***

The Next Year

***

Helena sighed in defeat when she saw who was walking toward her lunch spot, shifting so he could sit down.  "What?" she demanded.  "I've been back for four days.  You're already bothering me not to tell everyone?"  She ate a bite of her sandwich.

"No, they sent me to plead.  There's an open hole in the whole thing, Helena."  She glared at him.  "I'm sorry, Officer Nichols, but there is an open hole.  We have a loose player and we can't get him.  We know he likes you.  We also know that he wanted to offer you a job as a hitter."

"No way in hell," she said firmly.  "I was out there for nearly four years, alone.  The department ignored me, nearly got me killed a few times, and someone who knew the truth about my assignment arranged for my rape report to be hidden and destroyed.  For the first time in four years, I didn't sleep with my gun under my pillow last night.  It was an odd thing, but very nice.  I liked being able to sleep again.  Even if you could guarantee me a superhero as backup, I'm not going back there.  Send someone else, and you'd better pray you don't do to her what you did to me."

"We can't," he pleaded.  "He knows you.  It's Charlie.  He's wrecking hell in part of the city."

"Then do what I did, warn him off by shooting out his tires."

"See, you've already got the mindset," he offered.

She stood up, pushing the rest of her lunch into the nearest trash can.  "No.  If you try, I'm gonna mail my journal to the nearest press person.  It was bad enough I had to take something to block out those memories. I don't want them back.  I don't want to know why I'm dreaming about vines choking me.  I don't want to remember having to kill people to save my own ass.  Do it another way.  Wiretap him.  Fuck, bribe his latest mistress, because I'll never be her."  He nodded, looking crestfallen.  "You have no idea what I've been through," she spat.  "You have no right to look so fucking hurt.  I was a nice, innocent girl until these last four years.  I was a fucking cheerleader until then!  How dare you try to get me to go back and look hurt that I won't!" she screeched.

"Officer, control yourself," he snapped.

"Fuck controlling myself.  I'm going to sue the fucking department if you ever come near me again!"  She stomped off, going to check back in early and go back on patrol.  She didn't care that she was in one of the worst neighborhoods, it wasn't that unfamiliar to her now. She didn't care if most of the rest of the cops in the world died, she wasn't going back under.  There was no way.

Captain Prince walked over to the nearest payphone and dialed a familiar number. "I can't get her to agree, sir.  I'm sorry, but I feel really sorry for her.  She was a nice girl before this.  Her academy psych profile stated that they thought she might be too nice for the job.  She was admitted conditionally because of that.  Putting her back out there will ruin not only the department but also the city."  He swallowed at the threat.  "Then that's your fault. You're the one who let her be hurt, used, and abused."  He hung up and went back to his office, making sure he didn't touch his car before someone else started it.  He never thought about time delayed devices.  At least not until he blew up outside his house.

***

Helena walked into her precinct the next morning.  Everyone stopped to stare at her and she sighed.  "What?" she demanded.

"Two cops were blown up last night," the desk sergeant told her.

"While that's sad, I didn't do it," she told him, moving closer.  "I don't know a thing about explosives other than they go 'boom' really loudly."  Everyone frowned at her.  "What?" she demanded.  "I didn't have a damn thing to do with that!  I went home last night, then went to the gym, then went to a movie.  I have the stub, wanna see?  Or how about my incident reports from yesterday?  They're time stamped when I filed them."

Most of the cops walked off, shaking their heads and talking about her.  The Desk Sergeant looked down at her.  "IA said there's evidence you're involved," he noted.  "The Captain wants you."

"Good, I'll go right in there.  I didn't have a thing to do with it!"  She stomped that way and gave a sketchy salute.  "What's this shit that says I had something to do with that?"

"They found your hair."

"I doubt they found my hair, sir," she said, taking off her hat to show off her very short hair.  She ran a hand over her brush cut.  "I had it trimmed nearly a week ago."

He nodded, looking her over.  "What's this about?"

She kicked the door shut.  "Truth?"  He nodded.  "You know I was just undercover for nearly four years?"  He winced but nodded.  "Do you know anything about it?"

"Just that you took out a bunch of the middle level of the local mafia," he offered.

She waved at a chair and he nodded so she sat.  "Sir, with all due respect, the department fucked me over.  They sent me out there without even a check-in number most of the time.  They left me out there, only sending me orders like I was some puppet to them.  They had me working in strip clubs to gather information.  They had me attacked a few times by other officers because they thought it would be good for me when I said I wanted out.  They took me after six weeks on the street and sent me out there without any backup, any orders, and no help if I needed it.  And damn it, when I did need it, I got more help from the thugs than my own people," she said bitterly.  "I had to wound people to get another kid, a Fed, his proper respect after they killed him so badly you couldn't really identify him.  That was my job too since my number was in his wallet."  He sighed and shifted some.  "So no, Prince in IA came up to me yesterday and I laid it on the line.  I'm so damn close to suing the department for doing that to me that he's lucky he hasn't seen a lawyer yet.  When I was raped, he and his thugs destroyed the complaint and my kit.  When I was beaten twice, they ripped up one at the scene and the other was too convenient and was used to plea someone to make him roll over."

"You knew what you were in for," he pointed out.

"Who said I agreed?" she asked hotly.  "I got ordered, not asked, ordered to go out there and risk my ass for people who play games like this.  When the *detective* who raped me was found hanging from his ceiling a few weeks later, I knew exactly who had done it.  Charlie thinks I'm going to suddenly turn out to be his and he's quite possessive.  I was really happy he was gone so I wouldn't have to look at him any more.  No more having to stare at him and pretend to respect his authority."  She stood up.  "Let them prove it was me.  That may be my hair, but I can guarantee I didn't touch that bomb.  If they try to make shit up about me, then I'm releasing everything to the press.  I'm sending it so far up the line, the fucking President's going to hear from it."  He looked pissed.  She held out her hands.  "See this?  I used to be a nice, good girl.  I was a small-town cheerleader, even through the academy.  Even though my first six weeks of hell.  I was all the way up to two weeks into that hellish assignment when they told me to try and sleep with someone to get information and I pointed out that wasn't part of the eligible or legal evidence gathering."  He nodded.  "Now, if you want to suspend me, go right the hell ahead.  I could use a vacation.  I didn't get to have one after pretending for nearly four years.  As you can tell by my language.  I never swore until about two weeks into it."  She put her badge onto the desk and handed over her gun.  "There, I'm on suspension, that way you can't be bothered."  She stomped out.

"Nichols, I know you didn't do it," he called, mostly for show.  He picked up his phone and dialed IA.  "She has a point.  It can't be her recent hair.  Her hair's not even an inch long in some spots."  He listened. "That's nice.  Is it true?"  He sighed.  "Yes, I do want to know.  She's one of mine now."  He snorted.  "I doubt it.  She's looking suicidal at the moment."  He hung up and walked out to start the morning briefing.  "Let me start out by saying that Nichols had nothing to do with that.  She just proved it to me beyond any doubt I could have had," he announced.  "This is someone trying to frame her."  He opened his folder.  "Since she's put herself on suspension until this investigation is done, we're short people in the barrio.  Grimes, you're it today."  He groaned.  "If a little woman like her can do it, so can you," he said, glaring at him.

"Where did she spend the last four years?" he snorted.

"That's classified, Grimes, and if you start shit about her record, you can expect a visit in the middle of the night by people with special badges.  They said so."  He stared him down until he pipped down.  "Thank you.  As I said, Grimes, you're taking over her route.  Helen, take his, and Bridget, you're taking over hers."  They all nodded and wrote that down.

***

Helena had her gun pointing at the door when it opened.  "Do not let my cats out.  You'll regret being born."  The officer walked in and shut the door before her cats could come near him.  "Now, I believe it's time we had a talk."

"I think so too," he agreed.  "I'm here to give you orders and tell you I'm your contact."

"I don't care if you are, I'm not going back under.  I just got out of a four year assignment.  One they said would maybe take a few weeks when I tried to complain."  She tapped a manila folder next to her.  "This is a copy of what happened last time.  Two copies have been made and sent to reporters and another one went to some thugs I know.  I warned them and now I'm warning you.  I'm not going back down there.  Nor will I allow anyone else to be used that way."  He moved closer and she cocked the automatic pistol in her hand.  "Learn from your predecessors mistakes, read the file."

"I did," he admitted, pulling a chair over to sit in, a respectable distance from her.  "I read your reports that you handed in before you took the memory eraser, your service jacket, all of it.  That's why I volunteered to come with you this time.  You needed backup last time and you didn't get it."  She raised an eyebrow and the gun wavered a bit.  "I don't want you to go either, but there's no choice.  If we can do this quickly, it'll take a few days.  If we can't, then it may take another year."

"Another year?" she asked derisively.  "Year?"

"Year," he said bitterly.  "I don't like it any better than you do.  I'm going to be watching your back from a distance but you'll have my number.  You'll have my name, my home address, all of it.  What they did was wrong.  I hope you do sue the city so no other officers get hurt this way.  I hope like hell this gets massive media attention.   I don't want another officer to be used that way.  Nor do I want another one to die like the ones you worked with from the FBI.  This is a job for someone who grew up like them, not for someone like you or like me.  I grew up on the Strand."  She nodded, putting her gun down.  "I want what's best for both of us and the city, Officer Nichols.  I know all about how some thieves helped you with your assignments.  I know about your affair with one of them.  I hope I meet the guy who kept you sane some day, he's got to have some redeeming features."

"You're trying too hard," she noted, and the gun came back up.  "You sound like a used car salesman."

"I might," he agreed with a grin, "but my father sells Chevy's.  Can we try?"

"No.  I'm still not healed from my last bout of this.  I came out so fucked up I didn't even answer to my real name when it was called.  I don't want to get stuck, I don't want to go back.  Turn one of the girls in my old club, I'll tell you who to get even.  It can't be me though."

"If I could, I would, but the Feds are involved," he said bitterly.  "They won't accept it.  They've said it has to be you.  They're the ones who're trying to make sure it's you.  I'll be there with you, reminding you of who you are. All of it."

She shook her head.  "You don't understand.  If I go under again, I'm already lost.  I'll die.  Either by their hands or my own.  I'm not myself anymore.  I had no time to heal.  I had no time at all to deal with all that before being stuck back into a uniform.  It was nice, but I needed some time.  I haven't had it."

"I can give you two days," he offered.  She rolled her eyes and shook her head.  "Nichols, I know this is hard.  I can't even begin to understand.  If this was my sister, I'd be urging her to kill everyone who had ever put you down there.  I'd be handing her speed loaders to help her do it. If I had the choice.  I don't.  You don't.  They'll manufacture evidence against you if you don't.  They'll get me and both our siblings will suffer for it."

"My cousin's one of the assholes in IA anyway," she pointed out.  "I haven't seen her yet."

"I'm sorry.  No one deserves this."  He stood up and put the chair back. "I'll be back in two days.  You've got a meeting with Charlie.  We're pretty sure he's going to offer you a job.  I'll have a wire for you to wear and I'll be taping it for all it's worth.  I'm not leaving you alone."

"If I live that long," she said bitterly.  He nodded and let himself out.  She dropped her gun and held her head, holding back the tears.  Her cats came up to nuzzle her.  "Hey, Bern, Fozzy.  Can't you guys make them go away?  Or maybe we can just run away?"  She stroked their soft coats, soothing herself.  She found her small stash of formal stationary and pulled it out with a pen and some stamps.  Then she wrote out a carefully worded letter to Jigen, sending it to an address he had left with her pendant.  She got up and put it on, stroking it as she reread the letter, then sealed it and sent it off.  At least he'd know she wasn't being mean.  She sat down to get really drunk, not caring about much at the moment.  Her cats came over to sit around her, letting her pet them with fingers damp and sticky from condensation and spilled liquor.  Now she knew why her uncle said tequila was for serious drunks, not for casual drinking.

***

Lupin accepted the envelope from the messenger and tipped him, then closed the door in his face.  He looked at the address, then gave Jigen a look before tossing it to him.  "Tell me how she is."

"I left it to her in case something desperate happened," he admitted.  He had wanted her to write more often but she hadn't taken the hint.  All he had gotten so far was a thank you card for the pendant and the wonderful night they had spent together, with a hint that she'd love more.  He looked at it, frowning at the sloppy handwriting.  That wasn't the way the card had been.  He slit the top crease open, pulling out the light blue stationary.  He slowly started to frown as he read, then stood up, but Lupin was waiting for it and pushed him back down, taking the letter from him.  "I've got to go."

"No, she said for you not to come," Lupin pointed out, reading as he held Jigen down.  He grimaced.  "That is not right."

"No, it's not, and they'll gun her down where she stands once they find out where she is," he complained.

Lupin looked down at him.  "You can't go charging in like some knight.  You don't have the armor for it.  I want a second opinion."

"Got a handy expert on cops around?" Jigen sneered.  "If this was Fujiko, we'd already be on a plane."

"If it was Fujiko, she'd have blown them away by now," Lupin pointed out.  He reread the letter.  "Actually, we do have an expert on modern police tactics," he pointed out, looking at Jigen again.  "Pops."

Jigen frowned, then burst out laughing.  "Are we going to kidnap him now?"

"Yup, sure are," Lupin said happily.  "While we plan on doing a few other things.  Her instincts were right, but she didn't send the papers high enough up the chain."   He stared down Jigen.  "She's a strong girl, she can last long enough for us to sneak in and steal her.  She said she's got backup this time."

"Which means he's either an assassin or a dirty cop," Jigen pointed out.

"Or they're going to do the same thing to him."  Jigen grimaced and unclenched his hands on the arms of the chair.  "Now, where was Pops this week?"

"That convention in New York," Jigen noted.  "At least we'll be closer."

"We will, and we'll also be able to sneak into the reporter's offices and move them to a higher officer of the pen."  He grinned.  "Call Goemon.  We'll leave tonight.  We'll find you some damn armor before you go in.  She wrote this a week ago."

"She wrote it two weeks ago, Lupin.  Read the date," he said, going to pack and call Goemon.

Lupin reread the date, then sighed.  "Modern postal services are supposed to work faster than the old Pony Express," he complained, going to pack his own bag.

***

Zenigata woke up tied to a chair, facing a staring Jigen.  "You kidnaped me now?" he sneered.  "What?  Am I suddenly priceless?"

"Not totally, but we consider you a treasure at least," Lupin told him.  Zenigata growled at him.  "Calm down, Pops, we need some second opinioning.  Jigen's got a friend in trouble in Chicago and the setup sounds bad to us, but she's not exactly our sort of folk."

"Another sort of dirty crook?" he sneered.

"No, she's an undercover cop," Jigen said quietly.  "Her department sent her out the first time without backup, no contact except an occasional phone call or beep, and had her hung out like that for nearly four years."  The ICPO officer's mouth fell open.  "She helped us, we were causing her nemesis a lot of problems."

Zenigata groaned.  "That can't be.  Departments don't do that to their officers."

"Unfortunately Chicago is," Lupin pointed out.  He nodded at the file in Zenigata's lap.  "That's a copy of her duty log.  Your hands are untied just enough to read it and the letter in the back that she just sent.  Something seems really wrong to us.  We want to help her, but she pleaded for us not to because it'd get us killed."

Zenigata flipped open the file, reading the typed report slowly.  "Why put it in diary or journal format?  Why not report format?"

"Because the Feds wanted to use it but they said they couldn't claim her as a reliable and credible witness since she took something to erase her memories," Jigen told him.  He stamped out a stub of a cigarette and lit another one.  "Later on, you'll see how they hung one of their own out to dry."

"I moved his papers too," Lupin promised.  "Miss Walters is in for some very interesting reading, as is Mr. Cronkite, or Mr. Rather if he passes it on."  He pulled a chair over.  "Can't you read faster?"  The page turned.  "She's a damn good cop, Zenigata.  She managed to bust most everything wide open and stay as straight as she could. She's about twenty-five now."

Zenigata started to skip parts when they started to repeat, scenes from the strip club and intelligence that should have been passed on.  "Can I have this?"

"Sure.  We made our own copy," Lupin agreed.  "But you can't keep the letter, that's the original."

Zenigata flipped back and read it, then moved back halfway through and started to read again, going past a few more accounts of information learned in the clubs, and of dealers and users passed on for arrest.  He looked up.  "She's being used."

"We know that.  Keep going," Jigen suggested.  "It gets worse."

"Damn."  He kept going, going faster now.  This was wrong.  It was so wrong.  He came to the end and reread the letter.  "They're going to kill her contact too," he announced.  "She's been hung out to dry.  Did she threaten to sue?"  They both nodded. "They're scared of her."  He closed it, handing back the letter.  "They're damn scared of her, so they're wringing whatever's left out of her."

"Thing is, the new head of Chicago's families called her in for a meeting.  He's suggested she's to be a hitter now," Lupin told him.  Zenigata shook his head.  "No?"

"No, if she does, they'll never accept her back."

"Pops, you said yourself, they're trying to kill her.  They were trying to frame her, that's how they got her back out."

"I read.  She's not a detective?"  They both shook their heads.  "I wish we could take her from them but we can't.  I don't know what I can tell you.  I know her contact, I met him a few conventions ago.  He's an instinctive person.  I'll be sorry to see him dead."

"I'll be sorry to see 'em both dead," Jigen said, standing up.  "I'm heading out."

"Wait for me," Lupin requested.  "We've got a morning flight.  We can be there by ten."  Jigen gave him a look.  "Seriously."  He looked at the cop again.  "If you spread this around, would it help her?"  Zenigata shook his head.  "They'll stigmatize her?"

"Yup.  If her department's screwing her over, the fault would be hers.  Most of them are still very male oriented and ordered.  They'll make up shit if they have to."

"Fine.  Then please don't.  You could save the life of a very good cop," Lupin told him.  Zenigata sighed and nodded.  "Thanks.  The knot's beside your left elbow.  If you wiggle right, you can get it around, or you can wait for the maid."  He handed over the letter and followed Jigen out, heading to see if they could get an earlier flight out of New York.  There were cops from all over the US in town and it was making them feel a bit paranoid.

"No cop deserves that," Zenigata rationalized as he tried to get himself free.  "Not even dirty ones.  Not even ones who're forced to go dirty to survive. Not even drug using, drunkards who are on the take deserve that sort of treatment.  Besides, if Lupin said she's a good cop, then she's got to be something else entirely.  He's never said that about me."  He finally got the knot moved so he could fiddle with it and it did indeed come undone quickly.  He went to find a drink so he wouldn't have to remember that. That was bad, very, very bad.

***

Helena looked up as her doorbell rang, frowning as her cats went running.  "Is it the fish guy again?" she asked them.  Someone pounded and they purred.  "Oh, it's them."  She opened the door, frowning at them as she stood in the doorway.  "You're risking your life," she said in greeting.

Lupin picked her up and moved her.  "We know.  That's why we came."

"We like living dangerously," Jigen agreed as he walked in and let Goemon pet the cats and close the door.  "Are you okay?"  She shook her head.  "No?"

"No, they got Steve last night," she told him.  "In front of his kids in the park."  Jigen's mouth fell open.  "I got to tell his wife why.  They weren't going to.  Now she's on a rip against the Chief and I don't blame her.  I hope like hell she kills him."  She hiccuped and went into the kitchen to get some water.  "Sorry."

"It's all right," Lupin assured her.  He looked her over, noticing the new bruises.  "What happened?"

She turned to lean against the counter, giving him a long look. "My wonderful target decided I was to be the one to test the majority of the shipment," she said coolly.  "So he tied me down, mixed a sample, and stuck it into my arm."  She showed off the large bruise.  "I'm on day five of trying to calm down.  I'm just really thankful it was a clean needle."

Jigen walked in and tipped her chin up.  "We want to help."

"I know, and you're going to get killed.  Charlie's watching my ass, Jigen.  He still wants you dead.  There are days when I'm not so sure he didn't plan this to get you.  Then again, I could be a bit paranoid."

He nodded and kissed her gently, making her go limp against him.  "I'm still here.  You need us."

"And you still have a life," she said into his chest.  "You can't stay here and baby me for the year they think it'll take."

"Year?" Jigen asked.

"Year."  She pulled back, already nodding.  "Year.  It's been about three weeks.  I've already been offered a freelance job."

"How long did they say it could take, bottom estimate?" Lupin asked.

"Few weeks," she snorted, picking up her glass and drinking it down.  "Sorry, but heroin always makes me thirsty when I come down."  She went to curl up on the couch, looking around this bigger apartment.  "Guys, this was a really bad idea.  Charlie will use me as bait to get Jigen."

"He won't kill me," Jigen told her, coming closer.

"Really?  Then why is there a sniper on the next building?"  She waved at him and he disappeared again.  "Looks like it's Mickey."  She finished her water and put the glass down.  "Jigen, I don't want you to die.  I want you to go on and make much money stealing pretty things and do it happily forever more.  I want like hell for you to find an immortality well and use it on all of you, by force if necessary.  I'm not letting anyone else die because of me."

"We won't die," Goemon assured her, staring her down.  "We have seen many people who are worse than these.  We can help if you let us."

"If I let you, then it'll definitely get you killed," she said with a touch of hysterics.  "I don't want that!  I've already seen too damn many people do that!  In front of me, around me, and because of me!"  She took a few deep breaths.  "Guys, I don't want you to die over this or me.  I can come out the other side if I play it exactly right.  It's like running a maze.  I only have one target and it's a bitch to get.  I've already been ordered to sleep with him and I refused.  I've been ordered to take him out and I haven't refused yet.  It's a last option, but I can do that if I have to.  I'm not going to die, but I won't let you die either.  Now go before that stupid assassin comes back."

"We have dealt with them before," Lupin pointed out.

"Out," Jigen ordered.  He stayed, looking down at her.  "We would stick up for you."

"And that's why I love you, Jigen, but I can't stand to see you die because of me.  You've got a great future ahead of you and I want you to remember me if something happens.  If not, feel free to come back when it's safe.  I'd like that too."  She gave him a hug then went to cry in the bathroom while he left.

He walked out and closed the door behind himself, heading down to the car.  "She's adamant."

"Of course she is.  She's panicking," Goemon pointed out gently.  Lupin nodded and started the engine.  "We should honor her wishes but keep an ear out for her.  She is in far over her head and barely treading water."

"She's already sinking," Jigen said bitterly, getting into his usual spot.  "Let's go."  Lupin drove them off, taking them back to the airport.  "Where's the next caper?"

"I was thinking Brazil again but you know how bad the last one went," Lupin said dryly.  "Or we can take a few weeks off and go soak and sunbathe."

"Work, then fun," Jigen said firmly.  "You can tit-watch down there."

"Good.  Then want to stop in Haiti first?" Lupin suggested.

"Sure, why not," Jigen said, refusing to glance back.  He was already miserable, that would only make it worse.  She had been different and he didn't want her to leave his life.  He liked her, kinks in her personality and all, but if she was that determined to die he had to let her.

Lupin nudged him as they paused for a red light.  "She'll be fine, Jigen.  We'll still be watching."

"Yeah, I hope so," he admitted.  He'd be holding her to her promise to let him visit if she came out of this alive.

***

Goemon snuck up the fire escape, wanting to check across the road before he went to drop the note in her apartment.  He found a gasping and badly injured man with a gun beside him, and a dart in his stomach.  "Who are you?" he asked as he checked him over.

"Mickey.  I shot Nichols," he gasped.  "Charlie said so."  He gasped again.

Goemon pulled out his cellphone and used it to call the man an ambulance and some cops, then glanced across the street.  He couldn't see anything with the sun glaring on the windows so he pulled up the little monitor he had stolen off Lupin.  He looked at the small color picture, frowning when he saw something red....  He hurried down and across the street to break in on her.  He found the red puddle, and her, and one of her cats.  The other was crying pitifully in the kitchen to get him.  He picked up Fozzy and opened a tin of food, going over to check her then the cat.  She was still living.  He called for a special ambulance from a special hospital, then took a picture.  Once the ambulance crew arrived, he picked up the poor cat and the living one, taking them with him.  They did not deserve this.  He deposited Bernadette with a local Vet he knew she used because they recognized the cat.  Then he went to the special private hospital.

***

Lupin answered the phone.  "Yeah?" he said smartly, putting on the speaker. "Goemon, where in hell are you?"

"I'm at the hospital," he said quietly.  "Bernadette is dead."

"Her cat?"  Lupin looked up and cleared his throat.  "Jigen!"  He stared at the phone again. "I'm assuming it's worse than that if you're actually paying roaming charges."

"I have a satellite phone," Goemon admitted.  "The world is my home area."

Jigen stuck his head in.  "Is that Goemon?"

"Yeah.  He said Bernadette's dead."

"Damn.  She's got to be torn up."

"No, the surgeons fixed the hole very nicely," Goemon said through the speaker.  "Upper chest, just touched her left lung.  The assassin was on the other rooftop and dying as well.  He said Charlie wanted it done and wanted her to suffer, that's why he killed the assassin."

"Hopefully you helped him on his way?" Jigen asked.

"No, I left him living so he could admit what he had done and hopefully help her more," he admitted.  "He was killed at the hospital by one of Charlie's men.  I have her at St. Sylviinae's."  He said something to someone just out of range of the microphone on his end, then he came back.  "The nurse said she'll make a full recovery, though she will need some time to recuperate.   She shouldn't lose any feeling, even though the bullet was next to her spinal cord when they finally got her into surgery.  Apparently she had lain there for nearly two days.  Bernadette died of heart failure according to her Vet.  She was buried earlier today."

"Thanks, Goemon," Jigen said.  "Want help?"

"No, I believe the man is already praying for mercy," he admitted a bit smugly.  "Something about ghosts of his ancestors coming back to kill him I believe."  He hung up.

Jigen looked at Lupin.  "You wouldn't let me kidnap her," he said calmly.  "Now you see why I was so insistent?"

"I do, and I did then, Jigen, but she wanted you safe."

"I don't care if I'm safe!" he shouted.  "She needs that, not me!"

"And she'll have it if we help her," Lupin pointed out.  "There's already an investigation going on.  Her cousin's in Internal Affairs now.  She'll help her too."

"No, she won't.  Her file's been removed again, smart ass.  She might not even know where she is.  She might think she left the force completely."

"Her father would tell her differently," Lupin argued.

"If he can.  He can't without jeopardizing her more."

Lupin groaned.  "Fine.  You're right.  Goemon has it for the moment.  We'll go do jobs nearby in case we have to run back.  Do you still want to do Brazil?"

"Can we do Texas before Brazil?"

"Sure," Lupin agreed.  His phone rang so he answered it.  "Yes?" he asked impatiently.  "No, banging my head on the wall of Chicago again."  He looked up and handed Jigen the phone.  Then he walked away.

"You know very well you'd react the same way.  If we were both in danger, you'd send me away first."

"I'd probably give you up," Jigen told her.

"Jigen," she sighed. "You thick headed jackass.  Think about it.  If Lupin and I were in a situation were we'd definitely die, wouldn't he send me away first?  Or at least try to save me?"  Jigen grunted.  "She's doing the same thing.   She apparently cares for you, I don't know why but she does.  So help the woman.  Quit sulking and go steal her something."

"She's been shot," he said bitterly.  "She's in the hospital with Goemon."

"No one said you have to stay there," she pointed out.  "Though she'll probably yell at you again.  Take the woman and force her to go heal somewhere pretty and nice.  Maybe a few cute beach guys so she knows what real men are like."

He hung up and walked out, going to do just that.  She needed a vacation anyway.  If her nurses or Goemon objected, well, he still had his gun.  Didn't he?

***

Helena woke up on a beach and looked around, frowning when she saw the body napping beside her.  "Hotel rooms filled?" she taunted.

He woke up and glanced at her.  "No, you're too pale and look like the walking dead."  He handed over his book.  "Here, it's not my sort anyway."

She smiled as she read the back cover.  "Thanks, sweetie."  She blew a kiss.  "I take it this isn't heaven and I haven't been that good of a girl?"

"If it were, we'd both be in trouble," he said dryly, touching her hand.  "I blatantly kidnaped you from Goemon.  He's watching Fozzy for you."  She whimpered, giving him a desperate look.  "Bernadette died of heart failure because you were hurt," he said gently.

"I'll kill him," she spat.

"Too late," he said before she could struggle to stand up.  "Apparently his great- grandfather looked like Goemon and he was quite scared of him before he died.  You know he loves your cats."

She settled in again.  "Then I'm really done?"  He nodded.  "Truly done?"

"Truly done and Lupin's going to threaten the city for you again."

"He needs to threaten the Feds.  They were running this part of the show.  They're all dirty, but they're all connected."  He nodded.  "He can really get me free?"

"He can really get you free," he repeated, tapping her on the hand again.  "Calm down, you were shot."  He pulled his umbrella over to adjust for the new angle of the sun.  "Read, you'll like that one.  I got it for you."

She kissed him on the cheek.  "Thank you, Jigen.  I knew you'd understand."

"I had to have it explained in simplistic terms but I did," he admitted.  "Still sucked though."

"Yeah, but I can't lose you."

"I know, which is why it sucks more that you've only got me for another week, then we're heading for a job in South America."  He shrugged at her pout.  "I tried, but Lupin said it'd move after then."

"Damn it.  Can't those people learn to settle down and stay in one place like normal people?"

"Apparently not," he agreed, smirking at her.  "Relax.  You've got me for a week."

"And I'm too sore and injured to do much with you but beg politely for cuddles and forgiveness."

"You've got both without pleading," he pointed out, taking her hand to squeeze.  She kept it and leaned closer, going into the book.   He eventually removed his hand.  "Guys my age don't do mushy stuff in public," he said gruffly.

She grinned and blew a kiss.  "If I wasn't so sore, I'd go find a bikini and give you cute looks until you got jealous and made me cover things up."

"Too late," he grunted, watching her read.  She eventually moved her chair closer to his and snuggled against his side.  "I remember my first wound," he said, trying to find something to talk about.  "I thought I was gonna die and it was only a graze."

"I had one of those in my first six weeks on the force," she admitted.   He flinched.  "Those of us who worked the barrio neighborhoods got an early education.  I saw more wife beaters there than I have any other place.  Fortunately a new priest moved in and started on the men shortly after I got there.  They'd been without and there had been some massive drunken celebrations.  Which of course got out of hand."

"Bad ones?"

"Some minor slapping, two or three bad ones.  One of them earned me standing on his back after I pulled him off his wife.  Then again, he was Anglo, just poorer.  The barrios I did my patrol through were fairly integrated really.  They had a lot more poor folk than any ethnicity.  They just called it the barrio because it's where they first settled."  She looked around.  "Mexico?"

"Jamaica."

"Wow."  She grinned at him.  "Ever find a fast healing sort of drug?"

"Nope, not yet," he said grimly.  "Otherwise you'd have already had it poured down your throat."  He held in what Goemon had told him, that he was frantic and panicking.  He knew he wasn't, even though Lupin had backed up Goemon that time.  "You'll get to see the other two our last day here.  Then you'll stay for an extra week before heading home."  She nodded, stroking up and down his arm.  "You like it?"

"I do," she agreed, smiling at him.  "Thank you for stealing me a good book."  She rested her head on his shoulder and went back to her book.  "Do I have on suntan oil?"

"SPF 50 or whatever it was," he agreed, settling in to nap in the shade while she got some badly needed sun.  A tan in his job just wasn't right.  His hat got tipped lower over his face so she wouldn't be able to watch him watch her.  She was so lively!

Helena found a note tucked into her book and grinned, doing what it said by kissing Jigen soundly.  "Lupin said so," she offered when she noticed his shock, handing over the note.  "How does he do that?"

"I don't know since he's supposed to be in Maui this week."  He read it, then lit it on fire with his latest cigarette.  "So much for privacy."

"Maybe he's just spying from afar?  He paid someone to slip the note into the book?"

"He better have," Jigen grumped.  "I never get a vacation from the monkey-faced idiot."  His pager went off but he ignored it in the finest fashion.  Let him be upset.  It went off again and he glanced at it, seeing the 911 code.  He looked at the number, then grimaced.  "Fine, I'll call him," he agreed, going to use the nearest phone, one of the resort's waiters had to have one.

Helena watched him go, tipping her head to the side so she could watch his butt better.  "Hmm.  Have to get stronger," she told herself, wincing as she moved.  "I want some of that again."

A man walked toward her.  "Helena Nichols?" he asked.

"No, that is not my name," she said firmly.  "Why?"  She went back to her book, ignoring his presence.  Jigen would shoo him away for her if he stayed to annoy her.

"Officer Nichols, I'm Agent Redream," he said, smiling hopefully down at her.  "Can I talk to you?"

"Only if I can shoot you afterwards as a message to your bosses," she said bitterly.  "I'm recovering from a gunshot wound.  You have nothing you can offer except to put me back into my real job and leaving me the hell alone and never doing this to another human being again."

"Great things are changing within the FBI, officer.  I only want to talk," he requested, looking a bit hurt.

She frowned up at him.  "You guys helped leave me hanging out to dry.  I want all your wallets in front of me on a table so I can pull out the big bills."

"I understand, officer, but we've got a more pressing problem.  Your elimination of Charlie Tetrovani has netted some attention from some South American people of the same sort.  We would desperately love to find them and put them into cells."

She shook her head.  "Nope, sorry.  I'm retired from going undercover.  I've already lost my cat."

"Your, um, cat?" he asked.

"My, um, cat," she agreed, glaring at him.  "He worried himself to death as I lay bleeding on the floor of my apartment."  She looked over as Jigen came back.  "This nice Federal person wants me to go fight the cartels now, dear."

"Fuck off," Jigen told him.  "She barely survived this one.  She's retiring to be something else."

"I can't be a cop?"

He looked down at her. "It'd make it really inconvenient if you tried to arrest me each time I came to see you," he noted dryly.

"Oh, I don't know, I hear handcuffs can be fun," she teased.  "You know I'd let you go."

He snorted.  "Think of the free time, Helena.  All the time without the worry, the stress, or the attitude problems from the family people."  He sat down next to her, glaring up at the agent.  "Go away."

"Fine.  We'll talk to her once you're off again."

"What makes you think we won't take her with us?  She is healing from a gunshot wound."

"I doubt she wants to be on the run, Jigen Diasuke."

"Sure as hell beats being undercover," Helena noted.  "Any and every time."  She went back to reading, leaning on Jigen's arm again.  "You're blocking my sun and I'm under orders to get some and some rest.  I can't do that with you lurking there."

"We only want to talk."

"You did, I said no.  Learn that word, it's an important one," she said facetiously.  Then she glared at him.  "Go away."

"Yes, officer, we'll talk some other time."

"Like any good queen, you'll have to make an appointment," Jigen told him.  He sighed as he walked off, slumped down a little bit.  "Her cat does that better," he called.

"I didn't realize I was a drag queen, Jigen."

"I meant the other sort, but if you want to be a drag queen go right ahead.  Just don't start the hormones, okay?"

"Sure thing.  I won't take testosterone to bulk myself up."  She grinned at him.  "Anything else I should know about?"

"Lupin didn't send that.  That was a blank number."

"Wonderful.  I'm sensing the hand of conspiracy."  She snuggled in harder, making him grunt, so she eased up on his chest and just concentrated on getting comfortable.  "What would I do if I didn't become a cop?"

"Sue them all and live off the interest?"

"Then I'd have to worry about your boss coming to paw through my closet and try on my clothes again," she said dryly.  He burst out in loud giggles, shaking his head.  "Really, I think he does.  He's always playing with my clothes."

"He'd look horrible in most of your clothes.  He doesn't have the body for them."

"True, but they do make padding and surgeries for that," she pointed out.

"Lupin would die if you told him that.  I want to see the look on his face.  Please?"

"Sure."  She beamed at him.  "You bring out my naughty side."

"Glad I could be of service, ma'am," he said, tipping his hat to her.

"You know, we should celebrate me not having to dance anymore.  No more too-high heels, no more shiny poles.  No more slimy men trying to touch me.  No more slimy mafia guys trying to touch me and the treaty on the club not allowing me to shoot them."

He patted her gently.  "We can do that, but you can't drink because of your pain killers."

"I have pain killers?"  He nodded.  "Decent, thank you."  She gave him a gentle kiss.  "For things like that, I should bear you an heir some decade."

"Talk like that scares me," he said weakly.

"Scares me too, I hate kids," she said with a grin.  "Hence the 'some decade' part."  She pinched him on the nipple then went back to reading.  "I'm getting to the murder."

"Tell me if the butler did it."

She flipped to the back, then shook her head.  "No, a character we haven't met yet did it."  He gave her a look.  "I'm more interested in how they got there, not who did it.  It's the investigator in me.  Sorry, dear."

"Not a problem. I knew you were a cop when we met you."

***

Lupin strolled up to where the twosome was sitting on the sand, smirking at them.  "Someone forgot to pick us up," he taunted.

"Someone knew you could drive your own damn self," Jigen retorted.  "I'm being her pillow, it's more important than you having to rent a car."  He nodded down the beach.  "They're waiting for us to leave.  They're like vultures.  They want her to do the cartels now."

"Fuck no," Lupin said firmly, glaring at the agent so hard the other man flinched and moved back some.

"We should put her somewhere safer for a bit," Goemon suggested.

"They tracked her down here and we haven't used her name yet," Jigen pointed out. "That first day on the beach."  Lupin stomped over there but Goemon grabbed him and stopped him.  "No, let him go.  I wanna see that guy be lunchmeat for a shark."

"He won't be in big enough pieces," Lupin said darkly.  The man ran away and he snorted in superiority.  "Okay, are we still on for Brazil?"

"Going after the pretty costumes?" Helena asked as she blinked up at him.  She grinned, then kicked sand at him.  "Meanie.  Hiding notes in my book.  You embarrassed him."

"I think that was the discussion on handcuffs," Jigen corrected.

Lupin snickered.  "At least she does liven things up."  He leaned down, giving her a hug.  "I'm glad you lived."

"Me too.  Did you get to threaten anyone good?"

"I did," he reported, sitting on her other side. "I threatened a great number of people and they all got quite upset on your behalf, but they all thought there wasn't anything they could do about it."  He looked over her injury, carefully lifting up a corner of the tape.  "That's looking much nicer," he noted.  "Good job, Jigen."

"Gee, dad, I do know a bit about gunshot wounds," he said.  "Get off her."

She kissed Lupin on the cheek.  "He's just sucking up to me so he can come play in my closet again and try on my clothes."  Lupin grinned at her.  "Jigen said you don't have the body for it, but I reminded him there was all sorts of padding for skinny, bony little guys like you or surgery is always an option."

"He'd make an ugly woman," Goemon noted, handing over something from inside his kimono.  "Here.  He has been quite good."

"Goemon spoiled him with real fish for dinner last night," Lupin agreed.  He pinched her.  "I'll have you know I looked good in that blue number once I got the padding in."

Jigen looked over at him.  "Lupin, you'd only go for it so you had tits to play with all the time."  He petted the cat.  "Hey, Fozzy.  Have fun in Hawaii?"

The cat gave him a contented look as he settled into his mistress' lap.  This was the life!

Helena looked at Lupin and grinned brightly.  "Think about what Fujiko would say if you could pull it off and approach her."

Lupin burst out laughing, rolling around on the sand.  The other two laughed and hugged her.

***

Helena looked up as that nasty agent man walked up to where she was sitting again.  It'd been four days at least, so he was giving her a chance to rest before killing him.  That was nice of him.  "What?"

He sat beside her, taking her book from her.  "Your boyfriend and his friends were just captured in Peru.  They were taken by a bunch of cops who are on the take from the local lord.  They're in deep shit, but he hasn't decided what to do about them yet."

"And you want me to do what?  I'm still recovering from a gunshot wound!" she said angrily.  Why taunt her like this!

"I know this, I also know that you could probably still pull off the rescue if you had certain things.  If you could scratch my back some, I'll gladly scratch yours.  I can get you down there with weapons.  I can get you down there to save them before he has them executed, if you'll take him out one way or another.  This man routinely tortures people.  He lets his men rape in the villages to help support the population with new bloodlines - or that's his reasoning to his men.  We have him under surveillance but nothing has come up yet that we can use here in the US.  The locals can't or won't take him on.  He's recently started on an orphanage as well."  She slumped, waving a hand.  "Like I said, I can help you.  I can even let them escort you back to Chicago after getting free.  We're willing to give you a hell of a lot if you'll come help us."

"I'm damn tired," she told him.

"We know, Officer Nichols, we know very well how tired and angry and weak you are.  We were aware of it when you were shot.  Some of us are trying to get you free.  I can't guarantee you'll stay free after the elections.  I also can't guarantee that you'll want to.  Bad things are happening and there's very few people who can help stop them.  You're one of the very few in Chicago."  He gave her a hopeless look.  "We're going to be watching over you.  The people who put Freddy out there have been eliminated.  You'll have direct contact with one of us, but still be on your own.  We've set it up as you're becoming a freelance.  We won't even say much if you continue your habit as long as you bust the dealers."

"I don't have a habit, I was used as a tester.  Two weeks ago I was kidnaped and tied to a chair so someone could use me as a test bunny."  She looked down at her cat, who was glaring at the man.  Then she looked at him.  She could hear Jigen yelling at her, and Lupin yelling at her.  The little Goemon in her head was just shaking his head and giving her his impatient 'dumb ass' look.  "How long?"

"We're hoping it's a short war on drugs but I can't guarantee it'll be that short.  I can't promise but your effectiveness would fall as soon as you hit thirty anyway."

"That's five years," she noted.

"We wouldn't restrict your movements.  We'd make it so you'd absolutely be back on the force when you're done.  We'd also make sure they made you a detective.  You've solved more cases than most of them already.  We'd give you a bigger wardrobe budget, a nicer apartment with more than one bedroom so they wouldn't all have to sleep with you if you didn't want, and a shopping budget for weapons.  You'd stay inside Chicago for the most part but I think you'd have to do some trouble elsewhere.  Since you're freelance you could also join your boyfriend for odd things now and then."

"He's going to kill me if I do this for you."

"He'll be dead if you don't so it won't matter."

"I think he'd almost rather be dead."

"I'm sure he would, but what about you?"  She sniffed. Then she stiffened and nodded.  "Thank you.  If you'll give me your cat, I'll have your other apartment moved."

"I like my other apartment."

"I know you do, Helena, but image is everything.  You'll be getting a wonderful apartment uptown this time.  Big living room, real kitchen, washer and dryer hookups, three bedrooms, one loft."

"Make sure Fozzy gets there," she said firmly.  "To some of us, our cats are our kids."  He nodded, accepting the cat.  "I'm sorry, Fozzy, but Goemon needs me and he's the only one who can help me save the guys we both like."  She got up and dusted off, grabbing her book and sunglasses.  "Now what?  Last time they just told me to go.  Oh, and shopping budget?  How massive?  My other was out of my pay."

"Three grand each year?"

She snorted.  "Yeah, that'll be helpful.  Car?"

"Motorcycle," he said, smiling at her as he walked beside her.  "It'll fit the image better.  Have Jigen teach you."

"I have no doubt he's going to take one look at me and then cuss me out and say he's never coming near me again.  I'll need stuff, like plans and a weapon."

"I've got everything you'll need back in my room.  Including a new passport for you.   I'm the person who makes covers within the Bureau.  You'll find I'm very good at it."

"So I won't be reporting to you?"

"No, but I'll be introducing you to him as soon as we get back.  He's the one who brought me the news and he said you'll never like him.  He's a bit political but he's good enough at his job."

She nodded and let him lead her up to his room.  She could always break their necks if it didn't come through exactly like that.  "I get to save them first?"

"You're no good to us with that injury," a sharp voiced man said from inside the room as the door opened.  "Helena.  I'm Michael Ronski, head over the undercover people."  He shook her hand. "I know this will be hard, but we'll figure it out.  All right?"  She nodded and he looked her over.  "You look strong enough for this."

"I'm not but I'm going to go save him, even if I have to kick your asses and steal from you."

"Good."  He smirked. "You're feisty, you'll live longer."

She snorted.  "Fat lot you know, I've already been hung out there for four years.  You've got one hell of a job to make me trust you."

He sighed and nodded.  "I know.  I got your file and your logs.  That memory thing impeded your skills?"  She shook her head. "Good.  I do know what they've done.  I got *your* logs."  She nodded.  "You kept a copy?"

"Not where anyone can find it."

"Good.  It shows planning.  Hang Chicago out to dry after this, they were most eager to tell us where you went and give us your files. It seems you're am embarrassment to them."

"Of course I am.  Now, time's wasting."

"Fine.  I do understand."  He tapped a file.  "This is the map you'll need and the plans for the building.  I had someone note where to put the C-4 for your benefit since it wasn't noted whether or not you have explosives training?"  She shook her head.  "That's fine, I'm sure you'll be picking some up soon enough.  In there is also the place where you'll be going to get the jeep you'll drive back to Chicago.  Inside it is all the things you'll need for the rescue.  Also, some passports and cash.  In this file is also the picture of the man who you'll need to get rid of.  We've arranged a special flight for you down there.  We'll be shifting your apartment over this week while you're gone.  We don't care if you do him first or last, just do him."

"You want me to kill him?"

"Yes we do," he said firmly.  "There's no way we can get him onto US soil and he's too evil to let alone down there.  Plus it'll destabilize his network and we'll be able to break it up easier.  Got it?"  She nodded, sighing in defeat.  "I know you haven't had to kill in cold blood before but this time you're saving a lot of people a lot of misery."

"And you'll do what?  Put one of the cartel lords that we like in there?"

He laughed.  "Probably true, but that's the CIA's job, not mine.  Mine is to make the world a safer place for everyone, just like yours is.  Think about it like that.  You're taking out a rapist and a serial killer of children."

"Fine."  She took the folder and went to pack her bag, finding a box on her bed.  She opened it and smiled at the outfit.  Perfectly practical, yet very pleasing.  She showered then put on the tight jeans, t-shirt, boots, and leather motorcycle jacket.  The weapon in the bottom was new to her but also very nice.  It was easily concealed under the jacket and her things quickly packed since Jigen didn't bring much with them.  She walked out, taking the folder to read on the flight and met Michael in the lobby.  "When do I get my shopping budget?"

"Next month sometime.  After you weed out your clothes."  He walked her outside.  "We have planned for you to be something of a trojan horse anyway.  That way you can get close, make sure they're the right ones, gather any intelligence you can, and then eliminating if necessary."  She gave him a look.  "Some people manage to make it below the radar of the law, Helena.  We both know that Charlie never should have gone on that long.  People like that."

She sighed.  "I'll consider carefully before taking anyone out."

"That's fine, that's what we're asking," he agreed, letting her into the back of his car.  "Your country thanks you."

"My country can blow me."

"Also a reasonable opinion," he agreed.  "I wouldn't do it for love of country or money."  He closed the door and tapped the top, letting his assistant take her to the airport.   "I don't envy her, but she's necessary," he reminded himself.  He didn't want to send her out into the field, she was injured, hurt, and weary.  With luck, she'd make it through this and be able to hide afterwards.  Maybe witness protection somewhere.

***

Lupin looked up as an explosion rocked their prison, wincing as the door to their section of the jail blew in as well.  A familiar woman strolled in.  "Killed them all?"

"They're running for their lives," she admitted, handing over a key she had found on the wall outside the door.  He used it, getting them all free.  "Come on, I'm under orders to have you guys drive me back to Chicago with the pretty new passports and everything."

Jigen tipped her chin up.  "You didn't have to do that," he said quietly.

"They promised me real oversight, and gave me the stuff to come get you free."  She grimaced.  "It was a dumb mistake I'll regret forever."  She walked out, watching as they stopped to check on someone.  "Who's that?"

"Zenigata," Goemon told her.  "Cat?"

"Back in Chicago being moved with the rest of the stuff.  I've got passports for all of you in the car, plus cash.  They said we could drive back up?"

"We can," Lupin agreed.  "Do we need anything?"

"We might need gas in about six or seven hours," she offered as she followed them out.  She handed over the keys.  "Glove compartment has the passports and ready cash, all American.  The back has weapons and bullets."  She got into the back, watching behind them as they took off.  "The FBI guys were understanding.  They wanted me to come help you guys.  They set me up with a much better cover and I'm going to be freelance."  Jigen groaned.  "I know, but at least this way I got to get you guys out and I can come to the rescue again."  They shared a look.  "The guy directly over me runs his department.  He read *my* files."  Jigen relaxed some.  "He wanted me to hang Chicago out to dry too.  Plus he's giving me a bigger apartment and a shopping budget."

"And you'll be doing what?" Lupin asked.

"The same thing I was before, hopefully without taking my clothes off?" She shrugged. "He said I'm going to be a trojan horse."

"I used ta think Fujiko was one of those," Jigen noted.  "It'll be safe enough.  He's watching out for you personally?  Michael Ronski?"  She nodded.  "Personally?"

"Contacts and check in numbers.  A few visits according to the papers he left me.  He didn't say it but this is the sort of thing I can come out of easier."

"That's true, it would be easier," Lupin agreed, glancing at Jigen.  Jigen shifted down some when he caught his look.  "She'll be fine."

"She'll have ta be fine or else I'll have ta come yell at her.  Won't I?"

"I expect you to," she agreed.  "I even want you to.  Now that Charlie's not only dead but most of his people are gone, it's a nicer thing."

"Gone?" Goemon asked.  "I don't remember that."

"Someone blew up his house with them in it," she told him, giving him a wicked grin.  "Apparently one of the others thought he was an upstart and took advantage of his funeral."

Goemon nodded in appreciation.  "Interesting.  How is your shoulder?"

"Bandaged damn tightly and I'm drugged to the gills.  I'm fine, Goemon.  Thank you."

"You're welcome."

"What about the person who had us captured?" Lupin asked as they turned onto a bumpier track.

"Well, him and two of his guys had a mysterious car accident in the middle of the jungle.  Then apparently something ate them."  They all shuddered.  "That was after he was found to be having some fun at an orphanage."

"Shit," Jigen said.  He glanced behind them.  "The Army."

She glanced back, then pulled her weapon.  She braced herself but she kept wiggling.  "Hey, Lupin, can't you hold it a bit more steady?"  He snorted as they went through another pothole.  She finally stood up, bracing herself against his seat so she could shoot, startling Jigen and Lupin both.  "Which side is the radiator?"

"Left in those," Jigen told her, watching as she blew it out.  "Not the driver?"

"Bulletproof glass.  I found one earlier and tested it," she admitted, kneeling on the seat again as the other jeep died and men got out.  She picked them off, injuring them only.  When she was out of bullets, she reached under the tarp in the back and pulled out a box, turning around to reload.  Jigen was giving her a look.  "I told you I made marksman qualifications at the academy," she reminded him.  "Speaking of qualifications.  Can you teach me how to ride a motorcycle?"

"Sure," he agreed, nodding. "What else do you have back there?"

Goemon looked.  "Weapons.  A few more grenades, a launcher. A few rifles."

"We need to rifle through those when we can stop," Lupin noted, changing roads again.  "You're sure they're dead?"

"Who?  The guys behind us?  I went for leg and arm injuries.  Harder than hell to run when you're bleeding from your kneecap or calf bones disintegrating. Harder still to drive when your arm is bleeding copiously from the muscles near the top.  Shooting pains too if I'm told right."

"You were," Jigen said, looking a bit impressed.  "Good job."

"Thanks."  She beamed at him.  "We might want to stop for food in the next few hours.  I only packed a canteen of water."

"There are about six villages up this road and we'll hit them before dark," Lupin told her.  "The fifth has an inn and we can hide there for the night as long as we hide the weapons from them."  She nodded and settled in.  "Take a nap, you could use it."  On cue she yawned.  "See, told you so.  I'm always right about such things."

She gave his seat a kick.  "Overly smug bastard.  Just for that, I shouldn't let you wear my blue dress anymore."  She did obediently curl up against Goemon however.  She was really tired.  This rescuing stuff was exhausting.

Jigen glanced back, then groaned and shook his head.  "Not again."

"I know what's going on, they needed an angel of mercy," Lupin told him as quietly as they could in an open-air jeep.  Jigen gave him a look.  "I know this person.  I had a discussion with him.  He agreed that it wasn't right and personally fired two people who had her friend out there.  She'll be fine, Jigen.  This is much safer than putting her back onto the streets as a cop.  He will be watching from his office and he will be watching her harder because he knows how bad it can get out there.  He was an undercover person himself for the longest time."

"Really?"  Jigen gave him a harsh look.  "It's still dangerous."

"It might be, but she said she wanted to go back onto the streets.  This is the better solution.  It's safer.  She can live through this one.  They'll treat her well or she can leave and they'll send her into witness protection if possible.  Or you can kidnap her and set her up somewhere safer yet and make her go insane not doing anything.  She's still a cop.  It'd be like making Pops retire."

"Fine, but I'm gonna be watching."

"Hey, with this plan, she gets regular vacations.  She and you can go places whenever you want.  You can pop around all the time because it'll actually increase her reputation. They were really happy that they could find someone with a lot of ties like us."  He glanced at him, seeing the hatred glaring his way.  "I did the best I could for her, Jigen.  For both of you.  I talked to him right before we left.  He was that guy I pulled aside in the airport."  Jigen grunted but he knew it'd take a good long time before he forgave him.  "I'm sorry.  We can go rescue her cat from the Feds and you can find her somewhere safe if you want," he offered.

"She wouldn't allow him to do that," Goemon noted, startling them.  "She's quite independent.  I don't think she could ever be a normal housewife.  It would kill her in other ways."

"So you're supporting this idea?"

"Would you rather have her die in our lives?" Goemon asked.

"No," Jigen spat, turning to look at him. "But I don't want her dead from this either.  They will kill her."

"Who?  Goemon took out Charlie and someone blew up most of the rest of his people.  The others in town already know who and what she is from earlier.  They can't do anything to her really.  She'll kill them all."  He pulled off to the side of the road, turning off the engine.  "Jigen, short of bringing her with us, this is the safest thing she could be doing.  They will protect her, and they know we'll be coming for them if they don't.  Her new boss actually gives somewhat of a damn.  He's not going to make her kill anyone if she doesn't have to.  We both know she can, but he won't force the issue.  Now, it could be a lot worse and we both know it.  She's safe now.  We can pop in whenever we want to check on her.  She'll find a place and live it up for a while longer.  They can't use her once she gets too old and they've *vowed* under penalty of losing their lives to me that they would be letting her go.  You can go threaten the guy yourself.  I've got his home address in my stuff."  He groaned and shook his head.  "Our stuff."

"It's also under the tarp," Goemon offered.  "Along with another canister of gas."  He looked at Jigen.  "We will watch out for her.  Modern jets make it easy enough to get back to her within a day if something happens.  We'll find a way for her to contact us no matter where we are.  We'll find a decent way to protect her on the streets as well."

"She's already gotten some of that from knowing us," Lupin told them.  "She's not only known as Helen of Troy, because of her name and the whole trojan thing she was doing before, but also as Jigen's Girl.  Except for a few people who still want to kill you, she's as safe as possible, Jigen.  I swear, I will help you kill anyone who touches her, then myself if she dies."

"No, if she dies, then I'll get you after them," Jigen said bitterly.  "No matter what you think, she won't be safe."

"She will be," Lupin told him.  "Chicago was your town, but she's gotten rid of half the players in town these last few years.  The others are scared shitless of her doing the same to them.  Two-thirds of the guys that got captured because of her died before their trials.  They think she did it."  Jigen frowned, his eyes barely showing his disturbance.  "I don't know who, but they mostly died from afar or from poisoning, and a few were stabbed or garroted in jail.  There was serious talk that even if she went back to being a cop she'd be taking over the family system for her own power base.  She's so fucking protected she doesn't need armor most of the time."

"I'll be making sure she gets some anyway," Jigen said coolly.

"Hey, I'm with you.  I think we should head back with her and lounge in this new apartment.  It sounds nice.  It sounds like we'll each have our own room for a change too.  No more hogging her bed."  Jigen snorted and shook his head.  "I know, I can't even imagine the fit I'd be throwing if she were mine.  If this was Fujiko, I'd be killing everyone around me, probably even you and Goemon, to keep her safe.  Helena's like my little sister, Jigen.  I don't want her in danger any more than you do.  She makes you happy and I like her even more for that."

"It does sound as if she'll be safer there than anywhere else," Goemon offered.

Jigen shook his head.  "It'll never be totally safe in Chicago for her again."

"Yay.  Nowhere in the world is really safe.  There's rapists in nearly every club and information flows around the world every day.  There's people in Hong Kong who know her.  I got asked about her by someone who wanted to offer you a chance at his daughter."  Jigen shuddered.  "See?  She's safer there.  That fear and your own reputation makes her nearly untouchable.  What happened a few years ago won't ever happen again or they know they'll die.  Even if they aren't connected they know they'd die."  Jigen sighed and nodded.  "Good.  Now, which way was it back to the villages again?" Jigen pointed to their left.  "Thanks.  We'll lurk around for a few weeks, make sure no one approaches her.  That way you can take stealthy stalker pictures to carry with you and all that good stuff."

Jigen rolled his eyes. "I'm not like that."

"Really?  Then you don't want the picture I took of you two on the beach?"

"No, that one I want.  I don't want you to be drooling over a picture of her in a bathing suit."

"Jigen, she may have a very nice chest, but she's not for me.  I adore Fujiko.  She's your girl.  Just yours."  Jigen nodded.  "Good, then we're agreed?"

"Fine," Jigen said reluctantly.

"Thank you.  Now, let's get you some food.  I'm starving."

"Gee, prison didn't change you much, huh?" Helena asked.

He flinched.  "Sorry to talk about you like that."  She wrapped arms around his neck.  "Please don't kill me."

"I'm not going to kill you.  It's about as good as I could do anyway.  You were right about that.  No lurking though.  If I can't do it, then I'm going to run like hell and go join some nice department somewhere warm.  Then you guys can come sully my reputation with them."  Jigen gave her a look.  "I don't care where I am.  You're invited and you'd better show up more often or else I'm gonna get pissed."  She let go of Lupin and kissed Jigen's cheek.  "There.  Now, I agree about the food.  Feed me?  I'm a growing girl."

"When was the last time you ate?" Jigen asked.

"Recently," she temporized.  He frowned at her.  "The pain meds take away my appetite."

"Food, Lupin, now."

"Yes, Jigen," Lupin said with a grin, heading off into the jungle to find a village and a small food stand.

***

Helena walked into her new apartment, whistling.  "Wow."  She spun in place, looking at the light wood paneling, the extra-large living area.  The five bedrooms and the loft above them.  The kitchen was nearly as large as her former bedroom.  Then the echoing silence reached her.  "Fozzy?"

"I'm sure he's being boarded," Goemon told her.  She nodded and went to look in her closets.  They had left her boxes of clothes to unpack.  "I'm going to find the mover and ask about such matters," he told Jigen, heading out again.

Jigen and Lupin went up to help her unpack, letting Lupin play with all the pretty clothes.  Now she could use her former stripper outfits for real clothes, nearly doubling her wardrobe and panties.  Jigen forced Helena back onto the bed, curling up behind her while they watched Lupin sorting out her clothes into things that could be worn outside respectably and those that were obviously 'stripper outfits', which stayed in a box.  They laughed when Lupin came to her thigh-high, lace-up, black leather boots and his tongue came out with a few drops of drool.  Helena yawned and continued chuckling, letting him play to his heart's content.  She slowly fell asleep, comforted by their presence.  Lupin and Jigen shared a look and they put off their leave taking for a few more days. She was still tired and weak.

***

Goemon tracked down the movers with a few adroit questions to the other residents of the building, finding out where they were housed from the phone book.  He walked in and coughed, gathering attention.  "There was a white cat when you moved Helena's apartment," he said.  "Where might he be?  Her cats like her children and she would like him back."

One of the guys looked miserable.  "He's at my house.  My daughter loves cats and hers just died.  I'm sorry, but she saw him in the truck when I went home for lunch and decided he was hers.  She's five," he pleaded.

Goemon gave him a long look.  Then he nodded.  "His name was Fozzy.  He prefers not to eat fish when it's been frozen and canned food is not what he enjoys the most.  Canned tuna is more than acceptable to him however."  He walked out, going to find her a new cat.  He walked into the Humane Society and groaned at all the pathetic looking animals, giving the worker a pleading look.  "I am looking for something for my friend.  Her cat decided to live with a little girl when she moved."

She nodded.  "I understand.  Let me show you the ones that have the least time?" she nearly pleaded.  He nodded, letting her lead him back to them.  She noticed his icy demeanor melting and smiled sadly.  "These three only have a few hours left."

He sighed and nodded. "Fine, I will take those."  He accepted the box the woman made for him and headed back to her apartment.  Fortunately this one had an elevator that worked well.  He walked off and into her apartment, getting a knowing look from Lupin in the kitchen.  "Her cat was claimed by a five-year-old girl who had just lost hers," he explained.  He walked up the stairs, gently waking Helena.  "I have went to check on Fozzy."

"Where is he?" she asked, looking confused.

"The mover made the mistake of going home with him.  His five-year-old daughter had just lost hers and thought he was for her."

She sighed.  "I can't take my cat from a kid," she said pathetically.

"Which is why I went and did what I could to ease this ache.  It is not the child that you had, but another for you to foster and love."  He helped her down to where he had put the box, letting her look inside.  She squealed, making Lupin jump and nearly chop off his finger.  He let her hug him.  "They only had hours to live.  I thought you would appreciate that more."

She nodded.  "I do, thank you, Goemon.  The Humane Society?"  He nodded.   "Thank you."  She reached in to pet the sleeping cats, waking them up.  "Hey, guys.  I'm the new mommy.  We'll have to buy you guys new litterboxes and things."

Lupin came over and looked inside the box, then at her.  "One of those is a dog, Goemon."

"I know, but he looked so miserable.  Besides, I have seen such animals trained to use litteboxes."

"Me too," she agreed.  She picked out the little dog and put him down, watching him sniff around.  "Damn, these guys were nearly beaten out of all emotion, weren't they?" she said sadly.

"They were.  There was one there that was quite feisty still," he offered.  She grabbed her jacket and pulled him out the door, coming back a half-hour later to find Jigen curled up with the animals on the couch.  She put down that cat and it immediately went over and batted at one of the others until it moved out of the prime lap spot.

So Jigen dumped it onto the floor and picked up the first one, petting it gently as he returned it to it's spot. "Learn manners.  Attitude is fine, you're a cat.  Bitchiness isn't allowed.  Your mother's the queen bitch of the family."

"That would be the alpha bitch actually," she said as she came over to sit next to him, petting all the animals, including the disgusted one on the floor.  "He even moves me off his lap," she told him.  He walked off to investigate the open patio doors.  "No!"  She picked up a squirt gun and got him with it, making him howl and run away to hide.  "Thank you.  No going outside. Any of you."

The dog gave her an adoring look and moved across the back of the couch until he could flop down in her lap and go onto his side for her pleasure.  She laughed and petted him, making him one happy puppy.

Lupin brought out plates.  "I put down the leftover catfood in the kitchen."  The puppy barked at him and wagged his tail.  "I only let girls beg me, little guy, sorry."

"No begging beasts or they'll never stop," Jigen said firmly.  "Like kids.  Teach 'em ta whine and they will forever."

"All kids do that, even if you try to teach 'em better.  It's a genetic flaw in human beings," Helena told him.  Lupin snickered.  "It is.  I've seen some whining bastards out of some decent parents."  She ate a bite of dinner and the dog got up to lick her face clean.  "Thank you."  She patted him and sat him beside her, letting him beg.  "I don't do begging.  Not even cute begging," she pointed out when he raised a paw in supplication.  "Nope, sorry."

Jigen looked at him.  "No begging."  The dog barked at him and gave his new mother an imploring look, so pathetic she nearly caved but Jigen took her plate away before she could.  "I said no," he told the dog.  "Go lay down.  You get dog food."  The dog growled at him for daring to touch her and he glared back, making it yip and run off to hide.

Lupin shook his head.  "Jigen, never have kids.  They'll be rotten little beasts."  He took Helena's plate back and handed it to her.  "Here you go.  Let me close the patio doors after I rescue the cats."  He walked out there to rescue the cats and Goemon.  "That all of them?"

"One is walking around the ledge," he admitted, pointing at the tail.  Lupin tossed the others back inside and got him a can of food, then closed the doors so the good ones couldn't try that stunt.  Once that cat had come running at the sound of the can opening, he brought it and the food inside, locking the doors.  "A most prodigious spot to meditate," he announced.  "High enough to avoid most of the smog and not too high up as some buildings are."

"You mean you wouldn't sit on the roof of a skyscraper?" Jigen teased.

"No, I would not.  I prefer being able to see the ground."  He took his own plate and came to sit down, watching as the cats all hovered around him.  "I do not supporting begging habits.  It often leads to theft."  They pouted at him but he didn't give in, he was made of sterner material.  He looked at Jigen and Helena.  "How are we doing beds?"

"I have no idea.  Do we have other beds?" she asked Lupin.  He nodded.  "Decent ones?"

"Decent enough," he admitted.  "Are you still saving what we left you after that first trip?"  She nodded.  "Good job."  He dug into his own plate and one of the cats, the newest, ballsy one, came over to help him by walking over onto his arm and purring at him.  He gave the cat a head shake.  "Won't work, you're not the sort of pussy I like, cat."

Helena choked.  "Don't say that to my cats!"

"Sorry," he said with a grin.  "We have enough beds so you can even kick Jigen out if you want."

"Why would I want to kick Jigen out?" she asked dryly.  "I like sleeping with him.  He's comfortable to sleep with.  Though, after sleeping with all of you in the last few days, I've got to admit that Goemon is the most comfortable to nap on.  His shoulder's got the right amount of padding and muscle, plus he rumbles when he breathes, like he's purring."   Goemon was blushing bright red.  "You do.  Lupin's a bit bony and all sharp angles at the joints.  Jigen's comfortable but on the trip he always had this big lump of tension near where my head was.  I don't know what he was holding back from doing, but apparently he was holding on with most of his control from the lump."

Jigen patted her on the head.  "Don't worry about it."

"Fine.  Wanna cuddle again?" she teased.  He blushed.  "I promise I won't talk you into anything you aren't ready for.  I'll treat you like the virgin you pretend to be."

"Quit," he growled.

She kissed him.  "Be that way then.  I'll nap with the cats."  She gave him a long look.  "Or you could sneak up later and give me a backrub.  I promise I won't push you into anything you don't want.  I'm not that mean.  Guys have the right to say no too."

"Guys say no?  Besides those two?" Lupin asked.

"Only to you," Jigen told him smugly.

"If you do, can I get tape of that?  I've never seen that and I've always wondered about a few things."

"It's the same process as with a woman," Jigen said firmly.

"Which is great and all, but I've never had anal sex with a woman either," she pointed out, bouncing slightly.  "Only oral sex and kissing."

"You need a nap," Jigen said, giving her a light shove.

"You have?" Lupin asked, leering at her.  "Got tape?  We'll switch off."

"Actually, I do have tape, and she vowed that she'd kill me if they ever got out of my possession."  She looked around.  "Has anyone seen the black box of tapes in my closet?"

"They're on top of the box of stripper clothes," Lupin told her.  "Anything else good in there?"

"A few professional ones, but you know they're not that great.  I mean, hello, plot would be nice.  Instead it's one of those 'meet in the bars, go into the bathroom, blow each other off' videos.  Doesn't answer my questions at all."  Jigen was blushing by now and Goemon was tomato red.  "I'd never ask you to share that way, Goemon.  I take you as one of those tender and enthusiastic lovers who likes to please their mates.  If you ever find a woman, I'm sure she'll be walking funny for days each time."   He blushed brighter and took a long drink of his water.  "Sorry, dear," she said with a small grin.  "Forgive me?"

"This time," he squeaked, then cleared his throat to talk in his normal voice.  "Do not do it again."

"Sure."  She looked at Lupin.  "I can exchange any but the personal ones," she offered.  "I've watched all them too many times as is."

"That's fine.  I wouldn't give you any of me and Fujiko anyway."

"Does she know you made tapes?" Jigen taunted.  This was excellent blackmail material! Lupin looked hurt and upset.  "Ha!  Wait until she finds out."

"Keep it up.  Remember the last time we were in Reno?  I got that on tape too."  Jigen coughed and shook his head with a groan.

"Stress relief?" Helena pleaded.

Jigen nodded quickly.  "A lot of stress relief."

"I'd never date the idiot.  He never buys presents."  Lupin gave Jigen a smug look.  "When did you get her one last?"

"He got me an amethyst pendant after that museum thing and I adore it," Helena defended.  "It's not like he's around to always bring me things.  I don't demand slavish worship of my magnificence, only appreciation of it."

"He was only picking on me," Jigen soothed.

"Really, he's like my brother."

"Then wouldn't you have had incestuous relations in Reno?" Goemon suggested.

Lupin licked off his spoon and threw it at his head.  "You, shut it."

"Fine.  Simply pointing out the fallacy of your argument."

She chuckled, shaking her head.  "You guys are so cute when you argue.  Next you'll have to kiss and make up."  She stood up, going to see if there was any more.  Lupin gave her a hurt look so she split off half for him and went back to eating.

"I see your appetite's picked up again," Jigen noted.  She nodded, digging in.  "You feeling okay?"

"Just fine."

"They did say that some of her bodily functions were a bit out of order," Goemon said delicately.  "They suggested she come back in six months for a checkup."

"I'm fine," she repeated.

"You're going,"Jigen ordered.  She gave him a 'get real' look.  "I mean it.  I won't have you sick or injured."

"Yes, father," she said, digging in again.

"It could be where she never seemed to eat before," Lupin suggested.

"I ate plenty, I just ate out," she protested.  "I had Thai the night before I was shot.  I had Sushi the day before that."

"That's two meals out of six," Goemon pointed out.  "Another flawed argument."

"Yes, but I always order more than I can eat so I eat it the rest of the day.  I'm surprised the moving guys didn't move the contents of the fridge."

"They did, I threw out all the leftovers," Lupin told her, giving her a short glance.  "Including some tupperware?"

"Eww. I thought I ate that."

"I think you probably got half of it down," he admitted.  "Good job."

"Thanks, second dad.  If I'm really good, would you not let Goemon take me to the prom as an armed escort?"

"Sure," Jigen agreed, giving her a look.  "Maybe it's time for drugs?"

"I doubt they brought those."

"Medicine cabinet is full, all new prescriptions," Lupin told her.  "The stuff for your shoulder is on the back of the toilet."  She went to take something for the pain.  "They didn't move anything else."

"What else was there?" Jigen asked.

"Not much.  She had one of those crack pipes in an evidence bag.  They took that with them. She had a very small vial of coke on a chain necklace, maybe half a line if you're being generous.  Other than that, there wasn't really anything."

"That necklace was a souvenir from a girl I helped get clean," she said as she rejoined them.  "Where did they stash it?"

"I put it up in the top of the closet, in the lock box."  He watched as she sat down, clutching the back of the couch.  "Strong?"

"Very.  They're a lot stronger than the stuff they sent me to Peru with."  She shook her head.  "Okay, if I'm gonna nap right here, I'm sorry in advance if I drool on anyone.  Don't let the dog lick it off me."

Jigen pulled her closer, letting her rest against him. "Drool away."

"I think that's the sweetest offer I've ever had," she announced.  "Thank you."  She closed her eyes and rested her head on his shoulder, getting comfortable and slowly sliding down until her head was on his thigh and she was stretched across the end of the couch.  The ringing phone nearly woke her but she managed to go back to sleep with some muted grumbling into the thigh under her cheek.

Goemon tossed over the phone, letting Lupin answer it.  "Yeah?" he said promptly.  "Hey, Fujiko.  No, we're in town.  No, they moved her again.  Long story.  We're at the new place.  You could get a room.  Because she was recently shot, Fujiko, she's not in any shape to snipe at you this time," he said patiently.

"Let her come," Jigen sighed.  "You'll have to sneak out otherwise."

"Fine, Jigen said you could come over.  We're six blocks toward the lake from the Sears Tower. Tan building.  Watch for Goemon to be on the balcony."  He hung up and looked at Goemon.  "That way you can go brush the dog."  He plucked off some animal fur and let it float onto the floor.  "Think we should threaten the Feds to get her a cleaning lady?"

"I doubt it'd be worth it," Jigen noted.  "Most women are picky about that."  He patted her cheek until she looked at him.  "Should we threaten the Feds into getting you a cleaning lady while we let Fujiko watch you for a few hours?"

"Eww.  Cleaning ladies are good people, saints for doing that nasty shit, but her?"

"She needed to see us.  I doubt she'll be here for very long," Lupin soothed.  "I'll keep her in line."

"Good."  She closed her eyes again.  "Tell me if I get gropey."

"You haven't yet," Jigen soothed.  The phone rang and everyone looked at it.  "She can't follow simple directions?"

"Or we've got a bug," Lupin said, picking up the phone again.  "Yes?" he asked, sounding patient.  "Thank you.  Yes, her.  Because she won't have time to clean?  Besides, she hates to clean. " He smirked at something that hadn't been in the apartment before.  "Thank you for that.  Let me fix that for you."  He picked up the small statue and looked it over, finding the antenna wire out of the butt of the white elephant ceramic statue.  Then he walked it outside and tossed it off the balcony.  "There, how's that?" he asked, hanging up on him.  He walked back inside.  "That took care of one of them."

"We'll scour the place later for more," Jigen told him.  They all watched Helena drool on him until someone knocked on the door.  "I guess she can follow directions."

Lupin answered the door since he was up.  "Come in, Fujiko."

"I thought you were trying to kill me.  You nearly hit me with that statue."  She walked in and paused to look at Helena. "She doesn't look badly off."

"It was an upper chest wound," Goemon told her.  "I found her on the floor."

"Poor thing.  Maybe you should put her into bed?"

"Why, I'm comfy."  Her hand moved and he stopped it from stroking his knee.  "Don't do that, Helena."

"Feel thankful it was only a knee," Fujiko snorted, sitting down in Lupin's chair.  "So, I got Brazil.  Where were you guys?"

"We found a juicier target in Peru," Lupin admitted.  Fujiko looked impressed.  "Fortunately he'd just died.  It was easy enough to send to the hideout."  She took something out of her purse and tossed it onto the table.  "Hey, that's fragile."

"That's the dummy," Jigen said, after glancing at the sender's address.  "I wrote that one out."

"Oh, good.  I thought for a minute she had broken it."  He sat on Jigen's other side.  "You'll be covered in fur in a minute," he warned her.  She looked confused until the one cat leapt down from a bookcase onto her shoulder, making her shriek.

Helena came up, pulling the gun off her belt.  "What?  Oh, it's you.  Snotty, quit it before I have to name you that," she told the cat, giving it a pet.  "Behave."  She laid down again, her gun underneath her now.

"I thought I was fast," Lupin said appreciatively.

"You only like her because she lets you play with her clothes," Jigen taunted, smirking at him as Fujiko looked disgusted.

"Not like that," Lupin said bitterly.  "Quit, Jigen.  I don't play with her clothes."  He glared at his friend, daring him to say anything else.  They had talked earlier about a suitable birthday present for his girl and only Lupin knew where he could find it for her.

"If you say so," he said finally.

"Uh-huh, I'm sure he was just sniffing her panties or something," Fujiko noted.

"No, I can honestly say I'd never do that to hers," Lupin told her.  He smirked at her.  "Why would I need to since I kept a pair of yours and your perfume hangs around for a very long time."  She groaned and shook her head.

Goemon got up to go brush the dog before the blood vessels in his face burst.  Yes, Helena fit into their lives very well.  She was just as dirty minded as the other two.  She had even paid him a very generous compliment earlier.

"So, where are we going next?" Fujiko asked.

"I'm going to bed," Jigen told her.  "Wanted a threesome?  She mentioned earlier she's done women."

Fujiko shuddered.  "No, thank you, Jigen.  I imagine you've got a pencil dick and almost no skill."

Helena lifted her head, then spit at her.  "Fat lot you know.  All the fat on his body went elsewhere, woman.  It's a very fulfilling experience each and every time, to the point of stretching."  She put her head back down.  "And no, Lupin doesn't sniff my panties, he puts on my dresses."

"I do not!" Lupin defended, swatting her.  She hit him back.  "Mean snot!  Jigen, spank her!"

"She's got handcuffs, man, I'm not that brave."

"Eww," Fujiko noted dryly.  She looked at Helena, then at Lupin, then shook her head.  "I can't even imagine that sight."  She looked at the doors. "Which is mine?"

"The closet's the second door on the right," Jigen told her.  She gave him a long look.  "Only three beds, Fujiko.  Either you sleep in the closet, you sleep out here with the animals, or you sleep with Goemon or Lupin."

"I'm not having sex with her," Helena and Lupin said in unison.  She pinched him and he howled, getting away from her.

"Then I guess I'll sleep with Goemon.  He should let me have the bed."  She went to talk to him and he gave her a horrified look.  "They're playing, Goemon."

"I doubt it.  I'll sleep on the couch, the animals seem to like me anyway."  She smiled and hugged him, heading back inside. He shuddered.  What a horrible thought, him and Fujiko.

***

Helena finished with Lupin, adjusting one last bit of padding with a piece of tape.  "There," she said proudly.  "Put on the shoes."  He stood up and did so, moving down the stairs gracefully.  She leaned on the railing as Jigen and Goemon both choked.  "Neat, huh?" she asked with a malicious grin.  "Am I good or what?  For that I deserve ice cream."

"You do," Jigen agreed, grinning up at her.  "Fujiko's still in bed, man.  Go for it.  Tape it, please."

Lupin blew a kiss and strolled that way confidently, walking inside Fujiko's room to lay beside her on the bed.  He woke her by stroking up and down her arm until she yawned, then he kissed her.  "Morning, sunshine," he said in his best female voice.  She started, eyes wide. "Did you sleep well?"  She licked her lips and moved in for another kiss since Fujiko was still stunned.  "Did you dream of me?"

"No, nononono," Fujiko said, climbing out of bed.  She knew that kiss.  She grabbed the sheet and backed away.  "No, it can't be, you're not like that.  You've never been like that and you're not starting now."  She blindly searched for the doorknob behind her and ran out, running into Goemon, clutching at him and crying on him.  "What did you do to him!  He's wearing a dress!"

"Shh," he soothed, frowning up at Helena.  "You made her panic."

"He wanted to prove he could do it," she said with a shrug.  "I still say he looks better in my strapless blue one."  She disappeared, going to clean up her vanity and lay down for a bit, her head was spinning.  This new shit was pretty decent.

Lupin came out of the bedroom, leaning on the door frame, arms crossed over his amplified chest.  "You don't think I make a pretty woman?" he teased with a light smile.

She turned and glared at him, then tried to slap him, but he ducked it and moved in closer, kissing her hard.  "Bastard," she grumbled, but let him continue.  "Prick."

"Hmm, yes, I do have one of those," he agreed, picking her up and carrying her back into the bedroom, kicking the door shut.  "How do you stand these heels?  I barely made it this long."  He kicked them off and she helped him out of the padding and the dress, getting him down to his boxers and skin.  "Feel better?"

"Sit down, let me clean off that makeup."  She did that, then kissed him.  The slight taste of cleanser was much better than makeup.  "Never do that to me again," she said, staring into his eyes.  "Promise me, Lupin.  Never again."

"Not unless it's for a job," he promised, pulling her into his lap to kiss her again.  He could keep her and have her if he could make her mindless again.  She did it very well once she got past the initial reservations and objections.  She went limp in his arms, letting him win this time.  He said a silent thanks to the body upstairs for her help getting his woman this time.  He laid her down and climbed on top to keep her there with him, making her remember why they were so good together.

***

Jigen walked up the stairs, giving her sleeping body a look.  He looked at the pain killers she had brought up, then groaned and walked them down the stairs.  "Not what she needed.  That's a morphine derivative."

Lupin looked at the label.  "It is?"  He shrugged and tossed them at the trash can.  "Then she can cut back starting today."  He went back to his reading, one hand stroking Fujiko's hair as she napped against his arm.  "She out again?"

"Deeply out," he agreed, sitting down in the chair.  The dog came over and jumped into his lap.  "Not playing with Goemon?"

"He's meditating; they gave up an hour ago," Lupin told him, picking up the fuzzy mouse and tossing it for the cat since it was feeling bored.  It brought it back.  He looked down at it.  "You're playing fetch?"  He picked it up and did it again and the cat brought it back again.  "Huh.  Bored cats can learn new tricks."  He grinned and teased the cat, then tossed it again.  The cat gave him an impatient look so he picked up another and tossed it next to the first.  It brought the second one back.  "Tired of that color?"  He showed her he was tossing it and she ran after it as fast as she could, putting a few minor scratches into the floor.

Fujiko woke up and tossed the mouse the cat had just dropped on her, watching in confusion as it ran after it and brought it back.  "What are you doing?  You're a cat."  She tossed it farther and the cat seemed really happy about that.  "Odd beasts."  She sat up, straightening out her hair.  "No hostess?"

"She's nappin'," Jigen noted, petting the dog.  He was very soothing.  So soothing Jigen was going to fall asleep right there if he didn't quit.  He looked down at the dog, who was asleep, then carefully put him down and went up to bed.  The others had twins, he had a queen and only had to share it with his princess.  She snuggled but it wasn't that annoying most of the time.  She even left his hat alone.

Lupin smirked at Fujiko.  "See, they're just as cute as we are."  He gave her a gentle kiss.  "Want to finish your nap?"

"I'd rather plan the next job."

"No talking shop here," he chided, closing her lips with a finger.  "There are bugs and she's still a cop, dear.  Not that she'll tell, but someone might be listening."  She nodded and snuggled back in.  "That's better.  Want to help us shop for her birthday present?"

"Sure.  What are we getting her?"  Lupin grinned down at her.

***

Helena woke up the day after her birthday, looking around her apartment.  She sighed in defeat and walked up the stairs, finding a new wardrobe in her bedroom.  She frowned and moved closer, opening the doors.  Inside were a few very good weapons.  She squealed and patted them all, checking for bullets and found not only them, but a few scopes and laser sights too.  "Wow.  This is a great birthday present," she called.  "Thank you, guys!"  She went to shower and change, realizing she was alone when no one came to interrupt her.  She started to cry but forced herself to stop.  She didn't cry anymore.  It wouldn't make him retire and it wouldn't get her anywhere.  She forced herself to cheer up by taking her pain killers and going to fix breakfast.  For some reason, this thing was making her have the munchies.  She found her appointment card on the fridge and sighed, nodding at it.  "Yes, Goemon.  The ultimate big brother is an over protective and cuddly samurai.  I'll have to remember I can't get around him."  She took her toast out to the table, sitting down to eat and read the files that had mysteriously appeared while she had been asleep as well.  "Two targets, both in town," she editorialized as she read. "Hmm, a job offer too.  Maybe they'll pay the rent."  She moved on, going to the next one.  "Even better.  A firm job offer from the other side.  I guess I'm going to have to point out what freelance and neutral mean."

One of the cats came up, limping and looking pitiful.  She picked her up, hugging her gently.  "Did you try to cling to them for me, sweetness?" she whispered, petting her gently.  "I know, I miss them too."  The old her would have been collapsed in the middle of the floor in tears, but this harder, toughened her wasn't that weak.  She wouldn't cry, she seriously wouldn't.
 

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