I do not own anything related to Lucifer, DC Comics, Vertigo, or Sandman series, either thru television, written books, or film. Everything belongs to Tom Kapinos, Fox, Netflix and mentioned above. I do own all the created characters. I do not own any songs, or literature mentioned. They are included to enhance the written words. Please read, review, and enjoy!

Chapter Sixteen

Song(s): As Long As You Are Mine (Yes Men)

…

"What, in the hell are you doing here?"

Narrowing his blue eyes behind his sunglasses as he placed more weight on his resting forearms, Pierce felt the low hum in the back of his throat as he watched Miriam quickly reaching for the metal bucket in the mud to save whatever feed was left. Watching her walking slowly towards him, he felt the knot in his stomach growing as the young woman got closer.

Why does she make you nervous Cain?

Moving her eyes onto the parked black Dodge Charger that was no doubt signed out from the detachment, she wondered how in the hell she had not heard the engine as she came to stand two feet from the Lieutenant, making sure to keep the wooden fence between them as a barrier.

"Why didn't you tell me that your brother died?"

Blinking quickly as she heard his bold question, Miriam narrowed her eyes as she caught her reflection in the lenses of his dark glasses.

"Because it's not any of your business?" she spat, hearing the loud bleeps of the sheep as they gathered around her feet for whatever was left in the pail. Taking in a deep breath, Miriam upturned the bucket before slamming it down on a protruding nail from the fence post.

Reaching up as he slowly took off his glasses, he could see that she was trying with all her strength to keep her jaw from jutting out.

"You haven't answered my question Lieutenant."

Lowering his eyes onto hers as he heard her low growl, Pierce breathed in deeply the scent of sheep manure while trying to tune out the cries of the young ewes.

Abel's ewes cried the same

So fucking irritating

"And what…question, is that?"

Laying a single hand on a piece of the wooden fence, Miriam squared her shoulders and stood tall as she stood her ground.

"What, are you doing here?"

Tucking his sunglasses to hang off the front of his t-shirt, Pierce squinted his tired eyes as he shoved his hands into his jeans pockets.

"I…went to your apartment last…actually, early this morning with the intentions of asking you to dinner."

Wait

"This morning?"

"Yes. I went to your apartment at twelve-thirty this morning."

Shutting her mouth, Miriam leaned into the fence post as she moved her eyes off Pierce's face.

"Dakota was just getting home, she let me into your room where I found your mobile phone and handwritten note detailing your father's phone call to you about your brother's death. Did you find out before or after your and Ella's forensic meeting?"

"Before."

He could tell that something had been off with her demeanor as she more than once fumbled over her words and presentation materials beside Ella Lopez.

"You must have left right after the meeting then?"

Because I didn't see you in the Forensic Lab when I would look over from my office

"Yes. I wasn't going to miss any days. My bus to return to LA leaves at nine tomorrow," Miriam spoke as she allowed one of the sheep to nudge along her thigh.

"After I found your note, I then decided to drive." Speaking plainly, he closed his mouth as he watched his words hit home.

Decided to drive?

"You, drove seven hours to give your condolences?"

Hearing the words falling from her mouth, Miriam lowered her eyes onto the top of the v-neck of the Lieutenant's dark blue t-shirt as she watched him lean closer towards her against the fence.

"Nine actually. I had to change and there was some traffic."

"I…see…"

Feeling the butterflies flying around like crazy in her stomach as she breathed in deeply the lingering scent of his aftershave, Miriam felt her throat going dry as she felt the tips of his fingers against her own.

Just kiss him

I'm sure he'd let you…

Moving her hand off the fence, Miriam rounded the post without meeting his eyes as Pierce reached around his waist and took out her mobile phone from his back-jean pocket. Holding it out to her, he watched as her eyes lowered onto the device, before catching sight of her mouth tensing.

"You left your phone. You'll find messages from me, among any others" he spoke, holding the device out on the palm of his hand.

Why is she not taking it?

Narrowing his eyes as he watched her mouth tensing, he was about to take a step forward and close in their distance when she finally spoke in a low tone.

"I don't want that."

Looking down to the Blackberry in his hand, he felt his confusion growing as he quickly moved the device out of the way of Miriam's hand as she tried to knock it aside. Tucking the phone back into his jean pocket, he looked down into her face and as he placed a hand on her shoulder, he watched her wince with his touch as she mulled over her brother's last phone call and the unheard message that rested on the device not more than two feet away from her.

"There was a reason I left my phone behind," Miriam whispered as she rested her eyes on Pierce's waist. "Did you bring your gun?"

Odd question

Letting his hand fall off her shoulder, Pierce gripped the hem of his dark blue t-shirt and pulled it up slightly to reveal that he was sans his standard issued firearm and his ever-present Lieutenant shield. Moving her eyes down onto his brown leather belt that was fed through the loops of his Wrangler jeans, she caught sight of his hip bone and the curve of his waist as she blinked quickly.

Show me your lower back

Hearing the words in her head, she was about to open her mouth to speak when a frantic and excited bark sounded from the top step of the house porch. Watching Pierce turning his head towards the bounding black Labrador, Miriam took a step forward and absentmindedly laid a hand on the man's forearm, feeling the warmth of his skin.

"Moses is friendly."

Moses?

Hearing the front door of the farmhouse closing, Miriam raised her eyes and winced as she caught sight of her Father walking slowly down the stairs.

His arthritis is just getting worse and worse

"Good evening,"

Hearing her father's greeting towards Pierce, Miriam allowed her hand to fall off his arm as she felt her mind racing with questions.

How in the hell do I even begin to justify the Lieutenant's presence?

"Dad…"

"Mr. Tyler, very nice to meet you. My name is Marcus. I'm sorry for your loss."

Throwing her eyes up onto Pierce's profile, she watched as he held out a firm hand towards her father as they shook.

"Thank you. It's very nice to meet you Marcus. Miriam, you didn't say that you had a friend arriving for dinner?"

Friend?

Is that what you are Lieutenant?

"Um, guess I forgot," she shrugged as her father looked up into the darkening sky.

"It smells like rain, please, won't you come inside."

Hearing a slight moan at his side, Pierce knew he didn't have to look at Miriam to know that it had come from her.

Are you protesting my presence Miriam?

…

6:12pm

Setting down a wooden cutting board carrying slices of freshly baked bread, Miriam rounded the back of the table and heard the creak of the kitchen chair as Pierce settled back. Fighting the urge to reach her fingers out and graze his upper back, she pulled out her own chair and took a seat, practically sitting forward on the edge.

"We are a religious family Marcus, I would be pleased if you would join us in the blessing," Allan spoke as he took his wife's hand and reached out for Miriam's.

There is a reason I have never brought a boyfriend home…

Taking her father's hand, Miriam moved her eyes to her right and lightly intertwined her fingers with Pierce's, taking a slow deep breath as she felt a light squeeze.

"Bless us O Lord, and these, thy gifts, which we are about to receive from thy bounty. Through Christ, our Lord. Amen."

Staring down into the center of her empty white dinner plate, Miriam felt the butterflies in her stomach as Pierce lightly caressed his thumb against the inside of her index finger. Raising her eyes, she caught his glance as he squeezed her hand with more force.

"Amen."

Hearing Pierce letting out a low breath without saying Amen, she stared at his fingers as he released her hand.

He looks just as uncomfortable as I am

Rubbing her palms together as she watched her mother passing around the full serving plates of mashed potatoes, boiled carrots, and a whole chicken that had been slaughtered that morning from the farm, Miriam rested her gaze on Pierce's chin as he opened his mouth to speak.

"I give you every seed-bearing plant on the face of the whole earth and every tree that has fruit with seed in it. They will be yours for food."

Looking to her Mother and Father as the scripture flowed easily from his lips, she caught their surprise as her mother smiled.

"Genesis chapter one, verses twenty-nine and thirty. Marcus, a good strong biblical name," Yulia noted as Miriam took the basket of bread from her Father with a sigh.

"My parents were religious."

"Were?"

Nodding his head as he passed the freshly baked bread to his left, Pierce stared hard at the bowl of unskinned carrots as they took the shape of the last few he had pulled from the soiled ground outside the protected garden of Eden.

"They, fell out of favor with God."

And cursed you all with Original Sin

Hearing such an honest and raw answer, Yulia glanced at her husband as he leaned back against his chair.

"There is nothing that God wouldn't forgive. I will keep them in my prayers Marcus. What are their names?"

Throwing her eyes onto Pierce's jaw, she could see that he was clenching his teeth while trying to remain calm.

"They have been dead for a long time."

"I see. And, how do you know our daughter?"

"Pierce, is the Lieutenant in charge of the prescient where I am completing my placement," Miriam spoke up as she caught her mother's eye.

Chew on that mother

"Oh, and he is also Cain, from the Bible."

Hearing the clang of a fork falling against a dinner plate, she couldn't help but smile as she glanced up at Pierce's profile.

"Cain was a lesson that all can learn from," her father began as Pierce felt his throat going dry.

"Indeed, Cain is an example. A very powerful one that can haunt a man for the rest of his life."

Pushing her plate away as she left most of her food untouched, Miriam listened to Pierce's seemingly sad words as she heard his voice in her head from Lucifer's penthouse…

I, am the world's first murderer

…

Two Hours Later…

"If it's not too much of an inconvenience Marcus, you are welcome to stay the night. With the storm coming in, I myself would not wish to be trapped out in such weather driving back into Los Angeles for seven hours."

Hearing the wind picking up as the shutters started to bang against the house, Miriam closed her eyes as the voice of her Mother chimed in.

"Separate bedrooms, of course."

Oh God

Thirty minutes later…

Looking out her bedroom window as she heard the rain pelting against the glass, Miriam placed her fingertips lightly against the pane as she heard the thunder rumbling over the house. Leaving her bedroom, she crossed to the bathroom and closed the door behind her as she turned on the faucets to wash her exhausted face. Looking at the towels in the closet, she turned off the faucets and grabbed a single bath towel before exiting the bathroom.

He is here

Down the hallway

Knocking on the half-closed wooden door to the bedroom that had once been her mother's sewing room, Miriam pushed it open with light fingertips as her eyes fell onto Pierce's naked back, watching him reaching up and removing a similar wooden cross that had been above her own bed. Freezing as she moved her eyes onto his bare shoulders, she lowered her eyes onto the bandages that covered his lower back as she remembered Lucifer's written words…

Ask the blue eyed square jawed tapeworm to take off his shirt

Frowning as she stared at the bandages, Miriam stood perfectly still in the doorway as Pierce turned around, holding the cross in his hand.

If he was Cain, an immortal human being, a gunshot wouldn't hurt him and he wouldn't have bandages

"Believe it or not, this does not fill me with peace," he spoke as he moved to the far side of the room and placed the object onto the top of an empty wooden dresser. Turning around to face the young woman standing just inside the door, he noticed her eyes moving over his naked chest as he brought his hands up to rest on his jeaned hips.

Jesus, he is something to look at

Letting her eyes linger over the Lieutenant's defined pectoral muscles and the curve of his biceps, Miriam shook her head as she held out the towel in her hand.

"I wasn't sure if my mother had brought you a towel or anything" she sputtered, holding it out as Pierce moved towards the bed. Taking up his t-shirt, he pulled it up over his head and straightened out the hem before stepping towards her. Taking the towel, he tossed it onto the end of the bed before turning back around.

"Does it still hurt?"

Reaching one hand behind him as he touched the bandages along his lower back, Pierce said nothing as he mentally congratulated himself for remembering to re-apply the bandages over his healed skin for appearance sake. Not that he had been planning for her to see him shirtless…

Just yet.

"It's a gunshot wound. Let's hope, you never get one."

Nodding her head as the room lapsed into silence, Miriam took a small step forward as she caught Pierce's eye.

"It is not lost on me Tyler that your mother has showed me to the bedroom furthest away from yours." It was a bold statement to make as he watched Miriam shift her weight from her right foot to her left.

"She thinks she is fooling temptation. Her old-world views on sex out of wedlock…" she began before shutting her mouth at the realization of her words.

Sex

Clearing his throat as he stared straight into her eyes, Pierce felt his lips smirking as he caught her flush.

"Well, we both are red bloodied human beings, and you have proved her wrong by crossing the threshold of the doorway."

It was all he said as Miriam shifted her eyes onto the small cross that rested on the dresser top.

"You quoted the vaguest of scripture better than a church minister," she whispered, hoping to change the subject as Pierce turned and followed her gaze to the cross. Walking across the floor boards, he picked it up between his thumb and forefinger and stared hard.

"Many many years ago, I was a devout follower."

Many many many years ago

"Have you ever believed that God has spoken to you?"

Hearing the question fall from her lips, he knew that she still doubted his true identity.

"Have you ever thought he has spoken to you?"

"I…" Watching the Lieutenant opening the top drawer and dropping the religious artifact inside, she knew that his once belief in God and the Almighty must have come to a deep dead end as he closed the door without a further look.

…

1:13am

Sitting on the edge of her bed in the darkness as lightening flashed outside her window, Miriam stared at her closed bedroom door as a million thoughts ran through her head.

Are you really going to do this?

Are you really going to go to him?

He wouldn't be interested in you if he hadn't just driven seven hours in weekend Los Angeles traffic

Rubbing her palms together, she rested them on her bare knees as a loud rumble of thunder sounded from overhead.

"Jesus…"

It can't be coincidence that every time I come to Fairfield, the weather is nothing but rain and storms.

And now that he is here…

Glancing up once more to the door, she heard the gentle tapping of rain against the window as she shifted, looking up to the ceiling.

You can do this

Rising to her feet, she smoothed down the hem of her black nightgown and gave one last look to her still made bed. Slowly opening the old door, she knew just how far to pull it open before it creaked from the days of her childhood as she closed it behind her. Listening to the silence of the house around her as the rain grew louder against the roof, Miriam made her way slowly down the hall and past her parent's closed door.

Feeling the weakness in her legs with every inch closer to Pierce's door, Miriam stood near the landing as she looked down.

No light

What are you going to do?

Slip into his bed while he is sleeping?

"Yes."

Hearing her own whisper as she reached out and touched light fingers against the door knob, she felt her breath quickening as she pushed it open. Slipping inside, she dared not to turn around as she closed the door with nearly a sound.

Okay…okay…

Slowly turning around, she was not prepared to see an empty, unslept in bed as she felt her stomach sink. Catching a flash of lightening out the window through the pulled back curtains, she froze as the floorboard behind her creaked.

Where…

Feeling the warmth of his body behind her as she stood perfectly still, she felt the hairs on her arms standing straight up as his hands made contact with her shoulders. Turning slightly, she had no time to prepare as Pierce's lips came crashing down against hers, taking her breath away. Parting her lips to welcome the force of his, she felt her breath catching in the back of her throat exhale into a tortured moan as she wrapped her arms around his bare neck.

Easily picking the young woman up and into his arms, Pierce backed her up against the cool wall near the door as he felt her legs wrapping around his hips. Quickly breaking their kiss as the sound of creaking floorboards sounded out in the hallway, Pierce buried his face against the side of Miriam's neck as he gently started to nip at her skin.

Listening to the sound of the bathroom door closing as she raised her eyes up onto the ceiling of the room, Miriam felt the man's strong arms holding her up with ease as she dug her fingernails into the flesh of his shoulders. Feeling his lips spreading into a smile against her skin, she moaned loudly as he pressed the palm of his hand down hard against her mouth.

"Ssshhhh."

Hearing the Lieutenant's whisper against her ear as he pressed his hand down firmly against her lips, she struggled to whimper as his lips kissed her collarbone.

This is happening…

Hearing the footsteps sounding off back down the hall towards her parent's bedroom, Miriam held her breath as Pierce's hand moved off her mouth allowing her head to fall back against the wall as she felt his fingers pushing up the hem of her nightgown against her bare hip.

Cain, my son

Nearly letting the young woman in his arms fall to the floorboards as the thunderous voice spoke loudly and deeply in his head, Pierce threw his eyes up towards the ceiling and felt his mouth falling open.

"What…what is…"

"Did you hear that?"

Wincing as she brought a hand up beneath her arm from where his grip had been tight, Miriam narrowed her eyes as she struggled to steady her breath.

"Hear what?" she whispered, wincing as a loud boom of thunder rattled the bedroom window pane. Watching Pierce moving towards the window with caution, she watched as he pressed his fingertips against the glass before raising it up.

"Pierce…"

Ignoring the rain soaking his arms as he leaned outside, she moved to stand beside him as he ducked back inside.

"You didn't hear His voice?"

"Whose voice?"

Hearing her shaky words, he stared down into her face as he felt drops of rain falling from his chin.

"God's."

…

The next morning…

8:23am

Sitting in the passenger seat of the Charger, Miriam kept her eyes trained on the scenery whipping by outside her window as the warm California breeze moved through her loose hair.

They had barely spoken a word to each after his questioning from the night before…

"You didn't hear his voice?"

Shaking her head no as she watched the man in front of her start to pace across the wooden floor, Miriam smoothed a hand down against her nightgown and knew that whatever was about to happen between them tonight, was now off the table.

And all because of God

Shifting uncomfortably in her seat as she felt the undercover police vehicle slowing down, she watched from behind her sunglasses as they parked in front of a greasy diner and motel.

"Honestly, I'm not hungry" Miriam spoke as Pierce glanced at her profile.

"We both haven't eaten since the night before, and we need to talk."

Great

Slipping into one side of the torn fabric booth, she watched as Pierce slid into the other, facing her as the shadow of their young waitress spread over the table.

"Coffee?"

Glancing at Miriam who simply stared out the window and into the parking lot, Pierce nodded his head as he ordered two plates of scrambled eggs with toast.

"Sure, anything…else?"

Hearing the flirtatious curve of the waitress's words, Miriam bit her tongue as Pierce shook his head.

"Nothing else."

Hearing the man's sigh as she watched a group of children running around the back end of a BMW, Miriam licked her lips as she heard Pierce's throat clear.

"If you think you need more time off because of your brother…"

Shaking her head as she brought her eyes up onto his face, Miriam folded her hands together as two cups of black coffee were set on the table.

"The summer is short enough as it is. Before you know it, I'll be back at school in my final year" she added, catching Pierce's eyes blinking slowly.

"How did you explain…"

Catching his eye as she watched him gesture to his lip, she moistened her own as she remembered the force of his kiss.

"It's far easier to explain a split lip" she began as Pierce narrowed his eyes.

"Than a broken bed frame?"

Jesus

Think of anything else, and not of what could of happened last night

Shifting in her seat as two plates of food were laid out in front of them, Miriam narrowed her eyes as she spotted a single name and phone number scribbled on a napkin beneath the plate. Pulling it out, she folded it over before handing it out towards the Lieutenant.

"I think this, was meant you for you."

Chewing silently as he reached out, he was careful not to touch her fingers as he took the napkin. Not bothering to unfold it, he wiped at the corners of his mouth before crumbling it up into a ball.

…

345 E 1st Street, Apt 3, Little Tokyo, Los Angeles, California…

4:31pm

Feeling the disappointment growing in her stomach as she recognized her block in Little Tokyo, Miriam held her breath as Pierce parked the Charger against the sidewalk curb outside her building.

"Miriam, I know you don't believe me."

"Believe you?"

"That I am the world's first murderer?"

Not this shit again

"That you are Cain from the Bible? No, sorry."

Not without proof

Chewing on her lower lip, she watched him shift in his seat as she thought of her notebook and Lucifer's written answers.

He's taken off his shirt and had bandages on his lower back

He's flesh and blood

He was in a hospital hooked up to machines after being shot

He is not immortal

He is a human man

"Have dinner with me tomorrow night Miriam."

"And…what will that prove?" she questioned, feeling Pierce's fingertips grazing her chin.

"I, will prove to you, who I am."

…

Trudging up the stairs to the third floor, Miriam allowed her backpack to fall off her arm and onto the floor as she dug out her house key. Perking her ears up as she heard two sets of voices from just inside the door, she narrowed her eyes as she picked out one specific voice.

Not now…

Pushing open the apartment door, she rounded the corner and dropped her bag to the ground as Lucifer Morningstar rose to his feet, holding a full glass of red wine.

"Well, it's about time you got home!" he announced, raising his glass in a toasting gesture.

…

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