A/N: I don't own Skulduggery, Tanith, Ghastly, Kenspeckle, or Valkyrie. Val's still 24, it is still her POV.

In the Bentley I looked down at my hands. It was strange being flesh and blood again. I felt heavier and slower. Skulduggery caught my glance. "Something wrong?" He asked, his velvety voice full of concern.

"It's just weird. Wearing the armour I feel so different, more alive somehow. Being back like this is sort of a shock."

He made an amused sound. "I wouldn't wish being flesh and blood on myself again for anything, so I know what you mean. Still, you can walk around in broad daylight now and not cause a panic."

"Skulduggery!"

"What? You know I scare people."

"You enjoy scaring people."

"Most of the time." He conceded. "Though when I made you faint-"

"I did not faint, Skulduggery! I blacked out, there's a difference. A man was trying to kill me!"

"So you say. Ah, here we are." I hadn't really been paying attention to where we were going, but I followed his gaze to stare at his house. "Surprise! You have food in there, don't you? That counts as dinner." I just looked at him for a long moment, listening to his laughter as he clutched the steering wheel, shaking his head. We got out, Skulduggery still highly amused at his own joke.

"You take me to the very best places." Was all I could manage. He made an amused sound and led me inside, getting the door for me. That was strange. We headed into the kitchen and I would have rooted around in the box but it was missing. Several take out containers of Chinese sat on the table.

"Skulduggery! You managed to cook!"

"Indeed I did. I'm glad you appreciate all the sacrifices I make for you, Valkyrie." He watched me as I opened a box to find sesame chicken with broccoli on a bed of steamed rice. Along with the rather large Styrofoam container of green tea, it looked heavenly.

"You are going to go broke, you know." I said, by way of thanks.

"What's the point on having money if you don't get to spend it, Valkyrie? Besides, Ghastly's making your boots for free, so I'm a wealthy man."

I paused over a forkful of chicken. "He's not still at the shop is he? Tanith will kill me if he is."

"No he closed up shop shortly after I talked to you. I think he was planning on taking her to dinner at the Sanctuary."

"She'll never speak to him again."

"What? Why? I'm feeding you and you're speaking to me."

"Skulduggery, the Sanctuary food is so bad the prisoners send thank you notes to the gaolers for not having to eat there."

"I see. That explains why most of the detectives bring food in. I always wondered. Your food is good here though, right?"

"Yes, it's perfect. How did you know I liked Chinese?"

"I asked Tanith."

"She'll never let me hear the end of it."

"You know her. Just spar with her when she's better and all will be forgiven. Speaking of sparring, you were most impressive against Madam Lovegate this morning."

"Um, thanks."

"I never knew she could move like that to begin with, let alone still do so. She's a woman of many hidden talents, I'll give her that. Almost makes up for her dragging you away so often to have tea."

I smiled at him. One of the things I enjoyed about Skulduggery was how self-centered he was. Not in a bad way, but in a truthful way. If he wanted something he let you know about it, usually for hours after the incident. "You could always come with me, you know. The Sanctuary is in my debt."

He laughed. "They're in your debt because you amuse me so they don't have to. Your a free chaperone and as Kenspeckle once said, a good influence. That's why they are in your debt, Valkyrie Cain."

I'd finished with the box and pushed it aside, drawing the container of tea closer. It was bitter, but good, and I took several sips before answering. Skulduggery busied himself with putting the other boxes in the fridge. "Kenspeckle had an unfortunate habit of making me want to hit him." I said.

"But he was your friend, he liked you!" Skulduggery said, turning to looked at me in shock.

"He wasn't your friend, and I never liked the way he talked to you. Besides, you respect me. You never once told me to go home and forget magic, even though you did you best to offer me a chance to walk away at times. Usually after he or Ghastly guilted you into it."

"But here you are, still. Ready to face a god at my side. But as I've always said, everyone needs a hobby." I smiled and we went into the living room to sit in front of the TV. Skulduggery picked up the paper intending to ignore it as usual as he settled down in beside me. I wondered and not for the first time, how he could buy so many things he didn't use.

I flicked it on, giving a contented sigh as my favorite power couple filled the screen. "Nick and Nora Charles!" I elbowed Skulduggery. "Aren't they cute together?"

He folded the paper down, looking at me in shock. "You KNOW who they are?"

"Yes Skulduggery, I know who they are. I knew before I met you, believe it or not. Isn't he handsome? My ideal detective." I teased.

"Ah, so that explains it then. I'm obviously a substitute for Nick Charles. Clearly I'm better looking, more intelligent, more charming, a far better detective, crack shot, and sharper dresser. But I'm a substitute all the same. I'm thoroughly insulted, Valkyrie. Here I thought you liked me for myself." He sniffed and flipped the paper back up with a snap.

I laughed, I loved it when he teased me back. "You're a strange man, Detective Pleasant."

"So I've been told, Detective Cain."

I slept on the couch again that night, Skulduggery ignoring my suggestion that putting the armour on would make me more useful. "We started out with twenty eight days to catch him, Valkyrie, now we're down to twenty and no closer to a lead. I almost wish he'd come for me now, but you need your training. You also need sleep outside the armour."

"But with the armour on, I'm perfect, I don't need sleep."

"No, with the armour on you're a living skeleton, and while that is immensely useful, it doesn't preclude your humanity. I'm not letting you give up being alive for the sake of a case." I groaned and gave in, quickly falling asleep on the couch, while Skulduggery, pleased with his easy victory, meditated across from me.

The next morning I woke up with a stiff neck and shoulder. I cursed as I sat up.

"Charming, that."

"Sorry, but my neck hurts."

"Mm. You slept wrong. It was an adorable pose though. You looked like a kitten. I'm surprised you didn't purr." I rubbed my neck gingerly and he came to stand behind me. "Here, let me." I felt his gloved hands start to massage my neck and stiff shoulders, the strong, sure movements loosening muscle. I could feel his bones through the leather and the sensation comforted me.

I sighed, tilting my head back as his continued ministrations eased away the last of the stiffness and pain. "You could get paid to do this." I said.

"Really?" He asked, withdrawing his hands. "I've never done it before in my life. Apparently I'm a man of unknown talents. Good for me. Lucky for you too of course, but then you've always been lucky to have me."

"I need coffee before I even dignify that with an answer. " We headed to the kitchen, Skulduggery getting out a random box from the night before. Spring rolls and coffee, the breakfast of champions.

"Skulduggery?"

"Mm?"

"He has to be somewhere, all his kills were in a set area-"

"I'd thought of that. We can't find a single trace of the man. It's like he vanishes in between kills."

"Are you sure he's still human?"

"No, not really. But we did see footprints, and the magic he is using would lead one to believe that he is. Even if he wasn't though we can't find a trace. I even tried making each crime scene an epicenter, but we don't have the manpower."

"I hate to ask this, but could Lord Vile find him?"

Skulduggery looked at me for a long time. "I think it is Lord Vile he's after. If we don't give him what he wants we'll frustrate his plans at the very least. You aren't suggesting we give him Lord Vile, are you?"

"No, and there's really no way to set up an illusion of Lord Vile without Ghastly asking questions. Since he knows the killer is after you-"

"My thoughts exactly. I don't think he plans another kill until me and we do have several weeks of training left. We can only hope he'll get excited enough to follow us. I'm not sure if he is even aware I was Vile. He might have just gotten lucky." I nodded, wondering at the sudden switch. Skulduggery had claimed before the killer knew he was Lord Vile, something only a few people, most of them dead now knew. There was something he wasn't telling me.

"Skulduggery, if he is after you, and let's assume he remembers you are Lord Vile..." It all suddenly clicked into place.

"Yes?"

"Um, nothing."

"Ah, I'm assuming you had another flash of insight? This time without the armour on. My, how you've grown."

"He wanted to die." I said. "He was sick of being alive, and you wouldn't kill him. He's tried everything else, and now to his deranged mind if you die, so does he."

"Yes, I picked a fine time to stop my wanton slaughter, didn't I? The man begged me to kill him and I couldn't, not having returned to my senses. He never saw my rather handsome face, so I'm still not sure how he knows who I am."

"The block, where you can't see his face, or remember his name, is it something he did?"

"No Valkyrie. I was still Lord Vile even when returning to my humanity and Vile didn't care to remember his face or name. He was useless, a man with the powers of a god who only wanted to die. He wasn't worthy of Vile's attention. I think that's the real reason I spared him."

"Remind me to try acting helpless and useless the next time Vile shows up."

Skulduggery laughed. "The next time Vile shows up, I suggest you run."

We were on our way to the field to train when my mobile rang. It was Ghastly, he sounded upset. "Valkyrie! Where's Skulduggery? I can't reach him. Is he with you?"

"Yes, his mobile must be off. We're heading to the training field now, why?"

"Do not go to the field, Valkyrie. You're both to come here to the Sanctuary immediately, don't stop for anything, and for God's sake don't give anyone a lift. Am I clear?"

I felt a chill run down my spine. "Yes, of course. What's happened."

"I can't tell you, not over the phone. Just get here in one piece, and Valkyrie?"

"Yes?"

"Take care of him." Ghastly rang off and I had to blink hard or start crying.

"Valkyrie! What is it, did something happen to Tanith?" Skulduggery said, his voice alarmed.

"No, no. We have to go to the Sanctuary now, not stopping for anything or anyone, Ghastly's orders."

"And that upset you?"

"He thought you were dead."

"Well I am dead. Oh, I see what you mean. Still, no need for you to be upset, Valkyrie. I like you far to much too just wander off and get killed, you know."

I smiled and laughed shakily. "That's one of the nicest things you've ever said to me. It just gave me a fright, that's all. I thought you might be a hallucination. That you were-"

"I know. I know." He reached out and patted my shoulder. "I don't think I've ever had a partner before that would have missed me. The last one died cursing my name. Still it is nice to be wanted. It does wonders for my ego."

He turned on the radio and we drove for a way in silence, Skulduggery glancing over at me every once in a while. "You know" He began in a cheerful voice "If it was the other way around, I'd hunt down the killer and beat him to death."

"But I don't get to? That's not fair."

"It's a rule I've made up, just now. "

"That's always been your rule." I grumbled.

"Yes, but now it's official. Wait until I tell Ghastly, won't he be impressed?"

We arrived at the Sanctuary and headed for Ghastly's office. A large rectangular wooden packing crate sat in it, packing material scattered on the floor. Ghastly tried to stop me from looking in. "You don't need to see that."

I looked at Tanith, she was pale. She shook her head 'no' so I listened. Skulduggery went to the crate and looked down. He gave a low whistle. "My, someone has anger management problems, doesn't he? Well, come help me look for clues, Valkyrie."

"Skulduggery-" Ghastly began, but Skulduggery cut him off with a sharp look.

"She already had you scare ten years off her life with your call. Seeing what's in this crate will be better than seeing the lovely images you so thoughtfully put in her head." I went over and looked down. Amongst the packing material lay a skeleton. The bones broken in many places. Terrible things had been done to it. There were cuts on the ribs. Burns, scars. Bones had been reduced to splinters, some clearly frozen than shattered. There weren't two pieces left together. Someone had tortured this skeleton, and enjoyed doing it.

Skulduggery looked at me, gauging my reaction. "What do you see, Valkyrie?" His voice was soft.

"Evidence. We need to trace the crate, ask where it came from, try to find the sender. We need prints, evidence bags. He handed us the break we're looking for, didn't he?"

"And if there are no prints or way to track him?"

"We know how his mind works. He thinks this is a powerful message, but it's petty, childish even. He knows you'll see it, and he's hoping you rise to the bait. He wants you angry, angry and alone."

"How do you know he wants me alone?" Skulduggery asked softly.

"He hopes this will frighten you into making me leave the case. That showing this level of violence towards you will make you fear him. Maybe he even meant it and it is a warning to back off. Luckily for you I have absolutely no respect for you as an authority figure, so I'm staying."

Skulduggery beamed at me affectionately. "But you've been trained by me to see a crime scene as a collection of evidence and not something to be emotionally shocked over. You were logical and precise. Therefore, you do respect me as an authority figure and I win."

"Everything's a contest with you two, isn't it?" Ghastly asked tiredly.

"Yes." We replied in unison. We stepped aside as the crime scene techs entered, muttering darkly about how the crate shouldn't have been opened in the first place. The shooed us all out into the hallway, one shooting Ghastly looks of pure venom.

"You two are staying here until further notice." Ghastly said.

Skulduggery tilted his head. "You're going to let the gesture of a lunatic cower you into doing what he wants? I for one don't intend to stay here, nor does Valkyrie. Your food is absolutely dreadful from what I gather."

"I'm not giving you a choice Skulduggery. You stay here, or I arrest you both and you stay in the gaol for however long it takes for us to catch him."

"You're kidding."

"Try me."

Skulduggery sighed. "Very well, but you can at least bring in some decent food for Valkyrie, can't you? I don't want her suffering anymore than staying here will do to her."

Ghastly nodded. "I don't eat the food myself, I'll see to it she doesn't starve. Besides, she has a date with Madam Lovegate right about now." He looked at me. "She's so sorry she missed you yesterday, so why not go see her now? Skulduggery and I have things to talk about." I nodded and walked past them. Tanith shook her head to my pleading look. So I was off to tea with Madam Lovegate, alone. Lovely.