Lost and Found

[Jade]

Things had been tense for them lately. So much work, so much pressure, so little time for each other. She sighed thinking about it and lined herself up for a sniper shot, aiming and firing, she took down the Malta Operative in two shots. She shook her head again. Last weekend was the first one in months that they had been able to spend together. Someone always called one of them for help. Apparently the world was going to fall down around them every single time she got a minute to spend with him.

Smirking to herself she thought out loud “Well not this past weekend Dee, you had him all to yourself…” Smiling while she remembered, she closed her eyes and took a deep breath. God, she loved him.

The phone rang and it startled her making her jump. “Lo. This is Dee” It wasn’t very professional, but she didn’t care.

“Heya gorgeous.”

“Virgil. Wow, it sounds good to hear your voice. What are you doin?”

“It sounds good to hear you too babe. I was just headed home and was wondering if you were close to joining me”

Lining up for another sniper shot, she held the phone with her shoulder. “Actually, I was just wrapping up here, I should be done soon, did you have something in mind?”

“I just want to see you love. It hasn’t even been a full day but I miss you already.”

Sighing she thought about him. “I miss you too, give me 20 minutes and I’ll be done here.”

He nodded on the other end. “That’s fine, I have an errand to run anyway, I’ll meet you at home love, be safe please”.

“You know I am V. Love you.”

“Love you too.”

“Bye.” And she hung up the phone smiling.

“V, you are far too good to me..” She thought out loud and lined up for another shot, taking him down with ease.

She finished off the last few guys and left heading for home. She smiled, seeing him fly in at the same time.

She grinned as she snuck behind him, wrapping her arms over his shoulder and jumped onto his back, kissing his neck and ears.

Laughing at her, he turned his head and looked at her, and pursed his lips wanting a kiss. Happily, she obliged leaning over his shoulder and kissing him quickly.

“Looks like I got a passenger.” He chuckled at her, and craned his neck wanting another kiss. Leaning forward, she kissed him again, and then hopped down.

“Sorry I couldn’t help myself.” She told him with a big smile.

Wrapping her up in his arms, “You know I don’t mind.” he put his forehead against hers and rubbed her sides gently.

Laughing she gave him another kiss, “I know you don’t.”

Smiling at her, still chuckling slightly, let her go, and reached for the keys in his pocket, and opened the door, holding it open for her.

“Here ya go love.” and she walked through, hanging her own keys neatly on the peg and walked into the living room.

“So I was thinking since we didn’t get to this weekend we could watch our movies and curl up on the couch tonight.”

He smiled at her lovingly and nodded, “That sounds amazingly good to me love.”

“Good, let me start it, and then we’ll get something to eat, and watch it”.
He nodded again and watched her walk into the kitchen to making something to eat, and sat down on the couch “Sounds like a plan, so I heard about Maggie and Smersh, they’re friends of yours, right?”.

Smiling big, “More like friends of a friend, but yeah, isn’t it romantic? After everything they’ve been through together, they are finally getting married.”
He nodded, smiling still, “It is very romantic babe, do they have a date set or anything?”

She shrugged, “Not that I know of, it happened while we were locking ourselves up and making each other spend time with the other.”

He laughed at her “Well, please, if you’d rather work, I’m all for it..”

Shaking her head and smiling “Oh no, I wouldn’t have it any other way.” She walked out of the kitchen and handing him a plate and sat down next to him, giving him another small kiss as she passed.

Eating while they talked, she leaned back on the couch and sighed. “So it sounds like they were doing something romantic at the same time we were…” He smiled at her, a mischievous smirk across his face.

Chuckling, “Yeah, ours tended to be a bit more than…. romantic… though..”

Laughing, he took stood up and took her plate and put it in the sink, then caught her cringing. He chuckled again, and rinsed them off and put them into the dishwasher. She curled up on the arm of the couch, and he walked back over to her and curled himself around her, pulling her body close to him, and smiled.

“I’m surprised you didn’t say something earlier. You know all of them right?”

She shrugged. “I know Seig, and have hung out with the rest of them a few times, but Smersh and Maggie are like the… Paragon Power Couple. I think everyone knows about them.”

Sighing she looked off into a small day dream, “It’s so romantic. I can’t imagine someone actually getting down on one knee and asking me to spend the rest of their life with them…” He looking at her unsure while she rambled. “Not that I’d need a ring to prove that you loved me, I know you love me babe, but it’s still very romantic.”

He nodded slightly, and coughed. “Really? What do you…ahh..” coughing again slightly “….think about.. you know… getting married?”

She looked at him and furrowed her eyebrows a little bit thinking. “Like I said, I don’t need a ring and a ceremony to know that you love me. I know that already.”

“But it’d show our commitment and love for each other to everyone…”

She nodded slightly, and looked at him curiously, canting her head slightly, “True, but I don’t need the public to know you love me. Me knowing is enough. You come home to me every night, and sleep in my bed and make love to me. What difference does the public make in all that?”

Nodding, he looked at her, “So you think it’s all romantic huh? Should I ask him for some pointers or something?”

Arching an eyebrow high, she looked at him confused, “Why would you need pointers love?”

He laughed gently at the look on her face, and leaned over to give her a small kiss, “Well, I know you’re a sucker for the romantic stuff, and I always want to give you the best.”

She chuckled at him, “You already do give me the best. Every night that you come home and kiss me and tell me that you love me. It’s the best feeling in the world, and I wouldn’t trade it for anything.”

Looking at her smiling big, he kissed her forehead, and stretched out on the couch pulling her gently on top of him, and down for a small kiss. “Besides, the less that you’re in the public, the better.” She chuckled.

“Oh yeah, why’s that?”

“Well, the more girls that know you and know who you are, the more likely that you’ll find one that wants you and you want more than me. Makes me want to just keep you the best kept secret in Paragon.”

“You’re the only one that wants me, trust me on this one.” He grinned at her “I’m the one that has to worry, remember?”

She laughed, rubbing her nose with his and teased, “Oh don’t worry, I’m not going anywhere, the sex is wwwaaayyy to good.”

Smirking, he looked at her and chuckled, “Oh yeah, is that so?” still chuckling, he gave a playful thrust with his hips and smiled at her, “Good thing we have a little bit of this thing called love, eh?”

Giggling, she smiled at him, “Oh yeah, that thing, I forget about it sometimes, since the sex so far outshines that little detail.”

He nibbled at her neck, and smiled big, as she nuzzled him. “Besides, who needs love when the sex is this amazing..” he chuckled.

She giggled some more and kissed him, “That’s what I was tryin to say!” she said as she ran a hand and ran it over his hair, smiling at him lovingly.

He smiled back at her, his green eyes glowing. She sat up, straddling him, and ran a hand through her own hair, and looked down at him, as he ran his hands up and down her sides.

“Babe, I want you to know, that I’d like to marry you one day. Any day really. No rush or anything. I just wanted you to know that.”

He blinked a few times, his smile slowly fading to a more serious look. “But the way you acted last time, when I gave you the ring as a present. You acted like… you didn’t like the thought of it or something”

She sighed, and ran a hand through her hair again, and explained, “We had never talked about it before. I had never given it serious thought. Thoughts in passing, sure, but not like most girls dream about it. Looking back it was a mistake that I freaked out last time. I would have said yes then, and I would say yes now.”

He didn’t say a word, but pulled her down to him and gave her a long, passionate kiss, rubbing her back, and running a hand through her hair and slowly resting the back of his hand gently on her cheek. It made her furrow her eyebrows and look at him.

“What was that for?”

“Nothing, you’re just…. amazing. You know that, right?”

She chuckled and smiled gently at him, “Oh yeah, what made me amazing this time? I just wanted to tell you how I felt. Smersh and Maggie getting engaged made me think about it.”

“I’m glad you did.” He answered with a small smile.

A small amount of nervousness crossed her face, and she looked at him, “I don’t want you to think I’m pushing for it, because I’m not. I just wanted you to know..”

He nodded slowly, the smile on his face growing slowly, “I know… no rush at all…. And for the record,” he leaned in close to her, and kissed the tip of her nose, “I’d love to get married one day too.”

She sighed in relief and nodded, “Good to hear, had me worried there for a minute.”

“Was there ever any doubt? I love you more than anything on the planet Dee. You’ve made me the happiest man in Paragon.”

“I love you too babe, but you had me worried there for a minute.”

“Aw, I’m sorry I didn’t mean to. I can’t think of anyone I’d rather have as Mrs. Light.” His hands rubbed her sides gently, and over her stomach, admiring her.

Starting to grin she repeated it to herself, “Mrs. Dione Light… Mrs… wow, that sounds great.”

He sighed happily and pulled her to him again, “I know, it has a great ring to it, doesn’t it? I don’t think that I’ve heard many things that sound better to me.”

“I just don’t want you to think that I’m pushing for it, because I’m not. I just know that guys feel pressure when others around ‘em start to settle down. First Quinn and now Smersh. Not that you know Smersh, but it still has to make you feel some pressure. I just don’t want you to think that I expect it. I mean… don’t get me wrong, it would be nice, but I don’t expect it. Your love is more than enough to keep me happy..”, she said, obviously starting to ramble.

Smiling, he stopped her with a gentle finger on her lips. “Dee, what about you? Women are usually the ones that are eager to get married. I can’t believe that you’ve never really thought about it, you’re too amazing.”

She kissed his finger and smiled gently, “Sure I’ve thought about it a little bit. You don’t get somewhat serious with someone without giving it a passing thought, but that’s it really. I never really thought that you, or anyone for that matter would really want to marry me. I’m not the marrying… type”

He hooked his head at her, “So you’ve thinking about it… me… and you?” taking a deep breath and shaking his head, “And why would you think that? I think you are.”

Furrowing her eyebrows for a second, “Sure I’ve thought about it. There’s so many people that are getting married or engaged around us, that sure, I’ve thought about it in passing, but giving it serious thought, no not really. I figured that if you’d been thinking about it, you’d come to me and talk about it.”

He nodded slowly, and nervousness slowly washed over his face, “well.. uhm… I’ve been thinking about it. In passing and seriously… I didn’t mention anything because… well… you seemed really opposed to it….”

Touching his face gently with the back of her hand, she looked at him curious, “You’ve really thought about it?”

He noded slowly, “Mhmmm…”

Eyeing him curiously she smiled slightly, “Like for a while now?”

He chuckled slightly, “Wouldn’t you like to know”

Poking him in the side tickling, she chuckled, “Actually, I would”

He responded by nuzzling her neck, kissing it and nipping at her ear, “Nuh uh… not telling” he chuckled. Sitting her back up, he slowly slipped his hands under her shirt, and lifting her shirt off, and kissed her stomach, and ran his hands over her back, and pulled her closer to him.

“Baby, I love you” She whispered to him, running her hands over his hair, she smiled down at him, watching him kiss her body.

“I love you too..” He said as he sat up, picked her up and carried her to their bedroom.

[Jade]

She growled at the enemy, her dark brown eyes glaring. “Stupid….. oversized…. plants!”

He chuckled at her and lined up for a sniper shot, watching her slashing the plants with her sword. “Dang babe, you look great doing that”

Looking over her shoulder quickly, shooting him a look of puzzlement, “What in the world are you talking about?”

He smiled big, “That sword, it’s very sexy.”

She laughed and went back to work, “Well, you know that your radiation makes me hot.”

He chuckled again and fired another shot, burning the seedy enemy, and sending it into the wall. She watched him intently, focusing on his powers, and how much they had grown since they had met. “Babe, I’m really glad you’ve been training with Jaidain, she has taught you so much more than I ever could have.”

He smiled at her, “I’m glad she is too, but I’m glad you are more.”

Dee chuckled, “She’s helping you a lot more than I am. Every time you go to train with her, you come home with a new trick. You’re amazing really. And I’m glad she’s helping you develop your powers.”

“You’re right, she has helped me a lot, but I like training with you more. I get to refine my “tricks” with you, and you’re very patient with me, if I mess something up. Not that she does….but you know.”

“You don’t require a lot of instruction, you’re a great learner.” she told him as she walked up to a box filled with papers. He leaned down, and opened it, rifling through it some.

“Posters” He said, “This one is full of posters…” He sighed and shook his head, “Oh and thank you for the compliment.”

She smiled at him, “You’re a great student, you were even able to pick up one of my empathy powers, I was very impressed.” she chuckled, “Maybe I should teach you how to absorb pain. You always ask about it, and always get jittery when I do it. If you were able to do it, maybe you’d understand it better when I do it.”

“Well, if I learn how to do it, you wouldn’t have to anymore, right?”

She shook her head and gave him a small kiss, “Babe, we both know that I will always have to do it.”

He sighed, “I just see what it does to you.”

She ran a hand through his hair and rubbed his back, “You’re always so giving, so loving. Knowing you, you’d try it because you saw me do it, and end up hurting yourself much worse than you’d have to.”

He smirked slightly at her, “Hey, better me than you.”

She shook her head, “If I can teach you how to do it right, it’s not nearly as bad. It’s when you first start that it’s hard”

He rubbed her sides, “How about this? Tomorrow night, is lesson time, tonight, we have plans.”

She furrowed her eyebrows, thinking, not remembering any plans that they had set.

He chuckled, and fired a shot at the last giant enemy, taking them down in one shot, “We have to hurry, the shops are going to close soon, and I owe you a pair of white heels.”

With the final shot, they checked their mission list and double-checked to make sure that they had found everyone they were looking for.

“Alright babe, I think we’re good to go.” He told her, double checking one last time. She nodded at him, and exited the mission. He walked out and smirked at her.

“As I recall, your favorite pair got ruined in the sewers helping me.”
She smiled, “And here I thought you’d forgotten.” She chuckled, “And you’re actually volunteering to go to the mall with me. Imagine that”

Pressing her body against his she stood on her tip toes to give him a kiss.
“I keep my promises, love. You know that.” He smiled and kissed her back, wrapping his arms around her lower back and pulled her up for another kiss. She smiled at him, knowing she doesn’t have to tell him she loves him, that her eyes tell him for her. He smiled back and scooped her up in his arms, carrying her to the ICON in Steel Canyon.

“Babe, these are the ones I want.” She said, after pointing to the 3rd white pair she’d tried on. “The heel on them is perfect.” she said, modeling them for him, taking a few sassy steps, and pivoting like a runway model.

He smiled at her and nodded. “Alright babe, you want to wear them out, or pack them back in the box?”

“I’ll just wear them out if that’s ok.”

“Of course its alright, that’s why I asked.” He smiled at her and stood up to give her a kiss. While she was playing with the straps, he went to the counter and paid for them.

“Alright, babe, we’re ready to go.” he told her, the smile on her face making every penny paid for the shoes worth it.

“Thanks again, you know, I could have just used one of the white pairs that I have. It’s not like I’m lacking in shoes.”

“I know, but I promised you, and I keep my promises. I was thinking we could window shop some around here too. There are a lot of nice stores right through here. Annnnd…..a quiet walk will do us some good too.”
She smiled and nodded, interlocked their fingers together, and walked out of the store.

“Thanks for comin with me babe, I know you don’t really like the whole shopping thing.” She said, as they passed a jewelry store, and she looked through the window.

Walking up behind her, he wrapped his arms around her waist and pointed to a ring in the front row of the window. She shrugged. “It’s alright, I’d rather have one that is smaller in size, higher in quality. Quality over quantity when it comes to diamonds.” He nodded and muttered to him self, “….quality over quantity….”

She turned around and smiled at him, wrapping her arms around his neck, she looked into his eyes, and grinned. “We keep coming back to this, don’t we?”

“We seem to. I wonder why?”

She shook her head, “I don’t know, but I don’t want you to think that I am doing it on purpose.”

“I don’t mind it, I know you aren’t. “

“Good.” She smiled at him, and took his hand again and continued to walk down the street. They browsed a few other stores flirting and smiling at each other, holding hands and playfully tickling occasionally or running a hand down the other’s back gently. After stopping in a small shop, they looked at each other, both clearly ready to go home and be alone with each other.

She walked to the door and smiled at him, pulling out her keys and unlocked their home. She sighed thinking about it. They had lived together for a while now, but it still made her think sometimes. Their home… together. She looked at him, his green eyes dancing with happiness, as he smiled at her. She knew how much he loved her, she didn’t need to ask. She sighed again thinking about it, thinking about how he touched her when he made love to her. It wasn’t just sex to either of them. It hadn’t been in a long time. She thought about the way he smiled at her when they saw each other for the first time at the end of the night, the way his voice jumped with happiness when she called him. They were perfect for each other, in every way imaginable, in a way she never thought it would be possible to her. Her only hope was that he knew how much she loved him, that her touch and kiss meant as much to him as his did to her. She suspected they did though.

She smiled, remembering the gift that she had gotten for him earlier that day, and walked around to their bedroom, grabbed it, and walked back out handing it to him. He looking at her “Babe, I don’t have anything to give back to ya.”

She shook her head, “I don’t give presents to get something in return…”

She motioned to the package, “Open it.”

Nodding slowly, he carefully unwrapped the small package, revealing a small picture frame, with a picture of the two of them together in it. “Aww… thanks honey, it’ll go perfect on my desk at work.”

She smiled at nodded, “That was the intent, I have the same one at my desk in the D.”

He wrapped her up for a big hug, “Thanks again.” he said smiling, and after he let her go, she walked to the living room and put in the movies that they had tried to watch the other night.

Chuckling slightly, “I wonder if we can actually watch these tonight, we’ve been trying to for a week now.”

Smiling, he laughed, and walked into the kitchen “Do you want me to make some popcorn?”

“Naw, popcorn doesn’t fit with my diet, but an apple or something sounds great.” She called to him, fiddling with the DVD player, trying to make it work.

Popping his head around the corner he looked at her confused, “Diet? Why?”

Still calling over to him, “Well, just tryin to get into better shape. Wanting to drop a few pounds and all.”

Grabbing an apple he smiled, and walked back over to her, hit the power button on the DVD player as he passed to go to the couch, and watched as she shook her head in frustration, trying not to laugh at her. Patting the couch next to him, he motioned for her to come sit with him, he smiled, “Common babe, it’s going, come sit with me.”

She nodded slowly, and walked over to the couch, taking the apple from him, and taking a big bite, while rubbing her stomach. “I don’t think that I’m horrible looking, I just wish there are some things that were different.”

Chuckling, he tackled her on the couch gently, and showered her neck and the top of her chest with kisses, slowly working his way down to her stomach, lifting her shirt slightly, and kissing it. “Mhmm…. Just fine, just like I said.” he said, nipping at it with his teeth.

Pushing him away playfully, she giggled, “I’m glad you think so.”
“Mmm… babe, I know so.” he said to her as he crawled off her and laid down, pulling her onto him for a hug.

Looking at her, he sighed contently, running a hand over her hair, “Hon, I know we planned it, but can we skip the movies tonight. Normally we go to bed and sleep or have sex, but tonight, can we just lay there and talk, and hold each other?”

Nodding slowly, she smiled at him, “I’d love that. We don’t get to lay in bed and talk very often.”

He sat up, and slipped off the couch, “Let me brush my teeth, and then I’ll be in there.” She said to him, kissing him gently as he stood up. Nodding, he smiled at her, walking back into their bedroom. She went into the bathroom and brushed her teeth, sighing contently.

He was waiting for her in their bed, with the covers pulled back, arms open and inviting. She wiggled out of her clothes and slipped into bed, pressing her small body against his and running a hand over his hair, thinking about everything that had been happening around them. With Fed and Star gone missing, she looked at him sad, “Babe, I want you to know that if something happened to you, it would practically kill me.”

Nodding slowly, understanding what she was thinking, he squeezed her tight “Me too love. It hurts me just to think about loosing you.”

He sighed and leaned down, kissing her sweetly at first then deepening the kiss, running his hands over her body. She took a deep breath and kissed him back hungrily, almost with a sense of urgency. Wrapping an arm around his neck, she pulled him closer, and he rolled over, covering her small frame with his and touching her sweetly, wrapping an arm around her back, and pulling her up to him, kissing her again and smiled gently at her.

[Jade]

It was almost 3PM when she woke up, the night and early morning before leaving a smile on her face, and her body relaxed. She sighed and rolled over, expecting to find him there. Instead, she rolled over to a single, long stemmed rose, and a note that read.

“Dee,
G’morning beautiful….I really wish I could be here beside you and see that smiling face of yours when you wake up, but Ms. Sagara called me. Dr. Ido thinks he’s found some kind of breakthrough with the Unity Plague and asked that I come help him with it. I’m not sure how long I’ll be, but believe me….I’d much rather be laying here with you than in some lab a ghra. I love you very much and can’t wait to get home to you.

Always & Forever,
V

PS.
I left unburnt cinnamon rolls in the kitchen for you for breakfast.”

She smiled, putting her nose gently against the rose pedals and took a deep breath, smelling the sweet scent. Rolling over again, she pulled his pillow close to her smelling again, his scent masculine, and making her grin broadly. Putting the pillow back, she rolled out of bed and pulled the covers up, tucking in the sides, making it.

Stretching her arms to the ceiling and running her hands through her hair in a daydream, knowing that if he was there, he’d be touching her, running his hands up and down her sides, she walked into the bathroom, and turned on the shower to full blast. Checking the temperature, she stepped in, the hot water stinging her skin, turning it red, and tilting her head back, running her hands over her hair washing it with her sweet smelling shampoo, brushing it all back. Sighing, she lathered up, rinsed off and stepped out, the water from her hair soaking the rug, and she grabbed a towel, and wrapped it around her body.

Walking out of the bathroom, into the kitchen she grabbed an orange and sat down at the table peeling it when she heard the knock on the door. It startled her out of her daydream, causing her to jump. “Dee, you’re such a wuss.” she told herself, shaking her head and chuckling, as she answered the door. She stood behind it, peering around the edge, looking out to see a man dressed in a business suit.

“Heya, what can I do for ya?”

“Ms. Rhiana Blair?”

Furrowing her eyebrows slightly she looked at him, “Nope, I’m afraid you have the wrong house hon.”

He double checked his communicator, making a few beeps and blips, “Rhiana Blair, Hero name Dione, 1200 West Terrace, Suite 110” Looking up at the numbers by her door, then back at her, “This is 1200 West Terrace, Suite 110.”

She shook her head confused, “I am “hero name Dione” and my address is 1200 West Terrace, and this is suite 110, but I’ve never heard of the name Rhiana Blair.”

He looked at her, “Ma’am, may I come in?”

Eyeing him suspiciously, she nodded, securing the towel around her tighter and opening the door. He walked through, looking around, examining her house and she closed the door behind him.

Motioning to the couch, “Please, sit down, I’ll be right back,” Motioning to the towel, “As you can see, I wasn’t prepared for company.”

“Take your time Ms. Blair.”

Furrowing her eyebrows and shaking her head she walked into the bedroom and hurriedly got dressed taking out her comm and dialed Virgil.

Ring

Ring

She cursed silently when she got his voicemail and hung up. “V, I don’t have a good feeling about this…” she muttered, as she did up the final button on her jeans and walked back out to the front room, grabbing a comb from the bathroom on her way out.

Standing there combing her still wet hair, she looked at him. “Alright, so, I am Dione, maybe you have the wrong one? There are more than one in this city, I’m sure.”

He shook his head, “No ma’am, while you were gone I double checked, cross referencing a picture.” He turned the communicator around showing her a picture of her standing at her door in her old apartment in skyway, “You are the person I am looking for.”

She’d known someone had been watching her when she lived in Skyway, but the fact that someone had a picture of her standing at her door made her skin crawl. “Yeah, that’s me.” she told him, “So who is this Rhiana Blair person you keep talking about?”

“Ma’am that’s you.” he looked back down at his comm. and furiously tapped the screen a few more times, reading off data to her, “Rhiana Blair, daughter of Omega 4-4-2 Red, and Anna Blair. Age 26. Sex Female. Height, 5 feet 2 inches. Hero Names, Dione, Elemental Moon, and Saturn’s Orbit.”

As he read the data to her, she slowly sunk into the recliner in their living room feeling a bit light headed. “Ma’am, how did you not have access to this information? My associate should have been here already with this information, I was just here to relay more information regarding your father.”

Her head started to spin, her thoughts cloudy, “My father…” she muttered, gripping the arm of the chair. “That sounds like a high ranking Malta Operative…” she said, feeling dizzy.

Still furiously tapping the screen of his comm he told her, “My associate never came?” He asked her in a frenzy.

Shaking her head absently trying to absorb the information that she had just heard, “No, no one ever came.”

He looked at her, the fear apparent on his face, “Then that means one thing.” He told her as he stood up, “We need to go, as he’s in danger.”

She looked up at him, still slightly dazed, and thought about it for a second. Furrowing her eyebrows again, “Why should I trust you at all?

How do I know you aren’t walking me into a trap?”

His stare piercing, “My partner is obviously in danger. In danger because he was trying to relay information to you. I expected more from someone that has been awarded Hero of the City, and especially someone that has been awarded it twice.”

She sighed and nodded, “Fine just give me a second, I need to make a phone call.”

He nodded, “Virgil Light, Hero name, Doctor Blight. Registered as Science Origin.”

Snapping out of her daze from the information, she glared and grabbed him by his tie, yanking him upward, “You leave him alone, you hear me?” she almost growled at the man.

His eyes wide, he nodded furiously and she released him with a slight shove. He shrugged a few times and readjusted his tie, clearing his throat. “They don’t want anything to do with him anyway.”

She narrowed her gaze at him and took out her phone, and dialed his number.

Ring

Ring

She cursed silently again, listening to the voicemail recording of his voice, and hearing the beep before she hung up. “You are getting a new phone when you get home babe.” she muttered and walked to the door, motioning for her guest to follow her. “Lets go.” she told him, and locked the door behind them.

He nodded, “Now when we get there, I’ll have to leave you at the base door. If they know I escorted you, I’ll end up with the same fate as I fear my partner has.”

She looked at him amazed, “You mean, on top of being guilted into coming along on this, you expect me to do it alone? Gah for the life of a Hero….”

He stared at her, “Look, the only reason we’re in this situation in the first place is because he was trying to relay you information. Information about yourself at that. Information you’d never have access to otherwise.”

Sighing aggravated, she followed him silently to the base door in the back of Crey’s Folly. “Alright, this is the end of the line for me. Be careful in there…”

She nodded, opening the door quietly, and stepping inside.

She could feel the electricity in the air. It made the hair on her arms stand up and her nerves go on edge. Virgil always told her to listen to her instincts, and this was one of the times that they told her whatever was coming up was not going to be pretty. Hiding herself in the shadows as best as she could, she lined up for a sniper shot, concentrating to form a large burst of dark energy, but before she was able to fire the shot, she was tackled and tazzered, causing her body to convulse violently until she blacked out.

She groaned, her world still black. The rope tying her wrists was cutting her, leaving burns on her delicate, white skin.

Her eyelashes fluttered open, her vision blurry as she slowly tried to focus, the large brim of the gunslinger’s hat nearly touching her forehead. “She’s wakin’ up.” his accent thick with a Texas drawl.

Groaning, she took a few deep breaths, trying to calm herself. The sapper stared at her, his beady eyes lining up with the sapping gun pointed at her. “You try anything, ol’ boy there will be sure to sap and taze again. Understand?”

Still trying to focus, she nodded slowly and groaned again. “How long have I been here?” She asked, groaning, the ropes around her wrists burning even more.

“You were out almost 8 hours.” He smirked at her, “We expected more from you Dione.”

She looked at him, still dazed, her head bobbing, still not under her control.

“How did ya know we were here?” Still blinking her eyes finally brought the gunslinger into focus, his yellow teeth so close to her face, she could see the stains from his chewing tobacco. Smirking at her he held one of his six shooters in her gut. “I’m askin you one more time, and then I’m shooting. How did you know we were here, and what were you looking for?”

She shook her head slowly, “I don’t know anything. I heard a disturbance as I was passing by, so I stopped.” she lied to him, blinking and rolling her eyes, groaning again, “And if you wouldn’t mind getting that gun out of my gut, I’d appreciate it..” Leaning in closer to her, she could feel his breathe on her face, “A sassy one,” smirking, his breath rank in her face, “I like em sassy.” She glared, the adrenaline in her body starting to overtake the pain. Taking a deep breath, she concentrated for a second and cast off a healing aura, making some of her own wounds heal slightly.

“What in the hell?!” the gunslinger yelled at her, and stuck a tazer in stomach which was followed by the sapper, who drained her. She screamed out in pain. “I don’t know anything!”

“Jesus Christ!” she screamed as they hit her with the tazzer again. “What in the hell do you want?!” her small body still shaking violently as she hung, the rope digging into her wrists even harder as her body convulsed and turned.

His eyes narrowed as he got into her face, and ran his thumb over the blood coming from the corner of her mouth, smearing it across her face. “We want to know what you wanted when you came here.”

“Go to hell…” she growled under her breath, and spitting in his face, her spit mixed with blood, splotching color all over his face.

“You bitch.” he growled, sticking the gun in her gut as he wiped her blood off his face with the back of his hand. “You’re gonna to pay for that. We know more about you than you ever will.” He walked back to a Tactical Operative which handed him a comm unit. “Rhiana Blair, Age 26. Date of Birth: December 3rd, Address: 1200 West Terrace, Suite 110. Which is also residency of Doctor Virgil B. Light.” He looked up at her and smirked.

She started struggling violently, screaming “What do you want to know?! Just leave him alone! He has nothing to do with any of this!”

The gunslinger laughed, the old warehouse echoing eerily as he narrowed his gaze at her smirking. “We’ll go after him if you don’t tell us what we need to know.”

Hanging her head, her body stretched like an animal, she took a few deep breaths and blinked a few times.

Was that an energy blast she heard? Virgil? How would he know where to find her? Her eyes watered and she looked up at the gunslinger and growled as he turned his back to her laughing again. “Hey asshole, I’m not telling you ****!”

Turning around slowly he glared at her, his black eyes intense with hatred. He stomped up to her, and punched her in the gut, making her fold up some and groan. “Oh yeah?” He punched her again this time in the face, the blood coming from her mouth now. “How about now?!” he glared at her. She spit in his face again, this time the blood outweighing the spit. “You whore..” he growled and tazzered her in the stomach, making her body convulse in the ropes as he turned, wiping his face again.

They were getting louder. She heard them now. All the energy blasts. The tactical operative rushed up to the gunslinger, and whispered in his ear. Glaring at Dione, he yelled over his shoulder “Cut her down, quickly, we have company.” and pointed to the Herc class titan standing close by. “You. Bring her with me.” and spun on his heel, turning to face the incoming threat.

She saw him then, there with Exodus. His face intense, dark skin sweaty, the fear and worry written all over him. She’d never doubted him, she knew he’d find her.

Her Champion.

She struggled violently against the roped, “VIRGIL!” she screamed, but he didn’t hear her, the Herc class titan fired a shot at her wrists, burning the ropes off of her skin, causing her to fall to the floor, her small body crumpling into a ball as she hit. A moment later she struggled to stand up, pulling against the pole that she was strung up on, her legs shaking.
The Herc Class titan grabbed her, and started to carry her away from them. “I’ll never tell you anything!” she kicked the Titan in the control panel forcing it to drop her.

The gunslinger whipped around, and only for a second, their eyes met. She knew what was coming. What he planned to do. She watched him pull out his guns and aim at her. She could almost taste the cold steel in her mouth with the thought.

Each bullet entered her body like it was slow motion, ripping into her flesh with deadly accuracy, Knocking her back against the wall she put a hand over the wound for a second before she fell over. First to her knees, looking at the gunslinger for just one last second, her brown eyes huge with shock, as she fell.

Darkness surrounded her, it’s cold chill causing her to shiver and convulse. She whispered his name one last time before letting herself sink under.

[Impact]

Somehow he’d managed to wake up before Dee had the next morning. He grinned while he stretched quietly in bed, his body still aching in the best of ways and leaned over, placing a soft kiss on his lover’s head. Carefully slipping his arm from under her, he propped himself up on his elbow and sighed contently, watching her sleep.

“You’re so beautiful….” He whispered to her, caressing her face softly and brushing her hair back from her face. Slowly he climbed out of bed and got dressed, pulling on the clothes that they’d flung on the floor the night before. As he began to walk out into the hallway, he stopped, looked at her again, then shook his head, grinning as he folded the clothes on the floor and put them away neatly, just like she always did.

Laughing to himself he stepped just outside their apartment and bought a single long stemmed red rose and crept back upstairs, and placed it in a vase on the counter. He sniffed it once while he waited for the cinnamon rolls to finish cooking.

“Cinnamon rolls….hehe hopefully we’ll actually get to have them this time…”

He’d just pulled them from the oven when he heard his phone ringing in the living room. Sprinting as quietly as he could to it he snatched it open and listened, hoping it hadn’t woken Dee from her peaceful sleep.

“Hello….Virgil here…”

“Good afternoon Dr. Light, how are you?”

“Oh I’m doing great Ms. Sagara, what’s going on?

“Dr. Light….I know today’s your day off but…”

He visibly slumped…all he wanted to do today was lounge around….but as usual that plan seemed to be going down the microtube. He knew exactly what that phrase meant….

“….something’s come up with the Unity Plague …Dr. Ido’s lab called this morning and said that he requested your assistance with what he believes may be a cure.”

Virgil walked down the hallway. He’d been working on this case for weeks nearly nonstop, with the exception of last weekend and was spending more and more time in the laboratory and less time with Dee….but if this was a chance to find a genuine cure….watching her sleep he heard her words echo in his mind.

“Baby….we’re heroes first….lovers second…”

He held the phone silently in his hand.

“Hello? Dr. Light? Virgil?”

“Yes…yes…I’m here Ms. Sagara…

“Well…what will it be? I’m not telling you that you ‘have’ to go as your boss, but….I think it would be in your best interests……and in the interests of the city….don’t you agree?”

“Yes….tell them I’ll be there as soon as I can.”

“Alright….I’ll meet you there Virgil….and thank you for coming.”

“Yeah…sure…” He hung up the phone, quickly jumped in the shower and got dressed. Pulling a piece of paper from the tablet they kept in the kitchen, he quickly wrote her a note and placed it, along with the rose in his place in bed.

“Dee,
G’morning beautiful….I really wish I could be here beside you and see that smiling face of yours when you wake up, but Ms. Sagara called me. Dr. Ido thinks he’s found some kind of breakthrough with the Unity Plague and asked that I come help him with it. I’m not sure how long I’ll be, but believe me….I’d much rather be laying here with you than in some lab a ghra. I love you very much and can’t wait to get home to you.

Always & Forever,
V

PS.
I left unburnt cinnamon rolls in the kitchen for you for breakfast.”

Placing a soft kiss on her forehead, he leaned down and hugged her. “Be careful if you head out today love..” He smiled as she stirred slightly, the look on her face one of contentment and peace. Locking the door behind him, he quickly flew to the lab in Talos. Arriving there, it seemed like the place was a nuthouse. Assistants were carrying test results to and fro, reading and tearing off printouts and matching them up with other tests. His boss, Ms. Sagara, walked up to him in her usual pinkish lab coat and flipped her long black hair, opening her arms as if to ask for a hug. Blinking his green eyes, he shook his head at her and He promptly ignored her, said hello and pulled on his lab coat, quickly buttoning it up.

“What’s the situation like Ms Sagara?” He asked as he briskly walked through the assistants back to the main lab, and looked around for Dr. Ido.

“Dr. Ido says he’s in the final stages of creating a living anti-virus for the Unity Plague.” She slid a bit too close behind him and pointed under his arm. “He’s that way…”

Stepping away and giving her a weird look he hurried down the hall and finally found the doctor. The two nodded to one another as Virgil joined him, followed shortly by Ms. Sagara, at the huge lab counter, strewn with beakers, jars, and vials. After a few moments of explaining, Dr. Ido handed him a cooler filled with vials containing a living anti-virus. Pulling one out he held it up and looked into the clear vial, it didn’t seem like much, and was warm in his palm, but if Dr. Ido said it’d work, and according to what he’d seen of the notes and calculations it should work. Now all he had to do was deliver it to the city’s legendary heroes and trainers. As he flew through Atlas to see Ms. Liberty he passed by the apartment. Landing on the balcony he poked his head inside and listened, calling for Dee but hearing only silence.

“Hmm…guess she’s out and about…”

He glanced down at his phone and seeing no missed calls and shrugged. If she was going to be gone for too long he knew she’d call him. With another shrug he locked up and set out traveling to each part of Paragon and delivering what would hopefully cure something that 90% of the residents of the city didn’t even know they had.

As the night stretched on, Doctor Blight his work, and by the time he made his way to Numina, the last of the heroic icons of the city he needed to speak with, he was more than a little distracted. Taking a moment he pulled out his phone and called their apartment….no answer. Then he tried her phone only to get her answering machine.

“Hey hun….I think I’m almost done….hopefully I’ll be home and we can have a breakfast at sunrise together….hope this didn’t wake you…*yawn* I love you.”

Turning to leave he was stopped as Numina cried out. Dropping down beside her she began to fill him in on a vision that she apparently had just received.

“You must hurry Doctor Blight….as we speak they….they are creating…twisting and mutating their virus….”

Nodding again he checked the time, not like he needed to know…the edges of the sky showed the beginnings of sunrise. Flipping his comm to the open channel Dr. Blight asked for any available heroes who could help him get into the sewers and destroy the remains of the virus once and for all.

Again, more silence.

Finally a crisp voice replied. “I’m free to help you Doctor. Where should I meet you?”

“Founders…as quick as you can. I’m sending you the coordinates now.” “Affirmative. Captain Blastin out.”

As they entered the sewers, he noticed the Captain carrying a small communicator with the Defenders of Paragon logo on it.

“So…you’re a Defender too?”

He nodded while he checked his equipment, and cocked his gun.

“I’m new to the team so I was assigned the early patrol….or late depending on how you look at it.”

“Really....Well do you know if a Defender by the name of Dione was on patrol tonight?”

Stopping for a moment he shook his head. “No….just me and a few others….but she wasn’t one of them.”

Virgil’s head dropped some. It was too strange for Dee not to have called him if she wasn’t home or was going to be busy overnight. He could feel the worry starting to creep up in his chest but he swallowed it down, afterall, Dee was more than able to fend for herself……she wasn’t awarded Hero of the City for no reason. Turning to his partner he swallowed again and nodded, his hand glowing green with radiation.

“Let’s get this over with Captain. The sooner we’re done…*yawn* the sooner I can get home to my baby.”

Giving a quick salute the Captain motioned ahead with his gun. “Lead the way Doctor.” Trying to use the shadows for cover as best they could the two heroes began their journey, encountering wave after wave of the mutanted plant beasts. Their goal was simple, to find the potentially new version of the Unity Plague and destroy it, which they did easily enough once they came upon the first canister. His eyes glowing, Dr. Blight began to break down the sealed container with radiation which allowed the Captain’s well placed bomb to easily get rid of the problem. Time seem to slip away and after hours of searching Dr. Blight received a telepathic “all clear” from Numina.

Looking at each other, the two heroes sighed with relief and were greeted by a bright sunshine as they came back to the surface. Giving another long yawn Virgil thanked the Captain and started back home in Atlas. In Steel Canyon his heart leapt as his phone rang, fumbling with it for a few seconds in his tired hands he swooped down and caught it as it slipped away, answering it hurriedly.

“Hello!? Dee, that you hun?”

“Ahh…no. Virgil it’s Victoria.”

“…oh..” His body slumped in midair. “What’s going on now?”

“Nothing at all Virgil. I actually was calling to see if you’d like to go out to celebrate. It won’t be just me..but lots of other people from the lab too.”

“No thanks Ms. Sagara.”

“Please….call my Vicky.”

“Uh…right….but I’m really too tired and I just want to get home, see Dee and fall asleep on her lap. Thanks anyway for the invite though.”

Silence. To Virgil it was perfectly alright, he’d just landed on the balcony to the apartment.

“Well…on that note Ms Sagara, I’m home so I’ll see you sometime at work. Bye.”

Before she could protest he hung up the phone and flopped back on the neatly made bed.

“Dee!! I’m home!”

Stretching out, he listened quietly, hoping she’d been in the shower or something since she normally met him on the balcony with a huge hug. All he heard was silence.

“That’s weird…” he thought, slowly pulling his body from the comfy bed and walking around the house. The breakfast he’d made was out, but only one of them was eaten on….and it was only a few bites from the looks of it. Walking back to the bedroom he grabbed his phone and check his messages….nothing their either, not even a single missed call. Looking down he stopped himself from pacing the floor.

“V….get it together man…”

Sitting down on the couch he looked at the clock, but saw a blur. He rubbed his eyes absently…..not getting any sleep was slowly catching up to him now that the adrenaline was fading. Taking a slow breath he focused his power on himself, giving his body a bit of an energy boost from the radiation within it.

“Alright…there has to be an explanation for all this…”

Calming himself he tossed his costume in the automatic washer/dryer combo that he’d built and took a nice hot, albeit a bit short, shower. Drying himself quickly he got dressed in his costume and headed for Steel Canyon. There was one place he could find out for sure if she was out on assignment or not. 'The D', the Defenders of Paragon headquarters.

[Impact]

Landing in front of the lobby area, Virgil strode inside and waited for the secretary to finish the phone call she was answering. Leaning over the counter he tried to smile, despite the worry and weariness he was feeling.

“Hi there, I know this is going to sound strange, but I was wondering if you could tell me where a hero named Dione is? She’s a member of the Defenders.”

The woman shook her head slowly, a slight frown appearing.

“I’m sorry sir..” she answered, “..but I’m not able to give that kind of information to unauthorized people. Who knows who might take advantage of it if I did.”

Nodding slowly, Virgil tried his best to keep smiling. “I totally understand, believe me. But I’m her boyfriend. I know I’ve only been in here once before but there has to be some way for me to find out where she could possibly be…..a list of her assignments maybe? Is there any way you could give me that?”

She shook her head again, leaning back in her chair some. “I’m sorry sir. Defender personnel only.”

Virgil sighed and snapped. “Ok…Defenders only. I gotcha. So tell me, is Frost Sampson around anywhere?” He smiled to himself. “If Max is around I’m sure he’ll clear this up and help me find Dee easy.”

Sitting up to her desk the woman began typing something into the computer then shook her head. “I’m sorry sir. Mr. Sampson is on leave right now. He said that anyone who may need him would know how to contact him.”

He sighed and pulled out his phone….”crap….I didn’t put his new number in yet…” Mentally kicking himself he saw the new number written out on a sticky note on the fridge. “Ok…what about Brim?”

Nodding again the woman began typing away and shook her head again. “Mr. Brim and Ms. Wind are both currently on vacation. They left word specifically not to be disturbed unless it was an emergency.”

The lack of sleep had already made the normally calm Dr. Blight a bit on edge but the knot of worry he felt in his chest only made his exasperation all the more obvious. “Look….this IS an emergency.” He leaned his body over the desk some. “Dee didn’t come home last night and she didn’t call…at ALL. She ALWAYS calls to let me know if something’s keeping her out late.”

Obviously a bit startled by the young man, the secretary leaned back some and shook her head. “I’m truly and deeply sorry sir. But without someone to verify that you are who you say you are….I cannot help you.” She stopped for a moment. “I’m sure you understand why a procedure like this is in place…”

Sighing again Virgil leaned back from the counter and put his head down. “I understand totally…it’s just….oh man…I hate to even ask this…but I don’t have a choice right now…is Exodus in?”

Returning to her computer once more the secretary smiled gently. “Actually….he should be checking in any moment now.”

“That’s great…” he answered half heartedly.

Sitting up in her chair some she pointed back over his shoulder. “I believe that’s him landing right now.”

Turning Virgil briskly walked up to meet him as he landed. “Exodus. I need a favor.” The hero blinked a few times, obviously surprised to see one of the leaders of the Justice Guard in the Defenders HQ, but he decided not to ask once he read the worry on Virgil’s face. "Sure…what’s up?”

“Have you seen Dee? She didn’t come home last night and hasn’t called…”

Dr. Blight was stopped as Exodus put up a hand, motioning to calm him some, but really only aggravating him a bit more, as he spoke to the secretary. “I’m in.” he said, flashing her a bright grin. Turning back to Virgil he shook his head, “You know….I actually haven’t seen her lately. Is anything wrong Blight?”

“I hope there isn’t. She hasn’t answered her phone and didn’t leave any kind of message. I haven’t seen or heard from her in a long time…which isn’t like her at all. We always call to let one another know if we’re gonna be out late.” He said, trying his best to stay calm, the two of them were just beginning to be friends…if only for Dee’s sake. It wouldn’t help things for him to get into another fight with him. “I came to get her assignment list, but she..” he motioned to the secretary, “wouldn’t give it to me. That’s why I need the favor.”

“Yeah? And what makes you think she was out on assignment?” Exodus replied with a smirk. “She could have just crashed at a friend’s house after some good ole fun.”

Blight’s green eyes flared, as his temper began to do the same. “Hardly. Even if she was drunk she’d have called. Now…are you going to do it or not? I don’t have time for your games.”

“You wanted her assignment list?”

“That’s what I said, and I’m really not in the mood to deal with your crap. Something could’ve happened to her.”

Exodus strolled over to the secretary and smiled, holding out his hand. “I apologize for Doc Blight here.”

“Oh it’s no problem Exo.”, she said, returning the grin as she handed him a list.

Behind them Blight gritted his teeth. “You know…you must be some friend to be as worried as you are.” Exodus turned and looked at him, smiling. “She’s a member of the Defenders for a reason.” “Yeah…well she was my girlfriend long before she was a Defender. Don’t forget that.” Raising his hands in a gesture of peace Exodus handed him the list. “Easy there…simmer down Blight. Now…will you be needing any assistance? There’s no reason to get heated…”

“Right..” Blight answered as he took the list and stared at him. “Anyway…thanks.” He turned and pushed open one of the double doors then turned and looked back at Exodus. “Actually….yeah…I might need you to come with me….I’ve got a bad feeling about it all…” he smirked. “And…since Frost or Brim aren’t around I guess you’ll have to do…now are you coming?”

Exodus nodded and grinned as he walked towards the doors. “I bet you’d need the backup.” “Right…whatever you say.” Blight answered, taking to the sky, checking the list then looking around.

“The first thing on the list is here in Steel. Let’s check there first.”

“You’ve got the list. I’m following you.”

Nodding he took off towards the coordinates on the printout with Exodus following close behind him. As they landed, Blight stopped and turned to Exodus. “Thanks for coming….just for the record…if I’m wrong I’ll buy you a round later on.” Ex smiled a bit. “Well…can’t go wrong there.” “Yeah…right..”

Slowly the two made their way inside the building. Supposedly it was the site of yet another one of Crey’s undercover operations.

“Alright…let’s split up, we’ll cover more ground that way.” He said, motioning to the splitting hallways.

Ex nodded. “Yeah…but it looks like she cleaned the place up good..”

“Right….just keep your comm on in case you need saving again.” Virgil chuckled nervously, obviously trying to reassure himself.

“You know....Dee must be helping you with your funnies…that was almost a good one.”

“She’s been helping me with a lot of things…” his voice slowly trailing off as he kept searching for some kind of sign…

After several complete sweeps of the building, Blight tapped his comm. "So…you got anything?”

“Nothing…looks clear. I’d definitely say she’s been here.”

“Right…” Blight nodded and walked outside, squinting in the setting sun as he checked the next place on the list. “Alright….Brickstown next..”

Exodus nodded and the two lifted up into the air, heading for the tram station when his phone rang. “What the? Ahh..just a sec..”

Blight turned and looked back at him, rolling his eyes. “What…one of your many fans?”

Ex shook his head as he answered the call. “Hello.”

“Hello…I may have certain information which you may be interested in.”

“Ok…who am I speaking with?” Exodus asked, while Blight floated a little closer looking more impatient by the second. He was stopped by Exodus putting his hand up once again and turning in the opposite direction.

“Who you are speaking with is not important…..Who you are looking for is.”

Blight growled audibly, his thin strip of patience slowly fading away, as Exodus squinted, continuing his conversation.

“Wait….how do you…”

Finally Blight had had enough and moved close enough where he was sure Exodus could hear him. “LOOK….I don’t have time to sit here and wait for you to finish having phone sex with one of your groupies….we NEED to find Dee.” Ex waved his hand again at Blight, his expression serious.

“I have information on Ms. Rhiana Blair.” The voice continued on the phone.

“And who would that be?” Ex asked.

“Ah yes….you heroes and your multiple identities…” He paused for a moment. “You know her as, Dione I believe.”

Blight was about to say something else when he saw the wide eyed look on Exodus’ face. “Who is it?” he mouthed. Sighing Exodus pulled the phone from his ear and put his hand over the receiver. “This guy knows something about Dee. Now if you’d stop being an imbecile, maybe I can find out where she is.” Blight floated there, frozen in shock as Exodus put the phone back to his ear.

“Yes….what do you know about her?”

“I can’t talk too much on the airwaves” he replied, “I need you to meet me.”

Blight folded his arms, trying to wait patiently for some word on his love as Exodus continued to talk, nodding slowly before he hung up the phone.

“We have to go to Bricks…the guy said he knew something about Dee…” he stated shortly, then took off towards the tram.

“Hey! Wait! What’d he say about her!?

He looked back at Blight as they flew over Brickstown “He said we need to hurry…he couldn’t talk long…”

Some of the color left Blight’s face as he listened, the two of them landing at the gate.

“Well? Did he say how she was?”

Exodus continued looking around the entrance.

“You didn’t answer my question Exodus.”

“…he didn’t say…so I guess we’ll find out.”

“Well? Where is this guy??” Blight asked, looking around then stopped his gaze on a man dressed in a white tuxedo. “Are you the guy we’re looking for?”

Slowly he stepped out into the starlight in Brickstown and nodded. That was all the answer Blight needed. In an instant he nearly attacked the man, bombarding him with questions.

“What’s going on? What do you know about Dee? Is she ok? Where is she!?”

“You’ll find out soon enough….until then you should follow me.”

Stepping forward, Exodus placed his arm on the man’s shoulder and headed through the entrance to Crey’s Folly, glancing back at Blight.

“Try to calm…” he nearly finished but stopped, seeing a look on Blight’s face he’d never seen before. It wasn’t just worry or anger….it was fear.

The three of them entered the Folly quietly, the night air seemingly alive even though not a single star cast it’s light down. Stepping in front of Exodus, Blight stood face to face with the mystery informant, the fear on his face replaced by a cold, angry glare, highlighted by smoking puffs of radiation pouring from his eye sockets.

“ENOUGH! We’ve jumped through your hoops! Now where is she!?!”

The man shrunk back a step from Blight, then looked from Exodus back to him. “If you wish to save her we have to go now. There isn’t time to waste.”

Already floating up into the sky, Exodus nodded. “Lead the way then.” Casting a look back at Blight the man took to the air as well, followed quickly by Blight, who left a wake of radiation across the air as he flew, his eyes wide as the man’s words sunk in.

“What is it….what’s wrong with her!?”

Staring straight ahead the man continued his explanation.

“Her father was a Malta Operative.”

Exodus and Blight exchanged wide eyed glances.

“She doesn’t even know who her parents are…” Blight whispered. “How would you know something like that?”

“Malta recently linked ties to her through her father. Her mother was nothing indifferent to the general population, but my sources say she was a good woman.”

The man looked at both of the heroes as they landed outside a warehouse on the outskirts of the Folly. “Her father was a high ranking officer. Designated Omega 4-4-2 Red. He was a part of a specially trained unit of soldiers trained to combat and defeat super powered heroes like Ms Liberty and Statesman himself.”

“My question is, how do you know all this when even the file we have at the Defenders headquarters shows none of this?” Exodus said, finally speaking up. The radiation pouring off his body again, Blight stepped towards the mystery man once again. “Good question….but I’ve got some better ones….like where’d Dee….is she ok…..and just who are you?” With another step the literally steaming Blight stood in the man’s face, glaring at him.

“Whoaa…..ease off super…I’m trying to help YOU remember.” The man took a step back and fixed his tuxedo jacket. “And…if my information is correct what I’ve told you is all YOU know.” “Yeah so!? I tell you….if I find out you’ve done anything to hurt her….”

Hesitantly Exodus placed his hand on Blight’s shoulder, motioning to the doorway with his thumb. “This is the place right?” The man nodded. “I hope you two realize the danger I’m taking in going against the Malta…I’m only doing this to help.” “No…” Blight turned, opening the door to the warehouse. “…they’re the ones in danger if they’ve done anything to her.” Steeling his emerald eyes, he motioned to Exodus. “C’mon…let’s go.” Opening the door Blight walked inside, the shadows seemingly reaching out, pulling in the green glow from his body. As Exodus followed behind him the man reached out and touched his shoulder.

“Wait….here take this.” He pulled a silver case from his pocket and put it into Exodus’ hand. “Inside here is a copy of all the information I gave you….use it well….and good luck….” Exodus nodded slowly then walked inside. Beyond the door he found Blight waiting, arms crossed as he stared down the hallway crawling with Malta agents. Just at the edge of their view, the large, towering form of a Hercules seemed to be standing guard.

[Impact]

Exodus stepped forward, his fists glowing, adding to the color cutting through the shadows around both he and Blight. “Stay here.” He’d barely gotten the words out of his mouth when a stream of blue energy shot over his shoulder and struck the Sapper in front of them, knocking him up, off his feet and down through a wooden crate. “Not a chance.”

Exodus turned and gave Blight a quick look, which was promptly ignored as the Malta agents were met by another hail of energy fire. “Well…what’re you waiting for?” Exodus nodded, smirking some. “Just stay behind me!” he yelled, powering up as he ran into the Malta agents, his glowing fists slamming hard against them, knocking them in every direction. Behind him Blight’s eyes narrowed as he focused on the dormant radiation around the Hercules, it’s tough armored hide slowly deteriorating before their eyes. The affects, nor the cause didn’t go unnoticed though, as the Hercules opened a panel and fired several missiles down the hallway at the energy wielding duo. “Look out!” Exodus yelled as he dove for cover, sniping down a few of them in midair. “Blight! Move!” Standing his ground, Blight tried to snipe the two remaining missiles, his inexperience showing as his blast destroyed the first, but his next shot only clipped the second, knocking it off course and into a nearby wall, exploding. The debris showered Blight, who raised his hands only to be cut up by pieces of the wall, a bigger chunk colliding with his head, knocking him out for a few moments.

“Doc! Get up!” Exodus turned and blew the Malta back, dropping down and shaking him roughly a few times. “I’m…ok..” he said grogily, slowly trying to get to his feet. Putting a hand to the wall he slowly eased himself up, and shook his head, walking towards the sounds of energy blasting and gunfire. As he slowly tried to jog down the hallway he heard the sound of gunfire and saw Exodus battling another Hercules and several Malta operatives, including a gun torrent. “I may not like the guy much….but I’ve gotta hand it to him…he’s tough..”

Setting himself again, Blight fired a few more energy blasts which, combined with Exodus’ own high powered blasts made quick work of the foes that remained. “You ok Blight?” “Yeah…but I’m not important…remember we’re here to find Dee.” Exodus nodded, as he slowly made his way up the hallway. “What about you….are you alright?” “Yeah…I’ll be fine too.” “Right…anyway let me help with some of those wounds.” Focusing his energy on Exodus, he nodded as the soft glow around him faded. “There….that should do it for the major ones.” “Good work Doc...now lets..”

His words were interrupted as a large patrol of Malta rounded the corner and saw them standing there shocked. Blight dived behind a few crates, hoping they’d hold up under the gunfire as Exodus partly shifted into another dimension, his body incorporeal. ”Quick! Fall back while I draw their fire!” “No chance!” Blight peeked around the crates, his body seemingly drawing in energy from around him, he leapt into the air and released a large pulse of energy, charging the air around them as a bright green light caused even Exodus to raise a hand to his eyes.

“What happened?” he asked as Blight landed beside him, breathing heavily. “An….EMP…” smiling he motioned to the Malta agents who stood wide eyed and dazed. “…fall back on that…” Exodus shook his head then chuckled softly. “Catch your breath….I’m pretty sure I can handle all these guys now.” Moments later, Exodus’ fists stopped glowing as he tossed the last of the patrol onto the pile with his comrades. “You know Blight….you’re alright…” Turning around he saw Blight, heading back down the hallway towards the intersection they’d passed earlier.

“…yeah yeah…” he nodded absently, looking around the paths. Shrugging Exodus turned around and slowly floated back to him. “What is it?” Raising his hand slowly, Blight motioned down a different hallway, grabbing his stomach, trying to stop the knot inside it from forming. “This way….something’s….wrong…I have a bad feeling….” “Alright…I’ve learned to trust one’s instincts….let’s go.” Nodding slowly to Ex, the two walked down the corridor, then stopped, exchanging looks as they both heard a voice. They picked up the pace, flying faster down the winding hallway straight into another pack of Malta agents. As he powered up for another concussive blast, Blight stopped at the sound of a scream.

“….Dee..?”

Flooring another Malta agent Ex yelled back at him. “Was that her?!”

“I don’t know anything…I swear!!”

“Ex! That was her!!” Blight’s eyes widened then flared as nearly a dozen agents came from the direction he’d heard her voice coming from. Floating up above them he managed to get a glimpse of her before he felt the draining sensation of a sap gun in his side, combined with a tazer shot, dropping him to the ground. “Move dammit!” Slamming his hands onto the floor he sent energy shooting through the ground under them, knocking them up into the air just as Exodus fired a massive blast, blowing them in every direction.

Then he saw her. His heart launched itself up to his throat, as the Hercules dropped her. “Dee! I’m coming!” He scrambled to his feet, hurrying, trying to get around the corner then he saw him. A Gunslinger.

“Nooooo!”

It came from the depths of his soul, but nothing could stop the bullets as they ripped into her body. The breath left his body as she slumped against the wall, slowly sliding down it, leaving a few red streaks as she did.

“Monster!!!” The radioactive mist began to rise from his body again as he made his way to the Gunslinger and released a huge ball of energy in his chest, blowing him back into the concrete wall, leaving an indention as he fell forward. Exodus yelled as he rammed into the Hercules, knocking the metal giant off it’s feet as Blight made his way over to Dee. The sound of Ex’s heavy blows rang for several more moments, but they fell on deaf ears as Blight kneeled down, slowly sitting Dee’s body up in his arms, green tears welling up and flowing down his face as he held her limp body tightly, rocking back and forth gently.

“…..baby…” he smiled gently, whispering softly to her. “…baby…wake up…”

Caressing her face softly he chuckled. “…Dee…please…please…”

Coming up to them slowly, Exodus stood quietly, a tear falling down his face. Still rocking her gently, Blight’s eyes widened more as he saw his lover’s blood on his hands, a faraway look covering his face. Kneeling down beside him, Exodus looked at Blight then put his fingers to Dee’s neck, feeling….listening…..hoping for a pulse.

“….wake up for me hun…..please wake up….”

Exodus sighed, slowly standing up. His eyes lighting up some, Blight tried to revive her like he normally did with a few concentrated bursts of radiation, but got no reaction whatsoever.

“Blight….there’s….no…pulse…”

He ignored him, shaking her gently. “C’mon Dee…you have to wake up….you HAVE to….” His voice gave away the panic that was slowly sinking in, the tears flowing faster as his voice caught some in his throat.

“Please….please…it’s me….V…”

He leaned down and kissed her forehead, sobbing softly, then turned, glaring as Exodus removed his cape, draping it over her body.

“What are you doing?!!?!” He grabbed the cape and flung it off her as Exodus looked down then turned away. “I….I’m sorry Doc..”

“She’s fine….I KNOW she is….” He said angrily, through his tears, clutching her to him as he rocked back and forth, his sobs cutting through the silence. Exodus looked to the sky, his face in his hands. “Please Lord….not her…”

“..no..no…no…no…baby….wake up…..” He shook her again. “Dee…..please…we can get married….just like we said…”

Slowly he put his head to her chest, sitting and rocking quietly for a few moments. Then he sat back, nodding slowly.

“I feel it hun….just hold on…”

“What is it? Can you revive her?” Blight took a deep breath, trying to wipe some of the blood away in vain. “I….think I can….” He looked up at Exodus “If you can please do….” “….it’s possible it could kill me too…” his gaze drifted back to Dee then returned to Exodus. “..but…I’d rather die than live without her..”

Breathing deeply, Exodus watched as Blight continued to try, in vain, to wipe the blood off her. “I don’t think….Paragon needs to lose two of it’s finest in one day…” Whipping around to Exodus he shot him another glare through his green tears.. “I don’t CARE!!”

He slowly turned back to Dee, stroking her face gently as he rested his head against hers. Exodus shook his head and sighed. As the precious seconds passed, it was becoming harder and harder for Exodus to tell if Blight could actually help Dee….or if he was losing it before his eyes. His thoughts were broken as he leaned closer, straining to hear Blight softly whispering to Dee.

“I love you baby….remember….always…and…forever..”

His body began glowing, slowly at first then quickly becoming a blinding flare as he kissed her lips gently. Exodus raised his hands to cover his eyes then heard a loud gasp as the light began to fade. Through his still blurred vision he could see the outlines of two bodies where Dee and Blight were before, Dee’s a black outline and Blight’s a blue greenish color. Slowly the two outlines began to mix and blur. “What the…” reaching up with his bruised and cut hands he rubbed his eyes, blinked a few times and saw Blight fall over beside Dee.

Kneeling down beside her body, Exodus stumbled backwards as she coughed suddenly, and gasped for air. “He did it…..” Looking over her body, it seemed that all her wounds had been healed, but she remained limp. “…..I think…” Exodus sighed in relief as Dee stopped gasping, her breathing shallow, he moved from her to Blight. “Alright….don’t you do this…” In response, Blight coughed and rolled onto his side, spitting up lots of blood. “Geez….I wish The Cure was here...”

Kneeling between them Exodus slowly helped Blight to his feet. “You ok?” He leaned against a nearby wall and spit up more blood, wiping his face. “Not…important…Dee……is Dee….ok?” Turning to look at Dee again Ex nodded. “She’s breathing….but it’s shallow…” He patted Blight on the back gently. “You helped….some at least….but she needs medical attention.” Still looking a bit dazed Blight nodded, shakily rising into the air. “Need a hand Doc..?” “…..no….no…I’m fine….we have to help her..” Bending down, he carefully slipped one of Dee’s arms around his neck, trying to lift her, then looking at Exodus and sighing, still too drained to lift her along with himself. Motioning to Dee, Exodus nodded and scooped her limp body up in his arms, slowly flying towards the entrance with Blight close behind.

“They must've jammed the signal to the hospital…..let’s hope outside the warehouse isn’t..” Blight nodded, his head finally clearing as he opened and held the door for Exodus. “The Infimary, Bricks!” he shouted as they stepped outside. A few seconds later Dee vanished from Exodus’ arms, that being the only signal both he and Blight needed to take to the skies and soar towards the Brickstown hospital.

Moments later a frantic Virgil burst into the hospital, making a beeline for the receptionist’s desk. “Where’s Dione’s room?!” The young woman looked at Blight, still covered in cuts, bruises, and blood, both his own and Dee’s and wrinkled her nose. “Sir….are you sure you don’t need any…” “NO…..Where is she??” Looking hesitant at first the woman typed for a few seconds then pointed him upstairs. In a rush of air he took off, flying through the busy hallway and up the stairs without another word. Exodus followed behind him slowly, receiving looks similar but not as bad as Blight’s and apologized to the receptionist and several of the staff.

Inside her room the doctor’s quiet examination was interrupted by Blight flinging the door open and standing in the doorway. Tears welled up in his eyes as he slowly made his way around her bed and kneeled down beside it, taking her hand in his. “Is she…ok?” The bewildered doctor looked hesitant then watched as Exodus entered the room. “It’s ok….we’re only here to see if she’s ok…” Shifting his eyes from Exodus back to Blight the doctor nodded. “She’s in a coma.” Blight looked away and slowly placed his head down on the bed. “Well…..at least she’s alive…” Looking up at her, Blight sighed, a few tears welling up in his eyes. “….I’m sorry Dee…..I tried…”

The doctor walked over to Exodus as he finished checking the machines she was hooked up to. “She’s alive. Her body is just in shock.” Stepping closer to the bed Exodus put his hand on Blight’s shoulder. “She wouldn’t be here at all if it weren’t for you Doc…”
Nodding absently and still fighting back tears Blight turned and looked at the doctor. “How long….” He swallowed hard as his gaze returned to her still form. “….how long will she be like this?” The doctor sighed. “That’s the problem with things like this….she could wake up in five minutes or…..she could never wake up. There’s no way to tell.” Wincing visibly Virgil leaned closer to her. “…..wake up for me….please..” Nodding the doctor made his way to the doorway. “If you have any questions, feel free to ask me…”

“What about a communicator…I want to be able to talk to her anytime…since I’ve read that that sometimes helps coma patients….”

“That should be fine…just tell the nurse on duty, I’ll go put a note in her file now.” “Good….I should have it here tomorrow.” Turning to leave the doctor stopped and looked back inside. “If I were you though, I’d see about some medical attention yourself.” “I’m fine.”

“I think a communicator would be a great idea Doc.” Exodus reached out and shook hands with the doctor, thanking him as he left the room. “Uh…Doc….I just want you to know…you were awesome back there. I want you to know you saved her life….now all we have to do is wait until she wakes up…I know you’ll watch over her…and I’ll stop in when I can….” He looked around the room then back at Dee. “I guess I’ll leave you two alone…” Watching Dee quietly, Exodus took a step back when Blight stood and turned to him, brushing away a tear.

“I…uh….thank you…Exodus…for coming…I…couldn’t have done it without you…” Giving him a short nod, Blight slowly held his hand out to Exodus, who shook it firmly. “I….” he glanced back at Dee, “…I mean we….owe you for this..” Nodding to Blight, Exodus gave Dee another look then walked out of the room. Sighing, Blight knelt down beside the bed, taking her hand in his and rubbed it gently as the door slowly closed.

[Jade]

Her eyes flickered open. It was dark in her room, the green light of the monitors hooked up to her casting eerie green shadows. She raised her hands and crossed them up across her chest and rubbed her arms, warming herself, confused and scared. She pulled herself up, sitting against the headboard of the bed and rubbed her arms some more.

“Hello?” She called, almost whispering.

“Hello?” She called a little louder this time, and saw someone outside of her room passing by the window.

The nurse walked into the room, flipping a few pages through the folder of papers and looked up, startled to see Dee sitting up, dropped the folder and rushed to the bedside.

“How long have you been awake?” The nurse scrambled to check a few thing, scaring Dee even farther.

“Only a few seconds, what’s going on, what are you doing?” Dee asked almost frantically, nothing for the first time her IV’s and heart monitor hooked up.

Suddenly the beeps from the heart monitor sped up and she started to breathe quickly, almost hyperventilating and scratching at the IV and monitors, and starting to cry.

“What is all this?!” her nails scratching her own delicate skin, leaving small lines of red along the white surface.

The nurse hit some button on the wall, setting off a red light, and a doctor rushed into the room.

“Sedate her!” the doctor yelled to the nurse, who pulled out a needle and started to fill it.

Balling up her fist, Dee slugged her.

The punch made her drop the glass needle, shattering on the white tile floor, while she grabbed her, now bleeding, nose. Little red drops formed on the nurse’s crisp white uniform. Staring at her in near horror the nurse rushed to the sink in the room and grabbed a rag to try and stop the bleeding.

“Get off me!” Dee screeched, her breathing now frantic, and slightly light headed. Her arms flailed, almost hitting the doctor this time who jumped to get out of the way. Ripping off of the monitors and pulling out the IV, Dee jumped out of the bed and healed herself with a healing aura, the small puncture from the IV closing instantly.

The doctor looking at her like a rabid animal and held up his hands trying to calm her. “Mrs. Blair, it’s alright… please calm down”

She stopped for a second and blinked. “Mrs. Blair?”

The doctor nodded slowly, noticing that it calmed her slightly. “Yes, that’s what your paperwork says.”

Picking up her chin, almost in pride, she informed him, “Dione, my name is Dione. Blair is not my name. Who put that? How could you know that? No one knows that name….”

The doctor nodded slowly, “We require a last name and that’s what the young man who filled out your paperwork put. My apologizes”

“Virgil….” She almost whispered, the memory of what happened hitting her.

The doctor nodded slowly, still eyeing her, as he watched the nurse try to slip out of the room, still holding her nose, “yes, I think that’s what he said his name was”

Dee nodded slowly, and turned to the nurse. “I’m really sorry” grabbing another rag, and handed it to her. The nurse accepted and nodded, waving her off, obviously still nervous and rushing out.

“Look, we need to run you through some tests now that you’re awake” The doctor informed her.

Dee shook her head, “No way, no how. I’m going home.” looking down at her hospital gown. “I need a fresh set of clothes though, I can’t exactly go home in this”

The doctor shook his head back at her, “You really shouldn’t. We really need to run some tests on you. A CAT scan to make sure that all your brain activity is normal among several others, including a blood test”

Dee looked at him and arched an eyebrow, obviously annoyed. “Look, I know the rules. You have to let me go home. You aren’t going to change my mind. Now we can do this two ways. We can either do this on good terms, with the understanding that I’m coming back tomorrow to do whatever testing you need to do. Or I can leave directly out of here and never come back. Take your pick”

Knowing that he wasn’t going to win he nodded to her. “Alright, with the promise that you’ll come back first thing in the morning? We wouldn’t have been able to run those tests till the morning anyway”

Dee nodded, “Yeah, first thing in the morning, I swear”

He looked at her for a second and shook his head and left the room, going for the necessary paper work.

The doctor left and she was alone again. The lights were now on, but the room was still cold. The hospital gown with its open back flapped slightly, the air conditioning blowing down her back, giving her a slight chill. Hugging herself tight, she looked around realizing how alone she was and walked to the closet, hoping to find a set of clothes. As she rummaged through some papers and some medical supplies, she found a pair of her jeans and one of Virgil’s PCU shirts. She looked at the shirt almost sadly, pulling it close to her, inhaling, his scent flooding her with memories.

Sighing, she set it on the edge of the bed and slipped out of the gown, her small delicate feet were bare and cold against the shiny tile. Snatching the shirt back up, and tossing it over her head, the old shirt hanging almost to her knees. She smiled at it, and wiggled into her jeans, hugging every curve of her body contrasting the baggy shirt. Looking in the mirror, she ran a finger through her hair, ruffling it a few times, and grabbing a rubber band off the bedside table, and pulled it into a ponytail. Sighing, she turned around and looked through the closet again for a pair of shoes.

Rummaging she found her favorite pair of white heels. The one that V had bought for her only a fe……. Then it hit her. She had no idea how long she’d been out. Luckily the doctor came back in as the panicked thought entered her mind. Her stomach knotted almost not wanting to know the answer. What if it had been 5 years and everyone had moved on, her friends didn’t remember her and Virgil….. what if he had moved on. She had to told him to find someone else if something happened to her. She just wanted him to be happy. Love was something she was still adjusting too, but she knew that no matter what happened she wanted him to be happy.

Taking a deep breath, she walked over to the sink her heels clicking on the floor, and grabbed a small paper cup and filled it with water. Taking down the whole first glass of water in a few gulps, she refilled and tried to slow down, and somehow control herself. The doctor finished flipping through his paperwork and looked at her.

“Alright Ms. Dione, we have 13 sheets of paper here. I need to you to sign and date at the bottom of each one” he explained as he handed them her on a clipboard. “And then I’ll have a nurse go out and make you a copy of them all”

Dee nodded her understanding and the doctor turned to leave and got to about the door when she cleared her throat obviously nervous. He turned back around and looked at her raising his eyebrows curious. “yes?”

Clearing her throat nervously, “uhm… doc…. How long was I like…. Asleep here?” she stammered out.

His smile was of understanding and smiled at her. “Two weeks. 18 days to be exact”

A huge wave of relief rushed over her, her body visibly relaxing, causing the doctor to smile and ask her “Need anything else”

Smiling at him, she nodded slightly, “The guy you were talking about earlier…. Virgil… was he here… a lot?”

Chuckling slightly he nodded at her, “Every day, nearly 24 hours a day. We had to ask him to leave, otherwise I think he would have slept here. To be totally honest, I’m surprised he’s not here now”

Another huge wave of relief hit her, and she exhaled and smiled and gave him a small nod in understanding. Walking out the door, closing it behind him hand on the doorknob, looked at her “You got lucky with that one, don’t think I’ve seen someone love someone like he loved you while you were here” with that, he closed the door behind him the latch clicking shut as she stared at it, almost in tears.

“I’m comin home baby”, a single tear running down her face, and started filling out her forms.

*************************************

The walk back home was long. Thoughts running through her head about him, about her, about everything that happened. She needed to call Xanatos and set up a meeting with him, Exodus and Bayne, as she was sure they would want to talk to her.

She released a huge sigh thinking about it. When she got home, she’d pen her resignation. She didn’t belong in the Defenders anymore. Her father was a criminal, the kind that they fight on a daily basis, and a Malta at that. Looking to the ground a single tear formed in her eye and ran down her face. They were the only family that she’d ever had, and the thought of getting kicked out nearly killed her. How could they accept her now though? Her whole application… her whole career was a sham. How can a hero come from a criminal?

Shaking her head, she tried to stop thinking about it, and looked around the scenery. She’d never stopped to look at the buildings or the monuments while she was working. She didn’t have the time to, someone always needed saving, and as they all knew in this city, crime didn’t wait for you to stop and look at the new billboard on 5th. Even the war walls were beautiful. “Feels good to be home, doesn’t it Dee?” she asked herself as she approached the building where her apartment was. Walking up to the front door to allow herself in the building, she stopped for a second and looked up, locating the balcony to their house, imagining how beautiful the coming sunset would be from there.

Smiling, she opened the glass door to the building with her pass card, and followed the trail of plush red carpet to the elevators and hit the up button. Standing there wait for the elevator was like torture. Was he home? Should she have called? What would she have said? What was she going to say now? Loosing herself in thought, she was startled slightly as the elevator dinged to announce its arrival on her floor. Stepping in, she hit the button for the 11th floor and watched the door close.

Ding…….. Ding…….. Ding …….. Ding …….. Ding …….. Ding ……..Ding …….. Ding…….. Dine…….. Ding……..

And the elevator coasted to a stop on the 11th’s floor, opening its doors to hers and one other apartment on this floor. Placing her hand on the doorknob, she turned it slowly, opening the door, and walking in timidly. The giant apartment seemed so cold and empty compared to how she remembered it.

“Virgil…?” she called out timidly “You here?”

But she knew he wasn’t She wasn’t sure how she knew, but she just did. Doing a quick check of the house to make sure he wasn’t here, she popped her head into the bedroom, called his name, then checked the bathroom.

“Virgil” She called one last time, walking back into the kitchen, looking through the fridge for something to eat.

Opening the doors, she noticed that there was hardly anything missing from when she left. Walking over to the pantry, her white heels clicking gently on the hardwood floors, she opened it and noticed it that hardly anything was missing except the pop, which was in the fridge. Shaking her head and sighing, she realized he didn’t eat, at least here, while she was gone. She hoped he was ok. Walking to the phone, she thought about calling him, but decided against it. She wanted him to come home on his own. Not to mention, it was going to be dark in a few hours and he ought to be home.

Grabbing a cold pop out of the fridge, she cracked it open, and walked back into the bedroom, and grabbed a towel.

“I’ll grab a quick shower and he’ll be home soon” she told herself, and starting running the water, turning the heat scorching hot, like always, and stripped down and got in. Sighing, she let the water hit her face, stinging her, and seemingly melting away some of the stress. Sometimes, it’s amazing what a nice hot shower can do for someone. Running her hands over her hair, she thought about what they told her in the hospital.

“He saved your life” The doctor told her, “He tried to use a power he called absorb pain. Said it was something you were going to teach him, and he tried it, but didn’t do it right, and something changed”

Dee had nodded, trying to comprehend what had happened.

“You had actually been dead for a few minutes before he brought you back, you’re lucky there doesn’t seem to be any permanent side effects, but just in case, I’d really like you to take at least a week off to see what happens”

Dee had nodded again, not happy with the news, and no intention of following it. She wanted to get back to work as soon as she could. To get things back to normal.

Sighing, she finished her shower, and stepped out and wrapped the towel around her, walking into the bedroom and tossing on a clean pair of jeans and rifling through Virgil’s closet, finding a shirt that somewhat fit her, but still wanting to wear one of his, for comfort. No matter how many times you washed one of his shirts they always smelled like him, of his masculine cologne, and something else, that only he smelled like. It comforted Dee, and sat down on the bed, curling her knees up close to her.

Looking out of the French doors to the balcony she noticed that the sun was starting to rise. Smiling, she went outside. Sitting down in one of the chairs she looked to the horizon and watched the orange and pink lights illuminate the high rise buildings, silhouetting them. She shook her head and sighed. She loved this city, even with everything that had happened, she wouldn’t rather be anywhere else. The only thing missing was Virgil.

Standing up and walking over to the rail, she leaned over slightly watching the skies. This is where he would normally fly in and meet her after he got off work. She hoped that he would fly in while she was standing out here, to see the surprise on his face. She stood there nearly a half hour before she decided to go back inside.

Rubbing her arms she had a feeling, something close to a shiver, but not quite.

“Weird….”

Leaning against the rail one more time and looking around before she went back inside, she rubbed her arms again with the same strange shivering feeling.

“Very weird…”

Sighing she turned to go back inside, and that’s where she saw him. A tear was forming in his eyes and she could see where another tear had formed and rolled down his face. He was still in his armor, his helmet off, staring at her. Their eyes met instantly, neither sure of what to say or do. Another tear ran down his face, and she snapped out of it as it hit his armor and she ran to him.

Running as fast as she could she jumped into his arms as he caught her and spun her around. Squealing happily, she showered his face in small kisses, kissing away any traces of the tears that had been, until their kips met and he pulled her close for a passionate, loving, kiss.

Dee started to cry, smiling while her eyes were shining with tears. “Virgil….”

Sniffling, he set her down back on the ground; his own tears falling freely as he rubbed his thumb over her cheek to wipe away hers. “Dee…. Is that really you?”

Nodding and smiling, “Is it really you?” she asked him back.

Laughing through the tears and nodding he scooping her back up for another kiss, wrapping his arms around her tightly as she started to cry again, “I’m so happy to be home. I woke up and was so scared…” she told him as she sniffled, pulling back slightly to look at him.

Tracing a finger down her face, over her shoulders, and down her arms, watching her body, as if to make sure she was really there, he listened as she cried to him, using his other arm to hold her close.

“I’m so happy you’re home Dee…. I can’t believe you came back to me.. these past two weeks have felt like centuries without you” he cried gently as he put his head on her shoulder.

“But I did baby, I’m right here” she comforted him, running her hand gently down his back.

Pulling back from her gently, he hit the button to release his armor, and took off the chest piece and the boots, followed by the leg plates, set them all gently on the couch and turned back to her slowly, his eyes still sad, and pulled her close as she laid her head against his chest. After a few moments of standing there holding each other, he put his hands on her shoulders and gently pulled her back looking at her.

“How are you feeling baby? Do you remember anything?”

Her smiled faded slowly nodding and sighed, “I remember the gunslinger”

He watched her slowly and gradually his head dropped, looking at the floor, “I failed you baby… I wasn’t able to protect you”

Shaking her head furiously almost mad and putting a hooked finger under his chin, forcibly lifting his chin up to look him in the eye, “Don’t you EVER say that again, do you understand me? They told me you save me, even brought me back from the dead”

Shaking off her hand, and looking away ashamed he told her “I tried to Dee, I tried to save you, but you ended up in a coma…. I could have hurt you worse than you already were”

Ducking, she put herself under him to make him look at her again and put a finger to his lips, and gradually, together, they returned upright and she smiled at him, “sshhh…. You saved my life. I never want to hear you say you’ve failed me ever again. Alright?”

Nodding slowly he looked at her as his grin gradually inched across his face, “God Dee, I’m so glad that you’re home”

She smiled back at him understanding what he meant. She was so relieved to be home. To have this whole ordeal over with. She’d call Xanatos tomorrow, and have to go back to the hospital, but she didn’t care. She was here, with him, wrapped up in his arms, there was nothing else she felt that she needed. Bending over some, he scooped her up in his arms and carried her back into their bedroom, gently setting her on their bed with a big yawn.

“You look tired Virgil…” she told him, gently touching his face, running a few fingers around the corner of his eye. Nodding he yawned again and laid down next to her, propping himself up on one elbow to be able to look at her.

“I haven’t slept a whole lot the past few weeks”

“Looks like it.” Her eyes were sad, and curled herself up next to him and closing her eyes and yawning as well.

With a broad grin on his face he smoothed her hair down and watched her. “I need to take a shower Dee.”

Her eye fluttered back open and looked deep into his eyes and smiled. “Alright baby, I’ll be here, I promise, just hurry.”

Nodding, he got out of bed, grabbed a towel, and took one last look at her before we went to go shower.

He came back to slight sound of snoring. She laid there sleeping, hugging his pillow tightly, and looking very peaceful. “How I missed you Dee….” He whispered softly to himself and crawled into the bed next to her.