A/N - Thank you to all reviewers :) George.

Chapter Four

People. Human beings. Homosapiens. Scurrying about the Earth as they journeyed through their lives like tiny ants on the ground. Occasionally bumping into one another, their lives touching in an instant, no matter how long it was for. And then they were off, continuing on their journey again into the afterlife and beyond. It was curious, how very strange a breed they were. Their kind so vast and different in every way possible; interests, looks, skills, favourites and yet they were all so very distinct and individual. No two the same, not even twins. And they congregated in the very oddest of places, jostling with each other to get through the day, pushing past and shouting, flinging items around, laughing loudly, sobbing with pain, every human emotion possible. Flack found himself surrounded by them all. Like the still epicentre of a tornado. A calm, surrounded by the chaos of life. For although his insides were tumultuous after the past night's and morning's events, outwardly he was numb; uncaring for the everyday matters that concerned his life. And the sounds around him were just irritating and headache-inducing as he sat at his desk while the world passed him by.

Flack threw two pills into his mouth and swallowed them down with a plastic cup full of tasteless water. No, that was a lie. Really the water wasn't tasteless. It had the feint aroma of staleness, of a stagnant pond that had been left too long untended. And the taste, well, Flack assumed that it tasted rather like that too, but in the end it was only a supposition. He'd never had the inclination to drink water from a stagnant pond, or even go near one. He threw the plastic cup into the disposal and glared daggers at the water cooler as he stomped away back to his desk. A coffee would have been a better pick-me-up but he'd already had six cups that day and had started to get the shakes. He liked it black and bitter, bitter like his soul, and as hot as it could get. So hot it burnt right through as it had done back in the cafe... the cafe with Aiden.

Flack wiped a hand over his sweaty brow as he collapsed into his chair and rubbed at his temple. Pills always took so damn long to work, and his head felt like hellfire was burning in it. His hands shook as he brought them down and he grabbed hold of the edge of his desk to steady them. His nerves were shot. He didn't know what to do. Aiden wanted him to destroy evidence, which went against every instinct he had as a cop. But then he knew deep down he would do anything for her. Flack coughed and felt the burn of bile at the back of his throat. Maybe he was coming down with something? Bloody Messer and his children's germs. Flack hated that. He groaned and went to rub his temple again before deciding to leave his hands where they were, they still shook badly. Who was Aiden working for? That was the question. It could be anyone, some sort of shady gang or mafia, he had no idea.

"Flack?"

Flack looked up, biting back more bile from the pain of moving his head to see Lovato standing next to his desk.

"Lovato," Flack nodded, his teeth clenched together jaw hard.

"You're not looking so good, you okay?" she asked as she came nearer, perching on his desk.

Flack could sense she wanted to reach out, to touch his face, even his arm for some contact. But he didn't want that. He didn't want to be near her, she wasn't who he loved.

"I'm fine," he ground out.

"What happened to your nose?" she asked and instinctively moved her hand.

Flack flinched and she froze, drawing her hand back immediately.

"What's wrong?" she asked, clearly concerned.

"Nothing's wrong, Lovato, I'm just busy, jeez," Flack snapped as he wiped at his sweaty brow. He could feel his pale blue shirt and vest underneath becoming damp at his back.

"Then why won't you let me in?" she hissed. "I called round your place last night after work, you weren't in. Where were you?"

"What's it to you where I go?" Flack almost shouted before remembering where he was.

Lovato looked taken aback. She stood and swept her dark hair over her shoulder.

"It's nothing to me, Flack," she said curtly. "Not anymore. And neither are you."

She stormed away out of the bullpen and Flack glared after her. So that was them done then. He couldn't bring himself to care. He'd never liked her much anyway, only a substitute for a woman he had lost, and she only being a substitute herself for the woman he truly loved. No, Lovato had never made him happy, she was too immature in life and amateur at her job, he'd covered for her a few times and had regretted it almost immediately. She should have been trained for longer before promoted to the rank of detective. If he was honest, he'd only pursued her because he'd been lonely, and there was only so much loneliness a man could take.

Flack leant back in his chair and waited for the pills to kick in. His head was pounding... pounding... pounding...beats thumping away. It was so loud. He swallowed as it almost made him dizzy; he was feeling sick anyway. The lights were so bright and flashing in his face, which was fast becoming irritating. He'd always hated places like this anyway. The music was too damn loud and it was God awful drum and base they were playing. He couldn't even hear Danny properly over the heavy base and the alcohol sloshing around in his stomach was making him want to throw up. He gulped in the hazy, sweaty air and stood up, falling against the table to which he grabbed hold of to stop his journey to the sticky floor.

"Whoa Flack, how much have you drunk?" Danny chuckled as his gaze was distracted by a pretty woman who walked past.

"Yeah, thanks for the concern," Flack mumbled as he held onto the table and blinked, trying to get his vision to stay still just for one moment.

"There are so many hot chicks here tonight," Danny said, his mouth slightly agape in awe. "Why have we never come here before?"

"Because we don't like drum and base or loud music or overpriced drinks," Flack snarked. "We like sitting in a dingy bar, having a few, playing some rounds of pool or darts and then stumbling off home. Possibly getting a pizza or kebab on the way."

"You make us sound dull," Danny snorted as downed his fluorescent blue shot.

"Maybe I am dull but I like being dull," Flack moaned as he frowned. His vision wasn't becoming any clearer and the strobe lighting that suddenly flashed on wasn't helping.

"Well I'm gonna make this place my local," Danny grinned. "I could take home a different girl every time. It's like I finally discovered where they were all hiding."

"Bit stalkerish, Danno, bit stalkerish," Flack nodded as he thudded heavily back onto his stool. He'd wait to try and make his way to the toilet. He didn't feel the need to vomit as badly now and as he had no idea how to even walk anymore it seemed like a better idea just to stay sitting where he was.

"Hmm, yeah, I guess it did a bit," Danny laughed. "Oh well...hey... now she is smoking..."

Flack glanced in the direction of Danny's gaze and watched as an attractive blonde headed onto the dancefloor and started dancing about. The music was gradually changing to something different, but nothing he recognised. His attention was drawn to the woman next to the blonde. The dark-haired woman who had brought them both there. She swayed her hips sensuously on the dancefloor and Flack became entranced in her movement. Every single thrust of her hips, the way she raised her arms above her head, her breasts jutting out. Flack felt the blood surge through his body and his vision suddenly cleared. She was perfect. His breath suddenly caught in his throat and he let out a soft gasp as her arms entangled around the body of another, of Kali and then the two moved in perfect unison. Swaying as a single entity and Flack almost felt jealous of Kali. It was ridiculous, she was a women and one of Aiden's best girlfriends. And yet he wanted to be the one up there dancing with Aiden, having her hips rub against his groin, putting his arms possessively around her and letting all the other men know she was his. Unexpectedly her shining brown eyes suddenly looked up for a moment and caught his, entangling him in her gaze, seducing him so that he felt himself falling. Falling deeply...

"You checking out Maka?" Danny slurred as he leant over the table and prodded Flack in the arm.

"Ouch," Flack growled and glanced at Danny.

It was a mistake. By the time he looked back over at Aiden she was looking at Kali and had forgotten the previous moment.

"Fuck," Flack whispered under his breath.

Danny was still grinning wildly at him like a magnificent clown.

"What?" Flack snapped.

"You like Maka," Danny teased, drum rolling on the table with his hands.

"I do not like Maka," Flack retorted angrily.

"Good," Danny nodded. "Cos I do so keep your dirty paws off. She's mine."

Flack snorted into his glass as he drank some of the whiskey in it. Whatever made him decide it was a good idea to have another drink was instantly regretted and he quickly slammed the glass back down.

"Never gonna happen, Mess. She's way outta your league."

"Oh ho, I think not. I think she likes my Messer charm," Danny replied.

"What charm?" Flack added as Danny kicked him hard under the table.

"Stop beating me up," Flack yelped rubbing at his sore shin.

"I'm gonna go for it," Danny nodded as though he hadn't heard Flack complain.

"Yeah good luck with that then," Flack said sarcastically.

"I'd like to get with a cop," Danny mused.

"Shallow bastard," Flack smirked. "I'm surprised you haven't already."

"Never shit where you eat," Danny said wisely.

"Nice," Flack murmured.

"But I'm gonna get with Maka. I reckon a cop would make a good girlfriend, be all tough, not all prissy and feminine," Danny grinned.

Flack snorted with laughter. Clearly alcohol was very much hampering Danny's thoughts. Flack knew he liked Kali. He had for a while now. But then again, Danny liked most things in a skirt.

"I like a woman to be feminine," Flack smirked at Danny. "And what's this about making her your girlfriend, eh? Next we'll be hearing wedding bells!"

Danny grinned good-naturedly at his friend. "No way. I ain't ever letting a woman tie this down. It would be a loss to womankind," he said as he gestured to himself. "And I certainly wouldn't be marrying no cop that's for sure."

"Who's marrying a cop?"

Flack felt a delicate arm thrown over his shoulders and then a scent came to his nose. Not the putrid one of sweat and vomit and smoke that had previously been filling his nostrils but a new one. One of coconut and mango, as locks of black hair brushed across his face. Of woman and of Aiden as she leant against him. He momentarily closed his eyes and absorbed her scent.

"You okay there, Donny boy?" Aiden asked, looking concerned.

Her head was right next to his, so close her could feel her breath on his face. He opened his eyes and was faced with those full lips, so close, so kissable... if he just leant forward... only a matter of centimetres.

"He's alright, aren't ya Flack?" Danny said loudly and Flack tore his eyes from Aiden's lips.

"Yeah, think I'm sobering up a bit actually," Flack muttered, swallowing deeply to gain some of his breath back.

"Sober?!" Aiden giggled. "Then you can dance with me. Kali's getting tired."

Flack found himself being pulled up from his stool and then led across the sticky, glass-fragment covered floor to where the crowd were dancing. Sweat covered bodies banged into him from all sides and he stumbled forward but was caught by sturdy hands. Safe hands. Aiden smiled at him and then turned, once again swaying sensuously in time with the rhythm and Flack froze, heart stopping in his chest. He simply stood like a gaping idiot in the middle of the dancefloor, statuesque in every way as the dark-haired woman rubbed against him, hair whipping into his face, the sweat of their bodies making their clothes cling together and Flack felt the heat rising in him. It was everything he'd imagined and so much more. And then she turned and their eyes connected. Once more her lips were only a matter of centimetres from his. He tilted his head down as his heart started up again, thumping painfully in his chest. She was looking up at him, the gap was closing. Figures swirled around them, around their pocket of frozen time. The air was evaporating from his lungs, her eyes glistening before him, their souls touching in an instant and he closed his eyes as he leant forward.

"Flack!"

Flack jolted awake as his eyes shot open to stare into the angry ones of his Captain.

"No sleeping on the job, Sonny," the Captain growled before storming off to his office.

Flack frowned as he noticed the whispers and little sniggers of laughter from around him. He glared at the other cops before turning back to his desk and grabbing hold of his mug. He supped at the inch of liquid remaining in the bottom of his 'World's Best Copper' mug that Sam had bought him before realising the coffee was at least an hour old and stone cold.

"Fuck," he swore as he slammed the mug angrily back down on the desk, half missing the coaster so the mug titled and almost spilt its contents.

He then turned to his computer. There were seventeen new emails showing. Seventeen already and he couldn't have had his eyes closed for more than five minutes. He took a deep intake of breath as he remembered what he'd been thinking about. A memory. A memory of Aiden and the night they'd all gone out; her, Danny, Maka and himself. Danny had taken Maka home that night and slept with her. She never spoken to him again after that and soon transferred out of the precinct to be replaced by... by Jess. Flack gulped as he remembered his dead love. He'd loved her so much, finally someone to fill the void left in his life after Aiden. And he knew he would have been happy, he'd loved Jess with all his heart, maybe not to the same extent or with as much passion and burning desire as he'd had for Aiden. But he'd been happy, until that had been snatched from him too.

His computer beeped at him as an eighteenth email appeared in his inbox and Flack snarled with vehemence at the electronic machine, as though blaming it for those human beings that were bothering him today. Fuck it. He was going to get out. He couldn't work; his mind was all over the place. He was supposed to be helping people, investigating a murder, either that or destroying the evidence. As to which he hadn't really made up his mind. He stood and grabbed his dark coat from the back of his chair, storming from the bullpen as though he was utterly offended by all those who were currently in it. As he got out onto the steps he noticed the mist had come down again and enveloped the streets in a bright white. He growled at it, as though hoping it might be scared by his foul temper and quickly evaporate. That did not happen. He pursed his lips and then looked both ways up and down the street. Left or right? Home or CrimeLab? He wavered, hesitating in both directions and then turned to the car lot where he knew his car was. He'd rather walk than put up with the midday traffic, even though he knew he'd regret it as soon as he reached whichever destination he ended up at. Left for home, for safety, for collapsing into bed and sleeping until a new day had risen and he could forget all about Aiden. Or right. Right to the Crime Lab, to the evidence, to the destruction of not only it but also quite possibly his career. His head led him left, his heart right, and Flack knew he'd always been a sucker for love. He hesitated again and someone pushed past him on their way inside making him stumble down the final step. Rude. Flack zipped up his coat and then turned along the sidewalk and paced away from the precinct. Heading down to the right.

It wasn't a long walk and he made quick work of the journey, eyes down the whole time, not wanting to connect with anyone else that day. The mist felt wet and his clothes dampened as he walked. He could tell it was getting thicker and that it was more than likely going to snow at any minute. As if reading his mind he felt a cold spot on his nose as a flake landed on it and then a few more wisped down through the mist, a slightly more solid white compared against the vaporous white of the mist. He wished he'd driven now, he knew he'd regret walking but as he arrived at the familiar corner and looked up, all thoughts of the weather and his car were gone. Jutting out of the fog before him, rising through the drifting mist like some towering behemoth, stood the skyscraper that housed the Crime Lab. The end of the road for him. The end of the line. Flack knew if he did this there was no going back, he'd be involved in whatever shady group Aiden was with. He'd most likely be caught and sent to jail and a cop never lasted long in jail. It would be his death.

As Flack stared up at impending death he shivered at the mist around him. Then he moved a foot forward and then another towards the doors. It was on his third step that a hand closed over his mouth and suddenly a very different sort of panic surged through his body. He was being dragged backwards, but it wasn't like last time with Aiden... no, this grip was much stronger and the hand smelt musky and dirty. It was a man. Flack struggled as breathing started to become difficult. His hands pulled at the fat dirty hand covering his mouth until his arms were pulled back. How many there were he couldn't be sure. They moved quickly and blurred into the fog.

"Mmphhh..." Flack moaned as he struggled against whoever held him.

And then a sharp pain shot through his head, emanating from the back of his skull and he slumped. He was only just aware of being thrown into the back of a van. And then the very bright white of the mist was swallowed up by black. Pitch black. The deep, dark black of hell.