Notes: Part 4. whee! Ff.net's been going through some. bugs? And I
procrastinate , too . ^_^ Horribly sorry for the delay of this next
installment. And, y'know, I want to thank Misa, for giving one of the best
reviews I've ever gotten. Thank you ^_^
_
"So? Why did you come here?" Leon's eyes stared at D's back. The Chinese man was facing a large window that overlooked the city. He enjoyed the view of the bustling, busy streets and took his time, jewel-toned eyes tracing paths of the milling people below.
"Really Detective," D said, "you should not slouch like that. It is bad for your posture."
Leon opened his mouth to inquire as to how the hell D would know, but he saw the grinning reflection of the Count in the glass and realized D could see him, as well. Grudgingly, he sat up and folded his arms across his chest. "Well?"
"I was called here," the Count said simply, moving to sit beside Leon at the large, polished mahogany conference table. Upon it sat a basket of innumerable goodies brought by D. He busied himself by pouring a by-now familiar steaming liquid into small cups.
"Is there ever a time you don't bring tea?" Leon asked.
The Count stopped, tilting his head. "No," he finally answered. "I don't believe so."
Leon sighed. "Okay. Fine. You were called. Called why? What did Jill say to you?" This was really nagging him. The only time D came to the station was when he wanted to let Leon in on a secret. So what was the big secret this time?
"She said you were still having nightmares about the little girl and her bird."
"Ashley. That little girl has a name, D."
D nodded. "And she is still haunting you, Detective. I can see that your eyes are bloodshot, fatigue has taken its toll upon your body, exhaustion setting in upon your mind."
"I just need sleep, D, that's all." //Okay, a lot of sleep. Then my mind and body will be back in shape.// "I see all those cookies and sweets aren't taking a toll on your body." Leon meant it as sarcasm, but something in him choked when it didn't come out that way.
Count D merely smiled. "How kind of you to notice, Detective." [1]
"So do you think you have a solution for this, or what?" Leon asked quickly, anxious to switch the subject. He fiddled with the handle of his teacup, staring at the peacock pattern on the porcelain.
"Any remedies I suggest to you, Detective, I have a feeling you will not willingly take. If you do not mind, I would like to know the nature of these nightmares you are having." The Count settled back in his chair, fixing his gaze on Leon.
Leon absently drank from the teacup, composing his thoughts. "Well. it's always the same thing. I keep running around through rows of covered bodies. I keep yelling for someone to help, but nobody ever comes. Then I yank off a few sheets and the bodies under 'em are all her. They're all Ashley." He drank again, the warm liquid moving down his throat seemed to calm his nerves. "Then.well, basically they yell at me. That's all."
"It seems to me, Detective, guilt still plagues you."
"Yeah, it does," Leon confessed. "Bet you don't have a remedy for that."
"Forgiveness."
Leon blinked. "Oh, From who? Ashley? Oh, no wait she's dead. Her father? No, he's dead too. Her mother? Took off when the kid was three. Relatives? None. Who am I suppose to ask, D? The freaking bird itself?" Leon laced his words with sarcasm, but he secretly wished there was someone left he could ask.
"From yourself, Leon," D said softly.
Leon started, surprised. Not only by the use of his first name, but by the Count's suggestion.
"You must ask yourself for forgiveness if there is no one else," D went on. "If what you say is true, there is no one left to forgive, except Detective Leon Orcot."
Leon opened his mouth to reply, but no words came out. Maybe it was his sleep-deprived brain, but D was making sense. Leon stared into the dregs of his teacup, thinking. //Forgive myself, he says. Like it's that easy.//
"What if I can't?" Leon asked, looking at the Count.
"You must learn," was D's reply, lifting a cookie to his lips.
Leon sighed. "I suppose I can give it a try. I mean, you've never been wrong before," he shrugged, standing up. D stood as well, deftly placing his supplies into his basket and covering it all with a red checkered cloth.
"Well..um.thanks for coming and all, Count," Leon said awkwardly. //What am I supposed to do, shake his hand? //
D gave a small bow and a smile. "It was a favor I was glad to do." Sweeping by Leon, he stopped at the threshold. "And should you find my suggestions effective, feel free to drop by my petshop to inform me," he threw over his shoulder. With that, the doorway stood empty and the Count was off.
Leon went back to his desk mulling over D's advice. Planting his feet on the top of his desk, he leaned back in his chair. //Forgive myself...//
Leon ricocheted some empty coffee cups into the trash can. He considered another cup but decided against it. The taste of D's tea was still on his tongue. //That stuff isn't bad, // he thought absently. // It tasted better than that sludge from here. //.
Leon sent a glare at the old, beaten-up coffee pot across the room.
Jill sat at her own desk, observing Leon. She hoped D had given him something to help, whether it be herbal or counsel. She didn't notice a change, only that the tired-eyed blonde seemed to be royally pissed at the coffee maker.
__
Leon stumbled through his doorway, limbs feeling like lead, weighing him down to the floor. He fought it, dragging himself to the living room and flinging himself on the couch.
He didn't know what was going on, but he felt like he was wearing ten bullet-proof vests, each one heavier than the last. Moments ago, as soon as he'd pulled into his space in the apartment parking lot, a tiredness seemed to fall over him. He noticed his limbs were slowing as if he were walking through water. He was light-headed and his eyelids wanted to force themselves shut.
// Could I really be this tired? // Leon thought, head sinking back on one of the cushions. //It feels like I'm being dragged into sleep..// His eyes firmly closed, his breathing slowed down.
// Wait a minnut... this isn't normal..D.what did he.give..me..// Leon could not hold onto the thought as he felt himself succumb, and didn't so much drift as catapult into darkness.
__
End pt. 4. Wow. This has gone on longer than I'd anticipated. Thanks to all who have reviewed, Broken Rules , pt.5 is under way. ^^
[1] I couldn't help myself. ^^;
_
"So? Why did you come here?" Leon's eyes stared at D's back. The Chinese man was facing a large window that overlooked the city. He enjoyed the view of the bustling, busy streets and took his time, jewel-toned eyes tracing paths of the milling people below.
"Really Detective," D said, "you should not slouch like that. It is bad for your posture."
Leon opened his mouth to inquire as to how the hell D would know, but he saw the grinning reflection of the Count in the glass and realized D could see him, as well. Grudgingly, he sat up and folded his arms across his chest. "Well?"
"I was called here," the Count said simply, moving to sit beside Leon at the large, polished mahogany conference table. Upon it sat a basket of innumerable goodies brought by D. He busied himself by pouring a by-now familiar steaming liquid into small cups.
"Is there ever a time you don't bring tea?" Leon asked.
The Count stopped, tilting his head. "No," he finally answered. "I don't believe so."
Leon sighed. "Okay. Fine. You were called. Called why? What did Jill say to you?" This was really nagging him. The only time D came to the station was when he wanted to let Leon in on a secret. So what was the big secret this time?
"She said you were still having nightmares about the little girl and her bird."
"Ashley. That little girl has a name, D."
D nodded. "And she is still haunting you, Detective. I can see that your eyes are bloodshot, fatigue has taken its toll upon your body, exhaustion setting in upon your mind."
"I just need sleep, D, that's all." //Okay, a lot of sleep. Then my mind and body will be back in shape.// "I see all those cookies and sweets aren't taking a toll on your body." Leon meant it as sarcasm, but something in him choked when it didn't come out that way.
Count D merely smiled. "How kind of you to notice, Detective." [1]
"So do you think you have a solution for this, or what?" Leon asked quickly, anxious to switch the subject. He fiddled with the handle of his teacup, staring at the peacock pattern on the porcelain.
"Any remedies I suggest to you, Detective, I have a feeling you will not willingly take. If you do not mind, I would like to know the nature of these nightmares you are having." The Count settled back in his chair, fixing his gaze on Leon.
Leon absently drank from the teacup, composing his thoughts. "Well. it's always the same thing. I keep running around through rows of covered bodies. I keep yelling for someone to help, but nobody ever comes. Then I yank off a few sheets and the bodies under 'em are all her. They're all Ashley." He drank again, the warm liquid moving down his throat seemed to calm his nerves. "Then.well, basically they yell at me. That's all."
"It seems to me, Detective, guilt still plagues you."
"Yeah, it does," Leon confessed. "Bet you don't have a remedy for that."
"Forgiveness."
Leon blinked. "Oh, From who? Ashley? Oh, no wait she's dead. Her father? No, he's dead too. Her mother? Took off when the kid was three. Relatives? None. Who am I suppose to ask, D? The freaking bird itself?" Leon laced his words with sarcasm, but he secretly wished there was someone left he could ask.
"From yourself, Leon," D said softly.
Leon started, surprised. Not only by the use of his first name, but by the Count's suggestion.
"You must ask yourself for forgiveness if there is no one else," D went on. "If what you say is true, there is no one left to forgive, except Detective Leon Orcot."
Leon opened his mouth to reply, but no words came out. Maybe it was his sleep-deprived brain, but D was making sense. Leon stared into the dregs of his teacup, thinking. //Forgive myself, he says. Like it's that easy.//
"What if I can't?" Leon asked, looking at the Count.
"You must learn," was D's reply, lifting a cookie to his lips.
Leon sighed. "I suppose I can give it a try. I mean, you've never been wrong before," he shrugged, standing up. D stood as well, deftly placing his supplies into his basket and covering it all with a red checkered cloth.
"Well..um.thanks for coming and all, Count," Leon said awkwardly. //What am I supposed to do, shake his hand? //
D gave a small bow and a smile. "It was a favor I was glad to do." Sweeping by Leon, he stopped at the threshold. "And should you find my suggestions effective, feel free to drop by my petshop to inform me," he threw over his shoulder. With that, the doorway stood empty and the Count was off.
Leon went back to his desk mulling over D's advice. Planting his feet on the top of his desk, he leaned back in his chair. //Forgive myself...//
Leon ricocheted some empty coffee cups into the trash can. He considered another cup but decided against it. The taste of D's tea was still on his tongue. //That stuff isn't bad, // he thought absently. // It tasted better than that sludge from here. //.
Leon sent a glare at the old, beaten-up coffee pot across the room.
Jill sat at her own desk, observing Leon. She hoped D had given him something to help, whether it be herbal or counsel. She didn't notice a change, only that the tired-eyed blonde seemed to be royally pissed at the coffee maker.
__
Leon stumbled through his doorway, limbs feeling like lead, weighing him down to the floor. He fought it, dragging himself to the living room and flinging himself on the couch.
He didn't know what was going on, but he felt like he was wearing ten bullet-proof vests, each one heavier than the last. Moments ago, as soon as he'd pulled into his space in the apartment parking lot, a tiredness seemed to fall over him. He noticed his limbs were slowing as if he were walking through water. He was light-headed and his eyelids wanted to force themselves shut.
// Could I really be this tired? // Leon thought, head sinking back on one of the cushions. //It feels like I'm being dragged into sleep..// His eyes firmly closed, his breathing slowed down.
// Wait a minnut... this isn't normal..D.what did he.give..me..// Leon could not hold onto the thought as he felt himself succumb, and didn't so much drift as catapult into darkness.
__
End pt. 4. Wow. This has gone on longer than I'd anticipated. Thanks to all who have reviewed, Broken Rules , pt.5 is under way. ^^
[1] I couldn't help myself. ^^;