Thought I'd give the team a case to work on :)
Title: Fragile Balance
Author: Cindy Ryan
Pairings: Terry/Don, Amita/Charlie
Timeline: AU season two
Colby stared at Terry in shock as they sat in the bullpen. Bright late morning sun streamed in.
He shouldn't really be surprised by her news but he was.
"You're leaving?"Granger repeated. "We're already short with David out."
Terry nodded grimly. "I know, but this opportunity with the ATF came up and I couldn't pass it by."
Colby looked around before lowering his voice and leaning forward. "Is this because of Don?"
"Not in the way you think."Terry replied quietly. "He wasn't happy, but he understood. It's too complicated to be partners and be romantically involved."
"Yeah, I guess."Colby acknowledged.
Colby had seen how scared Don had been in Vegas. When they didn't know if they'd be able to free Terry from the poison device. It was the most unhinged Colby had ever seen his boss. He wasn't sure how he'd react if someone he put away came after his family. It was a risk that came with the job but it was a difficult one to endure.
Terry looked down at her hands which were folded in her lap."They haven't made a decision yet on my actions in Vegas. If I loose my security clearance the transfer will be a moot point."
"You technically didn't disobey a direct order."Granger pointed out.
Terry shook her head ruefully. "Just didn't have authorization. I'm surprised you're speaking to me at all."
"It bothered me that you didn't trust me."Colby confirmed remembering that last conversation he had with Terry before she left.
"It wasn't about trust."Terry replied as she met Colby's gaze. "It was about protecting Don. I'd knew you'd do that."
Colby picked up a pen and absently rolled it between his fingers. "Could've done it better if you'd let me in."
"Would you have let me go?"Terry asked.
"Alone? Hell no."Colby stated. "Don would've killed me if I let you go. I know you thought it was the right thing to do, but it was also a lot of wrong."
Lake nodded. "I know, but I didn't see any other way that this would end without Don dying or being in jail. I know I only have a short time left here but are we okay?"
After a moment Colby smiled and nodded. "Yeah, we're good."
Charlie watched Amita sleep. After a dose of pain meds she'd fallen asleep on the sofa. After their talk Charlie had tried to get her to go upstairs. Amita had insisted she was fine on the sofa. It was closer to the kitchen.
So Charlie had kept Amita company while she slept. He sat in a blue wingbacked armchair by the window. He knew he should go, that she was fine. For some reason part of him couldn't leave just yet.
Forgiveness was such a powerful thing. He was so thankful to still have Amita in his life. Most people dropped into her situation wouldn't be as strong. The fact that Amita still wanted to help Don's team spoke volumes as to the type of person she was.
Rising to his feet Charlie walked to the sofa. He tucked the bright colored quilt tighter around Amita's shoulders. On impulse Charlie placed a gentle kiss on her forehead before pulling back.
"I'll be back soon."Charlie promised.
He took the spare key Amita had given him earlier and stepped outside locking the house behind him.
The mid afternoon sun beat down over the exclusive gated neighborhood in Beverly Hills. Don shook his head sadly as he examined the dead body on the front lawn. Short handed or not crimes still had to be solved.
The victim was a young nanny; Melinda Barnes, twenty-one originally from Saint Paul, Minnesota She was Caucasian, five foot five, hundred and twenty pounds with long dark brown hair that had been in a braid. The glasses she had worn had been knocked off by the impact of the bullet and rested on the grass a few feet away. She'd been shot in the chest.
The nanny had died a hero. Trying to protect her charge; a three year old blond boy named Daniel. The boy had been kidnapped; ripped from his nanny's arms in broad daylight in one of the safest neighborhoods in Los Angeles.
Or it used to be.
Don stood and turned to the two story adobe style mansion that rested just off the brick circle driveway. The rest of the house staff stood huddled on the large porch. Colby excused himself from the staff and joined Don at the mid section of the circular drive.
As the younger agent took out a small notepad Don studied his friend. There were dark circles under Colby's eyes causing Don to wonder when the last solid sleep Colby had gotten. After this case Don made a mental note to suggest that Colby take some vacation time.
"Hey,"Granger greeted."Good thing about the rich everything's on camera. There are cameras on the main entrance to the neighborhood and the roofs of each house."
Don raised an eyebrow. "No private security?"
Colby shrugged. "Didn't think they needed it. This is Beverly Hills. I've got the video from the main gate being sent to our office as we speak. The staff was inside when the murder/kidnapping occurred. Most have been with the family for over ten years. The parents are in Switzerland. The mother is Linda St. Clair successful television producer. Father is a wealthy banker..."
The wife's name clicked for Don and he remembered hearing the husband's name in the news. Several hostile takeovers of businesses in the last two years.
"Peter Hudson."Eppes finished gravely."Last company he took over he scuttled and fired everyone selling it and making double what he bought it for."
"That creates a lot of enemies."Colby replied with a nod.
Don shook his head."A driveby shooting and snatch and grab in broad daylight in a gated community? Doesn't fit. That kind of thing takes inside access and a ton of planning."
"If you're laid off you have time."Colby argued.
Don nodded. "Has to be a connection to the staff or one of the neighbors. I'll bring in more agents to help you interview. Terry's on light duty until we know the result of the hearings so I'll have her run down leads that way."
Colby glanced sadly at the victim. "I hate cases with a kid this young."
"So do I."Don agreed. "We'll find him. We need to have the parents back here."
"I'll get a number from the staff."Colby stated. "I did read that Hudson has the fastest, top of the line private jet."
"Of course he does."Don replied sarcastically. "Hopefully he'll care enough about his son to get home quickly. I have a feeling these kidnappers aren't going to give us much of a clock."
