006 - Unfinished Business

[chasingstars201.livejournal.com]

[Misaki appears, stretched out on a comfortably battered-looking couch. The coffee table that shows up next to it is covered in files, photos and maps. Her hair is down and in a tangled mess; she’s using some wadded up sweatshirts for a pillow. The shadows under her eyes look as dark as bruises. She’s nearly asleep, her hand resting in an open file. Her other arm is in a cast and sling.

She’s lying under a fuzzy blue blanket that is not nearly long enough to cover all of her, or to hide the fact that she is wearing a light-blue tank top and matching pajama pants covered with tiny mallard ducks. Her eyelids flutter shut, and she shifts her weight. The file slides to the ground, sending photos pinwheeling across the Astral floor.

The scene they depict is not pretty.

Two bodies, cut up and arranged to spell the word ‘Naughty’.

She makes a tiny, sleepy sound and drifts off.]

Comments

[theguv.livejournal.com]

[gives her a look, noting the haphazard appearance, and tosses the files back at her] When were you planning on telling me about this?

[chasingstars201.livejournal.com]

[The file hits her, and she watches the papers absently as they slide down her stomach and rumple on her lap. She isn't sure what to say, so she settles on the lamest possible excuse of all the lame excuses that come to mind.]

Things have been hectic.

[theguv.livejournal.com]

That doesn't answer my question.

[chasingstars201.livejournal.com]

[Picks up one of the papers at random, staring at it without reading.] The next time I saw you, I suppose.

[theguv.livejournal.com]

The next time you saw me should have been right away. These kids. They mine or yours?

[chasingstars201.livejournal.com]

[Pinches the bridge of her nose.] Mine. It seems to be a retaliatory killing, or a reaffirmation of power on the killer's part.

[theguv.livejournal.com]

But you killed the bloke doing it. Gang, maybe?

[chasingstars201.livejournal.com]

I'm trying to pursue that possibility. The majority of the department wants it to be, and therefore believes it to be, an action by the original killer to discredit a copycat.

[theguv.livejournal.com]

Can't be a copy cat if there weren't any consistent signs to begin with, if you ask me.

[chasingstars201.livejournal.com]

Tell that to my section Superintendent. [Leans against the couch.] That's why I'm alone in my apartment with half the case. [Frowns across the Plane.] That's why I was, in any case.

[Her eyelids flutter, and she rubs at them fiercely.]

[theguv.livejournal.com]

Bring him here and I will. [gives her a look, then takes the file again] Get some sleep. You're gonna need it.

[chasingstars201.livejournal.com]

[More eye rubbing, more briskly this time. She swings her legs around and reaches for another one of the files on the table.] I can't.

The entire city is on lockdown. You probably don't know how significant this is, being from England, but they shut down the schools and canceled all youth activities citywide. Parents are supposed to keep their children indoors, but it's only a matter of time before some clever kid sneaks out his window to buy a snack from the corner store and never gets to see his home again. I need to prove to them that this is more than one random killer.

[theguv.livejournal.com]

And you aren't proving anything if you can't bloody well see straight. [he's adamant on this] I'm not having you make mistakes because you couldn't take a kip, you hear me? Now get some rest.

[chasingstars201.livejournal.com]

[She slams the file back down and digs her hand into her hair.]

Seven children dead, seven families destroyed, the crime scenes waiting for me every time I close my eyes and you expect me to sleep?

[theguv.livejournal.com]

Yes, I do! [have a staring contest, Misaki] You're no good to anybody falling asleep at the scene, luv. It bother you that much before you sleep? Look at pictures of bunnies or something, but you need to get some bloody rest.

[chasingstars201.livejournal.com]

[Have a contest competitor, Gene. Though she's not particularly energetic about it.]

Before I sleep, when I sleep, whenever. Sometimes it's the influence of this place--I've gotten good at telling the Twins' nightmares from the ordinary sort. I can't. I can't let another child die. I can't let it keep happening, or....

[...or she murdered that man for no reason.

She looks away.]

[theguv.livejournal.com]

[doesn't let up] It's gonna keep happening whether you want it or not, so you'd best start taking care of yourself so you can stop it proper. Running in half asleep will only get you killed along with the tots.

[chasingstars201.livejournal.com]

Getting killed doesn't matter anymore, though, does it? I can push myself to the edge and past, and it won't make any difference. If I die catching the one responsible, it's worth it.

[She's being stubborn and stupid and she knows it. She just doesn't really care. She doesn't care about a lot of things, just now.]

[theguv.livejournal.com]

And what about the three days you're gone? What about the time difference when you finally show back up? [steps closer and puts a hand on her shoulder] It's not worth it, luv. It never is.

[chasingstars201.livejournal.com]

[Bites the inside of her cheek to avoid to avoid letting him see her bite her lip. She will not cry in front of Gene Hunt. That, she will not do.]

Seven children. They're worth a lot more than three days.

[theguv.livejournal.com]

And that's seven more while you're dozing in that damn shop with the freaks.

[chasingstars201.livejournal.com]

[Glares at him. She is backed into a corner, and knows it, and likes it no more than a rabid dog would. A very, very tired rabid dog.]

Not if I kill the bitch who uses little kids for their obeisance.

[theguv.livejournal.com]

[quirks a brow] Before or after taking a kip in the mud because you haven't had a decent night's sleep in a week?

[chasingstars201.livejournal.com]

[And that's it. She's out of arguments, excuses, and the energy to fight. She goes back to her files.]

I'm fine.

[theguv.livejournal.com]

[grabs the files from her] Don't. I said get some rest.