A/N: Not long now to the new manga chapter. Can't wait, even if it looks like we've seen the last of the Undertaker for a little while. He'll be back, I'm sure, I'm sure they all will (well, I hope they will). Aww, Daniel's back. I missed Daniel. He's my favourite of the demons I made (that's why he's the only one who survived Glass Emeralds) I'm looking for more excuses to write him. And Eric! Lots of Eric! You guys love Eric, I love Eric, we all love Eric, we all love having him in the chapters as more than just a little check in. Thank you for all those reviews, please, keep them coming.

Daniel Black was one of the few demons Eric could stand. He was a close ally of Michelle's and while she had been in retirement- well, she was exiled but she called it retirement- they had masqueraded as mistress and butler, with him acting under contract. Of course, they had never been contracted, they were merely staying together for the benefits the other brought. He was civil to reapers and seemed to actually care about Michelle's well being.

"You still hanging around, Danny?" Peter called.

Daniel glanced down at them from the balcony and flicked a few droplets of water from his hair, eyes flashing reddish-pink for a moment before jumping over the railing and landing neatly before them. Eric frowned and tapped his fingers against the handle of his umbrella. Peter and Daniel might have been content to get soaked, he wasn't.

"Mr Dunham, Mr Slingby," Daniel said. "How nice to see you again. What can I do for you, and please, make it snappy. I was about to have lunch."

"I'm sure, there's a cute little red headed servant boy up there, right?" Eric grumbled.

"Compared to the cute little brunette you prefer," he said with a smirk.

"Stop it," Peter snapped. "When we the last time you spoke to Michelle?"

"Two weeks ago," Daniel said, folding his arms. "What's she done this time?"

"She's in the hospital," William said, approaching from behind the pair of reapers. The spun and Peter glared over. "The doctors say her chances aren't good."

"Stop saying that," Grell snarled, revving his chainsaw. "Now, what do you lovely boys know?"

"Nothing," Peter said, narrowing his gaze. "And if I did, I'm not going to talk to you lot."

"You've got five seconds to talk before I rip you both apart," he said, taking a small threatening step forwards, enough to make Eric step back. "Not only for lying but for making Ronnie cry, Eric." He shot him a pointed glare and Eric glanced at Ronald, who'd lowered his head and turned pink. "You are so unbelievably insensitive, Eric, didn't you think how much you'd worry us?"

"Back to the matter at hand," William said firmly. "Someone hurt Michelle, I would have thought we'd all want to see someone pay for that. Shouldn't we consider putting our heads together since we're all after the same thing?"

"That makes sense, I suppose," Peter muttered. "But I'm in charge and if you can't keep up, I'm leaving you behind."

"Who the hell do you think you are?" Grell cried.

"It's fine, Sutcliff," William said. "Where do you want to start?"

"Danny?" Peter said.

"Fine," Daniel said. "She was talking about some demon contracted to some brat up north. Said he was causing problems and ask me to look into it but I never got the time."

"Where?"

"I don't know, it's in her journals."

"She has journals?" Grell said.

"Yes," Daniel said. "She wrote everything down. It was one of her little quirks. Didn't you know?"

"I suppose that's worth looking into," William said.

"Or it could be a waste of time," Peter said. "But at the moment it's all we've got." He sighed and opened a porthole. "Let's go, rookie."

"Rookie?" Grell said.

"Sutcliff," William snapped but Eric didn't miss the slightly glint of amusement in his eyes. "Let's go."

Peter nodded and stepped through the porthole with Grell behind him. As Ronald passed, Eric grabbed his wrist. He glanced up and Eric smiled slightly.

"You cried?" he laughed.

"Shut up, Eric," Ronald snapped, snatching his hand away and running off to William and grabbing his arm. "Hey, what about work?"

"I'm not sure yet."

Eric stared after them for a moment before closing the umbrella and heading through the porthole after them. Ronald hadn't been just messing around. There was something cold, harsh and distant in his voice Eric had never heard from him before and he'd never imagined that level of hostility would come from Ronald or be directed towards him. He stepped out into Michelle's apartment.

"Where would she keep them?" Ronald said, glancing at Grell and William.

"Who knows, she was never the sanest person in the world," William muttered.

Eric frowned and glanced around. Michelle's apartment had been raided, things were thrown everywhere, it should have been obvious. He stepped through into the bedroom and glanced at the sheets. Covered in blood. Alan had found her there? He frowned. Where would he keep journals he didn't want anyone to find? He frowned and glanced at the bed. It was deep. The frame was far deeper than any mattress he'd seen recently. He strode around the bed and lifted the mattress, only to find a second one underneath with a zipper in the material.

"Guys," he called. "I think I've found something." Peter came in as he unzipped the mattress. Sure enough there were black journals inside. "Definitely got something."

"There are loads of them," Peter muttered. "Even at one a year, she's over a hundred."

"Yeah... we need to read them all?" Ronald said, leaning over the bed.

"They don't look dated," William said. "And even if they were, we don't know how far back we might need to look for whoever attacked her. No one says she encountered her killer recently."

"You just said killer," Grell snapped.

"I apologise, Sutcliff," he muttered. "Just because she'd dead for all intents and purposes, doesn't make her dead just yet."

"Way to think positive, boss," Ronald said quietly.

"Thinking positive only leads to disappointment, Ronald," he replied.

Ronald nodded and Eric frowned. That wasn't right. Peter divided up the books and opened a porthole to Eric's room. Ronald looked a little jumpy at being back there but got hold of William's arm and settled quickly.

"You could have tidied up a bit," Peter muttered.

"I wasn't aware I was going to have visitors," Eric snapped.

"You live here?" Grell said, glancing around.

"When I'm in the country."

"Wow, look at the view," he squealed. "How have you got this place?"

"It's standard," Peter said. "They're all pretty much the same. Get reading."

Alan yawned and rubbed his eyes. He hadn't slept well, and not for very long. He reached out blindly for his coffee only to find Grim curled up around the cup. He sighed and shook his head, taking the coffee from him. The kitten looked up then hopped off the nightstand, padded across the bed and clambered up onto his lap, curling up and rolling over, offering him his tummy. Alan sighed and gently stroked his stomach.

"You're so much trouble," he whispered. "No wonder Ronald's so attached to you." Grim purred and placed at paw on his hand. "I thought I'd be out of hospitals since I wasn't ill anymore." He sighed and Grim nudged his hand. "She'll be ok, won't she? Michelle always pulls through for me. She'll be ok."

He sighed, set down the cup again and tried to get some rest. To be honest, coffee and trying to nap weren't the best things to put together, but he was so tired and after a few moments, drifted off into a light sleep.

"Alan. Alan, wake up, sleepy."

"Michelle...?"

"You bet, now wake up." He sat up quickly and stared up at her. Michelle smiled and tilted her head. "Good morning, sleepyhead."

"Michelle? How are you... why haven't you got the stitches... what's going on?" Alan said, still staring up at her. After a moment, he decided he didn't care and reached up, hugging her tightly. "Michelle..."

"I just wanted to talk," Michelle said quietly, patting his head. "It's so dark and lonely. I can hear you, you know."

"Well yes I-" He stopped and glanced down. Michelle's unconscious body was still lying there. He glanced back up at Michelle. She smiled. "Am I dreaming?"

"I don't know, sweet," she said. "The point is... I don't even know what the point is anymore, I guess I just... sweetie, I know you're scared, but don't be."

"Michelle?" He reached out slowly and took her hands. "Who did this to you? Tell me, please, who did this to you?"

"I don't know." She kissed his hands and Alan frowned. "Please, don't be so sad, Alan."

"Tell me who did this? Please, you must know."

"I think you should wake up, Alan," Michelle whispered. "Please, you have to wake up now. Wake up."

"But I-"

"Wake up!"

He cracked his eyes open to dull arguing, Michelle's hand wrapped tightly in his. His glasses must have fallen off because all he could see where a pair of figures, one apparently in uniform, the other seemed to be dripping with blood.

"You're going to regret this."

"Get out. I won't tell you again. I won't let you hurt them."

There was a moment of silence and Alan blinked tiredly. When his eyes opened again, they were gone. Someone nudged his shoulder and he jumped and turned. Grim mewled and blinked back at him. He sighed, his pounding heartbreak slowly returning to normal, and picked up the small bundle of fluff and groping around for his glasses. He found them after a moment and slowly pushed them back on. The room was just how it had been. He frowned and glanced at Michelle. She still showed no sign of change. Was it just dream or had he actually seen Michelle? It didn't really make sense. And who were the two people he'd seen? It didn't really make any sense.

He sighed and hugged Grim close. Grim didn't seem to mind, just flopped down against his arm, closing his eyes and purring softly. He was almost like a stuffed animal. There was a gentle knock on the door and Grell and William stepped in. He frowned.

"What's going on?" he said quietly.

"Go home and get changed, Alan," William said. "We need to get to work soon. I'll take Grim home, we've left Ronald to continue looking through the journals."

"I think... someone should stay with Michelle, just while no one's here, you know? Just in case." Grim jumped off his lap and snuggled up in the crook of Michelle's arm. "I think we have a volunteer."

"Alright," he sighed, glancing down at Grim. "Behave yourself." Grim blinked at him innocently, then dropped his head back into his paws. "Let's go."

"You can take a break if you want to kid," Peter said quietly.

Ronald nodded slowly and got up, wandering over to where Eric was pouring himself a drink. Realising Ronald was there, Eric pull out a second glass and poured one out for him. Ronald frowned but took it slowly.

"Is there anything to eat around here? I haven't eaten since breakfast," Ronald muttered awkwardly.

He was still a little guilty about snapping at Eric earlier, and he and Eric hadn't spoken since then. He didn't even know why he'd done it. He adored Eric, he was glad to be around him again. All he knew was that Eric part of the problem. He and William both seemed to have issues revolving around him that they needed to work out if they were ever going to stand any chance of lasting.

"You're talking to me now?" Eric said.

He deserved that really but it still stung. He picked up his drink and turned away. "Never mind."

"No wait, Ron," he said, catching his wait. "I didn't mean it like that. Come on, I'll take you down to the canteen and get you something."

Ronald nodded and followed Eric into the white halls, making sure to stay as close as possible. He didn't like how people looked at him. Eric didn't seem to mind. They went down the stairs and to the ground floor. Inside one of the rooms was what looked like a grand hall only it was set out like a top restaurant. There were half a dozen or so others there and a pair of waiters. Eric led him over to a circular table for four and offered him a menu.

"This is incredible, Eric," Ronald whispered. "I mean, get something like this back home would cost you half your pay check for one course."

"I know, they go through phases, and you should see the one in Paris," Eric said, glancing away. "It's all free, have as much as you want." Ronald nodded. "Ron, about earlier-"

"I'm sorry," he said quickly. "I shouldn't have snapped."

"Is there something going on with William?" Ronald frowned and glanced down at the menu. "Ron? You can tell me."

"It's nothing."

"Ronald, whatever it is that's going on, you know I'll help you in any way I can."

"It's nothing," Ronald said quietly. "We're just going through a bit of a rough patch." He glanced up. "Don't say anything."

"What do you think I'm going to say?" Eric said.

"You always have something to say when it comes to William," he grumbled.

"You think I'm going to be smug about this?" he said, looking highly offended. Ronald didn't see why. It was true. He knew Eric had never approved. "He makes you happy?"

"Yeah, most the time," Ronald said. "I just- when I thought he was going to leave me, it just felt so wrong. I just wanted to curl up in bed and never move again, but with the way things are going... I'm so scared I'm going to lose him if I can't figure this out, Eric."

Eric nodded slowly as a blonde waitress came over. "Eric?"

"Yeah, of course," Eric said. "Pick out whatever you want, Puppy." Ronald nodded and turned his attention to the menu again. "And we're waiting for Peter and Mark to turn up, Dave."

Dave nodded. Ronald had never seen so much nice food in one place. So he ended up going with what he knew he liked; mushroom soup and a roll and steak and chips. In the work canteen, which Ronald tried to avoid as much as possible, they were lucky it the potatoes looking like potatoes, or if you were able to cut the meat. Everything was sloppy, lumpy, rubbery, hard or just plain inedible. If they want a decent meal for their lunch break, something Ronald never seemed to get, they'd go out to one of the nearby diners or cafes or take outs. If this was the office canteen...

"You look a little overwhelmed, Puppy," Eric said with a gentle smile.

"You live here all the time?" he said.

"No, not all the time," he replied with a small smile. Ronald's eyes widened slightly. "There's a place like this in pretty much everywhere, depending on how big the place is. We've got one for England, Wales and Scotland, another for Ireland, two in Spain, France, Italy, four in North America, one in each of those Scandinavian countries-"

"Geography not your strong point, Eric?" Ronald laughed softly.

"Shut up."

Ronald smiled slowly. "How do I get into this branch again?"

"You wouldn't want it that much, believe me," Eric said. "I'm lucky I get to go with Peter most places and Mark and I tend to end up together."

"You and him are-"

"No, no," he said, shaking his head. "I mean we've slept together and he's told me he's in love with me. I don't mind, you know, he helped me get back together with Alan. So, what's up with you and William?"

"Well, you know, he's got control issues, I've got trust issues," Ronald said, trying to smile but not really managing to convince Eric he meant it. "I'm kinda screw up, Eric, we all know that, I get the feeling that if we are resurrected souls like some people say, I was probably messed up back then as well. And William's William. I don't really know all that much about his problems. We've never really spoken about it. It's never really bothered me, but now we're having problems, I've started thinking about it more."

"If he's too controlling, Ron-"

"I know what you're going to say, but it's not like that. He's not controlling in an abusive way. My gut says he's not doing it to keep some kind of control over me but that he's afraid to let go." Eric nodded. "I told him once that I liked that he always was in control and knew what was going on because it made me feel safe. He liked that. He wants to keep me feeling safe. I think we're as bad as each other and it's all your faul-" His eyes widened as he realised what he'd said. "Oops."

"My fault? Ron, what's that supposed to mean?" Eric said, frowning slightly. Ronald glanced away guiltily. "Ronald?"

"It's nothing," Ronald said quietly, gazing down at his hands. "I didn't mean it like that. Just, things have got screwy since we found out you were still alive. I'm sorry."

"That's not what you mean, Ron, and we both know it. What's wrong?"

"It's just-"

"Hey guys," Mark chipped, slipping into the chair next to Eric. Ronald smiled, thankful for the distraction. "What's going on?"

"Ah nothing," Eric said with a smile as Peter joined, sitting next to Ronald. "Just letting Ronald get used to how much better this place is than back home. That's the problem with stretching your resources. With so few of us, we can focus on quality rather than quantity."

"I want in," Ronald said with a grin.

"Maybe when you're older, kid," Peter said gently. "You've got potential, I'll give you that."

"You're kidding me right?" he laughed. "Michelle was only a bit older than me when she joined."

"Yeah she was... what was it, twenty-nine or so?" Mark said and Peter nodded. "She was different though. Besides, you'd have to leave William and Alan behind."

"Good point. Hey, shouldn't you be working? Or is it later than I thought?"

"Earlier, Ronald," Eric corrected. "It's... just gone two."

"So, you finished early," Peter said.

"Yep, Grell's taking over watching Michelle- and Grim- and William's taking Alan home to make sure he gets some actual rest. You're working a half shift tomorrow by the way, one 'til five."

"Aw, I hate that shift," Ronald groaned. "It's one of the worst ones, you can't sleep that night and that tend to make you work a funny shift that same day... it sucks."

"Well, you're staying with me tonight, Puppy," Eric said with a smile. Their starters came and Ronald smiled. It looked and smelt as good as he'd hoped. His mouth was watering just looking at it, but Eric was still talking and probably required attention. "We'll pick up William and Alan at a more reasonable time. Go on, eat, I can almost see you drooling." Ronald nodded and tucked in. "We need to talk alone anyway."

"Yeah..." Peter and Mark glanced between them and Ronald smiled. "This is so good. Almost as good as the one you make, Eric."

Eric smiled and nodded and they fell into quiet, casual chatter. Ronald liked being with them. Obviously he'd always loved being with Eric but, despite firstly being utterly terrified of them and being in the white halls again after what had happened last time he was there, Mark and Peter were surprisingly friends and normal. Still he was afraid of what was to come. Soon he'd be alone with Eric again and they'd have to talk. He'd have to tell Eric what was going on and it terrified him. William was probably just as worried about him being with Eric and having no real way to contact him. He was only staying behind because he was the best option; he worked hard and could focus on the books, unlike Grell who was too distracted about Michelle and didn't like reading on a good day, and Alan would probably be just as distracted, by Eric as well, and William needed to be there for work to look after Michelle's division as well until a substitute could be found. He was the only logical option and thinking about what he had to say to Eric, he desperately wished he wasn't.