Matt and Emily didn't go into work the next two days, but continued hoping, waiting, and trying to find their young daughter. The cops diligently studied everything they'd collected, increased the reward, interrogated everyone they could think of, and still they were no closer to finding Hanna. Not a single citing on the tipline could be verified as legtimate, and it began to look more and more like Hanna was dead.

News anchors and talk shows hosts speculated on the case, commenting on just how different it was from usual ones. It was interesting, they insisted, because the parents were some quiet suburban family not knowing a a child rapist lived down the street, they were poor inner-city folks whose apartment was in the middle of a warzone, and they weren't weathly or politicans whose child might be a target. They were FBI agents, unmarried still, crisis negotiators, who'd spoken to kidnappers on the phone, and saved other people's children.

They were public servants, who'd made headlines for the good work they'd done, for being the best at what they did. They couldn't resist bringing up the past, and parading the Tobin Jensen fiasco from years ago. This wasn't the first time the mother of the child had been a target, and of course this launched speculation as to if they should have arranged special security measures to protect Hanna. But most unnerving seemed to be was that they were FBI, they carried guns and badges, and protected everyone else, but they couldn't protect what was most precious to them.

Then Saturday, Hanna's birthday, came and went without the planned party, and still with silence from the kidnapper. Matt and Emily weren't sleeping, and barely eating, understandable, but still worrisome for their friends. The foursome was constantly around, trying to help, trying to keep them from falling apart. Especially Emily, who walked around with her arms wrapped around her stomach, as if her missing child had left an ache in her womb.

The negotiators didn't go to work the following Monday or Tuesday either. They were unable to think of anything but their missing daughter, and so in no shape to negotiate with anyone. The national news evern carried the little girls picture, both on TV, and widely cicrulated papers. The press wasn't yet tired of the case, or tired of speculating about Hanna's fate. Tuesday night found the six friends gathered together, feeling completely run out of options, and unable to contemplate that sometime during this night, it would be exactly one week since Hanna was taken.

"That was Detective Henley, they want us to come back in for questioning tomorrow. I told them we'd be there first thing in the morning." Matt turned to Emily, hanging up the phone.

"Of course. Do they have a lead?" That was more than Emily had said all week.

"He said it was just routine follow-up." Matt shrugged, and resumed his place beside her. They'd barely been out of each other's presence all week, they were drawing strength from each other.

"You don't think they're going to stop investigating, do you?" Emily was now sitting straight up, staring at him alarmed.

"They can't. She's still out there." Emily studied him, saying with her eyes what they both knew to be true. They could stop, it had been a week, the detectives have other cases.

"Uh guys, come over here," Lia waved them over to the window she'd been near, staring into the dark LA night.

All five of her companions came over to either of the two windows in the living room, and looked out. They saw people, a huge mass of at least a hundred, walking toward their apartment complex, with what appeared to be lights in their hands. They were too high up to see much, but they did see a news van pull up and start shooting. Frank turned on the corresponding channel, and they all turned to the TV, just as the six o'clock news was interrupted by the breaking story.

"Thanks Kathy. Well, I'm here outside the apartment building where little Hanna Flannery was abducted from her bedroom. For those of you who haven't heard, Hanna, who just turned two this past Saturday, was stolen from her crib eigth stories up a week ago tonight. Police are still looking for her, but have no promising leads so far as we know.

Tonight, however, it looks as if the neighborhood has come out to support Hanna's parents, Matt Flannery and Emily Lehman on this difficult night. I have to tell you, Kathy, there must be at least a hundred people out here, all with candles and pictures of Hanna. They've stopped outside the building, and as you can see are bowing their heads, we assume in prayer." The on camera reporter annouced, while they cut to footage of the crowd, who held the posters of Hanna in their hands.

"That's wonderful Tony, all those people going out there. Tell me though, do you see Hanna's parents?" The screen split momentarily, so the anchor could comment.

"No, not yet. They've been a little camera shy this past week, but who could blame them after this ordeal? Oh, wait someone is coming out of the building. Yes, it seems Matt Flannery and Emily Lehman, little Hanna Flannery's parents, for those of you just tuning in, have stepped outside to observe this vigil..."

Matt walked out first, Emily behind him, trying to keep her face away from the camera. Other news vans were pulling up as they walked up, hurrying to get their camera's rolling. Matt and Emily just watched, overwhelmed by these people who'd come to pray for their baby girl. Their four friends came out and stood behind them, moved themselves, by the impromptu vigil. A young girl walked silently up to Matt and Emily and handed them each a candle, before returning to the crowd. A few other people copied her, delivering candles to Cheryl, Frank, Lia, and Duff.

As if by some unseen que, the sixlet bowed their heads toward the candle flames, begining the next prayer. Matt and Emily weren't sure what they believed or if they did, but nevertheless, they whispered words inside their heads of hope for their little girl. Emily leaned heavily into Matt, who held his arm around the only thing holding him together at that point.

They all stayed out a while longer, accepting the kindness of these strangers, before thanking them for caring about Hanna, and retreating inside, away from the cameras and reporters that had taken to chasing them over the last week. After hugs and promises that they'd call when they finished with the police, Matt and Emily said goodbye to their friends. The whole week had been painful and emotionally draining, soul draining really, and the chances of finding Hanna alive had dropped to just below slim, and just above none.

Emily lay that night with Matt curled tightly around her body, awake and alert, staring off into space. Her hand drifted to her abdomen, resting over her womb, where she'd held Hanna safe and protected for nine months. A mother knows when her child is missing, she feels it, like a pit of ache in the very spot the child came into being. Any child she births is forever a part of her, in more than an emotional connection.

Matt laid his hand on top of hers, and drew her closer. He knew what she'd been feeling all week, knew Hanna's kidnapping was affecting her differently. He could sense it in her, like any loving mate can sense the subtle changes in his companion. For Matt, the pain was just as primative--he was supposed to protect his daughter--he'd failed. And, now he wanted to find who ever took her, and perform unspeakable cruelties on him or her.


So sorry this ones so short, the rest will be longer, I promise! Thanks for reading, and a big thank you to my reviewers!