are you doing here?” Rebecca asked, her voice more cold then loving, she was angry with Shade for what she heard.

“I came because I need to talk.”

“We have nothing to talk about. Before I kept your secret because you where doing some good, and I really thought that in time you would come around and come to us when you thought things where getting over your head, I tried several times to talk you into coming to stay with us, but you kept refusing.”

“Because the city needed me.”

“The city doesn’t need another murderer.” those words came out of Rebecca’s mouth and almost instantly she regretted them, even in the shadows and through his mask she could see the hurt look on Shade’s face. Before she could try to take them back, before she could try and make a mends for what she had said he was gone. It was the heat of the moment she was angry with him and didn’t let him get a word in to explain anything, she had done that a few times before with Molly and Kit and every time she regretted doing it, but this time it might just cost her everything she had been trying to do with Shade.

**********

Present day

**********

Rebecca looked at Shade for several minutes not really knowing what to say. “I didn’t mean to say those things.”

“Yes you did, though you meant them to come out differently.”

“I tried to get in touch with you, I did as you told me a flew a grey windsock from the tower of higher for hire, but you never came.”

“I noticed the wind sock, but I saw your act before that, I figured the worst of you, just like you had of me.” The two looked away from each other not wanting to show the other of how truly ashamed they where over what they had done. “Why did you come here?” Shade said finally after a few minutes past.

“I wanted to see that you where alright.” Rebecca admitted as she looked up at him, then watched as he turned his back to her and headed for his work bench. “Are you alright?” Shade smiled slightly as he looked over his shoulder at her then shook his head in disbelief.

“The entire city has turned on me, I have no allies on the streets at night, with almost everyone trying to collect my head for the reward, and to top it all off I just finished yelling at maybe the only person that is my friend, accusing them of being just like every other money grubbing person in this city. Other then that, oh I’m doing just peachy.” Rebecca knew this life was starting to get to Shade, he was pushing himself beyond his limits every night, and with no safe place for him on the streets as the Ghost she knew that he was getting stressed out, but also knew that the only way that she would be able to get him to stop would be with if he wanted to stop, she had tried to convince him before but he had turned away from her offers of a good home in the past, but with the past few weeks she knew that this would be the best time of any to try once more hopefully he would see reason and agree to give up this life and at least try and live a normal one, even if he didn’t want to be apart of a family, at least he would have a good home, and be with people that did care about his well being.

“Then why do you keep doing it, why do you keep putting on this costume and going out?” Rebecca knew this life was starting to get to Shade, he was pushing himself beyond his limits every night, and with no safe place for him on the streets as the Ghost she knew that he was getting stressed out, but also knew that the only way that she would be able to get him to stop would be with if he wanted to stop, she had tried to convince him before but he had turned away from her offers of a good home in the past, but with the past few weeks she knew that this would be the best time of any to try once more hopefully he would see reason and agree to give up this life and at least try and live a normal one, even if he didn’t want to be apart of a family, at least he would have a good home, and be with people that did care about his well being.

“Why do you keep my secret from the police? Why haven’t you told the newspapers about who I really am and collect the thousands of dollars worth of rewards being offered by the city?” Rebecca was slightly shocked by this question and then smiled softly as she walked up and turned Shade to face her.

“Because it’s the right thing to do.” Rebecca responded as she looked at Shade, only seeing him smile. As he smiled at her she realized what he had just done, he had turned the direction of the conversation against her, which only got her to smile back at him, it was one trait that she really liked about Shade, he was very clever. “But this isn’t your fight, it isn’t your job to keep fighting, you gave it one heck of a run, you did a lot of good, but isn’t it time to hang up the mask, and coat, and let the Ghost vanish into the night where he appeared?” The smile on Shade’s face vanished slightly as he looked at Rebecca.

“I guess you’re right, but I just have to deal with this one last case. If the Ghost is going to retire, I want his reputation to still be somewhat good.” Rebecca didn’t really like the sound of this since Shade always gave her the same excuse one more case, one more crime and he would hang it up for good.

“It’s always one last case, you give me your word that when this is over with, that you’ll be done for good alright.” Rebecca looked at Shade, as he seem to hesitate in his answer she crossed her arms and gave him the same look that she normally gave Baloo when he hesitated in answering one of her questions. “Well I’m waiting.” As Shade nodded his head, she shook hers. “Oh no, I want to hear the words come out of your mouth, that way I know you can’t go back on are deal, I want you to say them.”

“You have my word that when this is all over with, that I’ll hang up my mask.” with that Rebecca smiled slightly, as she ruffled Shade’s hair.

“Good, and when you do you’ll come stay with us.” Rebecca added as she turned away from Shade and started to leave the lair, leaving Shade in shock.

“Now hold on I didn’t agree to that.” Rebecca turned and shot Shade a look that got him to mentally resort back to a scared child that had just angered it’s mother. “But that sounds wonderful ma-am.” Rebecca smiled as she started to walk away again.

“Good, then get some rest and be careful, I don’t know what you have planned for these imposters, but I’m sure that you’ll have this all wrapped up with by the end of this week.” as Rebecca left Shade slumped in his chair at the workbench and rolled his eyes.

“How does she keep doing that to me, I’ve faced killers, mob bosses, drug lords, and none of them can scare me like her and that look.” Shade questioned, as he leaned back and looked up at the bunker ceiling. “It’s got to be a women thing, they get old enough and they must be trained in some form of Shadow Skill.” after a while Shade did as he was told and went to bed, although as he thought about what the following evening was going to bring a smile crossed his face. As darkness fell upon the city the following night, Shade’s plan went in to action. A lone imposter ran for his life trying to get away from what was following him, his heart was racing, his vision was starting to blur due to not slowing down even for a second, but as he found a dark ally to hid in he jumped into a dumpster and started to gasp for breath.

“Do you know what happens when you anger a Ghost?” he heard a voice in the dumpster ask, the imposter started to look around and then found two glowing red eyes glaring at him. “You unless a wraith.” in an instant the imposter found him self pinned to the dumpster wall, as he opened his mouth to scream he found the very Shadows coving it and forcing his eyes to remain open as a dark figure slowly moved closer to him, it looked like the Ghost but it’s fur was matted and looked stained with blood, it’s eyes glowing red, with claws dripping a black tar like substance, it’s teeth looked razor sharp as it moved closer with a minor growl in it’s voice. “I’ve been kind to you low life scum up until now, now I’m just going to make sure you don’t bother the good people of this city again.” the figure moved it’s razor sharp claws close to the imposter’s neck, and upon hearing a minor whimper from the imposter stopped. “What is it? Do you wish to plead for your life? Maybe try to make me a deal to spare your life?” with that question the imposter nodded and the Shadows moved away from his mouth. “You wish to make me a deal, only the truth is what I seek, only a confession will prevent me from reaping your soul.”

“Alright I’ll tell you everything.”

“Not to me mortal thief, but to your justice of the peace, to your lawmen.” with that the imposter nodded quickly and felt him self being released from his bonds.

“Remember I will be watching, and should you try and break are deal.” in a flash the dark figure lunged forward bearing it’s teeth and claws stopping inches from the imposter’s face. “I will not hesitate to finish what we started here.” with that threat the figure slowly vanished back into the shadows leaving the imposter scrambling to get away. A few hours later Chief Baldwin’s home phone started to ring getting the tired police out of