Chapter 5

"Watari I need you to make sure you get all the surveillance video from the time we came in until we leave." L said into his cell phone as he sat by Matt's bed. He held in against his ear with his forefinger and thumb and listened while he watched Matt.

"Ofcourse, that won't be a problem," Watari answered him

"Also the cake in the cafeteria leaves a lot to be desired". L added, distaste etching his features.

"I will bring you something more to your liking very shortly."

"And check Matt's room for his video game. He will want that when he wakes." L then closed the phone as he noticed some movement in Matt. He watched as Matt's eyes fluttered and finally opened. He leaned forward in the chair, until he was peering directly into Matt's face and watched as the boy's eyes focused on him.

"Welcome back," he said with a smile, barely managing to keep the relief out of his voice. Matt smiled up at him as he fought the effects of the anesthesia.

"You said you'd be here," he whispered finally, his mouth feeling like cotton.

"Yes, and I am here. How are you feeling? Is there much pain?"

"Not too bad, I'm feeling okay. Am I all done?" he asked a little fearful. L nodded and smiled at him.

"Yes. Now all you need do is rest and heal. Please begin the process by going back to sleep." Matt smiled and lifted one hand towards L. The detective stared at it for a moment, his head cocked to one side. Then finally he lifted one hand until it reached Matt's and held it. Matt smiled again, sighed quietly and closed his eyes. L continued to sit with Matt's hand holding his. It was something he'd never done before, but it felt right.

Matt was in the hospital a total of three days. Each day Christine would visit in the morning and in the evening, doing her own inspection of his wound, and changing the bandage if she saw fit. And she noticed that no matter what time she was there, L was at his bedside. His hands flying across the keyboard of his laptop, or simply sitting in that impossible position with his hands on his knees, which were drawn up to, his chest, chatting with the boy or watching him sleep.

On the third evening she brought Mello and Near. She thought it was a particularly good idea, not only because she knew how close they were and they were constantly in her office asking how he was doing; but also because Near had appeared in her office earlier, twirling his shockingly white hair and clutching a toy to his chest, suggesting that if Mello didn't see Matt soon she would have to sedate him or at least give him a distemper shot. Christine had burst into laughter not only at what he said, but also at the incredibly serious expression with which he delivered it. She then noted the slight upturn of his mouth as she continued to laugh and agreed it would definitely be a good idea.

They stood at his bedside now, Matt now able to sit up and play his game. Mello had brought his beloved goggles and now he looked more like himself than ever. The boys brought him up-to-date on the terrors they had been creating in class. Mello's particular favorite was what he had managed to do to their chemistry professor; making him scream Mello's name in a perfect high "C" when he saw the boy add hydrochloric acid to a concoction of his own design. Christine had to cover her mouth with her hand to keep from laughing out loud herself. He looked over at L who was standing at the foot of the bed, his hands in his pockets and seemingly totally unaffected. He merely stared from Mello to Near and back again. He then turned his gaze to her, and she could swear she could see twinkling in the depths of those dark eyes as he watched her try to stifle her laughter; his head tilted as he did so.

"Watari I think it's time they get back to school and let Matt get some rest. He is coming home tomorrow after all." She finally said a bit later, ignoring the scathing glares she was receiving from Mello. "I'll gather my things and meet you at the car in a few minutes". She added as they headed out of the door. She had Matt lie back down and straightened out his bed, watching as he fought sleep and finally began to succumb to it. She went to pick up her back and jacket and noticed L motioning to her to go outside into the hallway.

She followed him and closed the door behind her.

"I wish to thank you for bringing the boys with you. It had not crossed my mind that they would not trust that he was doing well unless they saw it with their own eyes. Which surprises me because that is exactly how I would feel."

"Hence the reason why you have not left his side", Christine added. She looked at him closely, acknowledging the deep dark lines under his eyes for the first time. How had she not noticed that before?

"I think you need to get some rest yourself, Ryuzaki."

"I get what I need, Doctor, but thank you for your concern". She could see that was the end of that subject, "As he is coming home tomorrow, do you have everything you need to continue his care?" She nodded.

"Absolutely. All he really needs right now is to take it easy and in no time at all he'll be helping Mello and Near terrorize the halls again," she laughed as she said it, once again catching L's attention.

"It seems the trio have a hidden ally," he remarked. She tried to look surprised but failed miserably, and continued laughing.

"I'm sorry but I know their chemistry professor and the idea of him being so frightened of what Mello mixed together that his voice hit a note that high in a scream is hysterical". She continued laughing and L was surprised. He had thought her too serious to find humor in an adolescent prank such as that. Perhaps her earlier demeanor was more in line with being in a new position and having to prove ones' self rather than an austere personality. It was something to explore in the future.

"As Matt is probably asleep it is a good time for you to try to get some rest as well. You know he's fine so you don't have to worry." She said to him as they headed back into the room to pick up her things. "I don't want to keep Watari and boys waiting too long. Who knows what they'll do to him." At this L smiled a very knowing smile.

"Do not worry for Watari. Believe me, he knows how to handle them very well. Good night, Dr. Thompson." He said going back to his chair by the bed.

"Good night, Ryuzaki." She answered with a smile as she watched him fuss with Matt's bed, straightening the blanket as he pulled it up to the sleeping boy's neck. She then left the room, quietly closing the door behind her.

She climbed into the waiting car, sliding in next to the boys and closing the door behind her. She turned to Mello with a wicked smile.

"Tell me again what Mr. Ames sounded like?" she asked. Mello grinned from ear to ear, opened his mouth really wide and let out a high-pitched scream of his own name. Both Christine and Near fell back into the seats laughing, while Watari shook his head and closed the privacy screen, but not before Christine saw a smile play on his lips as well.

The next day, once she got Matt back home and settled in, she noticed L quickly disappeared once he was sure that Matt was safely in and well. He hadn't said very much to her, but she wasn't surprised. It was obvious that L was someone who spent most of his time alone, working on cases. She did wonder if that was by choice, or was he just so difficult that no one other than Watari wanted to spend time with him. From what she could see from just the small amount of time she'd spent with him she could see the possibility of both scenarios. Still, he seemed so close to those boys, those boys who were training to be him some day. Although she understood the need for someone to know what he was doing, she wasn't sure she liked the way it sounded, as if the position was more important than the person behind it.

She then set about, in-between patients and keeping up with Matt, to find out as much about the reclusive L as possible. The first thing she noticed was that there were no files in her office pertaining to him, no medical information at all. She wasn't totally surprised, he was L after all. Anything like that was probably kept where he was and away from prying eyes.

She then hit the internet, finding every news article about the cases he had worked on, anything written about him. She was amazed to find that the first recorded article on L the detective happened almost 10 years ago. Although she really didn't know L's exact age, he certainly didn't look any older than in his early 20s. Meaning he would have been merely a child when he started this…career. She looked away from the computer and thought about it. Logically, if he made this place his home and base of operations, it must mean that he himself was an orphan. There'd be no other reason to be here, to choose this place. So somehow, this child was found to be brilliant and solving crimes and began to do it for the world. A child! What kind of childhood did that become for L? And what about his identity? A child stripped of his own identity before he could even begin to grow into one, whose entire life was simply to help others solve cases that they couldn't solve.

She looked back at the screen and read details of some of the cases. She was horrified. Some of them included some of the most horrific atrocities known to man. She shuddered at some of those details; some of the pictures were tough for her to even look at. And again she thought of a child faced with these things, a teenager even, hell even full grown adults would sicken at some of these things. And yet all this responsibility placed on impossibly young shoulders over the past ten years.

She looked away again and thought of L. Her psychology studies started to click in as she thought of his posture, the slightly stooped shoulders and hands in his pockets. Was he wearing the weight of his responsibilities, of what he's seen and dealt with on those shoulders? The lines under his eyes; a reflection of someone who's seen so much horror and ugly at such a young age. No wonder he probably doesn't sleep well.

She leaned against her office chair, not able to get the picture of a very young L out of her mind. Yet, he obviously enjoyed what he did, otherwise he would never have continued it when he began. But it seemed that this was all he knew, would he have had a choice in the matter? Still too many unanswered questions. Perhaps she'd get the chance to talk to L about it, if he were willing. She found she was amazed by the persona, but she wanted to know more about the man.