Out Of Memory Error

Out Of Memory Error

By C. Mage

Lara peered into the room beyond, at once alarmed and curious at the same time. The room in front of her was noisy, filled with the sounds of clashing steel, strange smells and smoke from several fires. Her hands felt sweaty as she steeled herself, wishing that she had some protection from the horrors that lay ahead, and she walked in, fixing her eyes upon the architect of this chaos.

David looked back at her and grinned. "It's almost ready!"

"You've been saying that for the past four hours." Lara looked around at the mess in the kitchen: cans of tomato paste, white paper that once held meat from the butcher, seeds and discarded stems from vegetables and a row of small condiment containers lined up like a firing line next to the stove. All four burners had been used for sautéing peppers and browning meats, with the large burner currently used to bear a large soup pot with a thick red substance bubbling within it. "'Bubble, bubble, toil and trouble...'"

"Now don't you back out of it now. You promised you'd let me try out my chili recipe."

"What did you call it again?"

"'David's Diabolic Dallas Chili.' Old recipe from a friend I used to know in Dallas, Texas. They hold regular chili cookoffs down there, you know."

Lara peered into the bubbling concoction. The spicy smell drove her back. "I'm lucky the well is full of water."

"Now, come on, it's not that hot. I even toned down the recipe for you stuffy Brits, just to make sure you can handle it, what with your delicate constitutions and all."

"Stand still, sweetheart, and I'll show you just how 'delicate' I am." Lara pointed a finger at David, aiming it like one of her Colt .45s. "I can handle anything you can dish out."

"Well, that's good...because this'll test that for accuracy." David took out a bowl and ladled some of the thick chili into it. As he handed it to Lara, he asked with a beatific smile, "Need any bread? You know, to cut the taste?"

"No. Thank you." Lara took a spoon, dipped it into her bowl and swore she felt the metal spoon grow warm instantly. "Mind if I have a glass of water with this? I am thirsty, you know."

David smiled and went to get her a tall glass of ice water. "You know, Lara, if you're not really hungry, I can just have it myself. Leftovers for a while."

You mean a year. That's an easy five gallons on that stove! But you would like that just fine, would you, Mr.-I-can-take-it-and-you-can't? I'll show you. "Thank you for your consideration, Dave, but I wouldn't want you to think that I wasn't capable of a little culinary adventure. But I wish you wouldn't have made such a mess. You've got tomato sauce on the floor, meat juices on the cutting block..."

"I'll clean it all up, okay? I promise, Mannfred won't have to worry about a thing." David brought back the glass, a large plastic glass filled to the top with a quart of water and ice. "There. Feel better?"

Lara smiled back at David rebelliously. "Yes, thanks ever so much."

David went back to the stove. Lara looked down at the chili nervously. She swore she could hear it say, Come on, Lara, dig in. I won't hurt you too much. After all, just because I can peel dried paint off concrete and force you to get skin grafts for your mouth and throat doesn't mean I'm ALL bad...

The phone rang and Lara got up, relieved at the small reprieve. "I'll get it!" she said a little too loudly and went straight for the phone. David turned around just in time to see Lara's left foot hit a patch of spilled tomato paste in exactly the wrong way. He watched in shock as Lara slipped and fell backwards with a cry or surprise, the back of her head hitting the edge of the table with a loud THUNK!! By the time the state of emergency could register in David's brain, Lara was lying on the ground...very still.

"HOLY...!!!" David ran over to the phone, picked it up and fairly screamed into the phone, "She'll call you back later!" then hung up and ran over to Lara. He reached back to feel the wound and his hand came back covered with blood. Oh shit oh shit oh shit oh shit...!!! He ran to the phone and dialed the operator.

"Yes, may I help you?"

"This is an emergency! Send medics to Croft Manor immediately! The lady of the house is severely hurt, with a wound to the back of her head. I need the medics here NOW!!"

"Stay on the line, sir. Give the full address and district."

"I should've never made that chili..." David said morosely as Lara was wheeled to an ambulance.

"Steady on, sir. Head wounds always look worse than they really are." The medic, a young man named Derek, patted David's back comfortingly. "In my opinion, she may have a concussion, but odds are that it's not serious," he added as they walked through the main doors out into the courtyard.

"I shouldn't have made such a mess...it's all my fault." At that point, David felt lower than sewer sludge.

"Come on, sir, chin up. It'll be right as rain, you'll see. Come on, leg up," he added as he helped the stretcher into the ambulance. David got in and sat down, looking at Lara, strapped to a board and a neck brace between her chin and collarbone, then looked away. He wiped his eyes and sniffed at the ambulance drove away to the hospital.

The next few days were agonizing.

After Lara had gone into the emergency room, David called Mannfred to tell him that they were at the hospital. Mannfred had replied, "Don't worry about the mess, Master David."

"It was the mess that did this." David added bitterly and hung up. After hemming and hawing for a few more minutes, he began the unlovely task of calling Lara's father to explain what had happened.

After hearing the story, Lord Henshingly Croft simply said, "We'll be there," and hung up. David felt even lower after hearing the tone in his voice, hard and disapproving. He didn't know the numbers of any other members of the Croft family, so he found a seat and sat down to wait.

Four hours later, Lord Henshingly Croft arrived, along with Lara's aunt Cordelia and her uncle James...and Charles Croft. David somehow found the strength to look them in the eyes as they approached. "Lord Henshingly Croft," he acknowledged.

"David. It is good to see you again. I would've preferred other circumstances, but..." He gave David a hearty hug and David felt better. He turned to Cordelia, who was valiantly trying not to cry as she took David's hands.

"It's not your fault, Dave."

"The hell it isn't!"

"For pity's sake, David!" James said curtly. "I somehow doubt that you spilled tomato sauce in an attempt to kill Lara by deducing where she would place her feet to walk to the phone. The only thing you are guilty of, David, is being a little overzealous when it comes to food preparation. Now sit down, I know this is quite difficult for you."

David nodded and sat down. A good thing, too, since his legs were close to giving out on him because of all the pacing he'd done since he called Lara's father. "I just...it's just so petty. I mean, she manages to survive all sorts of plots and traps only to be felled by..."

"Dave, go get some sleep. You've been through a lot."

"I'm staying RIGHT HERE, Cordelia. I want to be here if...WHEN Lara wakes up."

"Excuse me?"

David opened his eyes, pulling himself awake. He sat up in the chair he'd been occupying. "Yes?" Next to him, Lord Henshingly Croft also stirred.

"Miss Croft is awake and wants to see you."

David nearly exploded with relief and got out of his chair so fast, it seemed as if the chair he'd occupied was an ejection seat. Lord Henshingly got up and addressed the doctor. "How is she?"

"She's just fine. A mild concussion, we'll need to keep her under observation for a few days, but when the swelling goes down, she'll be fine."

David silently sent a 'thank you' Upwards and followed Lara's father to the hospital room. When the door opened and he heard Lara's voice, he sighed in relief.

"What happened, auntie?'

"You fell and hit your head, dear girl. But you'll be alright soon. You just need to get some rest." Cordelia smiled, kissing Lara's hand. "We're just so glad you're alright." She turned as the door opened and smiled even wider as Lord Henshingly and David walked in. "I know that someone here is VERY happy to know that you're all right."

"Father!" Lara said happily and Lord Henshingly leaned over to hug her.

"My precious daughter...I'm so happy you're well."

David was close to tears as he moved up to the bed. Lara looked at him as he took her head and stroked it. "Lara, I'm sorry...I promise, no more marathon cooking in the kitchen."

"Well...that's all well and good, but..." Lara looked at David for a long time.

"But what?"

"...who ARE you?" Lara finished, mystified.

"It's David, dear," Cordelia said gently. "the man you've told us so much about."

"How could I have done that?" Lara turned to David. "I've never seen you before in my entire life!"

David backed away a step and sat down.

On the floor.

HARD.

David and the rest of the family got up from their chairs in the waiting room as the doctor came forward. "Doc, what is it?"

"Textbook case of partial amnesia."

"AMNESIA??" Cordelia asked. "Then how did she remember us and not David?"

"Partial amnesia, Lady Croft. She remembers everything up to a particular date, more than a decade ago. The last thing she remembers is being on a plane and then the plane going down. Everything after that is a blur."

"The crash in the Himalayas..." Lord Henshingly said thoughtfully.

"Correct. The impact must've found some connection with that crash and erased her memory after that event, quite possibly to spare her more trauma."

"Will she ever get her memory back?"

"Hard to say. The human mind is still a mystery to us, Lord Henshingly Croft. She may get her memory back five seconds, five days or five years from now...or she might never get it back. Usually, certain stimuli can regenerate loss of memory; going someplace important to her, a face, a smell, even another blow to the head."

"We'll pass on the last idea, thank you. Can she come home?" David asked hopefully.

"Certainly. The nurse is bringing her down now." The doctor turned as he heard the elevator chime and the doors open...

David blinked as Lara sat calmly in the wheelchair. He was sure that Lara would kick up another fuss, considering the way she acted the LAST time she was in a wheelchair, but she was very calm and composed as she approached them. When the wheelchair stopped, Lara stood up slowly and regarded her family and David. "I wish to go home now, Father."

"Certainly. Come along, Lara, we'll take you back to the manor." Lord Henshingly walked to the limo and the chauffeur opened the door. The family dispersed to their own vehicles and David started to climb in behind Lara when he felt the door hit him in the side.

"OW!"

Lara looked up at David. "Father, is this...man...coming home with us as well?"

Lord Henshingly sighed. "I have a great deal to tell you, daughter."

By the time Lara's father finished, they were driving up the road to Lara's manor house. "I can scarcely believe it. Surviving a plane crash? Going out into heaven-knows-what to search musty old graves for treasure? Becoming an archaeologist?" Lara shook her head. "Sounds more like grave robbery to me. And he and I were together? Him?" Lara looked at David. "I had no taste."

David felt like sinking into the floor.

"Now, Lara, don't be so hard on David. You yourself told me how dear he was to you, how many times you've rescued each other over the time you've known each other."

"He's an AMERICAN," Lara said in disgust.

"He's a MAN, daughter, a man of character and integrity. There are few of his like around and I approve of him. You will, too, once you remember your lost years."

"I'm not sure I want to. He sounds like an uncultured..."

"Are you calling me a liar, daughter?!" Lord Henshingly demanded.

Lara shut up.

"Look, Lord Henshingly, maybe I'd better..."

"David, I think very highly of you, so unless you'd like that to change, please be quiet and allow me to have a talk with my daughter."

David shut up.

"Daughter, I know this is going to come as a shock to you, but after that plane crash in the Himalayas, you became a different person. You were self-sufficient, bold, reckless, driven to excellence in all things, particularly archaeology. You were your own woman, and you lived life to its fullest. Don't put that aside now. It's important that you embrace this if you are to become that woman once again."

Outside, Lara nodded in agreement, but inside, she had serious doubts. Maybe I don't WANT to become that woman again, if it means I put myself in horrible situations and associate with such horrid people. I'd be much better off being the way I am now. "I will try, Father."

"And always remember, Lara...I love you very much, no matter what."

"I love you too, Father." What a relief. If I decide NOT to return to my old life, Father won't be angry with me.

"And here we are."

The limo stopped and everyone got out. Lara looked up at the huge manor house and at the grounds. "My...what a huge place! And this is mine, you say?"

"Every room."

"Good! I can't wait to explore it! Ta ta, father!" Lara strode off towards the front doors as David and Lord Henshingly watched. David sighed.

"What's wrong, David?"

"What's wrong? The woman I love is now a lost memory and the replacement is a snotty little...BRAT. She doesn't remember a thing about me and would rather lose me in a crowd than put up with me."

"Have hope, David. She may come to her senses soon."

"I hope I'm still around to appreciate it." David walked towards the front doors. As he did, he looked up at the grand manor that used to look so much like home. Now it looked more like Castle Frankenstein.

Lara walked out of the kitchen. "Such a grand place! I do believe I'm going to like it here!" Her eyes came to rest on David as he walked in the doors. "And who let YOU in?"

David discovered that he was going to have to exercise a great deal of self-restraint for the foreseeable future. "I live here, Lara. I do have a set of keys to this place, you know. You gave them to me yourself."

"I was right. I had no taste." Lara sighed. "But I did promise Father that I would TRY to remember my old life, so I guess I shall have to endure having you as my guide down Memory Lane." Lara passed by a mirror in the hall, stopped, then looked at herself in horror. "I look DREADFUL! My hair's a wreck and...oh, this will not do at all!" She turned to David again. "What was your name again?"

David felt as if someone put a few hundred pounds of lead in his stomach. "David. David Connors."

"Well, Mr. Connors, I suppose there is some evidence of our association together? Pictures, photographs, that sort of thing?"

"Better. Videos."

"All right, then. I'm going upstairs to freshen up. I'll be down in, oh...make it two hours. It'll take that long to fix this travesty...did the old Lara ever use anything sensible, like makeup or a proper conditioner?"

"No," David gritted. "She didn't need help to look beautiful."

"That's the problem with you Americans. You have such low standards." Lara went to the stairs and walked up the steps. "Where is that butler of mine? BUTLER!! What is his name, Mr. Connors?"

"Mannfred," David said, a subtle edge in his voice.

"MANNFRED!! Where are you??"

Mannfred walked out of the northern upstairs hall. "Yes, Lady Croft?"

"There you are! You're going to have to do much better than that if I'm going to keep you on. Age is no excuse for tardiness. Now, I want you to make up a proper meal, and have it ready in three hours. Something befitting my station and new standards. Ring when dinner is ready. I'll be in my room." Lara then strode upstairs to her room.

Mannfred sighed. "Your warning did not do the matter full credit, Master David. I think I prefer the old Lady Croft better."

"So do I, Mannfred. So do I."

Lara came back down the stairs three hours and forty-one minutes later. She was wearing a modest frock with her hair laying loose and wavy down her back, makeup on her face. Lara felt MUCH better. "Mannfred!!"

The old butler came out of the kitchen. "Yes, Lady Croft?"

"Why did you not ring for me?"

"I did, my Lady. Several times."

"Then get a bigger bell." Lara had heard the bell, but she was loath to come down to see David any sooner than was absolutely necessary. "And what is for dinner?"

"Your favorite, Lady Croft. Filet Mignon, Caesar salad with prawns, baked potato with garlic and sour cream and bread."

"Hmmm...I suppose you made some for that Connors person as well."

"Yes, Lady Croft."

"I suppose it can't be helped." Lara walked into the dining room where David was already serving himself. "Mr. Connors!"

David looked up. "Holy...what happened to YOU?"

"What? Did my old self never put on makeup before dinner?"

"Not with a PAINT-SPRAYER, she didn't. You look like a raccoon caught in an exploding paint store!"

"Hmpph!!" Lara sat down to eat. "I don't see why I should send you away immediately!"

"Before your little accident, Lara put me in charge of the finances because she wanted more time to write her books. All of your accounts have my name on them as well. So unless you want to wade through paperwork to find out who to pay to keep the electricity and other bills..."

"Balderdash! Why would I have done something STUPID like that?? The idea! An AMERICAN in charge of my money! So tell me, Mr. Accountant, how much money have I LOST while under your sterling care?"

"Actually, I've done some investing and your fortune is up 18% over the fiscal year, with a great deal of it in high-yield CDs, T-bills and stock in some local businesses."

Lara stared at David. "So...what am I worth?"

At the moment, not a damn thing. "Just eat. Your food's getting cold. I'll tell you later."

"Oooh!!" Lara stamped her foot and began to eat, grudgingly admitting that her meal was quite good. I'll get rid of this man, but I'll keep the butler around for a while longer...

"Ready for your walk down Memory Lane?" David asked, managing a smile.

"Let's just get this over with..." Lara muttered.

David frowned. "Fine, just for that, I'm not sharing my popcorn with you." David turned down the lights in the den and hit the PLAY button on the remote. "We met while picking up an amusing little trinket that supposedly could give a vampire even more power, called the Chalice of Cain," he said as a clip of Lara giving a lecture on the Chalice at Oxford. "We were at odds for a while..."

"THAT I can well believe."

"...but after I saved your life when a cathedral nearly fell on us, we became friends. Not good ones, yet, though...that didn't happen until after I took you out on a date in New York at a museum."

"A museum? How boring."

"Actually it wasn't that boring. Someone tried to kill us both." The scene on the TV switched to a news clip of David, carrying an unconscious Lara and leaving the museum. Later on, a news clip on Lara and David accepting a commendation from the mayor.

"Does everyone want to kill us?" Lara asked, horrified.

"Not EVERYONE..." David filled her in on the life she had before David...luckily, Lara kept her video files about lectures, university appearances and personal documentation well organized. Everything from her school days at the university to articles and documentaries about the discoveries she made, including finding evidence of the Himalayan Yeti, the Ark of the Covenant and the Scions of Atlantis. "After those victories, you went on to write books about your experiences, where you made the bulk of your fortune."

"You never did tell me how much I'm worth now."

David sighed. "You're worth about...maybe four hundred million right now."

Lara's eyes widened. "Four...HUNDRED...MILLION???"

"A lot of it is in property, stocks and investments, but yeah, that much. The books you wrote are up on that shelf. Feel free to look over your work, it might help you remember. Now, from the time we went on to other adventures, with the Dagger of Xian, but mostly dealing with some rather powerful individuals who would've liked to see you occupying space in the Croft Family plot. Jacqueline Natla, Nick Maas, Leo Daglione...but we managed to survive them all." David cut off the video and turned up the lights.

"That's quite a history you've shown me, Mr. Connors. I shall have to take some time and read some of these books and review my old self's adventures. But it's getting late and I'm quite tired."

"Sure, no problem..." David set down the remote and walked over to Lara. "I'll see you in the morning, then. Good night, Lara."

"Good night, Mr. Connors."

David went to the guest bedroom and closed the door behind him. Who knows...? Maybe I got through to her tonight, at least a little. And you've gotta start somewhere.

Lara got to her room and closed the door. It all felt so surreal to her; losing the memory of an entire life. "Amazing...I must have changed so much..."

The phone rang and Lara picked it up. "Hello?"

"Lara! Dear girl! How are you?"

Lara smiled as she remembered the voice. "Juliano! How have you been?"

"It must be so terrible. Charles told me all about it. Isn't it so strange?"

"Yes, not to mention troublesome."

"Yes, Charles told me all about that American living under your roof. Can't you just give him the boot?"

"I can't. I apparently gave him a great deal of control over my finances. I can't legally get rid of him."

"Well, dear girl, I can have my lawyers look into it in the morning. In the meantime, we have a lot to catch up on. I've been hearing a lot about your adventures."

"Yes, indeed. But I'm putting an end to that. I'm well-off enough to live in comfort for the rest of my life; that Connors fellow is good for THAT, at least."

"Lara, do you remember that little ski lodge up in the Alps? Just the two of us?"

Lara smiled dreamily. "How could I forget?"

She and Juliano spent the next two hours talking on the phone...and planned to talk again.

Two weeks later.

David was pacing the floor and very close to climbing the walls. Lara had been gone the entire weekend, no phone call, no note, no nothing to explain why or where. Mannfred was unable to provide help, since Lara was not very communicative to him either, unless it was giving orders to him. David had also noted a drastic change in Lara's spending habits. She had developed an interest in high fashion, spending thousands of dollars for new clothes and tossing out all her old clothes. She also had "invested" in five brand-new sports cars, "simply because I needed something to drive around town in," as she put it. Lara was also changing a great deal about the house. As David waited, workmen were out dismantling the assault course and putting in a pair of tennis courts! Her gun cabinets had been cleaned out and all of her weapons were sold off to make room for the extra closet space.

David was learning Latin as a result...he was beginning to understand the nuances of the words persona non grata.

He heard a car skid to a stop in front of the house and stormed out to find Lara and a handsome man exiting the car. "...can't believe it! A yacht with gold fittings?"

"Ridiculous, isn't it? One can't even BEGIN to..." The man's voice trailed off as he saw David come outside. "Oh look, the gardener. Here, my good man, kindly park Lady Croft's car in the garage and give it a good cleaning." He tossed the keys to David and started to walk through the main doors.

David held up a hand and the stranger stopped, waiting. David smiled, moved his arm back and hurled the keys into the water fountain. The man watched as the keys made a SPLOOSH as they hit the water, then turned back to David.

"Now who the devil do you...wait. YOU must be David."

"Charmed. Who the hell are you??!"

"I am Juliano Montese, of the Liverpool Monteses."

David ignored him. "Lara, where have you been?? I've been worried sick...!"

"Mr. Connors, kindly leave."

David stopped. "WHAT?"

"Juliano and I have some business to discuss, so if you will excuse us..." Lara waved him off. David took one look at the both of them, threw up his hands and stormed off. Lara smiled and led Juliano into the house. "mmmmm...that was a lovely time. The Alps looked so wonderful."

"Yes...next time, we may have to actually go outside and do some skiing there."

Lara giggled. "Oh, I've had such a WONDERFUL time, Juliano. I just wish I could get rid of that Connors person."

Juliano frowned. "I have some bad news for you, Lara. According to what my lawyers told me, David is part owner of your investments, thanks to some misguided generosity on your part."

"You mean...I'll never be free of him? There's no way to get my money back?"

"There is one way. According to the contracts you signed with David Connors, if one of you dies, the other will inherit the entire fortune."

"Drat the luck. That Mr. Connors is far too healthy to..." Lara's voice trailed off. "You aren't thinking of...?"

"It's either that or live with him the rest of our lives."

"Our?"

"Yes." Juliano went down on one knee and held up a small box. "Lara Croft, will you marry me?"

"Marry? Why, Juliano, this is so sudden!! I can't answer now!"

"But think of it, Lara...my considerable fortune mingled with your own. We'll be billionaires! And all we have to do is get rid of one pesky American and it's all ours. No one will question you; you're one of the richest women in England! No one will imagine that you had a motive. All I have to do is furnish us with an alibi, and David Connors will trouble us no more! Think of it!" he said insistently.

Lara looked into Juliano's eyes, saw the energy there, and thought about all the problems she could rid herself of if David died. No more having to account to him about the way she lived... Lara saw all the money and said, "Juliano, I accept."

"The marriage proposal or putting David out of our misery?"

Lara smiled.

David came in later after seeing Juliano leave. "Lara? We've gotta talk."

"About what?" Lara asked idly. "I don't see why I have to justify myself to you."

"Dammit, Lara, this is serious! You're spending your fortune like it was Monopoly money. What about that offer from your friends at Cambridge? I thought they said they might have a cure for your condition."

"I'm not sure...it seems kind if risky to me."

"Yeah, and I just figured out why. You don't want to return to your old life, do you?" David said accusingly.

"Now, David...that's a pretty strong..."

"Spare me." David had reached the breaking point. "You don't give a shit about me, or your old life, or your family, or ANYTHING. All you care about is that Juliano creep! That, and spending money. Well, I've had it. You are a shallow, superficial little girl in a woman's body and I'm tired of it. If you want to ruin your life, go ahead. I don't care anymore." David said the words, but he knew that the last sentence was a lie. "I'm going back to New York tomorrow. When you finally come to your senses, give me a call."

Lara stood there as David vented his disappointment and rage, unable to speak. The force of his emotion took all thoughts of defending herself away. She couldn't even manage a sound until well after he left the room. Lara stood there for a few moments, collecting herself. I'd better call Juliano...HE'LL know what to do. She ran to the phone and dialed. A moment later, the other end picked up.

"Hello?"

"Juliano! We've got a problem! David's planning on leaving tomorrow!"

A moment of silence, then, "Then we've got to do it tonight."

"Tonight!! But, Juliano..."

"We have no choice. If he leaves now, he'll take your money away from you. Do you want that??"

"Juliano, I..."

"Do you want that?!"

"No...no, of course not." Lara felt sick. This wasn't the way it was supposed to happen! It's all moving too fast...

"Then we have to do it tonight. I'll be there in five hours. Don't worry about anything, Lara, I'll take care of you. I'll take care of everything. All you have to do is stay in your room. It'll look like a burglar broke in and David surprised him. Nothing will go wrong."

"A...alright. I love you, Juliano."

Click.

Lara hung up the phone and curled up on the bed. All I have to do is stay here. Juliano will take care of everything. He'll take care of everything. She lay there for a long time, waiting and afraid.

Waiting for the gunshot that would solve everything.

David walked through the foyer that night, looking around at the dim halls. He took another drink of his beer and walked to the Pool Room, sitting down on a bench next to the water. He thought back to the times that he and Lara had enjoyed chasing each other around the house...gone now. David looked up to the ceiling and growled, "How the hell could you do this to me, God? How could you put two women I love in my life and then take them away from me again? You BASTARD..." He finished off the beer and threw the empty can into the water, wiping his lips. "I don't care what you do to me from now on, just don't let me fall in love again, okay? The women I fall for don't deserve what you'll put them through!"

Then he heard a crash from upstairs.

Some of the haze in his mind cleared and he instinctively reached for the gun in his shoulder holster. At that point, he realized that he wasn't WEARING a shoulder holster. David cursed and went to the door. The house was quiet for a few minutes longer, then came another crash.

The attic.

David crept up the stairs to his room, taking each step slowly and carefully. He successfully got to his room and opened up the door.

As soon as he turned on the light, he knew his room had been rifled. David noted the dresser, the desk...subtle signs were left behind that others couldn't see, but David's trained eye could. The shoes next to his dresser had been moved and the top drawer was open a little less than an inch. David went to the dressed and opened the third drawer from the top.

His gun was missing.

Lara heard the shattering glass and it startled her, letting a small cry escape from her lips. She froze, as if she had woken up from a nightmare and was unsure if she'd escaped it yet. Then came a louder crash and she tried to hide her head underneath the quilt.

Then it occurred to her. It's Juliano.

She suddenly felt safer and she got out of bed, her curiosity getting the better of her. She sneaked to the door and opened it just a crack. Through the sliver, she could see David walking away from her door, heading for the stairs leading to the attic.

David crept up each stair, pausing ten seconds between each step. He slowly reached for the door and opened it a few inches.

That's when the hand grabbed him and pulled him inside.

He was thrown to the floor and the light in the attic came on, momentarily blinding him. A foot connected with his midsection and he rolled onto his back. When his eyes cleared, he saw Juliano looking down at him. "Good evening, Mr. Connors. Out for a stroll?"

"You bastard..."

"Surprised?"

"Not really." His eyes focused completely and he saw the guns in Juliano's hands.

"Try not to move, Mr. Connors. I still may not kill you, but try not to pressure me to do anything you won't enjoy. Back up against that wall, Connors. Nice and slow."

"Lara's not going to like the idea of shooting inside the house. She hates the noise now."

"She'll like it THIS time. Once you're dead, she'll have all her money back."

"So? Lara's not obsessed with money, unlike you."

"That's what YOU think, Mr. Connors."

David's back was now against the cold stone. "I wonder if she'd be so happy once she found out about you."

"She knows everything she needs to know about me."

"That's right, David."

David's head spun to see Lara Croft walking over to Juliano and slipping her arms around him. The sight of Lara and Juliano together made David's head spin even more. "What the hell are you DOING?"

"I'm cashing you out, Mr. Connors. I'm through with all your attempts to force me to become that...that other Lara. I'm this Lara Croft, and that's how I'm going to stay, at least until Juliano and I get married. Then I'll be more than happy to become Lady Lara Montese."

David found himself choking, but he still managed to speak. "You knew about this? You knew that he was planning to kill me?"

"Of course I knew...we came up with the plan together, after all."

"You mean, when he came up with the plan and you followed along." David spat.

"No, we came up with it together."

"Yeah...that's what all con-artists want you to think."

Lara narrowed her eyes as Juliano said, "That's enough talk, Mr. Connors. It's time to die."

"Wait, Juliano."

Juliano turned to look at Lara in surprise. "Why?"

"I want to hear what he has to say."

Juliano's cool demeanor began to fray. "Why? All he's going to do is lie to save his own skin."

"Sounds a lot like you, Mr. Montese...or is that just the name you're going by now?"

Both Lara and Juliano turned back to David. "What?" Lara asked.

"Juliano Montese, also known as Juliano Cartwright, alias Julian Mancuso, alias Julian Banks. Montese is your real name, but you've used those other names before, haven't you, while you've been running your scams."

"Scams??" Lara asked. Juliano frowned as her embrace began to weaken.

"Yeah, Lara, since he's going to kill me, you might as well know the man you're about to marry. He's been married before. Four or five times. Police are looking for him all over Europe. He weds rich women, particularly the old and the vulnerable, and marries them for their money. Once they're married and he has control of the assets, he divorces them and spends the money or gambles it away...he certainly got lucky with you, Lara, you're still young enough for him to enjoy you before he gets rid of you."

"Where did you get your information, Mr. Connors? From some television show?" Juliano asked.

"That's right, Lara couldn't have told you since she really doesn't seem to listen when I told her about myself. I guess she lost interested before the part where I told her that I used to be a New York cop, and then a private detective. By the way, Lara, I've come to a revelation about why he wants me dead. He told you that the only way to get all your money back was to kill me, right? Well you're WRONG. All you needed to do was ask me. I bet Juliano never told you THAT part, did he? But then, those are the breaks when you think everyone is as money-hungry as you, Lara."

Juliano shot a dirty look to Lara, about to ask her how she could've neglected to mention that pertinent piece of data when he noticed her looking at him with less-than-adoring looks. "Is any of what he's saying true?"

"Not a word. He's just making all this up. It's not going to help you, Mr. Connors. I think we can all agree that Mr. Connors is quite the storyteller, but it's not going to hel..."

Juliano suddenly stopped as an aluminum baseball bat slammed into his gut, causing him to drop his guns. While Juliano had been talking, David had inched over to a box that he himself had put in the attic a long time ago. It was a box that held many personal items from his office...and he used to enjoy playing baseball on the precinct baseball team. Lara leaped back with a short scream as David lunged at the stunned Juliano, forcing him back towards the entrance to the attic. They both tumbled down the stairs, grappling with each other, parting only when they hit the bottom of the stairs and made hard contact with the banister behind them. Juliano got to his feet first, breathing hard, and he savagely kicked David in the midsection twice. David tried to roll away from the beating, managing to get to a crouch when the foot came at him for the third time.

Juliano's triumphant smile vanished as David caught the ankle with both hands. David looked up at Juliano, spared him a brief smile, then stood up and pulled upwards with all his strength. Juliano yelled as he pitched over the banister, flipping completely and landing hard on the next level of the stairway below. David looked over the edge. Juliano had landed on his feet hard, but he was still able to balance himself and stay upright. David yelled and leaped over the banister, ready to give him the beating he had wanted to give Juliano for the longest time...

A shot rang out and a bullet entered the floor by David's feet. He stopped and both men looked up to see Lara Croft, holding Juliano's discarded guns in both hands and pointing the one in her left hand at David. "Don't MOVE, Mr. Connors, or I shall be forced to put a rather large bullet into your brain."

David backed up as Juliano got to his feet, swaying slightly. "Haven't you heard a word I've said? This guy's a con artist and a murderer!"

"It doesn't matter...I KNOW Juliano, he's..."

"You mean you knew Juliano. That was over twelve years ago, and he's not the charming man you knew. He's a snake in an Italian suit and deep down, you know it. You'll never trust him the way you trusted me, never love him the way you loved me."

"I can live with that.," Lara said levelly.

"Then go ahead and do it, Lara. But you'd better use both guns...because if you don't kill me right off, I'm not going to give you another chance."

"Don't tell me, that after all the time we've had together, you'd kill the woman you loved?" Lara said mockingly, cruelty turning her hideous as she brought up the other hand.

"If you pull those triggers, Lara, you'll prove to me that the woman I loved is gone."

Lara sighted in with both guns. "You're right, Mr. Connors, this is MUCH better..."

Juliano frowned as he heard Lara's voice trail off. "Well, Lara, what are you waiting for? This is the moment you've been waiting for, to get your riches back."

"Juliano, darling?"

"Yes, Lara?"

"SHUT THE HELL UP."

Juliano's face went slack as he looked up to find that Lara was now pointing the guns at HIM. "But, Lara darling..."

"Don't you 'Lara darling' ME, you reprehensible cad. I ought to have my head examined for listening to you for longer than a second."

"Lara? Is that...?" David asked, hope rising in him.

"Yes, Dave...and I have a lot of apologizing to you, not to mention a few other people, but right now, I think you'd better call the constables."

When Lara took her eyes off Juliano, he saw his chance and bolted away, running down the stairs at high speed.

"Damn!" Lara fired both guns at Juliano, putting a bullet into his left leg. He tumbled down the stairs, but managed to get to his feet. David and Lara hotfooted it down the stairs as Juliano ran to the door...

And got a serving tray right in his face as he ran past the doorway to the kitchen.

David and Lara got to Juliano's unconscious form as Mannfred stepped out and looked at the warped silver tray. "I fear that the tray is ruined, Lady Croft."

Lara smiled. "And I fear I have no choice but to raise your salary."

EPILOGUE

David found Lara sitting by the pool, watching the water refract the light in shimmering waves of brightness across the ceiling. "How are you doing, sunshine?"

"I feel wretched. I acted like a complete..."

"Bitch?" David said helpfully.

"Thank you. I became a money-hungry, shallow shrew. My family probably doesn't want to see me."

"Don't worry about it. They're an understanding bunch, although I still owe Chuckers for spilling the beans to that sociopath. Next time, I use plastique instead of paint in his car."

Lara laughed bitterly. "Don't remind me..."

"You're still hung up over almost shooting me, aren't you?"

"What do YOU think??" Lara wiped her eyes. "If I hadn't gotten my memory back...I don't know what I would've done. I think I would've gone mad if..." Lara turned to David. "How can you even look at me, knowing what I almost did?"

"That wasn't you, Lara. That was someone else, from a long time ago, and she's gone. She's been gone for a long time and she's not coming back. I don't blame you." David smiled. "You just weren't yourself lately."

"There's an understatement for you." Lara sighed. "Did Mannfred tell you that I'm going to see a doctor about this in the morning?"

"Yep. Do you want me to come along?"

"I...I'd like that, Dave. It might help."

"Then of course I'll come along. By the way, Lara, I've already called the contractors. They're going to dismantle the tennis courts and put the assault course back in...with a few added attractions I put in to make things more interesting."

"Thank you, David. I'm going to need to get back in shape...weeks of living well has given me some unnecessary weight to get rid of."

"Now, I thought we weren't going to discuss Juliano."

"Don't remind me. Ugh. To think I actually...I shall have to shower for a month to get the stench of him off me." Lara noticed David's look. "I'm sorry."

"Don't be," David said, only halfway meaning it. "I also talked to a gent in New York who'll be able to bring your collection of firearms back up to snuff. The grenade launcher, too. Now come on, Lara...come to bed." David got up.

"In a few...I'll be up soon."

"Don't be too long...it's been some time since we've been together, after all." Dave walked out of the Pool Room and went upstairs. Lara looked down into the water and turned off the pool light. As she walked out, she turned back to the pool and, for a moment, she saw her reflection in the surface, illuminated by the overhead lights. The reflection looked distorted, but all too familiar.

For a moment, she thought she heard it say, "Come on, Lara, you can't get rid of me that easily...I'll always be here, waiting for you to return so you can..."

A slipper hit the water hard, scattering the reflection into a hundred ripples.

"No, I CAN get rid of you...and I have. You're a ghost, a shade that never will be. I am Lara Croft, not you, and I couldn't possibly be happier to get rid of you for good and for all. Goodbye, my other self. Kindly forget to write."

With that said, Lara Croft went upstairs. She didn't look back.