Hey, here's chapter three. I was going to include the dinner at the Yagami household and Lena's antagonistic banter with Light in this chapter but there's already enough drama and a big bombshell in it. So now you have something to look forward to in chapter four. Oh and Lena's alias, Nanami actually means "beauty or "beautiful depending on how you arrange the characters. So if you think about it L is actually calling her beautiful in a subtle way since he can't say it directly. And yes the quote is from Hamilton I thought it fit. Hope you enjoy R and R please and tell me what you think. I don't own I only own the plot and Lena.

Ch.3-Instinctive Worry

"But Alexander, I'll never forget the first time I saw your face I have never been the same intelligent eyes in a hunger-pang frame and when you said "Hi," I forgot my dang name. Set my heart aflame, ev'ry part aflame."

Satisfied, Hamilton

"Lena knows your full name, Ryuzaki?!"

Standing the doorway to the sitting area from the bedroom I'd slept in last night, I slapped my palm against my forehead. This morning was starting out worse than I expected.

Walking my slipper-clad feet over to L's customary chair, I hissed into his ear. "You can't keep your mouth shut, can you?! You told me your name in confidence. Damn it, L!" He winced, feeling my scowl metaphorically cut him he'd forgotten how intense my eyes became when I yelled at him.

"I didn't tell them, nor did I break your trust, dear. They only know that you know…blame Matsuda he's the one that blurted it out and awakened you." L glared pointedly toward the inexperienced agent semi-cowering against the wall. Matsuda dipped his head, attempting to hide.

I left my place by L and patted my co-worker's shoulder comfortingly. "I'm not mad at you…just pissed off at L that he let one of our personal secrets slip…and it jeopardizes the livelihood of the case."

"Do you know his name?"

I laughed, smirking in the detective's direction. "Of course he told me but he hates it so I refuse to call him by it. I might make an exception if a plan of his goes awry as a form of 'I told you so.' What do you have up your sleeve anyway?"

At the question concentrated towards him, L met my eyes. "To test my hypothesis, we need to scare them smoke 'em out as you say, however, we have to wait until the Sakura TV broadcast tonight…"

My eyes widened slightly, nervousness tumbling through my routinely composed voice. "That…didn't answer my question. L…"

Beckoning me over again, he brushed my arm—clad in my bathrobe and nightgown since it was still early—anxiously as a meager means of security. "A decoy—a convict scheduled to be executed one that if we're lucky it will entice Kira to act— will be used nothing will actually be me and I'll use the voice changer too. Besides we need to know if both a name and face are required. You're aware of this, dear. I'll be fine."

I did not know whether hug my friend for coming up with a brilliant plan or wring his neck for disregarding his safety. True, I knew, however, it continued to nag at me. Hurt seemed a more fitting description; the angst I felt was only contained to my mind I could never vocalize it. I festered internally a moment before L evoked my attention. "Lena, you okay?"

"Uh…y-yes," I stuttered, pushing my bed messed hair out of my face.

Don't let him see.

Despite the synthetic relief coursing through my veins because L hadn't been attentive enough—ironically— to pinpoint the exact reason I was distressed, I shrugged. My protective tendencies for him sprang out of wish fulfillment and the raw ache that I couldn't under any circumstances bear to lose him. My attraction for him was utterly unreciprocated, however, no matter how much pain I absorbed I would not allow L to be hurt.

Chief Yagami eyed me as I barely managed to evade the other probing looks from across the room. Matsuda timidly raised his hand and spoke up. "Are we able to call you Miss L while you decide on an alias?"

My friend and I shared a gaze that seemed to say 'Oh great they're already linking us together as a married couple.' Nudging L in the arm, my expression morphed into something ambiguous between a well-meaning, tight-lipped grin and a grim frown.

"Fine. It's only a placeholder…what's the harm?!" Inadvertent scorn leaked from the reply. I had not meant to snap but something about the innocent suggestion torn at my heart. Perhaps, it was the fading promise of 'what-might-have-been' gnawing at me.

Feeling L's gentle caress on my hand, I glanced downward, squeezed back and felt a silent sob rack my body. He whispered, his tone rich and soothing, the content audible to me alone. "Dear, if you keep worrying about every little detail of my plan you'll give yourself an ulcer…don't you trust me…how many cases did we solve together?"

"I do," I insisted, "it's different this time. The stakes are higher…"

"How so?"

I. Wanted. To. Smack. Him. He failed to grasp his death was a real probable possibility. And it was a fate that I could not protect him from nor prevent eternally.

"Your name. If the killer eventually targets you he'll want it. Then I'll become a pawn and a liability to your safety. I…I can't hurt you like that, L!"

"You're overthinking this, dear. Here, calm down. Let's take it slow why don't we pick your alias."

I nodded, wrapping my arms around his wiry frame and perching on the arm of his chair. "I'm sorry, I don't know what came over me…you know what you're doing but worrying about you is an instinct."

"One you can rescind anytime. How do you feel about Nanami?"

I smiled. "Perfect…Matsuda will refer to me as 'Miss L' to poke fun at us anyway."

"So will I" the Chief chimed, "it is too entertaining to resist."

L rolled his eyes the situation infuriating the hell out of him. "Don't, Mr. Yagami, you'll only encourage him…along with this damned dynamic! And according to semantics, the correct terminology should be 'Mrs' not 'Miss.' I digress, we should be focusing on the capture of Kira not imaginative, non-existent interpersonal relations!" The words smacked me across the face painfully as if I needed a reminder that I incessantly chased a fantasy. Detangling myself from the detective's embrace in a rushed fashion, I stood with my back to him before I strode into the bedroom.

"I'm going to get dressed," I mumbled, waving a dismissive hand, my voice chipped. "Please resume your conversation…"

I saw a nod from the corner of my eye, my heart sank at the half-hearted response. Forcing affection would bring nothing but pain and I knew full well that I should let L go. His presence made the truth harder to act upon. Touching him, seeing him alive nearly chased away the fear I experienced as a result of his brilliance I feared for him since he did not possess the sense to do it himself.

"Sir, shouldn't you check on her?" said Watari. "She seemed upset."

"I have more important things to worry about right now. She will be fine in a matter of hours…probably just too blunt or maybe said something wrong I've never been an expert with people."

"I concur, however, are you sure she'll talk to you after a while?"

L grinned, running a hand through his dark hair. "Yes, she's unable to stay mad at me."

The time for the news broadcast arrived emerging from my room, I felt my throat tighten. L, sensing me behind him, rose and hugged me tenderly. Resting my head on his chest, I started to speak. "L…"

"I'm surprised you did not bite my head off earlier, Nanami," he tested my alias, a tiny teasing smirk on his lips. Changing the subject, my friend let me go, pressing his forehead to mine. "While I lay the trap why don't you accompany Chief Yagami to his house for dinner it's better if you're not here during this."

I raised an eyebrow. "Do I break your concentration, detective?"

"N-no," he spluttered, "I just work more cohesively when no one's around."

"Okay, I'll let you have that one."

The Chief walked up beside me and put an arm around me. "Ready, Lena or should I say, Nanami?" He winked toward L, subtly concealing a laugh for the younger man's benefit.

"Uh…yeah…thanks for doing this by the way."

"No problem. Any last words to Ryuzaki before we go?"

Resuming my position at L's side, I hugged him for a moment and mumbled 'good luck, be careful' into his ear.

"You too, dear. Write down anything you find suspicious."

I nodded. "I know the drill, I said, removing a notebook from my jacket. L stroked my cheek, turning to the monitors.

We left and I focused on preparing myself for the awkward situation that was no doubt about to occur.