Chapter Text
“Decker, your partner has just been brought in on drug possession.”
Chloe gaped at Lieutenant Monroe’s announcement. Her mind spun as she stared at the woman standing in front of her desk. Surely there was some mistake? She had been with Lucifer since the afternoon, having had to go to Trixie’s school for the parent/teacher conference in the morning. As she did her “boring” paperwork, he threw wads of paper at her head, then wandered off to flirt with various officers around the station. Afterward, he returned to her and threw more wads of paper at her head. He had finally thrown up his hands, complaining that she was working too late into the night, before leaving for LUX. That was just an hour ago. What kind of trouble could he have possibly gotten himself into, in an hour?
But wait -- this was Lucifer. Oh god....
“What happened?” she asked as she stared up at her superior.
The dark-haired woman shook her head. “I’m not sure of the circumstances, but I saw the officers take him in to get booked. He’s also under suspicion of negligent discharge of a firearm, although we haven’t ascertained the full details. He’ll be in interrogation room A. I’m assigning Johnson and Waller to the case.”
Chloe was still reeling from the news. “Wait, wait, wait, wait. You cannot come here, tell me my partner has been arrested and then tell me I’m not on the case.”
Monroe snorted as she planted her hands on her hips. “I believe I just did.”
“No. I want in on this,” Chloe said, standing up. “He’s my partner --”
“You’re emotionally involved --”
“Lieutenant, you know how Lucifer is. He’ll talk to me more readily than to Johnson and Waller.” She looked at her, her aqua eyes cool despite the flutter of panic she felt in her gut. “If he’s in trouble, then I want to help him. I’m sure I can get to the bottom of everything.”
Monroe stared at her for a long moment, before finally nodding. “All right. It’s against my better judgment, but go ahead and talk to him.”
“Thank you.” Chloe rounded her desk and strode past the lieutenant, heading quickly to the interrogation room. Her stomach twisted into knots as her heart started pounding furiously. Surely there was some mistake...?
“Lucifer, what the hell have you done?!” she muttered to herself.
When she entered the small, spartan room, Waller -- a big, burly detective who she had never really liked -- turned to look at her with a scowl. “This is my case, Decker,” he snapped.
“The lieutenant’s letting me sit in,” she said as she sat down at the table beside him, then looked carefully at the man leaning back in his chair across from her.
It was Lucifer, for there was no mistaking his familiar face, the five o’clock shadow -- although slightly heavier than he normally had it -- and his tall, lanky figure. Yet he looked... different. Chloe took in his hair, cropped very short, and the light grey suit he was wearing. In the year that she had known him, Lucifer never wore anything but dark suits. It was disconcerting to see him in anything else. Chloe noted the blood stain on his upper left arm -- apparently he had changed after being injured, for the suit material was not damaged. His pupils were dilated, and he kept sniffing, like he had a runny nose.... Had he been snorting cocaine?
“Oh my god, are you high?” she asked, shocked. She had never seen Lucifer high. He drank like a fish, but never seemed to get drunk. To see him on drugs shook her. Something horrible must have happened.
“Of course not. I’m in perfect control of all my mental faculties,” he ground out, sounding for all the world like he had lived his whole life in Southern California. Chloe stared at him in disbelief. The harsh notes of his words, pronouncing all the r’s, jolted her -- where were the suave, dulcet tones of London? And... he was lying. Lucifer never lied to her....
“We found half a gram of coke in his bag,” Waller said. “We picked him up at Million Air, ready to flee the country.”
“I wasn’t fleeing the country! I was going away for the weekend. You can even ask the flight crew --”
“There must be some mistake, Waller,” Chloe interrupted. Her eyes narrowed as she studied her partner. “Lucifer, what the hell happened to you?”
His mouth twisted as he gave her a weird look. “Did -- did you just call me the Devil?” He barked out a mocking laugh. “I’ve been called a lot of things, but that’s a first.”
“He insists he’s William Rush, M.D.,” the other detective said with a roll of his eyes. “We’ve got him on file under that alias, although everyone knows who he is. I don’t know why he insists on calling himself that.”
“I am who I say I am,” the man said angrily. “William Rush is my name -- although everyone just calls me Rush -- and I am a doctor. Look, why am I here? Either lock me up or let me go.... I don’t care which.”
“A Manny Maquis said you fired a gun that we found on him -- that when you shot a guy, he took it away from you. Care to elaborate?” Waller quizzed.
The tall man under suspicion shook his head. “I didn’t fire the gun. Manny took it away from me, but that was after --” he broke off.
When it became apparent that he wasn’t going to say more, Chloe turned to the burly blonde detective beside her. “Can I talk to him alone?”
Waller snorted and stood up; the sound of his chair scraping against the floor echoed loudly in the room. “He’s your partner. Be my guest.”
After the detective closed the door, she turned to her partner. “Talk to me. What happened?”
The tall man blinked at her, then shook his head, a puzzled look on his face. “Why the hell should I tell you anything? Who are you, my defense attorney?”
Her mouth falling open, Chloe stared hard at him. “What’s that supposed to mean?”
“Just what I asked. Who are you?”
The blonde detective leaned against the backrest of her chair, stunned. Lucifer didn’t know who she was? Had he hit his head? Or was William Rush his true identity, before he reinvented himself as Lucifer Morningstar? She knew he didn’t have a past beyond six years.... Had he been in a fugue state this entire time? What kind of trauma had he experienced that would jolt him back to his old identity?
“You don’t know who I am...?”
He shrugged. “Never seen you before in my life.”
“We worked together for a year. You don’t remember?” Chloe asked.
He gave her a mocking look. “Look, lady, I think you must have me mistaken with someone else. I’ve been busy working my ass off on medical cases for the past few weeks in order to clean up my life, although I now realize that that is a lost cause.”
Her brows furrowed. “What do you mean?”
He sighed heavily as he stabbed his fingers in his cropped hair. “Look, I lost the love of my life tonight because my life is shit and I’ll drag her down into the mud, so just throw me in jail, will you? Or else let me go.”
That sounded a little more like the Lucifer she knew -- bitter, self-loathing and possessed of a bleak outlook. She winced at his statement that he lost the love of his life. Had Lucifer fallen in love with someone and she hadn’t even known? She clenched her teeth as a burning sensation stabbed her chest. No, she was not jealous. No, no, no. He could fall in love with anyone he wanted... even one of those bimbo Brittanys, damn him. Well, she wasn’t going to let that fact get in the way of the investigation.
As she opened her mouth to question him about the gun, Chloe was distracted by the sound of her phone ringing. Holding up her index finger to the man across from her, she checked the phone. It read “Lucifer Morningstar.”
She pondered over the caller ID for a few seconds before answering. Had someone stolen Lucifer’s phone? Excusing herself from the tall man, she walked outside into the hall. “Hello?”
“Detective!” Lucifer’s happy voice purred in her ear. “Still stuck at the office, my dear? I know I just saw you an hour ago, but might you be able to stop by LUX for a drink? We should celebrate solving the case of the multiple homicides, even though the weapon went missing --”
Chloe gawked at the phone with wide eyes, before glancing at the door she had just shut behind her. What the hell?! With a shaking hand, she brought the device back up to her ear. “Lucifer, is that you?”
“Well, of course! Who else would it be?” When she didn’t answer, his tone became serious. “Detective, are you all right?”
“Where... where are you right now?” She couldn’t prevent the slight tremor in her voice. In the brief pause before he answered, she could feel his puzzlement through the connection. Well, hello, she was confused, as well!
“Why... at LUX, darling. Where else would I be?”
“In interrogation room A...?”
“What? I’m afraid I don’t understand.”
Chloe cracked open the door and stared at the man sitting in the interrogation room. “I’m staring at you right now.”
“Really?” His voice regained its jovial air. “You’re here at LUX? Where? I don’t see you, but then again, it’s quite crowded --”
“Lucifer, I’m here at work.”
“But you just said you’re staring at me --”
“I am.”
“Do you have me confused with my old man...? He’s the omnipresent one. Well... supposedly.”
She shook her head as her heart pounded and her hands started to shake uncontrollably. “I can’t explain. Just come to the station as quick as you can. I’ll be in Interrogation Room A.”
“Detective, what’s wrong?” Concern laced his voice.
“Just come, Lucifer. I’ll be waiting for you.”
He sighed heavily. “Right. Very well, I’ll be there shortly, although I’ll have you know you’re putting a crimp in my lifestyle.”
The line went dead. Chloe stared at her phone for a long moment, feeling as if the world had taken two steps to the left, but she hadn’t. Rubbing her forehead to dispel the lightheaded feeling overcoming her, she pushed the door open fully and let herself in.
“My associate will be coming shortly. In the meantime, why don’t you make yourself comfortable and tell me about the gun?” she asked as she sat down across from the tall man.
He flung his hand in the air. “Why not ask Manny?”
“Well, we have him in another room, and he’s telling us his version of events,” she bluffed. “So why don’t you tell us yours?”
“No, thanks.”
“Okay, then we’ll wait.”
“Whatever.”
________________________________________
Lucifer walked into the precinct and was greeted by a lot of strange looks. He wasn’t quite sure of the reason, but shrugged it off as inexplicable human behavior. He didn’t know why Chloe had wanted him to return, and he almost didn’t, but the tone of her voice had worried him. Dressed in his spiffy black suit with his favorite plum shirt, he strode down the halls to Interrogation Room A and whipped open the door.
The occupants turned to look at him -- Chloe and a man who looked remarkably like him, had it not been for the almost spartan cut of his hair. A devilish smile lit the fallen angel’s face as his eyes lit up with excitement.
“Well, what have we here?” he asked as he shut the door behind him and approached the man at the table. “Detective, where have you been hiding this fine fellow?”
The detective’s gaze went from Lucifer, to the man, then back to him. “I never would have believed it,” she breathed, then shook her head, as if to clear it. Glancing up at him, she said, “This is William Rush.”
“Indeed?” Lucifer asked, still grinning wolfishly as he lowered himself into the empty chair across from his doppelganger.
“Who are you?” the man called Rush asked, his mouth gaping open. “And why the hell do you look like me?”
The fallen angel leaned forward on the table, his eyes glinting in the fluorescent lighting. “I believe you look like me.” He swiveled in his chair and preened in front of the two-way mirror. “After all, you must admit that I am the very essence of perfection.”
“Oh for crying out loud,” Chloe said with a roll of her eyes.
The tall man leaned toward the Devil, his eyes hard. “Don’t tell me you’re my brother. I wouldn’t put it past Dad --”
A bark of laughter escaped Lucifer. “I would, the bloody bastard.”
“So what are we, long lost twins, or something?”
The Devil snorted with contempt. “As much as you’d like to think so -- no. I know all of my brothers and sisters, and you’re not one of them... although Dad has gone the human route, before....”
Rush’s eyebrows climbed toward his hairline as confusion crossed his features. “Excuse me?”
Chloe rolled her eyes. “Lucifer, can you please concentrate?”
“Lucifer? As in the Devil?” Rush’s eyes widened, before he laughed. “You can’t be serious.”
“Quite serious,” Lucifer said as he returned his gaze to the man across the table. He gave a short bow of his head. “Lucifer Morningstar, at your service.”
“Well this is a first,” the tall man said. “Interviewed by the Devil! What’s next? Are you taking me to a kangaroo court?”
“Oooh, a kangaroo court?” The fallen angel’s eyes lit up with glee. “Do they really exist? I’d love to see a kangaroo in a courtroom. Tell me, does the marsupial serve in the jury, or is it perhaps the judge?”
“Lucifer, stop,” Chloe warned, a steely glint in her aqua eyes. He ignored her and stood up to get closer to the suspect.
“Hmmm. You look remarkably like me, but your accent is deplorable. The five o’clock shadow is a shade too heavy -- you make me look like a thug. We really must do something about that hair, as well. And those clothes! Deplorable! Dark colors would suit you far better, unless it’s summer, in which case a fine white linen will do --”
Rush stared at him as if he was insane. “Are you serious?! And I’ll have you know this is an Armani --”
“You could have fooled me. You need a better tailor --”
“Lucifer!” Chloe barked. “Concentrate, will you? Can you just work your mojo on him?”
He turned to his partner with a pout. “Really, Detective, must you always think of work? I mean, just look at this splendid specimen of humanity! Well, other than his horrid appearance. I refuse to have him giving me a bad name! He obviously needs a makeover --”
“Lucifer!” Chloe’s strangled cry had him glancing at her, regret in his eyes.
“Oh, very well, Detective.” Under his breath he muttered, “Such a spoilsport.”
“What did you say?”
“I said you’re a spoilsport! Always thinking about work. When do you ever stop to smell the roses? Or my cologne, for that matter? I never see you take appreciative whiffs of me when I’m nearby. I’ll have you know it’s the finest from Paris --”
Chloe slapped her palm to her forehead. “Oh my god....”
“Dad has nothing to do with my cologne!” Lucifer said with a frown as he sat back down beside her.
Chloe looked like she wanted to throw a chair at his head. “Lucifer, so help me, if you don’t start behaving --”
He held up his hand to calm her down. “Very well, very well....” Taking a deep breath, he turned to look at the suspect, who had watched their interaction with amusement. “Now then, Mister Rush --”
“Rush.”
Lucifer blinked. “Excuse me?”
“Just call me Rush.”
“Right. Rush. What is it you desire?”
The tall man did a double-take, sitting up a little straighter in his chair, as he stared at his interrogator. “W-what?”
Lucifer leaned forward on the table, his eyes intense as he applied his charm. “Oh come now, surely there must be something you desire? Why don’t you tell me?”
Rush’s eyes glazed over and his lips parted. “W-what do I... desire?”
“Yes, yes. Come on, you can tell me.” The fallen angel grinned, his voice dropping to a conspiratorial whisper. “What is it you truly desire in that deep, dark heart of yours? Hmmm?”
“I... I want to be the man Sarah wants me to be, so that I can marry her,” the man said in a daze.
“Oh. How utterly mundane,” Lucifer muttered as he sat back. There was nothing more sad than a man willing to give up everything for a woman. The fact that he was beginning to feel the same sort of feelings for Chloe was something he completely ignored. Surely the poor sod wanted something a little more exciting? “But... don’t you desire something else?”
“I want....”
“Yes?”
“I want my life to be fixed.” He snapped out of the daze as he stared up at Lucifer. “I’d do anything for Sarah -- she’s the love of my life.”
A deal! Oh, this was promising! He was always one for deals, and he might need a doctor someday, considering his mortality sitch around the detective.... “Anything? Really?”
Rush ran his hand through his cropped hair. “Shit, I’d sell my soul to the Devil if I could get my life in order and get Sarah back.”
Lucifer’s eyes lit up with unholy glee. “Well, you’ve come to the right person!”
“Lucifer....” Chloe gave him a warning look. “Don’t you dare do anything illegal.”
“My dear Detective, you wound me! Would I do something like that in your presence?” he asked as he widened his eyes and gave her a puppy-dog look, to which she flung up her hands and looked skyward. Turning to his double, Lucifer grinned widely. “Now then... what if I helped you out of your mess and got you your Sarah back?”
Rush looked at him suspiciously. “Why would you do that?”
“I’m Lucifer Morningstar, remember? The Devil?”
Snorting, the doctor scoffed, “Yeah. Right. And what do you get out of it?”
“A favor... to be called in at a later date.”
“My life is a shitfest,” Rush warned.
“Ooooh, a challenge!” Lucifer said, rubbing his hands together excitedly. “Very well. Do we have an agreement?” He chanced a glance at his partner, who was giving him the evil eye. “What? I’m just trying to help the poor sod. Isn’t that what the police are for? To help people?”
“We are here to help people, but we’re also after the truth. If he’s guilty of a crime --”
“Then he’ll pay for it,” the Devil assured her before turning back to Rush and holding out his hand. “Do we have an agreement?”
The tall man thought for a moment, then said, “What the hell. If you can fix my screwed up life and get me back together with Sarah, I’m game.” They sealed the agreement with a handshake, which had Chloe looking on in disgust.
Lucifer smiled as he planted his elbows on the table and laced his fingers together. “Very well. Tell this fine detective everything she wants to know, but admit nothing until we find out exactly what has happened....”