*************** Epilog ***************
JD took another sip of milk as he scanned the data on the monitor. In theory, he was just waiting for his turn with OPR. The Office of Professional Responsibility handled all of the internal reviews for the FBI. Because their joint investigation had led to the shooting of three perps in less than twelve hours, OPR had a lot of questions. Since they were talking to Chris and Ezra first, JD had wanted to continue fact checking the statements Vin and Martin had left behind. About forty minutes ago, Jack had settled JD at Martin's unoccupied desk and left to run interviews for yet another missing person's case. JD had already discovered that Judge Wilson, who'd supposedly signed Victor Fitzgerald's custody order, apparently never served on the bench in family court, which meant he really didn't have the authority to sign custody orders. The fact that Wilson had been a long time friend of Victor's father was a fair indication of how Victor had attained the order.
Vivian set a chocolate chip cookie next to the keyboard JD was working at. "Elena and I need to check out a possible sighting of our MP, but Samantha and Mack are in the tech room if you need anything."
"I got it, thanks," he said, dipping his cookie into his milk and taking a bite. JD could certainly see what attracted Martin and the others to the Missing Persons unit. Connecting all the dots to recreate someone else's past, racing against the clock to find that person in time. Combined it could make for some pretty exhilarating rescues . . . or some pretty devastating discoveries. JD knew a lot of the victims weren't found in time and some were never found at all. That was part of the reason the burnout rate for an agent in most M.P. units was just two years. That Jack's unit easily exceeded those numbers meant he was running one of the most experienced and respected Missing Persons units in the country. If for some reason he couldn't work with the Seven any more, JD would definitely want to work here.
Elmer Bernstein's theme from 'The Magnificent Seven' started playing on JD's cell phone, letting him know that one of Team Seven was calling. "Hello," he greeted.
"Hey, JD. It's Vin," answered in his ear. "Do you know where Chris is at? I tried calling him, but only got his voicemail."
"He probably turned his cell off for the interview with OPR," explained JD.
"OPR? Hell, we aren't FBI. We don't even need to give them the time of day," groused Vin.
"I think Chris decided to be nice, since we actually found an FBI unit we could work well with. Though he did insist that he be allowed to be present while any of his agents are questioned. He's in with Ezra right now," JD updated to his absent teammate. "Oh, and Chris and Jack both said that if you called in to tell you, 'you don't have to be in until after lunch'. You're scheduled to talk to OPR at 1:30 pm but until then you're free."
"That's just as well," admitted Vin. "I was actually calling to see when Chris and Jack wanted us to come in. We were up until 3:30 this morning talking and Martin's still asleep on the couch."
"3:30?" JD glanced at his watch, which read 8:30. "What are you doing up already?"
Vin shrugged, but then remembered JD couldn't see him and answered, "The sun is up. I've never been much good at sleeping when the sun is up."
"Alright, well, I guess we'll see you this afternoon then," said JD.
"Later," agreed Vin before ending the call. He spent a moment studying Martin on the couch. Martin definitely wasn't a light sleeper, but like he'd told JD, they'd had a late night. He had to admit that it had also been a pretty good night. In addition to talking there had been laughing and quite a bit of sharing. Vin learned that Martin did indeed like beef jerky, though he usually ate it when hiking or rock climbing. Vin had promised to show him some incredible climbs the next time Martin made it out to Denver. There had also been a few uncomfortable moments: Martin revealing more details of his self-destructive spiral into drug addiction. Vin describing the time he'd spent on the streets as a teenage runaway, fleeing an abusive foster home. Yet through it all was the certainty that nothing that rose from their pasts could divide them. By tomorrow he'd likely have to head back to Denver, but even the thousands of miles between them wouldn't sever their link. They were brothers.
The End
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