The Two New Family Members

Nancy and Ned are engaged and living in an apartment in Chicago and everything's going great - they've both graduated from University, Nancy has a job as a licenced detective for a Chicago company, and Ned is doing well as a sucessful doctor. But what happens when one of Nancy's cases takes a turn for the worst and two girls under twelve years old are thrown into their lives ? Read and find out ! This is my first story, so I hope it's ok. :)

CHAPTER 1

"Everybody down ! Now or I'll shoot !" Twenty four year old Nancy Drew looked frantically around the room, looking for a way out - there, by the door. The window was slightly ajar, if she moved quickly she might just make it.

"That means you, too lady", the masked man in the centre of the room yelled gruffly, "Hands up and on the ground !"

Nancy slowly raised her hands and sank to the ground knees first. The masked man let down his guard for only a split second as Nancy's knees hit the ground, but a split second was all she needed.

Starting to lay down on the ground as she was supposed to be, Nancy suddenly dove for the mans legs, knocking him to the ground.

The second the two of them hit the carpeted floor of the dirty, musty smelling apartment, the room erupted in chaos. The masked man began firing his gun, and the room echoed with the sound of each bullet ricocheting of the dingy metal furnature.

"Get under cover !", Nancy screamed at the half dozen other people in the room, as she herself dove for the door. The second she was out the door, Nancy grabbed her phone and called for police backup.

"Bad idea, little miss dtective", the masked man snarled from behind her, "You've just created much more trouble than you've tried to stopped." With and evil laugh, he grbbed a random hostage from the group of terrified people and disappeared into the night.

CHAPTER 2

"Oh, Ned it was horrible ! I mean, I've been a detective practically sinse I could walk, and a lot of bad things have happened, but I've never felt so responsible."

"Sshhh.", Ned Nickerson pulled Nancy down onto his lap on the couch in their fifth floor Chicago apartment, and stroked her hair in comfort. "You did what you had to, Nan. You can't change the past - you have to start thinking about what to do now."

Nancy buried her head in his shoulder and smiled slightly. "How is it that you always know what to say ?", she asked.

Before Ned could respond, Nancy suddenly pulled back and sat up straight. "No. It's my fault. I'M the one who dove for the gun, I'M the one who caused the man to start shooting, and I'M the one who caused a nine year old girl to be kinapped. It's all my fault, plain and simple."

"Nancy you just told me half an hour ago the girl had been taken hostage yesterday - not kidnapped", Ned pointed out. "What's the difference ? And who's fault is it ? M-"

"Enough !", Ned cut her off. "I'm sick of hearing it's your fault. Nan, you're the best detective on the planet, and you're going to find that little girl and bring her back safely. I know you will."

Feeling a tiny bit better, Nancy leaned forward and put her arms around Ned's neck. "I love you."

Ned smiled and hugged her tight. "I love you, too. Now lets go get a good night's sleep - because in the morning, you've got a hostage to find."

CHAPTER 3

"Look, Nancy, you made the choice and what's done is done. Now we have to deal with it."

Nancy smiled wryly at her boss, Eddie Harper, the next morning at work. "That's pretty much exactly what my fiance said last night."

Eddie smiled back at her and said, "Smart man, your fiance. Listen to him." With that, he headed out of Nancy's office, leaving her to think over her feelings in private.

After fifteen minutes, Nancy still wasn't sure what to think or what to do. She decided to review the file of the case again.

"Lillian Mathews",She said quitly to herself, "Suspected of drug use, trafficing, and having gang involements. Shane Mathews - convicted drug offender, out on parole two months ago, gang member. Nice people",she muttered to herself before reading on. "Live in small aprtment in Chicago. Two daughters, Madonna, aged eleven, and Jesse, aged nine."

Jesse. The one who was taken hostage. Kinapped. Nancy forced herself to think back to the day before.

Four dtectives, herself included, had gone to the Mathews' apartment to arrest Lillian and Shane Mathews for illegal drug use and trafficing. Nancy had been so excited the night before the sheduled bust - not only had she finally managed to get enough evidence to bust these crooks for a good many years, but it would mean those two little girls would get a proper home. A normal up-bringing.

Nancy sighed. Now she wasn't so sure. When the man with the gun had entered the room, her hopes for a smooth arrest had been squashed. The bust couldn't have gone worse, Nancy thought.

Lillian and Shane hadn't even been home. Just the two girls. And then the masked gunman, presumably a member of the gang the Mathews' were associated with, had entered. He'd grabbed Jesse and ran. They had no idea where he was, who he was, and there was no word whether Jesse was safe. And to top it off, the other daughter, Madonna, had disappeared. The police had the building staked out, but Nancy knew it was extremely unlikely anyone would turn up there.

She sat up in her chair. Time to take action, Drew, Nancy told herself. Stop moping over what happened. Take Ned and Eddie's advice and get this case solved.

CHAPTER 4

Nancy grabbed her jacket and walked out into the summer sunshine. It was a beautiful day, but right then her thoughts were centered on Jesse Mathews and getting her back. And getting her parents arrested.

First stop, police station, Nancy thought. She walked the three blocks to the nearest police station swiftly and was walking in the door five minutes later.

"I'd like any information on the Robbin gang, please", she said briskly to the desk clerk, flashing her PI badge.

The clerk gave her an annoyed look, but went and got the file. "Don't be long with it. Big case with the Robbins at the moment."

"Mmmm", Nancy murmered distractedly, already skimming over the information in the file. The Robbin gang - not a very tough name, Nancy thought.

She turned to the desk clerk and asked, "would you mind if I photocopied this ? It's going to take a while to go over, and I don't want to do it here."

The clerk shrugged. "I guess that would be ok. But don't you go start flashing it around. Can't do that, ya know."

"I know." Nancy followed the clerk down the hall to the photocopier, copied the file, and headed back to her apartment fifteen minutes away.

"Ned !", Nancy exclaimed when she walked in the door. " What are you doing at home ? It's only three - I thought your shift didn't end until four."

"What, no hello ?", Ned teased, going over to Nancy and putting his arms round her. She kissed his his cheek and said, "Hello. How come you're home ?"

Ned shrugged and released her. "I've been working overtime for a really long time now. Things were quiet at the hospital so I got to go a whole hour early. I'm still on call, though. Why are you home so early ?"

"I photocopied a file of the gang involved in my case and decided it would be more confortable to read it at home. Want to help me go over it ?"

Ned smiled. "You're on." He dissappeared into the kitchen and reaturned with two glasses of juice and muffins. Then the two of them settled down on the sofa to read the file.

The Robbins got their name from Garith Robbins, founder of the gang in 1990, Nancy read. She was just about to continue when Ned's beeper went off.

He glanced at it, gave Nancy a quick kiss and stood up. Sorry, Nan. I've got to go", He said as a voice came over the speaker saying an eleven year old girl had just been brought into the emergency room in a critical condition. They'd have to work quickly to try to save her.

CHAPTER 5

As Ned hurried out of the room, Nancy felt a sick feeling in the pit of her stomach.

Stop it, she told herself. There are hundreds - no thousands - of eleven year old girls in the city of Chicago. Madonna Mathews was eleven. But it can't be her, Nancy told herself. It can't.

Half an hour later, Nancy had finished reading the file on the Robbin gang. Garith Robbins had been in prison sinse 2004, she learned. He was expected to be in for at least another two years.

And sinse Shane Mathews had gotton out on parole, he'd been the unnoficial new leader.

Lillian Mathews had never been to prison, Nancy learned. She was suspected of helping out her husband in the drugs trade, but nothing had ever been proven. Nor had it been proven that she was actualy in the gang.

And I finally had enough evidence to get her in for questioning, Nancy thought bitterly. And I would have had Shane in prison again.

CHAPTER 6

Nancy was awoken around one in the morning when she felt the other side of the bed sink down.

She rolled over, peering into the darkness. "Ned ?", she whispered into the dark.

Ned crawled into bed beside her. "Yeah, it's just me, Nan. Sorry for waking you."

"It's ok. Actually, I'm glad you did." She snuggeled up to him as he pulled her into his arms.

"What happened with that girl who was brought in ?", Nancy asked anxiously.

"Oh, she'd been hit by a car when she was crossing the street. She looked pretty bad, but once her breathing was stabalised she was fine. Broken leg and arm, though."

"You didn't know who it was ?" Ned shook his head. "She was from out of town - Seattle, I think. Just visiting her dad for a week. Awful end to a holiday, huh ?"

"Mmmm", Nancy agreed. It wasn't Madonna. That's good, Nancy thought. Then why do I still feel so uneasy ?

"Funny thing, though," Ned carried on. Just as I was leaving, another eleven year old girl was brought in with similar injuries. What are the chances of that in a small hospital ?"

CHAPTER 7

Despite not sleeping well the night before, Nancy woke early the next morning.

Ned was still sleeping, so Nancy slipped quietly out of bed and headed for the bathroom.

Half an hour later she emerged, ready for the day, and found Ned in the kitchen. He was flipping pancakes on the stove.

Nancy tip-toed up behind him and slid her arms around his waist. "Hey," she whispered in his ear.

Ned jumped. "Oh, Nan you gave me a fright !" He put his hands over hers and squeezed them gently.

"What's on the agenda for today ?," he asked.

"I'm coming to work with you." Nancy let go of him so he could tend to the pancakes, which were rapidly becoming browner.

"Huh ? Missing me that much ?," he teased with a grin.

Nancy whacked him on the arm with the back of her hand. "Don't kid yourself, Nickerson," she said with a grin.

"I want to see this young girl who was brought in last night. I have a funny feeling I know who she is."

CHAPTER 8

"Madonna Mathews," Nancy murmered when she saw the young girl in the hospital bed.

She shook her head in discust at the purple bruise on her face - evidently from being hit. She also had her arm in a cast and appeared to have a sprained ankle.

Madonna looked at Nancy questioningly. "How do you know my name ?" she asked, "Do I know you ?"

"No, sweetie. You don't know me." At least not really, Nancy thought, guiltily thinking of the scene in the Mathews' apartment where she had seen Madonna briefly for the first time.

She sat on the edge of Madonna's bed and took her hand. "But I know your parents," she said softly.

Madonna looked up. "Huh ? How ?" Then a sudden flicker of recognition flashed accross her face.

"You're that detctive aren't you ? From my aparment the other day."

CHAPTER 9

"That's right," Nancy said, smiling at Madonna.

"I'm really sorry about what happened at your apartment. I guess it's my fault you're here right now."

Nancy avoided asking the question she really wanted to ask - what happened to Madonna and where was she - for now. She didn't want to upset the young girl.

"Your fault ?" Madonna said, "It's my dad's fault. He did some bad stuff. That's why you turned up. I'm not stupid you know," she said, doing her best to cross her arms over her chest and look tough.

Nancy supressed a grin. "No, you deffinately aren't," she said.

"Listen, I need a to ask you a few questions, but if I'm upsetting you, let me know and I'll stop. Ok ?"

Madonna pulled her hand away from Nancy's and shrugged. "Yeah. I ain't not scared o' nothing."

Nancy smiled. "Ok, here we go."

Ten minutes later Nancy had learned a number of things - the first being that Madonna had escaped when Nancy had said to run, for which she was very grateful for. Even though she had been hurt, at least she hadn't been taken hostage as well.

The injuries, Nancy learned, came from spending the last couple of days on the streets.

'Some egg crashed a car into me,' had been Madonna's exact words.

Nancy also learned that Madonna knew a lot of what went on in her household. 'I listen a lot,' Madonna had said.

Nancy turned back to Madonna. Despite the tough image she had tried to project since she found out who Nancy was, Nancy could see a vulnerability about her and a scared look in her eyes.

She squeezed the girl's hand again, then took a piece of paper out of her bag and a pen and wrote down her home, work, and cell phone numbers.

"If you ever want to talk, day or night, call me," Nancy said seriously. "But I will be back tomorrow."

The fight seemed to have left Madonna, and she only nodded weakly.

Despite the fact that she barely knew her, Nancy leaned over and kissed Madonna on the cheek. "See you tomerrow," she said as she turned and strode out of the room, trying to keep Madonna from seeing the tears that had welled up in her eyes.

CHAPTER 10

"Ned !" Nancy exclaimed as she walked into the hall. "How long have you been standing here ?"

Ned shrugged. "Long enough to see you comforting Madonna and giving her your phone numbers - all three of them. And long enough to see those tears in your eyes."

He reached out and softly wiped the tears from her cheeks then pulled her close to him and hugged her tight.

Nancy hugged him back, feeling comfort from just being close to him.

"It's the least I can do," she murmered against his chest,"After all that happened..." she let her voice trail off.

Ned pulled back and looked her into her eyes, a slight smile tugging at the corners of his mouth.

"You know, you're going to make a great mom someday," he said.

Nancy grinned. "Is that a hint ?"

Ned leaned forward and kissed her gently, grinning back at her, then shook his head.

"At least not until we're married," he added.

CHAPTER 11

"Paging Ned Nickerson, please come to ICU. Ned Nickerson..."

With a sigh, Ned pulled back from Nancy. "I better go," he said.

Nancy nodded and gave him a quick kiss. "I love you."

"I love you, too," Ned answered, pulling her close for a last kiss goodbye. "I'll try to make it home for dinner tonight, but I can't promise anything."

Nancy nodded again. "I don't know wether I will be either - it depends on what turns the case takes."

She reluctently let go of Ned and headed for the exit.

Outside, sitting in her car Nancy ran through the case in her mind again.

Madonna had mentioned some of the gang's hideouts, but it wasn't likely they had taken Jesse there. Or was it ?

Nancy sat up straight in her seat, thinking out loud.

"The gang have no way of knowing that I've talked to Madonna."

These hidouts would be the best places to try first, Nancy thought. Even if none of the Robbin's were there, it was likely there would be someone who would know something.

CHAPER 12

Wow, this is gorgeous, Nancy thought. Not.

The address she was now parked outside was a tumble down old apartment compex in a rough area of town. The windows were busted out in more places than one, the roof had collapsed in parts and one whole side of the builing was brown - burnt from a recent fire.

Please don't let this be where Jesse's been held, Nancy thought.

Despite wanting to find the little girl as fast as possible, she couldn't stand the thought of her being shut in this dump for the last few days.

Taking a deep breath, Nancy squared her shoulders and walked to the 'door'.

It creeked open on the one hinge that was left, and Nancy found herself in a small dark hall.

Now where ? She thought.

Suddenly a loud crash sounded from directly above her.

That's where.

CHAPTER 13

Nancy took the rickety old stairs two at a time, racing toward the room where she'd heard the crash.

Nancy reached out her hand, ready to fling the door open, but stopped herself just in time. If there were a bunch of gangsters behind that door, barging in wouldn't be the smartest idea.

Instead, Nancy crept silently up to the crack in the door and peeked through.

Two men were standing in the middle of the small room, and a smashed chair was in the far corner - that would explain the crash, Nancy thought.

Suddenly the smaller of the two men raised his voice at his companion, who was at least twice the size of him.

"Look, she gave us orders, we have to follow them !"

The big man's face started to turn the colour of a tomato.

"Listen Collin - if we ever want to get out of the Robbin's we gotta use that stuff called intuition. Ya know that word Collin ? Or is it too big to fit in that little brain of yours ?"

"No, you listen, Rodgers - if we don't do what the boss says, we're dead. Get it ? D. E. A. D. Dead !"

Nancy backed away from the door. This was interesting - these two were obviously Robbins. But they had mentioned 'the boss' and they had mentioned 'she.'

Was the 'she' the boss ? But I thought Shane Mathews was the boss, Nancy thought. And he's deffinately no women.

Hearing footsteps coming toward the door, Nancy darted toward the stairs.

Collin and Rodgers were obviously finished their conversation, and Nancy didn't want to run into one of the in the dark hallway.

I'll wait in the car, Nancy thought. Maybe one of them will leave the building and I'll be able to tail them.

Sure enough, two minutes later the smaller man, Collin, exited the building and made his way to a beet up old green car.

That should be easy to follow. Finally - a break in the case ! Nancy though, pulling out into the evening traffic after Collin.

CHAPTER 14

Nancy had been tailing Collin for over hakf an hour, and he hadn't done anything drastic.

Just as Nancy was thinking this might be a waste of time, Collin suddenly swerved into a back alley and pulled to a stop behind a rusty garbage can.

Nancy parked at the entrence to the alley, got out of her car and peeked around the corner of the old building.

Collin was pulling a key from the pocket of his jeans and opening a door.

Suddenly Nancy caught sight of a street sign - this was another of the gang's hideouts !

Nancy desperately wanted to follow Collin, but the space between her and the door was completely open, and Nancy knew she'd be seen.

She sunk down on the concrete, hoping to wait for Collin to leave. Then she'd pick the lock and look around.

Nancy waited. And waited. And waited.

Finally she sighed and headed for her car. She'd sat there for and hour, and Collin still hadn't left.

It was also dark, and Nancy didn't think this would be a safe neighborhood after dark. Plus it was another forty five minutes back to her apartment.

I'll come back first thing tomorrow, Nancy thought.

CHAPTER 15

It was ten o'clock when Nancy finally trudged down the hall to her apartment.

Yes ! she thought, seeing a light coming from under the door. She always preferred arriving home when Ned was there, rather than arriving first alone.

She wearily pushed the door open and walked into the lounge.

Ned was lying on the couch. The TV was on, but he wasn't watching it.

Nancy walked over to him, lifted his head, sat down, then rested it back in her lap.

"Hey Nan," Ned murmered. "You look beat."

Nancy smiled. "I am. And you look pretty beat yourself, Mr Nickerson."

Ned grinned up at her. "Yep. It was a pretty rough afternoon. But Madonna's getting better - she didn't want to talk to me at first, but then I told her you were my my fiance and it's been smooth saling sinse."

He reached up and stroked Nancy's cheek. "I think you made a good impression."

"Mmmm," Nancy murmered, absently playing with a button on Ned's shirt.

"Nan ?" Ned asked gently, "You ok ? Or are you purposely trying to break that button off my shirt?"

Nancy smiled ruefully. "I'm sorry. I'm fine, I was just trying to plan ahead for this case - what to do tomorrow, you know." She yawned.

Ned nodded. "Well, I order you to stop thinking about it for tonight and get some sleep. Come on," he said, getting up from the couch.

But Nancy was so exhausted she couldn't move. Why do I feel so tired ? she thought.

"Can't move," Nancy muttered, holding up her hands to Ned. "Help."

For an answer, Ned reached down and put his arms around her waist, picking her up and carrying her to the bedroom.

Knowing Nancy wouldn't have the strength to put on her pajamas (her eyes were already closing), Ned pulled back the covers and lay her in bed fully clothed.

By the time Ned got into bed beside her five minutes later, she was fast asleep.

CHAPTER 16

Nancy woke with a start. She looked around - it was dark, but it was just her room.

"Just my room," she muttered to herself. It was just a dream. "Actually, it was a nightmare."

"Nancy ?" Ned asked softly. "Did you have a nightmare ?"

Nancy suddenly snapped back to reality. "What ? Oh, Ned, it's just you."

She could just make out Ned's puzzeled expression in the dark. "Of course it's just me. Who else would it be ? Oh, right. You had a nightmare," he said, suddenly understanding.

Now it was Nancy's turn to look confused. "How did you know I had a nightmare ?"

Ned smiled. "Well, besides the fact that you kicked me in the leg -twice- and cut the circulation from my wrist when you squeezed it, you were talking in your sleep - and it deffinately sounded like a nightmare."

Nancy gasped. "Oh Ned, I'm so sorry !"

Ned pulled her into his arms and hugged her tight, rubbing her back in comfort. "Hey, it's ok. You wanna tell me about the dream ?"

Nancy sighed and lay her head on his chest. "I was just dreaming about that night again - when Jesse was kidnapped. It really freaked me out, you know ?"

Ned just nodded, kissed her hair, and held her tighter.

Nancy carried on. "But this was so real, and it was worse. Jesse was... Jesse was killed." Nancy swallowed. "Oh, Ned, what if that really happened ?"

"Ssshhh." Ned rocked her gently back and forth. "Think positive. I know you'll find her."

Nancy nodded. "I hope so. You know what's wierd though ? I was so tired before. So tired. I don't remember anything beyond driving home."

Ned grinned. "I know. I carried you to bed- you're still wearing your clothes, in case you havn't noticed."

Nancy smiled. "Oh. No wonder I'm so hot."

Ned laughed. "Aaahh, there's that smile ! I've missed it these last couple of days."

Nancy sat up and removed her socks and jeans. "That's better. But you know, I havn't had much to smile about. "

A wicked grin spread over Ned's face. "Well, I think that's about to change."

He pinned her arms above her head with one hand and tickled her with the other.

Nancy giggled. "Stop it ! Ned !"

She finally squirmed away from him. "I gotta get some sleep."

Ned nodded. "Can I kiss you goodnight ? I didn't get to before." He puckered his lips and scrunched up his face.

Nancy laughed. "Oh, yeah. That's reeeeeal inviting. But, just for you -"

She leaned over and kissed him gently. Ned kissed her back, then broke off suddenly.

"You know, you taste funny,"

Nancy rolled her eyes. "Gee thanks."

"No, I'm serious. Can't you taste an acidy taste in your mouth ?"

Nancy shook her head skeptically. "Are you sure it's not just you ?"

Ned shook his head. "Want me to kiss you again to make sure ?"

The smart retort Nancy was about to answer back died on her lips when she saw Ned's serious expression.

Shrugging, she said, "I'm not complaining, but I really think you're worried about nothing."

Ned shook his head then kissed her again.

He pulled back a few seconds later. "No, there's deffinately something acidic in your mouth. I don't know why you can't taste it."

CHAPTER 17

When Nancy awoke the next morning, sun was streaming in the window. And her head was pounding.

"Woah," Nancy said, sitting up. She fell back against her pillow.

I feel like I've been hit by a truck, she thought.

Just then Ned walked into the bedroom, his hair damp and a towel wrapped around his waist.

He smiled when he saw she was awake. "Morning sleepyhead. It's after nine. I know you wanted to check out that alley early, but you were sleeping so soundly I didn't want to wake you."

Nancy squinted up at him. "I feel like jet planes are flying round my head."

"And my stomach..." Nancy closed her eyes. Her stomach was churned and she felt sick.

Ned looked worridly at her. "That taste," he muttered, sitting on the bed beside her.

"Poison...?"

This got Nancy's attension. "What did you say ?"

"Poison," Ned repeated grimly. "That taste in your mouth when we were kissing last night."