Good Morning

In a backwoods motel somewhere outside a forgettable small town sat three very distraught gentlemen. The cause of their distress lay unconscious on two separate beds. Able to get two rooms conjoining, Lupin sat in one with a pale form of the woman he loved dearly. The room had all blinds closed and was very hazy as the nervous man smoked cigarette after cigarette in an attempt to calm down and think. In the room adjacent lay the other woman. While not ghostly pale like her counterpart, Jess was sweating profusely as she combated a fever. Odd mutterings came from her mouth, but only a few were actual words. Next to her was Jigen who sat in a slumped state as he grew angry at his inability to help. Unlike Lupin, though, he never smoked.

"She hates smoking," he kept muttering to himself and since he wasn't about to leave to go outside, there he sat tense as a guitar string.

Goemon, for his part, was on top of the motel roof keeping watch. They weren't sure if anyone followed them after the little explosion they left behind, so a look out was needed. He was a little relieved to not have to watch the pain on the two girls' faces, but still worried nonetheless. As much as he acted with indifference, he cared for those two.

"How could I be so careless as to let this happen?" the man in red whispered to himself. "I always have plans and plans and backup plans for everything to protect myself. It was so dumb of me to think they wouldn't come after you." He looked down at Fujiko as his guilty conscience continued to barrage him. His hand moved to his pocket again in search of cigarette but his hand was stopped when he felt something on his knee.

A small white hand had laid itself softly on his leg and two large brown eyes looked up at him.

"Lupin…"

"Fujiko! I'm so sorry, are you OK? Is there anything I can get you or is there anything you need? I can just go…"

"I'm surprised you haven't tried to cup a feel yet," she whispered with a smile.

"Well, if you insist…"

"Lupin!"

"I'm just kidding, there is time for that later…or sooner; whatever you like." At that point he was just happy for her to be awake. He still felt incredibly guilty for allowing such a thing to happen to her, but for now he would revel in the moment. In his joy Lupin found it necessary to stick his head in the room next to his to inform of his great happiness.

"Hey Jigen! Guess what?"

"What!" the tense man growled.

"Whoa, calm down. I just wanted to let you know Fujiko is awake, isn't that great?"

"Just peachy."

Lupin glanced over to Jess who still lie unconscious and mumbling. He had almost forgotten that his friend was going through the same thing he had been going through just minutes ago. "How is she?"

"She's trying to break a fever and she won't stop mumbling. Sometimes it's like she says something, like a real sentence, but I can't piece together any of the friggin' pieces." Jigen leaned back in his chair and rubbed his eyes, it was obvious he was stressed and tired.

"Hey man, go outside and walk around or take a smoke. You got to relax or you'll go nuts."

"I'm not leaving," he responded as he glanced at Jess. "Plus, she hates the smell of smoke."

Lupin shrugged his shoulders as he realized his friend was too stubborn on this point to ever give in. Instead he walked back into the room with Fujiko to make sure she was doing well.

When Lupin left, Jigen rested his elbows on the edge of the bed and continued to rub his eyes as a means to ward of the drowsiness that was engulfing him.

"God damn it, Jess; wake up."

"Jigen…"

"Great, now she's mumbling my name. That doesn't help any at all; might as well just stab me."

"Jigen…"

"Jess, you're killin' me…" he continued to say as he rubbed his eyes.

"Fine, I'll just go off and die then."

In a moment, Jigen sat straight up. He recognized that sarcastic voice in a second. His instant joy was confirmed with the site of opened eyes from the brunette who lay in the bed. The surprise of her waking up along with his drowsiness allowed a momentary smile to spread across his face.

"Whoa, hey, don't get up or anything, you just stay there and relax."

"I'll get up if I damn well want to," Jess insisted as she began to sit up, but with that action came a headache sent from hell itself. "OK, you win…" she complied. All the thoughts of the day began rushing back as she remembered why she was in the state she was. White room, loud voice, gas…the gas. She moaned at the thought of that foul tasting stuff filling her lungs. Her recalling was cut short at the sight of her vigil staring at her. "Oh, do I look that terrible…" Jess remarked as she covered her head with the covers.

"No! I mean no, not at all. I'm just…I'm just glad to see you are awake."

Jess was going to laugh, but when the full meaning of that hit her she decided to keep quiet on the notion. He had been awake and stressed out for a very long time. It was written all over his face.

"How long have you been awake?"

"I don't know anymore."

"You need to sleep, sweetie, you look like death warmed over." She paused, realized what she said and continued, "Or tell me a story of slight significance."

Jigen caught her momentarily lapse in guarded behavior. "Well, sweetie, I have never been asked to tell a story. What do you want to hear?"

Jess began blushing, but motioned for him to sit on the bed next to her. "I don't care. I ask everyone to tell me a story of slight significance. Usually they just laugh at me or tell me a story where everyone gets laid in the end, which is a very good ending; I'm not going to lie."

"You should be sleeping."

"Well, so should you, so I guess we both lose. That means story; now."

The gunman had no inclination of declining. With the pressure of his guilt lifted temporarily from his shoulders, sleep began to take hold again. As he reclined on the bed next to the small figure of a woman, he took off his hat and scratched his head trying to think of something to entertain her with. Jess had no real intention of listening as she was extremely tired. Instead she cuddled up to his warm body and closed her eyes.

"Haha you didn't last long, eh?" he addressed his not so captive audience. "Well, 'we all get laid.' How's that?" All he got in response was a little moan and the steady decline of her breathing as she descended into slumber. With her silence came his guilt again as he thought of all the things that could have happened. The joy faded from his face and the worry lines grew. He looked down as he felt her arm wrap around his waist. For as independent as she acted, she still needed that sense of security at the end of the day. "Well, sweetie, if it's of no concern to you, I'll catch some winks," he said with a tip of the hat over his eyes.

While the two slept soundly, Lupin had stuck his head in (this time a bit more quietly as he didn't wish to stir the same reaction he did last time.) With the sight of both people sleeping, he assumed Jess was in the clear.

"She is fine; we'll leave this place tomorrow."

"Is it true; about her a Jigen?" the now fully revived Fujiko asked.

"Oh my god, yes, but if you ask either of them nothing is going on. Some of the most stubborn people, I swear…and sarcastic."

"Oh, I picked up on that in a second. She's very no-nonsense, though. I'm surprised how calmly she acted through the whole thing. I've had to deal with situations like that before and I was showing more concern."

"I don't know, she's a mystery for the most part…but friggin' hilarious."

"Yea, well you like Jigen's humor for some odd reason, so that makes sense."

"Awww Fuji-cakes, don't be jealous now of another girl! There is only room in my heart for one brunette."

"Shut up, Lupin…and get your hand off my ass." With a quick slap to the face, the conversation ended.

Night came and went and with the morning light shining in through the curtains awoke the man in black. It took him a bit to realize where he was as he had slept for half a day due to the lack of sleep the previous night. Finally remembering what had occurred, he glanced to his right but found no Jess. In fact, she was M.I.A. from the room. Jigen got up and peered into Lupin's room. No Jess, just his friend and Fujiko sleeping. Anxiety began to rise as he ran outside. If she had been taken again he would never be able to forgive himself. His fears were laid to rest when he heard voices above him.

"…and from that the goldfish realized that the true path to enlightenment was not going against the current, but flowing freely with it."

"That was a very…interesting story Goemon. But, I did ask for one of slight significance and that one just flew right over my head. Oh, hey there! Did you have a nice sleep?"

"Uh, yea. How in the world did you get up on the roof?"

"Goemon brought me up here. He's like a cat! A cat with a sweet sword. He still won't let me touch it. Only if I can call it by its true name and since I can't say it my life will just have to go unfulfilled."

While he was glad to see her in such high spirits, he still was feeling the after effects of the anxiety. "That's great, Jess, don't you think you ought to come down now?"

"She is quite safe up here, there is no need to worry," answered the samurai.

Jigen was about to respond, but Jess who half lost interest with her lofty post and half not wanting to make the gunman worry more than necessary, climbed down and went inside.

"Jigen," Goemon added, "a caged bird does not sing as strong and as full of life as the wild bird does."

"I don't give a crap about any friggin' birds," he retorted but he had caught the meaning behind it.

Like Lupin had stated the previous night, the gang left that day. Jess had to be dropped off at her home since her father was returning that night. Before departing, though, Lupin had one last thing to tell her.

"Jess, you have seen a lot and have been through a lot. This is the life we are tied to and I'm sure a certain someone doesn't want to see you taken again. There are two options in such a case. Either you can come with us for a while so we can watch over you or you will need to lie low at home here and never see us again." The sly thief worded his statement that way for a reason so that the choice he wanted her to choose was chosen.

"Can I really come with ya'll?"

"Yes indeed. Of course we will need to disguise it for the sake of secrecy. Expect a letter tomorrow. I'll see you soon." Lupin hopped in the car and left Jess waving to the three men and woman as they drove away. She wasn't much for good-byes and hugs and was very content with knowing she would see them again. The next day she received the following letter.

To Jessica Lee Abraham

Congratulations on being accepted to the Biological Research Abroad. After reviewing you're application, B.R.A is very interested in all the qualities you have to offer and is offering a full scholarship and a summer of studying Biology with some of the leading scientists of the field in Europe. All expenses will be taken care of and tickets will be arriving instantly if you are interested. Please contact B.R.A. at the phone number listed if you plan on attending.

Best Wishes,

L.J.G

"B.R.A?" Jess thought to herself, "definitely Lupin."

"I didn't know you applied to such an organization," Jess' dad exclaimed at having read the letter, "I assume you are going to do it then, it's a great opportunity!"

"Oh, yea, I applied a few months ago and of course I am going to accept. Who could pass up an opportunity from B.R.A?" Holding in her laughter, Jess left her dad to begin to get her things in order. The next few days were going to busy. With graduation tomorrow and a full summer absence right after it, she didn't have much time.