Walls Came Tumbling Down

ÿþ"Do you even know what you want anymore?" Mello hissed, as soon as Matt was settled in a chair beside him. He kept his voice low, as Chrissie was sleeping and the beep of Luigi's monitors maintained an ominous backdrop of sound. "Or vaguely what you're doing?"

Matt peered up at him, meeting Mello's glare with a nonchalant gaze, which quickly dropped away. He gave a half-shrug and reached for his PSP. Matt was wearing boots. He'd been outside for a cigarette.

Mello patted the bed beside him. "Sit up here please. I want to chat properly." He waited until Matt shuffled beside him and sat, with his feet dangling off the edge. Mello reached to stroke his husband's back, then trailed a finger down to his arm. "I've said I'll go home with you. I was prepared to do that, even though I'm feeling like shit."

"I know."

Across the way, Lauren picked up her iPod and scrolled through the tunes. She had looked up, and smiled, as Matt walked in, then returned to her book, absorbed in her own world. Mello glanced across, but she didn't notice. "Mail, I know that you're depressed. I love you, forgive you, if that's what you need to hear, but I'm really struggling here, baby. You're bouncing off the walls and I want to do something about that."

"Just rest."

Mello frowned, "I'm as stir crazy as you are." He surveyed his husband. "Are you really contemplating giving Century access to your Wammy's House files?" He saw Matt's nod. "And what will that serve? Is it still part of the great plan to get back at Roger? Because all I see is anyone but Roger getting hurt." He both felt and witnessed Matt's flinch, before the redhead froze before him. "The timing was all out for you, wasn't it? A move of this nature relied upon you being in a position to sit back and watch. Not be here at Ground Zero, with the eyes of the world on you." He flashed a sympathetic smile. "I'd like us to look at our priorities."

He would have said more, but Salvo, Century and Deontic arrived and their semi-privacy was lost. Salvo looked in confusion at Chrissie's bed. "Where's Luleka?"

"Madeleine took him for a walk around the shops." Mello replied. "With Chrissie's permission." He watched Salvo mentally evaluate that development. "Mrs Evans is in the little office. Jamboree is on call and Madeleine can be paged."

"Ok." Salvo found a smile. "Unexpected, that's all."

"She is entitled to a break."

Century returned to the bed between Lauren and Luigi. He was awarded a smile from the former, as she took out her earphones. "You're right, Muse are good." She paused her iPod. "I'd like to hear more."

Century just nodded. "Easy to get you that." But he didn't do anything about it.

Salvo grimaced, "Mello, you up for a chat?" He moved past Deontic, coming to stand at the foot of the Slav's bed. "About bringing things down a notch." They inspected each other like prize fighters, sizing up the opposition, but then Salvo smiled and indicated conciliation. "Nothing scary."

"Shoot."

Salvo told him what he'd said to the other three, about the Aberystwyth refugees acting out of character. "It's mentioned in the evidence," he concluded, "and frankly I believe it. Chrissie and I watched the deterioration with each new snippet of news coming out of there. It's not a dig at you per se. I'm just saying that everyone started to think a little strangely."

Mello had been silent, watching him keenly. There was a challenge in his sudden smile. "And you think you're the sane one?"

"No more than usual." Salvo winked. "And I'm asking your opinion here. This is more your field and you were there. Am I right in my suppositions?" They were all watching Mello now. "Deontic, your input would also be invaluable."

Mello's eyes widened. He recovered quickly. "I don't think you're wrong, but for that you need a base-line on what is normal behaviour. You think that anyone acts naturally here? No. So how can you measure what is out of character?"

They were all startled, when the response came from Matt. "Ask Ann."

"What's that, guapo?" Mello asked, gently.

From Chrissie's bed, there came a murmur, "He's got this bee in his bonnet about Ann being the best psychologist in Wammy's House." Chrissie opened her eyes, surveying them carefully. Exhaustion edged her languid movement, but she manoeuvred herself into half sitting. "He had her come, when he was in the cells."

Mello contemplated the suggestion. It was obvious that he was humouring his husband, just because it was something he could give him. "Call Ann in here then. Let's get her take on Salvo's theory."

While Matt slipped off the bed to find her, Salvo wrinkled up his nose. "It's not really a theory. It's an observation. I don't think that any of you were yourselves on that case, which goes beyond the defences that were individually built up in this Institution. It was more emotional than that." He paused, while Matt used the internal telephone to locate the housekeeper. "I think that doubts became paranoid certainties; trepidation became actual fear; annoyance erupted into fury. I understand that it was an intense experience, but everyone here is trained to function under pressure."

"And you're saying that we didn't." Mello glared.

"I'm saying that most, if not all of you, acted in ways that you would not ordinarily countenance." Again that reassuring smile. "Which isn't necessarily a bad thing. It just makes us human. But it's dented a lot of confidence and self-esteem. Forgive me, Mello, but I don't think you're immune from that."

Ann bustled into the room, slightly breathless from having run. "What's happened now?"

Most of them looked at her with some hesitation, unsure what to ask, now that she was here. But Matt knew. "Ann, I want you to tell us what you see. No holds barred."

"See where, poppet?" She asked, her eyes scanning the room, obviously searching for something tangible.

"In us." Matt's small smile held a measure of triumph in it. It made those who saw it feel nervous. "In your boys and girls."

Ann stared at him in bewilderment. "I see a group of people who didn't move those computers out of the common room like I asked them to."

"They see me as an anti-social troll, who causes trouble at the slightest opportunity, and doesn't care about anything but my games and Mello." Matt nodded towards Deontic. "Ice queen." Then towards Salvo. "Patronising, alpha male wannabe." And Mello. "Mafia and deadly."

Mello tutted, "Don't pull any punches, Mail. You just go ahead."

Matt ignored him. "But that's not what you see, is it, Ann? You find some way to like us all." He picked up the 'phone and called the kitchen. "Hi, it's Matt. Any chance of a tray of tea being brought into the infirmary? Ann looks like she needs one."

Ann's gaze moved from one face to another. "What are you all involving me in now? I'll not be party to war games, especially not here."

Mello scowled. "Can we nip that one in the bud please? Situation is this. Near is shitting himself that there's going to be another civil war. He's asked Hal to install cameras, so he can watch everything, in the misguided impression that he'll actually understand the subtle strands of emotional politics going on. The precedent of Hollow and Neuron has made Ann panic and go along with it all." He raised his right arm, one finger pointing towards the ceiling. "Near, Hal and Ann are doing everything that they can to either prevent a civil war, or else be able to react quickly on damage limitation. Instead, it's just making everyone upset. What is the motivation for a war? None, because half of us are too injured and knackered to even consider it. The other half are too worried about those of us who are down. If I'd wanted to take down Deontic, Century, Lauren or Mail, I'd have done it in Aberystwyth. And vice versa. Or in Athens. Or in any of the previous committee meetings. Flawed logic going on behind that deduction, Near." Mello smirked. "So the only person stirring the hornet's nest is, in fact, Near, by instigating these stupid regulations designed to prevent the very thing he's causing."

"Hu-bloody-rray." Salvo exclaimed. "It's finally out there. Can we get a confirmation on that, Near?" They waited and Lauren's laptop lit up with an Old English 'N'. She answered the call.

Near spoke without an electronic mask. "Matt has threatened to destroy Wammy's House. Fenian has sent outsiders here. The alumni are angry. The children are frightened."

Mello didn't look at the laptop. He smiled at the ceiling. "Take the bloody cameras down, Near." Mello sneered, "Peace in our time."

Ann exhaled, "Oh! That is such a relief." Her emotion was stark on her features. "I couldn't bear it, if I had to lose another one of you. No more fighting. Can we have a promise on that? Now, while we're all friends?"

"Matt wasted Hal's time." Near accused. "He hid the streaming software to stop Near watching the house. Matt gave himself an opportunity to destroy Wammy's House."

Mello flashed a look of complete disdain at the laptop. "Which he spent doing fuck all! Can we have some trust in this sanctuary please? The only thing threatening to cause a civil war right now is the presence of those bloody cameras. It's not helpful, Near."

Salvo added, "Where is Hal now? Because I think that her proposed resignation was given under duress."

"Hal and Linda are watching from Hal's office."

Matt appeared at Ann's side and raised his arms. He held the housekeeper in a fierce, tight embrace, which rendered her momentarily stumped. Gradually, as if terrified of scaring him away, she lifted her hands and placed them on his back. Ann held her breath, while Matt just stayed there. Head on her shoulder, arms about her neck. Every person in the room watched them with jaws dropped or other aspects of wonder and puzzlement. Mello seemed worried, trying to work out something for which he had no data. Matt did not move.

Salvo mouthed eventually, "Is he crying?"

Deontic shook her head, but Matt took that as his cue to break the embrace. He kissed Ann on the forehead, then stepped away. His whisper sounded like a thunderclap in the silence of that room. "I promise."

Ann was tearful. "Oh Matty!"

"Tell them." Matt softly spoke. "How you see me. How you see him and her." His fingertip smudged the tears on her face. "How we break your heart."

Mello exhaled. "Mail."

Matt's gaze remained locked with Ann's. "Give them some empathy."

"You've always hated being touched." Ann began. "Even when you were a little boy."

"Yes."

Ann waved a hand in front of her face, hunting for a tissue in her pocket with the other hand. "When you fell over or had your nightmares, I just wanted to cuddle you so much, but that would have made it so much worse." She blew her nose, but Matt was smiling encouragement. "What do you want me to say, Matty?"

"Why do you persist in thinking that Mello is a sweet, little boy, against all of the evidence?"

"What?" Ann gasped. "Mello is lovely! He's got such a kind heart." She noticed the sea of unconvinced faces, punctuated by Matt's expression, urging her to go on. "Call yourselves geniuses and not one of you eyes in your head. Mello would give you the shirt off his back, if he thought you needed it. Always so eager to please." She shook her head. "I mean, a right little tearaway as well, but that was Beyond Birthday's influence, if you ask me."

Deontic glanced at Luigi, then bowed her head and held her tongue. Mello didn't though. "I fucked his head up good and proper, didn't I, Dee?"

She jumped, startled, "You have your moments, Mello." That was all she would say.

Salvo had sat down beside Chrissie. "Much as I'm amused by the rose-tinted viewpoint, what is it helping?"

Ann had caught the exchange between Deontic and Mello. "Poor Luigi. I could cry for him. He was so full of himself, when he arrived. Better than all the rest. I know that Mr Wammy and Roger thought he would be number one, because they said so, when I was clearing away the crockery."

That caught their attention. "Luigi!" Century gasped. "Really?!"

"Arrogant and intelligent." Mello growled. "So I went after him hammer and nails, knocked him off his perch and didn't stop." There was a bubbling undercurrent of anger in the room. This was news to no-one. They had all been there, though sometimes it was difficult to remember the very start. "Fenian too, as Kiana delighted in telling me for days on end."

"Yes, you did." Ann snapped. "And if it wasn't for Roger specifically telling me to let you all fight it out amongst yourselves, I'd have thrashed your behind for you!"

Mello gave a half-smile, secure that his reputation was once again intact. "And I'm sorry for it now." He inclined his head. "My apologies for being a terrible teenager."

Matt was still concentrating on Ann. "Fight it out amongst ourselves. Like gladiators in the fight pits, waiting for the thumb up or the thumb down from the great emperor L. Expecting you to stand by and let it happen. But you couldn't do that, could you, Ann? Because you saw little children and the angst behind the mask."

"Everyone keeps saying that!" Deontic interrupted. "Behind the mask. Like we've lived every moment of our lives as a lie. No-one could have kept that up! It's just not feasible."

"No." Ann replied, miserably. "You just all changed and fitted in with what was expected of you. But you all still came for a cuddle or a rant, in my office, when it all got too much." She reached out to rub Matt's shoulder and he visibly stiffened against flinching. "I see. The rules didn't change that much."

"Why did Mello bully Luigi, Ann?"

An exasperated sound came from the bed. Mello glared, "Mail."

But Ann just sighed. "Because Luigi was a major contender and Mello was too scared of losing L's approval, if he lost the top spot." Awkwardness rode the atmosphere, above some bemused or disturbed shared looks. "Same as all of you really." She considered it. "Not Century. He went his own sweet way, as ever."

"Why did Fenian sell out Wammy's House to the Irish government?"

"I don't know." Ann declared sadly, but then offered an explanation anyway. "But knowing him, one of you had threatened him with something and he was scared for his life." She shook her head again. "Always scared for his life, that one. Convinced that one of you was going to kill him."

Deontic frowned, "Fenian is one of the most fearless people I know! He's more likely to start a fight than be on the receiving end. Combative and confrontational. I love Fian to bits, well, did, until he betrayed us, now I don't know what to think." She recovered her train of thought against Century's expression of protest. "But he's not exactly the type to cower in a corner. If there's no battle there, he'll cause one."

Ann winced, "That's because fear comes out of Fenian in getting angry. He hates being scared, so he lashes out. Linda does the same, though that's a recent thing. It's just like how Matty freezes like a deer in headlights; Salvo goes all calm; and Mello puts on that silly smirk. You're all very different people." She misinterpreted Deontic's stare. "And you go all fussy and start organising things. Folding up your bits of paper." She tutted. "Easy to see, when you know what you're looking for." She glanced around herself. "Him chewing gum like his mouth will fall off. Mello gobbling up chocolate." Her eyes took in the cabinet beside Century's bed. "Fifteen lollipop wrappers; and I know I cleared that off this morning."

"This is blatant stuff." Chrissie spoke croakily. "We all know to watch the lollipops." Across the room, Century abruptly removed one from his mouth and placed it on one of the discarded wrappers.

Mello whispered to the ceiling, "'You see, but you do not observe. The distinction is clear.'"

"Ann." Matt smiled. "Forget what you've been told by Near and Hal. Is there a civil war here?"

"I don't know!" Ann shuffled uncomfortably. "I didn't see it coming the last time."

Near spoke from the laptop, "What is Ann's gut instinct?"

"No!" She cried. "You're all feeding off each other, winding yourselves up, and really it's nothing that couldn't be solved with banging all of your heads together!"

Salvo addressed the laptop, "Near, what moves are you making? And how does that affect Wammy's House?"

There was a short hesitation, then Near replied candidly, "L's contacts in the US Military and FBI are searching the country for Fenian. Operatives in Dáil Éireann, Seanad Éireann and..." He paused, as Century snorted a half-laugh. "Near mispronounced the Gaelic names."

"Yeah."

Salvo gestured for Century to be quiet. "You have infiltrated the Irish government and senate. Let's leave it at that."

Near waited a second before going on. "I will learn how to say them."

"Blooming stupid names anyway." Ann countered, rising to Near's defence. "Why can't they just call it the government like normal people?"

Century peered up beneath his fringe. "Because those are English words, Ann."

Mello coughed, "Near, you're seeing how far Fenian's information has penetrated the Irish authorities. My guess is not very far. Whoever he told initially called in G-2, so there will be a file there. Which means that the Americans will know by now. G-2 brought in Michael O'Neill, who was probably very discreet." He considered it. "Is O'Neill still a problem?"

"No," was Near's curt response.

Mello stared at the ceiling. "Right. Then what do we do with Fenian, when we find him?"

"G-2 are not watching Fenian's house." Near shared. "Only civilians have approached it. Mrs Bronagh Kelly entered the cottage with a key. She left 18 minutes later with four bags and drove away in a five-door Skoda Citigo registered to Mr Dermot Kelly in 2010. She took the bags to the home of James and Brenda Holloran in Galway City. She stayed there for 94 minutes, then left without the bags. Mrs Bronagh Kelly has not had any contact with either Ms Kiana O'Flaherty or Fenian."

Salvo snorted, "But the Hollorans have?"

"There has been no contact between the Hollorans and Ms Kiana O'Flaherty nor Fenian."

"But?" Century demanded.

"The Hollorans have two sons in prison on charges of terrorism against the British Army."

Mello breathed a short laugh, "Kiana's got IRA contacts. How deliciously cliched." He narrowed his eyes. "All of this implying that Kiana is no longer in the custody of Michael O'Neill and his cronies."

Deontic stared in wonder at Near's monogram. "How are they even still going? I thought that Kira had wiped out every known IRA member!"

"Same as ETA." Mello looked pointedly at Matt. "Same as the Mafia. They regroup when the danger is past." His gaze shifted to take in Century. "How are Meibion Glyndu
r these days?"

Century ignored his question to pose one of his own. "Is Kiana safe?"

Near answered, "Ms Kiana O'Flaherty is not in the custody of G-2."

"Is there a guarantee on that?" Mello blithely demanded. "Have you got the files, Near?"

"Yes. The hard-copy case files have been sent to me. The digital files have been shredded."

A look passed between Mello and Matt. The latter understood that checking this was a priority on his 'to do' list. He gave a little smile and finally returned to Mello's side. The Slav grasped his hand and held it too tightly for comfort. Matt sat down. Salvo, meanwhile, was pushing for more information. "Near, I trust your investigation, but can I just confirm a few points? As far as you can establish, Kiana is still alive, not under the control of O'Neill nor any of the Irish government. Supposed to be hiding in the IRA network of West Ireland. And Fenian is AWOL."

"Yes."

His reply was nearly drowned out by Century speaking, "Last seen in New Jersey. Massive IRA support there, there is. One of the biggest ex-pat Irish populations in the USA. Could be he has more help than we bargained for, is it?"

"Hold on!" Deontic looked perturbed. "Are you seriously all telling me that Fenian has been helping the IRA?" There was a long, contemplative silence.

"No." Mello concluded finally. "He's not." He grinned at them. "Because if he was, then the whole organisation would be a lot more successful than it currently is. We would have been hearing a lot more about it." Mello's gaze fell upon Matt. "His genius is not in the hands of terrorists."

Matt mouthed the response, "Or freedom fighters." And the grip tightened further around his hand.

Century looked ill. "What will happen to Fenian, when he's caught?"

"If he's caught." Salvo corrected.

Near replied blankly, "That is a decision for the Committee. Fenian is a Wammy's House matter. Fenian is not a problem for L."

Salvo and Century both exhaled. Chrissie found a tiny smile. "I'll represent him." She said, weakly.

Deontic just raised her eyes to the ceiling. "Talking about justice, can I have a definitive answer? Is Matt now completely free?"

"Yes." Mello replied firmly. He was echoed by Lauren.

Near merely said, "That is also a decision for the Committee."

Mello glared at them. "Who are mostly all here. Yes all 'round?"

Chrissie turned away, "What fucking choice do we have now?" Standing above her, Salvo quickly nodded and moved around the bed to sit where she could see him. He stroked her face, then leaned in and softly kissed her. They heard a murmured response, filled with emotion. "Finally, officially, above the law."

"Always were." Mello countered, briskly. "Sorry to break it to you."

Chrissie's head whipped around to glare at him. "Then I hope you feel safe, Mello! Because above it means not protected by it. It means private armies, amongst a House full of the most paranoid individuals ever to walk this Earth. One which keeps growing, adding generations, with no checks and balances. It will come back to bite us and you know it."

Deontic turned and walked out.

Chrissie went on, "This isn't justice. It's not even close. It's a dangerous hypocrisy." She closed her eyes, too tired to really fight her corner. "What's to stop Matt just walking around that corner and taking a gun to Roger's head?"

Ann shrieked, "What?!"

Mello flickered a glance at her. "Ann." He smiled. "No justice. Just Ann."

Chrissie sighed. "Just bloody grow up." She turned away again, facing Salvo alone.

"Leaman's list. Potentially as powerful as Schindler's." Mello was watching Matt. "Do I get one of those hugs?" Matt nodded. He slowly arranged himself, so he could lean down and wrap his arms around Mello's prone torso, while still keeping his body weight off the Slav. Mello gave a little smile and reached his right arm on Matt's back. He muttered, "You'll get the fuck up when I tell you that you can." It was said low enough that only Matt could hear.

Ann wasn't appeased. "What's this about shooting Roger? You're joking, yes?" She was wide-eyed. "I sometimes wonder what the Hell we raised here!" Nobody had a word of reassurance. "Are you being serious?" She stared at each of them in turn. "Because if you are, then forget Fenian! I'll be going to the blooming police and the United Nations too, if I have to! Are you really saying this without blinking? Murder!"

"Ann." Mello eventually gruffly replied. "No-one's going to shoot Roger or anyone."

"I should bloody well hope so too!"

Deontic returned with a slimline bag in her hand. "Matty." He didn't move, but Mello craned his neck to see. He beamed and patted Matt's back. The redhead rose slightly to exchange a glance with him, then slowly turned around. She held his laptop. "It's been in my possession since you were first arrested. I've not opened it, because I'm under no illusion that it isn't protected with a hidden PIN. You wouldn't want your hard-drive wiped, just because Century wouldn't think to crack a code before he switched it on." She held it out, almost as a peace offering. "I kept it safe."

Matt dropped off the bed onto the floor and padded across to her. He took the proffered bag and awarded her with a small smile. "Gracias."

Century gaped, "You knew I'd take the computers!"

She shook her head. "No. And I'm still very disappointed in that." She returned Matt's smile. "He had it on him, before he stepped into the helicopter. I knew that it would be taken from him. I kept it safe." She nodded towards the bag. "Both of your 'phones are in the pockets. You can have your firearms when they aren't liable to be pointed at me."

"Thank you, Deontic." Mello smiled warmly. "I mean it. I owe you one."

"Let's just draw a line under it now."

"Thanks, sis."