Disclaimer: I don't own Death Note or any of the characters except for the OCs.

CHAPTER 3

Valerie

The moment I stepped into Matt's flat literally made me jaw-dropped. The room was dim, and one might think that there had been an assault in this room by looking at the really messy condition. Cables everywhere, laptop monitors flashing before my eyes, and I spotted several cameras near the windows, peeping through the blinds. Not to mention litter scattering on every corner of the room.

Maybe my neighbor wasn't only a local rocker but also a spy in disguise? Well, only God knows, but that wasn't the main problem here.

The main problem was, I had often heard about many stories and or testimonies about patients feeling being intimidated by the doctor's presence, but had never heard even once about the contrary.

Which was unfortunately, exactly what happened to me right now, right on the spot where I stood.

I had accepted Matt's out of the blue request (practically because he kept saying like "Come on Val, help a neighbor out!") with a particular reminder that I was only helping and it didn't mean that I could make a precise diagnose about the illness, but yes, I said yes anyway. I had taken my medical bag before I came with Matt into his room. And now, I regretted right away why I didn't make Matt tell me first-hand what my "patient" would be like.

The first thing crossing my mind was: Scary.

I wasn't speaking about the large burn scar damaged the majority tissue of his left face, neck, and shoulder. It was hideous, yes, but it was nothing compared to internal organs of a human cadaver in anatomy class.

It was the person himself. I had no doubt that the blond guy was the one covered his face with his jacket hood from yesterday. The whole aura of his still figure was screaming 'dangerous'; even more with all those black leather attire and the metal chain decorating his pants, in irony of the presence of a crucifix from the rosary hanging down his neck.

But the scariest part of all was on his eyes. Those piercing blue eyes practically almost made me flinch.

"What took you so long?" he bellowed, more likely directed to the goggled guy standing in front of me. "I've been waiting here like an idiot! Where's Jack?"

I blinked awkwardly. I assured myself his temper was only one of the painkiller adverse effects he'd been taken in large dose, but Matt's response told me he's used to such demeanor in a daily basis.

"Chills, dude," the striped-clothed redhead said with a lazy grin while raising both hands. "You see, Jack's being a total jackass because I don't see him anywhere. I tried to give him a call and texts, no reply. If someone's to be blamed, it's him, not me."

The blond guy snorted as he snapped off a chunk of chocolate bar clutched to his right hand, before his eyes travelled away and resting at mine. He looked like he just realized I was there. He turned his eyes back to Matt. "Who's that?" he nodded his head toward me.

"Oh, sorry. Mello, you sure remembered the young lady at the hallway from yesterday?" Matt said and pushed me forward. "Now, Val, this is Mello. Mello, this is Valerie, my neighbor. She's here to help you, man. Guess what, she's a med student, second-year-going-on-third-year. And I can see that she's brilliant, believe me. It'll be ok."

The said Mello returned his gaze to me, his eyes scrutinizing. I could barely give a smile at him as a response. Mello then gave Matt a significant look, which I couldn't decipher its meaning.

"Matt," he said, his voice low.

"Relax, Mels," Matt assured him, somehow sounded a bit more serious. "It's ok."

Mello fixed his eyes on the redhead for a few seconds, before finally clicked his tongue and turned on his heels, settling back to the couch. Matt turned his head at me and gave a snarl. "Sorry 'bout that. He's totally screwed up at the moment—"

"I'm not screwed up—"

"—exhausted to death, then. You can start now, Val."

I nodded, trying to suppress my anxiety. After all, this will be the first time I handle a real patient, not a fake one, during medical school study.

"Ok," I replied, took a deep breath and began to move.

Mello

The gears in my brain wouldn't stop ticking. Where the hell is Jack?
Something was certainly not right. I noted to myself, right after I'm done here I would call him and demand his explanation, and he better got a good one.

I eyed the girl as she walked to me and put her bag on the table, rummaging the contents until she pulled out a stethoscope and had it hung on her neck. I only hoped Matt knew what he's doing. A mediocre—above of all—med student dared to check on me? Fuck Matt and his weakness to young chicks. Why couldn't he get a real doctor instead?

But no, that also wouldn't do anything. The last thing I wanted was involving an outsider into my business and holding responsibility if anything unwanted happened. And this girl looked quite fragile in my eyes despite the deadpan look. I'd have to talk to Matt about this later.

"You look quite young to be a med student," I commented. Indeed, she didn't look as in the average age of other American med students.

She looked up to meet my eyes, only briefly before she focused back on her bag. "Maybe," she replied. She added after a moment, "I entered med school earlier than most of my colleagues."

"How old were you?"

"21."

Hmm, that would make her 22 to 23 this year if she was a sophomore. A self-assumed-prodigy perhaps? Heh, let's see that in a minute.

Valerie pulled a nearest chair closer to the couch and sat down, her elbows casually resting on her thighs, her hazel eyes looking straight into my blue ones. I could tell under the poker face she put she struggled to hide her uneasiness under my nose.

Couldn't blame her though; every single people ever met me, besides Matt, always felt the same way. Intimidating appearance, remember?

And I wouldn't make it any easy for her. Call me evil but I loved to see people feared my presence.

"Before I start, I need to ask you several questions," Valerie began. "Please be cooperating and answer them."

"And if I'm not?"

Her mouth twitched. I mentally smirked triumphantly. "Then I'll be sorry to say that I may not be any help of your condition, at the same time I'll be sorry to your friend that his good intention doesn't get a well response."

She's good at speaking. My cheery little moment evaporated to dust in an instant. "I never ask him to ask you at the first instance," I said, nodding to Matt and then to her.

"Yes, but you did ask him to find you a doctor—"

"Which you're not."

"—and I only do him a favor. Consider this as your way to show him your gratitude."

I rolled my eyes at Matt who was at the moment silently standing behind Valerie, who responded by giving a shrug while tilting his head with a sheepish smile. I returned my attention at the brunette. "And how do I know you're not making any mistake?" I lifted an eyebrow.

Valerie paused for a moment. "I'm trained not to make any."

I barked a scoff. "I feel like being your little guinea pig."

Despite fuming at my not-so-friendly remark, the corner of her lips curled up slightly. "You must be privileged."

"Oh, I am."

"Ookaaayy..." I heard Matt drawled. "Will both of you stop the sarcastic comments and get serious?"

Still maintaining the same look, she leaned back. "Well, I'm about to say enough for the introduction. Now, shall we?"

After that she began asking me questions concerning my symptoms, the conversation was flowing one after another, with Matt helped me answering the questions. I told her everything I experienced after taking the painkillers to treat my burns. I only said that I got the scar from getting trapped inside a building in fire.

As the conversation kept going, I noticed she gradually became a bit calmer. Was one of medical training also including tricks to handle annoying patients? If so then maybe she was one of them who managed to do well. Especially when I was one of those annoying patients. Yeah, I fully acknowledge the fact.

"You got greater impacts than what Vicodin could do," Valerie stated after the questioning, now pulling out a penlight and checked my eyes.

I simply shrugged. "You told me yourself I took more than what it should be."

"Still, yours are more of the uncommon ones. My best guess for now is an allergic reaction." She put aside the penlight and returned to face me, her eyes suddenly narrowed in suspicion. "You got the drugs legally, don't you? You know those are prescribed ones."

"Of course." My tone was crisp as I stole a significant glance at Matt, who did the same, only for a split of second. Valerie didn't need to know that the 'doctor' acquaintance of mine also obtained the drugs illegally.

She raised doubtful eyebrows, but said nothing nonetheless. "Please take off your top," she said after that, preparing her stethoscope.

"Can't you just have me unzip the front side?"

"Well, I'll have to check your back as well so—"

"Jeez, alright," I groaned, began to unzip my leather vest and tossed it on the armchair, revealing the rest of the ugly scar covering the left part of my chest. The cool air hit my exposed skin but I didn't even wince. It was nothing compared the freezing air under the roofs of the Mafia hideout.

Valerie didn't budge and I knew what bothered her, so I cut her off before she could open her mouth. "I'm not gonna take this off," I declared firmly while my fingers twisted the rosy beads trailing down my chest.

She turned to Matt who, much to my relief, supported me. "Nobody could make him take that off," my best friend simply told her.

What Matt said was right. The rosary meant a lot to me. I never took it off, even in the shower. I felt naked without it. It's something I always get a hold unto for all my life, to ask for redemption...

She eventually didn't say anything and started working. Plunging the earpieces into her ears, she mumbled a soft "excuse me" when she brought the metal piece closer to my chest.

Valerie

"You got slow heart rate," I stated as I carefully moved the metal piece below the left collarbone area. I watched Mello bit his lower lip and I supposed maybe he could still feel the pain. God, what kind of accident had he got into? I was more than certain the main cause was mostly harmful chemical compounds that it ruined the entirety of the tissue; moreover it just happened less than a week ago. I found myself feeling a strange empathy of the certain blond man sitting across me.

"I thought painkillers are supposed to slow down heart rate," Matt commented.

I shook my head. "Not all of them. Opiates and opioids tend slow down central nervous system, thus slow the heart rate as well, but nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory analgesics tend to speed the heart rate," I explained. "Vicodin included in opioids, so now I'm pretty sure your friend didn't take the wrong drugs. But to be honest, in Vicodin, slow heart rate and shallow breath are categorized in the infrequent side effects."

Matt looked away from me to Mello. I could see his face was more concerned than before, while the blond said nothing but keeping the same flat face, presumably still under the effect of the analgesics.

I continued inspecting Mello's heart rate. Despite the broad scar, I also got a really good view of his torso. Mello had a lean body, but his was in perfect shape. His muscles perfectly toned up, and...

Nah. What the hell, Valerie?

I mentally slapped myself to retain my focus, now moving on to his back, as I told Mello to breathe in and I listened to his lungs. Nothing spectacular, so I thought I would call it done as I had done anything I could for now.

"It's done. You may get dressed," I said, taking off the stethoscope.

"No preach or injections, maybe?" Mello sneered as he reached for his vest and slid into it.

"Unless you're eager enough to visit the ER, no," I simply replied while I put the tools back to my medical bag, mentally resisted spitting more of my best sarcastic comments to his face. Thankfully I had paid enough attention in class about ways to handle different kinds of patients, including the annoying ones.

I was about to say my conclusion regarding his symptoms when one critical thing passed my mind. I still needed to see the Vicodin he had taken, just to check the authenticity of the drug. I had this feeling telling me these guys didn't get the drug 100% legally.

"Speaking of which, can I see the Vicodin? I just want to take a glimpse," I said.

"Sure. It's at the kitchen counter," Matt replied and I stood up. "By the way, how's he doin'?" he asked, referring to his blond pal.

I faltered for a moment. "Like I said before, I presume he was allergic to the drug, considering the shallow breath and the slow heart rate," I mused. "That's all what I can say for now. But he still has to see the doctor for further diagnose."

"I see..." Matt muttered, his voice trailing off. Then he looked up and smiled at me. "Thanks a lot, Val."

"Your welcome." I smiled back. For a second I took a glimpse at Mello, expecting a simple 'thanks' or so.

Nothing. Only the same frown. Your welcome, Sir, I thought bitterly.

When I found the small bottle at the kitchen counter, I paid attention at the white pills inside first. They're all the same: white with the word VICODIN on one side.

I opened the bottle and took one pill, securing it between my thumb and index finger as I took a closer look. Well, it appeared like a real Vicodin though... I took my time to observe the rest of the pills from different angles. Hmm. There's no way to test the authenticity unless taking them for a lab test—

"Move."

"Wha—!"

I jumped and immediately spun when I heard someone speaking so sudden behind my back, accidentally knocked the Vicodin bottle off, and at least half the content were thrown to the floor. I gasped, surprised at what just happened.

What's worse, I found myself came face to face with a wide-eyed Mello, glaring at the smashed pills below.