A/N: I don't own Skulduggery, Ghastly, Tanith, or Valkyrie. Val is still 24, still her POV. Oh, Michael Collins is a name Irish readers should know, the man using it is being sarcastic. May well be the last thing he does, too.

Before we could leave Ghastly needed Skulduggery to go over the case with him and meet with any detectives who would be working on the new lead. I assumed this meant I got out of the briefing, but I didn't. "I'm not the lead detective on this case, Skulduggery." I grumbled. "Why don't you just go in and issue orders and tell me about it later?"

Skulduggery looked at me, his head tilting. "Are you saying you suddenly aren't working on this case?"

"No, I'm saying you're in charge. So you don't need me there."

"Valkyrie, this is our case. We get to be in charge. True for once, I'll talk and you'll get to listen quietly, but this is our case remember?"

I sighed. "Sorry, I think that tea Lovegate gave me is still working overtime."

"That or the realization of what would have happened if you had lost your temper with Tanith just hit you. It's all right, Valkyrie, you're not a mindless killer. No matter what happens you aren't becoming Lord Vile, I won't let you."

I nodded and followed him in. I did sit quietly and listen to him talk, trying for once, to absorb what he was saying. He assigned specific tasks and I tried to remember who they went to, and what they were, so I wouldn't cover the same ground. I listened to his overall plan, Skulduggery stressing the need for caution with the killer. Under no circumstances was any detective to approach him alone.

An older detective scoffed. "With all due respect, he scared a mortal with a parlour trick. I don't think this guy's even that tough, they never are once you get them in a interrogation room."

Skulduggery stared at him. "What part of 'under no circumstances' didn't you understand? Nobody, and that includes you, is to approach him alone, got that?"

The detective just smiled, like he was going to do as he pleased, and felt Skulduggery was rather stupid. The detective was forty, going up against over four hundred. This was going to be good. Skulduggery tilted his head. "I've seen you around the Sanctuary but never met you before. What's your name?"

"Michael Collins." The detective smirked.

"Are you challenging me?" Skulduggery's voice was deathly quiet. A few of the detectives left the table and put distance between them and the object of Skulduggery's undivided attention.

"Yeah, yeah I am. What are you going to do about it?"

I could see the smile the detective missed. "I'm going to take you into an interrogation room and see how tough you are." Skulduggery promised.

The detective paled. "You can't do that." He turned to me. "Tell him he can't do that."

I smiled politely. "I'm not stopping him." Right then and there another detective quit the Sanctuary without a word.

Skulduggery had a higher opinion of himself than usual afterwards, humming as we walked out towards the Bentley. I stowed the armour in the boot and got in, but he stood peering back at the Sanctuary. I got out. "What is it?"

"Mmm? Nothing, nothing. I was just thinking about things."

"Like?"

"Like how lovely it was to watch you circle around that detective like a winter-starved she wolf and pounce."

"Well, he challenged my partner."

"Indeed he did, and now we lost yet another detective and Ghastly will be overjoyed with me once more."

"Skulduggery, taking people into rooms and beating a false confession out of them isn't detective work. Who knows if any of the confessions he got are worth anything? Now we have to reopen all the old case files-"

"Careful, Valkyrie, you're starting to sound like a real detective. Like you care about justice and not an easy arrest. That will never make you popular with certain Sanctuary officials."

"They aren't ever opening those case files, are they?" I asked, sagging back against the Bentley.

"No, they aren't. Don't be so shocked, I've made bad arrests and you know it. He can still redeem himself at some point and maybe he will one day. I did, or I'm still trying to."

"Would you have taken him into an interrogation room at one time?"

"I still would." I nodded. Skulduggery turned and got in the Bentley. I got in beside him, silent. He pulled into traffic, staring straight ahead. The man needed cheering up.

"You should have. 'The beatings will continue until morale improves.' We can have it put on all the Sanctuary stationary." I said happily.

Skulduggery laughed. "That I would like to see, I truly would. Now a good question is, would you have let me take him into that room?"

"What room? I don't know about any room, and he tripped, a lot. Down endless stairs."

Skulduggery laughed again, the Bentley weaving the tiniest bit. "Stop, I'll crash the car."

"It's not my fault you find assault and battery funny."

Skulduggery wheezed in amusement, clutching the steering wheel tightly.

"Do you need to pull over?" I asked, eyeing him carefully.

He shook his head. "Valkyrie Cain, you do me a world of good. I'd have quit the Sanctuary a long time ago if it wasn't for you. But I stayed because I knew when the time came you'd be a force for good there. Or at least a major thorn in their side, like I am."

"Thorns are good."

We were on the open road now, headed back to Skulduggery's house. The day was warm and he rolled down the windows with a touch of a button. "See? I do use all the tech I have. The beatings will continue, I love that."

"You can even use the stick you got me, I'll lend it to you." Skulduggery smiled and started humming once more.

Skulduggery explained that the reason we weren't going to interview the bartender ourselves was that the Sanctuary had operatives that could see through his eyes with a touch. Another operative would convince him the meeting with them and the bar incident never happened. I didn't bother to ask how the missing hand would be explained away. I supposed they could convince him and the doctors it was a birth defect.

I went to our office and pulled something out from under my jacket, thumping it down on my desk. The detective who had resigned was supposed to comb through the forensics we had, and five victim's worth was a massive file. I opened the file with a sigh, noticing for the first time that Skulduggery had followed me in and was staring at me. I caught his gaze and shrugged. "Somebody has to do it, and I might as well learn how to read a report, or twenty."

I turned back to the forensics report for the first case. I was hoping for something foreign found at the scene like on TV, plant spores from a specific area, or something else that would help us tag him. Two hours later, I'd read the report five times and was still coming up empty when a cup coffee was set down in front of me. "Take a break for fifteen minutes, it will do you good. What are you looking for, if I may ask?"

"I was hoping for some sort of trace evidence from outside the crime scene. You know, a nettle that only grows in one area, or failing that, his wallet and ID." I teased and Skulduggery chuckled. "You did tell the detective who quit to look for anything to tie the killer to an area, right? I did hear you correctly?"

"Indeed I did. But what on Earth made you pay attention? You always tell me that's what I'm there for, to handle all the boring details."

"You said it was our case, so I figured I'd be responsible and productive for once, just to see what it feels like."

"Yes. I did. So give me some of those reports, there's no reason you have to tackle all of it." I handed the file over and he took the last three reports. "I think the first two will be enough for you to cover. But drink your coffee and relax. Would you like some music?" I nodded and he put the small radio that sat on one bookshelf on low. He put the files on his desk and came back over to sit on the edge of mine. He looked at me head tilted, but for once his expression was blank. "What's your real reason for reading the reports?" His velvety voice was soft, curious.

"I was told once I'm extremely self-centered to the point where I just expect everything handed to me. You deserve better than that in a partner."

"There's more to it than that. Confess."

"I was also told the only reason you do anything for me is to stay in my good graces, I don't want a partner like that. I want someone who knows he can depend on me."

Skulduggery reached out and patted my hand. "I know that. Here you are, willing to do the type of work you hate to help alleviate the case work, you're being a team player, I appreciate that. I always worried that when it came to paperwork or research you'd fold and never become a full detective, but here you are, helping me." He sounded faintly dazed.

"Skulduggery, are you going into shock?"

"Mmm?"

"Are you OK?" I asked with a nervous laugh.

"Yes, and no. Perhaps I am a little shocked. You're taking a genuine interest in every aspect of the case. Yes, I am shocked. Not in a bad way, and I'd always hoped you'd learn to love this aspect of our work, but I never thought I'd see the day. Yes, I'm most definitely in shock, and a good partner would assure me right now this isn't some sort of dream."

I came around my desk to sit beside him. "Apparently I was self-centered, Skulduggery. I just never realized you'd been waiting on me to step forward. I always assumed you'd complain and do the paperwork or read case files on your own because I chose to let you. That wasn't fair and it wasn't right, I'm sorry. I haven't been the type of partner you deserve, not really. I do by and large, take advantage of you, and that isn't fair to you. But I am trying to change, to become the partner you deserve. From now on, you can give me all the files to read over or paperwork you want to, promise."

Skulduggery just sat there looking rather dazed, so I continued. "You're not dreaming and nobody is going to take this away from you. I can never pay you back for everything you've done for me. You've saved my life countless times, you've taught me everything I know, you stood up for me when Ghastly and everyone else wanted to send me home after Gordon's death. You're the only person who always believed in me Skulduggery Pleasant, and I will never forget that."

I stopped, walked back to my chair and suddenly found my coffee cup and case file really interesting. Skulduggery looked at me for a moment, then went to his desk. We read for several hours, and every so often I felt him looking at me. I made notes the best I could, then got up, closing my files. I walked to the kitchen for more coffee and Skulduggery followed. He stuffed his hands into his pockets, then spoke. "I don't do things for you to stay in your good graces, you know. I do them because your my best friend and my partner. If you take advantage of me it's because I let you, that's true. But I know full well I take advantage of you all the time and you allow it to happen. Because we're friends and friends do that for one another."

I smiled, went to the fridge and found the last of the Chinese. I supposed it was still good. Skulduggery put on coffee for me and we sat at the kitchen table. He watched me eat, saying nothing, seemingly content just to be there. For a second. "You know Valkyrie, maybe we should change Sanctuary policy. All female detectives will have to start wearing dresses and kitten heels."

"I hate you."

"Lovely that. Do you know the last time I saw you in a dress was the ball? Why is that?"

"One, I hate dresses, except for the ones you give me. Two, I had to run to the Bentley and change. Dresses are useless bits of fluff if you as me."

"Mmm. So what are you wearing to the next ball then?"

"Oh God, I'm not going. One evening of that was enough for a lifetime."

"Why?" He whined.

"Watching people get drunk and squabble was never my idea of a good time."

"But there's dancing."

"I also hate dancing, right behind dresses."

"I thought you loved to go out dancing." He was still whining.

"People change."

"Well you certainly have. Willing to abandon your partner to an event like that. Where's the loyalty?" He huffed.

"Skulduggery Pleasant, you'll be in a room filled with your friends and other people you get to annoy. You should enjoy yourself. Besides that's decades from now. We're assuming there will be a ball."

"Good point, but still, if I don't ask you to go now, you'll find a way to avoid it when it does come around."

"Good Lord, are you saying you need me to go and keep you entertained?"

"Yes, pretty much."

"Do I get to wear a pantsuit instead?"

Skulduggery sighed. "The idea if for you to pick out a lovely dress and heels, but you can wear a tuxedo for all I care, just say you'll go with me."

"That was rampant sexism, but OK, I'll go. If for no other reason than to keep you from burning down the venue out of sheer boredom. I do believe there are several Dead Men just dying to tell me all about your scandalous past, so it should be fun."

"You wouldn't dare!"

"No I wouldn't actually. I wouldn't even do it to Ghastly, and he's fun to annoy; one tidbit about him and he turns the most interesting colors. Kind of like you are, right now."

"Drink your coffee."

"Yes, boss."

Skulduggery insisted we leave the reports until the next day. We hadn't found anything useful, but that he assured me, was half the fun of detective work. You got plenty of leads and only one that led anywhere useful. He called in for updates and of course they're weren't any, thought the operatives who spoke to the bartender were due back several hours ago.

Skulduggery frowned, and pocketing his mobile and looking at me. "Call it paranoia, but I don't like them turning up missing." He said.

"You never do. Would it help if we went to the hospital and looked around the back alleys? I've got dibs on all the dumpsters." I said cheerfully and Skulduggery beamed at me, then started for the front door at my suggestion.

"But digging around in trash for dead operatives is half the fun Valkyrie. Oh, very well, I suppose we can go, if you insist. Where the desire to do petty fieldwork is coming from is beyond me." He held the door open for me, following me into the cool night.

"I'm bored. Besides it's what I assume you'd do if you were on your own. You never like getting secondhand reports, you have to see for yourself." We walked to the Bentley, Skulduggery nodding in agreement.

Skulduggery smiled, opening the boot. "Because my dearest combat accessory, my dead eyes see so much more than living ones do. Plus I'm a better detective. Now armour up, it's going to be a long drive." I touched the armour, then adjusted my scarf and gloves. Skulduggery stared at me curious, as I lifted the boots out to put them out. "Shouldn't those have just went on with everything else?"

"After the first time I wear them, I think."

"Ah, that makes sense, actually. They go with your outfit quite well, I must say. Almost as good as seeing you in a dress."

"Again with the dresses." I stood, grabbing Skulduggery's shoulder for balance, tamping my feet slightly to get the boots the whole way on.

"There's nothing wrong with wanting to see a beautiful woman in a dress."

I stook my head, taking a few practice steps. The boots fit perfectly, almost like a second skin. Which admittedly on top of the armour felt kind of weird. "These boots are wonderful, I owe Ghastly one."

"Valkyrie Cain showing gratitude towards an Elder? As I live and breathe!"

"Shut up, Skulduggery!"

"That's 'shut up, Detective' to you. We are going to have to work on you knowing the proper forms of address for Elders though. Some of them are quite prickly about it."

"I can't, Skulduggery. I'll burst out laughing. I don't know how you do it with a straight face."

"Because I have impeccable manners. That, and it isn't all that funny after the first hundred years or so. I always hated it myself, but then I didn't have Elders I liked."

"You have a problem with authority figures, you know that?"

"True, because they're never as wise as I am. You are though, well, almost. If I didn't need you as my partner I'd nominate you for the next Elder. A robe is almost as good as a dress."

"You're a very strange man, Skulduggery Pleasant."

"Skeleton, but yes, I am."

"Man first, I win."

Skulduggery sighed. "That isn't even a logical argument."

"That's why I win. It makes sense if you don't think about it too much."

"I'll try not to." He said drily as we got in. "Seat belt, and I still want to see you in a dress sometime."

"Oh, very well, I'll wear a dress to the next ball. Happy now?"

"Exceedingly."

He was, too. During the drive I caught him glancing over at me. "What?" I asked.

"I'm just wondering how to put this delicately. But you are a copy of me, isn't that weird to you?"

"You mean being male? I've adjusted. The form is male, yes, but I'm still a girl inside, I think."

"Woman, and yes you are."

"I appreciate the strength. Being able to mock people by standing en garde with a broadsword is fun. But that sword's as light as a feather to me with this armour on. The enhanced abilities are nice as well, and then there's not needing to sleep or eat. When God made you, he made you well."

"As I recall I'm a the result of a Necromancer's trick."

"And you trusted a man that hates you that much to tell you the truth? Did it ever occur to you that he lied?"

"You really think so?"

"Yes, Skulduggery, I do. You came back because you wanted to. If what he claims to have done was true, wouldn't Lord Vile have figured it out a long time ago?"

"Yes, he would have. Thought the way you mention him so often I starting to think you're sweet on him."

"Well we have so much in common. We both wear armour, we have bouts of homicidal rage, we want the killer's head on a stick. I think if I can manage that Vile will go steady with me." I teased.

Skulduggery shot me an annoyed look. "That isn't funny, and I don't recall him being all that interested in dating." He turned on the radio and after another annoyed look commenced to ignore me. I settled back in my seat enjoying the silence. It was heavenly.

We arrived near the hospital and there were already Sanctuary detectives prowling around. "Well, well. Good news travels fast." Skulduggery murmured, getting out.

Ghastly was also there, which surprised me. He walked over and by the look on his face I knew both operatives were missing or dead. "How are the boots?" He asked.

"Perfect, you've outdone yourself, Ghastly."

He smiled. "I'm glad to hear it. We are searching the area now, but we assume they're dead. He's broken his pattern and that worries me."

Skulduggery tilted him head. "He's loosing it. Like the barman, these two got in his way. So now we know he has an informant in the Sanctuary, or he's the obsessive type and staked out the hospital."

Ghastly looked at me and raised an eyebrow. I still wasn't used to being asked for input by him.

"I think Skulduggery's right. We can't even assume he knows what reality is anymore. But maybe that's a good thing. He'll get careless again, like the barkeep and the operatives. Have they searched the hospital yet?"

"No, why?" Ghastly asked.

"Because if I wanted to hide a body the morgue comes to mind." I said.

Skulduggery made a delighted sound. "I taught her to think like that you know. Well done, Valkyrie, well done." I felt myself flush.

Ghastly nodded to us, walked away and grabbed a detective. The man ran off. Ghastly came back. "Normally I'd let you take the lead with your own idea, Valkyrie, but looking like that you'll scare people. No offense meant, Skulduggery."

Skulduggery shrugged. "We like scaring people, but you're right. If they are there we can wait until the area is safe for us to investigate."

Ghastly's mobile rang. He answered, his face draining of colour. "They're in there, what's left of them. Look, you two won't be able to get in there, not with civilians having spotted the bodies. This place is a mess. We need people in here now to do clean up. So please do me a favor and go home."

"Of course." Skulduggery agreed. We turned and walked back to the Bentley, he came over to open my door, bending close to my ear. "Armour off, for now. We'll go pass the time somewhere and circle back later. I know Ghastly. He'll get overwhelmed with all the details and retreat to his van or the Sanctuary." I nodded and reached up to touch my jaws. The armour slid away and Skulduggery took it to the boot. We got in, my stomach flipping over. I'd never gotten to do anything like this with Skulduggery before, even though he had mentioned doing it on occasion.

We found a coffee shop that was open, Skulduggery sending me to a back booth, then walking over with a large coffee. "You'll need this. We'll give him four or five hours and circle back. If not, then we'll give him several hours more. Your first taste of defying the Elders over the need to get to a crime scene. Good job holding your tongue, by the way."

"As soon as you agreed I knew what you meant. Do you think Ghastly knew? He is your friend."

"Yes, but his problem is he always expects me to do the right thing and listen. The trick of it is I do listen sometimes, so he never knows what to expect."

"So you take advantage of his trusting nature? Good for you. Moments like these make me so proud of you." I was proud of him too and he knew it. His chest puffed slightly. I sipped my coffee, watching him struggle with the need to tell me just how wonderful he was. He lost, of course.

"I can teach you all sorts of useful things, now that you'll be in the field with me at all times. Breaking and entering, searching without a warrant, the fine use of intimidation to get results. How to steal things you need to make a case from a suspect's home. All sort of lovely things. You'll never be as good as me of course, but it gives you something to aspire to."

"You're excited to be this close to the killer, aren't you? You can almost sense him. Like he's in the area watching."

"Oh, I'm sure he is, Valkyrie. Which is why my darling combat accessory is going to sneak into the crime scene alone and I'm going to stand outside under a streetlight for all the world to see. You'll double back and help me nab him."

He tilted his head, proud of his own plan. I could feel his gaze on me, waiting for approval. "That's an excellent idea, Skulduggery. I hope he does try something. I'd love any excuse whatsoever to shoot him. Well, arrest him, but I can wing him, right?"

"That you may. I'm so glad we have heart to hearts like this. Your enthusiasm for catching him give me hope for the future." I smiled. We spent several hours there, Skulduggery's gaze over my shoulder watching the window. He looked at me suddenly. "Oh dear." I turned and watched as Ghastly walked in. He went and placed an order. "Remain very still, Valkyrie. Maybe he didn't see us."

Ghastly walked over, a hot tea in his hands. "Planning to wait for me to leave, were you?" He asked, arching an eyebrow.

"Us, Elder Bespoke? Never." Skulduggery said innocently.

Ghastly snorted and motioned for me to move over then sat beside me. "How are you holding up, all things considered?" He asked.

"Quite well, actually. Though if you'd let us have a crack at the crime scene, I'd feel much better."

He snorted. "I'm also assuming you to want to catch the killer and had some fool plan to lure him in?"

"It was a very good plan." Skulduggery protested. "Tell him, Valkyrie."

"We were going to use Skulduggery as bait. You see the brilliance in that, right?"

Ghastly looked back and forth between us then shook his head. "It doesn't work any better if two fools run out into no man's land at the same time. We'll use Skulduggery as bait, but in a place where I can have people set up. You two are not to engage him alone, understood?" He asked in a firm voice.

We both nodded, chastened. Ghastly walked us back to the Bentley. "You two go home now. I mean it."

We got in and Skulduggery put the car in drive. "Seat belt." He said, absently. "Sorry, Valkyrie, but there's no sense pushing our luck when he's like this. He'll stay all night now. Even if we did manage to sneak in he'd only take us off the case. Now I teach you about the fine art of biding you time."

"I know. Besides he's our friend and we do have to be nice to him, sometimes at least."

"Good point."

"Besides, we have a secret weapon."

"Hmm?"

"He'll need to talk things over with Tanith, he always does."

"There's no end to your talents, is there?" He sounded amused.

"Telephone telegraph, tell a woman. Or tell a Tanith, in this case. I won't even have to ask."

"Are you implying women can't be trusted to keep secrets?"

"No I'm implying women had the information superhighway eons before men and their silly computers. We come by espionage and the trading of information naturally. It amuses us to no end that you men have to train for it."

"Hmm."

"I'm serious. Men tend to ignore women or figure talking to us is like talking to a pet. Not that I'm accusing Ghastly of treating Tanith like that, he wouldn't. But we pass on what we know other women need to know."

"There's a difference between gossip and information, you know."

"Which is why Tanith and I will have a lovely gossip."

Skulduggery shook his head. "Yet again, I'm glad you're on my side."