Lock and Key

Misato burst through NERV's hospital doors, her face both panicked and furious at the same time. Ritsuko was at a computer, downloading files onto a disk for confidential filing and Misato pounced.

"What did you tell them?!" She grabbed Ritsuko's lab coat, hauling her to her feet and shaking her. "You promised not to say anything!"

"Misato! Calm down! I didn't say a word, I swear! The Commander ordered tests while I was on break and that's how he found out. I didn't even KNOW about the tests until they cam to take him away."

"Where is he?!"

"I don't know. But even if I did, you couldn't get near him. He's under heavy guard."

"Don't give me that shit, Ritsuko! You're the top doctor here, you know something. Where have they taken him?!"

"Misato--!"

Ritsuko's words ended in a sharp gasp as Misato slammed her against the wall.

"You are one of my oldest friends, Ritsuko, and I don't want to hurt you. But if you force me to, I will. Now tell me: Where. Did. They. Take. Narikage?" It took a few moments for the blonde to answer.

"On my honor, I don't know. But I heard one of the guards saying they were taking him to Commander Fuyutski sometime today. That's all I know, Misato." She let the doctor go and ran out the door.

Rounding a corner a few minutes later, Misato ran directly into a NERV security guard, who had to grab her to keep her from falling.

"Captain Katsuragi?"

"H-hai?"

"The Commander wants a word with you right away."

"Perfect because I need to talk to him." Misato followed the guard down the hall, impatient at his slow pace. Finally, they reached his office and, without waiting for the guard to open it, Misato burst through the door.

Narikage was sitting, docile, in a chair in a corner, surrounded by guards and chained so his movements were limited. The guards were armed and watched him endlessly.

"Narikage!" Impulsively, Misato ran forward, but before she could get close, two guards stepped in front of her and grabbed her arms to hold her back. "Let me go! Why is he chained?! He's a teenage boy for god's sake!!"

"He's chained for everyone's protection, Captain." Commander Fuyutski was sitting behind his desk, a passive expression on his face. "I'm sure by now you're aware of the situation."

"That doesn't matter!"

"Sit down, Captain, and lower your voice, or I'll have Narikage removed from the room."

"It's alright, Misato-san." Narikage's voice was soft and full of sadness that made the woman want to cry. The guards released her arms and Misato sat slowly in the available chair, her eyes still on the downtrodden boy.

"Captain, do y9ou know exactly why you're here?" She shook her head. "Then I'll put it simply: Did you know Narikage was an angel?" Her head swung around.

"Huh?"

"We've been questioning Narikage since his incarceration earlier today and he's quite insistent that you knew nothing. Is this true?" Misato threw Narikage a glance. His eyes met hers and they pleaded with her to play the lie.

"No...no, I didn't know," she said faintly.

"We also have a question about there previous test results, the ones Ritsuko administered on YOUR insistence, I might add. Why do these tests show no signs of angel DNA, yet these recent tests show a number over 95?"

"95?" Misato repeated in a quiet voice, looking at Narikage. The boy turned his face from her.

"Answer the question, Captain. Why are these two test results so different?"

"I-I don't know."

"Did you switch these tests?"

"No, I didn't touch those tests." At least that was the truth.

"Are you saying, Captain, that you knew NOTHING of Narikage's condition?"

"I didn't tell her anything," Narikage broke in as Misato opened her mouth. "I've already told you that I stole the tests and switched them with Shinji's Neither Ritsuko or Misato knew anything about it."

"I'm finding that VERY hard to believe, Narikage. Ritsuko would have seen the test as they were coming up. And Misato had access to you 24 hours a day. I cannot sit here and believe that neither one of them noticed absolutely nothing." Commander Fuyutski looked at Misato again. "Now, I'll ask you one more time, Captain: Did you switch these tests?"

"I didn't, Commander. The report I saw was the same one you saw, the same one we all saw."

"And you knew nothing about his condition?"

"I noticed little things, I guess."

"Little things?"

"He has a lot of nightmares and he's wake up crying once and a while. I just thought that it was something from childhood. After we found out about his past, so to speak, I tied it to loosing his family. But, outside of that, I knew nothing."

"You didn't think of reporting this?"

"I didn't think it was such a big deal. A lot of people have nightmares." The Commander stared at her for a long moment. He had a feeling she was lying but as of yet, had no way to prove it. Finally, he sighed quietly and put his reading glasses on, scrawling a few notes on a sheet of paper.

"I am suspending you, Captain—"he began.

"Suspending?!!" Narikage leapt to his feet and was promptly pushed back down by a guard. "She had nothing to do with this! You have no right to suspend her!"

"Be quiet, Narikage, or you will be shown from the room."

"Narikage, it's alright. It's a standard procedure." Misato looked at the Commander. "Please, Sir, can I just have a few moments with him?"

"That, I'm afraid, is impossible. Now, if you would be so kind—"

"Sir, please." She laid her hands on the desk, her misty eyes begging with his. "I took care of Narikage for the past few months and well..." She looked over at him. "I care about him. As much as I did Shinji." Her eyes shifted back to his. "I never got to say goodbye to Shinji; please, let me say goodbye to his brother." Commander Fuyutski slowly removed his glasses.

"Very well. I'll give you five minutes." He stood and gestured the guards out of the room. As soon as they were gone, Misato stood and ran to Narikage, hugging him tight.

"This is all my fault; I should never have left you alone." Tears fell slowly from her eyes onto his shoulders and Narikage's chains rattled as he reached up, brushing them gently away.

"It's alright, Misato-san," he said, managing a small smile. "We both knew this would happen sooner or later." Misato gripped his shoulders, staring hard into his eyes.

"I WILL get you out of here, Narikage. No matter what." Narikage's smile softened and a single bloody tear escaped his pale eye.

"Arigato, Misato-san. For making my last few months the best I've had in a long time. I won't forget any of it."

"Narikage—"

"Time's up, Captain."

"Wait! Just one more minute! I--!" Two guards grabbed her arms and hauled her to her feet. "Please!"

"You've had time to say your goodbye. Kindly remove the Captain from the premises please. We'll let you know when you can continue to work, Captain. That is all."

"WAIT! I just need another minute! Narikage!"

The boy turned his face away so she wouldn't see him cry.

(Cut)

Misato sat in her car for a long time afterwards, silently crying. The guilt she felt was simply overwhelming. If she had stayed like she had wanted, they never would have done the tests and they never would have chained him up like some animal...

A knock on her window startled her.

She turned her head, surprised to see none other than Kaji standing there with worried eyes. He gestured to the passenger door and she nodded, unlocking it.

"I just heard. Are you alright, Misato-san?" he asked once seated.

"Not really. I just know that if I had been there with him, Narikage wouldn't be locked up right now." Kaji reached over, touching the woman's shoulder.

"Misato, someone was bound to find out about him. He's an angel."

"He's a boy." Misato turned her head to look at him. "He's a boy, Kaji. A scared teenager who has one wish: to be normal, just like everyone else. THAT'S who Narikage really is, Kaji. He doesn't deserve this." She turned her face away, more tears stinging her eyes. "I have to figure out a way to get him out of there..."

"I'll help." She glanced over.

"N-nani?"

"Let me help you. If you give me a couple of days, I might even be able to get you in to see him." Misato's eyes lit up.

"Arigato, Kaji!"

"Of course, I want a date in return..." Misato slapped him, but it was more affectionate than she normally would have done.

"If you can help me get him out, I'll give you a solid month of dates."

"Then that gives me a goal." He gave her a gentle smile, laying his hand over hers. "We'll figure out something, Misato-san. I promise." She returned the smile, her other hand covering his.

"I hope so, Kaji."