This one took a little while to get out, but I've been busy with other things - sorry. This chapter marks the end of the second arc of 'Unwanted', with one more to go. It took far longer than I thought, I had to admit, but I regret nothing! Please enjoy

Boiling Point.

The forensics had come back: public places like clubs and bars were a forensic examiners worst nightmare, with countless unimportant and useless clues to shift through before they got anything concrete. Chilling coffee in hand, Vash looked over the ten pages he had been provided: after eradicating the people the other evidence had already removed from their list there wasn't much left, and what there was was cryptic.

It was definitely a woman – that was the one thing they could say for sure. They had found a few light, long hairs that had no reason to be there (Lily was the only woman who worked at the club, and her hair was far too short), and they all belonged to the same woman. Vash knew it had to be an older woman, perhaps a mother – there's no way a younger woman would have washed the dishes at a crime scene. Yao Wang had monitors for absolutely everything that happened in his club, including when and for how long the kitchen tap ran, which raised a massive red flag for the night in question. A younger woman, Vash figured, wouldn't have thought twice about the dishes, or else taken them home or thrown them out, not thinking that their absence would be notable. Washing them up and putting them back was definitely something an older woman would do.

An older woman, but not a large one, not with such small hands. Lizzie had large hands for a woman and dark hair, so she had been eradicated from the list. In fact, no-one on their current list matched the evidence, so Vash threw the net a little wider, starting with women with light hair that were connected with both Yao Wang and Arthur Kirkland. The list wasn't long: Katyusha and Natalya Braginski, Jeanne Bonnefoy and Meredith Kirkland. Natalya, Jeanne and Meredith had long hair; Katyusha, Jeanne and Meredith were the right age. Katyusha was physically the strongest, so the first seven wounds didn't fit her, while Meredith was by a far distance the weakest, so that last stab wouldn't be possible for her.

Vash sighed deeply and took a mouthful of coffee, throwing the report down. It bothered him that he couldn't prosecute Yao Wang for his acts against Arthur until he had found the person who stabbed him. He wouldn't mind investigating this while the pervert was in prison, but the chief had made his priorities pretty clear. He went to pick up the report again when Cameron knocked on the door, looking grim.

"She's here." he said.

Vash straightened his tie and shirt as he stood, sighing again and leaving his report and coffee on the table. Cameron followed him to the waiting room, where Jeanne Bonnefoy stood silently, clearly worried. This time on a Sunday there was almost no-one around, the occasionally ringing phone the only real noise. Jeanne, recognising Vash as someone Francis knew, almost ran into his arms.

"What's wrong with Arthur?!" she asked immediately "Has he been arrested? Is he injured? Where's Francis?"

"Arthur is fine." Vash assured immediately "He hasn't been arrested."

"But..." the woman looked thoroughly confused, grabbing the strap of her bag protectively "Then why did you call me? You scared me half to death!"

"I imagine so." was as close to an apology as Vash would go "Arthur is fine, but something has happened, and I need to talk to you about it."

Jeanne examined his face closely, but he knew he gave nothing away. He wasn't going to enjoy this conversation, even less than his conversations with Francis and Arthur himself, but he was running out of options. He reached behind himself and pushed open the swinging double doors, gesturing for her to followed him and Cameron to the interview room. Looking decidedly unhappy, she walked through the door.

The hospital insisted on keeping Meredith overnight, just in case, and would send her home by ambulance in the morning. Angus stayed with her, trusting his brothers with Peter. The car was very quiet as Patrick drove them home, especially after the baby fell asleep in his car seat. Natalya didn't complain that she was dropped at Arthur and Francis' place, wrapping her arms around herself to shield from the cold as they plodded to the front door.

"You want a cup of tea?" Arthur asked as he fished about for his keys.

"Can I stay here tonight?" she asked apologetically "I don't really want to go home."

"Sure, I'll set up the spare room. Shit, where the hell are my keys?"

Arthurs stomach dropped when he realised he didn't have them. Where did he leave them? With a great amount of optimism, he figured they must still be at Natalyas place from when he changed before. The young lady figured out pretty quickly what the problem was, sighing deeply.

"I'll wait here." she informed him "Please don't be long: it's getting cold."

"Right. Sorry."

Arthur didn't argue, instead running back up the path and hopping the fence, not paying enough attention to notice Antonio open the front door, startling Natalya. He jogged down the road briskly: it was indeed getting cold, but if he was out of breath when he got there then Ivan and Yao might not let him leave. It would be impossible for Arthur to sneak in with all those locks on the doors. What could he say? That Natalya had gone to Lily's? He couldn't really say she was staying over his when he had come back for his keys. Why did she want to stay anyway? Arthur hadn't had the opportunity to ask her. If Yao was there alone, he would definitely interrogate the old man.

Katyushas house wasn't far, so he arrived fairly quickly, taking a moment to catch his breath and wipe the sweat from his brow.

A few lights were on downstairs, so at least someone was home. Hoping to slip in and out quickly, he pressed the doorbell. The door flew open the second he took his finger off the button, Arthurs stomach hitting rock bottom when a clearly furious Ivan loomed over him.

"Evening love." he mumbled.

"Where have you been?!" he demanded, grabbing Arthur by the front of his coat "Where's Natalya?!"

"S-she's at Lilys!" he stuttered, more than a little taken aback by his sudden aggressive turn "What's wrong? Did something happen?"

Ivan pulled him inside, throwing him aside with such force that his back slammed into the wall before slamming the door so hard that it bounced back open. Ivan ignored it, rounding on Arthur.

"Where were you?!" he demanded again "What were you doing?!"

"I was at the hospital!" Arthur defended "You know that!"

"Were you?! Or was that just a lie?!"

"What are you talking about?!"

"Gilbert was here!" Ivan roared, grabbing a fistful of Arthurs coat again "He was dying to tell me all about what you've been up to lately!"

"What?" Arthur went cold "What did he say?!"

"He has you 'here.'" Ivan quoted, teeth clenched as he pointed at his own head "And soon he'll have the rest of you. What have you been doing while I've been working late? The clocking-in machine hasn't had you logged in for weeks now! What have you been doing during the day?!"

"Ivan-"

"Have you been cheating on me?!" he demanded "With Gilbert?! I might have forgiven you if it had been just some woman, but Gilbert?!"

Arthurs heart was pounding: he was honestly terrified. He and Ivan had fought before, but Ivan had never been aggressive with him, never tried to intimidate him. The big man was right in his face, Arthurs back against the wall.

"I am not cheating on you!" he defended "Gilbert's full of shit!"

"Then why would he say it?" Ivan countered immediately "And what have you been doing during the day, then?!"

"That's-! That's not... I mean..."

"So there is something!"

Fucking Gilbert! He knew this would happen, that prick! Why was he forcing Arthurs hand like this?! Ivan was properly furious, looming over his like an angry bear. He didn't want to tell him, especially not like this, but Ivans eyes were locked on him, cold and furious. Arthurs heart was right in his throat.

"D-during the day," he started, not able to look at him.

But Ivan wasn't having it: he grabbed a fistful of Arthurs hair and forced his head back up, face only a nose-length away.

"During the day?" he growled.

"I was with Yao." he answered quietly.

"And after work?"

"I was still with Yao."

"You expect me to believe you hung around work when you didn't have to?"

"We weren't at work."

"Then what were you doing?"

The words stuck in Arthurs throat, heart pounding louder and louder as Ivans patience visibly slipped away. He opened his mouth, but nothing came out. This wasn't going to end well.

"I... he was... blackmailing me." he mumbled "To do what he wanted..."

Arthur didn't want to look at Ivan as he told him, but as he still had a fistful of his hair he didn't have much choice. Ivan listened silently to what he had to say, not backing off, not letting go. When Arthur finished he felt like a million tons of pressure had been removed from his shoulders, but a tight knot of doubt and fear had formed in his stomach, growing bigger and harder as Ivan stared at him, saying nothing.

"I don't believe it." he muttered sadly.

"Ivan-"

"Do you honestly hate me that much?" he asked "Why would you tell such a hurtful lie?"

Arthurs entire soul emptied – he didn't believe him.

"I'm not-"

"Why can't you just tell me the truth?" Ivan went on "Do you hate me so much so need to tell such horrible lies?!"

"I'm not lying!" Arthur yelled.

"Tell me the truth! Was this Gilberts idea?! Does he think this is funny?!"

"It's got nothing to do with Gilbert!" Arthur defended, raising his voice to match Ivans "And I am telling the truth, whether you like it or not! Yao is a pervert and a blackmailer!"

"SHUT UP!"

What happened next, neither of them expected, and neither would soon forget: Ivan let go of Arthurs coat, and in a single, horrible instance, struck Arthur hard across the face. He hit him with such force that Arthur was thrown to the ground, landing painfully on the hardwood floor, chunks of his thatch hair still in Ivans fist. Reeling from the pain, Arthur shuddered in shock as his blood hit the floor. For a terrible moment, fleeting and eternal, there was silence.

Like a tornado the front door, left ajar, slammed open. Arthurs head was reeling, he didn't see who it was that burst in and, seeing the scene before him, launched at Ivan in full Latin fury. His head was still reeling when he was hoisted up, furious words still being thrown at Ivan, and practically carried from the house.

Ivan was in pain. The pain in his hand was nothing next to the pain in his jaw, which was inconsequential compared to the pain in his heart. He had hit Arthur. He had struck him. On purpose. He had made him bleed. The person who loved him most, he had made suffer.

He slumped on the floor where Antonio had left him, staring at nothing. Why had he hit him? He couldn't even remember. He was hollow inside, all thought left him. He started shaking, heavy and hot tears rolling down his face. With more effort than he ever recalled using in his life, he looked around to Katyusha, who stood against the door with her hands over her mouth, staring at him in shock and horror. A creeping dread erupted within him, and he openly cried.

"Katyusha." he whimpered "Help me... Please... Don't let me become him..."

Katyusha snapped, flinching violently. She jumped forward and threw her arms around him, crying with him as they sat in the chilling foyer.

She was lying, and Vash knew she was lying. The problem he was struggling with was why. It was almost midnight, and everything in the hospital was deadly silent, but for the beeps and white noise generated by the machines. Meredith Kirkland was clearly on deaths door, so Vash didn't mind being called out by her: he could tell that it couldn't wait. Cameron stood at her bedside, holding the voice recorder so her confession could be heard. Angus Kirkland stood at his wifes other side, holding her up with his torso behind her, gently rubbing her hand with his thumb.

"So why did you do it?" Vash asked anyway, despite his disbelief.

"I found out... he did some terrible things... to Arthur." she panted, struggling to speak "I was stronger then... I wanted... to do something... for my family."

"What did you do with the security tapes?"

"Burned them."

"I see."

Vash sighed through his nose, rubbing his sore eyes. They had a confession, and unless Vash could prove she was lying, that would be enough for the chief.

"And you did this alone?" he elaborated.

"I did." she continued to lie "As I said... I was stronger then... perhaps if I hadn't... I would have had more time now... I'm not sorry, though... for Arthur..."

Vash looked at Angus – devastation radiated from every pore of him, so it was impossible to tell what he was thinking, if he could think at all. He stared at nothing, just rubbing his wifes hand and kissing her on top of the head. Vash and Cameron exchanged a look, but said nothing.

Francis' face stung something fierce. His mother stood before him, panting and crying, tears streaming down her face. Her palm was red where she had struck her son.

"Why didn't you tell me?" she demanded "How long has this been going on?! My Arthur..."

"Mother..."

Francis clutched his sore face, staring at her in disbelief. Although he had felt much the same way himself when he had found out... how did she find out? Before he could answer her, she broke down entirely, almost screaming as she pounded his chest with her fists.

"Where is Arthur?!" she demanded "He's coming home, right now! You're both coming home! Both of you! You can't be trusted in this world on your own! Someone... someone hurt my baby! I'm never letting you leave me again! Where's my baby?!"

Francis grabbed her firmly, half to comfort her and half to stop her hitting him, holding her as she screamed into his shirt.

Patrick knocked on Arthurs bedroom door lightly. He sat on the stripped bed, surrounded by boxes, just staring at the wall. He looked around at the noise, giving Patrick a good view of his half purple and black face. Patrick didn't say anything – no 'I told you so', no 'you were warned' – just held his hand out to Arthur. The blonde, expression blank, got up from his bed and took his brothers hand, letting himself be pulled into a hug. Patrick held him tightly, breathing sharply like he was stopping himself from crying, before taking his little brothers hand again and leading him down the stairs.

"What do you mean, 'not coming back'?!" Francis yelled, jumping to his feet and slamming his hands on the table "What kind of joke is this?!"

"It's not a joke." Patrick answered, sipping his tea calmly "It's better for Arthur to stay away for a while."

"How long of a while?! Where is he going?!"

"That's none of your concern."

Francis gaped at Patrick as he finished his tea, putting it down on the table and standing up.

"You've served your purpose." he told Francis coldly, throwing a couple of pounds on the table for a tip "We have Arthur back. With Meredith gone, he'll have plenty to do at home to keep him occupied."

"You can't be serious!" Francis yelled at him "You think Arthur is going to stay away from us for long? His brothers, his friends, everything is here!"

"What are you talking about?" Patrick smiled at him "We're his brothers. His uni credits are transferred, he even has a new job. He has everything he needs."

Patrick chuckled. Francis suddenly realised – Patrick hadn't changed, not really. He had gotten smarter, slyer, but he was still the same Patrick as before.

"Thanks for holding the fort." he said "We'll take it from here."

Without another word, Patrick left the café, leaving Francis staring at his back. He immediately fished the phone from his pocket and hit the speed dial.

Ivan sat on the swing, staring at his shoes. He had lost everything, and it was his fault. Even if he knew where Arthur was, he had no right to ask him for forgiveness. He didn't know what to do now – his whole future had been built around Arthur, and now he was gone. He had learned a lot in the past few days... a lot about the truth, and it filled him with shame. He wanted to die. He honestly wanted to die.

Feeling a presence, he looked up. Matthew stood before him, dressed in his scouts uniform, clutching his bag straps, looking at him accusingly. Ivan smiled, the single hardest smile in his life.

"You're walking on your own?" he asked "That's so grown up."

"Arthur's gone away." he pointed out.

"Yeah..."

"Alfred says he's not coming back." the child went on "That he's gone forever, and that you made him go away. Is that true?"

Ivans heart broke. Matthew was such an innocent babe, with his big violet eyes, Ivan could stand to tell him the truth. Lump rising painfully in his throat, he nodded.

"I did a bad thing." he sobbed, barely above a whisper "I hurt him, and now he's gone."

Matthews eyes started to water, his lips quivering. Ivan wanted to hug him, but he was scared... scared of his own brutish hands. He got of the swing and knelt down in front of the child, pointing at his own face.

"You can punch me, if you want." he offered "It's my fault he's gone. It's my fault..."

Ivan started to cry again, feeling his broad shoulders heave. He flinched as he felt little arms wrap around his neck.

"Please don't cry." the little boy sobbed "Arthur will come back. You just have to say you're sorry."

"I can't." Ivan confessed, too afraid of his own hands to return his hug "I hurt him too badly."

Matthew hugged him tighter.

"He will come back!" he knew "We just have to wait! He will! He promised..."

Ivans hands twitched. More carefully than he had ever done anything, he wrapped his arms around the child, letting him cry on his shoulder. He felt silly, letting himself be comforted by a little boy. After about 5 minutes, the little boy took back his arms, Ivan letting him go.

"Will you buy me some ice-cream?" Matthew asked him quietly, wiping his tears.

"Sure." Ivan said "What flavour?"

Matthew smiled at him. Ivan got to his feet, took the boys hand and led him from the park.

Thus, the second arc ends. Did it end how you thought it would? What do you think is going to happen in the next arc? (I know, of course, but I'm curious as to what other people think). Drop me a review! Not that I'm lonely or anything...