Hey there guys, thanks so so much for all your reviews, they give me so much encouragement. This is my first fic and I wasn't sure what you would all make of it. I know its all a bit mysterious right now, but I hope you all continue to stick with it. I've got the next few chapters all mapped out and slowly but surely everything will become clear.

Well I hope you enjoy the next installment.

Nobody's Fault But Mine

Chapter 6 – Lost Souls

Lucas arrived at the station to find his partner Mitch Cassidy already sat at his desk scanning through Mickie Evans's case notes they had gathered so far. "Good morning," Mitch said handing Lucas his morning cup of coffee. Since they had become partners and were usually the first in for the day they had a tradition of early morning coffee and doughnuts.

"Good morning to you too," Lucas said helping himself to a glazed doughnut. "Did you even go home last night?" Mitch was still wearing the same shirt and pants from the night before.

Mitch had been doing the job for the last twenty odd years. And like Lucas himself had seen the impact the job had on your personal life. He was divorced with one estranged little girl. Mitch was known to bury himself in work and not go home just to deny the loneliness and emptiness in his life.

"Nope," Mitch sighed. "I did some digging into our Mickie Evan's police records and its not good. Mr Evans has quite a colourful history. He came from a broken home. He was quite a troublesome teen with a tendency towards theft and getting into fights. He was convicted for assault when he just got out of high school and spent almost three years in prison. He was arrested in the spring of last year for drug dealing, but got off on a technicality."

"So he could still be dealing drugs?" Lucas said. "Could be the reason he was killed."

"Exactly what I was thinking. I'm thinking once we're done at the coroner's office we take a little trip down to that club the girlfriend said he worked at. Err," Mitch referred back to the notes.

"Mirage." Lucas finished for him. "So what time are we scheduled for the coroner?"

"Nine thirty. And we're still waiting on the CSI's results on the crime scene. So why don't you get up to speed on the notes and I'm going to grab a shower." Mitch got up from the desk grabbing another doughnut.

"You know you two are a walking advert for the policeman cliché," Nathan joked as he entered the room. Lucas turned his head to see his brother in his sweats having just come in from his morning run around Central Park.

"You want," Mitch said offering him a doughnut.

"No way. I'm in training." Basketball season started in just over a week now and Lucas knew how strict Nathan was. Just like their father had been back in the day.

"So hot shot, you going to take the Knicks all the way this year?"

"I'm certainly hoping so," Nathan told Mitch.

"Well I'm going to take that shower," Mitch excused himself muttering something about how Nathan should offer him season tickets since he was a friend of the family.

"So how's it going man?" Nathan asked whipping the sweat from his brow. "Haley was pretty mad when you bailed on Jamie's party."

"I know. I got called away on a murder case Nate. I'm sorry. I'll make it up to Jamie I promise."

"I get it man, it just hard, Jamie doesn't understand and he was crushed you weren't there for the cake."

Lucas sighed, "I know."

Nathan smiled then, "So um Brooke also said she stopped by and seen a girl in your apartment this morning."

Lucas rolled his eyes, "Brooke doesn't even know what she saw. She jumped to conclusions."

"But there was a girl in your apartment last night?"

"Peyton."

Nathan grinned, "your one night stand?"

"Did you come here for a particular reason, or are you just here to bust my balls?"

"Yeah I actually did. The season's launch party is tomorrow. I was thinking it would be good if you came."

"Sure."

"And at least you can bring a date."

Lucas slapped Nathan playfully on the shoulder.

"Well I've got to jet. See you tomorrow bro. I'll call you with the details."

-- --

Mitch and Lucas took a cab down to the Coroner's office after Nathan's departure.

"Well, well," Stacey Wright the on duty coroner said as the two entered the lab. "You don't call, you don't write and then all of a sudden here you are." She joked with Mitch when she saw him, which given that they were in New York City was pretty often. "How you doing handsome?' She said turning to Lucas.

Stacey Wright was a middle aged curvy woman with black hair striped with red and a cracking sense of humour. She said she needed one; it was a prerequisite with the job she had chosen.

"Hi Stacey, what you got for us?" Lucas asked.

Stacey picked up a file from the examining table and plucked the glasses from their resting place on top of her head so she could read her findings.

All eyes fell onto the body that was laid out on the slab.

"Well our boy here died from a bullet to the heart. It passed straight through the heart killing him instantly. It became embedded in his back so I retrieved it and sent it off to be examined. The second bullet was fired through the eye and passed straight through the skull.

"I estimate he died at approximately noon yesterday, six hours before his death was reported. There are also marks on his wrists and ankles. Rope marks to be exact. These marks are a little older; I'd say he was bound twenty-four hours prior to his death. There's a lot of bruising to his torso, arms and legs, which suggests a struggle.

"I also checked our victim's finger nails and found fabrics and skin under the index and middle fingers on the right hand. They're being analysed also."

"Very thorough, thank you." Mitch said.

"Well I got to do something to keep you coming back."

"Well," Mitch said once they were back inside a cab. "Why don't you go try and question the girlfriend again and visit the Mirage club. And I'll go see what CSI have on our crime scene."

-- --

Lucas tried Callie Sharpe's number that she had left, as she hadn't been in a fit state to talk to him the night before. He heard the dialling tone, but no one picked up. He left a message for Callie to call him as soon as possible and then entered the club where Mickie had worked.

Being as it was the middle of the day the club was empty apart from the bartenders who were setting up for the evening.

"Excuse me," he said to the dark haired muscled man behind the bar. "I'm with the NYPD," he flashed his badge. "I'd like to speak to your manager."

"Regarding what? Mr Garcia is a very busy man," the man said snottily.

"Regarding the murder of one of his employees, Mickie Evans," Lucas retorted.

"Follow me," he said now leading him up the stairs past the dance floor and stage. "Antonio I've got one of NYPD's finest here asking about Mickie Evans."

"Thank you Vincent. Leave us." Antonio Garcia sat reclining in his leather chair. The dark haired, dark eyed man smiled at Lucas. He was a man who wore a look of smugness that Lucas would have loved to slap off. In his expensive crisp Armani suit this man surely believed he was a cut above the rest.

"And what can I do for you Detective?"

-- --

Lucas tried Callie Sharpe again for the last time that day as he arrived back to the station with no joy. He snapped his cell shut as Mitch looked up. "Please tell me that you had better luck than I did?" he said.

Mitch shrugged pushing the Pete's report of the crime scene over to Lucas. "Not really. The scene was pretty clean. No prints, fibres aside from the skin and rope under Mickie's finger nails. Pete's looking into that but concludes that it was a pretty professional job. And as for the apartment buildings residents no body reported anything unusual."

Lucas frowned, "well I went to that club Mickie worked at and his manager said he'd fired him almost two weeks ago for dealing at the club."

"Um," Mitch picked up the phone, "pizza or Thai? Looks like it's an all nighter."

Lucas rubbed his neck self consciously, "actually I was kind of hoping to call it a day. I've got something I need to take care of."

Mitch smirked knowingly, "well you have fun then kiddo. Just don't stay out all night."

-- --

Lucas arrived home not knowing whether he'd find her still there. He wanted her to still be there. And the idea that she was still there set his heart racing. He wanted her there to protect her but also because since they had first met he felt a connection to her. He'd brushed it off after she'd left him after their one night stand as merely physical attraction. But the more he got to know the person she truly was the more he began to think that it was something more. That they could someday be something more.

Once back in his apartment he saw her. She lay curled up on his couch, her legs tangled in the blankets. Her breathing was soft and even. She looked so peaceful, just as she had done on that very first night. The conflict and confusion her features normally wore were completely erased as she slept.

Lucas's eyes travelled to her injured wrist that she cradled in her other hand. Her bandage had come lose as she slept and he finally saw the dark purple-black marks that were undoubtedly finger marks. Lucas felt his anger rise, memories of similar incidents from the past flooding back. He brushed them away quickly. He couldn't afford to think about that now. So instead he knelt down in front of her, lightly stroking her good arm to wake her.

Peyton slowly stirred, her lashes fluttering as she opened her eyes. "Hey," she said.

"Hey," his eyes trailed down to her wrist. Hers followed and she bit her lip as she saw her wrist was exposed. "We should go get that checked. It looks pretty bad."

"I know. Its just that," she stopped herself before continuing.

"No questions ok? We just need to get you treated. I have a friend over at the hospital. She owes me a favour. You need to see a doctor."

She nodded her response.

Lucas sat with her as she waited to see the doctor, waited as she had the x-rays taken and as she had her wrist strapped up following the diagnosis of a wrist fracture. He had to grit his teeth as Peyton had dug the nails of her good hand in his own that he'd given her to hold as the doctor reset her wrist.

Afterwards Lucas took her to the pharmacy to get her prescription. They sat on the hospital's plastic chairs whilst they waited for her medicine to be made up.

"You ok now?" Lucas asked her. She'd been quiet and withdrawn since he'd taken her to the hospital.

"Yeah." She focused on the floor "You must think I'm such an idiot."

"No Peyton. I don't. I think you're scared and I think you need help."

"Yeah? If only it was that simple."

"It is. I know it doesn't seem like it. That it seems like there's no way out. But there are systems in place to protect you."

Peyton looked at him now, "Lucas I know you have the best of intentions. And you're a good guy but you really don't understand this."

"I do actually. I understand this all to well believe me."

Peyton watched his eyes closely; those crystal blues clouded with something she hadn't ever seen in him before. She saw a hurt then that could have been mirrored her own. She licked her dry lips. "Lucas, I'm sorry." She wasn't sure if he understood what she truly meant and chose to simply ignore her words or whether he thought he better at hiding his own demons. But either way he continued on.

Lucas brushed a hand through his closely shaved blonde hair. He turned to look at her. "Just answer me one thing. Why you are protecting someone who is capable of hurting you like this instead of protecting yourself?"

"Because I'm scared of what will happen if I fight back," she reasoned. "Because I'm tired and I don't know what to do anymore."

"You let someone in," Lucas said. "Let me in."

Lucas took her hand in his. "I want you to come stay with me. We can get you a restraining order against this bastard. And I can always double as a bodyguard. I can keep you safe Peyton. I want to keep you safe."

"I can't," she said simply.

"Why not?"

"I just can't ok?"

"Peyton," he tried again. His eyes looking deeply into her own. "Fight back. I know that you have it in you."

"Luke, I just. . ."

"Come on. Trust me."

The pharmacist called out her name giving her a convenient out.

She got to her feet feeling her resolve starting to disappear. Her legs were unsteady as she went to pick up her prescription. She had to get away. His offer was tempting. He'd take care of her she didn't doubt that. Not for a second. But she knew that Antonio would never let her leave him. And the danger to Lucas was more than she could bear.

Lucas caught her by the arm trying to stop her. Knowing she was ready to run away again. His grip wasn't hard or painful but she felt herself flinch in spite of herself.

"Peyton," he begged.

"I can't. I just can't." She sighed, "I think I should go now."

Lucas let go of her. "Can I at least take you home then?"

"I don't think that's a good idea. Good bye Lucas."

Lucas watched her leave the hospital. All in all the day had not been a good one.