Sam
The bed's springs were digging uncomfortably into her back, but she didn't want to move or open her eyes. She was afraid to see where she was. There were noises coming from the other room and she thought she heard muffled voices. Sam dared herself to open her eyes. The ceiling was unfamiliar. She sat up slowly, but cringed when her rib twinged violently. The room was dingy, yet still nice at the same time. There was a dresser on one side of the room and the bed was a full size. There was a distinct smell hovering around the room as well; female perfume.
The door opened and Halle walked in carrying a bowl of oatmeal and a glass of milk. She blinked, seemingly surprised to see Sam sitting up, but then she smiled softly.
"How are you feeling?" She asked gently, setting the glass on a nightstand and carefully handing the bowl to Sam.
"B-better...where am I?" She looked around the room again.
"You're at one of our safe-houses. Watari was on his way to our main headquarters when he found you in the middle of the road half frozen. He brought you back here and Noxa gave you a bath and some warm clothes. She tended to your wounds as well. You have a sprained ankle and a cracked rib, so you need to be careful. Eat; it'll warm you up some more." Halle nodded her head at the bowl.
Sam looked down at it before picking up the spoon and carefully put some in her mouth. It tasted like cinnamon and cream, making her mouth water. She shoveled more in while Halle watched her. The door opened and Near walked in. He went to the edge of her bed and knelt beside her. His eyes were blank, but the wrinkles around the corners of his mouth showed his worry.
"You're alright." He murmured, reassuring himself.
He looked over at Halle. "I would like to speak with Sam in private."
Halle nodded and walked out of the room. Sam watched as he grabbed a chair and pulled it so he was sitting directly beside her.
"Do you know how long you have been held hostage?"
"A-a few days, I think."
"Correct. Now, I want you to tell me what happened the day he kidnapped you."
Sam frowned, trying to recollect what happened. "It was, um, the day after Tanya went out on a date. Tanya called me asking if I could come over, only she didn't sound okay. I thought she was sick or something so I agreed and went over. She was waiting for me and we talked for a few minutes before I began to grow suspicious. I tried to leave, b-but she hit me on the head with a baseball bat. T-then, her date, Garrison came in and he forced me to inhale chloroform. I passed out and when I woke up, I was on a bed in a large room. He had changed my clothes and came in."
She swallowed thickly and looked nervously at Near. He gestured for her to go on.
"A-at first, he was kind of nice, but I was still afraid of him. Then, he told me he killed Tanya and I flipped out on him. He smacked me a-and kissed me really hard and said I belonged to him. Oh...and he bit my neck." She touched where teeth marks were, the wound still prominent.
Near's eyes flickered to it. "Did he do anything else?"
She bit her lip and hesitated too long for it to sound truthful. "No."
"Do not lie to me, Samantha." He said sharply.
A drop of blood oozed from her lip and she licked it away nervously. "I-I don't want to say..."
He leaned toward her, his eyes smoldering. "You must tell me. It will help further his prosecution. Did he abuse you in other ways? Did he touch you? Raped you?"
She cringed and he leaned back, mouth drawn into a thin line. "...I see. When...?"
"T-t-two nights ago..." She looked down at her hands.
His fists clenched and she suddenly whispered, "Why...why did it take you so long?"
He mumbled, "I was having a hard time coming up with a satisfactory plan. I was trying, really I was, but he covered his tracks well."
"H-he hurt me and you weren't there!" She looked up at him, eyes filling up.
Near looked into her eyes and felt a pang. A pang he had not felt since Mello's death. Sadness. He never realized until that moment how much Sam seemed to need him. Another feeling, this one completely foreign, joined his sadness. It was a bittersweet combination.
He wrapped his arms around her and pulled her into him, holding her close to him. Sam had let out a startled little gasp, but relaxed into his embrace, her cheek pressed against his heart. It was beating rapidly. One of his hands went to the back of her head and gently stroked her hair.
"I'm sorry." He whispered.
She sniffled and buried her face in his chest.
She woke up with warm, thick covers wrapped snuggly around her body. She let out a little whine, wishing to return to her restful sleep, her eyes still closed. She noticed she felt a weight on her waist and opened her eyes sleepily. Her eyebrow twitched in surprise when she saw Near was sleeping beside her. His arms were wrapped around her waist and his head rested on the pillow beside hers. His face was relaxed and his mouth was partially opened as he breathed. Sam blushed a little and tried to scoot out of his arms, but he only pulled her closer until they were nose to nose.
"Hello, Sam." He murmured, eyes still closed.
She blushed more. "Y-you're awake?"
"Mm. Been awake for ten minutes now." He lazily opened one eye and she pulled herself away from him, looking embarrassed.
Sam sat up as did Near, who studied her face. He read every twitch, every change in emotion in her eyes, and the way she bit her lip as she looked shyly away from him. In the short time that their eyes did meet, he noted that her pupils were dilated. He had read somewhere that when someone liked another, their pupils would dilate. He never believed it, but after judging the lighting in the room, not dark enough for her pupils to be that large, he was beginning to doubt his disbelief.
"Why are you embarrassed? It's normal for a man and a woman to sleep together." Near stated.
Sam's face darkened in color and she stammered, "I-I think you're misunderstanding that nature...I-I just didn't think you would want me to sleep in the same bed. I'm sorry if I caused you any inconvenience..."
He frowned. "You don't cause me inconvenience. Besides, it isn't like I sleep. I'm surprised I was able to. Anyway, we should get up. I need to start on the case again."
Sam nodded and the two got out of the bed. However, she forgot about her injured ankle and let out a sharp gasp of pain, about to hit the ground when pale arms wrapped around her.
"I forgot about your ankle..." He picked her up and set her back on the bed. "I want you to stay in bed for the day."
"B-but-"
He pressed a finger to her lips, silencing her. "No arguments. Stay in bed. I will have Halle or Noxa come up with breakfast for you shortly. If you need anything, just press the button on the intercom and either Rester or Halle will come up to assist you."
He handed her the remote to the TV and walked out of the room, closing the door quietly. Sam sighed, cringing as her ribs expanded, and nestled under the covers, burying her face in the pillow. It smelled like vanilla and sugar and Near. She tried adjusting herself more comfortably.
The last time she had been forced to suffer through bedrest was when she was eight. She had been afflicted with pneumonia and the nuns at the orphanage she was staying at during the time twittered nervously over her and had her stay in her bed. If she so much as moved an inch, she would be yelled at, much to her chagrin. She knew they did it because they cared, but she couldn't stand staying still for so long; she had been in bed for over a week.
A blonde haired woman came into her room, wearing a top hat and a lacy black dress that looked like it belonged during the Victorian Era. She was carrying a tray of cereal and a glass of orange juice. She smiled cheerfully at Sam.
"Hiya! I'm Noxa; Near's lover. Nice to meet ya!" She greeted happily, prancing over to Sam.
Sam's eyes nearly bugged out of her head. "H-huh? N-Near's lover?"
Noxa laughed good naturedly. "Hehe, just kidding! He's a little too bland for me, if you know what I mean."
"Uh, not really."
Noxa shrugged and placed the tray in front of her. "That's okay; only one who ever knows what I'm talking about it Avon!"
Where the heck did Near pick this girl up? "...Oh."
"Don't talk much, do ya?" A pager strapped to her hip suddenly went off and she tapped it.
"Oh, looks like duty calls! Bye!" Noxa waved and danced out of the room, closing the door behind her.
Sam stared at the food before her, puzzled. "...What exactly just happened?"
A couple hours later, Halle entered her room with her lunch. It was chicken noodle soup. Sam would have preferred to have grilled cheese, but kept the thought to herself, taking the soup gratefully. While she was replacing her breakfast tray with her lunch, Sam asked, "Hey, Halle? What's going on with the case? Who was that girl before?"
Halle furrowed her brow in enmity at the mention of the girl. "Ugh, that was Noxa. She and Avon work in the underground. She's a weapons specialist. A bit crazy, if you ask me."
"As for the case, since no one knows exactly where Inclementia was holding you, we can't go and arrest him and put an end to this madness. Near sent Avon to inspect the area Watari found you, so hopefully something's there that may help with the case."
Sam shivered subconsciously. It was raining. She doubted anything of use would still be there.
"It's odd, you know."
Sam looked up at Halle in confusion. "What's odd?"
Halle met her eyes evenly. "I always thought Near didn't have the means to show emotions, but then you showed up. He was furious when he learned Inclementia had kidnapped you. He even called him a cocksucker."
Sam's eyes widened in aghast. "He actually said that? He's such a hypocrite! He always berates me if I swear. But, what is your point?"
"I think he loves you." Sam nearly choked on her soup.
"W-what?" She exclaimed, coughing wildly.
Halle thumped her on the back a few times. "I think he's in love. Just wait and see. I'm sure he'll talk to you about his confusion. He's so incapable of deciphering his emotions, he can't even tell them apart. Other than anger, of course."
Near's voice then crackled through a speaker overhead.
"Miss Lidner, if you would return please."
"Coming, sir." To Sam, she said, "I'll be up to check on you in a couple hours. Do you have everything you need?"
Sam nodded and Halle left the room. She laid back down and sighed softly, staring up at the ceiling.
"This case is being dragged out unnecessarily. I wish I could take this into my own hands, but I have no idea how. No, it would be better if I just let Near do this. I'd only get in the way." She murmured quietly to herself.
Near
He felt well-rested. It was strange, to him. He hadn't felt this energized in so many years. He couldn't figure out why. He toyed with his bottom lip using his thumb as he listened to Avon's report.
"Haha! That girl's blood actually froze! Can you believe that, cause I sure as hell can't! It's freaking hilarious! There's like, little frozen puddles of blood and a couple drops on grass!" Avon kept snickering as he spoke.
Near was far from amused and Rester grumbled, "I see nothing funny about that."
"Beyond Birthday messed him up." Noxa declared with mock solemnity.
Near sighed. It figures I work with two emotionally disturbed sadists. They make dealing with Mello's temper tantrums a walk in the park. I need to get him to refocus. "Can you follow the trail to any nearby buildings?"
"Well, gee, Near. It's not like the rain didn't wash some of it away or anything." Was the snappy remark he received.
Near began to rub his temples. "Avon, my patience is beginning to wear thin, which is an accomplishment. But, I can only handle so much. Now, without the sarcasm, can you follow the trail to any nearby buildings?"
"Fine, god, you have no sense of humor. No, I can't follow the trail to a-Hang on." Avon's voice grew oddly serious and Near leaned forward interestedly.
Avon continued in a hushed voice, "Some guy just left a house. He fits our suspect's description. Whoa! That girl did a number on his cheek; has it all stitched up and everything. Looks like she took a machete to him or something...No, more like a piece of glass. Near...what do you want me to do? Should I pursue?"
"No. Keep in mind he has the Shinigami eyes." Near froze after he said it.
Shinigami eyes. Damn! Why didn't I think of it before? He saw Sam. He knows her real name, therefore he can kill her any day now. "Never mind. How good are you at stealing?"
"Pretty good. Why? Oh! I get it. Yeah, sure, no problem. Gimme a minute."
Everyone waited in the room in silence. All they heard was various fighting noises and Avon grunted. Rapid footsteps followed soon after and the sound of an engine revving.
"Well?" Near prompted.
"Got it. The only issue now is the bastard stabbed me. Should have shot him in the freaking foot! An eye for an eye!" Avon laughed mirthlessly.
"Where?"
"The side. I'm good to return to the safe house, though. Be there in ten minutes." He shut off his connection.
Noxa ran off, returning a few minutes with a first aid kid. She took off her white gloves, revealing long nails painted red. She rolled up her sleeves and waited patiently for Avon. He stumbled into the room, one hand clutching his side, the other holding a black notebook. He slumped down in one of the seats, moving his hand when Noxa went over. She quickly set to work stitching it up for him. Rester handed Near the notebook, who examined it closely.
"Rester, you should start screaming." He said.
Rester stared at him, confused. "Huh? Why?"
"I believe at the start of this case, you mentioned screaming if you found out the shinigami from the Kira case was involved with this one...He is. It would seem he obtained a new notebook."
Rester smacked his face in exasperation, though from Near's words, or because of the news, no one was fully certain. "That's just a figure of speech, sir."
Inclementia
He wanted to scream. Nothing was going right for him anymore and he began to panic at the thought of someone stealing his notebook. What if he lost his eyes? Worse, what if he lost his memories? Yet, Ryuk was still sulking around him. He didn't get it.
"Ryuk, why are you still here? Someone took my notebook." He finally asked.
"You didn't relinquish your ownership."
Garrison sighed in frustration. "I need to get that notebook back! I still need to kill her!"
Ryuk sat cross legged, floating in the air. He was balancing three apples in his hand, hesitating before finally questioning, "Why didn't you just write her name down the minute she ran off?"
"I want to kill her with my own hands. Not through the power of the shinigami. I want to feel her bones break under my hands." He squeezed his hands together as though he was imagining constricting her throat again.
I always liked humans with such murderous tendencies. They make things a lot more interesting! Ryuk chuckled hoarsely. He was growing fond of Garrison.
"So...what now? Got some brilliant plan thought up yet? You're good at those, you know." Ryuk threw the apple into the air and caught it between his serrated teeth.
"I'm working on it. I saw that guy's name and I'm pretty sure I have a couple pages of the notebook laying around. I'll make something work." He grinned ominously, the plan already beginning to evolve in his head.