Sorry, I know it's a bit late. I've had a lot of uni work to do. Sigh. Anyways, kids, this is it-Chapter Three, in Which Carter Learns That Which he would Rather he Didn't Know. I am still not entirely sure about this chapter, but I wrote it and I think it makes sense. Let me know what you think, whether it's a pile of Hippogriff poo or not. Standard disclaimers and all that still applicable. And let's see if I can get a break between notes and story this time... -RT.

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As I get back inside, I must look weird. Abby looks at me strangely, and says, 'Well, who was she?'

There's the sixty-four thousand dollar question. 'Ah, I think she's an old friend of his, that's all.'

'So, not a girlfriend?'

'Um-I don't know. Got to get to work.'

Luka's just gone into the lounge, and damn me if I don't follow him although my gut's telling me not to. But I really want to know.

'Hey, Luka.'

'Hi. Sorry about that, just an old friend I haven't seen in a while. I didn't even know she was in Chicago.'

'No, it's okay, but-'

'But?' He sits on the sofa with a mug of coffee.

I can't think of what to say, so I just stare at him. He looks at me strangely, then it clicks.

'You heard us talking?'

Things kind of fall out of my mouth. 'Ah-yeah. Yeah. Look, I don't even know if I believe any of it, but if it's true-

'It is.'

'Then what the hell are you doing messing with people like that? Do you even know what would happen if anyone found out? God, you'd be in jail for the rest of your life! That's after you've been deported, and they've taken your passport and medical license. I have no idea-'

'Listen, it doesn't matter who knows, if anyone does. Nothing will happen from the law.'

'For Christ's sake, Luka, you really don't know a damn thing about American systems, do you? You're friends with hired assassins, you idiot. Damn, I never, ever thought you'd fall in with something like that, even when everyone else said you were crazy.'

'I know. Just let me tell you. Look, Carter, there's a lot of money to be made in war, you know. Arms dealing, drug trafficking, refugee transport-you can make your fortune, even with a comparatively small war like ours. A lot of people came over to see what they could do-the Mafia, Russian crime bosses, Japanese and Chinese warlords, even Americans. I was a resident doctor in Vukovar, and once when I was leaving work this guy pulled a gun on me, and said he had a friend I needed to fix, or he'd shoot me. His friend had a minor gunshot wound, easy to fix, but he'd lost a lot of blood and he was delirious. He told me his name was Nakano, he was a Japanese crime boss, and a bit about his dealings. Afterwards he remembered what he'd told me, and asked would I like to join his people, get out of Croatia and live a comfortable life in Tokyo. I said no, since I had Danijela and the children, and for some reason he let me walk away. Bill heard about this, because he was dealing with Nakano to eliminate their common enemies at the time, and kept an eye on me in case I told anyone anything. But I didn't, and he thought I'd be a good candidate to be his personal doctor since he couldn't really walk up to some random hospital. After Danijela and the children were gone, I had nothing in Croatia, so I moved to Paris where I met Sophie Fatale, a new protégé of Bill's. She said he wanted to talk to me. We talked, and you heard he asked me to be an assassin with his Deadly Viper Assassination Squad.'

'Deadly Viper Assassination Squad. Of course. Why not?' He's joking, I know it. 'Look, are you serious? Because this is starting to sound far too Bond-like for me.'

'I'm serious. You think that's dumb, you should hear their codenames.'

'Codenames? For God's sake.' I'm about to laugh, I really am. This is crazy. But hey, I've been at work for fifteen hours already, I could use a story to break the rhythm. 'Please tell me you didn't join these people.'

'I said no. Bill said okay, fair enough, would I be their doctor. I agreed and moved to New York where they were based.

'Around five years ago I said I didn't want to do it any more. I didn't have anything else when I joined them and when I finally did have something else, when I'd partly gotten back on my feet again, I realised I didn't want to help them so I left. For some reason they didn't press the matter, though they listed a large number of things they'd do to me, my family and my pets if I ever told anyone anything. Although truth be told, I don't think they were too worried. After I left New York, I went to London where I had a minor run-in with one of them, then I came here. And I haven't seen or heard anything of them until today.'

'The blonde woman.'

'Yeah. She was one of the Deadly Vipers. About a year after I left, they tried to kill her in Texas. They killed her fiancé, and her whole wedding party. She wanted to know would I help her get back at them, because I know so much about them and their health status that could work to her advantage. I know that one is an asthmatic, and one is allergic to penicillin, and some other things. Combine my knowledge with hers and we have enough to bring them down and erase any trace that they ever existed.'

I sigh with frustration. 'It doesn't matter, you'd still be prosecuted if they found out you were consorting with a group of hired assassins, let alone helping them! And Japanese crime bosses? I don't think I believe this, it's crazy.'

'You're not listening to me! The Japanese and Americans, including the government, came over to profit from our war. Including Bill. You think he doesn't have pull with the law?'

I sigh. 'I can't believe this. It's not even April Fools' Day, for God's sake.' He stands up and comes over to me.

'If you don't want to believe it, don't. Probably better. But-'

'I know, I know, don't tell anyone here, don't tell Sam, yada yada yada. I won't but I think you owe it to her to tell her.'

He shrugs. 'Maybe I will. But not right now.' He puts the coffee mug in the sink.

This is crazy. He doesn't care. He really doesn't care.

'What if they come back for you?'

He smiles. Laughs a little.

'They won't. Trust me, they won't.'

As he walks out the door, laughing a little, he says barely audibly,

'Unless they come to haunt me, they won't.'

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Plausible? My original idea was to have Kerry as the one who the Bride comes to see, and Luka the one who overhears their conversation. Kerry with a samurai sword hidden in her crutch-what an idea, I thought! But Luka asked me to put him in this role, and as he wasn't wearing a shirt at the time I wasn't really able to refuse (or speak at all, for that matter). Riley Raine, I'd have loved to give Luka a sword and make him kick arse, but it didn't really work for the story. I'd need to film it. With a zoom lens. Mrs. Eyre...the Mrs. Eyre, who wrote Strings Attached, and Reconcilable Differences? Wow. You've written two of the best bits of fanfic I've ever read. Keep writing!

Hagakure is the Book of the Samurai, written in Japan in 1716 when a young samurai who took down the words of a retired samurai and Buddhist monk, Yamamoto Tsunetomo. I'm using William Scott Wilson's translation.

By the way, I hope I didn't offend anyone. Like I said, I wasn't sure about this chapter, let me know if I messed up.

Well, I hope that was a fun ride-do tell me, feedback is like a red, red rose that's newly sprung in June. Thank you, come again. -RhubarbTart