PG-13 for language

Yes...I'm not dead.


"Your move."

"Shhh. I'm thinking." The demon scratched his chin and the man on the other side of board smirked as smoke curled out of his nose. They were always in some kind of competition. Some friendly, like the game of chess they were currently playing. But some, some had brought down civilizations.

"So, I hear you've recruited yet another soul to remove Bauer from the world of the living. If I didn't know any better, Luc, I'd say you were losing your touch. This one will be, what, the fourth?" This time he saw a hint of flame mixed with the smoke.

"You love to rub that in my face." Lucifer looked up from the board at the being sitting across from him. He hated the feeling of sadness that always overcame him when he looked into the eyes of his creator. He was cast out, a move he'd repeat if given the chance. He had no qualms about it being the right one. But being bathed in the light from the Creator was a comfort he'd never feel for an eternity. He knew these little games were 'his' way of a little truce. Breaking eye contact, Luc looked back down at the board and smirked, flashing just enough fang to be intimidating. Well, intimidating to anyone else but 'him.'

"This time it's different. I thought I could get to Bauer through his enemies, his family. I made the mistake of underestimating the man's loyalty. I don't know why you made them so damn stubborn." Luc moved his bishop onto another square. "I know what I did wrong before and I've taken steps to make sure I don't fail again."

The Creator studied the board as he spoke. "I'm curious. What could you have possibly done this time that would make a difference?"

Luc relaxed back in his chair, one arm swung over the back. He was going to enjoy this.

"I took Almeida." The Creator's head shot up and for the first time in almost a millennium, Luc saw surprise on his partner's face. "It's all perfectly legit. I broke no rules. He signed under his own free will."

The Creator narrowed his eyes at the demon. "I find it doubtful it was of his own free will. You may not have broken any rules, but you manipulated him, I'm sure."

Luc looked at his fingers, bored. "I don't understand why you have such an interest in this certain group of mortals. They're are plenty others way more interesting."

"Why do they interest you then?"

"Because it annoys you, of course. Besides, Almeida has darkness in him and you know it. You had your chance and you failed. Now it's my turn and this time, Bauer's soul will be mine. Having Almeida's is just icing on the cake."

The Creator looked troubled, but he moved his rook.

"I'm surprised. Last time it took you three years before you moved. Is our conversation getting to you?" Luc smiled down at the board.

"What of the woman?"

Luc glanced up then back down, continuing to study the board. "She's alive. Again, no rules broken. I simply brought her back from limbo. Not a lot to do there. She'll live, long after Bauer and Almeida have joined me."

"A detail I'm sure you failed to mention to Almeida before he signed his soul over."

Luc laughed and the smoke curled around the pieces on the board. "I don't show all my cards at once. You know that."

They didn't talk for a long time after that. The Creator's mind was only half on the game.

He needed to do something and do it quick.


Tony slammed the door to the room. Looking around he flipped on the nearest light switch and helped Michelle to the large bed. He didn't hear him come in but Tony knew they weren't alone.

"We have to make plans, Almeida."

"Tony...who is that? Why can't I see?" Michelle clutched at his jacket when he tried to pull up from helping her lie down.

"Oh I'm sorry, how rude of me." Tony didn't notice anything different but Michelle gasped and pulled harder on his jacket.

He threw the demon a hard look. "What're you showing her?"

Luc just smiled back at him which made Michelle bury her face in Tony's chest. "She may be blind but she can see the touched if we allow it."

"Obviously you aren't show'n her what I see, so knock it off."

Michelle looked back up and seemed to relax a bit. "What's going on?" She felt up around Tony's shoulder till she could run her fingers across the side of his face. "Tony, why can't I see?"

Luc smiled and absorbed the overwhelming guilt coming from the man. This would be an exquisite conversation for sure.

"Can you give us a minute?" Tony never looked away from his wife as he spoke. She was trying to focus on where his face was and it made the feeling in his chest tighten that much more.

"You know I could just as easily hear your conversation from outside the-"

"Just get the hell out for a few, will ya?"

The demon glared back at Tony. If this mortal wasn't so important to him he'd have seared his face off for the tone alone. Luc let his eyes glow a deep orange to show how upset he was, but he did as Tony requested.

"Make it quick. I want to get started as soon as possible."

Tony watched as the demon walked through the door without opening it. He swallowed hard but Michelle pulling on his jacket returned his focus to her.

"Tony...I don't understand. What happened?"

He sat next to her on the bed, resting his hands at her sides. She ran her fingers lightly across the tops of his ears and felt his short hair.

"You cut your hair? But...this morning..." She took her free hand and rest it against her temple and closed her eyes. "I left. I left to go help CTU but that's all I can remember."

Tony hung his head but Michelle pulled his face up to her unfocused gaze. "What's going on? Why can't I see?"

"I don't even know where to start, sweetheart." He ran one hand through her curls and wrapped one around his finger.

"How about at the beginning. Why can't I see?"

Tony swallowed again and Michelle could hear the catch in his voice as he spoke. "There was...there was an accident. Someone had placed a bomb in your car." Even though she couldn't see him, he closed his eyes tight against the pain, pushing through the words as best he could. "I tried, Michelle. I tried to get to you but I was too late. You.." Tony swallowed again. "You died...right there in my arms."

Michelle didn't say anything just continued stroking his temple, her eyes narrowing the further into his story he got. "There was a second explosion and the next thing I knew, I was at CTU in the med ward. Bill and the others...they wouldn't tell me what happened to you. They lied to me and I knew they were lyin'."

His voice became more forceful and she could hear the hate and anger in his tone. "I snuck out and used a terminal. The pictures...your file had you listed as deceased." He spit out the last part. "The man responsible, they had him at CTU."

Michelle already knew where he was going. Tony leaned his forehead against her's and he whispered quickly. "I tried, sweetheart. I had the needle in my hand, ready to take him out and I couldn't do it. I just kept hearing you telling me I'm not that guy."

She reached up and placed both hands on the sides of his face keeping him in place. "And you're not. You're not a murderer, Tony." He startled her as he shot up out of her embrace and she heard him pacing the room.

"See...that's where you're wrong." Now she heard panic and guilt. "Henderson. That was his name, the guy behind it all. He...he killed me. I died right there on a CTU medical ward floor."

Michelle looked in what she thought was his direction. "But...I don't...Tony what you're saying is crazy. If I died, how am I here? If you died, how are you here?"

He stopped pacing, his back to her. "Before, when the other man was in the room, what did you see?"

He heard her take a quick breath. "Fire. There was fire all around him and his face...it was like something from a horror movie. He had horns and...he...was..." Michelle trailed off as it hit her what he'd done. "Oh Tony, please. Please tell me you didn't. That man...that thing. He's-"

"I knew who he was. The moment I saw'm I knew what he was and what he wanted and without blinking I'd made up my mind. I signed where he told me to sign and woke up in a dirty alley."

Michelle stood up from the bed and fumbled her way to him, one hand gripping his forearm, the other she placed in the middle of his back. "What is he making you do? What plans does he keep talking about?"

Tony squeezed his fists hard to keep from telling her exactly what the demon wanted him to do. The less she knew about that, the better. Instead he turned around and pulled her to him, burying his face in her hair.

"I'm doin' whatever it takes to keep you with me, Michelle. And if that means signing away my soul, the bastard can have it."