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Chapter 47 - Initiative

L POV

Winchester, December 2004

Sweet smells of cinnamon and gingerbread wafted through the halls, enticing me as was customary this time of year, but this time, I refrained from learning where they were originating from due to a much more interesting situation developing before me.

"You just follow his every word, that's all," I heard her retort, her rage heightening, not even trying to keep her voice down from behind the sturdy oak door of Watari's office. "No one is more important here than the almighty L. It probably stands for Lord for bloody sake."

"Grace, that is unfair. I can't see why the two of you can't get on with each other." Watari tried to placate her. He was one of the few people that usually succeeded in that endeavor.

I still couldn't understand why she wanted to come on this case. Didn't she know that if she accompanied us to New York, that she would have to spend every waking hour with the person she despised? Wouldn't that be enough to run screaming in the opposite direction? I thought for a moment about if I had relented and accepted her assistance in the mission. The two of us together in a different city, at Christmas time, perhaps she would have warmed to me in close company... I shook myself out of my foolish reverie. No, I had my reasons for having her stay put and none were as selfish as the reasons I had for her to come with us.

"It doesn't matter." her hurt voice decided as I sat outside trying to keep my attention on the file in my hand, the names of the victims and locations of abduction swimming before my eyes as my distraction increased. "I don't ever want to work with him, and I don't want to know him either."

I felt a deep pain in my heart and tried fruitlessly to brush it off. It wasn't like I expected the girl who disliked me more than anyone to sing my praises, but it didn't make the anguish of knowing she only saw me as an annoyance hurt any less. I frowned a little.

The voices softened again, and I could hear nothing further, which was likely best as the conversation wasn't very favorable regarding myself.

"Good night, sir." She became audible again, now with a sense of defeat.

Watari's tone was warm. "Good evening, Grace."

The door slowly opened then, and Grace appeared, her expression downcast, before it immediately transformed to one of surprise and irritation at the sight of me. "What are you doing here?" she snapped. "Were you spying on our conversation?!"

I observed her coolly, wondering what Watari could have said to make her look so despondent. She looked how I felt. "No. I'm about to finish reading the dossier, so I thought I'd speak to Watari about it while the case was still fresh in my head. The last thing I wanted to hear was you complaining to him about how I was keeping you from adventure and excitement. Don't you think he has more important things to do then listen to you whinge on?"

Mildly outraged, she prepared to speak but stopped herself. Instead, she swung out an arm and bowed low before me. It took everything not to chuckle in amusement. She could be so dramatic, and rather adorable. "Oh yes, by all means, my whingeing is over. The floor is yours."

I stood up slowly staring at her, still marveling at the alteration, and she stood upright once more, nodding curtly before striding off, her head held high.

I watched her copper curls bounce behind her with each angry step for a moment, then entered Watari's office.

My mentor didn't appear surprised to see me. "Finished the file?" he asked taking his seat.