Welcome to Chapter 7!! Thank you so much for your reviews, they mean a lot to me and it's great to know that you are enjoying this. It is a labor of love for me, it has been in my head since the first time I watched the live action movies. Please continue to review as it lets me know that what I'm trying to get across is succeeding. HUGS to all of you.
Again, the only things that belong to me are the original character and the plot.
Chapter 7
After being soundly beaten at chess and 3 glasses of wine later, Christine excused herself and went to her room. She got ready for bed and lay for a while thinking. She had wanted this position so she could get away from all the same old routines and ass kissing of the world of medicine that she'd had to deal with. All she had ever wanted for as long as she could remember was to heal people, to help people. Maybe it had sounded corny but it was true. She had given everything she had to it, to the exclusion of all else, which is why she'd really never dated or ever truly worried about it. Not that she wasn't lonely on occasion, but it was something she simply got over. She had to smile to herself. Now that she thought about it, how very much alike she and L really were. He has given all to be L to the exclusion of everything else himself. He was helping people in his own brilliant way. And now it seemed that not only had she found the best possible position for herself, she seemed to also find a friend, a kindred spirit in a very quirky, very brilliant detective.
She reached over and turned out the light. Dealing with the trio would prove incredibly interesting to be sure. She still felt honored that he already thought enough of her to put his trust in her. She would not let him down; though she refused to think of something happening to him. He was just being careful, planning for everything. Now that she had found a friend, one who could also beat the pants off of her in chess, she certainly would not entertain losing him. She closed her eyes and drifted off to sleep.
L had been gone a week when the phone calls started. The first one came around lunchtime. She had decided to eat lunch in her office as she worked on charts when her phone rang.
"Somehow I knew you would be having lunch at your desk" came a familiar monotone.
"L? Is something wrong?" that being the only reason she would think he would call while away on a case.
"No, there is nothing wrong. I am having a quiet moment and the idea to call you crossed my mind. I was wondering if you had been practicing at all." Christine frowned at the phone.
"Practicing? I don't understand…"
"Your chess playing is appalling for someone of your intelligence. I assume it is because you are out of practice. I suggest you practice before our next match."
"Appalling? My chess playing is….you called to tell me….let me tell you one thing Mr. Detective…." She swore she heard a chuckle over the phone line.
"It was merely a suggestion in your favor, Doctor as I would hope you would wish to win at least one game. Ah, Watari has brought me some information, which I must attend to. Another time, Doctor." And the line went dead. Christine stared at the cell phone in her and growled at it before she hung it up.
"Arrogant little bastard!" she hissed, and then slowly a smile spread across her face and she began to giggle.
After that first call, L called at least once a week, usually with some ridiculous reason that almost always made her laugh afterwards. There were times he discussed the trio when he'd received a report on some out of control behavior. She discussed her worry over the Near/Mello rivalry at times, but that nothing had truly come of it other than words.
She assumed the phone calls started coming to alleviate a little pressure on his side. He had probably never had someone on the outside of what he was doing that he felt comfortable doing that with. Obviously not Roger, he was a bit of a moron; and obviously if he hadn't recruited any of the other staff to assist him with the boys, then he certainly wouldn't feel he could talk to them as he did her. Once again she felt honored that he felt comfortable enough with her to do this. She soon found herself looking forward to those weekly calls; if only to find out what excuse he would come up with for making them.
It was about six weeks later when she returned to her office after checking on a sick student to find a covered dish on her desk. Lifting the cover she found a slice of cake with a chess piece stuck in it, and written in colorful candy pieces on the plate was "6:00". She smiled at the "invitation". Apparently L had returned.
She closed her office at 5:30, took the "invitation" with her, made one more visit to the sick student, and then headed up to L's apartment.
Watari opened the door for her when she knocked. She thanked him, told him it was good to see him back, and then she saw L sitting at the table in his usual way, putting the chess pieces into their proper places. She wondered to herself, as she made her way to the table, if there was a closet somewhere overflowing with white, long sleeved shirts and jeans as that was all he ever wore.
"I guess you got everything sorted out on your case then." She stated handing him the chess piece that had accompanied the cake. He took it, and then took back the cake looking at her as if she'd just said the most ridiculous thing.
"Well obviously, Doctor or I would still be in Germany." She felt a bit of an embarrassed blush as he continued to stare at her incredulously.
"Oh honestly I was only starting conversation! Ofcourse I know you would never return without finishing the case first!! You needn't look at me like I'm an idiot!" She sat down and then noticed the small smile and that almost hidden twinkle when she looked across the table again. Watari placed dishes in front of both of them and then placed a hand on her shoulder.
"I must warn you, doctor, that he is being a bit more insufferable today than normal. Be on your guard" he said with a smile and a glance towards L he turned and left the apartment. L looked totally betrayed and stared after Watari wide eyed after he left. Christine tried to keep from bursting out laughing, and then gave up and let it go. L's eyes turned towards her and she almost gasped at the change in them. They were completely devoid of any emotion now, much like the first time she'd seen them across the auditorium. They narrowed slightly as they continued to hold her in their fierce gaze.
"I hope you can continue to keep your sense of humor as I take each of your pieces one by one". He threatened in his trademark monotone. She resisted the urge to stick her tongue out at him. She returned his gaze, and without looking dipped into the whipped cream on the sundae sitting in front of him.
"Bring it on, genius" she answered and flicked the whipped cream at him. She didn't know which was funnier, where the whipped cream finally landed which was directly on the tip of his slightly upturned nose, or the impossibly wider look in his eyes. The stare narrowed again and she saw him reach into his ice cream with two long fingers.
"Are you sure that was a wise move, Doctor?" he nearly growled dangerously. Christine could see what she was about to happen. She scooted out of her chair and backed away, laughing.
"Now L, it was just a little whipped cream, you don't want to waste your ice cream that way." He stood up; fingers covered in chocolate ice cream and whipped cream. He stalled for only a moment as she mentioned wasting it, but that quickly passed.
"An eye for an eye, Doctor," he said coming towards her, "I never let anything go" she squeaked as he raised his goo-covered hand and aimed at her. She ducked, just as the door behind her blew open.
"L you're back!!!" boomed Mello running in the room followed by Near and Matt. And then he suddenly stopped as a hand full of ice-cold chocolate goo slammed into his face. He practically screamed, not knowing what the hell it was that had attacked him. Matt took one look and completely lost his balance he was laughing so hard. Near at first stared wide-eyed and then he slid to the floor on one knee, a huge grin covering his face. Mello yelled every curse he could think of as he frantically wiped the stuff off his face. Christine and L looked at each other and burst out laughing. L walked over to the table and grabbed a napkin and then walked over to Mello, trying not to laugh in front of him as he tried to help remove the mess, which Mello was making worse by pushing it into his hair.
"Now I would have imagined you would enjoy being covered in chocolate" L mused as he scrubbed at him. Mello glared at him and snatched the napkin from him.
"What the fuck is going on around here!!" he yelled at no one in particular.
"It looks as if we interrupted a food fight", Near stated looking at the two adults smirking in front of him, "I told you to knock first". He looked over at Matt who was wiping his eyes and trying to catch his breath.
"Right in the kisser!" he laughed, "We couldn't have timed that better!!" and then he collapsed into giggles again.
"I am sorry Mello, it was not meant for you" L apologized and walked towards the other two, "And do not think for a moment that I will not have my revenge" he said to Christine as he walked. She rolled her eyes in reply. He stooped down and helped Near up and then a still giggling Matt.
"Now I believe welcome backs are in order?" he asked and held out his arms. Matt and Near ran into them. He turned his head in Mello's direction and held out his hand. Mello huffed for a moment and then he threw himself into the group.
Christine looked on in wonder and smiled. The affection they had for each other totally transcended any "heirs" program. There was so much more there. They were, for all intents and purposes, a family.
