Summary: Set in the newest season, S4, when Vanessa couldn't get that hanging hook out of her back. What if Muhammad hadn't been there for her to turn back so she could be helped by him? What if Axel had found her when she was stuck hanging from that hook, instead? What will he do? Will he take advantage of her vulnerable state and kill her like he promised he'd do the next time he saw her, or will he set aside his grief and anger to save her life?

It was a dismal night, as Vanessa Van Helsing hung there by an old hook, unable to heal with it in her, not knowing anymore how long she'd been there. All she knew was that she could bleed to death if she didn't get help soon. She'd tried getting loose, but had failed. Now, from the blood loss, she felt weak and tired. No one was even looking for her, she assumed. Axel had promised to kill her, her sister had sacrificed herself, and her friends were elsewhere. It seemed like Axel wouldn't get to go through with his promise, since she was at the end of her rope. Without someone to help her, she knew she'd eventually die.

*Several Hours Later*

Axel had been looking around for any supplies, since he was getting low. He found his way to an area that had a broken glass roof, so he decided to take a look to see if there was anything worth using in there. And when he looked through the broken roof, he saw someone on a hook, which was connected to a chain. It could almost be an old factory of some sort. It wasn't just someone, though. It was the one person that could have stopped Scarlett from sacrificing herself, but didn't. The person that he'd promised to kill when he saw her again. Seeing her like that though, made him decide not to. She needed help, after all. If he didn't help her, she'd die. And Scarlett wouldn't want that. Plus, he couldn't bring himself to let her die when it came down to it now.

"Vanessa," he called down, loud enough for her to hear. When she didn't move though, he was afraid that it was too late. He wasn't going to give up, though.

He went around, looking for the entrance to the building, which he soon found. After that, it didn't take long for him to find her. That's when he saw from the cement floor that she'd lost a lot of blood.

He grabbed an old wooden chair from the floor, setting it on its feet and standing on it to help him get her free, using a pair of weed cutters he'd found. Then, once the chain the hook was connected to was separated, he was able to get the hook out of her, as soon as he got her to the floor.

He knelt by her and saw that she was quite pale from the blood loss. Her wound the hook had made was healing, but not as quickly as she normally healed.

He rested hands on either side of her head.

"Vanessa, can you hear me? Open your eyes. Come on, Vanessa."

After a few minutes of her not moving, he took his hands away. He then gently pulled her into his arms, supporting her head with the crook of his arm. Then, once he'd cut his upper arm with his knife, he put his wound to her lips, making his blood go down her throat. He knew that blood was what she needed to both live and heal.

"Come on, sleeping beauty," he encouraged, using his old nickname for her. Despite hating her for not stopping Scarlett from sacrificing herself for Vanessa, he knew that Scarlett wouldn't want him to let her die. Besides, his mission had once upon a time been to keep Vanessa alive.

After a few minutes, her wound fully healed, which was a good sign, so he took his arm away, which healed due to him being sort of like her. Since she wasn't awake though and he knew he couldn't just leave her, he got to his feet with her, heading out of the place and towards some place that would be safe for them both. At least, for the moment.

When Vanessa woke up, she still somewhat felt weak from what she'd been through, but noticed that she was healed. She also saw that she was a short distance from Axel. She assumed that he'd found her and had helped her out. He was leaning against a tree, looking like he was keeping watch, his usual gun in hand just in case.

She slowly sat up.

"I thought you wanted me dead," she said, reminding him of his promise he'd made right after Scarlett had sacrificed herself to give her a chance to find the light.

"I did. At least, for a while. I've had time to think while you healed up. We're on the same team now," he replied. He hadn't forgiven her, but he'd come to terms that he needed to stick with her. She clearly needed help. Especially, when she wasn't at her best.

He approached when she started to get up from where he'd layed her down the night before.

"You should take it easy. You're not fully recovered yet," he reminded her, although he did help her, since he knew telling her no would be futile. She was a fighter, and she probably always would be. He'd learned being around Van Helsings that they were fighters all up until the end.

"Well, I'm going to need to recover soon, because I've still got things to do," she replied, although she was grateful that he was being her friend now. Everyone that knew her knew that she needed as many friends as she could get.

"Let's just do one thing at a time. Okay? First thing's first, we get some supplies and food. Then when you're at your full strength, we'll go together to fight this thing," he suggested, an arm around her, helping her in her weak state to his military car he had close by.

"Okay. Fine," she replied, deciding that his plan was much better than hers right now.

He helped her into the vehicle. Then he got in and began driving to go find food and supplies. Forgiveness or not, he would always trust Vanessa with his life, despite his feelings toward her.