Hey everyone! It's me! I'm also thinking about uploading Haltalia today if I can get the chapter finished. :D

REVIEW REPLIES:

-Barely a Brunette
Glad you like it so far! :D Thanks for the review.

-SVUProductions
I love making people happy. :D Thanks for the review.

-mozzi-girl
Daniel's back! :D He's such a cutie in this one. I'm sorry if I didn't capture a three-year-old's attitude. I did have a three-year-old cousin at one point, but I can't remember how he/she acted. So I just guessed. And maybe you're right about what's going to happen. :D And the same goes for me. I haven't read the fan-fics in awhile because it's just been; Come home, write fan-fic, homework and by that time, it's dinner and after dinner, I go to bed. So, fan-fic writing has taken over my reading. ;) Thanks for the review.

-A bit of a nerd
It made me sad when I read your review, but I understand the feeling. Once Cause of Death ends, I won't be writing for it anymore. Plus I've been more obsessed with watching another show (which will remained unnamed for the sake of my sanity). And aw, I really appreciate that. Your reviews always made me smile. Everyone's reviews did, but you made me laugh every time you predicted something and got it right. ;) Hehe, and I'm not going to tell you if you got the prediction right. You'll have to read to find out. But I do have something planned. :) Thank you for the review!

-But I Have Promises To Keep
I know, right! Natara's a beast. :D Thanks for the review.

Okay, just some quick little tidbits. I don't want to make this story super long. Against my writing will, I moved the plot into this chapter and am willing to attempt to solve it within a couple of chapters.

I have to give some dedication to Plastic Fork (Killer) because he helped me come up with some awesome serial killers that will appear in future chapters. I know this story really doesn't rely on the dogs, but I will try to use them as much as I can.

Also, I have to admit, I am having problems with my actors. I have my own personal grudge against my Mal actor and could possibly use some help. (I just get jealous whenever he talks to some other girls because I try to talk to him, but he technically avoids me. In fact, I kind of, sort of, threw a basketball at someone today because I was a little too jealous, maybe?) I tend to break things when I'm mad.

Anyway, must say that this chapter isn't my best work. I like the ending though. :D I'll say that.

Read and review? Thank you!

Natara sat in the living room, reading over a magazine with one hand on her now very swollen belly. Beside her was her most craved food at the moment; sushi. Mal always teased her for that, but he knew it was because the baby was going to be a smart one, just like its mommy. Natara frowned for a second, sensing a disturbance. She turned her head slightly and a gun-shot filled the room. He didn't see her die, but he saw her blood splatter across the wall...

Mal jolted awake. He had fallen asleep at work again. "What is with all these nightmares," he grumbled as he rubbed his eyes. He reached for the phone, but Amy walked into the room.

"Mal?" she asked. Mal had told all of his friends and old recruits at the station to just call him 'Mal'. Not Captain...

"Yes, Amy?" Mal replied, his voice a little shaky from the dream. Amy took note of this.

"Um...Are you okay?" she replied instead of her original question. "You're a little pale."

"I...Well, I just had a nightmare," Mal sighed. "But it's over and I know it's never going to happen. So, what did you want to ask?"

"Kai found a body," Amy muttered, looking sick to her stomach. "And we've identified the murder weapon...It's really strange."

"What is it?" Mal asked, now interested.

"Well...It was a guitar string."

"Guitar string?" Mal repeated in disbelief.

Amy nodded. "Yeah. He...Um...Why don't you come down to the lab so Kai can explain everything."

Mal stood up and followed behind Amy, limping, as usual. Some people had stopped staring, but the new recruits couldn't. Someone had made up a story about Mal fighting off a bear or something to that effect and rumor stated that he had a mechanical leg. Idiots, Mal thought, shaking his head.

He, painfully, walked down the stairs and to Kai, who was looking quite sick himself. Something like this never happened.

"Kai, what's the situation?" Mal asked, startling Kai.

"Well, it appears that the head was severed," he replied.

Kai always liked severed heads. Mal wondered why it was bad enough to make Kai cringe.

"And..."

"Well, the killer knew what he was doing by not leaving any prints."

"Alright, but I want to know how our guy was killed. A guitar string just doesn't sound like a lethal..."

Mal's voice dropped when he saw the head himself. "Oh my..."

"He used the guitar string like a saw," Kai muttered. "Just thinking about it makes me sick. Anyway, the man is Julian Kale, a guitar player for a local band known as, 'Heart-Throb'. According to his on and off girlfriend, who discovered the body, he never had any enemies that he talked about."

"Is Ken signed onto this case?" Mal asked, turning away from the head. Tonight, he was going to be having one heck of a nightmare.

"Yeah. He's investigating the crime scene right now. Why don't you go talk to him," Amy replied and she scribbled down an address and handed it to Mal. She gave him one of her, 'Don't-Give-Up' smiles and turned to go back to her computer. Kai resumed examining the head, though his heart didn't seem to be in the investigation.

At the address, which just so happened to be an old apartment building that managed to stay in business, Mal met up with Ken, Niko behind him.

"I see someone is back on their feet," Ken replied in fake happiness. Obviously the crime scene was freaking him out.

"I've been on my feet for three years, Ken," Mal replied gravely and looked around. "Just not on the beat."

"It's good to have someone reasonable to talk to, though. Newly appointed Detective Bartaugh is in the hall barfing."

"It's not my fault he completed his training. He deserves the extra pay though. His sons..."

"Captain Fallon!" Officer Willis called and walked up to Mal. "Nice to see you out of that office. How are you feeling about this case?"

"Anxious," Mal replied, "sick. Revenge-ful."

Ken chuckled slightly, easing the tense mood. "Revenge-ful," he repeated, smiling. "I like it."

Anna rolled her eyes playfully. "Anyway, do you think we can get Natara down here to make a quick profile?"

"I can try to call her, but she might be napping," Mal informed, pulling out his cell-phone. He turned away from the group and dialed the home-phone. After six rings, it went straight to voice-mail. "Must be sleeping," he muttered and turned back towards the others. "I couldn't get a hold of her. But I married the woman, so I must have picked up something. Mind if I take a look at the scene?"

"Sure thing, Captain. We made an outline of the body," Anna stated and they all stepped back as Mal stepped forward. The gears in his head were forced to work. He hadn't been on the field in so long.

"What time did the murder take place?" Mal asked.

"I'll have to ask Kai for that," Ken murmured and pulled out his phone and began the text message.

"Anna, what was his girlfriend's name?" Mal asked and Anna shrugged.

"Let me as the Lab Geeks."

The unpreparedness he saw within his crew made him cringe a little. "Alright, let me ask another question...Is his guitar around?"

Joe Bartaugh had stepped back into the room, over-hearing what Mal said. "Uh, yeah," he replied. "It's in his room. Though, I wouldn't suggest going in there. It's intoxicating in a bad way."

"Well, this makes absolutely no sense," Mal grumbled and he sighed heavily. "Alright guys, I have an assignment for you all. We all seem to be a little freaked out by this new murder, correct?"

The officer and detectives nodded solemnly.

"And we all deserve some rest, right?"

"But Sir," Anna interjected, "Captain Yeong would have..."

"Officer Willis," Mal growled, "I would prefer if I wasn't compared to Captain Yeong. She is off the force now. I have my own way of handling things. I personally think that if you took the case off your mind for a moment, you would be able to work better tomorrow morning. Now, head home. I want all of you at your best tomorrow."

"Yes, Sir," Joe grumbled, as well as everyone else. No one liked to admit it, but Mal was too soft at points.

When Mal left the scene, he decided that he might as well take a break from the case as well. Besides, he was eager to see Natara and Daniel again. He always was.

His house was dark when he entered; no sign of Daniel or Natara. He frowned slightly at the thought and slowly turned on the lights. "Natara?" he called out. "Daniel?"

No reply. Daniel would have run towards him by now and tackled him with a hug. Mal shook his head. "They're probably sleeping," he muttered and walked towards the kitchen, Niko suddenly uttering a growl.

"What is it, boy?" Mal asked instantly and Niko kept his eyes on a motionless piece of paper that rested on the counter.

"Of course," Mal muttered. "Nat said she was taking Daniel to Anita's." He walked over to the counter and retrieved the note. He read it aloud, unsure of what was about to come.

'Mal, you're probably wondering why Natara isn't home. You're probably wondering why I'm even bothering to write to you. After all, I am practically cheating. But this is my game you're playing now. You see, Captain Fallon, I am a friend, a foe, and a passerby. I am also a gamer. But overall, I am fair, something you seem to be lacking. Anyway, since I am fair I might as well start by telling you the rules of this little game that I like to call; Hostage.

'It's quite simple.

'Rule 1: Capture or defeat the wave of serial killers this next week. I can tell you've already met one of them, Picker. He's the one who sliced up that man's neck. I won't give you any hints, because that, my friend, would be cheating.

'Rule 2: When WEEK 1 ends, and WEEK 2 begins, you will begin your search for Natara. She is in a well-hidden location. You must find her by the end of WEEK 2...

'Rule 3: If you fail to find Natara by the weeks end, then you have WEEK 3 to look for her. However, she will be relocated.

'Rule 4: WEEK 4 is your last chance to save Natara. She will not be relocated again. Fail to save her by the end of WEEK 4 and she suffers. I also understand that she's expecting. You wouldn't want her to go through that pain, would you?

'Rule 5: Any missing posters or help from the police will result in instant disqualification and Natara will die. HOWEVER! You may receive help on the fourth and final week.

'Now, Mr. Fallon, you must understand one concept about my game. Hostage is a game; a game of survival, technique and passion. If you really love Natara, you'll play at your best and follow all of my rules. After all, I never fail to punish cheaters. And trust me...I'll know the minute you call a missing persons report or even think about getting help from the police. Your wife's life is on the line, as well as your soon-to-be child. Don't Screw This Up!

'Signed,

'Gamer Master.'