A/N-For fans of this conceptually nightmarish literary train-wreck, here you go. It's Friday! I have no earthly idea how I got this done so quickly, but here it is.

Thanks for all the reviews! I feel loved.

XI-Dealings

"It's been too long. He should be back by now." Quillsh snapped his cell phone shut as he paced his office, eyes fixed on the Grandfather clock in the far corner.

"Didn't he say where he was going at all?" Mello asked from the couch, anxiety making his German accent much heavier. He toyed with the wrapper of his fifth chocolate bar, saying a short prayer in his head.

"No," Quillsh answered, a hint of worry in his voice. "He didn't tell me anything."

Matt glanced sideways at Mello. "I'm sure he's fine." He said, trying to keep the blonde calm. This was one of the few times that Matt's attention wasn't focused on some video game. Mello was a bit surprised at how attentive the redhead was. He reassured Quillsh as well, making sure the man knew there was nothing to be concerned about.

Quillsh scanned the room, apparently only just realizing that one member of their group was missing. "Where is Near?"

"I don't know. I haven't seen him all day." Matt answered, pulling Mello close with an arm around his shoulders. As violent as the blonde could be, he was very fragile emotionally, especially when it came to people he considered family. He rubbed Mello's arm through the boy's jacket, the leather creaking softly under his fingers.

Near stayed in his room during the day to avoid the sunlight. The boy burned so easily that even walking down the street was very dangerous. Quillsh could close the heavy curtains that hung on either side of each window if the boy wanted to move around, but left them open otherwise to avoid the unnecessarily painful power bill. None of the other children knew that Near was an albino. As gifted as these children were, they were still children.

"Matt," Quillsh asked, "will you go fetch Near for me, please?" The man was well aware of the friction between Near and Mello. He had no desire to make it worse.

Matt understood. He nodded, squeezing Mello's arm just a little too hard, and slipping out of the office. Mello stared after him, wrapping his arms around himself and feeling very exposed. For whatever reason, he always felt safe when Matt was around. He might even feel safe in his own room if Matt was there.

Mello shook his head. Why on earth did he just think that? Luckily, Quillsh didn't seem to notice the slight pink tinge in the blonde's cheeks.

****************************

Matt returned ten minutes later, Near keeping several paces behind him. He found Mello leaning against the wall just to the right of the door, nipping at a chocolate bar. The blonde had looked up when he heard the solid thudding of the redhead's boots, loud even in the carpeted hallway. Then, his eyes fell to Near.

The boy looked back at him, large eyes steady and unblinking. Mello bit the inside of his lower lip until he almost drew blood. Just go away, you little freak.

Thankfully, Matt broke the uncomfortable silence. "Mels?" he said, stepping up next to Mello. "Why are you out here?"

The blonde wasn't used to being called 'Mels' by anyone. It was sort of cute, but it was also clearly a pet name. He took a second to give Matt a strange look before he answered. "He wanted to speak with Near alone." He said, meaning Quillsh. "So I thought I'd wait out here for you."

Near moved past the blonde while he was still speaking, a small smile touching his lips. As he slipped through the door, Mello could have sworn he heard him laugh softly, as if he knew something the blonde didn't. Mello would have stopped him and demanded to know what was so damn funny if Matt hadn't called him.

"Mels?"

"What?"

"Nothing." Matt smiled. "I just wanted to know if I could call you Mels." He left Mello staring after him, his mouth slightly open in confusion. The redhead was laughing gently as he tugged his Nintendo DS out of his jacket pocket.

****************************

"He's been gone since yesterday." Quillsh told him. Near sat on the floor near the closed curtains, one leg pulled against his chest, watching the older man intently.

"He hasn't contacted you at all?" the boy asked.

"No. Nothing. And I can't get through to him, his cell phone has been turned off."

Near stood up, staring at the floor for a moment and twirling a loose piece oh his hair around his finger. Quillsh knew better than to interrupt the boy when he was clearly thinking. He looked up at the older man for a moment, then said, "I'll find him." It was that simple. Near saw it as a puzzle, and there was no puzzle that Near couldn't solve.

"Thank you so much, Near." Quillsh began, but Near held up a hand.

"However," he said, "I'm afraid I may need some help this time."

It took Quillsh a moment to catch up. Then he understood. Near never appeared weak and, because of that sometimes even Quillsh forgot. "Of course. What do you need?"

"Mello and Matt." Quillsh looked a bit confused, so Near elaborated, "Matt owns a car, Mello rides a motorbike. They can search the city. I can't."

Quillsh nodded. "I see. The lab is set up for you down the hall. Shall I-?"

"I will tell them. Don't worry. Mello will want to find him just as much as you do."

Near stepped through the door and Quillsh could faintly hear him telling the blonde they would be working together. He knew from the look in his eyes that Mello's inferiority complex would pose a problem if they were forced to be around one another for too long.

Still, as the door swung shut, he felt a sense of relief. Even though L wasn't safe yet, he felt much better knowing that he had three of his best students searching for his son.

A/N-The chapters are going to get pretty dark and disturbing from now on. Just warnin' ya now. (Reviews make me feel better. Thanks to everyone who reviews my work. Ever.)

Next: Chapter 12-Watchtower