AN: I know I haven't been writing much but often life throws a lemon at you. Anyway, I've been sitting on this for a while and just haven't had the energy to do much with it; even edit it. Regardless, I made it, once again back from the void. Obviously I don't make any money out of these stories its just stress relief. Good luck, stay safe and enjoy.

Chapter 15

It was spring, near the time of Cosette's sixteenth birthday. Nothing was out of the ordinary however, that did not mean it was unusual. A rather ostentatious carriage was entering the town walls.

It seemed that news of the mayor's immense wealth had summoned one of Paris' richest monarchists to the smaller semi-rural town. He was a baron named Pontmercy, no one seemed able to tell Mayor Valjean much about the man.

The baron had brought his grandson with him, a far less monarchical sixteen-year-old boy who was being trained as the heir to the baron's fortune. Cosette who had been speaking to the Inspector as the pair arrived, she had clearly been enthralled by the boy and the carriage. Javert could tell since the normally chatty girl was silent; he was already silently planning how to protect her from these newcomers if it became necessary. When the silence became overbearing, Javert nudged Cosette to get her attention.

"We should met them Inspector." Javert snorted since Cosette seemed to think she'd kept up the conversation.

"Only if we walk slowly child, they likely have business with your father."

"Papa does seem busy a lot lately."

"He has always been busy; he's just never let you see it before. Cosette nodded, knowing the Inspector would understand without words, together they took the longer route around town towards Valjean's factory. Javert ushered Cosette up the back set of stairs to the private section of the factory were Valjean typical had mayoral business and a suite for if he needed to stay a night. Javert being that much taller than Cosette could easily see that one of the newcomers was a grey-haired semi-balding man of rather stocky build and was of similar age to Valjean himself. Since Javert could lip read rather well, he knew that while the conversation had been affected by general ideologies of the two men any business profitability would in all likelihood overrule such political leanings.

Javert knocked gently on the mayor's office door, Valjean recognises this sound as easily as he would Javert's face or voice. Valjean called for the Inspector to enter unaware that Cosette was with him; although her presence seemed to distract the Pontmercy boy who was obviously very bored with the conversation.

"Ah, Inspector, I was going to send for you, but you must have seen the Pontmercy's arrival. Might I introduce Baron Pontmercy and his grandson, Marius." Javert nodded his head to acknowledge Valjean who was still trying to be the proper mayor. However, considering that the Baron was now ignoring the mayor in favour of staring at Javert, it was obvious that even in Paris the Inspector had a reputation.

"This is the feared Inspector Javert?" Valjean was going to answer for the Inspector, but Javert was quicker.

"Certainly Monsieur, I am an Inspector, and my name is Javert." The baron simply huffed.

"Somehow I was expecting more." Javert's lip curled upwards on one edge as if he were snarling.

"Then clearly you are expecting the wrong things Monsieur." This obviously insulted the baron, not used to lower ranking individuals standing up to him.

"Just how Inspector, could a businessman of my calibre be expecting the wrong things?"

"What do you think you know of me?"

"You're the only gypsy in the police of France."

"True. Anything else?"

"I doubt you know your tribe being of the law."

"Clan, not tribe and yes I do. We are on good enough terms."

"Oh, then that must make things more difficult surely?"

"How so?"

"Surely they get arrested?"

"Most people do at some point, but my clan; I know because I have checked, are actually the least likely clan to get arrested in France."

"How?"

"They follow the laws of our nation, if they are in a different nation then they follow those laws and so on."

"Good gypsies, how unusual."

"That is one of the gypsies' misfortunes, monsieur they are far better than you think."

"You act so much more beastly than I expected a tame gypsy to be." Javert let out a barking type of laugh, a laugh Valjean knew meant he could not believe his ears; and was highly offended but could not find the right words.

"You have no idea." Javert stormed out of the office through the front startling all of the factory workers who had no idea he was in the building. Cosette had stayed with her father and watched the conversation, she clearly wanted to say something in defence of the Inspector and the clan; but a patient hand stopped her. She looked at the cold eyes of her usually warm papa, but she knew the stoniness was nothing to do with her.

"I would suggest monsieur that you be grateful that the men of the clan are not here at present. Like our Inspector, his grandfather does not take well to slander."

"Javert is an heir?"

"Leadership of the clan is far more democratic than that. Both Javert's have a mutual respect for each other and the ways they have to work."

"Have to?"

"Surely you can see that Javert is more than just an Inspector?"

"I do not understand."

"He is more than his work, more than his job."

"Well what else is he?"

"An honest man for one; he can be humorous certainly…"

"I doubt the Inspector can be funny."

"He has a name besides his title, you know."

"When am I to have ever learnt it?"

"It's not illegal to ask him his name."

"I doubt he'd tell me."

"True. There is no harm in asking."

"He certainly knows his place better than you."

"I should hope so. He was a guard at the prison I did time in."

"Oh, you were pardoned."

"Eventually. That is not for now; it is not a time I am proud of."

"You've done well to come back from that."

"God has been kind to me, giving me compassion and strength among other things."

"I can see you are as resilient as a bear." Valjean smirked, knowing full well that this man had no clue about the gypsy ways that even he had little understanding.

"That may be true, but even the calmest bear can be angered."

"I will remember to be cautious." The baron turned to his grandson. "Come Marius, we should leave the mayor to his work." The boy clearly did not want to go wherever his grandfather was going to insist on.

"Might I see how the mayor's factory works grandfather?" The baron looked hopefully at Valjean who just shock his head.

"Cosette, perhaps you could show the boy around town but remember to avoid the docks and any trouble…"

"Find the Inspector or failing that go to the station. Of course, Papa."

"Good." The baron evidently wanted to say something but thought better. Instead, he nodded to Marius who grinned and thanked Cosette. They neatly left the office without the ferocity of Javert's exit earlier.

"The boy must learn."

"He will learn best when not forced. Perhaps that is enough for today; as you say I am a busy man." Finally, the baron took the dismissal as what it was an order from the mayor to leave. Eventually, the mayor agreed to allow an investment deal between himself and the baron, they understood that they didn't need to like each other in order for the deal to be favourable. With this extra funding and some of Cosette's and Marius' youthful ideas, Valjean's business was booming. Which meant the baron was making more than his investment; it was clear that he was also quite pleased by the accidental match between his grandson and Valjean's daughter. Their courtship it was agreed would be long and slow, although those who knew Valjean, like Javert knew that he would rather she be left well out of any boys eyeline forever much like any other overprotective father, or maternal bear.

A serene couple of months passed with just Cosette and Marius getting to know each other and their families, the Inspector had in this time become a type of uncle figure to the girl, not that anyone who saw them interact called him out on this. All Cosette knew was that Javert would drop anything he was dealing with in order to come to her aide if she needed it. Marius clearly knew by this point that this misshapen family was more kin to each other than his own blood relations, and he seemed genuinely contented to know that the woman he loved was never going to be alone or hopefully unhappy in her life. Unfortunately, Marius was well known for being a dreamer, the blindingly optimistic outlook on life never really matched with the real world; sometimes the real world liked to remind him of this.

Javert knew something was off one morning when Valjean seemed to pale as he collected letters. Valjean read the letter he was holding tightly.

"Did you know Thenedier had escaped again?"

"None have mentioned it to me."

"Apparently, he wants a ridiculous sum of money, or he'll go after Cosette. He couldn't possibly? Could he?"

"When was it postmarked?"

"Five days ago, why?" Javert seemed to pale slightly. "What is it?"

"He's gloating at us. He is closer than I would like."

"You mean he might know what Cosette looks like?"

"He knows you have money; he could have realised that she is the same girl from before; and how much she means to you, certainly. BUT do not do anything rash."

"Do you really think that with my daughter's freedom and life on the line; that I'll do something rash?" Javert just stared at Valjean. "Alright, I see your point."

"I'll go to Chevalier; you will do nothing."

"What if he does have her?"

"We shall deal with him, as we have both before."

"You think Chevalier will help?"

"Of course, Chevalier will assist me and us."

"But…"

"Listen it is best for you to do nothing. Money cannot solve a problem like Thenedier, he will keep coming back until either you are dead, or he is. Hopefully the latter."

"I am aware that the man is a leech, but have some human compassion…"

"I suspect he has none." Javert interrupted Valjean. "Look, we both know the man is a parasite, a plague on both our lives. He must be put down."

"He isn't an animal, Javert."

"He's as good as; I could never treat any beast so callously."

"I see your point, but surely there must be another way."

"I doubt Thenedier will allow either of us to take another course of action; really I thought the boy was a dreamer."

"I thankyou for trying to lighten the mood but really?" Javert smirked as if he knew exactly what Valjean was trying to say without saying it. "Well, go on then if you're going."

"I trust you will do nothing in my absence while I get Chevalier?"

"Have I ever…"

"Do not disgrace either of our intelligences to finish that sentence." Valjean didn't have time to carry on the conversation since Javert stroud out the door seemingly on a mission and in a way he was. Regardless of what Javert thought Valjean was not going to leave his daughter's freedom to the law; both knew the law did not work the ways it was intended to. Valjean knew how long it would take for Javert to reach Paris, he also knew how long it would probably take Chevalier to say no; no matter the rank politicians did not speak plainly. It would benefit Javert if Valjean had at least the address of Thenedier's current alias or potential allies, so not to be overly reckless, since Valjean had enough of that attribute for the pair of them.

Javert did not stop along his route to Paris and a trip that should have taken a week took only several days. Once he had arrived at the headquarters of the French police and stated quite obviously that he had urgent business, which could not possibly be rearranged with the Secretary of State, was the Inspector allowed into the office of Chevalier, who had the foresight to not look surprised by the Inspectors unexpected arrival. Javert barely shut the door before directing his questions at his superior officer.

"Did you know about Thenedier?" Chevalier's expression changed to understanding with the question out in the open.

"I have heard rumours but with no crime…"

"Does blackmailing Valjean not count as a crime? He got a letter earlier this week, I left for here as soon as I was able. Lord knows what the foolish mans done, but Cosette was threatened."

"His girl?" Javert nodded. "How is Thenedier still at large and I suppose not dead, any father would…" Javert raised his eyebrows at Chevalier. "You stopped him, of course."

"Anything reckless he could have done would have put our work in jeopardy."

"Javert, you know the man like no one else and still you don't know him. He will always do something reckless to save someone he loves be it the girl; or dare I say you." Chevalier raised his hand to prevent Javert from interrupting, like he wanted to. "We both know in all likelihood he had gone after Thenedier himself."

"He vowed he would not."

"You place more value on his word than even he does." Chevalier stood and moved towards the door of his office, once his hand was on the handle, he turned to a stationary Javert. "Well come on then; perhaps if we move now, we can still stop him from doing something worth arresting him for." With that Chevalier moved out of his office with the Inspector. Neither knew that Valjean had done exactly what the Secretary of State feared; he was moving towards the new hideout of Thenedier and his mostly unfortunate family, well his daughters were ill-fated for having a father like Thenedier.

Valjean being an ex-con knew enough of the old ways to acknowledge that a man like Thenedier would want to be reminded of the good times in their life. The only good times Valjean could think of in relation to Thenedier was when he had The Sargent of Waterloo; that was were Valjean went first. Once Valjean had reached the old inn, it was a burnt out, derelict, shell of a building; Valjean was hesitant to enter any of the neighbouring buildings but one he thought might hold promise of finding Thenedier; it was directly opposite the wreck of a building. Valjean could tell that the position would give Thenedier a decent line of sight to the only positive memories he probably had, said memories in all likelihood did not include his family.

Valjean pushed open the door of the building, which was clearly meant for multiple occupants, a hallway was the fist thing he opened the main door to and a staircase on the immediate wall just on his right led to the higher floors of the building. The banister was old and decaying with no spandrels having apparently rooted away sometime earlier. No one cared about this building or the people in it. There was no way Thenedier was at back of the building he would have wanted to see the street, and preferably overlook his old hunting arena. Valjean silently hoped the stairs themselves were in better condition than the banister and that the floor would not surrender to time if he put a step out of some destined place. Having successfully traversed the stairway into what was effectively enemy territory, Valjean stopped at the middle door on the third floor; being the foolish gentleman he was, he knocked. The door was not opened immediately but through the aged wood Valjean could hear a muted argument sounding much like Thenedier and his wife; or at least how Valjean remembered her voice being. When the door was finally pulled open with too much force that a layer of dry root fluttered free to the floor, some taken by the air landed in Valjean's face.

"Well, well Monsieur Valjean. Oh, but you don't go by that, do you?"

"Oh, but I do." Thenedier seemed suddenly taken aback by Valjean's bluntness. "You don't blackmail pardoner's very well, do you?" Thenedier appeared to be tripping over his words while Valjean studied his surroundings, was moving further into the room and closer to the fireplace. Valjean noted the poker was still leaning into the fire which was practically useless at heating the size of the room; he moved his body to in front of the fire, picking up the poker unobserved as he did. If this came to a fight, he wanted to be prepared. He kept to the walls making sure Thenedier was always in eyeline.

"So, they let you keep your name?"

"Turns out I know people."

"The wolf dog doesn't count."

"Perhaps not to you but I do tend to count him."

"That old gypsy cops going to get himself killed."

"Are you really stupid enough to try to kill Javert?"

"Are you dumb enough to think I couldn't?"

"I know you couldn't. Others have tried and failed before."

"I'll just kill you then." Valjean easily moved the somewhat cooler but still hot poker from behind his back swinging it like Javert would his sword.

"I would not do that if I were you." Thenedier stilled, unsure if Valjean was mad enough to use a hot poker on someone. "Even burning flesh should attract attention in this place, yes?" Thenedier just stared, confused as to what Valjean was attempting. Although it became obvious when Valjean shrugged off his outer coat, somehow keeping hold of the poker, and pushed the heated glowing red edge into his arm. Despite wincing Valjean kept the metal there for longer than his reflexes told him to.

At the bottom of the stairs by the main door, Javert, Chevalier and an array of police constables could tell something had changed in the building as a shudder inducing chill ran through the group. Javert instinctively sniffed the air, Chevalier noticed the pained expression on his subordinate's face.

"Javert what is it?"

"Hopefully not what it smells like. Upstairs now." Javert bounded up the stairs two at a time, Chevalier followed just as swiftly although the constables were as hesitant as Valjean had been about the state of the stairs when he entered the building. Javert and Chevalier somehow knew exactly were their feet needed to be, and Chevalier could tell that whatever Javert was smelling was extremely unpleasant to the Inspector. Javert stopped at a slightly ajar door, he could just make out that Thenedier's attentions were on the centre of the room, sensing that the con-man's mind was preoccupied Javert ignored Chevalier and entered the room. With the door open fully, Valjean and Javert both froze as Thenedier fell to the floor, dead; a column of smoke billowed towards the ceiling just behind Javert's shoulder. Chevalier had his gun raised the muzzle pointing at were Thenedier's chest had been, the secretary of state proved his experience with the weapon. Javert instantly moved to Valjean, making sure that no one else was a threat, Eponine moved out the shadows of the room; Javert looked at her cautiously.

"Mademoiselle Thenedier?"

"I know you."

"You've probably run from me before…"

"Not you wolf. Him." Eponine pointed at Valjean who looked confused.

"I am unsure as to where you have met me before, Mademoiselle."

"Father wasn't pleasant to be around, but he was worse when she was gone. I think mother hit him too hard one time."

"He was worse once she was gone?" Eponine nodded. Valjean turned gravely back to Javert.

"I told you we should have gone back."

"You could not buy everyone out of poverty."

"But she was a child."

"And you think I do not care, is that it? Even I as an officer can not stop everything. He's her father that has some sway no matter who he actually is."

"I could have…"

"Valjean, you are not god. You were still on the run; we both were in a way. Remember?"

"I just…"

"I know. I do understand. You brought Cosette effectively, gave her a better life. I may have snuck around the back and beaten the man up; but you did not hear me confess to assault."

"I did, then I doubt anyone would believe me if I said Inspector Javert beat some one up even if it was father." Eponine was clearly good at listening when it looked like she wasn't paying attention.

"Trust me Mademoiselle, if I'd known; you would never had remained there."

"Look you are really weird. Why do all this? Like he's a cop they've got duty and stuff. You just why?" Javert looked between the Thenedier girl and Valjean.

"She has a point; you make no sense."

"Somethings doing the right thing means doing the thing that makes no sense. What sensible businessman puts money into schools, hospitals, the church, honest infrastructure like that?"

"A bloody god fearing one."

"I don't fear god, I never have not even in prison."

"Yes, you and your honest intentions. Why did I ever try chasing you?"

"Your sense of duty required it." Javert sighed.

"Let's check your arm. Lord knows where that pokers been." Valjean grimaced and handed his arm to be held by Javert. The course man was suspiciously gentle with the former convict's arm. Holding it more like a friend would. Eponine stared at the odd pair of cop and civilian, even she could tell that there was so much more they wanted to say to each other. She edged around them and the other cops who each seemed to be eyeing her for some form of deceit; when she got to her father's corpse she spat on him, wishing him hell. Javert looked at her sadly since he understood some of what she felt. Valjean looked at her, somehow; he seemed to know what to say to make her think.

"Your anger may give you peace at the moment, but it will not help forever. He will always be your father; there is nothing even God can do about that. You'll just hate yourself in the end."

"A bit late for that."

"Never too late, girl." He looked like he wanted to voice a suggestion. "Come with us. I always need new factory workers."

"Valjean…" Javert tried to intervene, but Chevalier interrupted him.

"Javert, the man has a right to offer work to the girl." Javert looked slightly cowed before apologising. Valjean just waved off his apology as he always did.

"Look, you gave me a chance."

"I had no other choice. Regardless, we need to be getting back; you have a town to run, and I have a town to protect. Get a move on." Javert spun around and out of the door, pushing past the constables but side stepping around Chevalier. Chevalier sighed.

"Officers move out, back to the station." He moved back down the steps; noticing that Javert had not waited at the bottom but at the top of the stairs, otherwise he made no comment to the Inspector. Valjean moved slowly as if the pain in his arm was connected to his feet instead. Eponine moved in the shadows as she usually did but Valjean with a surprise show of strength pulled her into the light of the area, although there wasn't much. He looked at her.

"There is no need to hide from us. You'll find your place eventually." He moved her ahead of himself, when Javert nodded acceptingly at her spot ahead of Valjean she seemed to lose some of her tenseness at the oddness of the situation she found herself in. Javert turned his attention to Valjean, who swallowed knowing that this was not likely to be a pleasant conversation.

"You had to, didn't you?"

"Cosette could have been…"

"Did you not trust me to deal with him? That you… I could have lost you tonight. You ned to know you rely on me. I am you Inspector. You are my mayor. I may not like how you act sometimes but we have a deal, do we not? We can talk to each other without our ranks getting in the way. Can't we?"

"Javert, these words are unlike you."

"I hate everything about you; yet I would not change you for the world. You could have died several times tonight; I would miss you dearly. Wolf and Bear. We should not work, but we do and well. I would not be able to carry on properly without you being in my life." Valjean looked wide eyed at Javert.

"Do you love me?" Valjean whispered; hoping that his instinct to voice things was mistaken since Javert could be surprisingly affectionate with people he trusted.

"I would not say that exactly, but I can see why you would think such. We are family at least. In which capacity I cannot pinpoint at present." Valjean released the breath he'd been holding, he hoped Javert would not be too honest; since there were things Valjean needed to work out for himself first.

"We should really already be gone but erm… I think we needed this talk. I do trust you, with Cosette and my life's. Just you can be trying at times."

"I am uncertain of how you mean trying…"

"You test me, in ways no one else does. If I had it in me to kill, you'd be dead."

"Glad you can't kill then. I see your point. I have killed before but you I cannot. I'd probably let you kill me if it came to it."

"You have?"

"Did you forget what got us into this mess? My past, remember?"

"Oh yes, you were a child prisoner."

"You actually had forgotten. Everything we've been through, and you forgot. I wish I could forget. You, you, exacerbate me. You're lucky I cannot bring myself to kill you, or you'd be dead."

"Maybe we test each other?"

"Don't try that. You're too good for that fearing god nonsense."

"I told you I never feared god."

"Well good for you, you pain in my arse. I cannot believe you forgot…" One of the few good floorboards in the building squeaked, Javert looked ready to yell at someone, but it was Chevalier.

"Lover's tiff?" Javert just glared at his superior officer.

"You know it isn't."

"True, but where would I get my entertainment otherwise?"

"Try golf, or any other damn sport. Betting maybe?"

"So dry, Inspector. Now stop moaning and hurry up. I'm sur your mayor has a daughter to comfort over your hurt feelings man."

"My feelings are not hurt, damn it."

"You would not be damning it otherwise." Javert huffed and stormed down the decaying staircase. Chevalier turned his attention to Valjean. "He has these emotional outbursts occasionally. Do not think too much into it." Valjean stared at Chevalier as if he were mad.

"You've ignored one of these outbursts before?"

"Of several times, he used to end up crying. You don't need that right now and nor does he. I am accustomed to being on his bad side; you are not, not really." Chevalier waved Valjean down the derelict stairs, Valjean turned at the bottom to see that the secretary of state would not look out of place permanently at the top of those stairs looking like an avenging criminal. Although Valjean thought he may have been overthinking what he knew of Chevalier as a person. A fox could be mischievous, it did not make it evil. Just as a wolf could be prideful and a bear, overprotective; there would always be more to them than that. Valjean turned back to the door as Javert yelled at him to hurry up, he could see that Javert had commandeered a police carriage which had one of the four black horses replaced with Javert's own grey making the beast stand out much more than usual.

Valjean eased into the carriage, noticing that Eponine and himself were the only ones actually in the coach. Apparently, the Inspector was driving them back to Montreuil-Sur-Mer; Valjean seemed concerned that no other officers or even Chevalier was coming with them. The door on the coach opened suddenly, Valjean looked at the oddly concerned and apprehensive expression on Javert's face.

"The officers and Chevalier are needed in Paris; the reports can be written there but I doubt everything is over." Eponine looked slightly taken aback by the Inspector's openness. "There is always something else to go wrong." Valjean nodded his agreement.

"We will deal with it when it gets here whatever it may be." Javert nodded and went back to the driver's seat of the carriage, instructing the horses to move on. Inside the carriage the journey was quiet and somewhat awkward between Jean Valjean and Eponine Thenedier. Neither was quite sure of the other nor what was going to happen next.