Makoto swirled in her chair trying to not look at the paper work on her desk. She sighed and looked out the window. In two weeks she was going to be married. (Funny, I should be nervous, but I'm not)

"Brooks, I need to talk to you!" Darien called from his office

Makoto got up and walked his office door.

"What's up?"

He motioned her to sit down. She sat down slowly and looked him square in the eye.

"Um, Makoto I know you and Nephrite are getting married very shortly, but you and I need to start thinking about Rivera."

"What do you mean?"

Chief Helix shifted uncomfortably in his chair.

"I just got a call from the doctor that was assigned to Andrew. She told me that Andrew still is unresponsive to all the treatments and that at this stage it would be difficult for him to awake from the coma."

Makoto went numb."

So you're saying he is going to die?"

"No! No! I'm just informing you that there might be some things you to think over if push comes to shove."

Makoto sighed.

"Fine, I'll think it over. Listen, you mind if I get the rest of the day off? I've got a lot on my mind and it's bothering me."

"Sure. I'll see you tomorrow."

She grabbed her coat and ran out to her car.

...

Nephrite sat back down in his chair. He smiled and then reached out to remove the hair from her eyes.

"Don't look at me that way baby. I had to do it. You were talking a little too much."

Mina struggled violently when his cold fingers touched her face. She was bound and gagged to a chair in the back of his gallery. Tears poured from her eyes as he scanned her body with lust.

"You still look as beautiful as ever, but I'm afraid this is going to be over very soon. I know you must have been surprised to see an old flame."

Mina's eyes opened wide when Michelle walked in the room. She smiled slowly at Mina and kissed Nephrite lightly on the cheek.

"Hey baby."

Mina tried to speak, but it all came out muffled from the tape tied around her mouth.

"Surprised to see me? I look better than ever. Though being sent to jail for drug possession has it cons. I'd say this is payback for tipping the police. You're gonna die anyway so why bother bringing up the past."

Nephrite took the knife from the back pocket of his jeans.

"I'm gonna have fun doing this."

Mina struggled and screamed as the knife came closer to her neck. Nephrite pulled her from the chair by grabbing her hair. Michelle laughed and then stopped suddenly. Nephrite looked up at her annoyed.

"What?"

"I thought I just heard a knock at the front door."

Nephrite rolled his eyes."

Look at the screen to see who it is Michelle."

Michelle left the room and went into the security room. Nephrite continued to circle Mina lying on the floor.

"So, you just couldn't keep your mouth shut. I'm sorry to this to you, but Mina you have to understand."

He kicked her in the side. Mina groaned in pain. She squirmed away from his feet. He kicked her again and grabbed her by her hair.

"I should have killed you when I strangled you, but this is more fun."

Mina winced at the pain from her side. Nephrite tore the tape off over her mouth. She knelt over and coughed. Blood splattered on the floor and on his clothes. He slapped her across her face.

"Bitch, do that again and you'll be sorry."

"You can rot in hell. Makoto didn't believe me."

Nephrite smiled.

"She loves me. Who would she pick: a prostitute from the slums of Las Vegas or the rich artist who can give her everything?"

She spit in his face. Nephrite laughed and wiped his face.

"I can have your buried in the desert in a matter of hours."

Michelle ran into the room out of breath.

"Makoto is at the door."

Nephrite sighed and traced the knife along Mina's jaw.

"You're so lucky my bride is here."

He kissed her lightly on the cheek and exited the room, but before closing the door he glanced at Michelle.

"Make sure she suffers."

Michelle smiled evilly and turned towards Mina with the knife in her hand. Mina screamed as the door was closed.

...

Makoto tapped her foot impatiently at the door to the gallery. (What is taking him so long?) Finally, the door opened a sliver. Nephrite poked his head out the door. Makoto smiled.

"Surprise."

"Makoto, this is a surprise. I told you to call me if you were stopping by."

Makoto pouted.

"I know, but I didn't feel like it; how about a kiss for the bride-to-be Mr. Silverton?"

He moved away from her.

"As much as I would love to Makoto, I'm busy doing something."

Makoto looked at his clothes.

"You must be painting. You got paint on your clothes."

Nephrite nodded eagerly.

"Yea, paint um I'll be home later if you want to stop by."

Makoto grabbed his face and kissed him hard on the lips.

"Alright. I will see you later. I'll go visit Andrew."

She waved before getting into her car. Nephrite slit his eyes and closed the door.

...

Makoto walked into Andrew's room and sat down next to him. She moved his hair out of his eyes.

"Hey Andrew, I don't know if you can hear me, but Darien gave me some bad news. The doctor claims you're not responding to any of the treatments. Why? You promised me you would be okay. I wanted you to give me away at my wedding, but I'm having doubts about that. I'm scared and I need you so much right now. So if there is still some tray of hope, please wake up."

Makoto dried her eyes, kissed his forehead, and walked down the hallway.

...

Nephrite wiped his hands on the towel and pulled his hair back into a ponytail. It reminded him of what he was capable of doing. No man had ever been able to figure out their purpose, but he knew. He was going to marry the woman he was in love with and no one was going to stop him. He had taken care of that problem. Michelle walked in behind him and rubbed his shoulders.

"I didn't finish her off, but you said to make her suffer right?"

"Yea, I don't think she'll be talking to anyone for awhile," he sneered.

He turned to face her.

"How about we get back to business?"

Michelle wrapped her arms around his neck.

"Sounds good, but what about your fiancée?"

Nephrite pushed her onto her bed and smiled.

"What she doesn't know won't hurt her."

"Aren't you a bad boy," Michelle purred.

"You have no idea," Nephrite murmured as he undressed her slowly.

...

Visiting hours were over and the night shift soon came in. A nurse walked into Andrew's room and began to change his I.V. She smiled sadly at him and continued to do her task.

Andrew drove down the street in a rush of panic. Sweat glistened from his forehead as the heat suffocated him. He looked distressed and something seemed to be wrong. He stopped the car and ran up the stairs.

"Makoto!" he yelled from the door.

No answer.

"Damn it. Makoto! Open the door!" he pounded on the door for what seemed like hours.

Finally, he stepped back and kicked the door in. He pulled his gun out and walked into her apartment. Furniture and papers were scattered over the floor. It looked like a tornado went through. Andrew's blood drained from his face as he looked on the floor. A trail of blood led to Makoto's bedroom. He stepped back and opened the door. He took a deep breath and went inside. The scene made him want to vomit. He dropped the gun on the floor and fell to his knees. Makoto's body lay on the bed naked and gutted like a pig. His hands shook.

"MAKOTO!"

"MAKOTO!"

Andrew yelled and flailed his arms.

The nurse jumped out of her skin and turned to him.

"Doctor!"

She ran out the room.

A few minutes later, the doctor and nurse ran over to him.

"Mr. Rivera, calm down."

Andrew looked around wildly.

"Where am I? Where is Makoto?"

"First off detective, my name is Amy Matthews. I am your doctor. You were hit by a car three months ago and were put into a coma. Detective Brooks came to see you earlier, but she left three hours ago."

Andrew shook his head.

"I need to see her now."

The doctor shook her head.

"It would be impossible to get in touch with her at this hour."

"You don't understand. He is going to kill her."

Dr. Anderson looked confused.

"Who is going to kill her?"

"Nephrite Silverton," he whispered.

-WooWoo316