NAOTMD 27-33

Chapter Twenty-Seven:

Duke's feet trudged slowly toward his room. Melancholy descended once Dive's statement had sunk in. "Waiting for the right girl huh?" He sighed to empty air. "Yea, been there done that," His fingers slipped across his eye patch. "Got the scar to prove it."

Once inside he climbed into comfy flannel PJ bottoms and a black tank top. He tossed his club wear into the clothesbasket and grimaced as he noted how much the pile had grown. "Look's like there's a laundry day somewhere in my near future," he thought flopping down on the bed stomach first.

As he lay there, phantom memories nagged at him in the silent room. It was times like this when he really missed Trace. He glanced at his digital clock, 2:30 a.m. He rolled off the bed with a grunt and began stuffing his clothes in a duffle. His mind needed occupation and there was nothing better for that than menial chores.

On his way to the elevator he poked his head back into the Rec. room. Nosedive was snoring away while the T.V. screeched on with "Attack of the Killer Tomatoes". Duke shook his head with a grin. Dive was sure gonna be sorry he'd missed that little gem.
He made a mental note to trundle the youngster off to his own bed after he'd dropped his laundry into the washer.

A little later, a groggy Nosedive staggered toward his bunk. Duke winced as he nearly missed the ladder. He let out a sigh of relief as the teen landed in a heap in the top bunk and not on the sleeping Grin. Duke quietly let himself out having done his good deed for the night.

"Clothes ought to be ready for the dryer now," Duke thought as he headed back.

Settling in front of the dryer he watched it spin for about ten minutes. "Ok," he muttered. "Note to self, watching clothes dry not high on the excitement meter." He paced the length of the floor, "What to do what to do," he asked the empty room. There wasn't anything on except bad sci-fi. He wasn't really hungry so there didn't seem to be any need to raid the kitchen. Then an idea hit him, "Duh, we live under an ice rink L'Orange," his brain reminded him sarcastically.

"Sure," he thought as he headed for the elevator. He'd burn off some restless energy, grab his finished laundry then head back to bed, simple. He detoured into the locker room and grabbed his disc player. Might as well throw a little music into the mix while he was at it. As he fumbled with the headphones, he trotted up the ramp. He paused to switch on his skates then, looked up and froze…apparently he wasn't the only duck restless tonight.

Mallory skated at the far end of the visitor's goal apparently lost in her own world.

"That had to have been her earlier," Duke thought remembering the movement beyond the Rec. room door. "I should have known."

Chapter Twenty-eight:

"Options?" He asked himself. Suddenly confronted with twins of himself one in a halo and the other sporting horns.
"Well," his goody half offered. "On the one hand you could still leave I don't think she's seen you."
"No fair! Where's the fun in that?" The horned version of himself whined waving about a tiny pitchfork. Duke had to smile, the little devil had a valid point. Who was he to ignore opportunity when it knocked?

Silently he discarded his player on a nearby bench and stepped onto the ice.  He murmured a prayer to St. Nicholas (and no don't confuse him with the jolly chap that dresses in red) the patron saint of thieves and hoped she wouldn't catch him before he reached her. He marked her turns and swiftly adapted his approach to meet them.

"He could have at least said thanks," the little devil huffed.
The haloed version of Duke nodded then they vanished *poof*.

Mallory's soft humming reached his ears and it struck him that he'd heard the song somewhere before. He made a mental note to look into it as he caught her around the waist, it could be important later. Mallory's eyes flew open in surprise as he spun her around to face him then quickly lifted her up completing the turn. She scowled into his amused face and began to push against his shoulders. Duke wobbled briefly and she fell still, the last thing she wanted was to throw off their balance at the moment.   

She waited until he released her back onto the ice and then she whirled on him, landing a punch right to his stomach. Duke went down, landing square on his rump.

"Yea, figured that'd be her reaction,"  he thought sucking in a breath. Thankfully she'd only slightly winded him, now if she'd really been mad…

"You didn't put all your weight into that one Mallory," he teased. "I'm touched." He grinned up at her. "I knew I'd grow on you."

Mallory turned scarlet, "You snuck up on me you louse!" She spat at him. "You're lucky I held it that long or we'd have both ended up on our asses!"

"Aw Mal c'mon," Duke sighed as she started toward the edge of the ice. "I'm sorry," he called as he gathered himself up and went after her. Sliding out in front he blocked her way, "Stay and skate with me," he pleaded hands outstretched.

Mallory scowled at him as her arms folded over her chest. She wished she hadn't left her sweater behind. The red tank had been fine but now she felt a bit exposed. "What are you doing up here anyway?" She demanded. So much for being so sure that no one would be up and about. Now here she was face to face with the last duck in the world she wanted to see.

Duke noticed that at least she hadn't said no. Body language told him she was more nervous than angry but not by much.

"Laundry," he said with a smile dropping his hands. When one of her sleek brows arched in disbelief he ran an index finger over his chest, "Cross my heart and hope never to be served with currant sauce," he quipped.

She giggled and the sound made his hopes soar. It was short lived though as Mallory abruptly stopped and cleared her throat. "Well I'll leave you to it then and go back to bed," was her bland reply as she stepped around him.

Duke sighed running fingers through his tousled mop of steel gray hair, "Mal? How many more nights you gonna do this?" He cast a glance over his shoulder as she froze in her tracks. "You can't keep this up much longer I can tell. Pretty soon you won't be able to hide it from the rest of them either."

"Did Tanya…?" She began half turning back to him.

"Tanya didn't tell me anything," he replied closing the gap between them again.

"You've been spying on me then," she growled backing off a step. She felt too small when he stood right in front of her a lot like she had with her father, diminutive, vulnerable and weak. She didn't want anyone to see her that way especially not Duke.

"That's the most absurd thing you've said to date," he told her softly. "You're not the only one around here that keeps strange hours. Just the only one that seems to keep them more days a week than me and that's saying something," he grinned.
When she huffed unmoved he continued. "Look I didn't get to where I am now by not noticing things ok?"

He paused as he let her mull it over, saw her shoulders relax a fraction. "Ya know," he quested staring into her clouded emerald eyes. "I've got demons too." His hand found hers and he cautiously held it. "If we share, maybe we can both kick the late night ramblings hmm?"

Is she actually thinking about it? Or is she going to hit me again? He wondered. Hard to tell what was going on behind that frown.

The silence dragged for another moment but to Duke it felt like an eternity. Suddenly she jerked her hand away as if just realizing he still held it.

"Thanks but no thanks," she grumbled and skated away from him. Reaching the ramp she switched off her skates and bounded down it.

"L'Orange!" Both twins were back and yelling at him. "You're going to crash and burn if you don't do something quick!" Duke was glad to see both halves in agreement for once. "Working on it!" He snapped back.  

Mallory hadn't actually broken but she hadn't given him the explosive reaction he'd expected either. Mere seconds ticked by as he looked down at the hand that had held hers briefly. She hadn't immediately slapped him off, nor had she told him to mind his own business. Her 'thanks' had sounded more like a 'you wouldn't understand' rather than a 'drop dead'. Opportunity had appeared again and Duke took it as a sign.

Scrambling he nearly flew after her barely getting his skates switched off. His disc player could wait till later this couldn't. He hit the door at the same time she did and fell against the latch swinging it open for her before her hands even touched the cold metal. She stopped and gave him a tired frown. "What are you doing now?"

"Opening the door," he replied with a grin.

Rolling her eyes Mallory walked past him. A moment later he fell into step beside her.

"Don't you have laundry to get back to?" She asked annoyed.

"Elevators this way, same floor remember?" He reminded her.

"Oh for the love of…" Mallory grumbled then flushed.  "Of course he'd have to go the same way. How stupid had that sounded?"  She wondered. "C'mon McMallard get a grip. He's just trying to rattle you."

As they stepped into the elevator together, she conceded he was doing a fairly decent job of it too. She jabbed the button in frustration and leaned against the farthest wall. "This is laughable, she thought. We've ridden this elevator hundreds of times before. Why should tonight be any different?"  She was glad that Duke had given her some space. As it was she felt herself having trouble breathing. Suddenly a little horned Mallory spoke up giving her an idea, "All those other times it wasn't this late and you guys weren't this alone."

Duke glanced over at her and she swore she could see a twinkle of amusement in his good eye. She looked away and concentrated instead on the control panel. "That's ridiculous," she told herself.  "Maybe it's because you really wanted to know what he would have told you if you weren't so pig headed," her devil continued unrebuffed.   "Isn't there supposed to be one more of you guys?" She thought pointedly. "You know the one with the halo?"

"Took the night off," the devil quipped  "Besides, you listen to that one too much already."  Then it disappeared in a puff of smoke.

She flushed as red as her hair. Her mind couldn't continue to wander like this. Why wouldn't the elevator open up already? It was taking way too long to reach the third floor. She felt her palms beginning to sweat and wiped them nervously on her sweats.

Duke flicked a glance at her and noticed her discomfort. Mallory looked on the verge of a panic attack. His warning bells went off. Not good definitely not good.
"Mal? You ok?" He asked taking a step toward her. "You look like you're about to pass out."

The elevator chimed and to Mallory's relief the door slid open. She shoved past Duke and out into the corridor. Duke followed quickly and caught her before she crumpled to the ground.

Chapter Twenty-nine:

"Whoa Mal!" He exclaimed as he scooped her up into his arms. "It's ok," he soothed. "I'll get you to Medical and call Tan. She'll know what to do."

Her head resting in the crook of his neck Mallory managed to rasp, " N…no. J…just need rest. No…medical."

"Shit!" Duke swore under his breath. Some opportunity this was turning out to be. Mallory was going to kill him later but he didn't see any other choice. He took the right hall toward her room and hit the override switch on the door panel. "Voice recognition," it barked at him.

"L'Orange, Duke no. 13 urgent admittance code 0.21" he spoke clearly.

"Voice pattern accepted. Welcome Duke." It chimed.

Duke hurried his precious cargo over to the bed and laid Mallory down gently. He removed a few random items strewn about the bed and settled her beneath the covers. He stared blankly for a few minutes then remembered he was going to buzz Tanya. Hitting the call button on the wall next to Mallory's desk he waited more or less patiently for an answer.

A few minutes and a couple of extra pushes later, a sleepy voice came over the intercom. "Mal," Tanya said through a stifled yawn. "Do you have any idea what time it is?"

"Tan, it's me Duke. " he replied. "I need you to come to Mal's room its kinda urgent. But for Pete's sake don't wake anybody else up," he pleaded.  

"Duke?" Tanya asked confused. "What the heck's wrong?"

"Just come have a look at her please? She passed out and I'll tell you everything after you give her the once over ok?" he implored.

"On my way," Tanya replied and the link went silent.

Duke dropped wearily into the desk chair after dragging it next to the bed and watched Mallory's chest rise and fall. With a soft huff into the back of his knuckles, he sat forward. Gently he stroked his fingers across her brow, "Damn it Mal," he grumbled softly. "I hate to see you suffer like this."

"That makes…two of us," came a withered reply as Mallory's eyes opened partly.

Duke blanched, "Aw man Mal I'm sorry. Me and my big mouth, I woke you didn't I?"

She offered him a tiny smile and pointed toward her bathroom. "Mind…getting me …an aspirin. Headache like …Hell," she muttered.

"Sure," he said patting her arm.

When he reemerged from the bathroom the door slid open and Tanya hurried in and plopped down on the side of the bed.

"Alright L'Orange spill," She grumbled taking Mallory's wrist for a pulse.
"What's that?"

"Aspirin," he offered. "Said she had a headache."

"K," she nodded. "Well tell me what happened and while you're up get me a cold washcloth would ya?"

"Tanya I'm fine…" Mallory protested. "I just flaked out. I haven't slept and I got a little loopy. Satisfied?"

"No," came a unanimous reply from both Tanya and Duke.

Duke laid the cloth across Mallory forehead and filled Tanya in while she took out a bottle of NyQuill. Helping Mal sit up she handed her a small dose. "Take it and don't give me that look," she fussed. "I knew I should have reminded you to restock your medicine cabinet the other day." She sighed heavily and packed her things back up. "Didn't I tell you this morning about the band snapping?" She scolded.

"Yea," Mallory said in a small voice. "Tan I'm sorry…I didn't mean to worry you."

Tanya held up her hand, "I know. But now you're going to listen to me. I don't want you to stir from this bed the rest of the night and maybe for the entire day tomorrow. If you do I swear Mallory I'll …well I'll do something drastic," she threatened then grabbed her friend in a fierce hug.

Duke leaned against the wall watching the exchange. His chest didn't feel quite so tight now that he knew Mallory wasn't in any immediate danger. He cleared his throat and slid toward the door," Well I'm just gonna …you know go now that everything's good."

"Not so fast L'Orange," Tanya called as she got up from the bed. "You better plant your feathered behind right there in that chair. I'm going back to bed." When Duke tried to protest she continued nonplussed. "You called me, I came. Now it's your watch till morning. Make sure she stays in that bed."

"Tanya!"  Mallory wailed.

Paying her no mind Tanya gathered up her kit. "Deal with it Mal. Both you night owls can stand one another's company till morning. But I expect her to sleep Duke if you have to clonk her on the head with a club. I'll come around tomorrow and make sure everything is still fine."

Mallory folded her arms in a pout but fell silent. As Tanya passed Duke she gave him a wink and whispered, "Don't say I never did you any favors."  And with a pat to his shoulder she departed.    

Duke stifled a chuckle turning back into the room. Mallory still sat pouting but her eyelids were drooping fast. He crossed over to the bed and picked up the discarded washcloth from the nightstand.

"Stop fighting it Mal," he told her softly. "You heard Tanya she's right. Rest is definitely in order."

"Maybe…" she grumbled slowly. "You know I'll be alright you can go."

"Heh," Duke laughed. "Yea and Tanya would have my tail feathers. No thanks I like them just were they are. So I'm not going anywhere. Nice try."

Mallory shrugged without comment. A huge yawn escaped her and Duke snorted lightly. He reached across and pulled up the comforter tucking it around her gently. Through half-lidded eyes, Mallory watched him suspiciously.

Satisfied with his care skills, Duke dropped back into the chair. "Relax," he told her. "Give me some credit will ya? I'm not THAT kinda guy," he pouted.   

Mallory rolled her eyes at his expression. "Fine you win," she mumbled rolling over on her side. Pretty soon she was breathing evenly.

Duke sighed, propped his legs on the side of the bed and felt his shoulders unwind a little further as he closed his eyes. Might as well try to catch a nap himself.  


Chapter Thirty:

********Dream Sequence********

Mallory found herself in a strange room. As she looked around small candles lit one by one along the wall as if by magic. She followed the lights and they led her up a spiral staircase. A huge lavish room opened at the top bathed in the golden glow of more pillared candles. It was filled with flowers of every type imaginable and the fragrances made the air thick and heady. Soft sensual music played in the background and Mal could make out the song barely.

"I want to know what turns you on…So I can be all that and more…"
"Cause I only make you happy…from the bottom of my heart it's true…"

"Well hello," a languid voice spoke to her from out of a corner of darkness causing her to jump. "I see you found your way here after all. I was beginning to get lonely."

Mallory fell into a fighting stance and nervously searched the room but could see nothing beyond the flowers. "Where am I?" She demanded.

"Oh but I see you're really not dressed for the evening," the voice tsked ignoring her. "Let's see if we can't fix that."

A shower of sparkles came from the darkness and enveloped her. Mallory made a strangled sound of alarm but it was over as quick as it had begun. They faded into the floor; replacing Mallory's sweats and tank top with a flowing red gown that shimmered in the pale opulence of the room.

"Red certainly does suit you," the voice appraised. "Don't you think?"

"Who are you?" Mallory insisted. "Why won't you come out of the shadows where I can see you? Stop playing games!"

"You're still very lovely when you're angry," came the mocking reply. "Very well…"

Mallory could make out a form moving toward her but as it moved so did the shadow around it causing her to become more anxious by the second. She backed away until she bumped the wall. "Who are you?" She repeated with some difficulty. Her throat was suddenly impossibly dry and there was no more room to retreat.

The hand appeared from the shadow and touched her face. "It's your dream Mallory," it reminded her when she flinched away. "I can be whomever you wish me to be."

Strong arms encircled her and the musky scent of male assaulted her senses. Instinctively Mallory lashed out, "Let go of me!" She cried.

Suddenly the shadowy face took on features and Mallory found herself staring into Wildwing's soft brown eyes. She let out a gasp of shock.

"Perhaps that is not the face you desire. I apologize," the voice said once again. Wing's face vanished. "Someone else perchance?" Immediately the features melted and reformed, first to Nosedive's patented boyish smile then to Duke's sultry gaze.

"Stop it!" Mallory wailed as she broke the hold of the dream duck. She sank to her knees with a sob and the illusion vanished swallowing her in darkness.

A moment later a circle of light hit her. She shielded her eyes and across a vacant stretch of corridor two lone figures stood bathed in a brilliant red glow. The first, stocky and short, removed his helmet and she recognized him instantly, "Jarus DeCoy," she growled.

The second, a tall slender figure, stood slightly apart from Jarus, his head hanging as if in regret. Mallory almost thought she felt pain emulating from him but she pushed the notion away. His Schatten uniform and helmet gleamed marking him with just as much blood as Jarus. Mallory crawled to her feet and began to run toward him. "Finally," she seethed. "There's nowhere you can escape to now!" He turned and slowly began to slip away. She felt the weight of darkness from behind dragging her back, clinging to her like quicksand. She fought, sobs wracking her body, she'd never found him …he was the last… "Noooo!" she cried out in anguish as the floor shattered beneath her and she plunged into darkness.

********End of Dream Sequence********


Chapter Thirty-one:

"Mallory!" Duke called urgently as he shook her by the shoulders. "Wake up!"  He jerked his head to the side as her fist barely missed his beak. "Must be some nightmare," he thought.

Her eyes snapped open and she bolted upright gasping for breath.

Duke held her arms a moment longer then let go when she scowled at him. "Hey I was just tryin' to keep from getting belted," he joked.


Falling back against her pillows, Mallory ran her hand across her forehead and grimaced, it was all sweaty.  "Ugh,"  she groaned.

Almost as if cued, Duke disappeared into her bathroom again and shortly returned with a fresh cool washrag. He handed it over to her and Mallory mumbled a weak "Thanks."

"Can I get you anything else?" He asked seriously.

"You know I'm not an invalid," Mallory groused wiping her neck.

"No. But we can just pretend for right now ok?" He told her with a grin.

She snorted softly with a roll of her eyes. "Alright can I have a glass of water?"

"Your wish is my command," Duke quipped. He even went so far as to tap his boots together on his way back to the bathroom.

Mallory smothered a laugh and toyed with the blankets until he came back. Receiving her water she sipped and studied him from beneath her lashes.

"So," Duke began slowly. "Are your nightmares always that bad?" He asked.

"Mostly," she murmured setting the glass on her nightstand.  

"Wanna talk about it?" He queried. "I've had a few bad ones myself. I know how it feels."

"Not really," she replied. She turned her head toward the wall and fell silent again.
"This isn't how Duke supposed to be," she thought. "Maybe Tanya had been right and I've been overlooking the 'real' guy inside all this time. Or maybe, just maybe I'm too weak to think straight."

"You know as stupid as it might sound to you Mal," Duke said softly to her back. "I think we're a lot alike you and me. I'd sure like the chance to show you why."

He let the statement hang in the air between them. It wasn't much, he could have said more, probably should have. But he didn't think Mallory was the type to go for a bunch of flowery words.

Mallory's heart sped up a little. Could she really take back everything she'd said about him and start over? Tanya had said just get to know him, that she might be surprised. She was so tired of her hard shell. It took too much effort to keep it from cracking. Maybe if she just let it go she wouldn't need it to protect herself anymore.

Duke saw her shoulders start to shake and heard the soft sobs that slipped through her lips.  "Mal?"

He slid out of the chair and came to rest on the bed beside her. He touched her shoulder gently half expecting her to jerk away. When she didn't he went a step further and gathered her into his arms. She didn't resist and her sobs diminished as he rocked her gently.

"It's ok," he murmured into her hair. God his heart ached. He wanted to break down right then and tell her how long he'd waited for a moment like this just so he could hold her.

After a few moments Mallory regained her composure and withdrew from Duke's protective embrace feeling more than a little embarrassed and confused.  "Sorry," she apologized feebly not knowing what else to say.

Scooting back a bit he respectively withdrew from her 'personal space', "You know I don't usually have this effect on women," he joked and offered her a tissue. "I may have permanent damage to my ego."

Mallory wiped her eyes and managed a timid smile, noting gratefully that he hadn't pressed himself on her in that vulnerable moment.  "Oh so you're trying to say it's my fault?"

"Kinda sure," he replied nodding with a crooked grin. "I mean some have swooned others have slapped me but…"

"I think I get the picture," Mallory replied sarcastically. "I don't think I qualify as one of your oh so many conquests."

"Now that just plain hurt," Duke pouted. "You make it sound as if I have left throngs of women in the wake of my charm." He waved a hand in emphasis.

"Am I wrong?"

He felt a sheepish grin spread along his beak, "If I said I could count the number on one hand, would you believe me?" He asked with a sidelong glance.

Mallory thought about it a long moment. Although he looked positively devilish, his admission had a ring of truth to it. "Hmph," she thought. "Who'd have guessed L'Orange isn't the infamous playboy he likes to brag he is. Oh Nosedive would kill for info like that."  Her beak pulled up into a grin and she nodded, "Yeah I guess I would."

Duke stared at her quizzically feeling as though he'd missed something meaningful in that smile but he let it go.  "Well I suppose you COULD make it up to me by agreeing to have dinner with me. I mean I still feel a little bruised around the ego not to mention a bit tender around my midsection from your oh so gentle persuasive talent up on the ice rink." He rubbed his ribs and gave her a mournful pout for emphasis.

"If you're trying to make me feel guilty…" Mallory began after a second of silence hung between them.

"Oh yea most definitely," Duke chuckled unabashed. "Did it work?"

She rolled her eyes and mulled it over silently. Could she really forget everything he'd been? Should she? What would her father Regan have said? Did it matter anymore? She'd punished everyone she could that had been responsible for his death. Even though it could never be completely finished, it should be enough. It had to be. Duke had been with them through thick and thin; never flagged in his loyalty and never let them down. She could see that now, her past wasn't his fault, and what he asked was so simple. "I do kinda owe him something," she thought.

"Well we definitely can't have any damage to your ego around here," she replied after a long moment. "I mean you'd become impossible to live with. So I guess I accept."

Duke wasn't sure he'd heard her right. She'd agreed? He gingerly pinched his forearm. The sensation stung, yeah he was awake alright. Breaking into a stunned smile he patted her hand. "You won't regret it I promise," he told her seriously.

Mallory nodded and stifled a yawn. Suddenly she felt very tired and very relaxed. Somewhere inside her a ball of tension unwound itself and her eyelids drooped. Duke slid off the bed and rearranged the blanket back around her. As she drifted off he settled back into his chair and watched her closely. In moments Mallory was breathing deeply and he smiled.

Chapter Thirty-two:

At seven Tanya knocked on Wildwing's office door, after their talk the night before he deserved to hear about Mallory's collapse. Entering upon his soft 'come in' she dropped into a chair gratefully and waited while he tried to placate their manager Phil.

"No Phil I'm sure," he growled into the phone. "You obviously don't remember the fiasco it caused last time." He rolled his eyes at Tanya who stifled a giggle. Phil PalmFeather could at times be terribly persistent but he had a good heart. That is when he found it under his visions of dollar signs.

"Look Phil just drop by later," Wing insisted. "I've got someone waiting." He paused, "We'll see," he said finally and hung up.

With a shake of his head Wing sighed. "I don't know where he comes up with this stuff," he muttered with a sigh.  

"Another photo-op?" Tanya asked with a grin.

"Worse," he muttered. "He wants another charity game. Remember the last one?"

"How could I forget?" Tanya stated. The last time they'd been invited to a game away, they'd ended up playing for their lives in the 'Terror Dome' deep in the middle of outer space. She shivered, Wildwing had a right to be skeptical.

"Anyway," he continued. "So what's up?"

Tanya looked pensive. How best to proceed? "Well Wing I think we have a little problem," she began.
                                          
Nosedive rolled over and threw a stray shirt at the alarm clock as it wailed from the shelf above his bunk.  It was Saturday and he could afford to sleep a little longer. Head furrowed back under the protection of his faded comforter, Dive hoped he'd drift off immediately but something nagged in the back of his brain.  Wasn't there something he was supposed to do today? Wait! Saturday? He flew up and snatched the shirt off the clock. Seven-thirty it said. Holy crap! He had to meet Wildwing in a half an hour. Nearly falling out of his bunk in his haste he scrambled into the shower clothes flying in his wake.

Duke woke just as the sun was creeping into Mal's room. Stretching he rubbed the back of his neck. He'd be stiff for a couple of days after sleeping in that chair but he could think of worse nights he'd had.  He looked over at her bedside clock and flicked off the alarm before it could go off. Mallory was still sleeping deeply and Duke intended for her to stay that way. Making his way silently across the room he pulled the curtains closed drowning the room in darkness again.

Carefully he crept back and opened the drawer on Mallory's nightstand. Finding a pencil and a small notepad he scribbled a note.

Mallory,
Didn't want to wake you. Don't forget what Tanya said about staying in bed.
I'm pretty sure I'd never hear the end of it.

                                                                  Duke

He thought a minute then grinned as he remembered she'd agreed to go out with him then added…


P.S.
I'll check in on you later. Maybe we can decide when to have that dinner ok?

He left the pad on the top of the table where she'd be sure to see it and left her room.


A still damp Nosedive skidded to a halt outside his brother's office door. He'd made it in record time even if, as he pushed slowly dripping blonde locks out of his face, he hadn't taken the time to dry his hair.

He made a grab for the doorknob only to meet empty air as it swung inward and Tanya stepped out with Wing behind her.

"Dive glad to see you made it," Wing said.

"Told you I would," Dive quipped.

"Unfortunately Tanya came to me with something a bit more pressing," he continued. "Can you meet me back here around lunch and we'll grab a bite and discuss things?"

Nosedive eyed him quizzically, "Sure bro, no prob."

"Great," Wing said with a smile. He clapped him on the shoulder. "See you then."

Dive watched until they disappeared around the corner. "Sure wish I'd have known that sooner. I'd have managed to catch a few more z's," he muttered with a sigh.  Now he had to decide what to do with himself until lunchtime and here it was only eight o'clock.  "Maybe there's some cartoons on."  

Chapter Thirty-Three:

Some hours later Mallory opened her eyes and blearily looked around her still darkened room. How long had she slept? She wondered. Turning her head she glanced at the clock, it's glowing red numbers showed it was nearly 11:30.

Startled she bolted upright then winced as her head swam. She'd missed practice because her alarm hadn't gone off. As she rolled onto her side not trusting her head if she tried to sit up again, she noted that it had been turned off. Scowling slightly she realized Duke was absent as well. "Well guess there's the answer to that mystery," she grumbled.

Gingerly easing herself into a sitting position she flicked on the bedside lamp. Right now walking over and opening the curtains was not something she trusted her legs with. Her eyes fell on the notepad beside her clock and reading Duke's hastily scrawled message she lay back against her pillows and replayed the night's events in her mind.

"Well at least he didn't try anything stupid while I was being such a wimp," she thought with a begrudging grin.

A few minutes later as she was pondering a shower, her intercom buzzed.

"Mallory? Tanya's voice drifted through. "You awake?"

"Yea," Mallory replied.

"Feel like some company? I thought you might be hungry so I grabbed some burgers."

Mallory's stomach made an impatient growling sound at the mention of food and suddenly she felt ravenous. "Sounds good," she replied.

"See you in a couple of minutes k?"

"Ok."

Tanya turned to Wildwing and nodded. "You know I'm really never going to hear the end of this you know."

"It'll be me she rails at not you," Wing smiled reassuringly, "Besides, she'll get over it and it'll do them both some good."

"That is if the two of them don't spontaneously combust after finding out, " Tanya chuckled.

Heading down the corridor they parted ways, Tanya headed to Mallory's room and Wing back to his office. As he entered Wing touched the intercom button to the rec. room, "Dive you in there?"

A crunching sound crackled back at him and then Nosedive answered, "Yea Bro? S'up?"

"I know I'm a little early but how bout grabbing that lunch we set up now?"

"Perfect timing," came the reply. "We're suddenly out of chips and I'm still starving," Dive quipped.

Half an hour later a pizza slice hung halfway to Dive's mouth as he stared across the table at his brother.

"Geez bro," he groused dropping the slice back onto its plate, "you could'a at least let me enjoy the pizza first." He snatched his cup and took a long drag from the straw. "Mal hates me," he whined after a minute.

Wing rolled his eyes as he munched on the remnants of his crust, "She doesn't hate you Dive," he replied. "Besides you said you'd be ok with whatever I came up with. Well this is it."

"Yea I guess," Dive grumbled as he snatched up the abandoned slice and bit into it.

"Look you'd actually be doing me a favor as well," Wing relented. As much as he hated breaking a confidence maybe it would take some of the sting.

Dive chewed noisily and his mouth still full of pizza asked, "What kinda favor?"

"Argh Dive," Wing scolded beak scrunching up indignantly. "That's gross."

Dive gulped and shot Wing a satisfied grin, "Sorry."

"Like I was saying before you reminded me how horrible you manners are," Wing continued. "I think you could really help with this Dive. Mal's been…well she's…going through some…things."

Dive rested his chin on his hands. There must be really something serious to all this. He'd never seen his brother at a loss for words before and it kinda rattled him. "Hey bro," he cut in. "I get it it's complicated don't sweat it. I won't be an ass."

Wildwing ran a hand over his face and smiled gratefully. Somehow Dive always knew. "Just be yourself Dive. Trust me when I say this isn't just about you anymore."

"Me me or a little more restrained me?" he joked.

His brother rolled his eyes, "A little restraint wouldn't hurt no."

"Done," Dive said and glanced at his watch. "We'd better hurry if you want to get this meet over with Mal and then catch Klegghorn down at the park."

"Crap you're right," Wing replied. "If I stand him up again on another afternoon of fishing he'll no doubt have the whole precinct after us."

"Isn't that what happens anyway?" Dive laughed as they made their way out.

Twenty minutes later a sullen Mallory McMallard sat in Wildwing's office. For the hundredth time she'd protested about her assignment to Nosedive and for the hundredth time it hadn't gotten her anywhere.

"Mallory I realize you're not happy with this but I just couldn't come up with a better person for the task." Wing told her. "Dive's promised to be on his best behavior and I have no doubts that he'll listen to you."

She sighed and glanced over at Nosedive. He'd been strangely quiet throughout the meeting which only made her wonder what he was plotting. "Fine Wing," she replied. "I understand. But I'm not gonna go easy on him. So both of you better be ready for that."

"You do what you think is best Mallory," Wing told her. "I have complete faith in you." He turned to his brother, "You okay with that Dive?"

Nosedive nodded and turned a cheery smile to Mallory, "Don't be so glum girlie girl," he quipped. "It'll be fun."

Mallory smirked, "You might not think it's so fun after a few days Dive," she told him. "But I might. Meet me on the ice in an hour. Understood?"

Nosedive had the good sense to at least look a little nervous, "Sure thing."

After she left Dive traded matching smiles with his brother.

"Take it easy on her," Wing told him with a chuckle.

"Hey," Dive said bounding up from the chair his arms spread wide. "It's me."