A/N Don't ya just hate technology? How many of you had that same problem logging into FanFiction? It totally sucked! But anyway, here you go! The final chapter. I hope you're not too disappointed with it, so fingers crossed, OK? Oh right, and see if you can find my offering to the God that is the one and only Nick Stokes from CSI. Yum. One more thing...I love you guys! :D
Disclaimer: For the final time, call my attorney! His name is Oscar. We just call him Oscar the Grouch. He's handling the custody battle.
res·o·lu·tion
1. The act of resolving.
2. The state or quality of being resolute; firm determination.
3. Bringing things to an indefinite end.
***
They lay with limbs entangled under the sheets. Moonlight streamed through the bedroom window, casting shadows over the floor and across the bed. Scotty's hand rested lightly on the curve of her hip, his fingers soft against the smooth skin of her waist. Lilly smiled slightly as she felt the giveaway shift of his legs against hers.
"You can stop pretending to be asleep now."
Scotty sighed, rubbing her side tenderly.
"I was hopin' you wouldn't notice."
She closed her eyes, letting his soothing strokes calm her nerves.
"I'm sorry I cried all over you earlier," she murmured. He pressed a soft kiss to her cheek, pulling her back against him.
"You don't have to apologize for cryin', Lil."
"I guess I must have fallen asleep, right?"
Her partner chuckled.
"I don't think Vera's ever seen you sleepin' before," he said. Lilly smiled, shrugging.
"Thanks for bringing me home."
"You are welcome," Scotty replied. She lifted the covers to take in her clothing.
"And thanks for undressing me, too," she said wryly. Scotty grinned, kissing the outer shell of her ear.
"You are definitely welcome. But I did let you keep your underwear."
"I don't think that counts."
"Hey, what time is it?"
The blonde detective looked up at the luminous red digits.
"A little after three," she informed him. They settled into a comfortable silence, soaking up the warmth the other provided and desperately trying to stop their content little bubble from bursting. Scotty curled himself around her, folding his arm into the shape her body made. Lilly pillowed her head on his arm, smiling at the realization that she was spooning with Scotty Valens.
"What are you thinkin' about?"
His voice made her jump, and a shiver raced down her spine before she could catch it.
"Just thinking," she replied apologetically, knowing that he must have felt her tremor. Scotty gently kissed her shoulder, his hand fiddling with the lace rim of her panties.
"You're scared," he said in a barely audible voice. Lilly nodded.
"Yeah."
His chin pressed gently into the crook of her neck.
"You think this is your fault, 'cause you reckon that maybe if you didn't keep survivin', maybe if you didn't keep pissin' him off, he wouldn't keep killin' little girls."
Lilly heard her breath catch in her throat.
"How do...you...how?" she stammered. Scotty's lips found her neck, and she relaxed into him.
"Because I know you, Lil. You think that you gotta fix everythin', be everyone's hero. But sometimes you jus' can't," he said sadly. She reached for his hand, bringing it around to clasp tightly between her own.
"She knew, Scotty. Elissa knew that you tried to save her."
Somehow, Scotty realised, in that magical way of hers, his partner had uncovered the hidden meaning behind his words. He turned her to face him, and the instant before their lips met, Scotty knew that his feelings were quickly reaching the point of no return. Gasping slightly at the intensity of the kiss, Lilly wound her fingers through his hair, throwing her leg over his to draw him closer. His tongue teased the curve of her lips, and she eagerly opened her mouth to him.
When they finally broke apart, breathing heavily, the male detective grinned cheekily, the moonlight reflecting off his skin.
"So you always wanted me this bad, Rush?"
Lilly pinched his arm, rolling her eyes. She couldn't hide the content smile that spread from her lips.
"Like you're complainin'."
Scotty chuckled, hugging her slim frame towards him as she moved her cheek onto his chest. They snuggled together, remaining silent for a while. When Scotty spoke again, his voice was serious.
"Hey, Lil?"
Hearing the tone of his voice, she turned, looking up at him. Trepidation rose up in her throat.
"Yes?" she managed to whisper. Scotty cleared his throat nervously.
"You had a chance to go to the real estate office yet?"
"No. Why?"
"'Cause I don't want you to leave," he replied quietly. Lilly moved her head to stare up at him.
"What are you saying, Scotty?"
"I'm sayin' move in wit' me. I know it's quick, an' maybe it won't work, but I'm thinkin' that..."
He was cut off by her lips capturing his. Lilly laughed in relief, planting a soft kiss to the lines of his jaw.
"I think I'd like that."
Scotty grinned again, flipping his partner onto her back. Lilly smiled, linking her hands behind his neck.
"Me too," he replied, reaching beneath her to unclasp her bra.
"What are you doing?" she asked in amusement. He nuzzled into the crook of her neck, his tongue dancing over her skin.
"This definitely has to go," he murmured, tossing the bra to the floor. Lilly giggled, letting him move lower on her body. His teeth grazed over her nipple, and he gently tugged it into his mouth. She arched her back, raising her chest to him.
"Scotty...so good..." she gasped. Her partner groaned at his growing erection, increasing the pressure on her breast. Lilly's 'detective radar' suddenly stood to attention. She froze, her lust rapidly turning to fear. Feeling her stiffen underneath him, Scotty pulled back slightly.
"What is it?"
Then he heard the sound of smashing glass, and pushed himself up off her, his eyes widening.
"He's here," Lilly breathed. Scotty rolled to the side, reaching for his gun. Lilly slid out of bed, holding the sheet to her bare chest as she straightened her panties. Quickly replacing her bra, the blonde detective pulled her partner's shirt over her arms. They exchanged a glance, moving towards the bedroom door in silence. Lilly bent down to retrieve her own weapon from the pile of clothing beside the bed.
They could hear the footsteps steadily growing louder.
"Come out, come out, wherever you are," he called. Lilly swallowed, her hand moving to the door handle. Scotty caught her wrist, his eyes compelling her to stay still.
"Lil, you can't…"
She silenced him with a kiss, short and hot.
"This is what I do," she whispered, opening the door.
"Lilly," he hissed after her. The blonde detective turned back with a small smile.
"I have to do this, Scotty."
"Why?"
"Because 'he stops when I stop'."
Scotty knew there was no changing her mind once it was made up, so he didn't even try. He took a deep breath.
"Be careful."
"I will. You gotta do something for me, Scotty."
"Anythin'."
"Wait here," Lilly whispered, "Call Boss, but stay out of the other room."
"Lil..." he began in disbelief. Her breath hitched, and he caught the slight choking of tears.
"Please, Scotty."
In the darkness, his eyes met hers, and he could feel the heat from her gaze.
"Aren't you scared?" he asked. He saw her nod, swearing to God that she smiled too.
"Terrified," she replied shakily.
"But you're doin' it anyway," he realized slowly, silently moving down the hallway to caress her cheek. Lilly slid a hand up to rest on his chest, kissing him gently.
"Promise me when this is over you'll still be here," she murmured. Scotty felt tears prick the back of his eyelids, and with a lump rising in his throat, he pushed her towards the living room.
"I always keep my promises."
His voice echoed across the room.
"No surprises this time, Lilly. You knew I'd be here."
"No surprises," she admitted.
"Aren't you scared, Lilly? Aren't you wondering what I'm going to do to you when I get you?"
"No," she replied bravely.
"Liar!" he screamed suddenly, "You're terrified! I know it!"
Lilly swallowed.
"That's what gets you off, isn't it? Their fear. You make them scream."
"They were such pretty girls. So pretty."
"I didn't scream." He sniffed.
"I like your shampoo, Lilly. Vanilla, right?"
"I didn't scream," she repeated. His frustration was growing. She could feel it.
"No, no you didn't. Not then. Not until our third meeting. Then you screamed."
"Who are you?"
He chuckled menacingly.
"I'm the thing from your dreams, Lilly. I'm nobody. I'm nothing…"
"I meant your name," she interrupted through gritted teeth. He chuckled again.
"You can call me John," he replied casually. Lilly rolled her eyes.
"As in John Doe? Original."
"It doesn't matter what my name is. You know what I want," he said, finally stepping into the light. She had thought monsters were meant to be horrifying to see. She had thought they were meant to be ugly, intimidating, powerful. Not middle aged men who could have been your Uncle Joe. John Doe caught the flicker of surprise that flitted across her face, and he grinned sadistically.
"You like what you see, Lilly? We could always have a little...break in the interrogation."
Her stomach churned.
"If you're going to kill me, I'd hurry up and do it. This place will be swarming with cops in a minute," she said. His eyes roamed over her figure, up her slim legs, to her chest. Scotty's shirt hung loose on her, revealing enough cleavage to make his lower body begin to pay closer attention.
Lilly shifted uncomfortably, and she watched his eyes light up.
"Did I disturb you?" he asked gleefully. She swallowed.
"I was sleeping," she lied. John Doe giggled maniacally, shaking his head.
"You were screwing your partner again!"
She tensed.
"What do you mean 'again'?"
"I've been watching you, Lilly. You and your partner."
"You...you...watched?" she repeated in a faint voice, feeling slightly sick at the realisation that he didn't need to rape her to be intimate with her: he'd already seen her in action.
"I have to say, Lilly, you were everything I thought you would be," he continued, "and more."
Scotty slowly opened the bedroom door, listening to the voices coming from the living room. Hearing the lewd comments being thrown at his partner, he felt his stomach churn, and took a deep breath. He flipped open his cell phone, dialling a number and holding his gun to his side.
"Scotty?" Stillman answered in concern, barely sounding as if he's just been asleep. Maybe he hadn't.
"He's here, boss. This wackjob is in my apartment."
The lieutenant gasped slightly.
"Where's Lilly?"
"She's gone, boss. She went out to...to talk to him, or somethin'..."
"I'm on my way. Plan of action's up to you, Scotty."
Scotty took a deep breath, trying to control his rampaging emotions.
"Call Jeffries and Vera," he said slowly, "No backup, 'cause he'll hear you comin'. Come up to the fourth floor, apartment 218. Wait outside. If you hear gunshots..."
"Then we'll come in," Stillman finished in a low voice.
"Yeah, boss."
The lieutenant rubbed his tired eyes.
"I told you once, Scotty. You do what you have to do to make sure this guy ends up in lockup." Scotty felt the sting of tears again, and he released a shaky sigh.
"I ain't losin' her to this guy, boss. He ain't gettin' away this time."
In the living room, Lilly realised that she was completely alone.
"How old are you?" she asked, proud of how controlled her voice sounded. For a moment, John Doe was surprised at the question, but then an evil smile crept onto his face.
"Now, now, Lilly. Don't start turning into a detective now. We were just getting...warmed up."
"How old are you?" she repeated stubbornly. Enragement flitted across his face, and there was just enough of it for Lilly to grab onto.
"You pick the strong ones," she said, hoping that her gut instinct wouldn't let her down, "because you like to take away power. You don't have control, so they can't have it either. And it's what? More of a thrill when they just give up?"
The set of his jaw gave her more of an answer than anything.
"I'm not going to ask you again, Lilly!"
"That's why you're so determined to have me...because without our control, you're nothing."
It was the way the frustration seemed to just melt away that first made her realise her mistake. Her heart sank like a rock plummeting to Earth. He laughed, clapping his hands together.
"That's right! YOU are one of them. You, Lilly, were the first of my projects."
"Projects?" she questioned, hating the waver in her voice.
"Yes. My project to make all you poor little girls happy."
"By killing them?"
"US, LILLY! By killing us!" he shouted. He took a moment to control his temper, "You are one of them. Just like Susan, Janie, Kate, Leah..."
"Alright, I get it."
John Doe took a step towards her, reaching into his back pocket and withdrawing a small but dangerous pen knife. The blade glinted in his hand.
"I want you to scream," he said. Lilly bit her lower lip, stoically keeping silent. He glared at her, brandishing the knife in her direction.
"Scream!" he demanded. Lilly shook her head. His face was slowly turning purple, and the detective stifled a cry of fear at the rage in his eyes. "SCREAM!"
"No," she whispered, her voice trembling uncertainly. He lunged for her suddenly, the knife nicking her arm. Lilly stifled a cry of pain, and with a well aimed kick to her assailant's leg, she sent him flying back against the wall. She raised her gun, swallowing hard. Keeping her gun trained on him, she peered around at the blood staining her sleeve.
"It looks like Ice Queens really do bleed," John Doe mocked, his eyes glinting menacingly. Lilly flicked the safety catch off her gun, breathing heavily. John smirked at her, and she pressed the gun more forcibly against his chest.
"Go ahead, Lilly," he hissed, "do us all a favour."
Her finger slid around the trigger, her hands trembling.
"John Doe, you're under arrest for..." she began in a halting voice. He chuckled evilly.
"I have to say, Lilly, I did expect you to catch up with me a lot faster. Maybe if you hadn't have been so...preoccupied, with your partner, those little girls wouldn't have been lost."
"Shut up," she said. John reached a hand towards her, and she stifled a soft cry, feeling his fingers trail up her outstretched arm.
"They were so lovely, Lilly. So lovely and...young. You must be passed thirty now. Ever think about settling down?"
"Shut up!" she shouted.
"You must want children of your own, Lilly. They'd be so beautiful..."
"SHUT UP!" she screamed. He laughed again, watching her shaking fingers tighten around the trigger.
"What are you waiting for, Lilly?" he shouted in reply. Tears dripped from her cheeks. Lilly stared at him, the barrel of her gun digging into his chest. John shook his head.
"You're nothing but a little girl, incapable of loving anybody," he sneered. A spark flickered and died in her eyes, and she lined the weapon up with his forehead. Her finger pressed down lightly on the trigger. All it would take was a little bit more pressure, just a little bit, a little bit more...
"Don't do it, Lilly," came the soft voice from behind her.
She froze, turning her head slightly, but all the while making sure her eyes never left the man she had pinned to the wall.
"Scotty?"
He moved around into her line of sight, his own weapon held at the ready.
"What are you doin'?" he asked gently. Lilly blinked, the soft tears creeping from her eyelids and flowing down her cheek.
"I have to...he...I have to, Scotty. He..."
"Not like this, Lil."
Scotty watched her grip on the gun falter. John Doe laughed softly, his eyes flicking between the two detectives.
"Looks like I was wrong, Lilly. Maybe you're not incapable of love. Just unused to it."
Scotty could see the tiny sliver of doubt, worming its way through her defences and lodging in her mind. And suddenly, without any hesitation, the male detective knew that he had to act fast, and it seemed for the moment that John Doe was going to let him have his chance.
"Lilly, listen to me," Scotty said quietly.
Lilly's eyes flicked uncertainly between the two men, one of them tearing her heart into pieces, the other desperately trying to piece them back together. Scotty recognised a flicker of something in her eyes, and found the courage to speak.
"I ain't sayin' we got an easy ride, 'cause nothin' we do is easy, an' I ain't about to propose or anythin', but...you know, don't you? You know as well as I do that we got this...this thing, an' I ain't lettin' it go."
They all stood in silence for a moment, waiting, watching...hoping. The silence stretched on for what seemed like hours, and John Doe's eyes flicked between the detectives in a mixture of rage, confusion and curiosity. Eventually, Lilly straightened, her hands grasping the handgun in newfound resolve.
"Put your hands behind your head," she said quietly, her voice holding more strength than it had for a long time.
"Make me," the man spat. Her eyes darkening to navy, Lilly raised the barrel to rest under his chin.
"I said...put your hands behind your head," she repeated slowly. John nodded against the gun, swallowing back a laugh.
"I have to say, Lilly. It's been a real pleasure messing with you. We must meet up again sometime," he leered, "to finish what we started."
Everything seemed to happen at once. John Doe pushed the blonde detective back, lunging for the gun, Scotty hurtled forwards to pull his partner backwards, and then two shots rang out.
It all went silent. The body hit the floor with a thump, blood pooling around it.
Stillman stopped outside apartment 218. Jeffries stood the other side of the doorway, Vera just behind him.
"What did Scotty say?" the burly detective murmured. Stillman checked his gun, looking back down the hall.
"We wait."
"I called an ambulance," Jeffries said softly, "they're on their way."
"No sirens, right?"
"Lights only, boss."
Vera smirked slightly.
"So what do you think is goin' on wit' those two anyway?"
"I'm pretty certain I don't want to know," Stillman muttered. Jeffries chuckled, his gun at the ready.
"No chance of that happenin'."
"$30 says it already has," Vera retorted.
"You're on."
All bets were temporarily forgotten as two shots were heard from inside Scotty's apartment. The three men looked at each other.
"Scotty said to break the door down when we heard shots, right?" Vera growled, cocking his weapon. Stillman stood back, raising a foot to kick the door down.
"I just hope we're not too late."
They burst through the door, weapons drawn, and stopped short in the doorway, their eyes wide in dread. Lilly gave them a small smile.
"Knock knock," she said. The three men breathed a sigh of relief, earning a chuckle from Scotty.
"We heard shots. You guys OK?" Jeffries asked anxiously. Lilly and Scotty exchanged glances.
"You gotta give 'em credit for tryin'," Scotty murmured. Lilly sighed, gesturing over her shoulder. Stillman followed her gaze, and his eyes widened at the pair of legs visible behind the sofa.
"Is he…?" Vera asked uncertainly. She shook her head.
"No. Might need a doctor, though," she said casually. Scotty felt a smirk tug at the corner of his mouth. Jeffries glared down at the man lying prone on the floor, kicking him slightly.
"He's taken two, boss. One to the shoulder, the other to the kneecap."
"What happened?" Stillman asked.
"I missed," Lilly replied vaguely, handing her weapon to her boss. Jeffries raised his eyebrows, and Vera couldn't help but grin at the evasiveness on her face.
"So who is he?"
"He's..." Lilly began, before pausing. "He's nobody."
"Did we get a confession?"
"Not exac..."
"Yeah, boss," Scotty interrupted. Lilly stared at him in confusion.
"Scotty..." she began softly. He ignored her.
"I heard it, boss. He confessed. Might have to beat it out of him again, though."
Catching the surprise on her face, Jeffries raised an eyebrow.
"Confessed? For what?" he asked curiously. Scotty glanced at his partner, noticing the pink tinge spreading across her cheeks.
"Everythin'," he replied casually. Stillman studied Lilly for a moment, watching an unreadable emotion appear in her eyes.
"Everything?" he questioned suspiciously. The blonde detective hesitated for a moment, before nodding slowly. Vera's cough drew their attention towards the window, and the burly detective craned his neck to look out onto the fire escape.
"I'm gonna go see how he got in."
As soon as he had disappeared onto the balcony, Stillman and Jeffries turned to their younger colleagues.
"Are you sure you're alright, Lil?" the lieutenant asked. She smiled slightly, nodding her head. The glance she cast in Scotty's direction wasn't lost on either of the older men, and they hid knowing smiles.
"I think I'll be fine, boss," Lilly replied after a moment. Vera, who had been uncharacteristically quiet for far too long, suddenly reappeared in the living room, grinning like a dog that had got the biggest bone.
"Hey, Lil?" he said casually.
"Yes?"
"Why are you wearin' Valens' shirt?"
Her mouth floundered, and Scotty shifted uncomfortably.
"Well, uh...you see, uh..."
Vera grinned, wiggling his eyebrows at Stillman and Jeffries.
"You two owe me thirty bucks."
Love it or hate it, there it is. Now, I just wanna say a HUGE thank you to:
karizmadreamer, aeternus aenigma, Ebony10, Foxx Rush, Rhonda Roo, fbi-woman, BananaXPancakes, lulubell16, princesshikari99, Lilly-Scotty, LME, JordynMM, ViolaLucien, greyslostwho, svuaddiction and PatryTrusky
BTW, those names were in no particular order, so don't go running to Mommy because Aunt Amoeba loves her more, OK? Maybe on your way out you could hit the review button? Thanks!