OoO (Josie) OoO

"Aye Josalynn you're getting yourself in a cluster-fuck aren't you?"

"Look Connor you need Sokolov dead as much as I want him gone and frankly you're the last fucking lad I want to be trusting."

*sigh* "Fair enough. So California huh?"

"Yes our plane lands at 2pm pdt. Declan and I are going straight to Riker's family to sort all this out and calm them down."

"A'ight I'll be waiting at the Hampton inn."

"Aye. T'anks Connor, bye."

"Aye bye McGrath."

I hung up the phone with a sigh of relief.

"So he's in," asked Declan walking into the living room and plopping down next to me on the couch.

"Aye *sigh* he's in. He'll be set up at a hotel in LA."

"Do the others know you're coming?"

"No. I don't even know if they know I'm alive."

"So shock factor huh? You sure that's the best?"

"You have a better idea? You want me to face time them or fucking Skype them?"

*sigh* "Ok I guess you're right. So noon flight?"

"Aye noon flight. *sigh* I need to pack."

"Don't forget your alias passport."

"Fuck. Yeah ok. What the hell was Milo thinking giving me the name Annika Holtman? Am I a fucking floozy milk maid now?"

"Haha I don't know love but we got 4 hours before our flight. I'm going to my place for my things and I'll be back in about 3 hours yeah?"

"Aye see you then Declan."

"Bye Annika," Declan laughed fleeing out the door before the pillow I had thrown had a chance to make contact with his head.

Instead the pillow smacked the door and slumped to the floor. Groaning quietly I pulled myself off the couch and trudged to my bedroom.

Pulling two large suit cases from my closet I placed them on the bed and flipped the lids open. I turned to my dresser for clothes only to stop short upon seeing my reflection. After two years of keeping a low profile my auburn hair had grown well past my waist and darkened exponentially. No longer were my ends a honey blonde like two years ago. Sighing I decided a cut was in my immediate future. I quickly grabbed a few arm full of clothes tossing them into my suitcases along with any other items I may need before I grabbed my keys and jacket and walked out the door.

An hour later I was returning home running my hands through my now short locks. I figured it was better to remove any recognizable features in case the others didn't know I was alive. My auburn hair was now a tri-color of blondes and browns and barely reaching the nape of my neck in a short and choppy pixie cut with side bangs.

Running my hands through my hair one last time I quickly went over what I had packed earlier as I waited for Declan's return. I placed my cases by the door before sitting on my arm chair closest to the door. After a few minutes my phone dinged with a text.

"Lover boy got your letter but not before he tried being all macho"-Milo.

I rolled my eyes and smiled.

"Thank you. Is he ok?"-Josie

"Blondie is fine. That Russian ass hat Mikhail has him set up like the 4 fucking seasons here. Aside from not being let outside. As a matter of fact guitar hero here looks kinda pasty you sure you want to stick with him ;)"

"Yes I'm sure jackass. We'll be in California soon. Our flight is leaving in an hour"-Josie.

And as if on cue Declan stepped through the door.

"Ready Annika," he asked desperately trying not to crack a smile.

"Ugh fuck you," I snapped back smiling despite the annoyance.

"Ah c'mon now love, it's not that bad of a name...Why'd you cut your hair?"

I involuntarily reached for the hair at the nape if my neck while diverting my eyes to the floor.

"Figured it looked more of what Annika would wear," I deadpanned failing at cracking a dumb joke.

Declan knelt in front of me concern filled eyes peered back at me.

"Are you afraid the old you would be too much for the others to bare?"

Admitting defeat I slowly nodded back.

"What if they're all mad at me for what I did? Or better yet glad I'm gone?"

"Nonsense Josalynn. No one on this planet would be dumb enough to think they're better off ok? Now c'mon, we have a pretty boy to save."

OoO (Riker) OoO

I'm not sure how long I sat in that dining room staring at that blue envelope but I do know my face hurts from smiling. I finally managed to return to my room before revealing the contents is the baby blue paper.

Suddenly nervous my hands trembled as I tore at the seal. The fruity flowery scent of Josie wafted out from the card inside. Smiling uncontrollably taking in the familiar scent I pulled the card from it's containment.

"I promised you only until forever réalta rac and I don't intend to break that promise. I'm coming for you and you will be safe once again just hold onto your hope Love. 115.7270° E -J ."

I stared at the letter for awhile trying to remember why that number would be important when it registered, the last letter contained numbers too. I reached for my wallet only to remember Mikhail has it along with the two other notes from Josie.

"Shit," I groaned frustrated falling back on the bed, "what was that number?"

*Knock Knock Knock*

I scrambled of the bed hurrying to hide the note and envelope. I darted around the room like a moron before finally settling on hiding the note in the most cliché spot known to man, under the mattress.

I groaned at my stupidity before walking to the door and opening it.

"Hey Blondie, you alright? You look a little flushed," the dark brunette smirked at me.

I rolled my eyes before turning away and sitting back on my bed.

"I thought you were one of those goons," I explained watching Milo close the door behind him.

"Ah don't want to lose your little love note huh?"

"Shut the fuck up," I laughed back running my hands through my hair and down my face, "so how much longer are we stuck here?"

*sigh* "Well Josie is flying into the states soon but she wants some leverage against Mikhail first. So it won't be tomorrow just sit tight and relax. Once she has her leverage it will all go down fairly quickly."

"Ok. Do...do you know where she's been?"

"Nope sorry."

"Yeah ok."

OoO (Josie) OoO

I'll never get use to long ass flights. A fucking 19 hour flight, are you kidding me? But that's not the worst part unfortunately. We just landed at LAX and instead of heading to the band house like originally planned I just received an email notifying me of Mikhail's son Stepan's whereabouts.

"So you're flying to Boston now," Declan asked retrieving our luggage of the carousel.

"Ugh yes. Fucking weasel is hiding out in a townhouse."

"You going to need help?"

"Nah, I have it covered. Just go to Connor and I'll be back as soon as possible. Maybe a few days."

*sigh* "Alright love be safe," Declan kissed me on the cheek before taking one of my suitcases to the car rental outlet.

I grabbed my other suitcase and made my way to purchase a ticket for the next flight to Boston. 'Fan-fucking-tastic. Five and a half more hours in a bloody flying tin can.'

OoO (11:30pm) OoO

I'm fucking exhausted. Over twenty four hours in the air plus the hour wait at LAX for my Boston flight. I'm so annoyed right now I probably wouldn't hesitate to kill Stepan on sight. 'Fucking little vulture hiding in one of daddy's houses like the little bitch he is.' I hurried over to the car rental outlet for a car before calling my alliance here in Boston.

30 minutes later I was pulling up in front of a Victorian style house on the upper east side of Boston. I parked the car and stepped around the front to walk up the flagstone walkway. I knocked on the blue front door and was greeted by a familiar face.

"McGrath. Been a long time."

"Aye Vince it has."

Vince smiled widely before wrapping me up in a hug.

"Gah Vince you're crushing me," I choked out against his death grip.

"Shit. Sorry Josie or I mean whatever you're going as now."

"Ugh, it's Annika."

"Ha! Where's the long skirt and braids? Wait do the Dutch wear those fucking wooden shoes umm...clogs! That's it. Where's your clogs?"

"Oh *vaffanculo asshole," I laughed smacking Vince in the chest.

"You know there's something oddly arousing hearing an Irish woman curse in Italian. You should do it more often doll."

"Get your rocks off somewhere else Vin. We have business to worry about now."

"Right. So is this the last nail in the Russian coffin so to speak."

"Gah I hope so. I'm getting too old for this shit."

"Well on a more serious note Jos. I know you got the man that took my crew and your sister out. And I just wanted to say thanks. That bastard had it coming for a long time."

"Aye well he could've been taken care of a long time ago if I wasn't so stubborn and hell bent on being the one to end his life."

"Hey no one blames you. Trust me, we all get it and besides it wouldn't have seemed right if you weren't the one to end him."

I smiled weakly at Vince knowing how much he wanted to go after Valerik avenge our crews' deaths, but I refused to say who it was. Declaring that Russian prick would die by my hands only.

Vince smiled reassuringly before clapping me on the back, "Right so guns, yes?"

OoO OoO OoO

A/N: I don't know what the deal is but I can apparently only log in to upload a chapter at certain times of the day. So sorry for that

*vaffanculo- fuck off

Again I apologize if any words are translated wrong