A/N: I would like to thank everyone who has taken the time to read my fanfic, and those who have given reviews (hint hint). Things are really starting to pick up now so buckle up and enjoy the ride.
Chapter Three:
January
The slums of January were miserable and wore down. In a city of such magnitude, areas of the poor and unfortunate were unavoidable. As much as they disliked having to stay in the seeder areas of the city, they had no choice but to try and keep a low profile considering that it was the federal capital of the world and one of the three was the most wanted individual in the world.
Having no idea how long their stay here would be, they opted to rent a small barely furnished apartment instead of jumping from hotel to hotel. The apartment was a mess of peeling paint and cracked walls. It had a bare kitchen, a nightmare that was otherwise known as the bathroom, a bedroom, and windowless sitting room. The only furniture was a single small bed and a stained couch with the stuffing coming out in places. The three of them had sighed at the poor state of their temporary sanctuary, but it was cheap and had no neighbors, further reducing the chance that Vash would be spotted and recognized. Although they were all aware of the necessity of staying in the slums and the pathetic excuse for an apartment, it didn't mean that they had to be happy about it. This combined with the exhaustion of constant travel made conversation somewhat tense as they went over their options.
"We don't even know if they have the guns." Meryl said for what felt like the hundredth time. The girls sat on the couch (which had springs poking painfully through the thin material) while Vash sat on a small crate that they had found in the alley. A single uncovered light bulb dangled from the ceiling.
"Where else would they take them? I know if I were them there would be no way I would pass on showing this to my higher ups."
"Like you said, they might send it to some plant engineers to try and figure them out. It would be pointless for us to kill ourselves trying to get those guns back especially if we don't even know that their in there in the first place."
"After July and Augusta there would be no way that they would let those things out of their sight. There is probably every security known to mankind and several known to cats placed on those guns."
"How are we even supposed to find this out?" Millie asked, joining the verbal tennis match. "Perhaps we could catch someone who works there and ask them?"
"No way Millie. I doubt that they would tell just anyone that worked there. And besides, it might raise suspicions if one of their people goes missing. They're probably already on high alert against the possibility that the guns would be reclaimed by the owner."
"Well they would be right." She said.
"Millie..." Meryl warned, patience failing.
"If I could somehow sneak in there..." Vash mused.
"Uh-un mister! They would gun you down before you got within fifty yars of that place. Don't you even think about it!"
"I can be sneaky when I have to be." He said defensively. "And besides, how else are we going to find out? You can't just walk up there and ask them."
"I won't have to; they'll tell me what I need to know." She said as a matter-of-factly, crossing her arms.
"What?"
"You can't go in there but there is no reason that they would arrest me."
"No way Meryl. No."
"Just hear me out. It's not as if we have plenty of options to choose from." She took his unhappy silence as her cue to continue. "It would be easily verifiable by Bernardelli that I was to be traveling with you, so that would ease suspicions about how I know you. If I could get to talk to the higher ups, uhhh, hook them on some lie like I knew where you were heading then I might get my chance to find out if they have the guns or not. Best case scenario would be that they would ask me to verify that they were yours since I'm familiar with you. I know that personally I would want proof." She said getting up off the uncomfortable couch.
"No. It's too risky. We'll just have to think of something else." He said flatly.
"Like what? What? And how would it be risky? It's not like I would be going in all ninja-assassin style. Just in the front door, lie, out the front door. No risk involved."
"There are too risks involved. Big ones." He said standing as well.
"Like what?"
"Well for one they could find out that your lying and then you would be sentenced to jail or worse just for being associated with me."
"How would they find out?"
"And besides, it wouldn't solve the problem of retrieving the guns anyway. Just forget it. I'll think of something on my own." He said, turning to leave. She reached out and grabbed his arm, stopping him
"And what? Leave us behind while you walk into the lions den? No!"
"Well I'm not going to let you do it."
"What's so horribly awfully bad about letting me help you for once? Is it some male ego thing or do you not think I'm capable? Or both? You would have let Wolfwood." Meryl regretted the words as soon as they were out of her mouth. Millie looked away uncomfortably. As true as it may have been, it was still uncalled for. She started to apologize but stopped once she saw that his resolve against her plan was weakening.
"Look Meryl...it's just that it's too dangerous."
"No. Your idea is the dangerous one. With my plan the worse that could happen is that they could detain me for questioning. But its not like they could make any charges stick, I'm with you on agency orders after all."
On agency orders after all. The words stung. It made an aching empty feeling settle in his stomach that had noting to do with being hungry. He sat back down on the crate, suddenly very tired. Meryl pressed on, unaware of what her words had done. She took his action as one of surrender.
"Just please consider it. I wouldn't have even suggested it if I hadn't thought it out thoroughly first. There's not much else we can do at the moment."
He sighed, leaning forward with his elbows resting on his knees and his face pressed into his palms. "Alright." He said after a long pause. "But I have several conditions."
"Such as..."
"For starters...you're not going alone."
-L&P-
Meryl walked along the sidewalk alone, drawing inexorably closer to the headquarters. For all the confident airs that she had put on, the closer she got to actually going in there the more nervous she became. Although she refused to show it. It was the very morning after their decision had been made. There would have been nothing to gain by drawing this out, as each day they lost could cost them. She absently reached up and scratched her ear, annoyed by the unfamiliar sensation at the top area.
"What was that?" A tiny voice from seemingly nowhere asked. Meryl ignored it and walked on, purposely ignoring the other pedestrians.
"Hey. Meryl. Can you hear us?"
"Heeellooo..."
"Yes I can hear you." She whispered through clenched teeth. "I just don't want people to look at me like I'm crazy because I'm talking to myself."
"Oh...So, what was that noise?" The tiny voice that she recognized as Vash'es asked her.
"I just scratched my ear. This thing's bugging me." She whispered, resisting the urge to scratch again. She had to make the earring seem like a natural part of her attire. The little decorative transmitter was more suitable and less suspicious than its pen shaped counterpart, but still the earring irritated her. She missed her own but the colors would have clashed. It was slightly too big for her, especially for a top piece, but because it didn't have a mate it couldn't be worn normally. Her hair served well in covering it up mostly, and the silver went nicely with her white outfit.
Meryl had weakly protested at Vash'es insistence that she wear the little communicator but easily gave in. Inwardly she felt more secure that she wouldn't have to be alone on this mission, even if her company was only the tiny voices of her friends. Wearing the radio wasn't the only condition, as she had suspected, but she was also Not to act if she did find the guns.
"It doesn't matter if it is a perfect opportunity, don't try to take them or do anything else that would make them suspicious." Vash had told her for the fifth time. He still was uneasy about this, but Meryl would not be dissuaded. She had even threatened to go off and do it anyway, with or without his blessing. And he had a feeling that she wasn't bluffing. It was either restrain her or offer what little support he could.
"I know." She sighed, amused at his worrying. "Where would I hide them anyway?" She asked opening her arms to show her snug outfit. He looked but didn't say anything. "You pervert!" She yelled, moving in to hit him.
"I don't really like this either Meryl." Millie said, unhappy at being left behind. At first she was dead set on coming too but Meryl had told her no. What if they were separated and questioned then? The stories wouldn't match up and then they would really be in hot water. Millie had seen the logic in this, but that didn't mean that she had to like it.
"Will you two cut it out? You act like I'm going into a battle or something. And I'm slightly offended that you don't have much confidence in me." She said in mock indignation, trying to lighten the mood. It failed. "Common. Can't you at least act like everything's going to be fine?"
"Just...be careful. Alright?" He had said, looking down at her, face filled with worry.
"Wish me luck." She said brightly then had turned and left them in the narrow alley before her nerve broke.
"Hey Meryl, are you almost there yet?" Millie piped up from the tiny communicator. "Opps sorry, I forgot that you're not supposed to answer me. Then I suppose now would be the best time to tell you that I dropped your typewriter this morning and broke it." Meryl gritted her teeth in a suppressed snarl, confusing several people passing by, and listened to Vash laugh as if this was the funniest thing he's ever heard and Millie's sheepish laughter accompanying him. Am I done yet, she thought to herself as they carried on on the other end of the line.
-L&P-
The federal building loomed high above her. It was...intimidating. Normally she would have scoffed at such a thought but considering her purpose here she allowed herself the emotion. With a hard swallow, she steeled herself and walked in as if she owned the place.
The bored receptionist didn't even bother to look up as Meryl approached. She seemed oblivious to both Meryl and the cat sleeping on a stack of papers, like a living paperweight.
"Ahem." Meryl coughed.
"What can I help you with?" The middle aged woman drawled on.
"I need to speak with someone in charge." Meryl stated firmly.
The woman barked out a shrill humorless laugh. "Look missy. You tell me what you think is important and I'll tell you whether it is important or not. Catch my drift?"
"I thought greeters were supposed to be friendly." Vash commented. Whether it was to her or Millie she couldn't tell.
"Listen here." Meryl said, her voice steel with a gaze to match. The woman looked up nonplused. "The information that I have isn't exactly the kind that should be discussed in a common area such as this. And it's something that even you would consider important, although I doubt that happens too often." The woman blinked blandly at her, the insult bouncing right off. Meryl leaned in closer to avoid others from overhearing.
"The information I have for your superiors is important. Just tell them that it's...information of the sixty billion double dollar variety, if you catch my drift."
The woman's eyes widened in realization as the importance of what Meryl was saying sunk in. Recently the entire building had been abuzz with talk of the humanoid typhoon. Linda could gossip with the best of them but for the life of her she couldn't pinpoint what had stirred up this renewed interest in their most wanted criminal. And now this pushy woman shows up saying that she has important news? It was too much to be a coincidence, at least in her eyes.
"Have a seat over there sugar. I'll get somebody down here to see you right away." Linda said, getting on the phone. Meryl nodded and went to sit on an unoccupied bench.
"So far so good."
"Way to go Meryl! You're in!"
She pretended to scratch her nose and coughed "Sush!" in her hand. The amused giggles on the other end told her that they had heard.
As it turned out, right away meant in thirty minuets or so. She waited and waited, watching people as they hurried about their business in the building. She listened to the conversation on the other end of the communicator but it annoyed her because she couldn't exactly participate. Meryl was almost on the verge of relaxing when an authoritive looking man, stout and in his mid-fifties, came up and stopped right in front of her.
"You said you had some important information, I believe." He said firmly. It was more of a statement rather than a question.
"Yes sir, I do."
"And what is your name?"
"Meryl Stryfe of the Bernardelli insurance society."
"Bernardelli? Well now, this is a surprise. You may just be the very person that we have wanted to see."
"Excuse me?" She asked, taken aback by his unexpected response.
"Please come with me Ms. Stryfe...Oh and you will need to leave those at the security desk." He said indicating the several derringers that were revealed between folds of the fabric. "No weapons permitted beyond the reception area."
"Yes sir." She said somewhat sheepishly. They went over to the security desk, her company stoic and silent. The guard asked her to remove her weapons and place them into a container until she was ready to leave. She reached for the guns, paused, then decided to pull off the entire cape. She didn't have the patience at the moment to remove all fifty. And neither did her escort, she assumed.
That settled, they moved away from the commons area to a set of elevators. She stepped in after her guide. Not a word was spoken during the ride several floors up. With each chime of the contraption, Meryl felt herself growing more and more tense. What the hell had she been thinking? Lying to the top federal agents? People who had made a living spotting out liars? Stop it, she firmly scolded herself. She had to do this. The cards were in her favor. She could easily provide evidence to all that she would tell and they would be none the wiser. All she had to do was play it smooth. After all, she wasn't Bernardelli's top disaster investigator for nothing.
They reached their floor. Meryl followed along behind her escort, growing increasingly uncomfortable at the mans silence. The bare whitewashed halls were empty except for them, and lined with doors ever few feet. The man finally stopped in front of one.
"If you would please wait inside." He said opening the door. "We need to verify with the insurance agency that you are who you say you are. Then someone will be with you shortly." His tone left no room for protest. Without so much as a nod in reply, she stepped into the room. As soon as she had crossed the threshold the door closed behind her followed by a tale-tale click of the lock.
"Terrific. An observation room." She said for the sake of her companions, looking around. There was nothing in there except for a table two chairs and a light hanging above. "They had better not take too long."
"How are you doing over there? One cough for ok, two for not."
She coughed quietly in her hand while sitting in one of the cold steel chairs.
"Nothing to do now but wait I suppose...Millie and I can keep you entertained while you wait, what do you say?"
"Yeah, we can tell jokes, stories, sing..."
Cough, cough.
"Ok then. I suppose you need time to think anyway. Good luck! We'll be rooting for you!"
Time ticked onward. It was mind numbingly boring in that small grey room. Meryl didn't even have a clock to watch, she could only guess at the time. Part of her was beginning to regret not taking them up on the offer to keep her entertained, but there was no way she could ask. And besides, she couldn't risk looking like she was listening to something. As the minuets passed drowsiness was starting to replace her apprehension at what she was doing. A nap was starting to sound pretty tempting.
"(Yaaawwnn) I'm getting bored. What's taking so long?" Millie asked.
"I don't know but I'm starting to get hungry." At being reminded that she hadn't eaten since breakfast, her stomach began to growl in earnest agreement.
The door opened.
The same man that had brought her here stepped in followed by another stern faced man in his thirties. Her escort waited by the door while the newcomer sat down in the chair across from her. He sat a folder down in front of him. She waited in uncomfortable anticipation.
"We have verified with Bernardelli that you are in fact Meryl Stryfe, and we got further confirmation about your current...assignment." He said, the last word seeming as if it left a sour taste in his mouth. "Just so that we are clear...we here have never been too pleased about Bernardelli's attempt at disaster control. For one thing," He said opening up the folder and pulling out sheets of paper filled with legal reports. "It is for the most part, futile. And secondly, it places civilians where they don't belong. Criminals are our business, not yours."
"With all due respect sir, I don't make the rules. I just follow them." She said flatly. He looked at her with an unreadable expression then continued onward.
"Bernardelli's records show that you have been in contact with the humanoid typhoon for some time now. But just recently your reports have stopped coming in all together. Why?"
"Things have been...hectic."
"And furthermore, records show that a Millie Thompson was put on this assignment with you. Care to tell me why she's not here as well? Or better yet, care to explain to me why you have abandoned the society's neutrality policy and have come here today." He said in a sharp accusatory tone. "Or how about you just tell us where that bastard is so we can end this once and for all!"
"Look Pal! You think I came all this way to talk about the weather? No! I came to tell you exactly where to find him before another city is ruined. And I don't know exactly what the society did to piss you off so much, but I would kindly appreciate it if you would quit bitching about it to Me!" She snapped back harshly, all apprehension forgotten. The man stared at her with narrowed eyes, clearly mulling over something. Several tense moments passed.
"So...seeing as how you went out of your way just to come visit us...what exactly is this important information that you have?" He asked, condescending and full of disdain.
"May is next."
"What?" The man by the door asked, speaking up for the first time.
"First July, then Augusta. May is next. I heard it from his own mouth." Sorry Vash, she thought, but I have to play into their assumptions. The interrogator remained silent. She pressed on. "And while you're here playing hotshot fed, that city is in danger and everyone in it. I saw Augusta. I was there. I know what's going to happen." She said urgently. The man raised his eyebrow.
"The risk is not what you might think." He said, catching her attention but she hid any sign of it. "And before we act on this information, I have a few questions to see how...genuine it is."
"Are you calling me a liar?"
"That remains to be seen. For one thing, I would like to know how you managed to stay in the company of such a person without being killed."
"For the most part all of our time was spent trying to track him down and keep up with him rather than in his company." She answered truthfully enough.
"And you've never tried to cash in on the bounty...?"
"My life is not worth the risk. Besides, I really don't think you would have paid up." The man just let the slight slide.
"Alright then. Why are you now, just now, coming to us despite the society's policy on uninvolvement when it comes to law enforcement matters? Why try and turn him in now? And you still haven't told me where your partner is." He said, almost lazily sifting through his papers. This was going to hurt. She had wanted to avoid this but there was no getting around it. The man looked up at her hesitation to answer.
"Well?"
Meryl looked away to the grey wall. "Screw Bernardelli and its neutrality policy." She said vehemently. "They can fire me for all I care. I'm not...I'm not letting..." She tried to choke out. It wasn't enough yet to be convincing! She needed more emotion, tears. She chose sorest spot in her heart and picked at it mercilessly. When she began to speak again the grief was genuine...although her audience had no way of knowing that it was not related to her tale.
"I'm not going to go into the details of what happened that night. I refuse. But it was that night a few weeks ago when I found out about May and lost...lost my best friend." Damn it! She felt so guilty about what she was saying. It must be killing them to have to listen to this, especially him. She swore to try and make up for it anyway that she could. Although she knew it wouldn't be enough.
"Anyway," She said wiping at her face and trying to get a hold of her trembling voice. "That's when I decided to leave. I would have come sooner but...I was afraid."
"What I would like to know is how you managed to get away. Your story seems lacking. I doubt someone like that would just let you go." The man said, unfazed by the display of emotion.
"You don't worry that someone may talk when you already think that their dead." She said sharply. She pulled down her collar further and turned her head so that the interrogator could get a better view of her neck. They had nearly faded away completely by now, but still there were the remains of finger shaped bruises along her neck. What Knives had done. The man leaned forward for a closer inspection. He then stood up, a sudden change coming over his demeanor.
"Ms. Stryfe, thank you for coming here today. It was a good thing that you did. Please be patient with us and wait here a little bit longer. I need to go speak with someone. I'll be right back. Agent Caldwell will be staying here in the meantime. Just let him know if you need anything." He said gathering his papers and quickly leaving the room.
She felt sick to her stomach, heartbroken, at having to have said what she did. It almost felt like betrayal. Just imagining what it must feel like made her hate herself. And there was no way she could take it back.
"Sorry." She whispered, hiding her face in her hands.
"There's nothing to be sorry for Ms. Stryfe. In fact it took a great deal of courage coming to us today"
"You don't have to apologize. They wouldn't have expected anything less. You did what you had to."
"In fact, it's a good thing that you did. You can provide us with information that would be invaluable."
"Besides, who would believe the truth? It was the only way for us to find out what we need to know."
"After this is settled, we can move you to a safe house so you wouldn't have to worry any further."
"Just hurry and get out of there so that we can all go home."
"Ok." She said quietly.
After several minuets and one restroom break later the door opened once more.
"Come with me please." He questioner requested. Strange, this time he seemed a lot less authoritative and more subdued, she thought as she followed. The man known as Caldwell came as well. They went back to the elevators and upward. By now she had the feeling that she was going to be speaking to the head of the federal agency, but she had no idea of what to expect when she got there. They reached a set of carved wooden doors, and then stepped on through.
The office was large and very impressive. The entire wall behind the desk was nothing but windows. Stained wooden furniture, plush carpet, and numerous bookshelves. She gave a small start once she noticed what was leaning against one of those bookshelves. A large steel crucifix leaned against the shelf, looking a little worn but still unmistakable. If it was here...then surly...
The man behind the desk rose at their entrance and beckoned them forward. "Please, come sit down Ms. Stryfe." He said in a rich voice, beckoning her over. Hesitantly she came and sat in one of the plush chairs in front of the desk. The head of the agency nodded to Caldwell who left, but the second man remained standing between the chairs and the door. The boss then settled his attention on her, and likewise her to him. He was in his late forties, generous amounts of grey brushed at his temples, and his face showed lines of worry and stress. Despite the initial haggard appearance of the man, his gaze was clear and sharp although not entirely forbidding. It's exactly what she would have expected from the head of an agency such as this.
"I understand you have been waiting in one of our interview rooms for quiet some time. I would like to apologize for any inconvenience that this may have caused you."
"It was no trouble, really." She said, utterly baffled as to what the man wanted. To hear a recap of the story himself? To congratulate, comfort, or perhaps to chastise her for not coming sooner? She could only wait and see.
"I couldn't help but notice that, upon entering, your eye was immediately drawn to that weapon over there. Am I correct in assuming that it was not because it didn't match my usual decorum?"
"Yes. I've seen it before. It belonged to a man that we had crossed paths with several times. Nicholas, I believe his name was."
"And do you know where this man is?"
"No. We parted ways some time ago. I'm sorry...I'm sure that this isn't what you asked me up here for."
"No. Its not." The man said getting up. He walked over to the wall of window and looked out. He reflected in silence for several moments then began so speak again. "Did you know that January was not always federal agency headquarters? This was more than likely before your time, but it was once located in July." Meryl listened silently, wondering what he was getting at. "I was there in July that day. I was there to see the city fall." He said, trailing off. He turned to face her once more.
"You said you were there to witness Augusta, correct?"
"Yes."
"Then you understand the kind of fear that comes from witnessing something like that." She didn't respond. "And you heard a definite threat against May. Hmm...As much I would like to tell you that the incident would not be repeated, I cannot. Only you can say."
"Huh?"
"Tell me, did you by chance get a look at his weapon?"
"Weapons. There were two." Vash whispered to her.
"There were two of them. Two guns."
"Can you describe them?"
"Revolver. .45 Long Colt. With AGL Arms Factory engraved on them."
Meryl repeated him. The man looked at her long and searchingly. He then stepped back up to his desk. Pulling open the first drawer, Meryl's breath caught as he pulled the two guns out and set them on top of the papers littering his desk.
"Are these it?" He asked her quietly.
"Yes. Absolutely." She said, looking them over. It was her first time to see the dark gunmetal one. Yin and Yang, how fitting she thought dryly. She noticed that Vash'es gun still had one bullet left in the barrel. Her gaze trailed down to the papers on the desk.
"Your verification that these weapons did indeed belong to the humanoid typhoon is most greatly appreciated. When we found them we suspected, but were not certain, that these were the very weapons that caused July and Augusta to fall. Because you were there, I assume that you already know that there is more to these two guns that meets the eye."
"Yes. I know." She said quietly.
"What I now need to know is if there may be any others that you know of. Or even the suggestion of there being more like this. If you could...Ms. Stryfe? Is everything alight?" He asked standing up.
She shook her head fiercely but didn't say a word. She tried to stand and walk away but fell to her knees before she could get a step away.
"Sanderson could you please escort her to the infirmary. I'm afraid we've pressed the matter too hard on already frayed nerves."
"Meryl? What's going on?"
The man she now knew as Sanderson was at her side gently lifting her by her shoulders. "Common, let's go." He said pulling her upright. She weakly held on to him. Then, abruptly kicked one of his legs out from under him and threw him towards the desk as he fell. He hit his head against the solid wood and lay there motionless. By then two guns were leveled at each other in a tense stalemate. As the man fell, Meryl had made a quick grab for the loaded revolver. The head of the agency, while initially stunned by the sudden action, quickly recovered and drew his own piece.
"Lower the weapon Ms. Stryfe." The man said in a flat dangerous voice.
"No. You lower yours and leave the room." She answered in an identical tone. She was having difficulty holding the large gun steady even with two hands.
"What the heck is going on!"
"Meryl!"
"Listen Ms. Stryfe, you don't want to do this. The entire building is filled with federal agents. There is no way you can escape from here."
"Then there is no harm in doing what I ask, is there? Please just turn and go."
"Not going to happen."
"Then what do you suggest?"
"You lower your weapon."
"Not gonna happen."
"What do you think you doing?"
"This stalemate won't last, you know that right?"
"I have my reasons. Just trust me. Please." She said to them both.
"I'm afraid I can't do that." He said, unwavering. Meryl sighed deeply then lowered the gun.
"Good. Now drop it."
"Funny. I was going to ask you the same thing." She said. Her odd reply puzzled the man for a moment, and then it struck him. The gun was pointed down and away from him, but that didn't mean that it was aimed at the ground. Sanderson. Sighing in defeat, he lowered his gun then set it on the desk.
"Good. Now start walking towards the door. Facing me and hands up." She ordered pulling the gun away from the prostrate man to the one before her. She watched him intently as he slowly edged away. A soft moan caught her attention, Sanderson was stirring. The slight distraction was all the agency head needed to pull out his hidden gun from behind his belt.
-L&P-
Two gunshots rang out. One was from a smaller caliber gun while the other he recognized from his own .45.
"Meryl! What happened? Please answer me!"
"Are you ok? Please say something!" Millie shouted into the little device that he held.
"Not now." Came the terse reply. They listened as some shuffling sounds came over the receiver, something thudding hitting, a screeching metallic noise, and then hollow clanking noises. The air vents, he realized, it was the only way out she had.
"Meryl..."
"Shhh! In a minuet." She whispered sharply. All they could do is tensely sit and listen as she scooted her way through the vents until she was far enough away from the room to talk safely. The two in the alleyway exchanged nervous looks. What had just happened? And more importantly...what it going to happen now?
-L&P-
At the sounds of the gunshots, agent Caldwell ran from his spot down the hall where he was shooting the breeze with another agent. The two of them had just reached the door when they heard a click from the other side. He yanked at the door knob but it had been locked. He threw his shoulder at the door but it was too solidly made.
"Back away from the door!" He shouted to anyone on the other side. "We're coming in!" He nodded to the other man who nodded back and flanked him. Caldwell then drew his gun and aimed for the locks.
The head of the agency moaned softly and tried to sit up but found that he couldn't, something very heavy was holding him down. He twisted his head around to see something silver gleaming at him. The crucifix, he remembered. She had shot it instead of him, causing it to topple over and knock him through a loop. He flinched as three gunshots rang out and the door to his office burst open.
"Ohmygod sir! Are you alright?" Agent Caldwell exclaimed and rushed over to his boss, pulling the heavy cross off of him with a growl of effort.
"Stop her...she..."
"Stop who sir?" The agent accompanying Caldwell asked while helping him to his feet. "There's no one else in here."
"What?" He asked dazedly looking around. The metal covering of one of the vents hung by one corner, a chair was placed under it. "She got out through the vents." A sudden stirring caught their attention.
"Owww...bitch..." Sanderson said getting up. "What the hell..?"
"It seems like we have been played." He said looking down at his dazed agent. "She took the guns."
"What? Hell! She was on his side all along! And we fell for it!"
"Get the entire building on red alert." Caldwell said to the second man. "We can't let her get out of here!"
"Right!"
"No need to get so worked up." The commander said calmly to everyone's surprise.
"But sir..."
"Don't worry...I get the feeling that she won't be getting very far." He said inspecting the wall around the open vent. It was covered with little bloody handprints.
-L&P-
The wait was killing him. The only thing to be heard over the communicator was soft metallic noises as she went along. She wasn't talking and she wasn't answering. Even more worrying than wondering why she kept up this maddening silence, was wondering why she did it. She had promised him. She promised. Did she even begin to realize what she had just done? He closed his eyes in pain as the full consequences of her actions unfolded in his mind. Millie stood there, silently tearing up, on the verge of hysterics out of worry. He decided to try again.
"Please answer me...what's going on?"
"I had to crawl inside the vents...it was the only place I could go. Oh and don't worry, its alight. I didn't shoot him. He's still alive." She said, somewhat winded.
"Why did you do it Meryl?" He asked her. She continued on as if she hadn't heard
"I saw that he was standing really close to Wolfwood's gun, so I shot at it and Boom! Fell right over on him. Not a bad shot if I do say so myself. You know your gun has a helluva kick to it. Oh and Millie, I'm so sorry. I would have took it with me if I could...but it was just too big. Please forgive me."
"It's ok Meryl. You don't have to worry about it." She said, wiping at her eyes. "Besides, I don't think you could even lift it. It probably weighs more than you."
"Probably." Meryl said followed by a forced laugh. He frowned at the strain in her voice. It was too familiar.
"Meryl...are you hurt?"
"What? Hurt? Meryl please tell us that you're ok!" Millie begged, eyes lighting in fear.
"You two worry warts. I'm just fine."
"Then why do you sound so out of breath? Please tell us." She pleaded.
"You try crawling around in these tiny vents. I don't even have enough room to go on my hands and knees. It's more of a scoot than a crawl. That and I have to keep a hold of these heavy guns."
"Meryl I've been your friend for years, I can tell when you're lying."
"Ok, ok Millie. I'll tell you so you won't worry yourself to death. He grazed my arm. Nothing too bad but it really stings. And its bleeding a little, but nothing a patching up can't fix."
"We don't have gauze or anything back at the apartment. Millie can you..."
"No need to ask, I'm right on it!" She saluted and ran off headed for the nearest pharmacy. "I'll be right back!" She called then ran out of sight. He looked at the area she had rounded the corner for a moment then turned to the small pen in his hand.
"Alright. She's gone. Now tell me...how bad is it?"
"What? But I told you Vash..."
"Meryl you're a bad liar. And I can tell by your voice that you're in a lot of pain. Please tell me."
-L&P-
"Alright." She sighed. "It's a little deeper than just a graze, but honestly, it'll be fine." She said fingers trailing up to the gaping hole in her right shoulder. There was no light in the cramped vents but she could tell that it was bad. Warmth from her own blood was spreading down her back and her front. It had passed clean through. But she wasn't about to tell him all this, he was probably worried enough. Hell, she was terrified. It was only out of pure adrenaline that she hadn't fallen over shrieking in pain. But the rush was fading quickly and she was losing the strength to pull herself along and keep a hold of the guns. She suddenly had an idea. Rolling over onto her back she pulled off her boots, then her stockings. She took the elastic material and tied it tightly around herself like a belt, strapping the twin guns onto her stomach. She was clumsily tying the knot with her left hand when a soft voice spoke in her ear.
"Why did you do it?" His voice was hurt. Betrayed. She let out a ragged sigh, clenching her teeth in pain.
"I did it because I had to." She said quietly.
"But why?" Came the loud reply over the line. She winced at the sharp tone. "Did you do it because I asked you not to? To prove that you could? Meryl what in the world were you thinking? Do you realize what you have just done?" Tears trickled out of the corners of her eyes as she stared upwards into the darkness. He was angry with her. He thought that she had done it just to spite him. Is that what he thought of her? She clenched at her shirt in pain, her labored breathing causing the pain in her shoulder to flair up to excruciating levels.
"How are you even going to get of there? Did you think about it? And what if you do? They're going to be after you now. You'll be a wanted criminal now just because of me! Dammit Meryl why?"
She let out a strangled sob. "Because..."
"And what if you don't make it out. You're hurt. You refuse to tell me how bad, but I know it is. For all I know you could be dying and I'm going to have to sit here and listen to you die and not be able to do a thing to help you."
"Shut up." She whispered.
"Why couldn't you have just listened to me for once?"
"Shut up...Shut up. Shut Up! SHUT UP!" She screamed, pounding on the metal she lay on. "I told you to trust me dammit! Why can't you just rely on someone else for once!" She berated him before letting out a harsh scream of pain and frustration.
Silence.
"I'm not stupid Vash. Although someone like me may only seem like a child to you, I'm not stupid." She said, voice harsh and strained. She began scooting along her back in the dark, pushing herself forward with her feet. "I did what I did because I had no choice. On his desk...there were papers...They were going to experiment...on the angel arms...to try and activate them in a controlled environment...to see...if..." She stopped moving for a moment, she had to catch her breath. It was agonizing even to breathe. "I just couldn't take that chance...And I knew...if I told you, you would try to break in and take the guns...they would try to kill you...I couldn't take that chance either..."
"Meryl..."
"But then again...considering all the things you've done...you probably could have come in, grabbed them, left without a scratch, and still would have wanted to go out and have a drink afterwards..." She laughed; it was an empty harsh sound. She kept laughing until it began to sound more and more like ragged sobs. Yet she still moved on. With her bare feet she could feel the wet sticky trail she was leaving on the metal. Only did she stop when she heard the sound coming from the little earring that she had borrowed. Crying. He was crying for her. Because of her. It was something she never as long as she lived wanted to hear again, and now she was the cause of it.
You fool, she bitterly thought to herself. You fool. You've never been one for self deception. In fact, it was a trait you have prided yourself on. To admit to the truth despite the blow to your ego, so do it now. Be honest. You didn't really care that they were going to try to activate the guns. To the smallest degree this would be true, but it's not the real reason. What you saw when you looked at those papers was an excuse, a reason. A reason to be needed. The chance was sitting there on the desk, a chance to help him out where no one else could. To help out and feel like you're worth something.
You fool, she thought again as she realized the truth of it all. All she had wanted as she had tacked him over the planet was to be near him, to be needed. But she was she was just in the way. Dammit. From the very first time they had met, her insistence of being in the picture had caused him to have to go out of his way and get into even more trouble. And this was repeated over, and over, until...
Millie had forced her not to think about it but what if it really was true? Would the events at L.R. have taken place if she hadn't followed along blindly? She had a feeling that she knew. He had asked her not to follow him, as he always had. And she had never listened. Look what happened then. Look what happened now. Crying bitterly, once again she told herself the truth. Besides, what would have happened if she had managed to pull this off? He would thank her, probably scold her for putting herself in danger for his sake and that would be the end of it. And what if she actually told him that she loved him? He would just smile, say that's nice, and leave. Again. For someone who had lived so long, for someone that was going to live forever, what was she? Her life would be over in no time for him. He didn't need her. Never had. Never will.
Her cries turned into one long howl of pain, wrenching up until it gave away into quiet ragged sobs. Faintly she heard some words on the other end trying to calm and comfort her, but she ignored them. Once she regained her breath she rambled out before he had a chance to speak again.
"I'm so sorry for what happened. So sorry. About this and about then. But don't you dare feel guilty. I know you. Don't. You. Dare...It was my choice, and the consequences are mine to bare and mine alone."
"Shh. It's going to be ok. I promise."
"Don't..."
"You're not going to die in there. Your not. Now please tell me honestly, where did you get shot and how bad is it?"
"Why do you care?" She quietly asked him.
"Meryl...what?
"I asked why do you care."
"Because...what? What kind of question is that?"
"You know, as long as I've know her...I've always wondered why Millie still keeps me as her friend."
"Meryl..." The tiny voice said, starting to sound very concerned.
"Seriously. I've wondered. And you...no wonder you've bent over backwards trying to lose us. Hell, if I were you I would try and get away from me too. I'm a complete bitch. I can't even stand being around myself sometimes. How do you two do it?"
"Please don't talk like that. You can be a little irritable but really you're a good person."
"Don't lie to me. You've lied enough to me. It might have been for my own good, just like now, but I don't deserve it. I know the truth."
"Stop it. No more of this. We should be more focused on finding a way to get you out of there."
She didn't answer him. She didn't want to. She had had enough. No more running and no more deception despite how much she wanted to believe.
"Meryl?"
"How do you turn this thing off?"
"What?"
"How do you turn it off? Tell me!" She shouted, pounding on the metal with her good hand.
"You can't. It can only be turned off from my end. Why would you want to..?"
"Because I can't stand to hear you anymore." She said quietly cutting him off. "No more...I'm sorry..." She said softly. She then reached up and pulled the little device from her ear. She could hear the faintest of sounds coming from it. She closed her hand over it, shutting off the noise. It didn't feel right to leave it here lying in the vents so she reached down her shirt, tucking it safely away in her bra.
She lay there in the cold, the silence, the dark. She then, slowly, began propelling herself forward once more. She didn't know where she was going, but at the moment...it didn't really matter.
-L&P-
She wouldn't answer him, no matter how much he called into the little device. He fell silent. Couldn't stand to hear him anymore? Did she blame him for this? Had she had felt forced to do this? And why, why, wouldn't she answer? Could she anymore?
The thought sent a jolt of fear and worry through him. He held the transmitter close to his ear to try and pick up any sound of her breathing, if she still was. Reassuringly enough, the sound of her harsh breathing came through as well as the sounds of her moving onward. But there was also another noise. A sound that confused him momentarily until he placed it. Da dum, da dum, da dum. Her heartbeat. That's why she wouldn't answer...she removed the piece from her ear and couldn't hear him.
Although reassured that she was still alive and well enough to be moving around, he was still faced with the difficult task ahead...getting her out of there. But the million double dollar question was how?
"I'm back, I'm back, I'm back!" Millie raved, running up to him. "How is she? How's it going? What's going on? What are you doing?" She rattled off questions in rapid succession. He didn't look up from where he sat in the cluttered alleyway. For the past half hour he had monitoring Meryl's breathing and heart rate, and had been coming up with a plan to get her out of there. So far, he wasn't pleased with either, but on both accounts it was better than nothing.
"She's not answering anymore." He said, still staring off in the distance. Millie drew in a horrified breath. He quickly amended. "She's still alive. I can hear her breathing." He said giving the little pen a shake. "But she said she didn't want to talk to me anymore. But she didn't give a reason why."
"Well that's odd." Millie said sitting against the wall opposite of him. "Of either of us, I figure that she would rather talk to you. Weird."
"Hmn?"
"Well it's...uh...well its just you would know more about this sort of thing than I would." She stammered out, hoping that he would buy it. If Meryl wasn't ready to say it, than it wasn't her place to go blabbing about it.
"Yeah, I suppose so." He said, looking back down at his feet.
Phew!
"So what are we going to do? I'm so worried."
"At the moment there's not much we can do except wait and pray."
"Wait for what?"
"Sunset."
"What happens at sunset?"
"I'm breaking in there and getting her out."
Conversation died away after that. Millie didn't ask him how. He didn't offer any explanation how. They sat there and waited. Food was out of the question. It didn't feel right, enjoying a meal while they knew that their missing friend was suffering alone in the darkness. Besides, stress and worry had them both wound up so tight that they doubted that they could hold anything down.
He had spoke confidently enough when he had told Millie that he was going to get her out of there, but one daunting obstacle remained...how would he find her? Judging from the number of dings he had heard from the elevator and the height of the building she was on the top floor. And he hadn't heard her go up or down a level the entire time he had been listening, so that meant that she was still there on the top level. But still that didn't help things. The building was massive. And according to Meryl, the vents were cramped, even for her. There would be no way that he could fit in there and hunt her down. He could possibly locate her by focusing on the guns, but really he wasn't too good at that kind of thing, not like Knives was. And all larger plants around would probably cause too much interference and confuse him. It was the best chance that he had, but it still wasn't good enough.
He thought these things over while he listened to her, and he wasn't very happy with that either. She was moving less and less over shorter distances. And her breathing was getting shallower and slower. Exhaustion was getting to her, and he prayed that that was all. The ever present da dum had begun to soften over the past thirty minuets. He strained harder and harder to hear it. While doing so he became aware of a similar noise. It was faint at first then it slowly began to grow. It was similar to a heartbeat but faster, stronger.
A fan, he realized. She was near one of the ventilation fans on the roof. Frustration set in as he realized that he had no way to tell her to stay put. She had no way to get past the whirling blades so naturally she would just move on, right? He listened and waited to see what she would do. The pulse of the fan steadily grew louder as the rays in the sky grew more golden. Eventually the sound drowned out every other noise, but instead of beginning to fade it remained steady, she had stopped.
The first sun set in the sky. Millie got up wordlessly and turned back to their apartment. She turned and gave him one last look that said it all, and then was gone. Fifteen more minuets until the second sun set and ten more after that until total night. Just enough time for him to get there and to figure out how the heck he, the most wanted man on the planet, was going to get in and out of the place where every single individual was swore to hunt him down and/or see him dead.
-L&P-
Any hopes he had of catching them unprepared were completely and utterly dashed at his first glance of the place. Every single window of the building was lit up. A dozen or so heavily armed guards patrolled the parameter. And the area around was lit up by floodlights. All this activity, needless to say, had drawn quiet a crowd. Numerous curious spectators gathered about, the steely silence of the federal guards only fueled their curiosity, drawing more in number.
He sat on a closed trash can in the space between two buildings, observing and thinking. He had tucked the pin into the collar of his shirt so he wouldn't have to continuously hold it and he could still listen. Although the only thing to be heard was the persistent whump whump of the fan. He was both pleased that she hadn't moved from where he could possibly find her, but was unhappy that he could no longer tell how she was doing. For all he knew...
Enough. Focus. How to get in? No, not necessarily. How to get up would be more precise. He needed to get to the roof. Climbing up would be the best way, seeing as how trying to break inside as it would be certain suicide. But even if he could even reach the building without being shot down, there was no way he could scale up unnoticed.
"Of all the places in this city...no the world, you pick this one! How am I going to do this? Think!" He said holding the sides of his head, as if he could physically force out an idea. Footsteps behind him caught his attention.
"Hey!" The man down the alley cheerfully greeted him, blissfully unaware of the hidden gun trained on him. "You here to see the show too?"
"See the show?" Vash asked uncertainty.
"Yeah the big fuss over at the feds." The man said walking up beside of him. He was unarmed so Vash relaxed. Slightly. "Some people are saying that it's a drill, others a bomb threat. Me? I have no idea what the hell they're doing but, hey, it's something to break the monotony of things."
"It looks serious to me. Shouldn't you be worried rather than entertained?" He asked the stranger.
"Worried? Hell man, it's the federal building! What is there to be worried about?"
"Well the fact that some people think it's a bomb threat for starters."
"Pfft. Even if it is a bomb threat I'm safer out her than at home, believe me." The man said adamantly.
"You're having problems?"
"Yeah! Something's wrong with our wiring. Powers been out all week. The old lady is about to blow a gasket! I'm much safer out here in the open with the possibility bomb rather than my small place with the certainty of a bomb, if you know what I'm saying." Vash chuckled at the poor mans problem, then fell quiet, an idea slowly forming.
"Hey man, you wanna come for a closer look?" He offered with a jerk of the thumb towards the crowd.
"Nah, I'm not much for crowds. Thanks though."
"Well see you around."
"Kay, bye. Oh and good luck with your wife!" He called out to him. The man gave him a wave of thanks then went on to joining the throng.
As the man left, his smile faded, turning dead serious. The poor mans misfortunes had given him an idea. It was a long shot but it was the only one he had.
He left his spying place and retreated further into the shadows. He needed to be where he could concentrate in peace, but at the same time he still needed to be close enough to act when it was time. Going though the back streets he came around so that the back of the federal building was before him. Despite the fact that it was dark, he pulled out his sunglasses and put them on, blocking most of the light. It was as guarded and as lit up as the front, except here there were no people milling about in curiosity. Good. No one to get in his way, and once he acted the guard's attention would be immediately drawn to the front where the uproar was sure to break out. He backed away out of sight and sat down in the shadows. He closed his eyes and began to focus.
Fourteen. There were fourteen here total in January. Three were powering this sector, with two backups from the neighboring sectors. Five plants in total. Five plants he had to reach out to simultaneously over a good distance and contact. Then he had to get them to lower their output and cause a blackout for as long as they could give him. Ten minuets at least, thirty at best. Knives would have scoffed at him being daunted by this task, probably being able to do it himself in his sleep. But Vash had always tried to live as a human, though he knew full and well that he wasn't. So needless to say, he wasn't exactly in practice with this sort of thing. But still he had to try...
-L&P-
After the man had left the blond stranger sitting in the alleyway he soon found someone he recognized amongst the group.
"Miles! Heya Miles!"
"Scott! Joining the party are we?" Miles said coming up to him.
"Its crazy out here isn't it?"
"Damn right! It's been a mad house here all evening. Where have ya been?"
"Ahh just got off work. Melinda is still pissed about the power. I thought I would come see the action before being put on the rack."
"You still haven't got your power fixed! Good lord man, how long do you plan on sitting in the dark?"
As if on cue, every light in the sector flared up brightly then fell dark. There was an immediate uproar among the crowd. Panicked, the guards tensed up for anything. But after being surrounded by the bright lights for so long, everyone in the area was temporarily night blind.
All except for one.
The guards around the service area in the back never saw the threat coming, nor were they conscious to see the ground coming up to meet them.
The building wasn't a solid rectangular chunk, it broke off into five different levels of five different heights, the tallest naturally being the center section. This was to divide the building up into different sections and the escalating effect made it architecturally impressive. Unfortunately, it also meant places for guards to be posted. The guards on the first level were too busy slapping at the spot lights to be paying proper attention. Their reward for it would be a serious headache in the morning followed by a severe tongue lashing from their superiors.
The guards on the second level, three, were a little more attentive. Two were posted by the edge with one in the middle. The abrupt loss of power had them on edge and alert to the smallest of noises. That was why when there was a small clinking clanking noise by the air vents they all heard it and immediately went to investigate, each thinking of their reward for having found the suspect. The only thing they found was a bullet slowly rolling to a stop. Their reward? It was the exactly the same as the three on the level below.
The roof was clear of guards. It did, however, have a number of cameras, below which hung motion activated automatic guns. The power loss effectively neutralized them, but it was only temporary. All the more incentive for him to hurry and find her. He didn't know how much longer he could keep the five plant's outputs at a minimum. A migraine was already forming from the strain of keeping it up this long. There would be hell to pay in the morning. But that didn't matter, he had to find her and fast.
The moment the fans had shut off, the sounds on the other end of the communicator had fell silent. Dead silent. He just knew that he was too late, that she was gone and it was all his fault. But softly, ever so softly, the same reassuring rhythm that he had been listening to earlier was there.
His concentration was too wrapped up to reach out and find the two tiny plants, so he would have to do it the hard way. He went from one ventilation opening to another, looking in, seeing nothing, and going on to the next. He was considering risking calling out to her when he finally came to one vent on the far left side of the roof.
In the patch of moonlight between the shadows cast by the blades of the fans, lay a small pale hand. He wrenched the protective covering off and tossed it aside. It was somewhat of a tight fit, but he slipped down between the blades into a crouch. He took her hand and gently pulled her out from the narrow vent.
"Oh no..." He whispered. She was unconscious and completely covered in her own blood. She hadn't lied to him when she had said it was a little deeper than a graze. The bullet wound was caused by a small caliber gun, but for such a small woman it was a serious injury. He felt for her pulse. Weak. And she was so cold.
"Common...lets get you out of here." He told her. He paused once he noticed the two guns tied to her waist. She had done it after all. He undid the knot in the stockings and tucked the guns into his belt at the small of his back. He picked her up as easily as he could and placed her partially over one shoulder. Now it was time to get out of here, and in a hurry.
He climbed out of the ventilation opening easily, then was across the roof in a rush. He tried not to jar her around too much going down service ladder to the lower levels, but time was against them. More guards might show up any second and he was quickly losing his hold on the five plants. But the suspected guards never did show up. And by the time the power did come back on, much to everyone's relief, they were already lost in the night.
-L&P-
Millie sat on the uncomfortable patchy sofa confused, scared, and painfully alone. She couldn't have done anything to help so she hadn't even offered. But still...sitting here like this doing nothing was so maddening. She felt so helpless. The stillness and quiet of the apartment offered no distractions. Free from anything else to focus on, her mind kept coming up with increasingly horrible and heartbreaking scenarios. What would she do if she lost Meryl? Or both of them? She would be all alone. She didn't think that she could handle losing someone close to her again. Not again. What would she do if it did happen though?
She hid her face in her hands and sighed heavily. The wait was killing her. The worry was torturing her. Her mind was determined to make things worse, and there wasn't a thing she could do to stop it. She was helpless in that aspect too. She began to toy with the idea of following along to see if there was something, anything, that she could do. To try and be there in case something went wrong, but she didn't really think that she had the nerve to go through with something like that. Not on her own anyway. She was perfectly fine with following Meryl into some hectic situation, but by herself? She doubted it. She just didn't know what to do. It was all so frustrating and confusing.
Millie sat there trying to make sense of the flood of emotions and thoughts that were assailing her when there was a noise out in the hall and the doorknob turned only to be stopped with a click as the lock caught.
"Millie, open up. Let me in." Said the muffled voice from the hall. It was Vash. Millie leapt up from the couch like she had been shocked and had the lock undone in seconds. She flung the door open.
"Oh my gosh!" She cried, horrified. He walked on in past her with Meryl in his arms, heading towards the bedroom. Millie threw the door shut, locked it, and followed.
"She said the bullet just grazed her...not...not this. Is she...?"
"She's alive. It just went through her shoulder. If it had been just a little lower though... She got lucky. But still she's lost a lot of blood." He said, laying her down on top of the covers.
"We gotta get her to a hospital then! She really needs help!" she said, her voice beginning to crack. The sight of her friends pale face covered in dirt and blood was pushing her towards hysterics.
"We can't."
"What?"
"We can't." He repeated with a grimace. "They know she's hurt. Once they find out that she's not in the building anymore, that's the first place they'll look for her. And if they catch her she's as good as dead."
"But we can't just leave her here like this! Look at her! She needs help! She needs..."
"Millie!" He said firmly but not roughly. He took her by the shoulders, willing her to calm down. "I'm going to need you to stay with me on this one. It's not as bad as it looks, trust me. I can take care of it but I'll need your help. Can you please calm down a little and help me take care of her?"
"Yes." She quietly said, more subdued but still shaking.
"Alright then. First things first. We need to get her cleaned up..."
The bandages that Millie had bought were brought in as well as some water, with more heating up on the stove. The gravity of the situation overcoming the awkwardness of it, they began to get her out of the tight fitting outfit. Because pulling it off normally would require too much twisting and pulling on her shoulder, the only other option was to cut it free. Meryl would be pissed when she found out, but they didn't have much of a choice. For modesty's sake, he kept his back turned while Millie performed the task until she could be covered up. The ruined clothes were tossed aside in the corner. After a closer inspection of the wound, Vash left to go sanitize the needle and thread with the boiling water while Millie did her best to wash her up.
The suturing took him no time at all, having plenty of practice with it. Millie had to leave the room while he was putting in the stitches, it being too much for her already frayed nerves. Once he had finished he called her back in. Together, they then began to bandage her up. Once again for modesty's sake, he supported her up from behind looking away while Millie did the actual bandaging.
The whole process was nerve wracking, and they were both quiet exhausted by the time that they had finished. Because she hadn't been able to help when Vash had went to go rescue her, Mille had told him that she was going to keep watch tonight and there wasn't a thing that he could say or do to change her mind. He didn't argue with her. Millie had her rights in watching over her friend. And besides, based on what Meryl had said before she had cut contact with him, he doubted that his would be the face that she wanted to see when she woke.
Before he had left the bedroom to futilely try and get some sleep on Satan's couch, Millie had stopped him. Wordlessly she held out her hand offering him something. He looked, and resting in her palm was his earring.