Fade Away (Open)

[Lady Amira Nuit]

He stood in the middle of the cemetary in front of a tombstone. Laying a single red rose upon the stone he put his hand back into his coat pocket.

It was winter time in Red Blood. Snow was starting to fall all around him. Looking down at the name that read, Here lies Jennifer E. Stone, 1976-2000. He let out a sigh. She had been gone almost 12 years now and still he came to this grave to "see" her. It is where he felt mostly at peace and wishing he could be with her. She was young but she belonged to him. How he missed her. Something so beautiful how could anyone destroy such a gorguse creature?

He had been after the murderer for some time now but he had been one step ahead of him as he left a trail of bodies behind. If only he could stop him before anymore people would die but it didn't seem possible.

Looking around he thought to himself that it was weird to have a cemetary in a city like this but people like him believed in an after life. If their bodies weren't put to rest then neither would their souls. So he helped to make this possible.

Falling to his knees now he lowered his head. A tear ran down his cheek as he whispered, "I am sorry Jen I had tried to found him but as the years go by I have failed you. He just keeps on killing and mocking me as he does it. I can't keep doing this. I am 43 years old. It may not seem to be that old but who are we kidding here. This city is hell. It was so much brighter with you here. There is nothing left for me here my love." He took out a gun from his coat pocket. Holding it in his hand just looking down at it. He then looked to the tombstone. "I miss you like you wouldn't believe Jen. Life without you is no life at all." He c*cked the gun and still just looked down at it. "Please forgive me."

He put it to his head as he cried just looking down at her name. Not knowing what he was waiting for but he waited. Something was pulling at him. Maybe it was her not waiting him to give up but he began to pull on the trigger. He was so ready to end it all and ready to be with his one true love. Life wasn't worth living if he couldn't live it with her. What was the point, right? No one wanted his help anyway. He was all washed up. A has been. The killer was so much smarter then him anyway, right? He was never going to catch him. No, it was now or never......

[BeastGoddess]

"Come child we are going to see your fathers grave. maybe he will see fit to take you from my presence, I would be better off if it had been you that where killed, at least he didn't scream and cry over every little thing." The woman reached down and jerked the four year old girl to her tiny feet by her midnight black curls.

Vice gave a small scream at the rough treatment then closed her mouth, momma would hurt her more for crying about it. She steadied herself on her feet and followed after her mother, her little legs turning quite blue in the winter world out side. She shivered and tried to stretch her shorts to make then cover her legs but it really did no good since she had on a t-shirt too. She trotted along to the car and hopped in, the ride was silent as usual, but she didn't mind at least momma was not screaming at her. The car came to a stop and momma snatched her out in to the snow and tossed her to the side walk.

Vice stood up and dusted off following her mother to the grave she always came to see. She looked up at her mother as she began to speak.

"You know you look more like your father then I can bear, I hate you child and I wish I had never mothered you." The tall elegant woman leaned down and looked Vice directly in the eyes, seeing nothing but the child's father in those lavender depths, she reached out and slapped the small child hard, watching as she flew back. the woman stood up right and turned, "I am leaving you her and you are going to die then your father can deal with you."

Vice grabbed her tiny face and cried out, tears freezing on her cheeks, She watched as momma walked away and curled up against her fathers headstone. Her tiny sniffle broke the silence in the cemetery, a small cough followed then another sob, She was so confused and was cold and hungry and sleepy. She shivered and looked around at the dark place scared and alone, she let out a small cry and held tighter to the stone which she had attached herself to, fearing something would grab her up.

[Lady Amira Nuit]

David was seconds away from pulling the trigger when he heard a woman's voice screaming. It wasn't a horrifying scream though. It sounded drunk and angry. He lowered the gun as he stood looking around and saw just a few yards away a woman slapping a little girl across the face. Every fibber in David's bones wanted to run and slap the b*tch herself but he couldn't move.

His legs weren't working. He was in shock. Because this woman reminded him of his own mother. She planned him for everything but he turned out fine right? He was a cop, a decetive no less and he was one hell of one. Well back in the day but sense Jen's death he didn't care about anything but catching that s.o.b. But now that didn't seem possible. Nothing did but as he watched the woman walk away leaving the little girl in the ice cold fresh fallin snow along, he knew his world was now changed once again.

He looked back at Jennifer's tombstone. "Jen I can't. You know I can't. Please don't make me do this!"

A small blue bird sat on a tree branch above him. It cherped at him. He looked up and sighed.

"Please Jen. I...I can't do this. I want to be with you."

The blue bird flew down and landed on his shoulder. It chripped and then flew off towards the girl. David picked up the gun and put it back in his holder as he turned and saw the little blue bird fly over to the little girl and landed at her feet. The blue bird chripped at her and then flew off back over to David and landed on him. The little girl now saw him.

David sighed as whispered, "Fine but you better stay around just incase." He looked back over to the girl and saw she was afraid. He slowly walked over to her calmly and said, "Please I will not hurt you child. I was here because well my wife had, well, I just want to help you. You can trust me. I am a cop after all. He took out his bage and held it up for her to see. "Look see I have my bage right here. I wont lie to you. My name is David Stone. I want to help you if you will let me. Just know I dont want you to get left out here, ok? Its way to cold and you could freeze to death. So what do you say?"

He knew he wife was still looking out for him. Guess his life had more to offer still being here on earth even if it was hell he couldn't see another little girl die if he could help. He would die to protect her and something told him that he might have to if that sick bastered was still around. Hopefully he wasn't and this was all going to be ok but who knows. Right now he just needed to focus on getting her to trust him and to get him out of this cold.

[BeastGoddess]

Vice eyed the little bird and smiled at it then followed it with her eyes seeing the man. She watched him close and looked him over with her Innocent eyes as if she where sizing him up, She was shaking so hard her teeth where chattering then he popped out the shinny badge and she instantly wanted it it, it was pretty, but then he said his name, "Your momma named you after a rock?" Her voice was tiny and soft and scared. She reached out for the badge her little fingers blue, once in her hands she stuck it on the front of her shirt with the clip hanging on the neck of it making it lump up, then she looked back at him, "I'm cold but momma said cops was bad peoples." She gave him one more long look, "You don't look like a bad people. Do you have food?"

Vice shivered hard and scooted closer to the cop when the wind began tearing at her soft curls, she stood to her feet and looked up at him, she stood no more then three feet tall, her face covered in a hand printed bruise on the left side, her tiny lip bleeding a little, her eyes where massive with fear and uncertainty as she stared up at David.

[Lady Amira Nuit]

David smiled softly down at the child. "I have plenty of food back at my apartment my dear. It will get you out of this cold and a roof over your head." He saw she could hardly move her fingers let alone walk back to his car. "I think I would have to carry you back to my car." He took off his coat and wrapped it around her as then he picked her up in his arms.

Turning to the little blue bird he could swear he saw it smile at him as it then took off the branch flying away to the stars above. He then began to walk towards his car. When he got their he opened the back door and gently set her down inside. He then puckled her up as he let her keep his budge he then moved into the drive side and got in. Starting the car he then put it in drive making his way back to his place.

As the car came to a finally stop he got out and opened the back door. Reaching in there was a sudden draw from the girl but his soothing words made her feel more at ease. He unbuckled her as he then picked her up and carried her inside. A black lab greeted them at the door as he walked into his apartment.

"Come on Ace. Down boy."

The dog was trying to jump up to see the new surprise that had come for him. As David cared her over to the couch Ace was righ their by his side ready to help. "This is Ace. He is a good boy. He will not hurt you. Just wants to love you." He turned to Ace. "Behave and keep your paws on the floor boy. I am going to fench her something to eat."

He turned and walked into his kitchen. Looking around he had the stuff to make a peanut butter and jelly sandwhich and he always poored her a glass of milk. Walking black into the living room he smiled at the sight of Ace up on the couch beside the little girl licking her face. "Ace, come now. Get down." Ace did as he was told but he didn't go far. David walked over to the girl and sat down beside her. Putting the planet of food down before her on the coffee table and the milk he said, "Go ahead and eat. Hope you like it. Right now it isn't much because I need to go to the store and get more food but its enough to get some strength back into you."

He watched as she began to eat her food and began to look over her wounds. Wondering if he had any bandaids around too. Probably not. He will need to go to the store for that too. Letting her eat a few more bites he then asked, "Why did that woman leave you in that grave yard?"

[BeastGoddess]

Vice sighed as she was set on the soft couch she was watching the dog with interest and reached out petting him, giggling and caughing as he licked her face, she hugged him and watched as Rock came back in the room with food, she looked down at her growling tummy then attacked the food with a viciousness, scarfing it down, then turning up the glass of milk.

Once finished she looked over at Rock and answered his question, "that was my momma, she wants me to die so daddy cant take care of me, she says I look too much like him and she dont want me anymore She wished it had been me that got shot instead of him." Her eyesheld uncertiny and confusion.

Vice slipped down on to the floor standing and wobbling a little clutching to the shinny badge at her neck like a life line as she wandered around then living room unsteadily. she reached down and touched the carpet, 'Whats this?" She rubbed her hands on it, iking the way it felt.

[Lady Amira Nuit]

David looked horrifyed. Why would anyone do such a thing to such a beautiful little girl? He wished to find this girls mother and beat some sense into her. Alas it wasn't his place. He was a cop not a monster like the man he was looking for. Still he couldn't believe a mother would do this to her own child. He still felt the need to face the b*tch.

Thinking about this a few more minutes he popped out of his thoughts as she had changed the subject on him. Looking down at the carpet he smiled down at her. "Its carpet. I had it put in 13 years ago when..." His voice drifted off. This was going to be his and his new wifes place. He kept it up for her. Most men probably let their homes run into the ground but not him. She would be upset at him if he did. So in memory of her he kept it like a captain would their ship. "Soft isnt it? Feels good doesn't it? We I mean well I had a wife that past away many years ago. We wanted to have kids so we wanted to make the carpet soft for when they began to crawl and walk so it wouldn't hurt."

As he watched her he couldn't help but smile. She was beautiful. The sight of her being in his home made him miss Jennifter. This little girl could have been theirs but she wasn't. For now she was just another victum he was helping and going to do whatever he could to keep her safe.

Looking at his tv he picked up his controller and turned it on. Flipping threw the channels a cartoon caught his eye. It was a weird looking show with a talking spong on the ocean flower that worked at a places called the Krusty Krab as a fry cook. The laugh of the character caught the little girls attention as she came back and sat by him on the couch. Her laugher was like an angel. He was blessed and thanked Jen for bringing her into his life. "You watch his a moment, ok?" He got up and found some soap and a rag. He then got a raw steak from his fridge. Walking back to her he cleaned up her face and placed the steak on her bruise. "Just keep this on for a little while and please don't move from his spot. I need to go to the store to get a few things for us." He got up and headed for the door and then turned back to her. "I promise you I will be back. Nothing can keep me from coming back to you. Ace keep her company boy. Watch out for her and keep her safe."

Ace let out a soft bark as if he understood. He looked back at the girl. "Do you want anything? Like sweets such as candy or cakes. Something like that? I will get real food to but I want you to have some yummy stuff too."

[BeastGoddess]

Vice rubbed that carpet for a bit more until the box with the pictures came on she ran to the couch and climbed up next to Rock leaning in to his side with her tiny legs tucked up against her. She giggled and grinned at the cartoon then gave Rock a traumatized look of fear and hugged the lab close to her as she watched Rock walk to the door he turned and then she heaved a great sigh and thought real hard her little for head wrinkling up then she said,

"Some poprocks maybe and a skeeddles." Her request was simple and hesitant. She watched him walk out the door and fear seemed to consume her, she plopped out of the couch and grabbed the stick that made the box with the moving pictures work. It clicked over and there in the box was a big animal she thought it was that thing called a horse, it was beautiful the way it ran and shook its hair.

Vice sat captured by the massive stallion on the screen, her little eyes glued to the horse, her breathing seemed to match the pound ribs of the animal on the screen and her face lit up and flashed the expressions that could have only been that of the creature she was seeing.

[Lady Amira Nuit]

David nodded as he turned and walked out. Locking the door behind him he walked down the stairs and out the door. He got into his car and started it up. The store was just a block or two away but with what he needed to carry back with him he needed his car. Turning on his radio it was on the oldies rock and roll station. Oldies, he thought as he chuckled. He was old but how old is old? He had wondered his for a little while now. In a mirror he didn't look old but he felt it. Mostly because he felt tired. Just plain tired but now he had a purpose again. Hopefully one that will remain for a very long time.

As he pulled up in front of the store he got out and went inside. It was one of those big stores that you could get food, clothes, and whatever else you needed in one place. Looking around he went for clothes first. Trying to remember the girls size he saw a woman with another little girl about oh he just realized he didn't know the little girls name. Its intersting how trusting she really was and it kind of scared him.

Back to the task at hand. Walking over to the woman he smiled at her as she kind of smiled back. "Sorry I just was curious if you could help me out. See I have a little 4 year old girl that all of a sudden kind of fell into my lap. I need to get her some clothes and possibly some toys. Could you help me with that?"

The woman's little girl smiled big and chuckled as she tugged her mothers shirt. Her mother smiled down at her as she turned back to the man. "Sure, we can help." And just as good as their word they did. Walking around the store they both threw in his cart clothes, toys and food that the little girl would need. He also grabbed the two snacks she had asked for. Thanking them kindly for their help he paid for it all and walked out. Putting it into his car, getting in and pulling away he got back to his place and carried it all to his apartment. Opening the door he walked in and saw she was still where he left her as she was watching something different on tv. It wasn't bad which was good but it still wasn't what he left on. Hopefully she didn't see anything she wasn't suppose too.

Walking the stuff over to his kitchen table he turned to her and said, "First off I told you my name but I don't believe you told me yours." He turned and pulled out a white unicorn the little girl pick out for her and turned back to the little girl before him. "If you tell me I will give you this." He held up the toy and awaited for an answer before showing her what more surprises he had for her.

[BeastGoddess]

Vice poped out of the tv as she heard the door open and scrabbled over by Ace, peering around him at Rock.eyeing the toy in his hand, it was like the thing on the box with moving pictures but it had a horn in its head, it must have triped and fell on a stick. She gave it a hard look and desided she liked it...a lot.

She watched then stuck out her lip at him as he asked for her name, She stood up and walked over to him, "My names Vice." she climbed her way in to the couch and watched David unlaod the backs, "Rock? Am I going to stay with you now?"

[Lady Amira Nuit]

David paused at the girls words. He had bought this little girl into his home that he didn't know at all. She was a stranger to him but she was only 4 years old and by her words and what he saw her own mother left her die. Looking from the bags to Vice and in the softest tone he didn't know he had he said, "Yes, little one but it is your choice. I would like you to remain here with me and in return I will help you. Raise you and teach you all I know. How to protect yourself against the evils of this world and to give you that chance to live."

He just starred at her awaiting for her reaction. She was already really smart. He wanted to mold her into a good person that he alreay say. In time she might go find her mother and ask her why she left her to die. David would never lie to her and explain everything. To keep nothing a secert. She desrived that much at least. He was her little girl the moment she says the word and he will let her chose to take his last name if she wanted. Being a cop he was good man and he would make sure she would be a good person too.

....................

The man watched in delite as he video taped David about to kill himself. His boss would be so pleased but then paused as he saw he lower the gun and stand. "No you basterd." He whispered as it was also going to be able to hear on the tape. The man hold the carema followed David and caught the whole thing as he picked up the little girl and took her home. He knew his boss would not be pleased.

Driving back to his the so called hide out he took a deep breath and walked inside with the video camera in hand. He then walked into his bosses office as sat across from him in front of his desk. His boss had the back of his chair facing him. Their was sounds of a woman moaning and heavy breathing coming from the other side of the chair. A few minutes passed as the woman was half dressed and began to head for the door. The henchmen watched her with hungry as she walked out.

The chair turned towards him now. A man with nice black hair slicked back as he wore a nice custom hand man suit. Worth a few $1000. He only wear the best and had the best.

"So, what do you have for me?"

He placed the camera on the desk. "You won't like it."

He looked at the camera then to his hench men. "What do you mean?"

"He didn't kill himself sir. Well, he was about to when he heard a woman in the grave yard. She was yelling so he went to go see why. I can't believe it myself. A mother was leaving her 4 year old daughter in the grave yard to die."

His eyes light up as a smiled crossed his face. "Really?"

"Yes. She was leaving he own daughter left to die. As David watched this he just watched her mother walk away and he went over to the little girl."

That is when he smile slowly vanished. "Let me guess. He took her home."

He nodded.

The man turned his chair back around. This was disappointing to say the least but it was also another chance to have some fun with his old friend. It had been awhile sense they played cat and mouse. Maybe it was about time for the cat to come back and place a piece of cheese back into the mouse trap. Now that he has another woman in his life. Even if it was just a little girl. He smiled again thinking of the little girl now. How sweet it was going to be to torture her.

Turning his chair back around he said, "Keep an eye on him. I want to keep informed on what all he will be doing."

"When will you want to make a move?"

"Who knows. Maybe a few years maybe tomorrow. I will be waiting for the right moment and trust me I will know."

"Yes, sir." He got up and walked back out to head back to watch over David's apparment.

The man picked up the video camera and turned it on. Clicking the play back button he watched in silence as David picked up the little girl and carried her back to his car. He paused it on David's face. His eyes twickled with just a hit of hope back in them. The man smiled and spoke out loud as if David could hear him. "I will really enjoy crushing your world once more David. I took away your lover and drove you to this point I will not be robbed of what was right fully mine. I will kill her David and I will make you watch." He then played back and would keep playing it back until it drove him to the point of excitment of what he will be doing to the both of them.

[BeastGoddess]

Vice thought about it for a few tense seconds then gave a small nod, "Yes." that was all she said then she smiled and walked over taking the horsed creature from his hand hugging it close. She crawled up in the chair beside the tables and reached out diging around in one of the tall backs with one hand the other clutching the toy to her chest, "Rock whats in the bags?" She had evidently named David Rock, that is what he was becoming for her, her stone of safty.

Her eyes watched rock with a steadiness that was bordering that of a hawk, as she rummaged around in the back, her little arms too short to reached the contents. She leaned closer to it her eyes never leaving Stone, she was bound to make him angery for digging but she wanted to know what he had gotten.

[Lady Amira Nuit]

He smiled at her as she said yes to his question of remaining with him. It pleased it greatly and he studied her as she walked away with her new toy. That little girl knew what she was talking about. Again this pleased him.

Then as she began to dig around in the bags he said, "Wait little one. Calm down. I will show you, ok?" He grabbed one of the bags and took out a few shorted clothes. "I had a little help buying you some things. I have more down in the car but I wanted to get what I had out for you to see." There was dresses, outfits, pjs, underwear, shocks, shoes, etc. A few more stuff toys like the unicorn but like a dog, bear, rabbit and a few barbies. He wanted a little girl with Jennifer and he was happy to have one now.

Looking at her excitment on her face he said, "Down in the car I also have you some bed shirts and blanet that are purple and pink with a white unicorn on them like the one you are holding in your hand. I have a second bedroom that is a light purple with a bed it in that is now yours. I was hoping for a little girl to be honest. Glad I have one." He smiled at her and turned heading for the door again. "I need to get more stuff out of the car. Its that and food now. I will be right back, ok?" He waited for her answer before leaving.

[BeastGoddess]

Vice snatched her hand back out of the bag as he told her to wait and watched as he pulled stuff out, smiling with delight at the things she could see, she touched each one and smiled, 'It's pretty." She jumped down out of the chair and landed nimbly on her feet, "I have a bed? and a room?" and a purple banket?" She eyed him suspisiously then her face split with a grin too big for a child her size.

She looked threw teh stuffed animals and tossed a few on to the couch keeping the dog and her unicon, she stuck her tongue out at the barbies, not liking the look of them one bit, "Rock I don't like those." She turned her little eyes up at him and stuck them back in the bag, "They scare me."

Vice watched his face as he told her he was going back out, she dropped her unicorn on the couch and ran over to him grabbing his belt loop, "I go with you Rock."

[Lady Amira Nuit]

David sighed as he turned to her and knelt down to her level. Looking into her eyes he lightly brushed her hair from in from of her face to behind her ear. "If anyone came up to you and I had my hands full of bags and they took you I would never forgive myself. At least here you are behind a locked door. Please just remain here and I will be right back. I promise little one."

He stood and turned locking as he walked out closing it behind him. She was growing on him so quick he began to scare him. Mainly because the fear of losing her. He knew that psychotic s.o.b probably was watching him or at least someone from his little group was and if he knew of her then maybe soon he would try to destroy his new found little girl. Maybe it was best if he found away out. He heard of a place from one of his old cop buddies. Well he was his partner at one time. Redem who was a fish man but he to was cop and just as badass as he was. He had his demons to too face and when he lost a little girl, as the mad man made him watch the girl die then that was it. He went off on his own because he didnt want anyone he cared about to get hurt. At the time David didnt understand but having his own demon he now understood.

Walking out to his car he looked around and didn't see anyone. It didnt mean a damn thing but at least for now no one was bothering him. Getting the bags out of the car he turned and saw Vice standing there. "Didn't I just tell you to wait in the..."

"Hello David."

David suddenly turned out of fear and anger. It was Spike. "What the hell do you want Spike?"

"Nothing," He said with a smile then saw the little girl standing behind him. "Pretty little thing you got there David."

"You tell him to leave her out of this!"

"We both know he wont David. You know him better then that."

"He murderer my wife. I know it was him and I will return the favor once I see that grin on his face. I will blast it right off!"

"I will give him the message. I promise."

"You do that."

"Well, got to run. Glad to see you didn't kill yourself." He turned and walked away.

David just stood there watching him until he disappeared from sight. He was so angery he wanted to shoot him but with Vice standing there he couldn't. Not yet. Not until he explained to her why he was there and who he worked for. He turned to Vice as she began to ask more questions. He hushed her and made her walk back up the stairs to his apartment. She had left the door unlocked but she did close it. Good so Ace didn't get out but bad because it was about 5 minutes. It didn't seem long but long enough to do what one needed to planet something in the house. Damnit, this was going down hill fast before it even had time to begin.

As he closed the door he sat Vice on the couch with Ace behind her. He handed her her knew unicorn toy as he knelt down in front of her. "Listen up, ok? That was a very bad man. He might not seem like it but if you seem that man again and I am not with you I want you to scream the word fire and scream it loud and over and over again until one someone else comes to your aid or two he runs away himself. If he doesnt and tries to take you with him I want you to fight and try your hardest to get away from him, ok? Do you understand me? If anyone tries to make you go with them, mainly an evil man by the name of Castor Morelock, if you here this name and it rings a bell above all else and he wants you to go with him, I want you to run. Now, there could be others I say ok to but that is unless I say otherwise. I have that evil man still after me who wants to hurt me and anyone around me. That means you now Vice. Please dont give them a chance to even lay a finger on you. I care about you to much that if anything happened to you I dont know what I would do. Probably go out of my mind. So, please promise me to do what I say when I say. If I have this tone of voice I dont want you to ask questions or speak. Just trust me and know what I am doing is to keep you safe, ok? That's all. Part of me thinks we arent even safe at this apartment anymore. In a day or two we might be looking for a new place but in the mean time I just want you to relax and watch tv. I will make dinner and then put you to bed. Now, do you have any questions for me now before I get started on making us something to eat?"

He knew it was a lot for her to take in but she was a lot smarter then most adults even at the age of 4. She was after his own heart and got it already under lock and key. He was goign to stop at nothing to make sure he couldnt get to her. So he just waited her answer...