This is pretty pathetic, seeing as it's taken me so damn long to put up...it's short and nothing happens...

I feel really horrible for my writer's block and I'm really trying, but at the moment, I just don't have much motivation. I'm sorry, but it seems that the updates will be very far apart from now on.

Please review and don't attempt to throw pointy objects...

She rested up against him, her eyes closed and her arms clinging to him with what strength she had.

Lawliet stared at her as he sat in the back of the Mercedes, unable to say a word. It was unnerving what had become of her in just nine days. He had never expected it. What he had expected, however, was her to shout angry profanity at him before attempting to hide herself again. As bad as that was, L had to admit that he would much rather the angry words than the weak form that clung to him.

Her skin was pasty pale, her hair was messy, she was visibly thinner, dark smudges shadowed her eyes- she just didn't look as well as he would have expected.

Sybil shivered and coughed quietly. His eyes flickered to her face and he watched as her eyes opened slightly to look back at him.

"I know. I look like shit." He blinked and shifted his arm so that it supported her around her waist.

"No. Not that bad. Although, your appearance has changed quite drastically." Sybil closed her eyes.

"I haven't been able to sleep or eat in all this time." She paused and her eyes cracked open again.

"You don't look well either. Perhaps I look worse, but it's taken a toll on you too." She paused and closed her eyes again before shifting herself so that she was closer to the male detective.

"Lovesickness, I think the Elizabethans referred to it as. Shakespeare uses the idea in Twelfth Night, I believe. It's been awhile since I've read his works." L smiled slightly.

It faded when he saw the diamond tears glistening in her eyes.

"Sybil."

"I'm sorry. I- I didn't think it would be this bad. I knew I'd probably suffer, but I never expected you to suffer too. I'm sorry for not answering any of your calls." She was sorry.

She hadn't realized exactly how much he had cared, which hurt him to some extent. It hurt him, but he knew that it was to be expected. All of this was still something she was growing used to.

"I'm scared."

"I can't live without you." Those two simple sentences were spoken earlier, both of which confusing him to a great extent.

Why exactly was she scared? Was she scared because she supposedly couldn't live without him? Perhaps now he would get an answer, even if she was clearly exhausted and on the brink of passing out. Then again, perhaps it would be best for him to wait until she got a good night's sleep and something to eat.

His eyes narrowed slightly and he bit down on his thumb, drawing his dark crimson blood. He ignored the metallic taste as he thought deeply about the next step to take.

Sybil had family that would be glad to know that she was alive and he was quite certain that her brothers would want her to return home immediately. However, he selfishly knew that he would refuse and that he would more than likely just keep her at headquarters. At least until she was back in top condition, which may not take long considering her cheeks were already regaining their previous rosy color.

Lawliet felt her relax and he glanced down to see that she was fast asleep, her legs tugged loosely towards her chest which rose and fell gently with each quiet breath she took.

He continued to stare at her, feeling truly grateful that nothing worse had happened to her. And although he couldn't quite say that she didn't deserve some of what negativity she was feeling, he was extremely glad that he could understand the reasons behind her actions. At least, he could understand the reasons better than most people and because of that, he knew that he forgave her for the nine days of hell she had put him through.

***

Jerrod was bombarded by his sons and his daughter-in-law when he stepped into the apartment after being away for a little over a week.

Troy basically tackled him to the wall, his dark eyes flaring.

"Anything?!" He exclaimed.

Jerrod nodded and heard Taylor and Trisha let out sighs at the same time.

"Thank God. So, you found her?"

"Yes. We found her." Troy released the man and stepped back to be with his wife.

"Good. If you had of come back here empty handed, I would've been the next one in jail for murder." Jerrod's eyes drifted to the floor, and he tried to ignore that oh-so-familiar glare he got from his son.

"Troy! Don't talk like that!" Trisha replied, her hands clasped together in front of her chest.

Tears, probably caused by her hormones as well as the relief, trickled down her face and Troy immediately attempted to console her.

"Sorry. Um, come on. Let's get away from all this stress. It can't be good for you." Despite all the emotions he was feeling, mainly anger, towards his sister, Troy escorted his wife to their shared bedroom.

Taylor and Jerrod were all that remained in the room. The elder of the two still kept his eyes to the floor. Taylor was the first to break the silence that was between them.

"Ryuuzaki keeping her back at headquarters?"

"Yes." More silence and Taylor sighed.

"You know, you're risking your life working to capture Kira." Jerrod's eyes rose and locked with his son's.

Taylor's light blue eyes were serious, as was the rest of his expression. His arms hung limply at his sides. It was obvious that he was expecting a response.

"I know. That's partially the point. The longer I spend working on this case alongside Ryuuzaki and my daughter, the higher the risk I'm taking. The higher the risk I'm taking, the more likely that I'll die with at least someone remembering that I could be a good person and that everyone makes mistakes." Taylor smiled weakly and then held his hand out towards his father.

Jerrod blinked and then hesitantly reached out to grasp it. Their hands fit perfectly together and they shook.

Taylor nodded.

"Believe it or not, Dad, even Kira has a good side. Most likely. Everyone is good inside, it just takes certain people to see it. Sybil is one of those people. Troy- isn't. He sees the mistakes people make and as much as I hate to admit it, so do I. I just trust Sybil's judgement more than he does." Jerrod stared at the young man in front of him, who had a small smile across his face.

He smiled back.

"Believe it or not, Dad -"