Just In Case File: 001 - Fangs For the Memories

Summary: Justin Russo; brother, private eye, and family wizard. Welcome to his hell.

Rating: T for language and adult situation.

Disclaimer: I own nothing.

A/N: Thank you to all that reviewed. I know it may seem like such a long time for the characters to get from point-A to point-B, but much of the build-up will also set the foundation for any future cases (which I can promise you a second one). Be patient with me, all will be revealed! R&R and most importantly; ENJOY!

~~*~~

Luckily I wasn't holding onto glass, because I already felt the force of my power when he had asked me again, "So have you, Justin? Summoned dad's spirit?"

Alex had numbly gotten up from her seat. From the corner of my eye, I watched her start pacing, while nervously caressing the diamond on her choker (a habit she's picked up lately when things worry her too much).

I had heard Max's question. I wasn't planning on ignoring it or changing the subject.

But damn if it didn't put me on edge.

See, here's the thing; unlike other worlds, when someone with magic in their blood, dormant or otherwise, dies, their spirit are more likely to communicate from the thereafter. With my father, former wizard that he was, and regardless of how he died, I should have been able to summon his ghost.

But I can't.

Huh. Now I'm reminded why I don't see Max as often.

Because this is where the rift between Max and I have lived for nearly four years now; because I can't summon dad, Max believes he's still alive.

I don't.

I can't.

I want to…

God knows what I wouldn't give to have my father again. For him to smile. For him to laugh. For him to tell me that I'm a good brother to my siblings and give me a proud hug just one more time…

But I can't. I can't afford to hope that our father is still alive, contrary to all the evidence pointing to his death.

"Don't start this again, Max." I warned, my eyes still on Alex.

Yet another reason why I can't afford to hope; because of our sister. Of the three of us, dad's death took the worst toll on Alex. She believed that if she hadn't been so stupid, breaking all those rules, getting arrested, dad wouldn't have resorted to killing himself and possibly taking mom with him. The reason for mom's icy entrapment was all conspiracy and circumstantial, but regardless Alex still felt the guilt of all of it.

I watched her pacing. Her thumb stroking the diamond, causing it to glisten.

"But Justin, I had talked to this guy, Evan, who's a newbie ghost whisperer and…"

I closed my eyes, "Max, don't." I could feel my fists clench. The power within me playing devil's advocate.

"… he insisted that it's been proven that most ghosts, especially suicides, are just begging to be heard. That there's a slim, a slim!, percentage of ghosts that never reach out to this side of the--"

He never got the chance to finish.

Alex screamed as I shot out of my seat. My right hand was glowing red as it shot a bolt of electricity across the room, shattering his window.

"Enough." I thundered at Max, who was just staring at me as calmly as I was him.

His voice was even, "You better magically fix that window because I'm not paying for your temper tantrum."

"This coming from the child that can't accept the truth."

I know. Talk about being childish. But provoking siblings run deep in my blood.

Max slowly got up from his seat, removing his glasses, and met me face-to-face. "He's alive, Justin. I can feel it. And I bet you can too if you managed to get that cold heart out of your ass long enough to feel it."

"I may have a cold heart, bro, but at least my heart can accept cold reality and move on."

He rolled his eyes, "I've moved on. You? Who's still hovering around us like the big protector that he doesn't need to be anymore? Oh, I'm sorry. By 'us' I meant 'Alex,' because goodness knows you can't go a minute without leaving her side."

You ever had that feeling? You know. That dread. That tight sinking feeling that you're getting way too deep into territory you know you'll end up drowning in?

"What're you suggesting, Max?"

Something flashed in his eyes. Something that screamed at me, dared at me to challenge him. "I don't know, bro. What am I suggesting?"

I could feel a darkness pulling me further under. I knew my hands were still crackling with a power that could explode any second. I don't want to go there. I know I can control this. I know I can… I just need…

"Stop it!" Alex shrieked, shattering the glass bubble Max and I seemed to have enveloped ourselves in.

Her eyes were glassy. She was breathing heavily, as if about to have a panic attack. "Stop it! Both of you! What're you doing?! We can't keep on doing this every time we're together!"

Both Max and I glanced back at each other, and for a moment that alpha male pride sparked a growl from both of us.

She stalked towards us, keeping herself right smack in the middle. "You know, before we came here tonight, I wondered why? Why don't we don't hang out together anymore!" She sighed, "At first I thought it was just that we were all so busy with our lives that we couldn't make time. But I guess I was wrong. Like always."

Alex then smacked both of us hard, upside the head. And I had to admit, it hurt a lot more than my pride right now.

"It was you two! Both of you acting so stupid! Fighting over whether or not dad is alive?! God, you're both idiots! Always fighting and never realizing that whatever state he is or isn't in; dad's still gone and mom's still frozen!"

She stepped away from us, arms crossed and angry. "If you two don't stop whatever this is, I'm going to make you two stop. Because we're a family. You two are all I have left… and right now, I'm pissed that you two are all I have left."

With that, Alex began gathering up all the paperwork and notes, stuffing them into the folder, and excusing herself from the room and out of the apartment.

~~*~~

Max and I found Alex sniffling on the couch back home at my apartment.

It had been tense the moment she disappeared. Leaving a trail of curse words and two embarrassed brothers behind her.

Guys… well, us guys don't do well with apologies to one another. If it were a member of the opposite sex, sure! It's automatic. "I'm sorry… please don't cry and thus make us further uncomfortable and rotten for causing you tears." Apologies were simple to hand out to girls. That's also why men grew flowers and invented chocolates.

But a guy apologizing to another guy? We don't do the heartfelt emotional bullshit. Or flowers and candies. Alcohol, maybe…

Max and I both grunted a "Sorry." Whether or not it was sincere, I couldn't tell. Mine's sure wasn't. And from the way he ignored me as feverishly as I ignored him (especially as I magically fixed his window and he swept up the glass), I'm guessing that he wasn't as apologetic.

Forty-five minutes later, after hailing a cab, we arrived at my place because we had a sister to apologize to.

And twenty-minutes of groveling and teasing (guess who did what) later, we seemed to be back on her good graces.

"So," Alex sat up to allow room on the couch for Max, which meant I was pulling up a seat from the table. "While you two idiots were playing cavemen, I was busy doing your work, Justin."

She started to hand me a piece of paper, but then stopped within mid-reach, "Before I explain, I need you to promise two things."

I sighed, instantly regretting. "Sure… Just as long as I don't have to murder someone."

"You would have if he wasn't already dead." She replied.

"What?"

"Okay, first thing; you have to promise not to get upset. I won't stand for any more windows being shattered, got it?"

I crossed the space over my chest where my heart was. "And the other thing?"

Alex's eyes shined, "I want a new pair of boots that I saw--"

She didn't have a chance to finish. I snapped my fingers and half the stack of bills that Chase had given us had magically plopped onto her lap. "That should be more than enough for boots and your half of the rent."

"But you don't pay rent." She said, "You own the apartment."

"Correct. It's in my name, not yours. You think your living here doesn't come with a price?"

She sighed. Of course she knew I was joking, but that didn't stop her from looking at Max and asking "You need a room-mate, Maxie? I know someone that's loveable and fun!"

I reached over and patted her head affectionately, "Don't forget housebroken."

Alex glared at my words, "Whatever… anyway, back to the case. Here." She finally handed me the paper. It was an article on a social gala that had been held at the Plaza a year ago. There was a picture of the Mayor of New York and a couple of stiff snobs. My type of people… not.

"Look who's standing to the far left." She pointed.

I eyed the grainy photograph, "That's… that's Rhodes and his wife." I looked at the caption below and it confirmed my suspicion.

"And you see that tall blonde dude standing next to Mrs. Rhodes?" She tapped the paper.

"How do you know that he's blonde?" I asked. The photo was black and white.

"Because his obit pic is in color. See?" she handed me another article, this time revealing that same blonde gentleman that had been smiling so alive and well in that gala photo.

Max leaned over and nodded his head, "Charles Dye?"

"You know him, Max?" I asked.

"Sure. Nice guy. Does-- Did a lot of charity work. Did an interview with him once…" That's when Max trailed off and suddenly shot a look at Alex. A look that said "Oh shit." And not in a good way. "Oh shit." he gasped.

Alex nodded, "I know, right!" she beamed, "This case just got more interesting!"

I was lost. An old feeling considering it's been ages since these two had run circles around me.

"Hey." I barked, "What am I missing?"

Max smirked, "Well you're the private eye. If Alex can connect the pieces, you shouldn't be too far behind."

Mental note to self; enchant a minor revenge spell on my little brother. Maybe a temporary spoken word spell that allowed him to be sarcastic to females that quickened his libido. Because no girl likes an asshole.

Alex smiled and began to gently explain; "Charles Dye died two weeks before he was to get married. Murdered. Don't worry, that case was solved. They caught the kid. Some junkie... Anyway, back to Charles Dye... Max had to interview him because apparently his upcoming wedding was a talked about affair. The mayor's deputy's secretary marrying the lead campaigner for organ and blood donation. Not to mention apparently they looked like a 'match-made in heaven.'"

And that's when Alex showed me the wedding announcement.

And the smiling faces of Charles Dye and my Juliet.