Disclaimer; Death Note ain't mine... Sniff... but this particular story line is. I do this for no profit except the joy of reviews.

A/N; Beta'd most kindly by Virtualdraconium.

J is for Justice

L stared down at the list in front of him, he had never quite believed that Light's plan to use Ryuk to investigate for possible suspects out of the original fifty would have worked, but it had. He glanced momentarily at the display of apple eating from said shinigami that was stunning Mello and Matt. It was amusing to see people watch the shinigami eat apples for the first time.

He glanced at the empty swivel chair next to him and smiled, he wondered when Light would be brave enough to appear. L had been kind enough to leave out a pair of his jeans and a freshly ironed white shirt for Light. Though he had left Light before he had got dressed, he couldn't bare to see Light so dejected… he corrected himself, I just wanted to get out of the room before I burst out laughing. He definitely didn't want to laugh in the face of someone who had made him such wonderful strawberry shortcake this morning. At this he took a bite from his recently neglected slice, his smile widening.

"He better not be attempting to pull a sicky," Matt murmured suddenly, his fingers pausing of his computer keys.

"He won't," L replied as he stabbed his cake again.

"No he's too much like me," Mello laughed, "His pride wont let him back out, even if it is his pride putting him in the situation in the first place."

It was at this point Light chose to appear. The lift doors opened and he tried to stalk in with his usual cool manner, but the casualness of his dress, and the fact that L's jeans hung quite low on his waist, completely ruined it. L watched him approach through his bangs, his eyes slipping from Light's face to further down his body. He licked his lips, for some reason Light looked quite delectable in what he was wearing.

Light stopped by his chair and stared at the three men already present in the room, daring them to say anything. As he stood there he saw Matt was trying very desperately not to laugh.

"What?" Light asked through gritted teeth. Matt was laughing too hard to reply and Mello just smiled enigmatically at him. Light turned on his heel lightly to stare at L.

"Light should look at the positioning of his hands," L said calmly pointing at said hands.

Light looked down, and then jerked in surprise. He had shoved his hands into his pockets in exactly the same manner as L, the slouch had also begun to form. He roughly pulled his hands out and smoothed the pockets down before collapsing into the swivel chair pulling the laptop into his lap so he could put his feet up, his bare feet up, after all he was being forced to dress like L and L had bare feet.

"Restless night again Light?" L murmured, noting how Light was sitting and the slightly tired look in Light's eyes.

"Yes L," Light said, smiling slightly over at L letting his inner pain show briefly. "I didn't realise coming back to Japan would be so hard."

Uncharacteristically L reached over and rested his hand on Light's, who surprisingly twisted his hand so he could tightly grab hold of it.

"I'll be alright," Light said finally, "I know that I have you."

L smiled at Light's confession, moving his chair closer so he could caress Light's cheek with his other hand. L gasped then as Light suddenly shifted and kissed L his fingers tightening their hold on L's hand. The kiss deepened as Light pulled L closer, Light dominating the kiss, he had surprised L that much. They suddenly pulled apart as one of Matt's game boxes collided with their heads.

"Get a room," Mello said his face graced with one of his trademark smirks seemingly oblivious to the death glare and pokes he was receiving from Matt, until the red head stole his chocolate and threw it across the room to join the game box.

"Hey," Mello said staring at Matt in shock before going to retrieve his chocolate. Matt gave no reply but turned back to what he was doing, not even acknowledging Mello as he replaced the thrown game box on the pile next to Matt.

…

When the police members of the investigation team arrived, the day continued much as usual none commenting on Light's attire, but with one major difference. Due to Ryuk's surveillance creating such a shorter list of names from the original suspects the police were now willing to enact their own surveillance. Though L doubted how much this would give them with only 6 days left until the next murder was likely to occur. He made sure to include the stipulation that the three most suspicious suspects from Ryuk's point of view, Mikami Teru, Hannah Constance and Martin Rodgers, had the most intensive surveillance. For some reason L felt very inclined to trusted Ryuk's observations, he knew it was slightly illogical, but for once he didn't care.

He enjoyed the look of shock on the police officers faces when he had produced the greatly shortened list. He had to work hard to hide a smile though as Matsuda's eyes flickered from the list to the shinigami that was now bobbing along the ceiling. He had always been warmed by his enthusiasm, and his reasoning abilities had obviously improved greatly in the past few months.

Suddenly Matsuda's gaze turned back to L his gaze expressing he knew what L had done. At this L found he couldn't suppress his childish side and winked at Matsuda and brought a finger to his lips. This caused Matsuda to start laughing, quickly having to turn this into a coughing fit, this merely earned him an annoyed look from the other officers.

As everyone returned to their assigned task, L brought up Matsuda's file and quickly found what his peers had stupidly overlooked. He then forwarded the files most relevant to this surprising revelation over to Matsuda's computer, along with an email describing the new tasks L would like him to do. He was surprised to receive a short email from Matsuda saying thank you in quite a heart felt manner. L was beginning to find he like being nice to people so often.

With the surveillance system to organise the team worked into the evening, Matsuda and Light bringing refreshments up from the kitchen, something which gave Matsuda ample time to laugh at Light's expense.

…

L flexed the fingers of one hand as he supervised the final camera installation for the surveillance. He was grateful the case was beginning to move forward; he found it so difficult to keep his motivation when a case stalled.

There was a sudden clattering sound from where Light sat and L turned to see Light's laptop finish it's descent to the floor. Before he had time to take this in Light began his slide from the chair as his elbow came off the armrest. L dove from his own position and caught Light just before he hit the ground. As he looked down at Light he let out the breath he hadn't realised he had been holding, Light had just finally succumbed to sleep his eyes closed in deep slumber. As L rose to his feet with Light in his arms, the slumbering man snuggled closer to his form. L looked up from Light's face and saw that Soichiro had risen from his seat, his face a mask of worry, until L's gaze passed over him.

Wordlessly L headed towards the lift and towards the room he shared with Light. With difficulty he negotiated the door handle and staggered into the room. He paused in his activity to ensure Light was still asleep. Reassured he approached the bed and carefully laid Light down, before rummaging in a nearby cupboard for a blanket, which he spread tenderly over him. He smiled down at Light for a moment before heading back to the investigation room.

He was extremely surprised however to see Soichiro waiting for him in the corridor. The detective looked completely depressed. He silently motioned for Soichiro to follow him and led him down to the kitchen Light used for his baking.

"What do you want with me?" L asked as he went to rummage in the fridge, he knew Light always left him with an evening surprise of cake in there, and right now he could do with some.

"Why is Light here?" Soichiro asked bluntly.

"I would have thought you would have been happy to see your son," L said, as he hopped onto a stool. At this Soichiro could think of no reply, particularly with the gaze L was training on him.

"Your son may have been Kira," L said continuing to stare at Soichiro, "but in the past few months he has seen the error of his ways and I can tell you quite honestly that what he has done is tearing him up inside."

At L's words Soichiro sat shakily onto a stool, he hadn't realised his son had been feeling this way.

"I -," he began.

"Didn't realise?" L murmured stabbing at the slice of Lemon cake, "The least you could have done, upon seeing your son, was to talk to him. His use of the Death Note was completely logical considering his intelligence and interest in the law, particularly as the world provided him with no mental stimulation in any way. Unfortunate though it is, the Death Note gave your son a goal life couldn't. Though I now pride myself in being able to make him see his mistakes, and hope to ensure Light doesn't go through life in some form of mental coma."

Soichiro stared at L, the heated words coming from such a usually calm mind shaking him to his core.

"Would it be alright if I saw my son now," Soichiro asked quietly, his shame at his actions evident.

"Of course," L said smiling widely before abandoning his cake and pulling Soichiro by the hand out of the room. He marched the man to the door of the bedroom, opened the door and bodily pushed the man in.

...

Soichiro stood there in shock, his mind overwhelmed by L's statements and his actions. He walked slowly over to where Light was sleeping, the lines of worry that had graced the boys features decreasing as he slept. He sat down carefully next to his son, then brushed Light's hair away from his face.

"Light," Soichiro whispered, his throat constricting. The boy stirred and his eyes opened slightly to look up at him, then they widened.

"Otou-san," Light cried, sitting up his arms latching round his father's waist and did something the older man did not expect. Light burst into tears.

"Light, I'm so sorry," Soichiro said, his arms wrapping around his son.

"No, I am the one who should apologise, Otou-san," Light gasped, "though I don't think I could ever apologise enough."

…

Outside the room L smiled as he heard the conversation occurring in the bedroom, before heading back to the kitchen for his cake.

…

Back inside the room Soichiro was awkwardly trying to comfort his son.

"Light, the fact that you are so repentant for what you have done is enough for me. You will always be my dear son Light Yagami." He brought his son closer to him at the heart wrenching sob this caused Light. He sat there quietly as his son cried into his chest, silently crying his own tears for the way life had turned out for Light.

As Light's crying eased he laid his son back down onto the bed and covered him with the blanket once more. Light looked up at him with questioning eyes.

"You need to sleep Light. We can talk more in the morning I promise."

Soichiro then startled himself by planting a small kiss on Light's forehead, but for smiling down at him and exiting the room. Behind him Light tried to rise and follow his father, but his fatigue and the release of so much stress had him quickly succumbing to slumber.

…

Soichiro was amazed to see L sat outside the door daintily eating a slice of cake. Without a word they walked back towards the investigation room.

"You really care for my son," Soichiro stated as the lift rose upwards.

"If I didn't," L said quietly, "he wouldn't be here."

"Does he know how much you fought the government to stop him from getting the Death penalty?" Soichiro asked.

"No, it would only upset him. He would think that was the reason this case was moving so slowly, he already blames himself for this case even occurring," L said his eyes fixed on his cake.

Soichiro said nothing, he felt L had more to say.

"It would not have served anyone to destroy the brilliant mind that was corrupted by the Death Note," L said quietly, "Killing him would have been more in line with revenge than with justice. There are more fruitful ways to make him atone." At this L smiled inspecting the piece of cake perched on the end of his fork.

"L, can I thank you for saving my son,"

"Not at all Yagami-san; I always considered Light to be the biggest victim of all."