Chapter Ten: Completing the Family

L bent over his computer, typing up the report on the case he had just finished. An intricate drug ring in New York City had been operating underground for months, and they had been requesting his help to solve it. He had accepted, mostly because of the complicatedness of the clues. It was intriguing. They had finally learned enough to go in and catch the crooks red-handed. The police had performed admirably.

L frowned, continuing the report.

March 10, 1998 – Police went into a warehouse on the shores of Manhattan. All suspects apprehended. One attempted to break and run, but was caught shortly after. Fatalities: One

L paused again, sighing. One suspect had attempted to make a run for it, and one of the officers had gone after him. The suspect still had one bullet left in his gun, and had shot the officer dead. L picked up the file on the man. Captain John River. It was terrible that he had been killed. He was a single father, with one son. His son was brilliant, and L had given word for him to be sent to stay at Wammy's until L could come and speak to him. He was getting on a plane to England the next morning, so the report had to be done before tonight. He was going to attempt to sleep, even though it wouldn't really do much good. He bent back to his task, determined not to think of anything else until he finished.

XxX

"Hey, you."

The boy dressed in white pajamas pointedly ignored the prodding voice, choosing instead to continue building a castle out of blocks. Mello stared at him a moment, then tried again. "Hey, your name's Near, right? Are you seven?"

"Yes." One word to answer both questions. Near continued stacking blocks, oblivious to Mello's fuming.

"That's a stupid name. You're never near anyone! The three days you've been here, you've hidden in this stupid playroom!" Mello blustered. "Do you think you're too great to associate with the rest of us, or something?!"

"No…" Near said quietly. Mello growled something that sounded like 'you're boring!' before leaving him alone, finally. Near sighed in relief, before glancing out the window. A long black car had pulled into the driveway. It was the same kind of car that had brought the men that told him his father was killed. Near scrambled to his feet, stumbling down the hallway, tripping over his oversized pajamas. He couldn't face that again. Hurrying into the library, he took refuge behind some of the stacks in the back. It was a completely illogical action, and he knew it, but he did it anyway. Maybe they would just go away.

XxX

When L opened the front doors of Wammy's House he was immediately assaulted. Beyond Birthday took a spectacular flying leap off the stairs and landed squarely on him, the biggest grin ever plastered on his face.

"Thankyouthankyouthankyouthankyouthankyou…"

L managed to right himself, carefully disentangling Beyond from him. "What?"

"Thank you for the manga!"

Oh. L had gotten him a thirteen-volume set of manga for his skipped birthday. Two more years and they would actually be able to celebrate, but for other years, they celebrated February 28.

"That was the greatest thing I've ever read! I couldn't put it down!"

"I'm glad you liked it." L said, smiling. "Where's Aisha?"

"She's in the other room reading to some of the younger kids." Beyond said. He led L further into the house, where they found Aisha reading from a picture book, seated in Watari's favorite rocking chair. She stood up and embraced him, asking eagerly how he was as the younger children stared at him in awe. L could tell that she was more than happy to see him.

"I'm fine, Aisha." he said, hugging her. Stepping back, he asked, "Do you know where the new boy is?" He wouldn't use his real name, and he didn't know what the boy had been called. Aisha tilted her head, thinking.

"The one with white hair? I think I saw him near the library earlier. Are you going to go talk to him?" she asked. L nodded.

When Near heard the library door open, he shuffled further behind the books, trying to be invisible. Soft footstep sounded, getting closer, and Near saw a pair of bare feet below a bookshelf. The feet rounded the shelf, picking between stacks of books until the owner could crouch down a look Near in the eyes.

"Nate?" the young man said softly, and Near blinked. It was the first time anyone had used his real name since he arrived. The dark-haired man smiled, saying then, "I thought I'd find you here. I'd hide back here when I was young."

"Who are you?" Near asked quietly. L's smile got bigger.

He held up his right thumb and forefinger, forming an L in the air. "Who do you think I am?"

"L?" Near asked. "Daddy worked for you…"

"Yes." Smart child, indeed. L rocked on his feet for a moment, before saying slowly, "Nate, your father was a good man, and an amazing police officer. I regret deeply what happened to him."

Near sniffed sadly, his wide onyx eyes filling with tears. "Daddy…" L leaned forward and hugged him, letting Near cry. From what the other children had been saying, Near didn't show any emotion around them. This was probably good for him. He let Near cling to his shirt, picking up the white-haired boy and holding him tightly.

"Shh…" he whispered. Children weren't his thing, but apparently he was doing an okay job, because Near slowly calmed down, his head on L's shoulder, one small hand clutching at L's white shirt. "It's okay, Near. You have us, now. Me, and Beyond, and Aisha. Mello and Matt and all the other children. It's okay."

Near nodded, blinking to rid himself of the rest of the tears. Everything would be okay now. He wouldn't be alone anymore. L was certain that being around other children would be good for him, maybe even get him to open up. The child was so much like L that it was almost unnerving. Black and white. Maybe fate had intervened, because from what L knew of Near's ability, the boy might even be better than him.

Only time would tell.

DNDNDNDNDNDNDNDNDNDNDNDNDNDNDNDNDNDNDNDNDNDNDNDNDNDNDNDNDNDNDNDN

So I decided to put all four of these up at once, as they signify the end of the 'meeting' part. Everyone's here, so now we can move into the next act. Also known as the L.A.B.B case, and all the stuff leading up to it. Sad, but inevitable. Thank you all for being so patient with me. My computer situation, flatly, sucks.

Love and hugs to all my readers!
Li