Chapter thirty seven:

"N." Near responds simply as they finally leave the room to a hallway with dark brown walls and grey carpet.

"Nice to meet you N." Shawn greets kindly. "I was hoping that perhaps you might be interested in helping us." He tells Near who glances around but makes sure to also glance to Shawn at random.

Near wants to try to catch even a glimpse of a bad facial expression. "Is that so? What use could you have for me?"

"Well once we learn more about your powers we'll know for sure. But you could come in handy." Shawn tells him as they continue to walk. "If we get in a jam maybe if possible you'll be able to manipulate time to give us time to escape. Or even more depending on the lengths of your powers."

"How high are you expecting?" Near questions further in which Shawn smiles at him with a rather simple response.

"We'll just have to see."

Near's eyes flicker around again as he continues to make a mental map of the place while they walk.

….

Mello and Matt are walking along with a part of the group as they have all split up to look around in a bigger area.

"It has to be around here somewhere." Mello speaks to himself as the look.

"Well I'm not seeing anything that might be where they are." Matt reports to his friend as they continue to look around. He blinks as he spots something then separates from the others making Mello pause to turn a little confused.

"Matt?"

"A computer!" Matt calls to Mello over his shoulder. "Keep going! I'll let you know if I find anything!" He disappears into a building with an internet café.

"I'll go to make sure he gets as much time as he needs." One of those working with the government heads off after Matt to do that.

"Let's keep going then." Mello and the remaining people in the group resume their search. "I think he's close." He mummers to himself looking around trying to focus on the gut feeling that Near is around here somewhere.

Meanwhile Matt enters the internet café government agent right behind him. He hurries to a computer and the agent shows his badge explaining that they need a computer for an unknown amount of time.

Not wanting trouble the owners nod in a 'Go ahead' motion.

The agent puts his badge away and quickly finds Matt at the nearest available computer. He stands guard to make sure that no one interrupts Matt while he works.

Matt is quick to begin pulling up files with quick movements over the keyboard. His eyes dart around the screen as he works and the agent takes a few moments to watch in amazement at his work. "Come on. Come on." He speaks rather quietly to himself as he continues to work. He has so many things up that he is starting to watch out for how much this computer can handle so as to not ruin it.

The two are getting glances but they both ignore them as the agent is in pure amazement at what Matt can do so quickly.

One person moves away heading into the back and everyone else tries to go back to whatever they were doing but still glance to the two.

"Aha!" Matt grins as he follows what he is sure a lead or a hit on what he is looking for. "Give me the good stuff." He watches a whole bunch of data fly by waiting for it to sort itself out.

Everything seems to settle and a map with a blinking red signal is shown causing Matt's grin to fall as he looks at it.

"But that can't be right…." Matt blinks then turns to speak to the agent only freeze seeing some kind of fog around plus the agent is on the ground.

A figure quickly appears out of the fog and slams a rag into Matt's face in which Matt of course struggles.

In no time all Matt sees is black.

Outside of the fog a few glance to a secretly projected image of the two still working.

…

"Right in here." Shawn leads Near into what looks like a break room.

Dark blue rather flat carpet, a few chairs and sofas here and there, a vending machine or two plus white walls bringing a nice relaxing feeling.

There are a few people hanging out in there with a few having drinks from a vending machine in their hands.

Near turns to Shawn who gives an assuring smile.

"I thought you might want to be off your feet for a little bit." Shawn informs him moving him further as those in there watch them for a moment or two before turning away at Shawn's warning glares. "It's all safe." He lets Near settle into one of the single seating couches that Near must admit is actually comfy for a dark brown with fake leather. "You thirsty?" He asks in which Near shakes his head.

"No. I'm good." Near responds to him and has his head turned away but eyes looking at Shawn.

"Okay. If you're sure." Shawn slightly nods at this then turns to the doorway as someone enters glancing around until they spot him. He is given a quick motion of hand signals that Near knows is no known sign language. He nods and the one that seemed to have reported something to him heads off out of the room.

Near's eyes very slightly narrow at the sight but he makes them emotionless again rather quickly. He flickers his eyes away as Shawn turns back to him. "Quite the relaxing atmosphere." He comments glancing to the windows in his looking around but he swears it looks like they're too high up for him to possible jump out of one if needed.

"Mhm. We try to do the best for our group." Shawn confirms watching Near really take in his surroundings. "Only the best care for those with us."

"Quite so."

The two glance to a group of three people by a nearby window seeing that they have glanced back at them.

"We don't get overworked and our wellbeing is well considered." The male of the group explains with a smile on his face as he watches Near. His eyes flicker to Shawn with the same smile and raises his Snapple in the air. "Toast to wonderful conditions."

Shawn raises a hand with a soft smile and a nod. "Toast!"

The other male takes a drink from his drink with the others slightly cheering then they turn back to their previous conversation.

Shawn turns to Near who turns to him meeting his gaze. "Well how are you liking things so far?"

"It's not bad." Near responds keeping his gaze locked with the other but he is ready to turn his attention if he sees movement from the corner of his eye.

"Well. Let me know when you want to move around again." Shawn flashes a patient smile in Near's direction. "No rush so take as much time as you need. You're still recovering after all."

It's true. As of right now it'd be dangerous for Near to teleport in his state so he's going to have to play along until he can figure out the group as much as possible; He also will need to wait until he gets enough strength back to really do anything.

…..

L and Light are sleeping as L has drifted into a rather light sleep with Light's peacefulness acting almost like a soothing lullaby. They however are both awakened when a phone goes off in which L pulls out his cell phone.

L sits up quickly bringing his knees to his chest as he answers it holding the top of the phone between two fingers. "Yes?" He answers while Light sits up still a little sleepy.

"We might have a problem." Watari informs L who brings the thumb of his free hand to rest on his bottom lip upon hearing such information.