babysitting super hyper children. *shudders* I want my tranq gun… By the way, the first chapter (the prologue) is very, very, very short.

*Lifts head from fox-hole to check for danger* Wanna take refuge in here with me? I have cookies and machine guns.

O, and just so you all know why it's taken us so damned long to start this thing I'll let you in on a fraction of our real lives. Shiin is trying to survive two labs at the same time while making sure her roomies don't die of starvation; I am at school forced to wake up at seven in the morning instead of eleven. Also, my comments will be taking a slightly militant flare as I have been watching Band of Brothers, The Pacific, and Generation Kill in that order, on repeat for the last several months… I think I need help.

Prologue

The conference room was cold even though the thermostat was set at seventy degrees, even the sunlight streaming through the floor to ceiling windows was doing very little to warm the frigid air. Yassen's jaw twitched as he gazed silently at the man across the table from him as Iraya continued to appeal to the green-eyed tiger's better nature. At least she was trying to, but the Russian was beginning to believe that it didn't even exist. Every request and appeal was met with a well thought-out refusal.

"This is ridiculous, John! You would be helping to save the world. You were already fighting them, now fight them with us," she intoned, all but grinding her teeth.

"That may be so, Lady Iraya, but I am only fighting those who invade my territory or harm my people. What you are suggesting would take more resources and man-power than I am willing or able to dedicate to the task and, quite simply, there's very little for me to gain by doing so." The businessman folded his hands in front of him and leaned back in his chair, frowning.

"'Little to gain'? Listen to yourself! Fine. Very well. Perhaps we cannot provide monetary or public gains but I can return Harry Blackstone Copperfield Dresden back to life if you aid us," she answered sharply, stiffening her back and haughtily lifting her chin. Yassen watched the slight, almost invisible, widening of the other's eyes, and the tensing of his shoulders with interest; for a normal man it was the equivalent of falling out of his chair or fainting in shock.

The dark-haired man pulled his lips back in a slight snarl as he leaned forward, pressing his hands flat on the table, "That," he spoke lowly, dangerously, "is not only an impossibility but it goes against the law that Thou Shalt Not Reach Beyond the Border of Death. You would be beheaded by the White Council in a heartbeat if you even tried."

"The White Council has no authority over me and my Clan. And I won't be reaching beyond death's door; two gods owe me boons – one free get out of death card, really. I can use it as I please and can choose to bring your wizard back if I were so inclined. Do we have a deal, John?"

The Gentleman studied the vampiress carefully. He didn't doubt that she spoke truthfully, but... "I would need a show of good faith from you before I endanger any of my men."

Iraya felt a smirk begin to grow but she quickly forced it off her face, "That is agreeable; we'll need an isolated location on a ley-line junction. Can you provide that?"

"Yes. There is an isolated island out in Lake Michigan. There is a powerful ley-line that runs beneath it and my sources tell me that the spirit of the isle holds Dresden in its favor."

"You mean Demonreach?" The human's eyebrow lifted slightly in surprise. The vampiress waved her hand in dismissal, "All who are in the know are aware of Demonreach and how...fond it has become of Dresden. It should work perfectly."

John smiled thinly and stood, signaling that the meeting was over, Iraya and Yassen followed and the English woman held out her hand, "I thank you for your help."

Gentleman Johnny Marcone shook her hand calmly before stating simply, "If you try to double-cross me I will not hesitate to remove you."

"Likewise, old friend, likewise." She gave a dark smile before walking towards the door, motioning for Yassen to do the same.

The assassin glanced back at the human-suited tiger and wondered briefly exactly who the hell Dresden was.

POST AN

Okay, this is Sho-dono and I have been asked by Shiin to inform all of you beautiful fans that because of difficulties and drama in real life updates for this are going to happen on a MONTHLY basis instead of weekly like our previous fic. Mostly because Shiin was an idiot and is taking a six class load with two labs this semester and is overworking herself; so some of these chapters are going to primarily be written by me until Shiin is feeling better. Sho-dono out!