I wrote this because I felt unsatisfied with the ending =| so enjoy.

The first thing Lupin noticed when his eyes snapped open was that it was bright. Too bright. So much so, it made him snap his eyes back shut, letting out a groan of pain. Speaking of pain, that was the second thing he noticed. A sharp pain erupted within his rips, running up all the way to the front of his head. He feebly lifted his hand and brought it against his face, noticing that there was a gas mask over his nose and mouth. Feeling like he did not need it anymore, he grabbed it and slipped it off his head, letting it rest in his palm next to head. He inhaled the stale and cold air through his nose and exhaled warm breath out of his mouth, still feeling pain ripple through his ribs. He opened his eyes again, slowly this time, and stared at the ceiling above him, the bright light above him shining the room.

"Well, well, well …" A familiar, gruff and disgruntled voice said from next to him, "Good to see you finally joining the living."

Lupin turned his head towards the voice, seeing that his suspicions were correct. There he was, Inspector Zenigata in the flesh, leaning against the doorframe of the room. His face was twisted around in fake annoyance, his dark eyes staring straight at Lupin, not even moving once.

Lupin couldn't help but crack a smile, albeit a weak one. "Hey Pops …" Lupin said hoarsely.

Zenigata gave no greeting back, rather, he stepped straight up to Lupin, grabbing a loose chair and setting it beside his bedside, sitting in it. "You do know where you are, right?"

Lupin lifted his head slightly, looking around the room, decked out with hospital gadgets and things he had no idea what they were or what they did. Every so often he'd find some flowers, daintily stacked up in a small vase and a nice little picture of a sailor boat out in the middle of the ocean nailed against a wall. After making all these observations, he laid his head back down against the pillow, breathing out.

"It looks like a hospital room." Lupin said, smiling somewhat.

"Yep." Zenigata simply said, "Been in here for two months in a coma. Do you even remember what happened?"

Lupin shook his head sideways. "Too tired to."

"You shot yourself."

This made Lupin's eyes grow wide, snapping the thief out of his dazed state. He rapidly lifted himself off the bed, letting the woolen blankets slip down to his abdomen, seeing his ribs wrapped neatly and tightly in a bandage wrap. He looked down at himself with horror and tenderly touched his chest with his hand.

"Apparently, during a heist, you just went nuts and shot yourself," Zenigata stated, making his hand in the shape of a gun and pointing it at his chest. "Right here. You were lucky to survive, Lupin. Doctors worked all day and night to make sure you would live. I heard you actually flat-lined … twice in fact."

Lupin stared dully at his hands placed on his knees, just barely listening to Zenigata's words. He can't remember … he just couldn't remember why on earth he would do that. He barely remembers the heist, but he just couldn't remember –

Wait …

Could it be?

Could it be possible that that nightmare he had …?

"Also, apparently one night you had a nasty dream." Zenigata said, leaning his head on his hands. "You were apparently screaming and trashing about. Like something was scaring you out of wits end."

"Don't mention dreams …" Lupin said gruffly, shutting his eyes tightly. "I'd rather not remember the last dream I had."

"Dually noted." Zenigata nodded.

"Where are Jigen and Goemon?"

"Safely locked behind bars waiting for you." Zenigata replied, "They were really worried about you, y'know. They asked me about you every time I saw them. They kept praying you would live"

Lupin let himself sink back into the soft bed and gave out a loud sigh, somewhat relieved his friends were safe. Again, his hand wandered up to his chest, touching the area where he had supposedly shot himself. He turned his head towards the flowers nicely sat in the lilac vase put upon the desk, a nice arrangement of colourful tulips and daisies nestled within the vase. Jerking his head back towards the inspector, he lifted his hand towards the vase and pointed a finger at it. "Who sent those?"

"Apparently, your little play-mate, Fujiko." Zenigata answered, getting up from his seat, "Tried arresting her too, but she disappeared soon after. Seems like she was worried about you too – now get that look off your face, Lupin!!"

Lupin had not noticed the aroused look that appeared on his face until Zenigata had pointed it out (rather harshly), and shook his head violently when he did. He then gave an innocent smug and chuckled a bit, "I'm sorry, 's been two months, y'know?"

"Whatever." Zenigata said, pushing up his hat by the rim with his thumb, "Just know that as soon as you're healthy enough, you're under arrest, you hear me? And don't even think about trying to escape in your condition, I have two of my best men stationed just outside your door just in case you try to do something funny."

Lupin said nothing, but waved his hand in indication that he heard him.

"Get some rest, Lupin." Zenigata said softly, turning to walk out the door, "You'll be joining your friends soon enough."

"I know, I know." Lupin replied, "It's the same usual routine …"

"Not this time, Lupin …" Zenigata sighed, looking back at Lupin one more time before disappearing out the door. "Something had you more wound up tighter than a Christmas present. Whatever is it, I suggest you take a vacation."

"Pops, I've been everywhere from America to New Zealand, I even went to Antarctica twice. The only place I could go that's new would be the moon." Lupin remarked, shrugging his shoulders, "Too bad I'm earthbound, eh?"

"Shut it and go back to sleep, Lupin." Zenigata growled, going out of the door, "And by the way, this thing is locked from the outside, so don't try to sneak out of here."

"Whatever, pops." Lupin sighed, looking at the ceiling. "Thanks for visiting, by the way. I appreciate it."

"Don't mention it. I'll tell Jigen and Goemon you're awake. They'll be thrilled. Now get to sleep."

"Don't think I'll be sleeping tonight ..." Lupin said, sighing. "I turned off the devil's machine."

COME ON PEOPLE! You should know the reference by now!! I said the very word in this chapter for crying out loud!!