A/N: This is just something that I had actually started months and months ago… hopefully some will find it an interesting read. Please read and review, letting me know if it may be something worth continuing… thx so much J

Chapter One -

"Holly" Sookie yelled as loudly as her now raw throat would possibly allow, she'd been calling out at the top of her lungs for over twenty minutes straight. "Holly, baby. Oh god, it's been too long, Quinn." She cried.

"I know, I know it'll be ok." he tried to comfort her "Here we'll call the police from my cell, we can't wait any longer and then you can call your husband."

She was in near hysterics at this point, Holly, her baby was only six years old. She'd been playing on the creative here, at the same park they've been coming to every week for months now.

It felt as though it were taking forever for the police to arrive although she was sure it hadn't been near as long as it seemed. They had been unable to reach her husband, Bill, he was supposed to be working late as usual and wasn't answering his cell or office line.

Quinn approached Sookie with a tentative look, she had been screaming and crying, understandably so, once it had become obvious that little Holly was no longer anywhere in the park that they could see.

She was now sitting on a park bench with Johnny, Quinn's six year old little boy, tucked into her side. Quinn had contacted his wife to come down and take their son away from all the craziness now surrounding the park as a small search team of mostly volunteers were beginning to do a more thorough search of the park.

"How are you doing hun? You ok?" Quinn asked Sookie to which she simply nodded in response, afraid that if she acknowledged her friend verbally that she would break down again.

"Have you finished with my son, I think he has offered all that he can and his mother is here to take him home." He had turned and asked the officer who was standing in front of Sookie and Johnny.

"I think we're good here, we have your contact information if we need anything else."

"Sookie, I'll be right back sweetie. I'm just going to see that Felicia and Johnny get off safely, ok?" He cringed slightly feeling as though it were a slap in the face to her that he spoke of his son being safely in his sights.

"Sure, yes, you go and take care of Johnny." She whispered and tried to offer a small smile that in fact only led to more tears. She became increasingly frustrated as she wondered where the hell Bill was and why the hell he was not answering her calls.

Only deep down she knew exactly where he was, he was sure to be with Lorena, a clerk from the court house that he had taken to spending time with sometime last year. Quinn returned and took a seat next to Sookie, taking her hand in his. Unknowingly sharing the same thoughts as her, she had shared her knowledge of her husbands indiscretions with him months ago.

"So neither of you saw anything suspicious before you noticed your daughter was no longer on the playground?" The officer asked for what seemed like the tenth time.

"No" Sookie snapped, her fear and frustration over the safety of her daughter now turning to anger. "I told you, she was at the bottom of the slide. I turned to Quinn and we laughed about a joke he had heard at the firehouse last night, I looked over and didn't see her so I assumed she was on her way back up to the top of the slide. A couple of minutes later I looked again and still didn't see her at which time I went to look for her and… she was go-ne." Her voice cracked near the end and she broke down again, sobbing as Quinn pulled her against his shoulder.

Bill hadn't returned home that first night until after eleven and had been shocked to immediately be taken aside for questioning by the local authorities. He was embarrassed by the fact that he had not even known about his own daughters disappearance until speaking with the officer.

Quinn's brother in-law Rene Lanier has been a member of the CARD team with the local FBI office in Shreveport for the past two years and Quinn contacted him immediately, calling in a favour, to see if we couldn't involve them from the very start of the investigation. They were so much more experienced with such cases and he was concerned that Bill being the local district attorney could have played a part in Holly's disappearance..

"This is what they do, Sookie, believe me when I tell you that if anyone can bring her home it is them." This statement brought about a fresh round of tears because she didn't miss the implication in his words, he hadn't meant anything by them but what she had heard was the IF. Not, these are the people that will bring her home but that IF anyone can.

" Who are they, what do they do?" She asked not fully aware of what it is they do exactly, she knew that Quinn's brother in-law was in law enforcement here in Shreveport but that was all.

"They're a team of FBI agents with in-depth experience and a proven track record in crimes against children investigations, especially cases where a child has been abducted by someone other than a family member. Once selected, team members go through extensive training. Each team has a designated leader and they work closely with behavioural analysts, National Center for the Analysis of Violent Crime (NCAVC) coordinators, and Crimes Against Children coordinators. They'll find her, Sookie."

"Ok." She whispered, hating the thought of having to go through all the same questioning over and over again, but at the same time willing to subject herself to the worst torture repeatedly for years to come if it meant having her baby back.

"I'll be right beside you the whole time, Sook." He could tell that she was distraught at the thought of telling her story again and wanted to be there for her, lord knows that Bill hasn't been.

"Thank you, Quinn, you have been so wonderful and I know I am taking you away from your family. I just… there are no words, just thank you."

"No need, we're friends, Sookie. This… is what friends do, Felicia would be here too but we think that Johnny needs to be kept away from it as much as possible."

"I know, I don't blame you guys at all for that. He shouldn't have to worry, he's six for pete's sake. You two are doing the right thing by not letting him know anything but he is an intelligent little guy and will soon start asking why his best friend is not around." She choked out the last part.

"I'm hoping we'll have her back before he even has the chance to ask."

"Me too, I miss her so much and it's only been less than a day. I just don't know what I'll do if-"

"Don't say it, Sook, don't you even think it. We're going to meet with Rene at 1:00pm and they are nothing like the local police, they're so much more thorough. You'll see."

Quinn dropped by to pick Sookie up for the meeting at the local FBI office, she couldn't even think about getting behind the wheel of a car just yet. Bill on the other hand actually went into the office, he said he wasn't working but couldn't just sit around doing nothing. He seemed more angry than upset over what was happening, barely even speaking a word to Sookie before going to sleep in the spare room. This confused her, she could not wrap her head around his reaction.

"So do you think Bill will show up?"

"I don't know, Quinn, I mentioned it to him but he's kind of closed himself off to me since last night."

"He'll come around, this is just a lot to deal with." Quinn was trying to be supportive but in reality he thought Bill was an asshole and had no use for him.

"It is, and we should be dealing with it together but you know what? I just can't bring myself to be bothered, I haven't truly looked at him as a husband other than on paper for quite some time now. He's probably with her right now, less than twenty four hours after our daughter goes missing."

Quinn reached over and took her hand in his, squeezing gently. He knew it had to be difficult for her and was in some ways glad that she had had all this time to come to terms with Bill's affair. It would have broke her had it only come out during this investigation, he knew that she hadn't even given thought to that yet but it was definitely going to come up.

The two were led to a small boardroom of sorts where a large round table with eight chairs sat in the center, the far wall was covered in both white dry-erase boards and cork boards, while another was adorned with several flat screen televisions and a computer system over to the side.

Sookie's face seemed to grow paler by the second as they waited, Quinn hadn't thought it possible but was sure she was just getting more and more nervous by the minute. The normally happy, healthy, strong, vivacious woman she normally was had disappeared. The shell of a woman that sat before him now was almost a stranger to him, she looked small, fragile, extremely pale and weak…almost broken.

A small group of four people entered the office and were introduced by Rene as he was already acquainted with Quinn.

"Quinn, it's great to see you although I guess not under these circumstances. I've managed to get what little the local police have on file and have gone over it with the team, we're all on board with the fact that this is definitely right up our alley and will do anything we can to help."

"Well that's a relief, this here is Sookie Compton, Holly's mom. Sookie this is my brother in-law Rene Lanier."

"It's nice to meet you, Sookie. Well you know what I me-."

"It's fine really, it's nice to meet you too. I've heard a lot about you from Quinn and Felicia." She had cut off his attempt at an apology.

"Ok" Rene started "I'll start with introductions, Mrs. Compt-"

"Please it's Sookie, just call me Sookie."

"Ok, Sookie, this is Special Agent Pamela Ravencroft." He pointed to a tall, statuesque looking blond. She was beautiful. "This is Special Agent Thalia Bernhardt" He gestured to the shorter woman, who was equally beautiful with dark curly brown hair. "And our team leader is Special Agent in Charge Eric Northman, over there." He said as he pointed out the tall beautiful blond haired Adonis that stood at the opposite end of the table to Sookie.

He offered her the same small smile that the others had, only his eyes seemed to hold a similar sadness to Sookie's and she wondered if he had suffered a loss himself or if the job he did got to him more than the others at times.

"And this is John Quinn" He told the agents "My brother in-law and was also witness to the abduction, well he was there anyway but he goes by Quinn." They all nodded at one another in acknowledgment before moving forward.

"I notice from the file that you have a husband, will he be joining us today?" The Adonis asked in what was a deep, almost husky, voice that seemed to ooze sex appeal. Sookie was ashamed that she had even noticed, and that it seemed to spark something in her core.

"I… um I … I don't really know, I mentioned it to him but he didn't respond. He hasn't really spoken to me since yesterday." Her voice was shaky and quiet, her eyes glistened with unshed tears and Eric couldn't help but feel drawn to her. She wore no make-up, her eyes were sad, she was pale, her hair though clean, looked as though she had been running her fingers through it non stop and most likely had been. She sat slumped down slightly, ringing her fingers nervously, it was something he had seen hundreds of times and had probably looked the same himself almost five years ago.

His lips pursed and twisted a little and his eyes narrowed as though he were trying to make a decision before he spoke again. "Was there a reason that you know of that he may not have been speaking to you?"

"He didn't say but if I had to guess… well he blames me." She stated only meeting his eyes briefly. There was a small gasp from the dark haired agent who was saddened that this was the route that some families took, they blamed one another until it finally tore them apart and Quinn couldn't help but voice his angry opinion.

"What the hell do you mean, Sookie, this is not your fault. I was there and your not to blame." He practically screamed and Sookie placed her hand on his but looked down at the same time.

"I know that, Quinn, believe me I know. I may feel partially responsible because I was the one that was there with her but I know that I was not negligent. There was not a parent there that could say that they sat there frozen with their eyes glued to their children for every second and hadn't looked away for a moment or two. I know that." She repeated.

There was a knock at the door and then Bill was led in by the same woman who had led them to the room earlier. Sookie was a little surprised to see him and even more surprised by the look that both he and Special Agent in charge, Eric Northman had shared. It was one of familiarity and didn't appear to be a friendly look.

"I see you started without me." Bill stated dryly.

"We weren't sure if you were coming but the meeting only just started." Sookie responded as she watched him, trying to read the change in his demeaner. She had never seen Bill react to someone as he had the Adonis although she excused it quickly given the circumstances, he was not himself.

"Yes well, why would I not be here, are you suggesting that I would not be quite as interested as you in the safe return of our daughter?" She gasped before closing her eyes for a moment, she was completely thrown by Bill's coldness.

"She never fucking well implied that and you know damn well that she didn't." Quinn had jumped to her defence.

"Is there going to be a problem here, Mr. Compton? If so, you'll be asked to leave. We mean no disrespect to you and understand that you are under extreme stress at the moment but your attitude will not help us here." Agent Northman spoke up. His tone was professional but held a slight edge to it.

"You have a job to do regardless of my fucking attitude, so do it." Bill growled.

"No, I do not. We have not been brought in by the local police, if anything they want to handle this themselves. We" He said gesturing to his colleagues and himself "are here as a favour to Rene, who in turn is here as a favour to his broth in-law, Quinn here. So your shitty attitude will not be accepted." Bill glared at him and Sookie was only all the more confused by the altercation between the two.

"I'm confused, Bill, what the hell is going on? Why are you being so rude to someone who is willing to help us find Holly, someone who does this specifically for a living. What is wrong with you?" Sookie asked in a hushed tone, not that it wasn't heard by everyone because it was.

"It's nothing, we've crossed paths before in a similar case actually. It was a few years ago." Was all that he offered. Eric shifted in his seat but never said a word.

"Well obviously you've crossed paths before, I think the whole room picked up on that but thanks for the explanation." Her tone was sarcastic and she didn't care, she looked up and offered a small tight lipped apologetic smile to Agent Northman in which he offered the same.

"You should be grateful for the help of him and his team, this is not the time to bring old grudges into effect." She whispered across to him.

"Well if I remember correctly, Northman's motto is 'No one is above the law and no one is beneath its protection' is that not correct?" Bill spat in Agent Northman's direction "So not to worry, Sookie, he'll do his job." She was shocked again by his attitude and this time chose to ignore him.

"Anyway, if we could just move on from here, that would be great." Sookie stated.

Agent Northman continued to take the lead on the questioning, asking many of the same ones she had already answered last night. He also went on to ask about family life at home and if there were any difficulties or anyone besides themselves involved in their intimate lives.

She might not have understood the question or at least where he was going with it if she hadn't already known about Lorena, she may have answered no without really knowing what he was asking. As it were she did know and wasn't about to lie when it involved her daughter, it was a humiliation to both her and Bill. It could also damage his career and although it most likely has nothing to do with the case, it was obviously something they needed to rule out in order to move on.

"There is someone else involved… in our relationship, I mean." The whole table turned to look at her in shock, even Quinn who knew about it but he was surprised that she was so quick to offer up the information. He shouldn't have been though because when it came to her daughter, she was not about to hide anything.

"I fucking knew it!" Bill jumped in "I wasn't fucking surprised to see his ass here when I walked in, I have asked you a hundred times or more, Sookie, but now you easily admit to fucking this clown. I told you last night if you had had your eyes on our daughter instead of him, she'd still be here." He yelled as he darted his thumb towards Quinn, effectively giving the entire room the information she hadn't in regards to him blaming her.

Quinn in turn jumped up and looked like he was going to throttle Bill. "No, you dumbass! She was referring to you. I care about Sookie, a lot but I would never cheat on my wife. I am not YOU!" Sookie tugged on his arm pulling him back down into his seat.

"You knew?" Bill looked stunned as he asked.

"Of course I did, I just didn't give a fuck who you were sticking your dick in as long as it wasn't me, or at least very rarely… was me. I don't know how long it's been going on but I have known for close to a year. " Most of the faces around the table had a surprised look to them. She did notice however that Agent Northman had kept his eyes down and was not looking at her. "I'm sorry, Bill, but I was leaving soon anyway. Why do you think I started up 'Holly Blooms', it was a means to an end. My own money."

She brought her hands to her temples, rubbing small circles into them. Her head hurt and she was expecting at this point for Bill to fill in the blanks. He didn't disappoint but he sure as hell did shock her in more ways than one with his next words...

A/N: All characters belong to Charlaine Harris, I just like to play with them.