Walls Came Tumbling Down

"What are you looking at?" Mello murmured, his head deep in the pillow. His gaze had languidly found Matt and was fixed upon his face. Mello felt guilty. He knew that he should be telling his husband to take them home, away from the sight and pressures of their peers; and away from the petty, everyday dangers and the threat of more. Matt sat at the side of his bed, leaning on it, with a pad and a pen held awkwardly in his right hand. The redhead was ambidextrous, easily at home writing with either hand, yet much preferring to type. It felt strange seeing him without a laptop. Matt hadn't answered his question. He'd just awarded him with a sweeping glance and a smile. Mello smiled back. "Tell me."

Matt muttered. "Nothing." But he had been staring intently before. Mello raised his eyebrows and Matt elaborated, in an equally low voice, "Salvo's got the baby asleep on him."

Mello didn't turn to see. He didn't have the energy to move. He told himself that that was also the reason they were still here, because the trip from Aberystwyth had been so painful and exhausting, that Mello couldn't bear to relocate again. He dismissed his own niggling fear that it was because he didn't want to be this vulnerable, alone with Matt in their home. Mello's logic told him that Matt wouldn't hurt him, not if he was in control of his own mind. Mello's heart beat still to a melody of Matt; that craving, aching sense of love and longing that fuelled his obsession with this man. It was a love of poetry and passion, star-crossed and soul-matched against the great plains of destiny. Mello did hope that his own Romantic sensibilities hadn't built it up into more than it was. His hand crept out to touch Matt's finger. His hand was held. Mello's doubt ate at the dark recesses behind his nerves. It told him that, on some level, the trust was gone or, at least, shaken to its core. He didn't want to believe, nor even admit to himself, that they were here because it was safer than being at home; that the potential for violence, from the collective Wammy's House alumni, was less than the threat of Matt himself.

"Baby?" Mello whispered, his expression teasing. Matt gave a half-shrug and stroked Mello's hand with his thumb. Mello worked it out. "Fatherhood. That unknown quantity." He squeezed Matt's hand. "Fuck Cisco Heras. He didn't deserve you anyway."

Matt bit his lip and started to stand. He leaned over Mello and kissed him. "Nipping out for a cigarette."

Mello felt irritated that Matt should go while he was awake. Then reasoned that it implied Matt didn't leave his side, while he was asleep. It was protection. "Ok." Mello smiled, receiving a kiss. "I'll be here." He watched Matt slip on his gilet. His boots were already on his feet. Mello wished that he could go out with him, but was glad that he didn't have to move. There was an utter tranquility in this room. Even when the fireworks had exploded like thunderclaps, from the bonfire party, in the streets outside, it had felt calm in here. Century had been out there, taking Luleka and accompanied by Ann, along with the majority of the house's staff and residents. They had returned, but Century had disappeared again, telling Salvo that he was on a cyber-quest to locate Fenian. Silence had reigned ever since. "Te amo, guapo."

Matt had been halfway to the door. He stopped, looked back and opened his mouth to speak. But then Hal had arrived with Stephen Gevanni and alertness stilled his gait. Mello watched the pair wander across to the bed beside Lauren. He turned his head, seeing Salvo and Lauren staring too. Matt was statuesque by the wall. Hal indicated the bed, "Have this one." She glanced around her, while Gevanni sat upon it and took off his shoes. Madeleine appeared at the inner door, which led into her own quarters. She did not look surprised. Hal spoke quietly, but her voice carried throughout the room. "Stephen's headache hasn't gone away. He's going to stay in here tonight."

Salvo stirred. He hoisted his sleeping son more firmly onto his shoulder, then half-stood, bending to kiss Chrissie. Matt watched him do it. His gaze flickered, sideways, at Mello. Lauren's eyes were wide, taking it all in. Mello articulated the question. "Hal, has something been arranged that I'm not privy to?"

Hal walked across. There was tiredness in her eyes and blank professionalism on her face. "He can't fly back. It's a migraine. Much as I trust and respect him, I'd rather like not to share my bed with him." She didn't mention the several spare rooms that dotted this Institution. "But Matt and Salvo are going to have to say their goodnights and leave now. Madeleine wants to settle you all for the night."

Matt had drifted back to Mello's side. He said, hurriedly, "I'm staying with Mello."

"Sorry, you're not." Hal replied firmly. "If you are, then Salvo is and that's not fair. He has a little boy to look after."

Mello frowned. "I'm not going to hurt Chrissie."

"For everybody's peace of mind." Hal simply stated. Beside them, Salvo wasn't querying anything. It was obvious that he had known. "Now please don't kick up. These ladies need their rest as much as you do and Gevanni has a terrible migraine."

Mello's eyes narrowed. "I'm willing to bet a grand that he hasn't."

"He was hit over the head by your husband." Hal warned. "Please live with the consequences."

Salvo wheeled the pushchair, one-handed, around the edge of Mello's bed. He still had Luleka against his chest, with the infant sleeping soundly on his shoulder. "Matt, let's leave these people to do their jobs. Peace between us, man."

Mello felt panicked. He could see the logic, but he didn't like being told what to do. He didn't want Matt to believe that he belonged anywhere but at Mello's side. He considered demanding that his husband take him home. But Matt surprised him. "Mell." The redhead bent over him. "I'll be in our room. Call me, if you need me." He nodded towards the telephone beside his bed. It was an internal system, but allowed for external calls through the Watari operator. "I'll be here like a shot."

Mello was sinking inside, burning up with anger, humiliation and upset, but trying not to show any of it. His cheeks were red. He could feel their heat. "Who is he guarding, Hal?" Mello hissed. "I'm not going to fucking touch Chrissie."

"Hey, man." Salvo abandoned the pushchair and moved to Mello's side. "No-one's accusing anyone of anything. The man's got a headache. Matt and I need our sleep too. You have my word that everything is cool in my camp." He smiled encouragement. "I'll even keep the other three off his back for you. Go to sleep and get your strength up. We're all good."

Mello glared past him, at Hal. "I fought to get my Mail back and now you're taking him away from me."

"You're over-reacting, Mello." She told him. "He's right here in Wammy's House. Nothing is going to happen on agreed neutral territory, because that would be cheating."

"You don't understand. He..."

Matt interrupted Mello with a hug and a kiss. "It's ok." He declared softly. "We're being watched." He delivered another fierce kiss and stood back, collecting his belongings. Then he walked purposefully to the door, past Salvo. "Peace out, Lauren." Matt called, holding the door open for Salvo to manoeuvre the pushchair through. "Watch yourself."

Hal inhaled sharply, then exhaled a general, "Goodnight all." She followed both men out and the door closed behind them. "Salvo, a cot has been set up in your room, along with the luggage from your car. Century supervised it all." She had been following Salvo up the corridor, but Matt had hung behind. She turned to watch him. "Please don't go back in there."

"I'm going for a cigarette." Matt held up his packet, with an extracted cigarette already dangling from his mouth. "But we need a conversation. Will you be in your office?"

Hal hesitated. "I'll come out with you. I could do with the air. That alright with you, Salvo?"

"No worries here." Salvo spoke, almost at the corner now. He turned it and disappeared from view.

Hal followed Matt outside. "Is there anything that you need while you're here?"

Matt sparked up his cigarette. "If Deontic packed up everything that was left in Aberystwyth, then where is the rest of it?" He leaned against the outside wall, between the door that Hal was pulling ajar and the kitchen door. "My car, Mello's motorbike and our trailer aren't on the drive. I haven't got my laptop or my 'phone. Our firearms are missing too, as are our keys."

"Yours is still in the evidence tray." Hal countered. "Why do you need firearms, Matt?"

"Apparently I don't." Matt replied, softly. "Were these items retained by Deontic?"

"Your vehicles are in storage. They are quite secure."

Matt nodded. "But not on the drive." He took a drag on his cigarette. "I installed the surveillance on these premises, that you inherited. It was for security purposes only and so only covered the grounds and the access points. It's a lot more invasive now. Who ordered that?"

Hal was unruffled. "After the incidents with Neuron, and some threatening behaviour from some of the alumni, it seemed the sensible thing to do."

"What was Near's reasoning behind allowing me to be released?"

"It's my understanding that he was convinced of your innocence."

Matt smiled. "Interesting that he took Century's proposed defence over Chrissie and Luigi's stance that I'm a chemically unbalanced, dangerous bitch." He shivered in the chill. "Or was it a calculated risk, which took the lesser of two evils. He lost his advantage, having me locked up and dependent in his cell; but with Chrissie and Lauren eliminated, he was also running out of time."

"You're being paranoid."

"Maybe." Matt exhaled smoke. It curled, with a bluish hue, in the night air. "But what will happen if I demand the rest of my belongings and carry Mello out of here?"

Hal didn't blink. "I would tell you that you're being ridiculous and criminally cavalier with Mello's health. If you were still adamant, I'd make a call to get your car brought around; then pack you a small box with milk, bread and a few essentials, so you didn't have to stop on the way home." Her gaze didn't waver. "However, I wouldn't be happy about it, so I'd probably send Ann in to talk sense to you before you moved Mello. You appear to listen to her."

"If I am truly exonerated here," Matt frowned and reiterated, "If I am, then I would like my car on the drive, and the rest of mine and Mello's belongings returned."

Hal had her arms wrapped around herself against the chill. "Please don't attempt to move Mello." She shuffled her weight onto the other foot and looked down, inspecting the wet slabs beneath her feet. Matt hadn't answered her. "Would you like to hear about my day? I sat with Ann and told a six year old girl that she is now the last of her family left in the world. Kato is too young to understand much about Neuron, other than he was her big brother and protector. He got taken away from her and now he's dead. Ann is still dealing with the fall-out of that. Tomorrow, I will have to call a meeting and explain to all of them that Valerie has also gone. Whatever happened in Aberystwyth and London, she was a brilliant psychologist. A lot of children here have opened up to her, about their experiences, for the first time since their individual tragedies played out. Not just those here now, but your generation too. Deontic doesn't yet know. Luigi does and he can't see a way past that."

"Valerie isn't my fault."

Hal cast him a withering look. "I need to get back to work."

Matt had finished his cigarette and was debating having another. "Tell your employer that he is not respecting the neutrality of this house."

"What?" Hal breathed. He didn't elaborate. Hal spoke coldly, "As far as I am concerned, my employers are a Board of Directors made up of all of the alumni. At least insofar as this Institution is considered."

Matt reached behind her and pushed open the door. He peered into the passageway, then stepped inside it. Hal followed, shutting the outside door behind her. Matt paused at the closed infirmary door and listened. Hal walked alongside him and shook her head. He surveyed her coolly, then sauntered on by. They walked together to the bottom of the backstairs, where Matt paused. "My medication?"

"Will be administered by Madeleine."

"I had my own. They were in my chalet."

Hal nodded. "It's my understanding that they were taken for the evidence tray."

Matt bowed his head. "It's my understanding that you know precisely what is missing and where it is. I have no confidence in this set-up." He turned and walked slowly up the stairs. Hal neither called after him nor followed. Matt waited on the floor above, but he didn't hear her footsteps leading away, even after ten minutes of standing there. He gave up and turned into the corridor. To his left was Mairoo's bedroom door. Matt tried the handle, but it was locked. Opposite was Fenian's room. He did not touch that. There was a light on in Century's room, it spilled from under the door. Matt peered down the whole row. Each room looked dark and empty, though his memory populated them all. He couldn't tell if Salvo's room was lit. It was only a dim light, if it was. He knocked on Century's door.

"Yes?" Century called out, after a short pause. Matt didn't respond. The teenager might not open up, if he knew it was him. There was a creaking of bedsprings and the door was opened. It was Salvo who filled the doorway.

Matt swallowed. "You knew in advance about the guard in the infirmary and Hal is so tired that she's making mistakes."

"About what?" Salvo asked. Behind him, Century sat at his desk with a laptop before him.

"Hal freaked out about a car being parked for too long outside the gates; but she's brushed off an actual visit by genuine investigators." Matt told him, blankly. "Which means that she knows they are already being dealt with. She isn't a bit perturbed by the level of surveillance in the building, even though one camera is trained directly onto her desk. I didn't see a request for that come through the Board."

Century was frowning. "You think that Near is making a move with the G-2 visit?"

Matt nodded. "And half of my stuff is missing. Is your car still outside?"

"Yes." Salvo replied. "Just been out to get my chewing gum from the dash."

"Did you order the guard in the infirmary?"

Salvo chewed slowly. "It was offered and I accepted. Lauren works for you. It was two against one and you had already threatened us." He was staring long and hard at Matt. "You are worried that Near is making a move against Mello."

Matt shook his head. "Near has no reason to do that."

"No. He hasn't." Salvo smiled reassurance. Beyond him, Matt could see a small speaker on the bed. He deduced that the baby was asleep in Salvo's room and this was the listening device, in case he woke up. Century looked tense. Salvo went on. "Look, whatever the politics are in here at the moment, I'm not involved. I'm here because Chrissie is down there. That's the beginning and end of my concern."

"Mello's there too." Matt whispered, looking up and down the corridor. There were cameras. He waited a long time before speaking, choosing his words carefully. "You trust Century with your son."

Salvo smiled, "He lives with us. Yes, I trust him."

Matt bit his lip. "Mello is flat on his back, unable to move. Lauren is with him. Would you keep an eye on the house?"

"Eh?"

Matt nodded towards the laptop. "I could hack into the surveillance. Or there is good old-fashioned...?" Matt paused and murmured. "I don't even have to go that far." He spoke loudly, turned in the direction of one of the cameras. "I'm going to go out to the shop. I'm out of cigarettes."

Salvo frowned. "Ok. So who are you expecting to attack Mello in the meantime? Surely we're your prime suspects and you have us on security detail." He winked. "Flaw in your reasoning there?"

"I won't be long." Matt stated, firmly. "Just going to walk into the centre of the city and buy some cigarettes." He was looking back at Salvo, but his eyes moved sideways, watching each end of the corridor in turn. "Are you still into your football?"

Salvo gave a half-chuckle. "I catch the odd match on the telly. But you know this. Mello and I were talking about Manchester United downstairs."

"He's been making me watch matches with him." Matt stated, flatly. "I think that if he had a chance with Ryan Giggs, I'd be dumped without a backward glance." He referred to one of the team's star players. "Or Hernandez."

Salvo's eyebrows were raised high. "As surreal as it is, standing in this place, talking about football with you of all people, where is it leading?"

Matt gestured for silence. They heard footsteps on the stairs. Both Salvo and Matt turned towards the sound and saw Ann appear at the end. She was a little out of breath. "Hello boys. Have you settled in ok?" She waved her hand at her neck and collar-line. "Got everything you need?"

"Yes, thank you, Ann." Salvo replied. He was smiling, but there was a wary edge to his gaze.

"Good. Good." Ann reached into her apron pocket and brought out a full packet of cigarettes. "Matt, you'd better have these. I confiscated them off one of the children last month. Stuck in my..."

Matt had met first Salvo's eyes, then Century's. He interrupted the housekeeper now. "Did Hal ask you to bring them up to me?" They both watched her cheeks flush. "I'm not free to leave this house, am I? Gevanni has been watching my movements, but he's been reassigned to the infirmary. Hal didn't have an excuse to be in there. She's now on the cameras instead."

Ann frowned, "Matty, I'm sure that..."

"Were you told to bring me those cigarettes?" Under their joint gaze, Ann appeared stricken. Matt nodded. "Sal, you've either witnessed this or you are in on it." He started to walk, past Ann, back towards the stairs.

Salvo called out. "Near, there should be neutrality here."

Ann hurried after the redhead, "Matty! Hold on."

But he was much faster than she was and made it to the bottom of the stairs, before Ann had even taken a step. Matt looked down the corridor, towards the infirmary and found a man sitting on a chair outside. He was dressed like a caretaker, but Matt had never seen him in his life before. Matt strolled towards him, hearing the clattering thuds on the staircase above, that was Salvo rushing after him. Salvo saw the guard. "What the Hell? Bit of overkill there."

Matt had reached him. He said, quietly, "My husband is in there."

The guard shook his head. He had an American accent. "Sorry, no-one allowed in or out without clearance from Hal."

"Bullshit." Salvo breathed, just as Ann arrived behind him.

"Language." She said, automatically, then, "Matty, come away. Come into my office. We'll have a chat over a nice cup of tea."

Matt spoke softly, but firmly, "My husband is in there and I wish to see him." They could hear running footsteps beyond the corridor's junction. "That will be Hal to give you your clearance now."

Salvo murmured, "Ann, if you have an explanation, then I think now would be a good time." He rubbed her back. She looked pale and worried. Matt reached forward for the door-handle and the guard stood up, blocking his way. Salvo scowled. "He has a right to see Mello." Hal hurried around the corner, but they all heard the clatter and moan of pain inside the infirmary. Matt lunged for the door and the guard grabbed him bodily, pushing, then pinning Matt against the opposite wall. Ann gasped, with her hand against her mouth. Salvo moved forward. "Don't touch Matt. Whatever you do, don't..."

"Stand down!" Hal gushed, pushing past Ann. "Ok, this is getting out of hand. Stand down!"

The infirmary door opened wide. Mello stood there, glaring out, with one arm encased in its plastic cast and the other leaving the door to be clutched against his ribs. His face had lost all colour, down to the whitening of his lips; his scar stood out, stark in its redness, against it. His eyes bore into the security guard, like gimlets, red-rimmed and sore. He didn't speak. He just stared. Behind him, Lauren was sitting up, while Gevanni was standing by the side of his bed. Madeleine hurried down the centre of the room. The guard had released Matt, but Salvo still inserted himself between the two. As soon as the path was clear, Matt bolted to Mello's side and wrapped his arms around him.

Hal turned away, her arms up in the air. They fell again to her sides in exasperation. She saw Ann's tearful expression and patted her shoulder. Inside the infirmary, Madeleine hissed sternly that Mello shouldn't be out of bed, but he stood there, propped between Matt and the doorframe. He eventually rasped out the words, "Situation, Mail."

"I'm not free to leave Wammy's House and the whole place is rigged with cameras. Near's making moves, presumably against the G-2, which involves keeping me under surveillance."

Mello growled, "Mail, if he was going to do that, he wouldn't have let you out of your cell in London." He peered blearily at Salvo, then at Hal. "This isn't working. Find us a ground floor room, that he can smoke in, and put in a bed and my drip. He stays with me."

Hal sighed. "Your place is in the infirmary."

"Not with this level of distrust." Iron will alone was keeping Mello on his feet, but it couldn't keep the pain from his face.

"Enough!" Ann declared suddenly. "I've not spent nearly twenty years gaining their trust to be messing around with games now. He can have Mr Wammy's room. I've got the key for cleaning and there was enough pipe smoking in there, while the first L was growing up. Get him on a trolley and I'll go and air it." Hal opened her mouth to protest, but Ann shook her finger in her face. "It might not be my place to speak up, but Heaven knows, I've kept my tongue enough times in this house. If I'd said all I could have said before, we'd probably none of us be in this mess." She started to bustle away. "Mr Wammy would never have stood for it. Salvo, my dear, get him sorted out."

Mello, Matt and Salvo exchanged wide-eyed looks. Salvo mouthed, "Mr Wammy's room!"

Half-fainting, Mello managed a triumphant smile. "Wow." He gaped, weakly. They were all thinking about what treasures might lie in there. "That will do nicely."