Disclaimer - I do not own D. Gray-Man. The original plot and its characters are property of Katsura Hoshino.

Lenalee was so relieved, she could only show her gratitude for the General by breathing a sigh of relief and looking at him with pleading eyes that urged him to continue. As Lavi seated himself on the floor beside her, she calmly folded her hands into her lap and looked back up at the older Exorcist. She was more than eager to hear what he had to say; she was dependent on it.

"It is true that I was shot," he started, smoke pouring out of his mouth as he spoke. Timcanpy was currently flapping his tail up and down briskly before her, shooing away the smoke. "The bullets Central used on me were not common, everyday bullets. Being the brother of our ridiculous Supervisor, you should know exactly how well his sedatives are. These were just as strong, however they paralyze you instantly for a temporary amount of time. They're perfect for any ordinary human."

Lavi, ever skillful at reading between the lines, was already looking at him suspiciously. "If they were so weak against Exorcists, how come you didn't just get back up and defend yourself?"

"Why else do you think, brat?" General Cross scoffed. "I knew something was coming the moment I heard a knock on that door, not even hearing the guards outside speak. They woke up thinking they had just fallen asleep when in fact they had been sedated as well, all of the evidence carefully removed before they fled the scene."

"Did Leverrier plan it?" Lenalee didn't know what to think anymore. She could clearly remember the day Leverrier and Allen had ended up in the same room, only for them both to accuse each other as the General's murder. She'd nearly gotten chewed out by Allen when she ran into him not too long after before he realized it was only her. She shut her eyes tightly as she recalled the anger evidence on his face, the sharp tone he'd used when he demanded to know what she wanted.

"Lenalee."

She shook the thoughts from her head, looking at Lavi. "Hmm?"

"You didn't take your medication, did you?" It wasn't a question; it was a statement.

"I..." she meant to make up an excuse but decided against it. Now was not the time, after all. "No, I didn't."

"To answer your question," Cross suddenly cut into their small conversation, "yes, it had been Leverrier who planned it. After he faked my death, even disconnecting my synchronization with Judgement in the process, he tried to pin the blame on Allen, though it obviously didn't work."

"How'd Leverrier disconnect your synchronization with Judgement?" Lavi asked him.

"How should I know? I was out cold at the time."

"Please continue, General," Lenalee told him calmly, earning a nod in agreement from the Bookman.

"Lenalee, do you remember the time you were present when Allen awoke after they retrieved Timothy?" Immediately, she perked up. "Good. Now, do you remember exactly what you saw?"

She nodded, the memory vivid in her mind. She'd never actually learned what'd happened, now that she thought of it. Allen had been asleep when she'd arrived; Link had let her in, telling her he was going to meet with Leverrier before leaving promptly. Suddenly, she felt her stomach drop. "Oh, no..."

Cross nodded. "Exactly. He stabbed himself with his Innocence on accident and it reacted to the Fourteenth."

"So Link reported it to Leverrier and he used it as an excuse to get Allen?" Lavi gritted his teeth. "Damn it! Right under our noses too, that little-"

"I don't get it," Lenalee cut the red-head off. "Link may have been able to report it, but Leverrier would still need proof that Allen was a threat in order to take him to Central." She froze as she recalled Timcanpy disappearing for a few hours that same day. Allen had said told her the golem was only out with Lavi. She narrowed her eyes as she looked back at Lavi. "Lavi, that day Allen returned Tim was nowhere to be found for a few hours. Yet he told me he was with you."

Lavi blinked in surprise. "I've never been with Tim alone, Lenalee. No one has. The only person Tim will settle for if Allen's not present is you."

She froze. Timcanpy had been present when Allen had woken up, and it'd been obvious he'd been out of it at the time. "General, please don't tell me Leverrier fished through Tim's memories..."

"He did," he confirmed grimly. "In his request for permission to remove Allen, he stated that he was 'clearly under the influence of the Fourteenth' and that he might've harmed you. His request was accepted and Allen was escorted to Central, where he's been ever since, save for now."

"What did they do to him?" Lenalee asked.

"If there is one thing Leverrier would hate to lose, it's control. In this case, he's here having Allen hide undercover to see what will effect him. I would imagine that in the future he plans to return Allen to Headquarters, but it won't be until he's certain he's his ideal soldier."

Suddenly, Lenalee felt very sick. What happened to Allen was just beyondinhumane. She clenched her fists hard. "What'd Leverrier do to perfect this 'soldier' he thinks he can have to himself?"

"He sealed away his memories, or at least made them feel unimportant to Allen to the point where he has to think hard just to think of a memory. Rumor has it you were so important to the idiot that Leverrier went through a lot brainwashing him to think that he no longer finds you important to him, bringing back his earlier thoughts of only caring for the Akuma. Aside from that, Allen now sees himself more as the host for the Fourteenth being allowed to continue living in exchange for being Leverrier's pet; I wouldn't be surprised if he no longer realizes he is an accomondator."

"Lenalee? Where are you going?" Lavi cried out as she sprung up onto her feet, making her way to the door. She stopped as he grasped her wrist tightly.

"I need to find Allen," she told him. "If... if all of this is true, then maybe I can break through to Allen - the real Allen." Shakily, she told him, "I mean, his memories can still resurface. I... I can't change what he may think of me, especially if he's truly always felt this way, but..."

"Lenalee, General Cross said it himself. He doescare for you. Probably more so than the rest of us. I mean, it sounds like he fought desperately to not forget about you. The battle isn't over yet. He has to be in there somewhere. If we can somehow get him to remember and realize that this isn't him then he'll come back."

"It's easier than you think," Cross spoke up again. "When they brainwashed him, they did so by attaching a tag CROW developed to his neck that connects to his brain. You separate that from him, it should do the trick."

"Great!" Lavi exclaimed, his foul mood gone suddenly. Lenalee smiled as she saw the grin she'd missed so much. "Come on, Lenalee! We can get Allen back and you two can finally tell each other your feelings and get it over and done with."

Lenalee immediately shook her head. "No, no, I couldn't do that. Brother would freak, and anyway I don't think Allen's interested in love..."

Lavi nodded. "Yes, that's exactly why he fought to keep his memories of a girl, specifically you. I mean, he just let the rest of us go like we were unimportant!"

"I hate to break it to you," Cross suddenly spoke up, "but Leverrier plans to leave tonight."

No more time was wasted as the two hurried out of the room, forgetting completely about the General as they scouted the place for Allen once more. The brainwashed Exorcist was nowhere to be found, however, making Lenalee worry for a moment that Leverrier had already left with him until they spotted him at the end of another hall. He froze, as did they, before he turned and darted the way he'd came.

"Hey, wait, Beansprout!"

Lenalee invoked her Innocence, brightening the dim hallway with its green glow, before taking off after him. No way was she going to let him go again, even if it meant that she'd have to do it by force. At this rate, she was probably going to have to.

She caught up to him in record time since he was on foot, making it easy for her to grab hold of his sleeve and pull him to a halt, deactivating her Innocence just as Lavi caught up with them. Determined to escape, Allen turned, twisting his arm uncomfortably to knock her arm out of the way and release him. He barely made it a step forward before Lavi effortlessly grabbed hold of the collar of his shirt, holding him in place.

For a moment, she watched as he struggled in Lavi's grip, his head swatting from side to side as he tried to break free, demanding to be let go. Lavi released his hold, but immediately grabbed hold of his arms, attempting to pin him onto the ground. Allen proved to be difficult, however, and growled out, turning as he yanked one arm free, about to punch the unsuspecting Bookman.

That is, until Lenalee stepped inbetween them both.

"What are you doing?" Although his voice was still cold and emotionless, it was also laced with confusion and surprise. Even Lavi's eyes were wide.

"Just stop it," she ordered, looking between them both. "You're supposed to be friends. Friends don't fight like this." Her eyes narrowed on Allen. "So if you're going to punch anyone, then make it me."

Allen's fist visibly trembled.

"You said it yourself," she reminded him. "You never liked me. Me. What would bring you to punch a friend?"

"Stop it."

"Unless if-"

"Stop it!" he shouted. "I don't like any of you!"

She smiled softly. "Okay," she whispered, her hand slowly inching towards where his neck was. When she felt the seal beneath her fingers, she gripped onto it tightly and, with a deep breath, slowly tore it off, discarding it on the floor and taking a step back to get a better look at him.

At first his eyes were wide, but after a moment he clutched his head, letting out a loud cry of pain. Lavi rushed to his side just as he fell to his knees, still holding his head. Finally, after what seemed like forever, the screaming finally stopped and he slowly raised his head once again. The sharp look that had once been in his eyes had now been replaced with confusion.

"What..." he blinked a few times, "where am I? What's going on?" He let out a groan as he raised a hand to his temple. "My head hurts..."

"Allen!" Lavi excitedly sprung forward, hugging said Exorcist tightly and swinging him around. "You're back!"

For a tense moment, Allen was silent. "I am?" He then looked up at Lenalee, freezing when their eyes locked. He opened his mouth, about to speak, before his eyes rolled to the back of his head and he collapsed.

Author's Note - The next chapter will be the last of this story. Thank you everyone who has reviewed. I really appreciate it.