***

Year Three:

***

Helena brushed back her shoulder-length hair as she walked through the boutique, not paying much attention to those around her.  Supposedly.  In truth, she was scanning for a contact.  The poor kid was terrified and had pleaded with her to meet  him there to figure out how to get him out from the job.  He still hadn't shown though and she was getting worried.

Behind her, a man was browsing for an enticing present for a certain Japanese thief he wanted to catch the attention of.  He heard someone muttering and glanced around the rack.  He quickly withdrew when he realized he knew her from somewhere.  He couldn't figure out where; she wasn't a prior mark - he always remembered those.  Then again, she did move rather too smoothly to be high society.  Almost like she was a dancer....  That's where he knew her from; that cop they had picked up about two years ago.  He looked her over.  She looked well enough.  Fairly nervous.  He would have thought she would have been able to get out of the assignment with the stash they had left her.  Her old apartment building had been empty when Jigen had driven past it a few days back.  Apparently they had been wrong about her.

He watched as someone walked up to her, grimacing in distaste at her taste in companions.  Then she hit him and stomped off in tears.  Lupin followed discreetly behind her, all the way to the local hospital.  She went into a cubicle, talking too quietly to hear.  This was very interesting indeed.  He smiled at the cute nurse trainee he found.  "Hi," he said, moving closer.  "I was told a friend had been brought in.  I know they took him to this side of the ward.  Could you help me find him?"

She nodded.  "What did he come in with?"

"I'm not really sure.  I got here as they wheeled him back.  I haven't seen anybody who can tell me anything and it seems like it's been hours.  His mother wanted me to call once we knew what was going on; she's really sick with a horrible chest thing. I only want to peek in on him, make sure he's all right."

"Well, the only male we've had brought in for the last few hours has been that poor tortured boy.  We had to call someone to identify him, there wasn't anything we could do but give him some painkillers."

"No, my friend wasn't that badly off."  His pager went off and he grabbed it.  "Thank you for your help.  I guess they're hiding him."  He seemed to sigh as he walked off.  The pager went off again so called Jigen.  "Meet me at the park beside Mercy Hospital," he ordered once the other end was picked up.  He groaned when he heard the female voice.  "No, not you, Fujiko, Jigen."  He hung up and headed out before anyone could ask him what he was doing back there.  Jigen pulled their rental car up beside him a few minutes later.  "Do you remember that cop two years ago?"

"Helena?"

"Yeah.  I just followed her in there, where she went in to identify someone who was tortured."  Jigen groaned.  "Exactly.  Either she never got out of that assignment or something is going on."  He pointed her out.  "There she is."

"She's crying," Jigen  noticed.  He started the car and pulled out after the cab she got into.  It took her to a decent-enough neighborhood.  They watched as she entered the building. Jigen looked at Lupin.  "New plan, Boss?"

"No, just a minor mystery I want to solve," he said quietly.

***

Jigen snuck up to Helena's door.  He listened, then carefully picked the lock and entered.

"Freeze," a tired voice said from above him.  He looked up, noticing how she was standing.  She was nearly wobbling but it wasn't from drinking, it was pure exhaustion.  She grimaced for a moment, then groaned and walked away.  "Make sure the cats don't escape."

She was lying on her bed when he got up there, looking really miserable.  "What happened?"

"I came back from providing you guys a distraction and found my CO had arranged for me to  move here, go deeper in, and have people who needed me to watch their backs.  I failed."  She shifted and her sheets made soft slithering noises underneath her.  "We were supposed to meet to help him leave the life.  Instead, I got to identify his mangled and abused body."  She looked at him.  "I can't even be sure it was someone from his assignment and not a cop.  Another kid they decided to use up and toss away because he wasn't the usual cop.  He was gay, so they sent him out undercover as a gay hooker.  No backup, just me.  And I failed him."  She put her head back down.  "I told my CO and he basically did a verbal shrug."

He climbed in beside her, giving her a hug.  "This was not your fault."   She laid there quietly, letting him do that.  Finally he looked down at her.  "Want dinner?"  She shook her head.  "Movie?"

"Gun?"

"Not a chance," Lupin said as he walked up the stairs.  "I heard."

"I'm not sure if I want to kill our supervisors or his attacker first," she  told him.

"Supervisors always need a more involved death," Jigen offered.

She nodded and cuddled in a bit.  "In town for the slut-on-tour reunion or for the Diamond Exchange?"

"Diamonds," Lupin admitted as he sat on the edge of the bed.  "They wouldn't let you go?"

"They told me I didn't have any use to them except out here.  They refused and impolitely laughed when I begged.  I'm down to quitting or a lawsuit.  Both sound really good at the moment."

"The lawsuit is probably going to be your only option in the end, short of a complete change of personnel at the higher levels," Lupin offered.  He laid on her other side, wiping her tears off.  "You gonna be okay?"

"No."  She nodded at the phone and he handed it to her.  She dialed the club. "I'm not coming in tonight," she said tiredly.  "I just had to identify a friend's body after someone had stomped and kicked it into a blob."  She sniffled.  "I don't care."  Her pager went off and she pulled it off her waist to look at it.  Then she grunted.  "I hate it when he does that.  No number yet again."

Lupin took it and popped the back off, fooling with a few wires.  He smiled as he handed it back.  "Now you have one."

"Hold on, Max, let me call this person."  She hung up and dialed that one, then dropped the pager onto the bed.  "Listen, dipshit.  I just had to identify a body.  I don't care if God is sitting in that club and wants to make me a rich little girl.  I'm not going in tonight or the night of the funeral.  It's not like you let me see my family so the few of us out here have to cling together."  She suddenly sat up.  "Oh, hell, yes he will!  Maybe I'm not making myself clear here, Craig.  He will get a proper burial.  He will also have his pension for dying in the line of duty sent to his mother.  Or else I will take his diaries and his journals and walk them all the way down to the nearest good reporter's office and offer to blow the lid off this whole fucking thing.  Bet me!  My life won't be in jeopardy.  Your life and job will be in jeopardy.  Remember, I do have a copy of my files.  There are people who can attest that I did go to the Academy.  I doubt you want to fire my whole year and all the instructors, cooks, and ground guys.  Are we absolutely clear here?  Because I have already mailed a letter to his mother about what happened, in livid detail."  She hung up and called the club again.  "Max, it's me again.  I just heard Derek's in tonight.   Yeah, please."  She laid down again.  "Derek, it's Helena.  I'm sorry, man, but one of my best friends was just ground into a pulp. I had to identify the body.  I won't be in tonight and I won't be in the night after the funeral.  Can we reschedule?"  She smiled and sighed.  "Thank you."  She hung up.  "My boss just crossed a line.   He'll be dying for that soon."  She snuggled back into the limp arms.  "I'm sorry if I scared you, but can I please be held?"

"Sure, kid."  He wrapped her in his arms, holding her tightly.  "You think it'll come to that?"

"I know it'll come to that.  He said he has the poor kid's journal.  He doesn't know where his tapes are though."  Lupin looked startled.  "So I'm going to have to prove myself.  I hate this life," she sighed.  "When I was younger, I was never like this."

"Of course you weren't," Lupin agreed, moving to hold her as well.

She closed her eyes.  "At least you smell good.  And Jigen's very comforting.  Move the hand off my thigh, Lupin."  He smiled and moved it, using it to stroke across her hair.  "Thank you.  You just aren't my type, dear."  She blew a kiss.  "I don't like bragging men."  She fell asleep that way, comforted for a while longer.

Lupin looked at Jigen, then smirked.  "Your first groupie," he said happily.  "I knew you had it in you."

"Shut up," Jigen said firmly.

"Ooh, you like her back," he teased.

Jigen hit him on the side of the head.  "I said shut up."

"Fine."  Lupin continued to smirk at him though.  It was so sweet.  Jigen liked the cop!

***

Helena walked into the back room of the club the night before the funeral, seeing her target sitting in an old chair.  She walked up to him and shoved him back, pulling her revolver, which she put underneath his chin. "Did you think I was kidding?" she sneered.  "Not only am I more than capable of this, I've already made copies and sent them to a reporter."  He pulled out a book and tossed it at her feet.  "Dear, that's his work log, not his journal."  His mouth opened and his eyes went wide so she cocked the gun.  "Actually, he used this neat little tape recorder for such things. You see, he had a wonderful voice.  I've already sent his mother a full set and another two sets to two different reporters, along with a copy to his boss in the Federal building in Washington."

He shook his head.  "It won't help."

She sneered at him.  "It will.  You see, I'm already seeing echos of my own future here and I don't like it.  Therefore I'm going to take some destiny back into my own hands."  She stroked his chin with her revolver.  "I bet you didn't read my file at all, did you?"  He shook his head quickly.  "Then you wouldn't know that I'm a marksman.  Or that I've learned some breaking and entering skills over the years."  He swallowed.  "Either you treat him like you would a real agent, which is what he was, or I will make you one of the most miserable people on the face of the fucking earth.  You don't do this to other cops.  Nor do you do it to cops because we fit some cup size requirement and we're too smart to be cowed by you wimpy, pathetic men.  You're going to find a way to get me out of here, and you're going to respect his body and pay his mother the 'lost in duty' pension he had coming.  Or else you and everyone in Chicago's PD and the FBI will be suffering bastards."

Someone coughed and walked out.  "I don't see as it's a problem to pay his mother to be quiet."

She turned and pointed the gun at him.  "We'll see when it happens.  I want out."

"We need you, Helena."

"After two years doing this shit, you don't need me.  You want to get rid of me.  Try."  She shot the person behind her in the arm, wounding him.  "And I repeat, I am a marksman.  I am also terribly upset with the world at the moment.  You do not want to push me."

"I can have you arrested for that," the agent said smugly.

"Not if you're dead."  She cocked her gun again and moved closer.  "Now then," she said, giving him her best icy smile, one that had made her father back away from her a few times.  This man did as well.  "I want out.  I am a cop.  I was a cop, I'm still a cop.  I want out of this fucking hellhole or I'm walking out there and telling everyone I'm a cop and exactly what's been found out about them.  Since Don Ignlia's son-in-law is out there, do you really expect to live for very long?  He won't hurt me, yet, and I have a better than average chance of getting away when I tell him exactly what's went on.  After all, I do have forms and my journals to back me up.  Including a copy of my records."  He nodded quickly.  "I want out!  I want him to have a proper burial, with honors, and I want out!"

"He'll have one back at his home.  We're sending him home tomorrow," he soothed, moving closer again.  He could see that glint of craziness in her eyes.  "We were wrong to send you, Helena.  We're really sorry, but we can't get you out yet."  She shot between his feet and the gun came back up, already cocked.  "I'm sorry, but we can't.  Things like this have to be orchestrated carefully.  We might have to use the same covers at a later date."

"Oh, hell, no.  If you *ever* send another female officer out like this, you will be the sorrier fucker of the lot."  He nodded and backed away again.  "Now, I want out.  I want back in my old job.  I don't care how you do it but I'll have my old job back and I'm going to stay there and warn every other female officer coming out of the academy about you guys.  That way no one else can have this done to them."  He nodded, backing away further.  Another shot rang out and she turned to get the person who had done it.  She found an older man standing there.  "Don Ignlia.  I don't believe you were invited to this discussion."

He shrugged.  "I invited myself.  It's a matter of position sometimes."  He moved closer.  "You're a cop?"  She nodded.  "How long?"

"I got a whole six weeks on the job before they told me I was coming out here.  I've been here now for almost three years and they won't let me leave.  All I want to do is go away."

"And if you can't?" he asked gently.

"Then I'll blow this whole thing to hell for them so they can't do it again and go hide somewhere in the Midwest.  It's gotten to the point where I can't even remember what my childhood home looked like."

"Hmm.  I can see that.  Calm yourself.  I think we need to have a talk."  She pointed her gun at him again.  "Now, now, Helena."

"Fuck you.  I'm not ending up like my friend.  Nor am I ending up like however you took the other guy out.  I can easily kill Dark Charlie if you get in my way.  I could care less about you and yours."

"You'd leave my infant son an orphan?"

"He's got a sister.  It's more than I've got out here."  She cocked the gun.  "I mean it, Don.  I'm not the most stable of people at the moment."

"Fine.  It's clear Jigen's been teaching you many things."

"No, actually, I've learned things from the most mercenary of girls, strippers."  She blew a hole in his pants and left him lying there, bleeding to death. "You know those movies where someone says 'this town isn't big enough for the both of us'?  Well, I'm having one of those moments and I think I'm more important this time."  Then she walked away.  She glanced at Max, the owner of the club. "Men are all worthy of death."  He nodded, eyes wide.  "Listening as well?"  He shook his head. "Good.  Keep it that way.  I'm not here for you either.  Those who hurt my people die like they did, horribly."  She walked out, heading for the funeral home.  On the way she stopped to get a few drinks, just enough to dull the pain of having made her first kills.  While there, some woman walked up to her side.  "What?" she asked tiredly.

"You look like you could use to forget."  Helena looked at her and nodded.  "Someone's made something for that," she shared.  "It compresses the memories so you can't access them."

"How long does it work?"

"Forever.  He's some mad chemist."  She shrugged.  "All up to you, dear."  She left a card and walked away.

She tapped it a few times on the bar, then finished her drink and paid her tab.  Then she went to her duty.

***

She came back from the funeral to find a black rose on her table.  She shrugged as she read the card, then went to pack.  She needed a vacation anyway.  Losing the town's overlord was cause for celebration in her book.  As soon as she was packed, she called the Super.  "Can you watch the cats?  I'm taking a week off."  She blinked at his response.  "What do you mean I'm still working?  Huh?"  She sat down, listening to the calm words.  "I don't want to stay in!  I want out!  It's been nearly three years.  I want my life back."  She sighed.  "Fine, I'll wrap this crap up and then move  on.  Do I at least get a few days off?"  She grunted in annoyance.  "Thanks for letting me know."  She hung up, laying back on the couch so her cats could come sooth her frazzled nerves.  Fozzy helpfully came up to nestle in her hair.  "Thanks, dear."

***

Lupin looked up as Jigen walked in.  "She okay?"

"No, but she did go off on her boss, a Fed, and the Don."  Lupin looked impressed with that.  "She went home afterward.  She just got the wonderful news that she's still on the job."  Lupin groaned.  "Yeah."  He laid down on the coach, sprawling comfortably.

"At least we'll be around for a few days.  You could go for dinner."

"If she asks.  I won't force it."

"Who are we talking about?" Fujiko asked with a flip of her dark hair.  "It sounds like Jigen has a *girl*."

"You are not aerodynamic," Jigen reminded her.  "We're still on the fifth floor and the windows open."

"She's an interesting woman who helped hide us after the last job in town.  She also beat us at poker while we helped her celebrate her 22'nd."

"This girl does what?" Fujiko asked.

"She's undercover as a stripper," Lupin told her.

"A COP!" she shrieked.

"She's got no backup, no target, and no one behind her.  They sent her out as a rookie and left her without any support.  Earlier, she had to shoot people to get out.  Don't judge her until you meet her," Lupin warned.  "She's an amazing woman who told us where those letters were."

"So she's playing both sides?"

"No, she's got to protect herself," Jigen said tiredly, looking at Lupin.  "She really looked like she could use a vacation.  If anyone knows, she'll be hunted."

"You forget who's next in line," Goemon offered from his position on the floor in a corner.  "The next one would probably offer her a job."  He stood up.  "Will we have to protect her?  She was quite innocent as I remember it."

"She shot two cops and the Don," Jigen told him.

He shrugged.  "Killing of necessity is no different than hunting animals.  Killing in cold blood is different, as we both know."  Jigen nodded, that was true.  "Should we go to her?  She may be of some help this time as well."  Someone knocked on the door.  He looked at Lupin, who waved, so he went to open it.  "We were speaking of you."

"I figured as much," Helena noted as she walked in.  She handed Jigen the rose in her hand.  "Sorry, I hate flowers."  She looked at Lupin.  "One of my former coworkers just suggested I come warn you.  Candy said that you're very well known," she said, mimicking the girl's voice nearly perfectly, including the undercurrent of whine.  "She said that many, many people know where you're hiding this time and she's very worried about you and would you *please* call her because she's very worried that some strange woman would pick you clean."  She glanced at Fujiko, then back at him, smirking. "Like her.  She also wanted to know if you'd take her out to dinner after you found a new hideout so she could tell Charlie's guy where you were yet again."

Lupin snorted.  "No, I think I'll be too busy tonight," he offered.  "Can we shack up at your place again?"

"If you don't mind the cats, only having one bed, that same lumpy couch, and bigger closets to sleep in."

"We'll sleep in shifts," Lupin offered.

"I'll pass," Fujiko said dryly.  "There's a new guy in town I want to charm."  She grabbed her purse and walked out with it.

Helena snorted.  "Is she a bitch, a whore, or both?"

"Depends on the day," Jigen said, standing up.  "Who left you a black rose?"

"Dark Charlie had it sent, the Super put it onto my table."  She looked at him.  "I've already called him and pointed out that I'd be killing him if he came within six million feet of me, and then suggested he was probably too close for his continued living.  He laughed."  She grimaced.  "So I went and blew the tires on his car while he was driving it.  It was a spectacular crash."  She looked at Lupin again.  "If you want, you can come shack up at my place again, but you've got to bring your own groceries.  The bank's already closed and I'm short on cash."

"We'll bring dinner over," he promised, smiling at her.  "Same place?"  She nodded.  "See you in a bit."

"Sure."  She strolled out, then came back in and handed over the cop who had been waiting outside.  "I believe he needs an asskicking of a different sort."  She nodded at him.  "Don't ever let them send you undercover kid, it sucks, badly."  She finished her casual stroll out, heading back to her apartment to clean up her bedroom a bit.  They probably didn't want to see the dirty underwear on the floor, or her cats walking around with it on their heads.  She patted Fozzy on the head.  "You're an odd cat, bear man."  She tossed everything into the hamper and changed into something more comfortable, a tank top and workout shorts, then went down to find something decent on her newly expanded cable.  Someone knocked.  "You'd better be a delivery guy," she called.  Lupin and gang walked in.  "Like I said, delivery guys," she said dryly.  "I tried to clean.  Still haven't gotten the tub."  She went back to flipping through the channels, finding something eventually on PBS.  Goemon brought Fozzy over without touching the underwear on his head so she picked it off and tossed it in a corner.  "He's like that.  You've got to learn to accept it sometime."  She grinned at him.  "At least those were clean."

He nodded.  "Thankfully," he agreed.  He glanced around.  "Roof?"

"Out the window and up."  He headed that way, making sure the window was closed behind him.  "Watching the stars?" she asked.

"He likes staring at the sky," Jigen admitted as he sat next to her.  He patted her on the back.  "You sure you're okay?"

"I'm fine."  She scooted closer.  "Tell me if I become annoying.  I haven't had many people who are willing to *touch* me recently."  He stroked her back for her and she slumped, letting him do that all he wanted.

Lupin smirked from the loft, giving Jigen a smug look.  "Want me to take first shift sleeping?"

"Bernadette has the pillow on the left, unless he really likes you.  Then you'll have a butt- crack cat.  Mine might be damp from earlier."

"Damp pillows I can deal with, cats trying to crawl inside me I can't," Lupin said, heading to lay down for a bit.  They needed some privacy.

Jigen moved a bit closer.  "How have things been since we left?"  She let out a bitter laugh. "That good?"

"You might say that."  She glanced at him.  "Trust me, you really don't want to know.  It'll only make you pissed."  She got up, getting something to drink, handing him a glass of juice on her way to the bathroom.  "Sorry, be right back."  She went in there and took a few calming breaths, then took her medicine.  Jigen walked in and gave her a short hug.  "Sorry, it's kind of necessary right now."  She left him alone, going back to the couch.  He followed, giving her a look.  "The doctors said I had to take it.  They said it was the natural inclination of scuzzy people to do things that needed them."

"You're not," he protested, looking down at her.  He noticed a bruise and moved her sleeve out of the way, looking at the obvious hand print.  He groaned and shook his head.  "Tell me you weren't,' he pleaded.

She finished her juice and shook her head.  "I can't do that, Jigen."

He pulled her up and hugged her.  "Did you at least hurt him?"

"Very badly.  Him and his two friends.  I stupidly went out with a few of the girls to a new dance club," she shared bitterly.  "He and his buddies decided they wanted more than I was willing to give.  So now they're all in quite a lot of pain."  She sat down again, patting the couch beside her.  "You can sit, I'm not infected with anything, it's just a precaution."

"I know you're fine, it shows," he offered, sitting next to her, just as close as before.  She hadn't minded before and this time she curled up against his side.  He wasn't used to this, but he forced himself to relax until she did.  "You okay now?"

"More or less.  I had some minor tearing.  That's why they gave me the antibiotic.  They said I should be fine, probably."  She snorted.  "Not that they really cared.  County hospitals are chronically understaffed and I fell to the wayside because they had a shoot- out that got forwarded to them."  He gave her a gentle squeeze.  "I'll live, I just wish it had been done different," she said quietly.

"Maybe you should find a protector," he admitted.

"Then I'd have to put up with some belching, farting, smelly mother fucker who sits around my house all day.  I'd rather not have a full time, steady boyfriend at the moment."

"We're not all like that," he noted.

She looked up at him. "No, but most of the people who are willing to play protector are.  Oh, Uncle Dan said I was to say hi when I saw you this time."  She snuggled in again, changing the channel to something that wasn't the mating habits of the bonobo monkeys, their nearest genetic relative.  She bypassed all those cute 'teen' comedy shows, not wanting that level of happiness at the moment.  He took the remote and put it back on PBS.  "Fine, you watch monkeys screw."  He gave her another squeeze.  "You're very comforting."

"I try rarely," he assured her, grinning down at her.  "You could try to rest.  Don't you have to go into work tonight?"

"I sincerely doubt it since I shot two people and one of them shot another in the back room."

"You might want to check," Jigen offered.  "Get your last paycheck?"

"That's not until Monday."

"Okay."  He gave her a squeeze.  "What're you gonna do after that?"

"Bartending.  There's two clubs downtown who need people to serve snotty people overpriced drinks in ugly glasses."

He snickered.  "Well, you're definitely not as soft as you were last time."

"Yeah, well, I've been working in the Mafia's strip club with some of the most mercenary girls in the world.  Let's just say I had to learn a few new tricks on that job."  He gave her a gentle pat and she looked up at him again. "You sure you want to be that close to me?"

"Very.  What happened doesn't matter to me, Helena.  I'm not like that.  Besides, you're not my girlfriend and we're not sleeping together."

"I'm leaving that up to you, Jigen," she noted, curling up against him again.  "I don't get to make those decisions for other people."

He tipped her face up and kissed her.  "It's too soon anyway.  If you're still taking the antibiotics it's much too soon."

"Yeah, but it's got to be better than being tied to a water pipe in a bathroom for three hours."

"I'd hope so," he agreed.  "But I can't be anyone's first.  Not even their first after a trauma.  You cling to those sort, all women do," he said quietly.  "You need to find some cute little stud here in town to do that one."

"I've tried, but I keep getting shudders whenever I look at them.  I'd rather not if that's okay with you.  I went without that long, I can do it again."  She firmly put it out of her mind and rested against him again.  "Do you believe in that DNA stuff?"

"I hear it's pretty big in cop circles," he admitted.  "They say they can do all sorts of stuff with it."  She shrugged. "You don't think so?"

"Not yet.  Yeah, if we had better technology, but not yet.  We've only recently gotten computers that are smaller than a room.  Give it another ten or twenty years, maybe right after the turn of the century."  She shuddered.  "If we make it that far.  I had some kook a few nights back who was claiming that Revelations was going on now and that the Anti- Christ was some televangelist, that we'd be lucky to make it to 2000."

"Well, I can't quite argue on the Anti-Christ being a televangelist, I think most of them are parasites," he admitted.

"Me too.  Religion should be a private matter, not something you have to force onto others and make them practice."

He nodded.  "Exactly.  Who are any of them to say who is and who isn't a Christian with the way they edit their book of rules.  I do take offense with the thought that it's Revelations.  I hope I see it, just to see all those hypocrites figure out that they got left behind, but I don't think it'll be soon."

She snickered, then swatted at him. "You're a bad man, Jigen."  She relaxed again, letting him hold and protect her for now.

Jigen got comfortable, wondering why they were watching monkeys have sex.  He changed the channel, finding a football game on instead.  Even though it was college, it was sports.

Upstairs, Lupin's mind was whirling as he petted the cat trying to curl inside his pants with him.  Something needed to be done about that.  Before she got hurt worse.  It would kill Jigen to see her hurt badly.  Jigen may not be willing to admit it, but he had seen those same signs before.

***

A few days later, Helena woke up and found Goemon above her with a mug.  She sat up and took it from him.  "Thanks.  Everyone else run out?"  He nodded, sitting next to her.  "You're quiet to make up for Jigen's talkative nature?" she suggested.

He snorted. "I learned the value of not saying things to create noise," he noted, smiling at her.  "How are you?  Are you feeling all right? You were having a nightmare until the white cat pounced you."

"Yeah, Fozzy's been very good about that," she admitted, sipping more of the coffee.  "For a tea-drinking person, you do okay with this."

"The directions were on the can," he pointed out.  "Would you like to talk about it?  I'm told I'm comforting."

"I'm sure you are, but if I try to talk about it, I'll end up sick again.  I don't want that so therefore I'm ignoring it and thinking about that new memory eraser."

"Memory eraser?"

"You know how there's that new compression thing on computers?"  He nodded, he had heard about those. "It does the same thing with your memories, only locks it behind a single one.  It makes it harder than hell to get to, but you don't quite forget it."

"Ah."  He looked impressed.  "That would be rather useful.  Where did you hear of this?"

"Before the funeral.  Someone came up and noticed I needed something like that."  She finished her coffee and put it onto the table beside the couch, sitting cross-legged to face him.  "I have her card around here somewhere."

"Interesting.  I'd like to see proof before I would personally take it, but it sounds useful to victims of traumas."

"I doubt he could get it licensed.  It'd put too many drugs and therapists on the streets," she said dryly, making him chuckle.  "You've been taking the cats onto the roof.  Why?"

"They needed the fresh air and it's not often that you get the chance to sit and pet them all day like they would wish.  Plus I get to brush them and let the hair fly as it may to help whatever birds or insects may need it."

"I'll have to start doing that," she agreed.  "Sounds like a good idea."  She scooted closer and gave him a tentative hug.  "It's all right, I promise I won't bite you too hard."

He snickered and shook his head, pushing her away playfully.  "I won't let you bite.  I move faster than you do."

"Probably true, but can you sprint five hundred yards in three-inch heels?" she teased.

He closed his eyes and shook his head quickly.  "I did not want to see myself in such shoes."

She giggled.  "How about in my blue dress?" she teased.  He groaned and patted her on the head.  "Sorry, I'm having a demented day.  These usually only follow those days when I can't sleep."

"You have insomnia?"

"I take weeks where I don't really sleep," she admitted.  "Then suddenly I'll have one day where I can't wake up.  Then a few more normal days and it'll start all over again.  My doctor thinks it's linked to my hormones but I think he's full of it.  It's not that predictable."  Lupin and Jigen came in with shopping bags.  "Wow.  Did you guys steal my paycheck early?"

"No, we took money out of your stash in the cookie jar," Jigen said, giving her a look.  "Speaking of which, the for-show vial of coke is empty."

"Sometimes you gotta live the life to be accepted," she said prosaically.  He gave her a long look.  "I maybe do two whole lines a year, Jigen.  Chill, I'm in control and it's nowhere near an addiction."

"Fine," he agreed.  "I won't preach, you know all the dangers."

"I already have bouts of sleeplessness anyway," she muttered.  "It's nothing new."  She got up and headed into the bathroom, taking a hot shower.  She heard the door open.  "Warn me before you flush."

"Not an issue," Lupin admitted.  She stuck her head out of the shower.  "Two lines a year?"

"I'm used as a taster," she told him.  "I get a bit on my fingertip every few months.  The longest bit I've ever done was about a dime's worth of a line to test it."  He looked impressed.  "Like I said, sometimes you have to live the life to get into it.  The same as sometimes I bet you've had to wear a real suit."

He snorted and shoved her back into the shower.  "Don't hurt him, kid.  I'd hate to have to kill you."

"If you do, make sure they send my uncle my pension, not my father."

"Sure."  He gave the shower a funny look and went out, weathering Jigen's and Fujiko's looks.  "When did you get here?"

"A few seconds ago."

"She okay?"

"She said someone's using her as a tester," Lupin told him.  He shrugged.  "She knows what she's doing well enough I suppose."  He walked past Fujiko, pinching her on the ass and weathering her slap at his arm.  "Am I cooking breakfast?"

"Please," Helena said as she came out of the bathroom in a towel, heading up to her room.  "Can anyone think of any reasonable excuse for me to put on a bra?"

Lupin chuckled when Goemon blushed bright red.  "Besides the fact that Goemon might hide on the roof again?"

She leaned over the railing of the loft, giving Goemon a look.  "If you want to, go right ahead.  I'm not doing anything and I hate bras.  If it bothers you, feel free not to stare at that or my pantiless condition."  She disappeared, coming down in a shorts-style unitard and a long t-shirt.  She accepted the refilled cup of coffee from Lupin and nodded at Fujiko.  "Watch out for Bernadette, he scratches."  She sat down in the center of the couch.  "Was I supposed to do anything today?"

"Laundry?" Jigen suggested.

She waved a hand.  "I'm good on clothes.  If I have to, I can always wear work clothes to work."  He snorted and shook his head.  "What?  I'll look really cute in my blue outfit."

"Blue?" Lupin asked.  "The one I got you?"

"Not quite.  That one got burnt last year when some guy decided I wasn't fun enough and tried to light me with his cigar."  She sipped her coffee slowly, weathering the shocked look.  "He decided it was a bad idea when I poured vodka onto his lap and dropped a lit match.  No, my new blue one is strapless, a cute little sundress thing.  It's got some green dots here and there on it, very subtly done, and everyone who sees it thinks it's adorable."

Fujiko gave her a long look.  "You don't look like the average stripper."

"Been one of us?" she asked.  Fujiko's mouth fell open.  "After hours, we're just like everyone else.  Only we have sore feet from the stupid shoes and sore tits from the underwire."

Jigen coughed and went into the kitchen to help Lupin put up stuff.  "What's that stash for if it's not drug money?"

"It's for a new gun.  I've been looking forward to a new automatic.  My revolver is ancient and sucks badly.  I managed to ding it a few months ago."  She shrugged.  "That's mostly tip money though, kind of a general fund."

"What happened to what we left you?" Lupin asked.

She gave him a long look.  "Money to run when I'm done.  So I can quit and take the hell off to refind myself," she said honestly.  "I was thinking Africa for a safari, but it's not looking too peaceful down there.  Maybe Tibet?"

"China is encroaching further in-country," Goemon told her.

She nodded.  "I heard it was happening."  She finished that cup of coffee and got comfortable.  "So, what else was on the menu for the day?  Were you guys gonna need my unique brand of influence?"

"Only if you can get St. Peter away from that exhibit," Lupin said dryly.

"Peter O'Brien?"  He looked stunned and nodded.  "Sure.  Give me a few hours."  She smirked.  "He's got well known weaknesses, dear.  Or you could always put your girlfriend into a red wig and some less revealing clothes and send her."

"My outfit is just fine," Fujiko protested, thrown off balance by this woman.  She was a cop?

"Fine, then I'll do it.  You obviously don't know the type at all.  You know, the guys who don't go for tits and ass?  They go for minds and decent enough bodies.  He's a sweetie, he *adores* me.  I distracted him during a wedding last year."  She gave Goemon a slight nudge with her elbow.  "I'll need someone to pretend to be an unobservant boyfriend if he doesn't need you."

"If you wish," he agreed quietly, staring at her.  "Are you sure?"

"Yeah, he'll look.  He'd never touch.  His brother's a priest living at home with him and his wife and two kids.  His brother took all her condoms and threw them out.  That's why number two is on the way."

Lupin shuddered.  "That poor man."  He shook his head. "If you want to help, you can.  We wouldn't mind."  He went back to mixing his eggs for omelettes, considering their buddy.  He couldn't figure out what it was, he wasn't hitting on her.  He didn't want to hit on her.  It wasn't that Jigen liked her, or that she was so young, or even that she was fundamentally one of those nice and good girls.  He finally figured it out as he turned out the last omelette.  She was like his little sister in some ways.   He felt...protective toward her.  He glanced at Jigen as he grabbed that plate to go eat on the couch, consciously sitting on the other side of Goemon so Fujiko couldn't say anything.   He shook himself mentally.  "Are you going in that, Fujiko?"

"Yes, what's wrong with my outfit?" she asked testily.

"It's supposed to get up to a balmy fifty degrees today, with our world renowned wind at near gale-force," Helena offered. "At least one piece of that will be coming off outside by this afternoon.  I really don't think that the Arabic princes will like that.  But if you want, you can borrow something as long as you clean it before I get it back."  She ate a bite of breakfast and smiled at Lupin.  "Thanks, dear.  Great job."

"You're welcome."  He patted her on the shoulder as he walked behind her, sitting next to her.  "You think a dress?"

"I think something modest.  It's bound to be filled with the owners of the jewelry and most of them are Arab princes.  I really don't think their bodyguards will kick anyone out for a flash of cleavage, but you never know with some of them.  They might hand her a veil and robe outfit to go overtop of it."

"That is a consideration," Goemon agreed.  Fujiko snorted but went to look in the closet.  "The big one," he called.  Helena and Jigen both looked at him. "I was helping Lupin retrieve the cats this morning," he defended.  "They were in her dirty laundry."

Helena looked at where her cats were napping.  "Guys, mommy's dirty panties are not fashion accessories.  Please quit wearing them around the house.  You'll embarrass the guy who pets you more than I do."  Bernadette got up and stretched then laid down again.  "Thank you."  She looked at him.  "I tried my best.  They are cats."

He nodded.  "I understand.  No one really knows the mind of a cat."  He dug into his breakfast, then took Lupin's plate from him.  "You gave me tomatoes again," he complained.  Helena switched plates with Lupin, leaving him her empty one.  He smirked at her.  "Hungry?"

"Very.  I didn't eat yesterday.  At least I don't remember eating yesterday."  She heard a subdued laugh. "If that's the purple outfit, it was a present from a patron of the club," she called.  "Not my choice."  She elbowed Lupin.  "That was really cute, but I fall out of it."  He grinned at her and she poked him with the fork.  "The guys got grabby that night.  They really liked it when I humped the pole in that outfit."

"You'll have to show us sometime," Lupin said smugly.  Jigen nudged Goemon and he got him with his fork. "Hey!  She's like my sister, Jigen.  I don't want to see her dance, I want to see the other guys in the club's tongues hanging on the ground because of her."

"Sure you do," Jigen said, glaring at him.  "I'm sure that's all you want to see."  He looked over at Fujiko, then shook his head.  "That'll come off too.  The winds are going to be worse than the top of the Eiffel Tower in May."

She went back up the stairs and came down in a long, straight blue lace skirt and a shirt that came about down to her midriff.  She waved a hand.  "Better?"

"It definitely won't come off," Helena agreed.  "You might want a jacket though.  It'll only be fifty at the most.  It's only about thirty according to my thermostat through my window."  She finished up the second omelette and got up, padding into the kitchen to search for more food.  "That's it, I've got to quit forgetting to eat."

"I can always make you another," Lupin offered.  She snorted and shook her head, grabbing a rubber band on her way to put her hair up before sitting down with her apple.  "You sure?"

"Yup.  When do I need to be ready?"

"Two."  He finished his meager breakfast and got up to make himself another.  "What are you wearing?"

"Something you've never seen me in," she said smugly.  "Real woman clothes."  She grinned at Jigen's snort of amusement.  "You think I don't have any?"

"For all I know, real women wear clothes like Fujiko."

"No, most of us *try* to stay inside our shirts," she said patiently.  "At least when we're not stripping for a living."  She got up to rummage in the closet beside the bathroom, coming back with a large zippered bag.  It went upstairs with her and her hair dryer.  After much noise she came down in a dressy suit and normal heels, plus a long red wig.  She turned, arms out, and Jigen's mouth fell open.  "I told you real women wear clothes that fit.  I didn't realize this was this loose."  She shrugged and sat down again, this time closer to Jigen.

"Maybe if you quit forgetting to eat, it wouldn't be so loose," Fujiko said smartly.  Lupin glared over at her, licking off his fork.  She gave him a look back.  "You, fix me some too."

"All you had to do was ask.  He's very helpful if you ask," Helena taunted.

"Helena, no picking on Fujiko or she'll steal that shirt," Lupin said patiently, smiling at her.

"You like her too?" Fujiko asked.  "Good girls do it for you suddenly, Lupin?"

"No," he scoffed.  "She's like my sister, Fujiko."

Helena looked back at her.  "Dear, I find that Lupin only has one problem, and that's his hands' mind of their own.  Why would I want someone like him?  Yes, he's brilliant, funny, and adorable when he wants to be.  Yet, he still feels the need to brag.  I don't like men who brag.  I get enough of that from work.  Experience does, that's why Goemon and Jigen don't have to brag.  Lupin obviously feels the need to fill in the silence and his too-high expectations for himself by bragging about how great he is.  Until such a time, he's a great cuddler.  He's wonderful when you're in pain.  But I'd never fuck the boy."  Jigen coughed so hard he had to bend over to catch his breath.  She stroked his back.  "Give me a smart, funny, sexy man any day who doesn't have to brag, and who feels the need and the desire to put my feelings first, and I'll have found my man.  Even if I do have to handcuff him to the bed and make sure no one else can have him, not even the law."

"Eww, you like Goemon?" Fujiko asked, looking disgusted.  "I think I'm going to be sick."

"Another great guy, but no," Helena said dryly.  "You *obviously* have underestimated the worth of the man beside me and how much he's done, he knows, and how good he is.  In *every* facet of life."   Fujiko's eyes went wide and she backed away from her.  "Now, do you want a first-hand testimonial about any of the above?  I can tell you how darling Lupin held me while I cried myself to sleep the other night over one of my better friends being killed and turned into mulch.  I can tell you how Jigen hasn't said a word to me about a great many things he could, and has the right to because I gave him that right.  Any man as understanding as these three should be hunted down and kept in the most silken of prisons so no other woman can steal them and so they never mind their captivity."  She stood up and headed up to her bedroom to check her hair, she could feel it slipping.

"Jigen, you sleeping with a cop is about as natural as Lupin sleeping with Pops," Fujiko said bitterly.

"You know, with as passionate as he is, it'd probably be one explosive night," Lupin mused, giving her a look.  "I told you to get to know the woman before you passed judgement.  Like I said, she's like my sister."

"I can find a growing attachment for her as well," Goemon offered, "but nothing further than a sisterly affection I believe.  Her cats like me more than they do anyone."

"Hey, Bernadette doesn't keep trying to get into your pants," Lupin taunted.

Goemon picked up a salt shaker and threw it at him.  "Hush, now, boy."  Lupin cackled.  "Helena, are you nearly done doing female things?" Goemon called.

Jigen looked up when he didn't hear anything, heading up to look in on her.  He found her in silent tears against her vanity and walked over to hold her.  "Shh.  She'll leave you alone," he whispered.  "She didn't mean to make you bring it back up."

"It's not that.  I just realized I talked about him in the past tense," she admitted, wiping off her cheeks. "I hate crying.  You didn't see me doing this."

"Of course I didn't," he agreed, stroking her back for her.  He heard a footstep on the stairs and glared at Fujiko, who scurried away, leaving the cat on the landing.  "Hey, Fozzy.  Bored with her already?"

"Tell him your mommy always wears a scarf with that and that's your toy with that outfit," she said, grabbing him to hold.  He struggled for a bit then settled in to let her hold him.  "Thanks, guys.  You guys are great."

"Anytime," Jigen agreed, giving her a gentle pat to the head.  He fixed the wig more firmly in place.  "You need more practice with those things."

"I only use them in a few sets," she admitted, standing up and carrying the cat downstairs.  She put him onto the couch and went to fix her makeup in the bathroom.

Lupin grabbed Fujiko's arm and walked her into the kitchen.  "Come help me," he said firmly.  She gave him a look.  "You'll leave her alone, Fujiko.  She doesn't need this.  Her own people want her dead because they know she could ruin them.  She's the one who shot Don Ignlia the other day."  She nodded, looking down.  "Thank you.  Do not pick on Jigen about her either.  It's a damn delicate situation."  He let her go and handed her a plate.  "Here, go eat."  He turned back to the stove and went back to making himself something to eat.  "Why is everyone stealing my breakfast?" he complained.

"Because you always make yourself the best one," Jigen told him, giving him a look.  "Why settle?"

"Then you should have stolen Helena's.  I made hers just as good as mine," he said, giving him a look back, a smug one.

"She don't need that yet, Lupin."

"I know."  Jigen walked in and Lupin gave him a pat on the arm.  "I know," he repeated, giving him a meaningful look.  "You're being more careful than Goemon with a priceless vase that his great-however-many-times grandmother may have spit into."  Jigen nodded.  "Good.  I approve.  Fully."  Jigen looked stunned.  "Like I noted earlier, I think of her like a little sister."  Jigen nodded, going back to the couch.  "Helena, are you still hungry?" he called once he was alone.

"No, I'm good, thanks," she called back.  She came out of the bathroom rubbing her nose.  "I hate doing that.  I breathe in loose powder and it goes up my nose."  She grabbed a tissue and blew her nose.  "Okay.  How much longer?"

"Another hour," Lupin soothed, coming over to brush away a spot of blush.  "You really did your makeup again?"

"I had to, it was messed up."  She shrugged. "What did you think I was doing?"  He grimaced and shook his head.  She picked up a pillow and hit him on the head with it.  "That's for thinking I'm some junkie.  I don't use hardly at all, thank you."  She went back up to her bedroom to sulk.

"Nice job, big brother," Fujiko said sarcastically.  "She uses?"

"She's used to test by someone," Jigen told her.  "She doesn't *use*.  Get back down here.  I can't tell what channel's which," he called.

"Channel fifteen is PBS," she called down.  "That box is funny, it's a cheaply created piece of crap I got on the streets."

"By any chance you don't know where I can get Gucci do you?" Fujiko called.

"Knock off?  All down Embassy Row," Helena said as she came to the top of the railing.  "Real?  Have you tried any of the boutiques in the richer section of town?  Sorry, can't tell you where, fashion isn't the main worry in my life most of the time."  She disappeared again.  "Do what most of our local rich people do for high fashion, go to New York or Miami," she called down.

"I've been there but this season's clothes were gross," Fujiko admitted.  She looked at Lupin and shrugged. "I need a better designer to steal from."

Helena tossed a catalog down the stairs.  "She's up and coming," she called.

"You could come down," Jigen called.

"Wouldn't want to infect you," she said bitterly.  A pillow flew down and nearly hit him as well.  "Besides, I'm changing the bed.  Someone put on fresh aftershave before using it."

"Sorry," Lupin called.

"You were in her bed?" Fujiko asked.

"She slept on the couch," Goemon said loyally.  He looked over as Bernadette came over to rub against him, reaching down to pet the poor thing.  "We should go brush you," he noted, picking up the cat, brush, and his sword to take them out onto the fire escape.

"Now I know I'm in the Twilight Zone," Fujiko said, giving the window a look of horror.  "Goemon doesn't like cats."

"He's making himself useful, it's appreciated," Lupin told her.

"Besides, he lets the cats meditate with him," Jigen agreed, sitting down again.  He glared at Lupin.  "Subtlety not in your dictionary anymore?"

"It slipped out," he sighed.  "I'm sorry, Helena.  I didn't mean to imply that."  Another pillow came down and he had to move really fast.  "Okay, you're pissed.  You can be pissed all you want.  You want to stay here?"

"No."  She came down the stairs, taking the pillows to toss back upstairs once she had them stripped clean.  "Why would I want to do that?  It'll be nice not to have people staring at my tits."  She walked around the end of the couch and turned on the tv, putting it back onto PBS.  "There," she said, handing it to Jigen.  "I usually flip and don't worry much about the station until I come to the God channel."  She walked out, heading down to check the mail.  When she came back, she found the apartment empty.  "You'll never make it," she called.  She grabbed her purse and wallet, heading out the door.  "Later, kids."  She went to the museum anyway, wandering around.  She noticed the guards watching her and brushed some hair off her cheek, then moved on further, checking out the pieces.  One of the guards came up to her and she smiled at him. "Yes?" she asked in a soft, quiet voice.  "Is something wrong? I thought the display was open already."

"It is," he agreed, looking her over. "Do I know you?"  She shook her head.  "You live here?"

She licked her lips before smiling.  "I do.  I live in the city and I work uptown, I'm an assistant manager to a research department."  She shrugged.  "We never get anything this pretty in the office. It's always fossils and plants."  She wrinkled her nose.  "I'd much prefer precious things than the old things."  She walked around him, giving him another sideways look as she passed him. "I guess this is an interesting job?"

"It has it's moments," he admitted, watching as more people came in.  Two of them stared at her and he frowned.  "Do you know them?"

She glanced over, then sighed.  "The big one's my boyfriend, nearly my ex," she shared quietly, leaning against his arm.  He shivered and looked down at her.  She was looking so pitiful.  "He's a jealous bastard sometimes.  Thinks I'm always going out on him when I don't.  I seriously don't get out of the office enough to do that and my coworkers might as well be eunuchs.  I like smart guys, but I want ones who like to do more than read, ya know?"  He nodded, going back to his spot, still watching her as she walked around.  She touched one case, smiling at the small portrait of the happy couple surrounded by diamonds and one emerald.  She moved on, ending up by the guard who was her target.  She smiled at him as she peered in the case next to him.  "Can you shift over please?  The light isn't allowing the jewels to glow properly.  I've heard the best stones glow with their own inner light when they're properly displayed and lit."  He shifted over slightly and she smiled at him.  "Thank you."  She leaned over and cooed, making him swallow.  "Oooh, that amethyst is really pretty.  See how it glows?"  He looked at it, then nodded, smiling at her.  "Thank you for letting me see them properly.  You and your coworker are such nice guys.  I was telling him it was nice to get out of the research department.  We never get pretty things, just nasty and old, dirty things.  I mean, how glamorous is a fossil?"

"Wouldn't that depend on what it was of?" the guard asked.

"They're normal ones.  They can be identified by anyone who ever went through the Natural History museum."  He nodded, understanding that.   "The closest we got to exciting was an oddly squished trilobite.  Not exactly what they promised me when I was hired, but it's a job.  At least you guys get exciting stuff."

"Yeah, but when it happens it's always better not to be there," he admitted.  He frowned when he saw the gun, pushing her into the cubby behind him. "Stay there."  He moved forward.  "Freeze!"  She screamed and he ducked, barely missing being shot.  "I said freeze!" he tried again.  One of the thieves knocked him down and the other guard was also punched until he went down.  He saw them looking at the young woman and groaned a 'no', but no one paid any attention to him.  One of them walked over and kissed her gently, then put her onto the floor and handcuffed her before leaving.

Lupin looked around.  "Wrap it up.  We'll be back some time later," he called, waving at the guards and their 'hostage'.  "Do behave and wait for us, dear.  You're very pretty."

"Yes, but men like you could never have me," she said stiffly.  "I only like smart men with hearts and well-padded pants."

He snickered and walked out, dragging Jigen with him.  He was still stunned from where he had kissed her. Lupin even got in to drive, knowing Jigen wasn't going to be able to.  "Feel better, Jigen?"

"Actually, I do," he admitted, sliding down to get comfortable.  "Drive already.  I can hear sirens."

"Going," he said, speeding off into traffic, causing a small wreck but nothing too serious.

When Helena was released, she fed the cops a line about being so scared and one of them had molested her lips, and why was this her life?  Maybe she'd go back to her safe research department to get away from the excitement.  It definitely wasn't all it was cracked up to be.  One of them drove her home and she kissed him on the cheek, comparing that and Jigen's kiss as she walked up the stairs.  The Super gave her a knowing look.  "What?  I like him.  He's nice.  He's sweet.  He didn't try to push me to do anything.  He even refused when I offered."  She shrugged.  "I've fallen hard for a thief."

"I guess it's to be expected with the way your life's running recently," he admitted. "You okay?"

"No, but I'll heal."  She walked into her house and locked the door, squeaking when she saw Jigen sitting on her couch.  "Aren't you supposed to be leaving town now?"

"Not until tomorrow.  I'll meet 'em in Hawaii."  He held out a hand and she rushed over, crawling into his lap for another kiss.  "Gently, Helena.  I don't want to hurt you."

"You can't hurt me, Jigen.  I know you can't."

He touched her lips.  "I hope you still feel that way when I have to leave."

"I'm realistic.  You'll come back some day."  She gave him another kiss then pushed off the wig.  "Help me out of the straight people clothes?"  He nodded, helping her up the stairs and onto the bed she had remade earlier.  He found the bruising and was very gentle with her, only touching the outside for now.  She was more than enough that way and she wasn't pushing him any.  It was...nice.

***

When Helena woke up, she was alone, which she expected, but she didn't expect the small package next to her head.  She pulled it closer and opened it, smiling at the small pendant.  Not the one she had been looking at but very pretty.  Next to it was a small microcassette.  She padded down to her recorder and rewound it, then played it, gaping in amazement.  "I can get free!" she cried, dancing around with it.  "Thank you, love!"  It was four thugs planning a birthday party and figuring out seating arrangements.  It perfectly set up how everyone was related.
 

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