A/N: Thank you all for reading, reviewing, favoriting, and alerting! Next chapter will really get the ball rolling.

"Lucifer?" Chloe called out into the massive loft, hesitantly entering from the lift.

"Wow." She knew he lived lavishly but this was unbelievable. Marble everywhere and a full bar, a piano and floor to ceiling windows. A two story library laid to her left and what seemed to be a bedroom, sauna, and who knows what else to the right. Everything was gleaming, worldly artifacts covering the walls

"Lucifer?" she called out again, walking further into the space but feeling uncomfortable at wandering about uninvited. She was just about to give up when the man in question appeared in nothing but a towel slung low on his narrow hips.

"Detective!" he smiled, surprise evident on his face. "How nice of you to drop by, here for a little morning delight?"

She shook her head, "You just don't quit do you?"

"Where would I be if I did? Nowhere fun," he scoffed and poured himself a drink, flinging a red bra out of the way and into the hall before taking a sip. "So if not for the pleasure of my company why are you here?" he asked curiously.

Chloe walked to the bar, opposite the man currently drinking at nine a.m, and rested her arms on it. "We got a hit from the prints, I'm going to go check out his last known address and get in touch with next of kin. I figured you'd want to go."

He gulped down what was left in his glass and set the tumbler down next to the half empty bottle. "You figured right, give me two shakes and we can be off."

The detective eyed the bottle on the counter cynically. He seemed to drink a lot, at all times of the day but never seemed too intoxicated. From what she could tell he was a fully functional alcoholic with an amazingly high tolerance for liquor. Had he always drank like this or did something cause it? Figuring it wasn't her business she averted her gaze from the glass bottle and watched him begin to walk away.

"Oh my God."

Lucifer half turned, his brows drawn together in confusion. "What?"

There, on his back, were two massive scars, reaching from the top of his shoulder blades to almost the middle of his back. The scars were old, and fully healed but whatever had happened must have been terrible to produce such angry looking markings on either side of his spine. "What happened?" she whispered as she slowly approached him.

"A gift from my father that I decided I didn't want anymore," he explained, his voice too even to be considered normal. No, there were deep emotions buried here.

"Your dad did this?" she asked in horror, unable to take her eyes off the thick white and pink marks.

"No, Maze did when I told her to cut my wings off."

Chloe's lifted her hand to touch the angry skin, wanting to somehow take away the phantom pain. Her fingertips were only a hair away when Lucifer spun and captured her wrist, his eyes showing something she had never seen before in the black depths. Fear. "Don't, please," he commanded shakily. She nodded slowly, retreating a short distance away.

Suddenly uncomfortable Lucifer forced a tight smile, "I best get dressed, don't want to keep a dead man waiting." Not waiting for a response he hurried to his bedroom to change and gather himself and when he reappeared it was as if nothing had happened.

Situated in the car a few minutes later Lucifer grabbed the file stuck between the seats and flipped it open. "Gerald Smith. I thought he looked more like a Stephen."

Chloe flipped on her blinker and waited in the turn lane. "Last known address is over a year old but we'll stop by and see what we can get from neighbors or his old place. We also have to visit his sister and let her know."

"How do you do it?" Lucifer suddenly asked.

She turned for a second to look at him. "Do what?"

He held up the file, "Inform people that their relatives are dead. Isn't that emotionally taxing for you?"

"Well yeah," she answered slowly surprised at the concern in his voice. "But it's part of the job, someone's got to do it."

Lucifer seemed to accept her answer. "Can I accompany you when you visit the sister?"

"Lucifer, I don't think-"

"I'll be on my best behavior," he added. "I may not understand the entire spectrum of human emotion but I'm not going to traumatize someone who just lost their brother." Seeing he was wearing her down he threw a word he didn't use often. "Please?"

Chloe's eyebrows shot up at his sincerity, before finally agreeing. "Don't make me regret it."

"My dear, you could never regret anything that involves me."

Pulling up to the curb she killed the engine and both looked through the windshield at the three-story slum before them. Paint was peeling off the graffiti covered exterior, trash was thrown everywhere, the roof was missing numerous shingles, and more than a few windows were broken. "Come on," Chloe ordered and stepped out to find apartment number 13B.

The duo entered the building through a security door that was missing a lock and looked for a stairwell to reach the second floor. Lucifer found it first and grimaced at the stench and numerous paraphernalia littering the concrete. "Perhaps I should have waited in the car."

"Don't be a baby," she chided. "Come on, it's got to be up here."

Begrudgingly he followed her up, making sure not to touch anything, and glanced down the hallway. "Well at least the hallways a bit tidier," he mumbled under his breath.

"Here," Chloe called and knocked on the door with a worn '13' on it. The sound of movement inside alerted her to its residents but no move was made to answer the door. "LAPD open up," she shouted through the wood and knocked again.

"We tried, gold star and all. Let's go," Lucifer smiled sarcastically and turned to return to the car when the door opened just a sliver.

"What do you want?"

Chloe held up a picture of their victim, "He used to live here, you know him?"

The door slammed closed before reopening, this time more than before to reveal a thick woman with mousy brown hair and an apparent addiction to eyeliner. "Gerry, yeah I know him. I'm guessing he ain't still alive if you're here, or you sent him back."

"Back where?" Lucifer interjected curiously.

The woman, having just noticed him, smiled flirtatiously and positioned her arms to lift her breasts. "Hey handsome, I'm Bernice."

"Lucifer, charmed," he replied with a small grin, slipping around Chloe who rolled her eyes. "Now tell me Berni, where did our dear friend Gerald get off to?"

"Mental institute, Sunny somethin' or other. Guy was crazier that a two-peckered billy goat but there wasn't a mean bone in his body," she answered, her eyes roaming over the man in front of her.

"Two-peckered billy goat?" Lucifer repeated in confusion under his breath.

Chloe used the opportunity to insert herself back into the conversation, "Thank you Bernice, if we need anything else we'll be in touch."

Lucifer's hands were stuck in his pockets and he offered a semi-polite smile to the woman that quickly transformed to unease when she grabbed him arm. "You need anything else you call me. I'll climb you like a lumberjack."

"Thank you for that uh- colorful offer," he coughed, trying to back away with an uncomfortable smile.

Closing her eyes to dispel the visual the detective backed away, tugging Lucifer free from the woman's grip. "Thanks for your time."

Once outside and in the car the Devil sucked in a deep breath, "Oh thank heavens, air. Have these people never heard of bathing? Or any form of personal hygiene? I feel like I need to bathe in antiseptic. I mean I've partook in some questionable acts before but even I have a limit."

"Oh come on, I thought the missing teeth were sexy," the blonde grinned. "So Sunny something Institute. It's our best lead so far but it doesn't sound familiar." Looking at the clock she shook her head. "It's too late to check anything out today, we'll go tomorrow morning and see what we can figure out."

Lucifer slouched in his seat, "So what now? A visit to his kin?"

"Yeah."

The ride was quiet for a few miles, Lucifer enjoying having the windows down with his new appreciation for clean oxygen and Chloe deep in thought over this morning. She couldn't stop picturing his scars, couldn't stop thinking about every horrible thing that could have happened. Had be been tortured? Abused? Had it been a terrible accident? Of course there was the explanation he had given but it's not like that could be true.

She cast a sideways glance at the man in her passenger seat; she really didn't know anything about him. He claimed he was the devil and never seemed to slip up and reveal anything that would indicate otherwise. She honestly had no idea about his family, his past, his favorite food, first car, his anything really. It was alarming how little she knew about him, yet she trusted him explicitly.

The weirdest thing was that the man didn't seem to exist before five years ago so for any information she would have to collect it or deduce it on her own. His license seemed normal enough and she was surprised to find he was actually two years younger than her, only thirty-two, and already a millionaire according to his suspiciously clean financial records. Drug lord? Not probable but still an option. Perhaps old money, but then where were his parents? Or was he just that smooth of a businessman, people seemed to be drawn to him. Conman? Also was the fact he was very intelligent so he definitely had a good education, perhaps even some college. Based off his accent he wasn't born in America, or moved here later in his life and then there was of course the biggest clue. Maze.

Where did she fit into everything? Lucifer had said they were like family and Maze had 'followed him through the gates of Hell' but what did that mean? She seemed to be fiercely protective of him even though he was a perfectly able adult male. How long ago had they met, did she know anything about him?

"As fascinating at this view is I'd rather not stare at it all day."

Snapping out of her musings Chloe realized she had been sitting on a side street facing a pile of trash for a while now. "Right, sorry. I was just thinking about something," she apologized and turned again to enter the apartment complex.

"Yes well don't," he snapped without any real bite. "I'm immortal but a car accident would still hurt like hell. What's got your knickers so twisted?"

"Nothing, I just- Wait, knickers? Really?" she laughed.

"Gerald's dead?" Sophia Martin, Gerald's sister, whispered sadly from her seat in the middle of her lavender couch.

"We're very sorry for your loss," Chloe offered solemnly from the love seat, trying to ignore the fact that it was so small she and Lucifer were smashed together. It was proving hard to focus when she could feel the heat of his skin through his jacket and smell a hint of cologne from his lightly tanned skin. Then on top of it he kept shifting against her and if his tiny smirk was any indication he knew exactly the effect it was causing. Bastard.

"Hang on," Lucifer interrupted, suddenly leaning forward. "You don't sound too surprised or bothered by this."

The woman shook her head, "I'm not. We haven't really been in touch these last few years and even before it's always been on and off. Gerald always had a hard time staying focused."

"Because of the whole off his rocker, mad as a hatter thing?" Lucifer butted in, making a circular gesture around his ear with his index finger while ignoring a scathing glare from his partner.

"Yes," she answered, wiping away a few tears. "He was in and out of Sunny Hill for the last ten years." Randomly she added, "I'm sorry but have we met before?"

Lucifer's eyebrows shot up as he placed a hand on his chest, "Me? I don't believe so."

"I could swear I've seen you somewhere before, maybe with shorter hair," she rambled, her focused gaze making the devil squirm uncomfortably. "The height and the accent seem so familiar and those dark, dark eyes. Horribly haunted eyes."

Lucifer's eyes slid to Chloe and he minutely shrugged at her inquisitive look. In a harder than expected tone he bit out, "I don't know who you are, we have not met."

"I'm sorry," the woman said softly, rubbing her hand over her forehead. "My mistake."

Detective Decker's eyes flickered between the pair and the strange interaction before she cleared her throat to gain the woman's attention and get them back on track. "Why was Gerald institutionalized? Can you think of anyone that would want to harm him?"

"No, he was harmless. He was kidnapped as a child when he was nine and held for over a month, he never got over it," she sniffed. "The home though, they had people from all walks of life. Gerald was getting help there but every couple years he would call and ask me to get him out and I always did, he was family. Things would deteriorate and I'd have to check him back in." The woman dabbed her eyes with a tissue again. "When I couldn't bring him back he just disappeared one day and never came back."

"Why couldn't you bring him back?" Chloe questioned.

"The east wing burned down around five years ago, they just ended up closing the entire thing." With a heavy sigh and a watery smile she added, "I suppose this is for the best though, he's finally at rest. 'For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life, John 3:16.'"

Lucifer pursed his lips and stood abruptly. "Really, his only son? Is this the same man that said if you cross him he'll make you eat your offspring?" he angrily spat before storming outside.

"Again, very sorry for your loss," Chloe hurriedly offered before beginning to move towards the door. "Sorry ma'am but where were you Monday between three and seven am?"

"Sleeping of course."

Once outside she walked to the car where Lucifer was already waiting. She knew God was a touchy subject for him. "Well you did better than I expected."

"I'm not quite sure if that's an insult or a compliment."

Once again the pair found themselves in the car, the sun beginning to set on the horizon casting long shadows across the streets. "I'm going to drop you off before going back to the station, Trixie's cooking dinner tonight. Unless you want to join us."

Lucifer looked at her like she was mad. "The child can't even fetch yet you're giving her free rein of the kitchen appliances? This isn't some sort of assassination attempt is it? I know you've been a bit perturbed with me as of late but I don't think it warrants death."

"Human Lucifer, not a dog remember? I help Trix cook, she picks the recipe and we make it together," she explained before laughing. "And I'm not trying to kill you, you do a good enough job at that by yourself."

The Devil smirked as they pulled up to the curb and moved to exit the vehicle but halted when the detective called his name. He turned with expectant eyes and waited for her to say whatever she was going to.

"Thanks for going with me today to the sister's house. It was nice having someone else there. You're so crass and obnoxious and don't listen to orders and-"

"I believe you've made your point," he interjected flatly.

The woman sighed, "I guess what I'm trying to say is that I like you being by my side. You're a pretty good partner and I know you've got my back."

Lucifer cocked his head to one side, his expression serious for once. He leaned towards her before responding, black eyes boring into green. "I could also have your front."

Expectedly he was shoved from the car and a groan of frustration erupted from the driver. "Get out, I don't even know why I try."

The Devil grinned and closed the door, leaning in at the last second. "See you tomorrow?"

She wanted to glare at him, she really did but she just couldn't muster it. "Yeah, I'll see you tomorrow Lucifer."

"Or maybe tonight?"

"Leaving now."

"You just got back, where are you going now?" Maze questioned from her seat on the leather couch in his flat, the moon visible through the large glass walls.

Lucifer fixed his cufflinks and grabbed his jacket, "Out for a bit, I might swing by the Decker household."

"You're spending a lot of time together lately," she commented offhand. "You were gone before I even got here this morning."

His eyes narrowed, "I can go as I please Mazikeen and the company I choose to keep is no concern of yours. You were created to protect me, not mother me."

The demon ground her teeth and smiled tightly, "Of course. Can I at least ask how your day was?"

"Detective Decker and I went to a disgustingly under kept apartment building, then to a woman's house to inform her that her brother was dead," he answered shortly. "Curious thing though, she could have sworn she knew me. Told me my stature and use of the Queen's English were familiar."

Pouring himself a drink he failed to notice the color that drained from Maze's face, the way her hands began to tremble. "Something about short hair and dark eyes. It was all very strange." He quickly finished his drink and grabbed his keys. "Don't wait up."

What were the odds? What were the outrageous odds that this was happening? Chloe Decker was the one causing all the issues. She had been on damage control since Lucifer met the detective, trying to fix all the little hiccups that kept arising because of that woman. Dr. Martin was the worst one, thank God she had nipped that in the bud and spoken to the woman before Lucifer could start seeing her as a patient. The last thing he needed was someone poking around in his head.

"Lucifer," Maze called carefully, walking around the bar. "You're taking this cop thing way too seriously. You're here for a vacation from Hell, why not spend your time enjoying yourself? We could go to the beach tonight or, or Vegas. We haven't done Vegas yet."

"What's wrong?" he asked instantly. "What are you trying to distract me from?"

Being with this man was exhausting; some days he was frighteningly intelligent while on others he was poking every bear in sight with a short stick. "I just don't want you getting hurt."

The Devil laughed and threw his arm over her shoulders, "Oh Mazie, I'm immortal! I'll be fine."

"I wasn't just talking about you mortality," she whispered as she watched him leave and couldn't remember the last time she felt so helpless. Actually, she could. That day would be burned into her mind for all of time, the day she watched them drag him away, the day he had to-

Blood. There had been so much blood. She could still smell it, the stench of death and pain. It had stained the pure white floor. The walls.

Sucking in a deep breath she forced the memories down and screamed into the empty space trying to let out her frustrations. She had done everything she could to protect him and it had worked for so long but the past has a way of catching up, no matter how far you run.