A/N: I know there hasn't been too much action occurring in the recent chapters, but it's going to pick up again in the next chapter. And when it does, it's going to continue to build up.
But, until then, read, review, and enjoy!

It had been four days since they'd settled at the house. The longer they waited, the more restless L became. He barely slept as it was, but sitting in the house where he lost his morals, virtue, and empathy was taking a toll on his body. Every part of him weighed hundreds of pounds. Every time he closed his eyes, even for a moment, visions of the woman's face would appear. Beyond would sneak next to him, cackling. Those cold, long fingers would trace L's spine; his hot breath stung L's nose. L found himself struggling to fight his own memories, trying to force himself to revert to his old self again.

It was useless. The house made it impossible.

L crouched on a seat by the window in his bedroom (which he had promptly made sure was the farthest from Beyond's). He gazed out to the barren, dark, landscape, anticipating the vision of three horses riding through the night, towards the house. But, they never came.

Matt's voice suddenly echoed from the doorway. "They ain't gonna show up any faster if you keep starin' out that window. Sleepin'll make the time pass a whole Hell'a a lot quicker." L turned his head; his large, black eyes watched as Matt headed towards his bed. He sat on the mattress, kicking his boots off. "Look, I know we ain't friends or nothin', but I can't keep holdin' back from you. This place-it gives me the goddamn chills. Just rememberin' their voices...it's like they're here next to me. I keep seein' Mello everywhere I turn. Aw'right, not seein' him, but I keep expectin' to. Y'know what I mean?"

L knew too well. He didn't reply, though; he wanted to see where Matt was going. He knew the kid was withholding some information. Hopefully, something that would bring a certain comfort. No, pain was inevitable in the house; there was no comfort. Matt pulled the goggles from his eyes, pushing them into his bushy hair.

"I wanna ask what your plannin' to do once we catch'em."

"I'm going to hang them," L replied coolly.

"Just like that?"

"Yes. Why do you want to know? Aren't you happy with your freedom?"

Matt hesitated, his eyes fell to the floor. He opened his mouth, then immediately shut it. "I don't think you should kill Mello."

"Why not?"

Silence. L scratched his matted hair, trying to lose the visions of tying a noose around Light's neck. His long, porcelain neck. When he laughed, his prominent Adam's apple bobbed violently. It always fascinated L. He'd had to stop himself multiple times from touching it. But, he could nearly imagine what it felt like; Light's warm skin, the hard cartilage. Light would've retracted from L's touch, as he always had. But it wouldn't have mattered, because he loved Lawliet; he revealed his true feelings every day, no matter how he tried to smother them.

And Lawliet loved him too.

Matt's voice snapped L from his day dream. The lack of sleep was catching up to him. "He's not entirely evil, not like Beyond. Beyond's probably the most wicked out of the bunch. Hell, I don't even think Light deserves to die, not after what he went through. But, I don't care too much 'bout him. It's Mello I worry 'bout. He really lost himself after Light burned him. I mean, he was a stranger to me. I just don't think he should die..."

"Your own feelings are of no importance," L snapped, surprised at the venom lodged in his voice. "This is a matter of life or death. Mello will be hanged for his crimes because he is a criminal. What happened between you two does not matter any longer. He is not the friend you once knew."

A single tear rolled down Matt's cheek. "Lover," he whispered.

"What?" L cocked his head, suppressing the wild bitter feelings that raged in his stomach.

"He was my lover."

Silence clouded the room. Unsure how to respond to the knew knowledge, L stood up and left Matt alone in the room. So he wasn't the only one facing contradictory, irking emotions. Apparently his hypothesis was wrong before; Matt's words could bring him comfort.

He closed the door behind him, smothering the aching pang in his heart. Just as it was silenced, something suddenly burst in his stomach. It singed his innards, tearing through his body. L collapsed, his limbs buckling from the pain. He attempted to call for help; his vocals disobeyed him. Every muscle, every bone, every cell ignited into a fit of pain. His fingers trembled as he tried to crawl towards the door. He couldn't move, he couldn't speak; he was trapped in his bodies disobedient shell. In the distance, he heard a soft voice.

"Lawliet!"

The pain yanked Light from his stupor. Visions from his horrendous nightmare immediately seeped through his thoughts. Lawliet had had his back turned to him and when Light touched the boy shoulder, Lawliet's empty body fell backwards. His barren black eyes stared blankly up at Light. And when Light called to him, the only response was a gurgle that came from Lawliet's mouth. Foam drizzled down his lips. His neck snapped as he contorted his body, fighting Light's grasp. He tried to reason with Lawliet, but he was dead. A rope hung tightly around his neck. The skin around the noose was a sickening purple. When Light tried to untie it in hopes of reviving Lawliet, the body snapped at him and collapsed to the floor, withering until it froze, completely petrified.

Light called Lawliet's name, only to find pain surged through his own body. That's when he woke up. He tried desperately to catch his breath. He bashed his fist against the dirt floor, attempting to wake the sleeping Beyond. No response. He gasped for air. His blood boiled, burned through his veins.

"Help," he squeaked, finding his vocal chords failed him. With every last bit of energy, he found only one name roll quietly off his tongue: "Lawliet!"

Then, the pain ceased. He clutched his blanket, his body lay stiffly on the dirt. He struggled to pull his thoughts together, unsure of what just happened. His disturbing dream had been met by a more disturbing event. He immediately assumed he was sick. Too sick. He glanced around at the men surrounding him. They slept soundly as Light lay trembling under the blanket. He couldn't be around them anymore; not for a few weeks. Maybe his body was just telling him he desperately needed a break from the constant blood shed and planning. All they ever did was plan.

He snapped up and tiptoed towards his horse. He mounted her and took off into the awaiting night.

Days passed. Light never slept. He refused to. That dream haunted him. Lawliet's frozen eyes; his snapping jaw; memories of his past friend conformed into a monster. No. Lawliet wasn't the monster.

Light gasped as the sun ducked under the horizon again. The horse grew tired. He never did. He sometimes wondered if he was headed in the right direction. He heard his destination calling him. He wanted desperately to answer, but his horse needed to sleep. He needed to sleep. He couldn't. Just when he felt like he was at a breaking point, hope rose in the form of a desolate house.

He jumped off his horse and limped towards the door. His body ached. With trembling fingers, he brought his knuckles to the door. He struck it twice and leaned against the frame. The door opened slightly. Two eyes peered at Light through the crack. When they processed the scene on the doorstep, the door flung open.

"Light!" arms linked around Light's neck. "Oh God, Light. Where have you been?"

"Hey ma," Light strained to say. He stumbled forward, leaning on his mother for support.

"What happened to you?" she suddenly began sobbing as she buried her head into his chest. "Where have you been? Let's get you inside, darlin'."

"Thanks," Light mumbled. It was the last thing he remembered until the morning.

"This case has taken a toll on all of us," L announced to the group of men surrounding him. "You've all lost a great deal of sleep waiting for them to come. Yet, it's been a few weeks. I'm not suggesting we leave."

L paused. In his voice's absence, Sheriff Matsuda's chirped, "Then what are you suggestin'?"

"I think we should each take a break. One at a time. We can each get some rest, then come back here and be more prepared to fight then before."

With a shaking hand, he lifted the tea to his lips. The hot liquid splashed on his lap. Almost immediately, as if he was waiting for it, Sheriff Yagami patted the hot tea from L's lap. He thanked him softly and placed the tea cup back on the saucer. After that night, L's body halted it's proper function. The tremors were uncontrollable and he couldn't stand for more than a few minutes. Even though help was offered, the unsettling loneliness crept up on him.

Sheriff Yagami wiped his forehead and leaned back in his chair. "I ain't gonna argue with that," he sighed. "After all, the misses probably isn't doin' too good. But-I don't think I can tell her 'bout Light. It'll break her heart."

"Yes, that's understandable. It's also the reason I think you should be the first to go."

"Why? 'Cause of my wife?"

"No," L's voice wavered. "Because of your son."

Sheriff Yagami packed his bags at lightening speed; apparently the house irked him as well. L crouched on the dinning room chair as Yagami passed through the kitchen. They didn't utter a word but when their eyes met, a surge of familiar pain spread across L's body. He ignored it and bowed his head, suddenly regretting inviting Sheriff Yagami to be part of the task force. No man deserved to chase after his own son.

"Good-bye, Lawliet," Sheriff Yagami said as he left the kitchen.

His old name rang in his ears. For once, though, it didn't bother him. "Good-bye, Soichiro. Have a safe trip."