Chapter Text
[ LUANA'S ROOM - THE HOSPITAL]
[ Where did it all go wrong? ]
[ I am really this useless now? ]
Luana stared at the mirror in the bathroom of the hospital, she looked like a mess after the last few days, it was keeping her awake, that feeling of depression, not being able to solve anything, in the last few days she got a lot of answers, as who was the blonde woman, her plans, her connection to the last case. But those were all Kohei and Andi findings, she was just bait, almost dying to get those answers and in Luana's head, these last few days answered just the unimportant questions, because the real important questions needed to be answered.
The doctor came in to tell her that she could leave the hospital today, that brought some life to her living corpse of a body, at least that's what Luana saw when she looked into the mirror. Not recognizing the person that wanted to get into this world a few years ago to be recognized as the best private investigator around, now just wishing for a light at the end of the tunnel so she could escape the hell hole that her life turned out to be in the past few weeks.
The first thing Luana did was head home, open a bottle of whiskey she had around the house and drink a few cups. A look once more into the mirror, a face that she can't even recognize any longer, shaking her head, it's time to stop messing around and start to answer the questions in her head, finding a way out, this was a therapy session with herself.
[ Do I still want to do this? ]
She thought about it, the last case made her head in, Lua was acting all tough before the accident happened, but she's still getting over everything that happened with Ava, the fact that Lua barely could look in the face of Andi whenever she was around, a feel of survivors guilty still hitting her.
“I can do this.” - Luana lifted the hair out of her face, another look in the mirror, she remembered the talk she had with her own father a few months before he passed away. “Fighting your own demons is hard, doing it sober, it's the cruelest way to do it, because that's just you and your thoughts, nothing to sugar coat it.”
Hitting the shower, cold water to the head as she thought it's about time she took some accountability over her addiction, no more drinking, less smoking, more exercising, she needed to be ready for anything that would come her way in the future, there was no more time to keep messing around, this was it.
“I will do this.” - She looked into the mirror after a cold shower. Her heart was still in it, investigating, helping people, that's why she wanted to get into this business in the first place she couldn't no longer just waste time on the people she lost. Thinking of the people she helped, made her create new motivation to keep going, it was decided.
“I am not done.” - She exclaimed.
[ Christopher... ]
That was the next subject, Luana thought about the time she went to the cemetery, just a few months ago, to mourn, the words she used just for it all to be a lie for him to still be alive. - That made her more sad than angry.
Lua understood why he needed to stay silent about it, his family, that was maybe an overreaction from her, to be possibly mad at someone defending his family from possible threats, in the end, she would do the same twice over just to make sure everyone she cared about is safe. - As Luana thought more about it, maybe he was innocent about faking his death, but poaching Koi away, that, he was not innocent.
One of the things he knew that Luana lacked was the information department and taking away someone that could get information about anyone no matter how famous they were is a huge blow to a potential case. The reasons Koi gave to move into his unit were bullshit, at least that's what Luana wanted to believe right now but maybe he was right about a few things, in the end. Christopher is still someone she can't trust, she never could trust, and it seems like his unit will get in Lua's way more than ever now.
“I am afraid of what's to come, but I can't deal with everything the way that I am right now, I need a vacation some time to turn off my mind maybe I should take Andi's offer after all...”
[ Andi... ]
Seeing her break down in tears in that hospital is still one of the most vivid memories that Luana has late at nights, the amount of guilt Luana has of that moment is unmeasurable and that will definitely hunt her mind for a few months more, though Andi is the only person that Luana can trust right now, she picked up the phone to call her.
“Andi?” - Luana asked.
“Luana...” - Andi answered, in her smoke break at the top of the detective unit building looking over the city.
“I thought about your offer, witness protection, am I still able to get in, for at least a year?” - Lua was staying in the path of the conversation, not wanting to talk about anything else.
“Absolutely, I can get you back to Brasil for a year, after that, you can come back to New York and we won't be looking after you any longer, but in the full year you are under our protection we will have to know your location and where you are heading in case of anything.” - Andi was straight forward.
“That's fine, how soon can you get me out of here?”
“In about a week, I'll call you later.” - Andi turned the phone off as she heard someone coming up to the roof, it was Kohei.
Luana then got to the sofa, sitting down and turning on the TV. - the news talking about Brianna Krasiniqi the third sibling of the crazy family Luana has been dealing with for the past few months and everything that happened in the hospital yesterday.
[ The Devil... ]
The only sibling left of the trio, the most dangerous one as well, now that Koi gave me the nod that they are all in the Krasiniqi family, this means that The Devil is part of one of the mobs of New York, since the news confirmed that Brianna Krasiniqi is the wife of Lucca Matteo Krasiniqi, seems like they were all in this together. The battle for the throne of the dominant mob family in New York is out between Rama, the Albanians. Martinelli, The Italians. Vendue, The Croatians or Krasiniqi, The San Marino family.
That's none of Luana's business any longer or at least for the next year, a war is brewing in New York and with the times changing, she just hopes that the NYPD and the detective unit really knows what they are getting themselves into, even the Krasiniqi with only The Devil out there, it's still a heavy family with heavy backing.
She's curious to see how that develops in a year.
[ Kohei... ]
Nothing more to be said about that man, Luana had exhausted herself too much thinking about the reasons he had said, the way he left, the timing, everything doesn't make sense, that's something she can't shake off her head.
Finding the actual reason he left would be the next thing on her list after she comes back, that's something that Luana won't leave as a question mark, that's a question that won't be answered today or tomorrow, but she will not feel like it's the end of the road of their partnership until she finds out... Why.
Luana still got love for Kohei, she was his mentor for a reason and thinking back on the last two and a half-three years they've been partners in finding different truths. Lua can definitely say that she enjoyed that time, if they were ever to reunite once more, that would be a pleasure, thinking on their back and forth in the hospital still hurts her the words she used... [Ungrateful Prick.]
Maybe she stepped over the line a few times, it was all in the past now, Luana felt like she was going to need to come out of her own cocoon. To get over this whole month, to start a new mentality, a new approach to her job, she needed a change of life, this next year gave her enough time.
A knock on her door, and she quickly got up from the couch, grabbing her gun and looking into the peephole to see who it was... Vanessa and Natalie!
[ Natalie... Vanessa... ]
After hiding the gun and inviting them both in, Vanessa said that she learned about the whole hospital situation and came to check on Luana with Natalie, who was also very stressed learning about the situation that Lua was just in.
“We are leaving for Europe in a few days, so this might be the last time we see each other.” - Natalie said looking at Luana. “We wanted to just say goodbye at the funeral but when we heard what happened to you, we came as quickly as we could.” - Vanessa completed the comment.
“Luana, you need to take care of yourself.” - Natalie said holding Lua's hand. “You are a great investigator, if it wasn't for you, the cops would've never found us, we could've been dead, but now... I am reunited with the person I love the most, that's everything I ever wanted and maybe a few months ago, I was just too blind to see that.” - Natalie continued.
“We are sure you can help a lot of other people out there, so if you ever need help, you can count on us, just one email or a call and we will make sure to do our best.” - Vanessa reassured Luana.
“Thank you, to be honest the only thing that has kept me going so far is the thought that I helped a few people, you two girls included, to see love like you have for each other, it gives me motivation to keep going.” - Luana was truthful and honest with both of them.
After an hour of talking, they decided to leave, a warming hug from both of them to Luana, that boosted her confidence.
A few weeks later Andi and Luana met at the airport, everything was ready for Lua to leave for a year, they both walked from the airport entrance to the gate of the flight Luana was in.
“This is it.” - Andi said looking over at the gate entrance.
“Thank you, Andi.” - Luana said carrying out her backpack.
“Take care of him, okay?” - Lua kept talking. “I don't know what's going on, I know that you said that he told you the same things as he said to me but... I feel like Koi is still under a lot of pressure, there's something off, and without me here... I need you to keep him safe, do something I never could.”
Andi then placed a hand on Luana's shoulder. “I got him, not only because you asked me to, but because... the last couple of weeks, we've been together.”
Luana was shocked to be hearing such a thing, Koi never was someone to be in a relationship or at least he never showed that side with Luana. “I'm glad to hear, you two make a great couple.”
Andi smiled gently at that comment. “I hope you are right.” - With that Luana gave her friend Andi a warm hug before heading to the terminal, this was it, the last couple of minutes between Luana and New York for now, before she passed the gate, Andi yelled out. “WAIT!”
Andi rushed to Luana, like she was indecisive if she would tell Luana the news or not. “What is it? I'm gonna miss the flight.” - Luana said, looking into Andi's eyes.
“You should probably be the first to know.”
Andi handed Luana a stick with two bold blue lines in the result window. “I took two this morning, both say the same thing.” - A nervous tone of voice coming from Andi anxious to hear Luana's reaction.
Lua was dumbfounded, with the results being blue lines, it could only mean one thing. “You are... pregnant.”
Andi just nodded with her face building up tears, Luana yelled out in surprise before giving Andi another embracing hug, dropping her backpack before doing it, being happy as ever for Andi, thinking now that Kohei would be soon a father.
“Wait, that means when I come back...” - Luana just realized and Andi then confirmed. “Yeah, I'll be a mother.” - Andi nervously laughed thinking about the reality she was in, not thinking of anything else at the moment.
“I couldn't let you go without telling you, I didn't want to surprise you a year later.” - Andi kept the smile on her face. “I'm gonna tell Kohei tonight at dinner.”
Luana nodded, to think where they were at the start of the year, even last year, to now. A lot of things have changed, and a lot of things are still going to change in the next year. She finally gave a good bye hug to Andi, asking for monthly updates on the baby, before parting the airplane back to Brasil for the year.
It was going to be a tough year ahead, for Luana, it was time to get out of her cocoon and become the person she always wanted to be. - the comeback would be a pulsing red feeling of anger that she was slowly channeling inside.
“My veins pulse red scarlet in fury, my dream of becoming the best private investigator has not faded in fact—I’m burning the world to get to it.
I have never been more motivated to make this comeback, next year I'll be back to show how much I've changed, how much I've evolved, I need to keep the people I love... [ Andi. - Koi. - Dad. ] ...close to my heart. My dream is just beginning. And you best believe I'm coming after it.”
“Just you wait.” - Luana Soares.
[ THE END. ]
Story written by Koso Anderzon.