A/N-Thanks for all the faves and follows and of course I hope everyone continues to enjoy the story. Please read, review and enjoy.

Case Closed?

On the way back to the Dal Riata Mikhail tells Kenzi a story of the stupidity of a young man trying to prove his worth to his lady love before he even told her he loved or even liked her. Once they reach the pub she cajoles him into going into the Dal with her to collect their pay from Trick. She offers to buy him a round of vodka. 'Top shelf', she entices. Although still obviously leery about going in he finally agrees. Although still claiming not to want to drink, he insists that she stop him after only one. Kenzi agrees and decides on only one drink as well. Trick is waiting for her, he notices the older much taller man standing at her shoulder, but says nothing as the pair trailed behind him to his cellar apartment. He went to his desk and picked up a manila envelope lying there. As he turned with it in his hand he said, "Hale called. He said you broke the case. The Morrigan will have covered herself of course, but I imagine having the police and the Ash looking into it seriously and that closely to her will make her back down. So problem solved." He passed the envelope to Kenzi. "Thanks Trickster glad we could help." She said "Though we still don't know what she was after." "Well Hale and Dyson…" Trick began and noticed that Kenzi rolled her eyes and made an irritated sound at the mention of the shifters name, "said they couldn't have done it without you." "Tell Hale I said thanks but he needs to quit covering for Dyson. Anyway since I'm cashed up, I think we'll be having a shot of your top shelf vodka, please Trick." "Coming right up." said the bartender amiably.

About the time they got back upstairs, Kenzi noticed that macaroni and cheese was on the menu boards for tonight. Excitedly tells Mikhail, "You have got to try this." Trick offers them both a glass of vodka and takes their food order, then the bartender, turns to help another customer. The pair toasts and drinks, slamming their glasses down on the bar at the same time. They then stun Trick by ordering tea to go with their meal Trick asks Kenzi in a serious tone, "Are you feeling well?" Kenzi says, "Yeah, I'm great Trickster." She gives him a reassuring smile. Before he turns away he asks her if she has heard from Bo lately. Kenzi actually has to think about how long it has been since has seen her succubus bestie. Trick finds that to be the most telling thing of all about the visit.

Fleur was late again so Annie was helping to serve. When she bought Kenzi and Mikhail their food she recognizes him. "Misha you old dog you. What are you doing here?"

"How are you little mother? It is good to see you." Mikhail feels Kenzi stiffen beside him and once he has promised to catch up with the fae woman later, he turns to Kenzi who hasn't stopped eating the macaroni and cheese since it was served. Mikhail studied her and what he saw was a young human who had been kicked so many times, she expected it, didn't even finch when the blow fell. Almost as if she felt she deserved it somehow.

"Czarina may we speak privately at your home. Please." It was the please that made her look up and meet his odd colored eyes, there was only concern, affection, and a small amount of shame. The affection and concern eased her soul, it was the shame she identified with though. She nodded her head once and said, "Sure, eat your food first, this mac and cheese is never to be wasted." Mikhail nodded as he sampled the food. He was only slightly calmer though because Kenzi had not relaxed either, but at least she was willing to listen. He found all the food, including the macaroni and cheese excellent and said so.

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Back at the cop station Hale is berating Dyson as they wait for analysis of the chemical on the cloth. He asks him why he went off on Kenzi. Dyson looks around to make sure no human co-workers are around before responding, "She smelled of fae, another shifter,"

"Dyson," Hale replied, "she's been at the Dal, hello fae central."

"No, that's not it!" Realizing he was yelling Dyson looked around again. A few of their co-workers looked up, but soon became focused on their own work again Dyson lowered his voice again and said, "Trick said Kenzi admitted that Bo hasn't been home in weeks. He even admitted she came in with a fae earlier tonight that he didn't know. Hale, Trick knows everyone."

"So, Kenzi found herself a fae sugar daddy." Hale said shrugging.

"According to Trick this guy looked homeless, and if he is her "Lover" Dyson growled the word, "Why wouldn't she have told one of us?

Hale looked shamefaced as he replied, "We haven't exactly been there for her man, I've had family issues. Bo's been wrapped up in her lady doctor. Tricks working on the Dal and you…You'd rather bite her head off than look at her." "No!" he denied before recalling his behavior the last several weeks. He turned away paced a few steps running his fingers through his hair then turned and paced back before saying in a low, vehement tone, "She's mine."

"No!"Hale denied just as vehemently, "you told her, Bo, me, anyone who would listen that the only reason you bit her was to keep the Ash from killing her. You said she was a weak, pathetic, useless human. You said she interferes in fae business…"

"I know what I said!" Dyson roared then looked around sheepishly. Every head in the station was turned in their direction, including their lieutenants,

Hale grabs him by the shoulder and drags him outside, leaving the file open on the desk with Kenzi's name and address on the top page. Another fae comes by to get a drink of water and glances down at the page on top of the file. Calls to the lieutenant he's taking his break, heads out to his car and makes a call to the Morrigan.

Meanwhile behind the station house Hale has actually shoved Dyson into the trashcans and said angrily, "She's right you are an asshat." Dyson looks up at Hale in shock as the Siren continues to rant. "Kenzi is bright, and funny and sweet, and kind. She is strong, generous, beautiful, and vulnerable and she has saved your heart, she has saved your life, you treat her like you can't stand to be near her and…"

"Because she's human, she could be killed by another fae just to prove a point. I could kill her if I lose control. She will grow old and die in a moment of our life span. We can never have children, or a marriage, or a life…" Dyson argued bitterly.

"But you want to…" Hale said softly, "because you love her." He said in guilty realization as he reached down to help his partner up.

Dyson wraps his hand around Hale's forearm, warrior to warrior. The wolf tried to play off the observation by saying, "You do too." Hale wouldn't let him go and knew it was because his friends deserved to be happy, when he said firmly, "I do, but I'm not in love with her, You are, and I'm pretty sure she's in love with you too, and I'm definitely sure if you don't stop being a cretin, tell her how you feel, you're going to regret it for the rest of your life. That's a really long time to live with regrets, my friend."

Dyson hedges, "The other shifter…"

"You don't know and you won't know unless you ask. Which means you actually have to stop being jerk and talk to the girl." said the fae Siren.

"And tell her what Hale? That I love her and that everything will be fluffy hearts and roses after how I've treated her the past few weeks?"

"Wolf man this is Kenzi, she has lived on the streets, and she's a lot tougher than you give her credit for." Hale responded sharply.

Dyson looks doubtfully at his partner then says, "I'll...I'm gonna take the rest of the day off. Cover for me?"

Hale agrees as Dyson walks off toward the parking area, not seeing the fae cop in the car, watching him.

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The Morrigan was angry. Really, Vex was starting to think that was her permanent mood, well unless someone was bleeding anyway. Khef the tiger shifter had just reported some interesting news from one of their 'informants'. A light fae source that had developed a decidedly dark taste in his sexual preferences. Vex had provided the source of information and just happened to be handy when it paid off this time. He listened in as Khef informed the Morrigan that it was the unaligned succubus' little human who had been the one to provide the evidence that had implicated the Morrigan in the kidnappings at the Dal. So Vex and the rest of the court, were a captive audience to the Morrigan ranting about how unfair it all was. After all to leave would be to indicate you found the Morrigan boring to listen too, the ensuing results were predictable, bloody and usually permanent.

Really when she had heard about the dropping of her colors by the stupid underling she would have killed him again, if she hadn't already done so. Luckily she always had herself covered for every contingency.

However, the fact that it was a human who had turned her in was more than annoying. The fact that the Ash and his paid police lackeys actually believed the words of a pathetic human over her the Morrigan was just insulting, really. The fact that the Morrigan lied through her teeth, pretty much any time she opened her mouth had absolutely nothing to do with it by her way of thinking. It was the principle of the thing. Such an insult could not be borne, the human must pay. She ordered several of her underfae to go to the succubus home and kill the human and anyone with her. While they were at it why hadn't they found her prisoner, she still wanted him back and the relics she was sure he had available to him. She wanted the power he possessed, no matter what. The Morrigan ordered the five underfae from her presence as she continued to rant. Vex barely contained his sigh of frustration and had a fleeting thought of concern for the little human. She had been an entertaining little creature, Vex even detected a hint of growing affection for her within himself. He hoped the succubus would be able to protect her and if not, well humans were very fragile things, Vex would miss her.

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Trick was wiping down the bar, drying glasses, keeping busy in between customers. Today was Annie's shopping day. She was out buying groceries for the rest of the week. Business had been a little slow today so when the five dark underfae entered the bar, at first all Trick thought was that business was picking up. Fortunately underfae as a whole were sometimes a less than bright lot. As he took their drink orders he overheard them talking about just coming from an audience with the Morrigan. He maintained the poker face he was famous for as he wondered if the Morrigan knew that she had a few new titles from her underlings of late.

Then he overheard the word succubus and his ears perked up, anything involving the Morrigan and his granddaughter in the same breath couldn't be good. He listened to their grumblings and mutterings with increasing frustration until one of them called him over and asked what was on the menu. He informed the underfae that the cook was out shopping but he could provide them with left over stew and sandwiches from lunch, which they readily accepted. He sighed quietly in relief, anything to keep them talking so that he might learn more about why the Morrigan might be interested in Bo. Over the next hour Trick was such an attentive host, Annie would have called it fawning if she were there. He also found out more about the Morrigan's suspected mating habits than he ever wanted to know. More importantly he discovered that it wasn't Bo they were actually after but Kenzi.

The underlings were speculating on who had informed the Morrigan that it was Kenzi who had found the connection between the kidnappings outside the Dal and the Morrigan. The resulting embarrassment for the Morrigan was to be avenged swiftly by this group of underfae. Trick had to wait for the group of minions to leave before he could make the call to Hale and Dyson. Dyson didn't answer, and the Blood King grunted in frustration as he tried Hale. When the Siren answered, Trick told him of the overheard conversation and the impending attack on the Clubhouse and his fears for their human friend and potentially his granddaughter as well. Hale promised to round up Dyson and head over to the girls place as quickly as he could before hanging up.