2 months had passed since the day that Chase had called for a lockdown on New Seattle. His knee was healing and he could now walk again without the aid of a cane. Kenzie had barely left his side the first week after the incident and Blaine continually hovered. Even Marlee had remained close. While he and Blaine had retained their separate residences Blaine and Marlee rarely stayed at the apartment with rare exceptions on when Chase's friends from work were dropping by. He and Blaine were not yet public and Chase was fortunate that Lilywhite understood his desire to remain private for the time being. That was one of the good things about Major, he was understanding and he had Chase's back. What was more, Lilywhite and his team had brought down the dealers stealing brain tubes. The zombie population of Seattle had been well fed for the last 3 weeks and there had been no incidents reported as of yet. Chase prayed it would remain that way.
Blaine and the girls had an increasingly strong relationship since the night of the lockdown, they felt safe and protected when they were around him. Blaine and Chase were relieved. It was showing in many aspects of their life. They were doing better in school and they were more chatty and interactive at home. Blaine and Chase were more open around them about their relationship. They thought it adorable when the girls pulled faces when they kissed, when his knee was starting to heal, Chase and Blaine began chasing the girls to join in a group hug, 'so they were all gross together.' These usually had the four in a giggling pile on the floor and White Fang barking at them until the girls assured him they were fine by stroking him. He was well trained so he never so much as nipped at Blaine or Chase when they were playing with the girls, he would just bark until assured of their safety.
One main issue Chase was currently facing at work was Brother Love and his church. Blaine's father had frequently been implicated in the murders of humans in the last couple of months, but a member of his congregation always seemed to step forward to take the blame. Said zombie would then never make it to the freezing process. The human population was nervous, Chase could feel it, every meeting he had with the acting mayor she brought it up. He assured her that he was working on it, however this was one mission he could not entrust to Major. The last time Major had stepped foot inside what Brother Love was calling his church, he almost didn't make it out. His inspector had been to some meetings recently, out of uniform and unofficially. Chase suspected he had been swayed by the preacher, as he received a report that the church was nothing to worry about. An opposite message to what he was hearing from Blaine, after his weekly lunch he was still being coerced into providing.
Chase was nervous about Brother Love for more than just this reason. Blaine told him he was being pressured to introduce his 'ward' he believed was the word his father had used. Chase and thankfully neither Blaine were keen on Angus meeting Marlee, or Kenzie for that matter. Neither of them were entirely sure how he found out about Marlee, Blaine certainly hadn't mentioned her, but he somehow had. The four were currently at The Scratching Post, it was closed and Blaine's staff knew what would happen if they opened their mouth and said anything about Chase Graves being there, with their boss. They had all worked out that there was more to their relationship than foster kids and play-dates. Wisely, they hadn't said anything.
The girls were behind the bar, putting bottles into fridges while Tanner put new bottles on the shelves. Blaine and Chase were in Blaine's office, Chase was leaning against the locked door, biting his lip to prevent the moans threatening to overpower him. His fingers tightened in Blaine's hair, his cock hitting the back of Blaine's throat. Chase swore under his breath as Blaine's finger brushed his prostate, his hips jutting forward, held down by Blaine's arm, keeping him braced against the door.
Chase's breath was coming in short pants as his climax built in his stomach, coiling like a spring that could go at any moment. "Blaine-" he whispered breathlessly, "I- fuck" he moaned as he came down Blaine's throat. Blaine swallowed around his cock, taking every last drop of Chase. Standing he kissed Chase, allowing his to taste himself as Chase used his hand to bring Blaine to his finish, moaning into his mouth. They chuckled as they shared more kisses against the door and made themselves more presentable. Chase was on a half day, taking some time to be with his partner and the girls. He'd returned from Fillmore-Graves 20 minutes previously and strode straight to the office, waving to the girls. He groaned as he felt his phone vibrate in his pocket. Blaine kissed his neck as he answered. "Graves," suddenly he held up a hand to Blaine and he stopped what he was doing as Chase became business Chase again. "Another one? Any casualties? On my way." He looked at Blaine apologetically, Blaine kissed him chastely and nodded.
This was the other main issue Chase had at work. There had been an increase of Molotov Cocktail attacks on zombies and their homes. This was the third this month alone. Blaine followed him out of the office and down the stairs. Chase kissed the girls and left. Tanner caught Blaine's eye and Blaine nodded. Zombies were on edge all over New Seattle. The attacks appeared random, Chase's investigators and the Police couldn't find a single pattern to the attacks.
Chase nodded to Clive as he arrived on the scene. A public bus where a Dead-Ender had thrown the cocktail through an open window at an older zombie couple. They hadn't survived. Neither had three humans sitting close by, one a small boy. A witness told them the child called the zombies Grandma and Grandpa. Chase found it a small comfort he didn't have to tell any family, then he felt guilty for the loss of the family.
Blaine had put the girls to bed by the time Chase arrived home. He was playing a gentle tune on the piano, White Fang curled up in the armchair like he used to. He didn't even sprint to the kitchen as Chase arrived, but he followed the sound with his eyes as Chase sat beside Blaine, laying his head on Blaine's shoulder. Blaine continued playing as Chase listened to him. When the piece was over he pressed a kiss to Chase's temple and they went upstairs hand in hand. Blaine held Chase as he told him about the latest attack and fell asleep to the slow beating of Blaine's heart.
A few days later Blaine and Chase were upstairs sharing a shower while the girls played in the yard with White Fang. It was Saturday and Chase had no work commitments for the weekend, he'd passed them onto Lilywhite, a zombie he could trust to oversee things. The girls were playing on the small grass area, playing fetch with the small dog. Around their wrists were alarm bracelets set to go off if they got wet. It was a safety feature Chase had thought of so the girls could play outside and be safer around the pool. Neither girl heard the lighter flicking behind the hedge on the other side of the yard so neither were prepared when a glass bottle was thrown and shattered on the decking under the hedges. The girls screamed as flame erupted and they ran towards the house, White Fang running ahead. As they ran Kenzie's foot missed the paving and she fell into the pool, sounding the alarm throughout the house.
Chase and Blaine's attention was captured by the alarm and they sprinted through the house in jeans and t-shirts, narrowly avoiding Marlee, running in the other direction. Blaine slowed her and instructed her to bring towels. Chase dove straight into the pool to where he could see Kenzie struggling to keep her head above the water. Blaine caught sight of the flames and took a fire extinguisher over, spraying the flames before they could spread beyond the decking. Chase lifted Kenzie out of the pool and pushed himself onto the side, turning her onto her side he firmly tapped her back until she coughed up water she had swallowed. Another bottle flew over the wall at the other end of the yard, igniting the grass. Making eye contact the men retreated inside, Kenzie in Chase's arms. Marlee held out towels she'd dragged from upstairs. Chase wrapped one around Kenzie, who trembled in his arms. "This way," he took Marlee's hand and lead her and Blaine to the bookshelf. White Fang followed at their heels. This house was designed by Fillmore-Graves and they had put in a secret passage way connecting the house to HQ. Closing the bookshelf behind them Chase lead them to a small bunker with an armoured car. To anyone else this may have seemed over the top but Chase's sister who had designed this escape route had clearly thought it necessary. He handed Kenzie to Blaine so he could drive and called ahead to Lilywhite at HQ.
"Lilywhite, send a squad to my house, 2 cocktails, over the garden boundaries. Kenzie took a tumble in the pool but no other casualties. Approaching in 3 minutes." He hung-up and shook his head to clear some of the drips from his face. They arrived, true to Chase's word, minutes later. Climbing out they were greeted by Lilywhite. "Status."
"Squad approaching, security feeds indicate they entered the house. Team will arrive in 45 seconds," he said checking his watch.
Chase took Kenzie back into his arms. "Take them alive," Chase said and nodded to Blaine to follow him, Marlee holding Blaine's hand tightly. He took Kenzie to get dried and changed, she had stopped trembling but remained silent. Using the shower-head he rinsed the chlorine from her hair. He asked his PA to bring some of the school gym uniform for her to wear. He changed also into his workout clothes from his locker. He dried her hair under the hand dryers as best he could and ran his fingers to rid it of the looser tangles before beginning to braid it. As he braided he noticed her shoulders begin to shake then he heard her begin to sob. She turned and climbed into his lap and he held her tightly. "You're OK," he soothed, "it's alright, I'm here," he whispered. She sobbed harder, gripping his sweatshirt. "You're safe sweetie," he added softly.
She nodded into his shirt as she calmed, soothed by his words. Kenzie let him finish her hair the crawled back into his lap and just hugged him tightly. He looked up as Blaine entered the room and placed a hand on his shoulder. "They want you for the debriefing," he said quietly. Chase nodded and pressed his lips to Kenzie's hair. Kenzie willingly transferred to Blaine and he took her to Chase's office where Marlee and White Fang were with one of Major's squad. She sat by his feet, colouring at the coffee table, not willing to move away. Marlee was equally silent. Blaine looked up as he heard the elevator go and Ravi stepped out. Blaine went out to greet him.
"Chase sent for me, wants me to check her over. Apparently, the medical team are on a training run." Blaine nodded and let Ravi into the office where he approached Kenzie who let him examine her. He asked to speak to Blaine outside. "Outwardly she's fine, but I think she's still in shock; which is quite understandable given what happened. She'll be fine, though."
"Thank you, I'll pass on the message to Chase when he gets back."
Chase sat in a boardroom listening to what had happened when the squad arrived at what used to be his house. Fire crews had doused the flames and the soldiers had brought in the two responsible. They were awaiting interrogation. Chase assigned Lilywhite to the interrogation and returned to his office, Kenzie had White Fang curled up beside her as she napped on the couch while Marlee coloured. Blaine filled him in on what Ravi had said. Chase stroked loose strands of hair from her face, concern etched on his. Blaine had called Don-E to fill him in and told him what needed doing at their business'.
Chase approached him as he hung up. "I know it's not ideal but I'd like you guys to stay with me and Marlee."
"Until we can find somewhere suitable, that would be great."
"Or," Blaine began. "Maybe until we can find somewhere bigger for us. All."
"Are you asking us to move in with you?"
"I was gonna ask soon but now seems like a good time," Blaine told him.
"Thank you," Chase said softly, resting his head on Blaine's shoulder. "We can get out of here soon, I just have to sign some paperwork." One of his employees appeared in the doorway. He nodded to her, excused himself from Blaine and followed back to the meeting room.
"We want you to release a statement, sooner rather than later Chase," Hobbs told him. "Your house was destroyed, the zombies in Seattle need to know this is being dealt with. They're all scared." Chase sighed. He knew Hobbs was right.
"As soon as we know more, where are we with the interrogation?"
"They're refusing to speak, we used facial recognition to get their IDs. What should we do with them sir?"
"Call Ms Charles. See what she and the mayor think. Apologies, I'm not quite myself right now. Can we do PR tomorrow?" The team accepted and Chase signed what he needed to about the house and insurance.
When he returned to his office Blaine was sat on the couch with the girls. Blaine looked up, the girls were asleep at his sides. He smiled and Chase lifted Kenzie, "ready to go?" Blaine nodded and picked up Marlee, following out to a company car with a driver who took them to Blaine's place. They'd been at Fillmore-Graves most of the day. None of them had eaten so Blaine found out some brain tubes from the fridge. They ate in silence, the girls barely awake. Putting the girls to bed early they embraced in the hallway. Today was the closest either of them had ever felt to actually dying in the last year, which was really saying something in Chase's case.
Blaine lead him to their room, fished out the t-shirt Chase normally slept in when he stayed over and changed himself for bed. No sooner had Blaine pulled the cord on his bedside lamp did they hear 2 sets of feet pattering against the floors and the door open, flooding the room with light. The question on the girls' faces was plain and Blaine simply nodded. Kenzie and Marlee climbed between Blaine and Chase who kissed them goodnight once more. To top it off White Fang leapt into the space between their legs to curl up at the foot of the bed.
The next morning Chase answered his phone softly, trying not to wake Blaine or the girls. It was Hobbs. They wanted him in to make a statement. Now. He slipped out of bed, Blaine lifted his head but Chase pecked his lips and whispered for him to go back to sleep. Blaine replied for him to take his car and where his keys were before dozing off again.
Chase arrived at Fillmore-Graves and was swept away to his office. It was 5am and the press had been invited to a statement at 10. Chase failed to see why he was in so early but wasn't feeling up to an argument about it. He listened to the PR crew and read through the statement they had approved. It had the usual peace pleading he didn't personally care for, but he read it through and agreed to read it.
He refused a top-up of his spray-tan but sat for a make-up artist who insisted on making it look like he had gotten some sleep the night before. Before he knew it, Chase was being prepped for the camera and made to change into a uniform for the occasion. Soon he was in front of the camera, sat behind his desk and preparing to read the PR.
"Citizens of New Seattle, yesterday a zombie residence was destroyed by the Dead-Enders a house was burned to the ground. My residence. A squadron of armed soldiers managed to detain the ones responsible, these are their faces. Zombies, do not be afraid, they can attack us and attempt to break us, but we are citizens of New Seattle just as they are and we will not be terrorized. The two will be taken care of in a manner best befitting their crimes. A manner that has yet to be decided. But know this. This behaviour will not be tolerated. From anyone. Zombie or human." The feed cut out. Chase sighed, he'd gone slightly off script but he didn't care. He'd meant what he said. Every word.
Blaine had caught the broadcast on the news has he yelled for the girls to get ready to go. He was needed for brain approvals at Romero's. He silenced to watch the broadcast, smiling at Chase's words. When they arrived at Romero's, Blaine sent the two girls in ahead of him. Turning he called out, "alright dad, come out," he watched as his father appeared from the shadows. "For the thousandth time, no, it isn't happening."
"After everything I've done for you?"
"Everything you've done for me?" Blaine laughed, "you mean ignoring me my entire life? Letting me get abused by my nanny? You've done nothing for me, dad, nothing. Grandpa did everything for me, he taught me everything I know and that I'm proud of. And no, I won't see you for lunch tomorrow." Blaine ended closing and locking the door behind him. He had been trying to put distance between himself and his father. Something his father was resisting, but he wasn't willing to give up on.