Hey again, and welcome back. Kudos to ShaZ and ashes420, what lovely people. Anyway, here's Chapter Two-hooray! Have fun, while I go do my psychology report. Sigh. -RT

'He wanted you to be an assassin? I didn't know that.'

'Yeah. He said it would be easy for me to do it. Prescribe the wrong drug, make an accidental, covert mess of some operation, things like that. I said no, I didn't want to do that, but when he said he'd make me his doctor and told me the paycheck amount, I said yes.'

'Why? It was never about the money for you.'

'I had nothing else. You know that.'

'Do the others know about what happened in Vukovar?'

'Bill does. He said that's when he first saw me, after I fixed Boss Nakano.'

'He never said anything about that.'

'I thought not. He kept an eye on me after that.'

'He's probably still keeping an eye on you.'

'I know.'

'And what about London, after you left New York? I never thought you'd let someone so insignificant as Budd chase you out of there.'

'He didn't, I left on my own after I ran into him. He said he'd been ordered to threaten me. He didn't want to do anything since I used to go drinking with him and he still owes me a beer. We agreed it should look like I didn't want to get myself killed by him, so I'd leave and he'dtell Bill he made me go.'

'So Bill threatened you. I know that wouldn't scare you, and that's not the reason you won't help me. So why not?'

'Budd can't owe me a beer if he's dead.'

Bill always said he picked you for your intelligence and cunning, but why can't I get an answer out of you now? You were always straightforward with me.

Oh god say you won't help her just get the hell out of there before she kills us all and you and don't tell anyone about this Carter even though I'm aching to call the cops I know I can'tbecause then my ass will be on the line and I still have no idea who this woman really is oh man I'm glad they haven't seen me and he's talking again.

'I told you I read the paper. I read it this morning too, and I came across this...' He takes a small folded piece of newspaper out and starts to read it.

'California Mom Murdered. Mrs. Jeannie Bell, a Pasadena mother, was found stabbed yesterday morning in her home. The woman was in her kitchen when the attacker, who police believe is a professional, threw a knife into her chest, killing her instantly. It appears that Mrs. Bell knew her attacker, as there was no forced entry and evidence of a vicious fight before Mrs. Bell was stabbed. She also tried to defend herself in her kitchen with a shotgun hidden inside a box of cereal. So far a motive has not been established.'

No, no, I know you wouldn't care about that, there was no love lost between you and Vernita Green. I also know you don't blame me for killing her. So?

Luka looks up into her eyes and recites the last sentence from memory.

'Mrs. Bell's four-year-old daughter was the only witness, but is as yet too traumatised to speak to police.'

The sound of the woman kicking the garbage bin reverberates around the ambulance bay, and the bin goes flying into the opposite wall. Damn, she can kick.

My God, why are you always the only one who can inspire conscience in me?

'For fuck's sake, Luka, she'll be fine. You always said kids were resilient. I even told her that when she gets older she can come find me if she still feels bad.'

'She saw you murder her mother. She'll feel bad for the rest of her life.'

'And that's the only reason you won't help me. Because Vernita Green's daughter was there. Look, I didn't even mean for the child to see, it's not like I went there to hurt her daughter. I didn't even know she had one. I went there for Vernita Green. That's all I wanted.'

Vernita Green? Who's she? What about Jeannie Bell?

'I know, but don't you see that this will go deeper than just the Deadly Vipers? The repercussions will go further. The fallout from your actions, it'll come down on you, it'll come down on people who have absolutely nothing to do with any of this, and it will come down on me whether I help you or not. Their families, friends-the consequences will be too heavy on too many people who aren't even involved, and I can't help you ruin innocent people's lives.'

Damn you, damn your past, damn your history, damn your life, and damn me for coming to see you.

'Luka, the way of the samurai isn't about consequences! Remember Hagakure? 'The Way of the Samurai is one of immediacy-if one does not strike out by simply closing his eyes and rushing into the enemy, he will be of no use.''

'I know. But I was never a samurai. I'm a doctor. Remember the Hippocratic Oath?'

'Even though this will benefit you? You want it to be about consequences, fine. Think of the good ones. No more Bill, no more Vipers, no more watching your back to see if someone's about to lynch you.'

Luka sighs. The woman is staring at him, and I realise that she's desperate for him to help her.

'Why did you want to get married?'

The woman looks confused. 'What?'

'You were pregnant with Bill's baby. Why did you want to get married to someone else?'

You know that, too. I left Bill because I didn't want my daughter to grow up surrounded by death, whether she saw it or not. You and Danijela would have left Croatia for the same reason. The woman is silent. Luka runs a hand through his hair.

Before Texas, you were the only one who knew she was Bill's. I shouldn't have told you.

'Look, I have to get back to work. I can't help you, but I know you'll manage without me.' He smiles at her.

She looks resigned. 'I know I will. But you'd be an asset.' She hesitates, then hugs him tightly. He hugs her back just as strongly.

Damn, I've missed you. You and your stubbornness, your fierce intelligence, your wicked humour, even your stupid cryptic comments.

They stand apart.

'Well, if you change your mind, I'll be in touch.'

'Keep in touch anyway. I've missed you.'

The woman smiles, then the same resigned expression creeps over her face.

'Why do you really care about her daughter that much? Even though she's irrelevant?'

He pauses. Smiles cryptically.

'Shakespeare, The Tempest. Act one, scene two, lines sixteen to nineteen. '

I know those lines. We did it in high school, the next production after Hamlet. Luka might have been Hamlet, but I was Prospero, although only because the first choice dropped out.

'I have done nothing but in care of thee-

Of thee my dear one, thee my daughter- who

Art ignorant of what thou art, nought knowing

Of whence I am...'

It seems the woman knows them too.

You still hurt, don't you?

'What, you think you and Vernita Green are kindred spirits now, just because she had a four-year-old too?'

'No. But we have a common interest, even though she's dead.'

'You and I, we have a common interest. Both our daughters-' She pauses. 'Doesn't that count?'

You and I, we're kindred spirits. Doesn't that count?

'My daughter had nothing to do with this, and I don't want to stain her memory by avenging her death on someone who didn't even cause it. So no, not right now. But if you get hurt, Black Mamba, come find me. Good luck.'

Cute. A pet name for an assassin. He gives her one last smile, and turns to walk back inside the hospital. The woman stands there for a minute, a strange, thoughtful expression on her face. Then she calls to him.

'Luka!'

He turns.

'If it was never about the money, what did you do with what he paid you?'

He smiles happily at her, and points to his car.

A Viper. A Dodge Viper. Son of a bitch, you haven't changed.

Luka still has a Viper because I didn't approve of the way it was disposed of. The way I see it, Luka could have got a Lambo, or a Porsche, or a Ferrari-why a Viper? That's my attempt to explain. Please review if you'd be so kind, my car (which is, surprisingly, not a Viper) runs on feedback. Next chapter (which will probably be the last one) here in a few days. Cheers. -RT