Lucifer had rather enjoyed his most recent assignment from the Detective, and dragging his confusing brother along had been a stroke of genius. Amendieal hasn't been acting like himself lately. He seemed so worried about their mom still being on earth, yet he hadn't flown her back to hell. Amendieal said he couldn't fly her to hell which confused Lucifer even more. Won't fly her back was one thing, but can't didn't make sense.

The information Lucifer and Dan had gathered at the illegal sex club did give them a lead. When they tracked down the guy who'd paid for the poisoned drinks, the first thing he did was almost puke on Lucifer's shoes. It turned out he was sick because he'd finished one of the poisoned drinks without realizing they were spiked, which ruled him out as the killer. However, he was able to tell them about the third girl. He couldn't give them the real name of the woman, but when he showed them a picture Lucifer recognized her as the victim's neighbour, even though she was wearing a wig.

Without wasting time, they headed back to the apartment complex of the two dead women and their killer. Lucifer looked up the woman on her social media accounts while Chloe was driving. Where had this phone been all his life? Lucifer didn't know. It had been wasted before when he'd only used it for texting and calling. Really that was the least impressive thing this device could do.

When they arrived the killer was packing her stuff into boxes, claiming she had a flight to catch in an hour. Lucifer began to explain things to the killer calmly, just to make sure she knew she was caught, but all the calmness left him when the woman put an exacto knife to Chloe's throat.

Lucifer felt that instinctual panic again. He was almost getting used to the feeling, as it seemed to happen any time Chloe was in danger, and she had quite the dangerous job. He wanted to move forward and act, but Chloe held up a hand to stop him.

"Is this the part where you wish I had a gun, Detective?" Lucifer asked, trying not to show his worry.

"Shut up," Chloe said. "I got this." Then she addressed the woman with the exacto knife to her throat. "You took advantage of those girls, and pretended to be their friend."

"They called me," the woman went on. "They were desperate for my help. They wanted to know everything, where to hike, how to get an apartment."

"And in return you preyed on them," Chloe said. "Trying to make money by bringing in newbies."

"I should have made it by now!" the woman exclaimed. "LA was supposed to be easy."

Just then Lucifer's phone went off, and Chloe took advantage of the distraction. The tight feeling in Lucifer's chest completely disappeared once the Detective had the other lady in handcuffs.

"You know with her going away and those two dead I believe there is an apartment vacancy," Lucifer said cheerfully.

"I'm not moving into a dead girl's apartment," Chloe replied.

"Of course not," Lucifer said. "The killer's is much nicer."

Chloe just rolled her eyes at him as he'd expected her too. Even so, he felt sure she'd at least consider the idea. Lucifer was still enjoying the relief he felt at Chloe no longer being in danger.

With the case solved it wasn't long before Lucifer found himself back at his penthouse. Even if he'd never say it outloud, it was always bittersweet when they solved a murder. Lucifer enjoyed punishing the guilty, but a case solved meant more time away from Chloe. Lucifer much preferred it when she was around to when she wasn't.

Lucifer was sitting at his piano, just plucking at the keys in no particular order. He hadn't decided what song he wanted to play yet when the elevator door opened to reveal a very hung over Amenadiel.

"Bad case of the distractions, brother?" Lucifer chuckled. Amenadiel didn't reply but simply laid on the couch. "Judging by your lunatic dancing I fear my distraction advice may have created a whole new set of problems."

"No more distractions," Amenadiel said. "No more turning a blind eye." He sat up on the couch and looked at Lucifer before continuing. "We both know Dad is not going to forgive and forget that you broke a deal with him. No distraction is going to change that."

"I said I'd punish mom and I am. I'm just doing it here on earth," Lucifer said, clinging to his loophole.

"What if Dad doesn't like your loophole?" Amenadiel asked.

Real panic started rising in Lucifer. He could feel the tightening in his chest. He didn't want to think about this.

"What deal did you make?" Amenadiel asked. "What could possibly be so important?"

"Not a what," Lucifer said. He knew he had to tell Amenadiel even if he couldn't tell the Detective. Amenadiel was probably his best hope at fixing this situation if it indeed could be fixed. "A who."

It didn't take more than that for his brother to figure it out. Amenadial stood up and looked down on Lucifer like the warrior of God that he was before speaking. "You made a deal for Chloe's life!" his brother accused him.

"Don't look at me like that," Lucifer defended himself. "It made a certain amount of sense at the time."

"You made a deal to return mom to hell in exchange for Chloe's life," Amenadiel confirmed.

"That's one interpretation," Lucifer replied. "Really nothing was said specifically."

"It's enough just to make it seem like you haven't held up your end," Amenadiel countered. "Dad could take back his side of the deal."

"Have you been talking to the Detective about this?" Lucifer asked.

"No. What? Why?"

"She asked me the same thing," Lucifer said in a small voice. "But He couldn't possibly care about a single human soul. Surely, Dad wouldn't take much interest."

"We can't know that, Luci," Amenadiel replied. "But wait, if she asked you the same thing, does that mean Chloe knows it was her life you bargained with?"

Lucifer shook his head. "She assumed it was my life I asked for, and I didn't correct her."

"Why would she assume that?" Amenadiel asked.

"Because I was dying when I made the deal," Lucifer replied. "And then suddenly I wasn't dead. It was an easy assumption to make."

"I just don't understand you lately," Amenadiel continued. "How could this one mortal matter more to you than your own life!?"

"I can't explain it," Lucifer replied. He felt like his whole body was shaking even though he knew that wasn't true. The tight feeling in his chest was back even without Chloe in danger before his eyes. Who would Dad send to carry out his repo? Would He come in person? What power did Lucifer have to save the Detective now? Would he really have to choose between his mother and Chloe?

"Maybe we should focus on what we can explain," Amenadiel began, but he was interrupted by Lucifer's phone ringing. "Really, Brother. Why do you even bother with those things?"

"They come in handy," Lucifer defended his phone. "You should get one. It would make contacting you far easier." He put the phone to his ear and said hello. The sound of the voice on the other line made Lucifer's blood run cold. Her voice was so weak, so small. Lucifer couldn't help picturing her dying in a ditch somewhere.

"Just wanted to let you know so you don't freak out later," Chloe's weak voice came through his phone speakers.

"What happened?" Lucifer said, his muscles tensing as if they were about to run.

"It was just a car accident," Chloe said. "I'm fine, but don't expect a call into work for a couple days, alright?"

"Where are you?" Lucifer asked urgently.

"At the hospital," Chloe replied. "As I said, I'm fine. I'll talk to you later." And she hung up the phone.

Lucifer's whole body felt primed for a fight as he looked up all the hospitals in LA on his phone. When that didn't work, he called the precinct and found someone more willing than Chloe to give him the information. After that, he was off. Breaking more speed limits than he'd ever tell her about, Lucifer drove to the hospital as fast as his angelic reflexes would allow. He barely even registered the fact that he'd left his brother mid conversation.

Lucifer just couldn't believe this was a normal car accident, not so soon after he'd broken his deal with Dad. No matter how much he'd wanted to believe his mother, maybe it would have been better if she'd just gone back to hell. Mother had already spent countless eons down there, what was another few in her lifespan, but Chloe… Chloe was different. Every one of her seconds was precious, and Lucifer would not have anyone take them from her.

Once he reached the hospital, finding Chloe's room wasn't difficult. Even without his desire trick, simple manners and charm went a long way with hospital staff.

"What are you doing here?" Chloe asked him once he was standing beside her bed. Lucifer just shrugged. He didn't have any words to express the way he was feeling. "I told you I was fine."

"Yes, well, still I thought I'd come check for myself," Lucifer replied. Having her in front of him, even if she was a little battered, was doing wonders at calming him.

"It was just a bump on the head," Chloe continued. "Didn't even get a concussion. You really didn't need to rush over here."

"Who said I rushed?" Lucifer scoffed, but Chloe just narrowed her eyes at him and pointed out how little time had passed from when she'd called him to when he'd shown up. "Right. Well okay, so I rushed. There's no law against that, right?"

"No," Chloe said smiling. Her smile somehow loosened the knots in his chest and Lucifer felt better. She was okay. Maybe he was just being paranoid.

"Well actually there are speeding laws," Chloe continued. "Which I'm sure you broke."

"Angelic reflexes," Lucifer replied, rather than directly admitting she was right about his speeding.

Nothing was said for a few moments and Lucifer noticed a chair near her bed. He sat in it. He was suddenly feeling quite exhausted. All that insane energy that had driven him here seemed to have been extinguished all at once. Lucifer didn't care to analyze it right now. Maybe Dr. Linda would try and make him later, but for now he was just going to sit here.

"You don't have to wait with me," Chloe said.

"I got nowhere else to be," Lucifer told her. This was true, but if he'd been completely honest it was more that he had nowhere else he'd rather be.

"I highly doubt that," Chloe scoffed.

"I make my own hours," Lucifer reminded her. "Self-employed, that is, when I'm not working with you."

"Even so, I'm sure there is somewhere else you'd rather be," Chloe continued.

"Not really," Lucifer replied. No matter how he tried to skirt around the truth it always seemed like Chloe found a way to get it out of him, even if she didn't realize she was doing it. She really was special, so intuitive and observant. "Actually this whole thing saved me from an uncomfortable conversation with my brother."

"How is your brother?" Chloe asked. "Now that he's not trying to bring back dirty cops or kill you back into hellish employment."

Lucifer chuckled at her phrasing. "Well said, Detective!" he exclaimed.

"I'm actually not so sure what's going on with Amenadiel right now," Lucifer admitted. "He says he can't send mom back to hell, which confuses me since he was the one to take her down there in the first place. Then when we were working the illegal sex club case Amenadiel got so drunk. It's really not like him."

"I thought angel's couldn't get drunk?" Chloe asked.

"They can't," Lucifer answered. "Not like a human can anyway. It would take more than enough alcohol to kill a human just to give me a short buzz, but I didn't think Amenadiel drank enough for that at the party unless I missed it"

"Do you think your brother is becoming vulnerable like you?" Chloe asked.

"I have no idea," Lucifer replied.

"Have you asked him?" Chloe inquired.

"Not directly," Lucifer said. The idea of his powerful brother becoming weak worried Lucifer in a way he couldn't quite understand. As long as he could remember, Amenadiel was their father's mighty warrior. It was just hard to see him differently than that.

"Don't you think you should?" Chloe countered.

"You need rest," Lucifer said, leaning forward out of the chair to fix her blankets for just a second before pulling back again. "Just pretend the Devil isn't here."

"Been trying that for a year now," Chloe chuckled. "Hasn't worked yet."

Lucifer smiled despite himself. He had to work rather harder than he'd like to admit to remain silent. She really did need her rest, no matter how much he enjoyed talking with her. Chloe muttered something about him ruining her fun before closing her eyes and drifting off to sleep.

As she slept, Lucifer tried very hard not to think about what might happen if the car accident hadn't been an accident. Angel's couldn't kill humans directly, but that didn't mean Dad couldn't find a way to take back his side of the deal if he wanted to, and some of Lucifer's siblings had tricks of their sleeves that could navigate such loopholes.

Eventually a doctor came in to wake Chloe and tell her she was free to go, but she shouldn't drive for the rest of the day. Lucifer instantly volunteered to take her home. The doctor agreed, even if Chloe looked less than happy about it.

"I don't see why they don't think I can drive," Chloe said. "I'm fine."

"Best to listen to the doctors, Detective," Lucifer replied. "Besides I don't mind driving."

"No kidding," Chloe chuckled. It was then that they reached his car, and Lucifer helped Chloe into the passenger side before getting in himself. He tried to keep his speeding to a minimum with the Detective in the car though it was frustrating going so slow.

When they arrived at Chloe's place, Lucifer wasn't sure if he should stay or not. He knew he wanted to, but even if she wasn't scared of him anymore that didn't mean she wanted him hanging around all the time. Then again, if she was in danger like he feared, it was probably best he stuck around. Even more than that, Lucifer knew he had to warn her. He just didn't want to. Lucifer had no idea how Chloe would react when she learned he bargained for her life.

In the end, Lucifer got out of the car after her and followed behind, thinking that if she had any real problem with it she'd tell him to get lost. She said nothing, however, and Lucifer was soon standing in her entry way. The first thing he noticed was all the boxes.

"Moving?" Lucifer asked.

"Yeah. I took your advice and got that killer's apartment for a deal," Chloe answered. "Even so, I am thinking I'll need a roommate. After all, there are three bedrooms."

"Just leave out the fact it's a murder's apartment and I'm sure you can attract all kinds of applicants," Lucifer replied cheerfully. He knew he was putting off the conversation, but he couldn't help it.

"Actually, I was thinking maybe Maze," Chloe said. Lucifer's thoughts stopped dead.

"Maze?!" He exclaimed. "It wasn't long ago you were coming to me to make sure she didn't eat children and now you want her to live with your offspring?"

"I never thought she ate children," Chloe countered. "You're the Devil and you call her a demon. You can hardly blame me for being confused. I had no idea what any of it meant."

"And now you do?"

"Well, no. I probably don't," Chloe answered. "But she is loyal and very protective. Like with you, I think she's more than meets the eye, even if she can be a bit much sometimes."

Despite himself, Lucifer had to admit Chloe had Maze pretty well figured out. She had somehow managed to pin the demon down in just one evening in ways that even Lucifer had barely managed in literal millennia.

"Even so, it's a bad idea," Lucifer replied.

"How come?" Chloe asked. "You don't think Maze would go for it?"

"Oh I don't care about that," Lucifer explained. "I just can't have the woman in my life teaming up. I'd be outnumbered." Chloe just chuckled at him.

"Some things, it seems, are even out of the Devil's control," Chloe sniggered at him.

"It feels like nothing is in my control these days," Lucifer sighed.

Lucifer would tell her. He really would. Just not now. Chloe looked so happy thinking it had all been just an accident, and what proof did Lucifer have that the dog running out into the road that had caused the other car to ram into Chloe really had been anything other than an accident? He would wait to tell her until he knew for sure that there was a danger.

When I re-watched the episode after her car crash cliffhanger I notice that Chloe mentioned Lucifer visiting her in the hospital so I thought I'd write that instead of skipping right to the scene in the show when she is already home from the hospital. Changes it up a bit while still making it a butterfly effort not a major plot change.

I have been thinking that by the time I get to season 3 I'll probably have to change a couple non-butterfly things since Chloe finding out Peirce is Cain when Lucifer does would prevent her from dating him... which will make season 3 have like nothing going on. But we'll see. I am getting ahead of myself here. Just can't help it. My brain is all trying to re-write scenes for season 3-4 while I'm trying to actually write season 2. sigh.

Also too all the people who miss my daily updates... Haven't been writing as fast as before but hey at least you aren't waiting months between chapters right? Could be worse. ;)

Sneak Peek Chapter 30

The victim had been killed with his own award and none of his valuables were taken. This wasn't a robbery. Chloe tried to continue her police work while Lucifer went on about how the antagonist from the movies must have been the killer. By far the worst part was when the Devil tried to take a selfie with the body. That was it for Chloe. She moved away to do her job and hoped for once that Lucifer would let her have a moment to herself. She was actually a little surprised when it worked.

By the time they finished up at the crime scene Lucifer still hadn't returned so Chloe headed back to the precinct without him. It was all rather strange. After so long refusing to leave he was suddenly just gone. Then again this is kinda how Chloe had always expected their partnership to end. He was, after all, an immortal angel and only vacationing here on earth. Chloe fully expected him to just leave one day without explanation.

But today was not that day. Chloe hadn't been back at the precinct for more than twenty minutes when Lucifer made an appearance.

"We need to talk," Lucifer said the moment he appeared.

"Yeah I know, where did you go?" Chloe asked.

"Doesn't matter," Lucifer replied. "You are in danger, Detective."