Chapter 6
Several days later, L sat at his desk trying to make a decision. He was leaving for Germany the next day, the German government wanted him to look into a case murder-suicide that they thought had some definite inside job leanings, and thus were not sure they could trust the police who were entrusted with this case. He has been studying it and was inclined to believe that there was someone who was keeping certain information at bay, and he was also fairly sure whom it was. But he wanted to be closer to the action. He had contacts and operatives who would do the footwork for him, but he preferred to be within arm's reach of them this time. The decision then was whether or not he would talk to Dr. Thompson before he left, or wait until after. He wanted to get to know more about her, particularly why would someone like her sign 5 years of her life away without a thought.
He pulled out a folder with her name on it. He had gone thru every bit of her history and nothing pointed to any kind of traumatic situation that would make one run away. Parents both living in the US, two siblings, both male also in the US. There was no mention of or hint of a love gone badly, or perhaps a malpractice situation, just a good, healthy work record of a fairly brilliant doctor. But it still made him wonder, and he hated not knowing the answer to anything.
He also wanted to know if she would be the one he could put his faith in regarding his heirs. He knew, at any time, he could die. It was the nature of his work and he had grown used to the idea. But right now the boys were still young, idealistic and brash in many ways. They still needed someone to steer them a bit as he was doing now. He had learned the hard way that not being involved led to tragedy and he was never going to make that mistake again. He had grown close to them, and they to him. Although the knowledge of what their positions would be was known should something happen to him, he didn't think the reality of it had set in. He had to know that someone would be here that he could trust them with. Roger was an administrator, not what they needed. And Watari, although Watari had trained him, and he would be invaluable to them, he wasn't sure just how long Watari had in him for that kind of thing, and who could blame him. He knew he wasn't easy to deal with, and Watari probably didn't have enough left after him to start all over again.
He decided to talk to her before he left. It would be his luck to have something happen in Germany and not have everything cemented here first. He looked at the time, and then pressed the intercom button.
"Watari, could you see if Dr. Thompson is available to come for a visit, and please bring something for dinner for her as well."
"Of course, L." was the reply and he released the button. He stood up, took the folder and went into the living area, and folded himself up in a large chair. He placed the folder on the table in front of him, picked a handful of jellybeans out of a glass bowl and waited.
Christine had just closed her office and was headed towards her rooms when Watari found her. She had just been thinking of a nice hot shower; it had been an active day and one in which Mello had lost his temper at Near over a graded paper that was just a few points higher than his. She had noticed that Mello had a definite problem with being second to Near, and any time he found himself in that position he exploded. Mostly because Near couldn't wait to hold it over him. She had played referee and wondered where that was in her medical degree. She was midway in getting the physicals of each student, and she hadn't started on the faculty yet. So at first she felt she might decline the offer, and then thought better of it. She really hadn't seen L since Matt had come back home, and really wanted to talk to him.
She followed Watari thru the halls to a section of the orphanage she had never been before. They went up stairs that were hidden behind camouflaged doors and into a suite of rooms, similar to hers but a little bigger. She saw a dining area, a huge desk that was surrounded in monitors and piles of folders and binders, and in the living area, she saw L.
She walked to where he was sitting in his usual fashion, and sat on the sofa across from him. She barely stopped a giggle when she noticed he was eating an enormous lollipop.
"Thank you for coming Dr. Thompson at such short notice." He said between licks.
"It wasn't a problem. My day was over and I was just getting ready to relax for the evening, have a little dinner."
"Watari will bring something for you soon, I did notice it was about that time." He was silent for a few moments, seemingly totally engrossed in eating the lollipop. She sat quietly, waiting for him to decide when he wanted to talk. She had a hard time imaging this lollipop sucking young man with the things she read about L. It just didn't mesh. But then, if you really thought about it, perhaps it did. Not having a true childhood would definitely give someone childish behaviors, and he was giving her a few. She'd already discovered his social skills were a bit lacking, and being rude was almost second nature. She didn't think he even realized what he was doing; it was just the way he was. So, she tried not to be offended as he continued to eat and not say a word.
He finally unfolded himself from the chair and stood up.
"Would you please look into that folder of information in front of you? And please let me know if anything is missing." He said gesturing with the candy. Christine did as she was told and at first was alarmed at what she saw. It was all about her, her history, her school records, and her family. She felt the quick flash of anger; she almost felt invaded, stripped of every personal item. Then she thought before she spoke, obviously because of who he was, he would have had her checked out thoroughly before allowing her into his world. He had to be careful; it could be putting his life on the line.
"Everything seems to be in order. I don't find anything missing out of my life." She answered coolly. He nodded, pacing back and forth in front of her.
"I thought not. Then would you please answer a question for me that has not been answered and I feel is very important."
"Of course, although I can't imagine what you don't know about me by now. I feel almost naked here."
He stopped and climbed back into the chair, looking directly at her with the most piercing gaze she'd ever had. If she didn't feel naked before, the stare he was giving her made her feel see through.
"Why are you here, Dr. Thompson? Why did you take this 5-year position here at Whammy's? What is the true reason?"
Christine stared back at him in total surprise. Out of everything he could have asked her, this was not what she expected. Why? Hadn't she made that clear at her first interview? Did he think she had been lying? Why would he ask her that now?
"Why am I here? As I told you at my first interview, I was dissatisfied with the positions I had been working in before. I love working with children, but not all children are treated equally when it comes to medicine. It began to really bother me as I saw children coming into the hospital that had never had proper care until coming there. I got tired of my hands being tied by insurance companies or lack thereof in treating my patients. I got tired of not being able to use the proper equipment or medicines because they cost too much or were not authorized. Having to make do when I knew it wasn't going to work properly. And I got tired of the hierarchies and whose ass I'd have to kiss to get things done. It wasn't why I took my oath and what I thought I'd be subjected to in trying to treat children." L appeared to drink that in, and ate more of the candy.
"I do remember you telling me these things before when I interviewed you thru the computer. And these are all valid reasons for wanting to work in a private area. However, you came all the way from America to here. You have effectively signed away 5 years of your life. Generally people don't do t hat simply to change their positions. Is there something you're running away from, Doctor? Something you've managed to conceal?" Christine stood up, anger finally escaping.
"How dare you even suggest such a thing? I understand you have to be careful about whom you allow in here, L but insinuating that I have something to hide or run away from is insulting both me personally and my integrity. There was nothing any other position I looked at could offer me. I have no personal life so to speak, my work hours have made that impossible, dating has been out of the question for the most part, and the few times I have, they were quite disappointing. And so I have nothing to lose or leave behind. My family is fine, I have brothers who can keep up with my parents and keep me up to date on them, so L, I had no reason NOT to take this job. If I have not met your expectations…" L raised his lollipop in the air and stopped her from speaking.
"Dr. Thompson this is not about my expectations or your abilities. For reasons that I am about to disclose to you it is imperative that you are not holding anything from me. I need to know that I can trust you to be who you are and there are no ulterior motives in your being here. I need to know I can trust you with the future of my heirs and that they can depend on you should I not be here." Christine had opened her mouth for a retort, but then he brain kicked in and she heard what he said.
"Excuse me? The future of your heirs?" she asked.
"You must understand, I don't really expect to live a long life. It's simply the nature of my position. The trio are still young, and in need of a hand to help steer them properly. One of them will have to take on being L. They are already older than I was when I began, but they are different. Near is the closest to what I used to be, what I am. But even he has his deficits. I have had a hand in their learning, I keep up with where they are, and they spend time up here with me working on cases I've already done to see how they work. But if something should happen to me before they are ready, I need to know that there is someone who will make sure they will continue. Can I depend on you, Dr. Thompson? Can I be assured that you will be here? This is the main reason for the 5-year stipulation, after all. Within that time they will either become adults with my help and ready to take this on, or they will need that time with someone else's help who knows what it is they need to achieve. Can you be that person?"
Christine sank back into the sofa. This was way more than she had expected. He was asking her to back him up with the boys if he should die. She looked at him. She studied that young face, those huge eyes staring at her intently. She couldn't imagine he'd be worried about his death at such an age, and not because he was afraid of death, but because those left behind to carry on wouldn't be able to fill his shoes.
"L, I don't know anything about what you do, how could I help them?"
"That's not what I'm asking you to do, that would be ridiculous. The studies they are getting here, plus what I have done with them and continue to do will enhance the skills they already have in that area. But what they need is a steadying force. To remind them what they should be doing and why. At least for a while. I have great faith that in time they will no longer need someone to look over their shoulders and make sure they're attending to what they should. But in the beginning, and especially if it's any time soon, they will need help. Again, I ask you, can I depend on you." Christine took a deep breath and let it out. Well, she wanted new experiences didn't she?
"Of course you can count on me. I am honored that you even consider me able to do this." He smiled at her.
"I have watched you with the children, your psychology skills are excellent. I have especially enjoyed your sparing with Mello, that is not an easy thing to do. The others have told me what has gone on, not to his enjoyment of course, but I have heard and I know how difficult that can be. So I am impressed and have no fear that you can handle the situation if it should come up. Although Mello is a wild card and I cannot be sure as to how he will react in certain situations. We shall just have to wait and see."
At that moment Watari returned with a cart, and placed food in front of them both on the table. He also pulled out a bottle of wine and poured Christine a glass.
"I am sure this will be welcomed this evening. I hope you enjoy your dinner," he said with a smile to her and then left. She watched him leave and smiled at L.
"He's rather amazing isn't he?" L nodded and smiled back, a beautiful smile that Christine felt he didn't do enough of.
"He is irreplaceable." He said simply and began to tuck into the chocolate cheesecake Watari had placed before him. Christine watched him attack the cheesecake with almost wild abandon, the fork pinched between his finger and thumb.
So are you, she thought to herself, I don't care who you've got waiting in the wings there will never be another you.
"One more question, Doctor…do you play chess?" Christine looked at him with an almost predatory smile.
"Oh yes, indeed I do." Was her reply.
