The weather was wet, chilly, and a tad foggy. Basically a typical day in Waterfall. Sans shuffled along the path, listening to the echo flowers as he passed. He listened halfheartedly, really just enjoying the background noise. Anything to help drown out the turmoil in his mind was welcome. After all, the most important person in the Underground, the only one that really mattered to him, is suffering horribly, and there's nothing Sans can do about it. The sheer helplessness he felt was enough to drive him mad. Exhausted, he found a random spot among the reeds and flowers to hide in. Maybe if he stayed there long enough he'd become one with the flowers and no one would bother him ever again… heh.

Flopping on his back he gazed up at the crystals littering the cavern ceiling. Sans could feel moisture soaking into his clothing from the dirt, but it didn't bother him. He was nothing but bones after all. It was just nice to finally get away from everything. The Inn was fine for a while, but here the others would have a hard time tracking him down. For the first time this week he could finally take a step back and breath. After a while he closed his sockets, hoping to take a nap but mind still reeling too much to relax. Instead he laid there with his sockets closed, going over and over the events of the last few days in his head. How did this become such a mess? All he and Papyrus tried to do was help another monster in need, and look where it got them. One of his friends is dead, Papyrus was scarred for life, and now Sans is stuck as a nervous wreck. If this gets any worse he might end up addicted to the bottle again…

"Hey wishbone." Sans twitched at the unexpected noise, opening his sockets to see a ragged looking Undyne staring daggers at him, dressed in full armour with a bag slung over her shoulder.

"Hi Captain. Long time no see." Sans gave a half hearted wave before closing his sockets again. Undyne was having none of it, forcefully grabbing Sans by the collar and pulling him to eye level.

"Do you know what kind of hell The Guards been through recently?!" She snarled. "One of our best dogs is dead, the rest of the pack is in tatters, everyone in the Underground is terrified, and we can't find the murderer!" Undyne took a deep breath trying to loosen her shoulders, though the tension in her hand didn't lax. "Did you know I've been trying to contact you for the last three days?" She gritted her teeth angrily, but attempted to wait for Sans to explain. In all honesty he had been checking his cell phone and saw her calls, but didn't have the energy to answer them. He only ever worked up the strength to do so if Fell or Red was on the line, and that was only in case anything new developed with Papyrus' condition.

"Sorry Captain. Been having phone trouble lately. Ya know how it is." Sans lied. Undyne pinched the space between her brows in frustration, clearly trying to resist the urge to suplex the week skeleton.

"Your lucky Asgore has kept me so busy." Undyne growled. "Because as soon as I had the chance I planned to barge into your house and tear it apart until I found your bony ass! But now that I've got you…" Her smirk grew menacing. In a flash Sans was tucked tightly under her arm, unable to take a shortcut without bringing her with him. "I'm taking you in for questioning." Sans dangled there helplessly, knowing that any struggle on his part would just enrage her more.

"Come on Captain, can't we do this another time? Today's not really the best- Gahh!" Undyne squeezed his rib cage to the point of pain.

"Any more resistance and I'll be forced to question Papyrus instead." She growled angrily. "I know neither of us want that."

"Fine fine. Whatever ya need Boss." He let his limbs dangle as she marched along the path, the clanking of her armour nearly drowning out the echo flowers surrounding them. Sans could play along for now. The less Papyrus had to be involved the better. He already saw his friend get dusted, and trying to trudge up any more painful memories would only cause another panic attack. Besides, the sooner he got this questioning over with the sooner he could get back to moping. He just needed to stay patient.

He stared at the otherworldly glow of the mushrooms and flowers as they passed. He guessed this wasn't so bad. Undyne barely said anything once she started walking, which was fine with Sans. They passed Temmie Village then Gerson's cave, and before he knew it Undyne' house came into view. Oh, that was a shorter trip than he'd hoped for.

Undyne kicked the door of her house open, roughly shoving Sans in one of the kitchen chairs while she went to the other side and pulled off the top half of her armour. Now that Sans got a better look at her, it was clear she was worse off then he thought. Her ponytail was sloppy, clearly having not been re-tied in a few days. She had bags under her good eye and looked about ready to pass out. Geeze, she wasn't kidding about Asgore running her ragged. Sans was so focused on himself and Papyrus that he'd forgotten about how the rest of the Underground would deal with the news. Apparently it wasn't good.

"So has there been-"

"I'm asking the questions lazy ass." Undyne cut him off. Clearly he wasn't going to get any information from her. "First of all, I want to know why there's so many clones of you and Papyrus at your house, and don't even try to weasel out of this!" She glared at him intensely waiting for an answer. Sans honestly didn't know how to respond. If he told the truth Undyne or Asgore could have the machine confiscated, trapping the others here and potentially leading to another Gaster incident. A lie would probably be best for now.

"They're relatives, visiting from New Home." Undyne raised an eyebrow.

"Really Sans? That's the story you're going with?"

"What, do you really think I'd lie to ya?" Undyne gave him an annoyed look, apparently not believing him for a second.

"If you force me I'll have no choice but to run their names and species in The Underground's Census Archives. I can already tell you they won't find any skeletons other than you and Papyrus. So tell me, is this really the story you're going with?" Damn, she could be smart when she wanted to be. Guess Undyne really is guard captain for more than just her fighting skills. Sans sighed before lowering his sockets. He had to avoid another Gaster incident. If Alphys or Asgore got the same idea of using the machine to bypass the barrier…

"Alright, but you have to promise to keep it from Alphys. Deal?" Undyne raised an eyebrow.

"That's an awfully suspicious thing to request Sans."

"Look, all interviews and the monsters being questioned are to remain a secret to the general public. Only the king and guards directly involved with the investigation are allowed to have access to it." Sans gave her a sly grin. He may be a scientist by trade, but he learned enough about the criminal justice system to get by. They often messed with many… ethically questionable experiments in his time (himself being one of them). Gaster made sure he knew the ins and outs of the law before making him an apprentice. "Being the Royal Scientist, Alphys has no affiliation with the guard, right? Meaning giving her access to the details discussed here could get you fired, if not arrested." Sans rested his head in his hands while Undyne stared at him wide eyed.

"Wow." Undyne commented. "You really know your shit for someone so useless."

"What can I say? They don't call me the Sansational Sans for nothing." Sans gave her a big shit grin. "Anyway, I want everything we agreed upon in writing, as well as your signature giving your word." Undyne glared at him with her mouth agape.

"Are you frickin kidding me?! You want to write up a frickin contract here and now?!"

"Well, if ya really don't want to talk to me and instead cause a lot of stress and anguish for Papyrus, ya could ask him instead-" Undyne slammed a notepad and pen on the table.

"Let's get this shit over with."

"BULLSHIT!!!" Undyne flipped the kitchen table before throwing her chair out the window.

"What's wrong Captain? I told ya the truth."

"What's wrong?!" Undyne leaned in mere centimetres from Sans' face. "We just spent two hours making that stupid contract of yours, and your telling me that all of the other skeletons in your house are you and Papyrus from alternate universes!!!"

"Yep." Sans replied leaning casually back in his chair.

"Your stupid relatives excuse was more believable!!!"

"Yep."

"You expect me to believe that sci-fi bullshit?! And to actually be considered not insane when presenting this to the king?!" Undyne screeched.

"Yep." Undyne's eye went wide at his response before she turned around and screamed in frustration.

"Ya know what?! Fine! You win! Their your damn relatives from New Home! Are ya happy!?!" She stormed off and pounded her head against the wall, leaving a large circular indent. She proceeded to lean into the newly formed hole, body going lax in defeat.

"Uhhh, ya alright Undyne? You're not looking too good." Sans commented. He's never seen her look so downtrodden before, and he's worked as a sentry under her for years.

"Oh I'm just god damn wonderful! The only way to make this better would be a random flying steak being driven straight through my brain!" She was breathing heavily again before sliding down the wall onto the floor. "Holy Asgore l need a break." She mumbled under her breath. Sans just stared at her from his chair. Doggo's death and the investigation were really taking its toll on the fish monster. Sans has seen her pissed and angry many times, but seeing her in such a low place was even more terrifying.

"Say, when was the last time you and Paps had a cooking lesson?" Sans inquired. Undyne thought for a moment before answering.

"Probably a round nine or ten days? We were supposed to have training on Monday and Wednesday but with how crazy everything's been…" She trailed off. "How's he holding up?" Undyne changed the subject. Sans looked off to the side, observing the smoke and soot staining Undyne's kitchen ceiling.

"Not the greatest." Sans mumbled. "He hasn't left our house since the attack. Hell, I can barely talk to him anymore." They both sat there in momentary silence.

"I'm sorry." Undyne sighed. "I wish there was more I could do for him, but at this rate I can barely keep up with the king's orders." Sans was quiet for a moment, rolling her words around in his head.

"Say, maybe there's a way we can help each other out. What do ya say?" Undyne looked at him skeptically, considering his words.

"Alright froufrou, what did ya have in mind?"

"What's with all the weird names?" Sans asked confused. Undyne motioned to her neck and gave him a toothy grin. He moved his own hand up to his neck and felt the leather band dangling there, followed by an annoyed grimace towards the laughing guard captain. "Whatever. Do you want to hear my plan or not?"

"Fine fine. Whatcha got for me." Undyne snickered while Sans rolled his eyelights.

"Well here's the deal…"

Sans ported to the living room, catching Red off guard. He had been watching one of Mettaton's game shows, but was clearly getting bored with it. Sans' sudden appearance certainly got his attention though.

"Ya came back." Red scrambled upright. "Look, I'm sorry for-"

"Not now." Sans cut him off. "I think I've found a way to help Papyrus." Red perked up. "Where's Fell?"

"Uhh, cleanin' the kitchen." Sans was off before Red could say anything else. He rounded the corner to see Fell wiping… mustard off the wall? Sans really didn't want to know.

"Say Fell, think I can ask ya something?"

"Depends on what your asking." Fell deadpanned without turning away from his scrubbing spot.

"Well, I just got back from talking with Undyne-" Fell turned to face him, an intense expression on his face.

"What did she want? Did you tell her anything about us?" He was on the verge of shouting, but attempted to keep his voice level. Sans raised his hands in surrender.

"Woah woah, nothing happened. I told her you're relatives from New Home and she believed it." Fell looked at him skeptically, not convinced she would fall for such a stupid lie. "She's so fried at this point she'd believe just about anything." Except for the truth, but Fell didn't need to know that. He eventually nodded, though still looked uncertain. "Look, ya seem to know a thing or two about what Pap is going through."

"What's your point?" Fell asked a bit defensively.

"I thought maybe getting out of the house would be good for him. Maybe going to train with Undyne tomorrow?" Fell raised a brow bone. "He's never been one to stay inside all day, that's my job. And maybe doing something normal would help clear his head?" Fell considered his words for a moment, just as Sans expected. If Fell is indeed another version of Papyrus, then surely he'd enjoyed organisation and scheduled activities as much as his own brother does. He seemed to agree with Sans' logic, eventually giving a small nod.

"You might be right, but it's his decision if he wants to go or not." Sans thought for a moment. He honestly hadn't considered that. What if Papyrus didn't want to leave the house? That could really screw things up.

"How 'bout we talk with him tomorrow mornin'?" Red said unexpectedly making Sans jump. He was leaning against the counter by the oven, having snuck in without Sans noticing. "Wouldn't want ta ruin his and Slims good time." Red smirked when Sans' eyelights went out.

"It's not like that." Fell added before slapping Red in the skull for his comment. Red rubbed the back of his head while digging out the phone from his pocket.

"Check out the new background." Red handed his phone over to Sans, who took it hesitantly. Knowing Red it would probably be a dick pic or something else disgusting. Sans peeked slowly only for his eyelights to turn to stars momentarily. It was a picture of Slim and Papyrus sleeping fully dressed in his race car bed. Papyrus was curled up on his side sleeping soundly for once. Slim was facing his back with one arm slung over the other skeleton. The look on Slim's face one of complete bliss. Papyrus rarely looked that peaceful when he slept, and even that was only for a couple hours at a time. This was truly a golden moment.

"Dear stars that's adorable." Sans mumbled without realising it.

"Heh. The best part was Slim. He was purrin' in his sleep if ya can believe it." Red laughed fondly. "Took it a few hours after ya left. They're probably still sleepin' if I had ta guess."

"Wouldn't wanna disturb that." Sans agreed. "Also, do ya think ya can send me a copy of that." Red nodded.

"Sure thing. Consider it a peace offering for earlier." Sans received the file and looked at the photo fondly. He would definitely be framing this. If only all three Papyrus' were in it…

"There's only one way this pic could be better." Sans gave Red a sly look.

"Ya thinkin' what I'm thinkin'?" Sans nodded prompting Red to smirk in return. "Hey Boss. Do ya think ya could-"

"Absolutely not." Fell deadpanned, turning back to the wall and scrubbing harder.

"Awwww come on Boss, it would be adorable." Fell turned with the most annoyed expression imaginable. "It's like a family photo, only they'd all be different versions of ya. Pleeeeease?" Red asked with enlarged eyelights.

"And give you material to blackmail me with? I don't think so." Red mumbled angrily but didn't press the issue.

"And Comic." Sans perked up when Fell addressed him directly. "Don't even think about running away again, got it? We are better off with you here." Sans hesitantly nodded at his commanding tone. He honestly wanted to spend a few more weeks at the Inn, but maybe that was a bad idea. He and Papyrus needed to get used to being near each other again, especially if he planned on protecting him from another Razz assault.

"Okay." Sans finally replied. "I won't leave tonight." Fell nodded satisfied with his response, turning back to finish the wall. Sans took a seat at the table, on a chair that now had duct tape hurriedly wrapped on the backrest that he doesn't remember… he decided not to ask. Sans rested his head on the table. Tomorrow would either be very successful or a complete trainwreck. For his brother's sake he hoped for the former.