A.N. Here's the next chapter to Look Out. The other chapters for Finally and Moving On are coming right up. Enjoy!

Disclaimer: I do not own Sailor Moon or any of its characters. They all belong to Naoko Takeuchi, DiC, and Toei Animation. Any other similarities of this story to any others are pure coincidence.

Quote: "God stands winding His lonely horn, and time and the world are ever in flight; and love is less kind than the gray twilight, and hope is less dear than the dew of the morn." – William Butler Yeats

Title: Look Out

Chapter: Nine

Author: Icess

Mina had trouble sleeping that night. No wonder why. 'I can't take this anymore… I have to tell her.' Mina agonized over how to tell Serena that she knew whom the stalker/murderer was. They had all known each other for years. He'd been a good friend of Darien's in high school. Hell, he'd even taken Serena to the prom when Darien had told Serena no and laughed in her face. Then, suddenly after graduation, he'd disappeared. No one had seen or heard from him since that day.

"I can't believe that he'd actually want to hurt her…" And yet, she could believe that he would. All of these women had such great success, and they were only women. Which was his way of thinking… women weren't supposed to be successful. The men were supposed to make the money and take care of the women. He was jealous! Mina laughed to herself.

She rose from her bed and grabbed her robe. Heading towards the kitchenette of her hotel room, she made a steaming mug of Nighttime tea. She would relax and wait until she finally felt that she could fall asleep. There was a knock on her door and she glanced at the watch on her wrist. 'Who would be here at 11 o'clock at night?' She asked herself, she could feel herself getting angry already.

When she looked through the peep - hole, she went pale and gulped. Pulling the door open, she said in a shaky voice, "Hi Darien… what are you doing here?" Darien didn't bother with a greeting and just pushed his way past her and into the room. He was quiet for several tense seconds. Mina started to fidget, then he decided to break the silence.

"You know something about the case that we don't Mina. Who is it? Who do you know that would do such a thing?" He demanded as he started to pace back and forth in front of her angrily.

"Well, I have no idea what you are talking about Darien. How would I know about a murder case?" She said with more guts than she thought she actually had. Darien's gaze narrowed and he scrutinized her. She actually felt like he was picking through her brain, sorting through everything that she wasn't telling him.

"I'm serious Mina. You're withholding VERY valuable evidence. Tell me, and we can catch this guy… he won't ever hurt anyone again." He pleaded gently.

"You really don't want to know, Darien. You were friends with him…" She drifted off. "You wouldn't even believe me if I told you anyway."

"Try me. Nothing surprises me these days. I knew him, did I? When? I don't think that I would socialize with a serial killer." He stated. Mina knew that she should tell him. But then that would give him reason to come after her. She didn't feel that she should put herself at risk.

Even as she said this, she was voicing her opinion to Darien. "I'm really scared Darien. What if he found out that I told you and decided to come after me? Or even Andrew? I can't do that." She said brokenly.

"It's called protective custody Mina. For you and Andrew both. That's where I plan on putting Serena once she is released from the hospital. The three of you can be together until he's caught. Please Mina, I'm begging you. Tell me who this bastard is so he doesn't kill anyone else."

"His name is…" Mina said, albeit a bit reluctantly.

Lita sat vigil over Serena the entire night. Never once falling asleep. Even when she did fall asleep, it was light and she heard everything going on around her. Her pistol was clutched in her right hand where she had it hidden under her sweatshirt as to not frighten the nighttime nurses that came in to check on Serena.

Serena's sleep was fitful, never once waking up. When she finally did wake up, the sun was shining brightly through the drapes in the room and the rays of the sun illuminated the two people occupying the couch next to the window. Lita had her head leaned back against the sofa with her pistol still clutched in her hand. Darien was snoring softly with his chin resting on his chest. His hair had fallen over his forehead so that his face was hidden.

She cleared her throat softly and immediately the two of them awoke and scanned the room. Their eyes landed on hers and she smiled at them. They smiled back. No words were said, but the way Darien was looking at her made her want to look away. In his eyes was the look was pure rage. Right then and there, she knew that they had a major break in the case. "You found something out?" She asked lightly although she was shaking in fear.

Her two friends nodded. Lita was the one to speak. "Yes, we've discovered the identity of the man who did this to you…" She stopped speaking so that Serena could brace herself. "His name is Joel McClintock. The very same Joel McClintock that escorted you to prom. The very same Joel McClintock that was like a brother to Darien all those years." Serena's eyes widened and she looked to Darien for confirmation. He nodded grimly and she closed her eyes in horror. Joel McClintock. Who would have thought?

A.N. Yes, I know. Uneventful to the core. The next chapter will definitely be a lot better!

Written On: May 26, 2004

Revamped On: August 18, 2005