Chapter 44

When Christine arrived and walked through those doors it was hard for her not to feel like a mother with an empty nest. She had an orphanage full of children, but for three years before he died, and five years after she had been wrapped up in L and his heirs as well. And for the first time in eight years, none of them were there. She let Roger know she was back and that starting tomorrow the extra help would not be needed, and made her way to her apartment. She dropped her bags in her bedroom and sat on the edge of the bed for a few minutes. Then she went to her jewelry box and got L's keys and went to his apartment and let herself in. She stood in the middle of the room and closed her eyes, seeing the room the way she wanted to see it, L at his desk, the boys spread out all over the floor with pens and note books, listening intently to what L was saying and hastily scribbling notes onto their papers. L stopped for a moment and looked in her direction, a smile coming to his face as he saw her. The boys aware L had stopped talking turned to look in the direction he was looking and saw her standing there. She heard the chorus of their voices yelling "Hi Dr. Thompson" and their impish grins. She sat on the couch not wanting to interrupt, but wanting to share in the excitement of their learning. L had stood up from the computer and was walking towards her. He reached out his hand to her, calling her name softly. She reached out to touch his hand…and felt nothing. Her eyes flew open and she realized she was still standing in the doorway of an empty room, her outstretched into nothingness. She sank down to the floor, drew her knees up against her chest, lay her head down on them and cried. They were all gone, one of them forever, and she was so afraid for the other three.

Mello and Matt walked into JFK Airport and looked around. Matt went for the bags as Mello walked towards the center of the lobby where people were gathered around the TV sets in the waiting area. The news was still going on about the Vice President giving in to Kira, and how quickly the other nations would probably bow down as well. Matt came up behind him with the bags and dropped them at his feet.

"I'm not your little lap dog you know!" he scowled as he dropped the bags. Mello chuckled and snapped his chocolate bar.

"Yes you are, and you love it." He said smiling evilly. Matt shook his head.

"You carry the damn bags while I get the car, smart ass." He said and stomped off.

"Don't forget to get a map, sweetie!" he called after him and Matt's growl could be heard above the noise in the airport lobby. Mello grinned wider watching him go, he loved it when Matt got pissy. It was definitely hot for one thing, and just plain fun to piss him off on the other. He grabbed the bags and followed him to the rental area.

Once in the car Mello pulled out a map and the address he needed as Matt pulled onto the highway.

"Just follow the signs to the city and I'll tell you which way to go from there. Should be pretty easy once we get there." He said following a line on the map. Matt nodded, cigarette hanging at the edge of his mouth.

"Now you're sure we're not walking into a major ambush. It would truly piss me off." Mello laughed.

"I'm sure, trust me, Matty. She's knows I'm coming but she doesn't know what time. We'll just watch her place till she gets home and then I'll make my move. You stay in the car and keep it running, just in case she gets frisky and I have to make a quick get away." Matt took his eyes off the road for a minute and stared at his partner.

"Gets frisky? What the hell do you mean frisky?" he demanded. Mello sighed and took another bite.

"Wouldn't be the first time a woman has found me irresistible." Now it was Matt's turn to burst out laughing.

"And how soon before they found out you were about as straight as a rainbow?" Mello stared at him open mouthed for about a moment before he too started laughing.

"Probably the minute I threw up on them when they tried to kiss me." He answered and they both broke up.

They arrived on Halle's street within the next half an hour. They pulled onto the street and parked the car a few houses down from hers, but close enough to see anyone coming near her apartment. Matt pulled out his game and began to play, much to Mello's consternation.

"We're supposed to be watching for her, Matty." He warned. Matt chuckled.

"You're supposed to be watching out for her. I'm just the driver, remember. So keep your eyes on the street, Mello." He answered and continued to play. Mello rolled his eyes and went back to surveying the street. He was rewarded about 15 minutes when he saw her get out of a car that had just passed him and pulled into a parking space a few cars ahead of them. He watched her walk towards the building and into the front door. He nodded at Matt who restarted the car, and got out of the car, followed her path and got to the door just as it started to close. He jumped in and saw her go towards the elevator and get in. He went into the hallway after the elevator doors closed and waited for the next one.

Halle was very much aware she was being followed, and very much aware of who it was. She decided not to let on that she knew right away, just make things a little easier for him to gain access to her. She unlocked her door and went in, making sure the door stayed unlocked as she went in. She knew her next move was supposed to be to put of the surveillance cameras, but she knew Mello was right behind her and she didn't want near to know that she had already had contact with Mello before this.

"Near, I'm going to take a shower", she said seemingly to the room, "So I'm removing the wire I'm wearing for now." She unhooked said wire and turned it off. She started the shower and undressed, stepping into the shower to wait.

Mello watched her go into her apartment and after a few minutes went to the door. He tried it, realized it was unlocked and smirked. Obviously his skills at being stealthy were off, she knew she was being followed and she knew it was him. He reached for his gun and pulled it out as he entered the apartment. He heard the shower and his smirk became an all out grin. Information and a show, how could he lose? He walked into the bathroom, gun drawn and stuck the barrel of it behind the curtain. He heard her gasp and then slowly pull the curtain from around the gun.

"Well," she said taking a good look at him from behind the steam, "Near came to the conclusion that you would try to contact me, but I don't think he's aware we've already contacted each other" Mello leaned against the bathroom wall and pulled out a chocolate bar.

"It's so like Near to think that way." He said snapping off the first bite. Halle went back to her shower.

"So, you no longer have the notebook so all you have to threaten me with is that gun, right? And if you use that gun on me it will only make it easier to track you down. I'm supposed to put cameras in every room here except the bathroom. That would mean you'd have to live in the bathroom then if you have no place else to go." She peeked out of the curtain again, looking him over, "Ofcourse that's okay with me. I wouldn't mind having you around."

Mello smirked around his candy bar, wondering what Matt would say if he had heard that last bit.

"Oh and Near also thinks that this new L is also Kira." Those words passed through Mello's brain like lightening. Could that be possible? He looked at her seriously.

"Who's side are you on, Halle, mine or Near's?" She walked out of the shower, not worried at all that Mello was standing right there. She reached for a towel and began to dry herself off.

"I already told you I'm on neither side. We're all working to catch Kira and that's all that matters. So..what are you going to do? If you run away I'll just tell them that I've met you because you were hiding in my bathroom. Or do you want to meet me someplace else, later?" Mello was growing tired of her suggestions and decided to end this now.

"Halle, go back to headquarters." He told her. She looked at him incredulously.

"Why would I want to do that I just left there. I have no reason to." Mello pulled out his gun and aimed it at her forehead.

"Make one up. Go back." He said, and for the first time she actually looked flustered.

"Okay, okay stop pointing that stupid thing at me." She said nervously and stepped out of the bathroom to get dressed.

Once they were outside he had her get into her car. He looked behind him and waved to Matt, motioning for him to follow. He then got into the car next to Halle, gun still at her head, and told her to get going.

Near was watching his train when he heard Rester call his name loudly. He looked up and in the screen he saw Halle coming back…with a guest.

"What should we do?" Rester asked him. Near smirked.

"Let him in." he said simply and turned back to his trains, his back facing the door.

When Mello and Halle walked through the door both Rester and Gevanni trained their guns on him.

"Drop your weapon!" Rester ordered. Mello responded with a growl, holding his gun tightly.

"Everyone drop your weapons, "Near said, "Having a shoot out here would accomplish nothing." Rester's eyes glanced in his direction for just a moment, not wanting to take them off of Mello.

"With all due respect, sir, Mello is the one who killed our partners." Near sighed quietly, his eyes shifting to look at Rester.

"Please don't make me say it again. Remember, our primary objective is to catch Kira. Killing Mello right now will do nothing to benefit our investigation. Also, he got the notebook once and got closer to Kira than anyone. That deserves " Now it was Rester's turn to sigh.

"Alright" he agreed reluctantly and lowered his weapon, Gevanni followed suit. Mello smiled and finally lowered his. For the first time he looked down at his life long thorn and wondered why he wouldn't turn around and face him. He decided to ignore it and get on with business.

"Well, Near, it seems everything seems to be going as you planned." He said, sliding his hood back.

"Yes, I take it you know everything about the second L from Lindner by now. I have pretty much figured out who Kira is and it's mostly thanks to everything you've done."

The anger that last statement caused nearly blew the top of Mello's head off. He raised his gun again and pointed it at Near. Rester and Gevanni also brought their guns up.

"Shut UP Near! I'm NOT just a tool for you to use to solve your puzzles you know!"

Near's eyes shifted to try to look behind him.

"If you really want to shoot me, Mello then go ahead and shoot." He said quietly. Mello's finger started to pull on the trigger. How dare he do this to him again, make him look like a fool, showing how he used him to get his puzzles solved. His eyes narrowed as he stared at Near's back, thinking how easy it would be to just end all of this by blowing him away. But he knew he couldn't, for so many reasons. Unfortunately one of them had to do with emotions and the reality that Near was just one of four people who had lived in the world of L like a family, and no matter how much he hated him in one way, in another there was an affection for the way things had been for so long. Just as he was beginning to relax his finger, Lindner jumped in front of him and pushed the gun aside.

"Stop! If you shoot him then the rest of us will have no choice but to shoot you too. What will it solve if both of you die? That's just what Kira wants!" Mello stared at her for a moment, then lowered his gun. Even if he had already decided not to shoot Mello, she was still right.

"You have a good point anyway I only came for one thing, I came for that photograph you have."

"Ofcourse, I got it from the orphanage. There was only one and no copies have been made. I have already dealt with anyone who may know your face both inside and outside of Whammy's house and they will keep quiet. I can't promise for certain but it should not be possible for you to killed by the notebook." He threw the picture at Mello who caught it easily. He turned the picture over and saw the words "Dear Mello" written on the back.

"Is that all the business you have with me, Mello?" Near asked, knowing full well he had seen what had been written on the back. Mello closed his eyes and swallowed to calm himself. So much of the past kept flashing through his mind, their sleepovers with L, all the laughing and playing when the anger of the competition between them would be forgotten for a time. He had to do something, Matt would want him to.

"Near, let's get one thing straight. I have no intention of working together with you on this."

"Yes, I know." Near stated.

"But at the same time, I can't just take my photo and leave, that wouldn't be right, so I'll settle my debt." Near was slightly startled at the statement and looked towards Mello.

"The killer notebook belongs to a shinigami. Whoever touches it is able to see a god of death." Rester and Gevanni stared wide eyed at Mello.

"That's crazy!" Rester said.

"Who the hell would believe in something like that, a shinigami?" Gevanni added.

"I would, I believe him completely," Near said, "What good would it do him to tell an outrageous lie like that? If he had something to gain he would have at least come up with a much more believable story. Therefore these gods of death must exist." Mello smiled, a good feeling suddenly coursing through him, but not letting it show.

"The notebook I obtained had previously belonged to another shinigami, perhaps even Kira himself. Also, some of the rules written inside are actually fake. That's all I can tell you for now." With that Mello turned and walked slowly away from Near and the others towards the door. He stopped just as he reached it and grabbed a chocolate bar.

"Near.." he said unwrapping it and taking a bit.

"Mello…" Near answered.

"Which of us is going to reach Kira first, I wonder." He said, a smile coming to his face.

"The race is on." Near answered, fingers twirling in his hair, a smile of his own gracing his features.

"We're both heading for the same destination, I'll be waiting for you." Near gave a soft laugh.

"Yeah, right." For just a moment, a very brief moment, they were as they once had been. Then Mello went through the doors and was into the hallway and gone.

Near controlled the familiar ache as it ran through him, the knowledge that once was could not be again, but reveled in the brief connection he and Mello did have, if only for just a few moments. It may be gone now, but for a moment they felt it and it was incredibly welcomed.

But now it was over and the next steps had to be taken. He had some incredible information and because of that, many things were beginning to make much more sense. Thanks to Mello, again.

Once Mello knew he was out of range of the cameras inside the building he began to run to where Matt was parked. Matt had begun to get a little concerned over the length of time he had been taking and was beginning to get out of the car as he saw him running towards him.

Mello ran directly to car and flew in, slamming the door behind him. Matt got back in and turned towards him now he was really concerned.

"Mello what happened..what's wrong?" Mello tried to tell him, tried to explain what was turning him inside out inside but all that would come out was a strangled sob and he fell into Matt's arms, tears running down his face.

Matt held him, deciding that whatever it was they'd talk about later, right now Mello needed to get this out, and he needed to let him. He held on to him tightly, kissed the top of the blonde head he loved so much, and let him cry.