The school bell rang announcing the end of lessons while the parents came to pick up their children, Ahsoka went out with Lyzzie, holding her hand followed by Anakin who wondered himself why Detective Douche was there. What is he doing here ?
"Hi, Daddy." Lyzzie smiles when she sees her father.
'Oh, that's why. Spawn's Father.'
"Hi, munchkin." he smirked, taking a step towards them, stroking her hair affectionately.
"Wow, shocker. You're late." Ahsoka said, not at all surprised.
"Come on, gimme a break." He retorted annoyed, grinding his teeth, in a low voice so that their daughter wouldn't end up in the middle of their argument, but she had made a habit of covering her ears, "I'm putting a case to bed."
"Right," she replied, "Like I'm not working a case too. Oh, yeah, the one you tried to steal from me, remember ?" She leaned over to her daughter, who she stroked the back of her head tenderly.
"You mean the open and shut one." he argued, as she looked away in annoyance, "You did open and shut it, right ?"
"I'm just being diligent. I need to get this right, Rex." She retorted, "It's a high-profile case."
"Exactly," he said, "Which is why you need to be more smart about it."
"She's very smart," Anakin interjects, "You're the dimwit. But perhaps you should refrain from arguing in front of the child," He looked down at the little girl who continued to sticking her fingers in her ears while still holding her mother's hand, "It's unbecoming. Not to mention another waste of my time. Which is far more important. To me."
Rex turned his head to her, dazed, staring at him, "Who's this idiot ? New boyfriend ? I-I thought we agreed not to-"
The Devil grabbed Rex in a firm handshake, taking a little step towards him, "Let me introduce myself. I am a man who could make you see things that would drive you blind. Or tear your spine out through your mouth." His smile widened, amused and smug, as he finally let go of his hand, stuffing them into his pockets, "It's up to you. But I wouldn't do any of these things in front of the child." He looked down at their offspring for a second, before looking up at him, "You know why ? Because, for my part, I, have excellent manners."
Rex, indignant and annoyed, took a step towards him, threateningly, "I don't know whether to laugh or to shoot you."
"Surprise me."
"Isn't he funny, Daddy ?!" Lyzzie said with a big smile, making Anakin smile, and giggles proudly. Her parents having stopped arguing, she had stopped covering her ears.
"Okay," Ahsoka said, breaking the silence, brushing a strand of hair away from her windblown mouth, "Hey, Can you, uh, drop Lyz at my mom's ? We gotta go. Thanks. Lyzella, give Mommy a kiss." She leaned towards her, and knelt down to kiss her in turn on the cheek, before tenderly holding her hand while smiling at her, "Mommy loves you so much, Monkey ! And … good job standing up to the mean girl."
"Thanks, Mommy." She smiles, then tilting her head slightly to the side, confused, but intrigued, "What's a 'hooker' ?"
At her words, her smile faded as she looked up at the man next to her, giving him a grim look, that looked innocent before turning to her daughter, "Daddy'll tell you."
"Thank you." he whispered, glaring at the owner of the Lux, and taking his daughter's hand. "Come on, honey."
"Bye, Anakin !" Lyzzie said, turning back, "It was nice meeting you !"
He said nothing, but frowns, at her great surprise, crossing her arms, watching them walk away. "I think she likes you."
"Of course she does. What's not to like ?"
"Was your offspring planned or a mistake ?" Anakin asks, helping himself to a cup of coffee from the machine placed at their disposal, then coming to sit next to her.
"Well, let's say … she was planned, sort it off." Ahsoka replied.
"Really ?" he wondered, " 'Cause I've never understood the human desire to procreate."
"Which is probably a good thing."
"For who ? I mean, Children are hideous little creatures." He retorted, taking a sip of his coffee, "And then on top of that, terrible, taxing burdens."
"Mhmm," she said, with a nod.
"But, um-yours is fine." He said putting his cup down on the seat next to him, on his saucer, as she nodded, "I mean, you know, nothing to crow about, but nothing to be too embarrassed about, either. So that's quite good, isn't it ?"
"Are you at all aware of how dickish you sound ?"
"No." he replied, "Speaking of dicks …" He leaned over, looking her straight in the eye, "Why was that ex-husband of yours pressuring you to close that case ?"
"No reason." she replied, not letting go of his gaze,
"Strange." he said, astonished as he stepped back.
"Yeah," she asserted, "You are."
"Did my father send you ?"
"Uh-I-"
The sound of pumps was heard in the background and a door opened, "Okay, Detectives. I'll see you now." said a woman with blonde hair pulled back into a bun, wearing a black pencil skirt and white blouse with a small dark gray jacket and heels.
"Thank you." Ahsoka said, as the psychologist entered her office, leaving the door open.
"She thinks, I'm … Oh, 'Detectives', I like that's sound." Anakin said, delighted, as she rolled her eyes wryly,
"Dr. Kryze," Ahsoka said sitting across from her, while her eyes were on Anakin sitting next to her, "I'd like to ask you a few questions about Summer."
"You're thinking about it, aren't you ?" Anakin smirked, having captured her gaze and the way she was devouring him with her eyes.
"Sorry ?" she asks, confused. "What ?"
"I wouldn't recommend," he said. "I'm like a walking heroin. Very habit-forming. You quickly get hooked. It never ends well."
"I'm sorry," Ahsoka intervenes, "Do you … you two know each other ?"
"No, no," he laughs, amused. "But I know that look."
"I don't know what you are talking about." Satine said, pulling herself together and looking away.
"That is interesting," Anakin said, turning to Ahsoka sitting next to him, still stunned at her unfeeling and insensitivity to his charms, " 'Cause … you- you never look at me that way."
"What way ?"
"With a kind of carnal … desire fascination."
"That's 'cause. It doesn't exist," she retorted, much to his confusion.
"But that's the thing," he argued, "You see, that's just it, with most women it does. I tend to appeal to the dark and mischievous hearts in all of you. But you, Detective, you seem oddly immune to my charms."
"Referring to them as 'charms'. It seems a bit exaggerated to me. I think, is a bit of a stretch. Truth to be told, I find you repulsive." she said, as he nodded in agreement with her words, still trying to figure out what mystery surrounds her. "Like, on a chemical level."
"Fascinating." he said, as she looked away, concentrating on her job and her attention on the psy. "Now, tell me, Satine-"
"You say … it's… fascinating ?" Satine repeated, "And yet, I can see that it disturbs you, doesn't it ? … Deeply."
"Doctor Kryze," Ahsoka intervenes, "We know that, um, Summer was having an adulterous and clandestine affair with a very wealthy married man. So if you just could tell us his name. We will be on our way."
"I'm sorry, but I can't do that."
He turned to her, amused, "Oh, she's one of the complex ones," he said, turning to the pretty psy, looking her straight in the eye, "Satine, honey. Why don't you tell me ? Hmm ?"
"Well, I can not." she said with a small, nervous laugh, trying to fight against his 'power' of persuasion. He keeps looking at her, and she fidgets more and more, "I want to, but I can't. Ooooh, you little devil !" she laughs.
"You have no idea," he laughs, not letting go of her gaze. "Now, please, Dr Kryze, I know you want to."
"Oh, God. Damn it." she said, laughing. "Oh, men, and it's really, really juicy, too."
"Oh, I bet it is." he insisted. "Go ahead."
"Oh, no, no, I can't." she said, shaking her head, torn between desire and duty.
"What did you do to her ?" Ahsoka whispered, "Did you roofie her ?"
"Oh, no it's not her fault," Anakin replied, "She's just reacting to my charms. Just watch and learn, okay ?" At his words, he turned to Satine, "Right, the answer is yes. We can take a trip to pound town if we must to, but first … you're gonna have to tell us everything Satine, okay ?"
"Ummmmm," she said, fidgeting and still trying to fight his mojo, then turning to the detective who looked puzzled, "OKAY !" She snapped, "It's Jeremy Talley."
"Jeremy Talley ?" Ahsoka repeated, incredulous and struggling to believe, "Seriously ?" She nodded in response, "That is juicy."
"Jeremy Talley, the actor ?" he repeated, struggling to believe it himself, "The one who's married to Anna, what's-her-chops ?"
"Yeah," Ahsoka asserted with a nod. "Yeah."
"Oh, no, he's horrible," he exclaimed indignantly. "All jawbone, so square-jawed, so handsome, so vanilla. Oh no, I'm really quite disappointed in Summer, eh. That's a truly terrible taste in the opposite sex. What bad taste she had for everything about them."
"Um-thank you very much, Dr Kryze." Ahsoka said, "We'll be in touch." She turned to him. "All right, we gotta go." She's about to stand up, but he grabbed her wrist, preventing her from leaving, causing her to sit down and turn to him.
"Uh-Yeah, of course, we've got to go, but I-I-I made a deal." he said, "So I'm going to have to handle my end of the bargain. You wouldn't mind waiting outside ?"
"Are you seriously talking about having sex with her right now ?" she asked him in a low voice, grinding her teeth.
"Well, it won't take long."
"I do yoga." Satine added, as he turned to her, intrigued. "Hot … yoga. I am freakishly flexible. Want to see ?" she said, as she uncrossed her legs for a lift to his great satisfaction, but much to Ahsoka's dismay, "I really tried to hold me back, to keep that one in." she said, as the cop woman stood up.
"Well, you 'tried'. That's all that matters. … Uh," he said, noticing that she had stood up and walked towards the door, handle in hand, "Look," He stood up as well, then adjusting his suit jacket. "I'm more than sorry, but I'm gonna have to take a rain check so next time. I'll be back, okay ?"
"I certainly hope so." she said, seriously.
"My word is my bond." he assured, with a mischievous smile.
"Excuse me ! Excuse me." Anakin said as he passed a crowd of people, pushing them slightly as they took pictures of the scene which was being shot much to the annoyance of some. "Ah, excuse me. Thank you."
"Hey ! Hey !" exclaimed a security guard in pursuit of him as he saw him walk past him, "Hey, sir !" he tried to stop her, in vain. Anakin stood right in the middle of the filming scene as a chase between a criminal and a police car took place. The gray car on the first swerved into the road and turned completely right in front of him.
"What the-" cried the director of the film unhappy with his presence on set as a ringtone rang in the background to indicate the stop of the scene. "Who the -- Who's this guy ? What the hell are you doing here ?" he asked, taking a step towards him, annoyed.
"Excuse me. Excuse me," Ahsoka said, pushing a few people behind the barrier, barring entry and walking past the same security guard who had tried to arrest Anakin moments earlier, "Sorry. Excuse me."
"It's forbidden-" he protested, in vain.
"Sorry." She apologized, to the director and coming to stand next to him, "He's with me."
"But, that's not Jeremy Talley." Anakin wondered, looking around and seeing the actor getting out of the gray 'wrecked' car.
"No, of course not." retorted the director, starting to lose patience, "But the hell exactly is this ? What do you want ?"
"We need to speak with Mr. Talley." Ahsoka replied.
"God, Summer, yeah." exclaimed Jeremy. "I heard that this morning. I can't believe it. We did a movie together last year. We're both -- Got pretty close."
"Lovers ?" asked Anakin,
"Friends." he corrected.
"'Friends' who were 'lovers' -- sleeping together ?"
Ahsoka, put a hand on his forearm to silence him and took a step forward, "Settle down, I'll handle with the questions. Mr. Talley, when did your last have contact with Summer was ? Or the last time you've saw her ?"
"Well, actually, if you don't mind, I just have one more question before you proceed with the boring ones." Anakin said, rhetorically, then turning to him, looking him straight in the eye, "Tell me Mr. Talley, what do you want more than anything in this world ? What's your most deepest, darkest desire ? What do you see, when you close your eyes ?"
"I see myself as President of the United States of America." he replied, before shaking his head and frowning in confusion much to the amusement of the laughing Devil.
"Ha ! Well, who's the most Devil, now, eh ?" he told her, turning to her.
"Well, those are some pretty big aspirations there, Mr.Talley." she says.
"Well, when, after the acting and stuff." he laughs, embarrassed.
"No," Ahsoka said, hair blowing in the wind, "No need to be embarrassed. Don't be shy. Hell, if Schwarzy can do it, right ?" She smirked, amused, as he giggled, "But you wouldn't want any nasty secrets screwing that up for you, though, would you ?"
"Is there a point to this -- a hidden message ?"
"Mr. Talley, were you having an affair with Summer ?"
"Honey !" said a voice, a young blonde woman with shoulder-length hair, brown eyes in jeans and a pale pink crop top with a tank top and halter top with a low neckline, stepping out of a fancy black car, and walking around towards them. "Have you been getting my texts ? I thought they were breaking you for lunch half like an hour ago ? What's going on ?" she asks, confused seeing two other people with her husband.
"These people are detectives from the LAPD." Jeremy replied.
"Real ones ?" Anna asked.
"We have some questions about Summer." Ahsoka said.
"Oh, oh," she exclaimed, "Yeah, yeah, that's so sad."
"Yes, so sad." her husband added, his arms folded.
"Your watch, where'd you get that from ?" Ahsoka asked, noticing it on his wrist.
"Oh, uh," he said, glancing at it, then looking up at her, "It's a prop-"
"No, that's the one Summer gave you, isn't it ?" Anna asked, recognizing his luxurious gold watch. "For, uh, 'Time Will Tell' ?"
"Oh, yeah," he corrected, chuckling slightly a little uncomfortably, "Right, that's uh-the movie we made. It was a filming giveaway -- a wrap gift."
"Yeah," Ahsoka wondered, unconvinced, "She buys a $10,000 watch for the whole crew ?"
"Uh, no," he smirked, glancing at Anakin who seemed to have understood something, "Just me, as far as I know. 'Cause we were, you know, the two co-stars and everything."
"You know, you're going to have to get a much better at lying if you want to be president." says Anakin.
"Yes I know." he replied, meeting his gaze.
"So you were sleeping with her, then, yeah ?" replied the Devil, not letting go of his gaze.
"Oh, yeah," he smirked, delighted, while Anakin laughed with him, delighted at his little confidence. Jeremy looked around, realizing what he had just said, "Holy crap, I just confessed that out loud in public."
"Whatever," Anna interrupted, "I'ts not like, I didn't know. God, you are a terrible liar, Jer and actor, by the way."
"You knew it ?" he said, astonished.
"Of course. Why else do you think I've been sleeping with little Billy ?" she asks, to the amazement of the guy next to her.
"Are you serious ?" he said, taking a step towards her, incredulously.
"Oh, yeah, and that's so good," she retorted, closing her eyes, thinking about it, "Mmmm … I'm having it off with him. I climb that man like tree, a real crazy stuff. Isn't that right, Billy ?"
"My bodyguard ?" he wondered, as she laughed amusedly, "What a cliché !"
"Oh, I'm a cliché ?" she repeated indignantly, "Well, you're a dick !"
"Great." Ahsoka commented, under Anakin's amused eyes.
At this revelation, Jeremy walked over to his bodyguard and shoved him, "Hey, guys !" said Anna,
"Come on !" he prompted him, as Billy walked over to fight back.
"No, stop !" Anna yelled, trying to pull them apart, without success. The two quickly came to blows and the actor punched him full in the face.
"Hey, guys," Ahsoka said to two policemen beside her, "Arrest them."
The two policemen rushed towards the two fighting men. They grabbed one each, trying to pull them apart. "Are you guys, crazy or what ?" cried Anna, "Stop !"
"One of this two's got to be guilty." Ahsoka commented,
"Now, that's fun." he smirked, as she couldn't help but sketch the slightest smirk, as they watched the chaos they both created.
Late in the evening, as people laid flowers near where Summer was murdered near the Lux. Ahsoka was sitting at the bar inside with Anakin,
"Thanks," she said, hanging up. She sighed wearily. "So, Jeremy and Anna have zero connection to the shooter. But the shooter had the same watch as Jeremy. That can't be a coincidence. It's possible that -- Maybe that … Summer gave him one as well as -- like, … some kind of a farewell gift."
"Well that would imply she was actually sleeping with that maggot." commented Anakin.
"It surprises you ?" she said, counting on her fingers to each of them, "Really, David. 2-Pac. Jeremy Talley. That's three others maggots she's sleeping with. I don't think there's a lot of discretion going on with her. She didn't seem like she was showing great discernment."
"Yeah, I supposed you got a point."
She shook her head, chuckles slightly in disbelief, and still unsure of why she was here, "God," she said, putting down her glass of beer after taking a sip, "What am I doing, here ?"
"Forget God, wrong deity," he smiles, "But yep, that's the eternal question."
"No, I mean. Here. In a bar. With you."
"But I don't know, Detective." he said, "That's … up to you to find out. I mean, despite your proclaimed revulsion, you can't deny that there's a connection between us. Tell me, what do you actually want ?"
She gave a half-smile, mocking him, "You mean, WHAT do I desire more than anything else in this life ?"
"Yes. I will not use my gift on you. Not Either way, it doesn't work -- So, no tricks -- not that they work with you, you 'freak witch'." he said smiling, making her chuckle. "Seriously, I … am curious."
"I-I don't know." she replied with a small shrug, "What-what I told you's true. I-I really do want to help people." He cocked his head to the side curiously. "My father was a cop. He was a great cop. My mother was an actress, but not only in masterpieces, -- a really cheesy one." she said with a small laugh, causing him to chuckle lightly and laconically. "I-I tried the acting thing. I took off my top, but it wasn't really contributing to the betterment of our society."
"I disagree." he protested, causing her to chuckle lightly and nervously, as she put her hand on her neck, "I love that movie."
"So I quit. I ditched everything," she added, "I decided to become a cop like my dad and, uh, decided to take on -- deal with the whole 'Hot Tub High School' thing." He smiled at her words with a small nod, as she continued, "Until, um, -- then … I became a 'detective' and found a whole new way to ostracize myself."
"Ah, the …" he exclaimed, "There it is, the reason your ex-maggot was pressuring you to close this case, right ?"
"Yeah," she admitted with a little nod, "Yeah, exactly. It's 'cause of -- there was a case. A shooting on Palmetto Street where a cop was shot, and I saw it differently than pretty much as … just about all the other colleagues around me, so everyone in my department, including my ex and I stuck my neck out." She bit her inner lip, and nodded, "And it backfired -- that really broiled me. And, uh, now …" She let out a short, bitter little laugh, her eyes riveted up to the ceiling, "No one wants to work with me."
"Well, I'm available." he smiles. At his words, she turned her head towards him, tucking a lock of hair behind her ear, then placed her hand back on her neck while smiling back at him.
'While the young singer, Summer, left us-'
"Too bad your little protégé isn't around to take the check." Trace said, interrupting them, while the TV was on. She turned up the volume. And they turned to her, listening to the news.
'The Album of the soundtrack for the movie 'Time Will Tell' has reached number fifteenth on Billboard charts and it is still climbing.'
"Oh, wow !" Ahsoka exclaimed, having understood everything.
'Song and record sales always tend to skyrocket when singers die.'
"What ?" he asks, confused and intrigued.
'Summer's Album is obviously no exception, and sales are cumulative.'
"Summer didn't give that watch to the drug dealer."
'Got a heavy load, sometimes I wonder …'
"Stop ! Stop ! Stop !" said the music producer, to the young singer interrupting him in its tracks, "What is this ? You got a gerbil -- a black cat, in your throat ? What's going on ?"
"Hello, David." Anakin said, bursting into the recording studio.
"Really ? You again," he chuckles, amused. "Screw up my marriage wasn't enough for you, eh ?"
He sneered, amused and rather proud that he wasted his day when she wouldn't see another day herself, "How's the album sales doing ?" he asks, stuffing his hands in his pockets.
"What album ?"
"The Soundtrack from 'Time Will Tell'," she replied, "Which you produced. Whitney Houston hit the top 10 for album sales after her death. Michael Jackson hit the stratosphere ! Not sure, you'll achieve such heights, even having had Summer killed." She took a step forward, crossing her arms, "But that sure is a boatload of a bundle royalty check headed in your way." He let out a small laugh, mocking and bitter. "I guess you really need it 'cause you're strapped for cash, huh ? Which is why you had to pay the shooter with your watch."
"The watch Summer gave you." Anakin clarified, "Now, that's just … sick and creepy, but then you are, so-"
At his words, he drew his gun and pointed it at the young singer's throat, "Whoa ! Hey, David ?!" Ahsoka exclaimed, pulling out her own weapon, pointing it at him, as he stepped back, dragging his hostage with him.
"I made her -- I created her." he said vehemently, "And she ruined me. She humiliated me. She owes me everything. It was my work !"
"You are not God, David." Anakin retorted, "You didn't make her, but you did destroy her." He walked over to him, "So I'm going to punish you."
"You back off, you freak ! I mean it." he ordered, as he continued to walk towards him, "I'm not kidding ! I'm not going to jail for that bitch, not even in a dream -- no chance."
"Listen to him, Anakin." Ahsoka said. "Back off !"
"It's all right," he retorted, turning to her for a moment, "I told you, it's fine. I'm immortal."
David pointed his weapon at him as he continued to advance toward him, while Ahsoka fired the first one and collapsed, at first sight dead, releasing the fleeing young singer, frightened.
"BUT WHY DID YOU DO THAT ?" Anakin asked, angry and incredulous, as she walked over to him.
"He was going to kill you. He was on the verge of it."
"No, no, no," he argued, turning completely to her, taking a step in her direction, then pointing at him, "You just … let him -- He got away too easily there. He needs to pay ! He needs to suffer ! He needs to feel the pain, he has to. Not escape it and get away with it !"
"Oh no, don't worry. I'm sure where he's going, pain's coming. He will really get what he deserves."
"No," he retorted, shaking his head, "No, it's not, actually. He won't and you know why ? Because I'm here and he's-"
Several gunshots echoed in the room and broke a glass window. As Anakin is confused and seems out of reach, Ahsoka felt pain and gasped, dropping her weapon before collapsing to the floor among the broken glass, closing her eyes. As her head hit the ground, blood stained her gray top, and flowing from her gaping wound, but still sharp and searing. But also intense pain in her collarbone and her right shoulder blade, then splashing the top of her neck and a little bit of her cheek.
"Ahsoka," he exclaimed, looking worried, rushing over to her, then kneeling by her side, a hand held to her cheek. She looked at him through cloudy, and murky eyes.
"I don't want to die …" she moaned weakly, but painfully.
"No, you won't. I won't let you." He assured her, as his breathing became more and more labored. She pursed her lips together, trembling, and her eyes filled with tears as one of them rolled down her cheek. He smiled at her, wanting to be reassuring, "Father will just have to wait for you."
They are interrupted by more shots fired by David, injured, but alive, still on the ground. Anakin protects Ahsoka, using his own body as a shield, as he grits his teeth, taking the bullets that hit him hard in the back and bounce off him, but which could still injure her further or even kill her.
"Just, wait -- Give me one second …" he growled painfully, raising his index finger in the air in front of her in patience, as the bullets continued to hit him. He moved away from her, getting up, and she turned her head slightly, despite the pain that ran through her body, to see him. Although, her eyesight is blurry. Murky. She saw Anakin walk over to David, who continued to shoot, but that didn't seem to stop him. He fired once in the air before succeeding in snatching the gun from his hand. She was struggling to stay conscious, but her eyes were closing despite herself. She opened her eyes when she heard the sound of shattering glass as he held him by the throat.
"No, please ! No, no," begged David, scared to death, his head pressed against a glass booth. "Please ! Please. Please don't kill me-"
"Oh, David." Anakin smirked nastily. He grabbed him by the throat and forced him to turn around, facing the cracked cabin window, "You're gonna wish that's all I did to you. Trust me, you'll be sorry I didn't just kill you." he said, giving him the face of a demonic and monstrous devil that he could see despite the broken glass. Ahsoka eventually passed out, weakened by too much blood loss, while David's screaming of terror could be heard in the background.
Ahsoka, woke up slowly, gradually regaining consciousness and fluttering the eyelids several times, adjusting to the light a little too bright. She saw vases of flowers being placed on her bedside table, as well as children's drawings and 'get well soon' cards adorned the lamp, probably coming from her colleagues, then looking around. Despite her vision blurry at first, she managed to make out the sterile, white walls of the hospital and to hear the sound of a pulse machine checking her heartbeat. And a figure beside her as her vision cleared from minute to minute.
"Well." Anakin said, by her bedside, sitting in a chair, smiling very lightly at her with just a tiny and small upward twist up his lips, "Look who's back."
She couldn't help but smile back at him before moaning softly, her body adjusting to the hard bed, her head moving against the pillow as she looked around at first, then back to again him, "How long have I been out ?"
He sighed heavily at her, leaning slightly. "Three years."
Her eyes widened stunned, "What ?" she said, in a low voice, confused and worried. Her thoughts turned to her daughter. If she's been sleeping all this time, how is she ? Where is she ? Her worries were over when she saw his smirk. And she understood that he was bluffing. She chuckled at his childish demeanor, and shook her head against the pillow, sketching a small smile, "You're such an ass."
"Thank you." he said, with a smile, chuckling lightly, his arms resting on the side rail of her hospital bed.
"Oh, God …," She stopped laughing, and suddenly it all came back to her. She turned to him for answers. "He was firing at you -- He-he shot you. Why, aren't you …" She bit her inner lip, puzzled on her face as her smile faded slightly. "More dead ?"
"You're having a very hard time with the immortal thing, aren't you ?" he said, as she frowned in confusion and looked up at the ceiling for a moment, then she turned to him again, deciding to put that aside,
"What happened with David ?"
"David ?" He sighed, "David got what he deserved." he replied, vaguely, with a brief, laconic half-smile.
"Hmm … Well," she said, breaking the silence after a few seconds of thinking, "I'm pretty sure I'd be dead, if you hadn't helped me by having been there, so … thank you."
"Sorry, what was that ?" he said, thinking he misheard, leaning over slightly, handing her the ear, "That last bit. I didn't quite get that."
She chuckled at his words, as she reached her hand out, to placing it the back of it against his shoulder to bring him a little closer to her, giving him a small smile, "Thank you."
He bowed his head slightly, and smiling back at her, "You're welcome." He walked away, clearing his throat slightly, then settling back into his chair, "Well, I have to tell you -- you know, … you're far too interesting to let die."
At his words, she frowned in confusion, eyes squinting at him slightly, "You saved my life because I'm interesting ?"
"And wildly irritating as well and very annoying, but yes." He replied with a smirk, which she returned.
"So what now ? What do we do now ?" She scoffed at him.
"Well, I mean, I've obviously proven myself to be an invaluable crime fighting tool." He replied, rising from his chair, then grabbing his jacket, "You're a pariah in the department and no wants to team up with you. I think this could be the start of a beautiful friendship, don't you ?"
She shook her head against the pillow, "Who the hell are you ?"
He sighed in annoyance, "I told you, I'm An-"
"Anakin !" a small voice exclaimed, hugging him and grabbing him by the waist with her little arms. Catching him off guard, he looked down and recognized the little girl as the detective's offspring, Elysabeth.
"Uh, yes. Hello uh-child." he said, freezing in her embrace under the amused eyes of Ahsoka who radiates with happiness at seeing her little girl, "Bloody hell. Uhm, just … why don't you save …" He bent down to pick her up, "Some of this unpleasantness for your mother, yeah ?"
He lowered her into the bed next to her mother, who let out a moan of pain, "Ooh."
"Ooh, sorry." he apologized, as the little girl crawled cautiously and carefully towards her mother.
Rex, halfway through the door, burst into the room and met Anakin's tense and smug gaze, who leaned over him, "I think she's one hell of a homicide detective, don't you ?"
"Are you hurt ?" asked the little girl, worried about her mother.
She rested her head against the pillow, wrapping her arms around her while smiling tenderly at her, "I'm okay."
"Yeah. She is." he nodded, sketching a soft, tender smile, taking a step towards them, "I'm happy for you."
"Not sure you are, ... or just relieved I didn't cause more problems."
He shook his head with a short, laconic laugh, "I'm trying to compliment you, 'Soka."
"Alright … I'll take it then … thank you. And what about the department ... Are they happy for me, too ?" His silence spoke volumes. Of course not, as Anakin said not a second ago, 'no one wants to team up with her anymore'. She is an outcast who was hated and despised by everyone since the Palmetto case.
"You have to be more careful." he said, dodging her question, "You should've had back up. -- I mean, you know, asked for reinforcements and not rushed in with your head first down."
"She had back up." Anakin protested indignantly.
Rex turned to him, irritated, but most of all he was grateful, and as much as it cost him, decided to make a truce by being polite and putting his ego aside. Right. After all, he had saved the mother of his child, he deserved at least that, "Thank you for helping her."
"That's hard for you, isn't it ?" He retorted, crudely, but mostly amused, "Not to be a douche." This one, whose mouth opened, indignant, wants to hit him, annoyed by his attitude of an eccentric and arrogant big dick, but he is already halfway to the door.
"I love you, Mommy." said Lyzzie,
"Oh, me too. I love you, babe." she smiled, leaning over to kiss her forehead, which she regretted immediately, as she stifled a moan of pain. Instead, she smiled tenderly at her so as not to worry her.
"When are you coming home, Mommy ?"
"Uh-In a few days, I think."
"But you've been in the hospital for three days already, Mommy." she protested, disappointed and sadly.
She was silent, stunned, she didn't know how long she had been unconscious, three days, just from a gunshot wound. Well, that said a lot, "I know, Monkey, but I'll be back soon."
"Mommy needs to rest, honey." Rex added, smiling at her, softly.
"Ok," Anakin intervenes, somewhat uncomfortably, "Right, I'd stay for the family reunion, but … it makes me want to throw up and honestly, it's giving me terrible IBS. So, -- uh, look forward to seeing you, soon, Ahsoka." He smiled at her, mischievously, but sincerely, pointing towards the exit.
"I'm not," Ahsoka retorted, with an equal smirk, but sincere and grateful, waving her hand at him, while she still held her daughter in the other.
"Bye now. Glad you're not dead." he said, smiling. She smiled back at him before looking down at her daughter, who she squeezed as tight as her limbs would allow against her. He gave her one last look before leaving her with Elysabeth and her ex-maggot before leaving the room.
At the end of the evening, behind the wheel of his car, he crossed the whole city and parked in front of his nightclub, the 'Lux' where people lined up to enter as they do every night. He got out of his car and tossed the keys to the valet as usual. However, he noticed that everything was frozen in time around him again.
"Bloody hell !" he wondered, as he turned his head and a figure appeared among the idling cars on the road. Anakin walked over to him, annoyed and annoyed, "What do you want from me ?"
"I've been watching you, Anakin." Obi-Wan said.
"You perv."
"And I'm not sure, I like what I see." He added, "You're showing temperance, restraint mercy."
"You're scared I am turning away from the dark side, bro ?"
"Anakin, down here, there is a balance that we must maintain." He reminded him, "I strongly advise you to do as I ask you and return to Hell."
"Don't threaten me, Obi-Wan." he retorted, coldly, "I mean, you don't want to start a war, you can't win, trust me."
"Ah, I would love a good war." he said, much to the amusement of his chuckling little brother, "Oh, Ani. My hatred for you only grows stronger with each visit."
"So much the better, I wouldn't want it to be any other way, pal. Look forward to eating your heart one day. Peace." He watched his brother spread his angelic black wings before flying away, as time resumed.
Sitting at his bar, Anakin thoughtfully amused himself levitating a room, while the sound of shoes descending the stairs was heard in the background. "I sense your disapproval, Trace." he said, having caught her thoughts. "What is it ?"
She walked over to him, setting a bottle of liquor on the counter. "I just can't understand what prompted you to -- Why you would save that woman's life. A stupid human's life ?" she replied, grinding her teeth annoyed.
"It's just … -- Well, there's … something different about her," He looked up at her, behind the counter. "That I don't quite understand, and that annoys and vexes me."
"Maybe she isn't the one who -- Maybe it's not her that's different." she said, much to his amusement.
"This is where I'm supposed to ask: 'Whatever do you mean by that' ?"
"I'm worried the humans are rubbing off on you." she clarified, "Stop caring. You're the Devil." She walked away, leaving him with his thoughts.
"Yes, I am," He repeated to himself before finishing his glass of scotch and grabbing his jacket as he walked up the stairs to leave, remembering that he had one very important thing to do.
Later that evening, as she sat at her desk, working on a file, looked up for a second to notice a small red light flashing above her door. She frowned and narrowed her eyes in confusion, as she had no appointement yet. She got up from her chair to open the door. She jumped slightly as her eyes widened in wonder and amazement at her guest. Like a devil at his word, he had come back, as he had promised.
"Ok," he said, to the opening door to Doctor Kryze's office, "Right, here's the deal." He smiled at her, as she devoured him with her eyes. Glad he came back, as he told her, true to his word. "We can have as much naked cuddle time as you desire, but in return … you're gonna have to listen to me, too." he said, as she thought about it, "There are -- You know just a few things -- a … an existential dilemma or two that I'd like to discuss with you. Deal ?"
"Yes," Satine smiles, delighted.
"Lovely." He smiled before entering, as she closed the door behind him and the door light glowed red to indicate that she was busy with a patient in the middle of a session.