Started: Oct. 2012

Finished: May 2013

A/N: Coming to you from a fan that adores Robert Downey Jr.'s acting and loves his almost entirely improvised portrayal of Dr. Kozak in the Shaggy Dog.

(Prologue)

"The transistor, the microchip, the artificial heart," Dr. Kozak said as he readied the syringe. "All footnotes." He injected Lance, his boss, giving him a mirthless smile. In seconds his boss began to shake violently.

"He's going into shock," Gwen said in alarm. "It's the serum. Something's wrong."

"No, this isn't supposed to happen," Larry said desperately. "It's supposed to work, it-"

"Of course it works," Kozak cut him off. "I just didn't give it to him." The two seemed frozen as they watched the horror unfold in front of them. "Lance, Lance, Lance, I'm sorry that I had to do this to you but I couldn't let you take all the credit again. Plus, you're a pig and I hate you. I hate you in so many ways." He turned his eyes to Larry. "Could you hold this for a second?" he asked handing the needle to him. His eyes turned to his female assistant. "Get rid of it, accomplice." Her eyes stayed on Strictland.

"We have to get him to a doctor," she said not really hearing him.

"Gwen, Doctor Lichtman, listen to me." She finally looked to him. "Get rid of the syringe."

"But, is he dead?" she asked.

"He stole my credit for the last time," he deadpanned then stood straight. "Ladies and gentleman," he outstretched his arms. "You're now looking at your new CEO. I hold immortality in the palm of my hand. I will be fabulously insanely and unimaginable wealthy. I'm in control now."

"This was not part of the plan," Larry stated quickly."

"This is totally wrong," said Gwen.

"Of course I'll cut you both in on the profits," Kozak bribed. Larry's mouth hung open wanting to protest further but feeling he should agree as quick and possible and shut up.

"Oh really, ok great," Larry said. Kozak smirked maliciously.

"And you Gwen, is that ok with you?" She breathed out exasperatedly.

"Oh, oh yes," she agreed quickly. After all, this could be much worse. And so the nightmare started.

After Kozak left, Larry approached Gwen. "He can't just kill somebody can he? It will look suspicious won't it?"

"I- I don't know Larry," she answered.

"I mean, it will look suspicious and we are going to be questioned and if we get called to testify in court and if we lie we commit perjury which carries a prison sentence-"

"Stop it. You're blowing things way out of proportion. We are not going to get called to testify. Do us both a favor and relax."

…

During their lunch hour, Larry followed her. They found a place to sit and he motioned for her to lean in close. "I can't believe he thinks he can do this and go on like nothing happened."

"Get real Larry, you know the kind of work we do. This is the worst time for you to grow a

conscience. Just, do as you're told."

"But Gwen-"

"You're already acting suspicious," she shot as she got up and left.

…

Later that afternoon she approached Larry feeling a little guilty about how she treated him earlier. "Look, everything's fine. We still have our jobs and Kozak has what he wants." He scoffed.

"Yeah, he's paying us off."

"Yeah right, he is paying us off," Gwen said quickly. "You should be glad that's all he's doing."

"What do you mean?" asked Larry. Gwen gave him a look and he figured it out.

"No, you don't think…"

"I do so shut up about it already. Be grateful you're still alive."

Two days passed. Larry rushed Gwen into their empty lab hastily. "Here," he handed Gwen the small recorder. "This is a recorder, try to-"

"Hello. Good morning," Dr. Kozak declared as he emerged from the formally thought empty lab. Larry snatched the recorder back hastily and they both froze. "And what a great morning it is," he smiled. "I was in my office then I thought I could use a walk. Check on my two favorite people," he said pointing at them for effect. "I'll be back later." He smiled winking at Gwen then left.

Larry let out a tremendously long breath he'd been holding. He rushed to the door and watched Kozak walk away. He held out the recorder to Gwen.

"Here, here's a recorder. Try to get him to talk about what he did in the lab that day. That way it won't be his word against ours, especially if something should happen to me."

"Larry, stop it. This is ridiculous."

"Is it? Is it? You know it isn't." She took it, putting it in her pants pocket.

A week passes and Larry approaches Gwen. "Where are the cops? Where is the investigation? It's like they swept it under the rug."

"It hasn't even been that long. Those things take time. They're probably swamped."

"I don't want to be questioned. I've never been good at lying. Have you recorded a confession from him yet?

"No."

"Have you even tried?" She sighed. "Gwen, please tell me you're not onboard with this murderous farce."

"You best get onboard," Gwen warned. "Pull yourself together before you make others suspicious."

At some point that day Kozak made his usual rounds and stopped by the lab. "How are you doing today my pets? Guess what? The coroners report said Strictland died of natural causes, meaning we're, not liable, meaning, both of you can relax. There won't be an investigation. But I already knew that. I planned it. We're you nervous? I hope you two weren't that didn't set you both on edge," he said rather unconcerned. Larry gave Gwen a look that told her to use the recorder he gave her and use it now. He put his arms around both their shoulders. "You really are my pets. I'm going to make sure you both are, well, taken care of." Larry shifted nervously under Kozaks' arm. "Now, you're supposed to say, 'thank you Dr. Kozak. Your generosity is much appreciated.'"

"Thanks, um," Gwen began. "Thank you, Dr. Kozak. I appreciate it." He gave her a squeeze and looked to Larry who didn't want to say either. He removed his arm from her shoulders and she let out a breath she was holding. He brought Larry closer. "Come now, all I want is a 'thank you.'"

"Thanks," he said disgruntled, with out looking at him. His eyes turned back to Gwen. He looked her up and down clicking his teeth together then left.

"Tell me you got that on tape," Larry said. "Did you?"

"No, it all happened too fast."

"Fast? What? You have to have it ready at any moment."

"Why?" she asked becoming angry and annoyed. "Larry, why don't you have one? Why aren't you trying to get a confession? Larry sighed. "Do you at least have the tape?"

"Yes," she lied. It lay on top of her dresser at home.

He came in unexpectedly and she was again, ill prepared. "I want to talk to you about Larry."

"What about him?"

"Can he handle it?" He waked up to her as he spoke. She kept her eyes on the floor. "Can he handle this? Our little secret?"

"Yes," she said curtly. He looked at her skeptically. He stepped into her personal space and dusted off the collar of her shirt and smoothed a piece of blond hair that strayed from her ponytail.

"Can he really? I'm not too sure. I know you're always with him so he must talk to you."

She nodded her head. "So, is he a…liability?" He asked. She shook her head.

"No," she lied, keeping her eyes down.

Today was a typical day at work except Larry did not show up. However by lunchtime she heard the horrible truth. The buzz going around the building was that he had got into a car accident last night and died. She couldn't help but feel sick to her stomach that maybe it was planned. Kozak came sauntering into the lab. "I assume you've heard the unfortunate news concerning Larry. I'm really very, sorry," he said indifferently. She looked at him not believing him for one second.

"I need to go home. I feel sick."

"No, no," he said slamming his hand onto the counter. "I can't have an empty lab. I need you here. Besides, I doubt what you have is contagious, he finished smugly." She looked into his dark eyes for a moment.

"A conscience, you're right, a conscience isn't contagious." He chuckled a bit and smiled widely.

"What? You think I had something to do with this?" She looked in awe at his jovial response. He turned to leave. Right before he walked out the door he turned and asked, "We're not going to have a problem are we?" She hesitated for a moment.

"No, no problem," she lied.

"Good." He smiled mirthlessly and left.

Kozak visited her lab at least once a day to check on progress or so he said. There would be little or nothing new to report some days and he always gave her strange long looks. He addressed her professionally but what his eyes said was less then professional and sometimes he got a little too close. Mid morning he came in.

"What have you got for me today?" he asked.

"Same thing as yesterday. I should have the results back by early tomorrow."

"Wonderful."

"Why did you do it?"

"Why? Let's see," he said instantly knowing what she was talking about. He made a face as if he was thinking really hard. "He was weak."

"He was harmless."

"Time bomb."

"He was scared."

"He was a squealer." He walked up to her. "I can always tell who the squealers are. Are you a squealer Gwen?" She looked at him crossly.

"I don't know, am I?

"Not in the way that you mean." He smiled and raised his brows suggestively. She took a breath at his audacity.

"Then why did you involve him from the beginning?"

"Drama."

"Sadist."

"Squealer." He winked and she fumed.

"Bastard." She slapped him. She drew her hands to her mouth as if regretful of her outburst but he swiftly pinned her wrists against the cabinet anyway. She gasped. "I'm sorry, I-" He looked into her green eyes and moved uncomfortably so into her personal space. She averted her eyes from his and watched his lips move as he whispered the word,

"Coward."

"Let go," she said.

"You see all this wrong being done but you won't do a thing about it. You don't want to loose your reputation or your job and you don't want to get hurt. I have you exactly where I want you and it's going to stay that way."