"What do you mean he just showed up at the door?" Phil fought to keep the anxiety out of his voice. Melinda paced behind him.

"That's pretty self explanatory." Bobbie answered in the same tone of voice.

"Let me get this straight…we spend the last three weeks searching every lead we have and come up empty handed and this guy just walks up and rings the doorbell." Now Phil paced as well, waving his arms and shaking his head as he tried to make sense of what he'd been told by one of his best agents.

"Well, actually he knocked." Hunter mumbled from his perch. He leaned against the doorframe with his arms across his chest staring at the tiled kitchen floor.

"Noted!" Coulson barked, slamming his palms against the table. From his position he could see the children in the garden behind the house; Jemma in her usual place on the swing and Fitz pulling on the iron gate in the wall that lead to the path beyond. He dropped his head and took a long breath. Melinda had stopped her movement and stood quietly with the others waiting for him to continue.

"What exactly did he say?" His voice was softer, calmer as he rose and turned to face Bobbi.

After reporting everything they had said and done with James Grant the group was once again in search of information. According to records they found through social services Emilie Fitz had one sibling, a sister who died in the Balklans in 1992. It wasn't clear if she had been military, but for some reason she had been near Sarajevo that September. Coulson let this drop feeling it had little to do with his search for information on Fitz. Now he wasn't so sure.

Bobbi had pulled out all the information that had been filed as 'unproductive'. The sister, Jean had not been married and had no offspring. Both parents were deceased and if any distant relatives existed were no names or means of contact. All four agents scoured the records for any mention of James Fitz.

"What about known associates?" Bobbi sighed dropping the file she had just scanned onto the pile in the center of the table.

"She was a sometimes-waitress, Bob, what associates?" Hunter moaned tilting back on his chair and rubbing his eyes. "This is pointless." He dropped the chair forward, rose, walked to the refrigerator and returned with a bottle of the local brew. He used the opener to pop the cap and took a long drink, pointed the tip of the bottle at Coulson and swallowed. "We need to find this guy before…"

Jemma's high pitched scream cut off his statement as all four adults scrambled to the feet and raced for the back door.

A few minutes before the girl had strolled across the garden to stand next to Fitz who was still struggling with the iron gate. "What are you doing there, Fitz?" She asked quietly as she stepped behind him.

"Trying to lock this damn gate," he answered through gritted teeth.

"I'm afraid it doesn't lock," Jemma informed him. "It never did."

"Well what in bloody hell good is a bloody damn gate that doesn't lock?" He pulled it back and forth roughly causing it to scrape against the wall and rattle hollowly.

"You shouldn't say…" Jemma's voice remained calm despite Fitz' tantrum.

"Damn! Damn! Damn! DAMN!" Fitz screamed as he kicked the gate until it swung open and tilted on rusty hinges. He turned and balled his fists striking them against his thighs. "I_will_say_damn_as_much_as _I_want_to_say_damn, damn, damn!" He screamed again with his eyes squeezed shut. "Stop telling me to stop!"

Jemma had stepped back, shocked by the boy's actions. Neither noticed the stranger who had slipped from the brush behind the wall and through the now open gate.

"That's right you little git," James Grant growled through his teeth as he snatched the small boy around the waist pulling him up to his chest. "Thought you'd just go off to the grand life and leave me to the streets, then did ya?"

For a moment Fitz was terrified, frozen in place until he heard Jemma.

"You put him down, you cad!" The girl moved quickly and although she was small, the kicks she landed against his lower legs caused considerable pain. He almost dropped the boy who suddenly came alive kicking his upper legs with the heels of both feet as he scratched and pounded his hands and arms. The girl added to her assault as she dove forward landing one handed hard punches against his midsection.

But James Grant was not about to be taken down by two brats. He flipped the boy sideways and held him under one arm. The scratching continued but the kicking was now impossible. With his other large hand he grabbed the little witch by the hair and pulled her off the ground. She let out a scream loud enough to rival the bean sidhe. He let go and grabbed her upper arm pulling her close. He leaned close and told her to be quiet or her friend might get hurt. To show he was serious he squeezed the boy tighter, causing Fitz to let out an 'ooff' and a small whine as he quickly brought both hands to his stomach where the man held him fast. He squeezed tighter causing the boy to cry out.

Grant looked around the garden and realized the only way out was the way he came in and now he'd have to drag the girl along as well. He dropped Fitz to his feet, holding tight to his upper arm and shook him hard causing the boy's head to snap back and forth. "Do as I say and she won't get hurt." He shook Jemma just as hard holding her as she almost crumpled to the ground.

Before he could turn to drag both children through the narrow opening in the wall he looked back toward the house as four armed agents raced forward.

"Stop right there!" The one who seemed to be in charge shouted as he halted and aimed his pistol.

He heard the clicks of three more from different angles throughout the yard. Jemma gasped at the sight before her. Fitz let out a whimper as Grant pulled him and Jemma to stand before him…a human child shield. He shook both children and squatted down until his head was even with theirs.

"James Fitz." Bobbi spat, close enough for Coulson to hear. He nodded his understanding.

"You're not getting out of here, so let the kids go." He spoke calmly, almost matter-of-factly.

Grant shook his head letting out a nasal laugh. "I see myself with the advantage here, mate. You're not going to shoot with these wee bairns standing right here now." He shook both children again and slid his hands from their arms to the backs of their necks. He brought his lips together in an 'o' and smiled with his eyes. "Such skinny little necks they have, almost like wee birdies. It would be such a shame to hold them too harsh then wouldn't it." Both children grimaced in pain as he tightened his grip.

"Now, all four of ya are gonna put those things away and back off. This one here," he shook Fitz forward then pulled him close. "This one is mine and he's comin' with me. This one," he shook Jemma just a bit gentler then leaned forward and took a long sniff of her hair. "Yeah, this one I'll just take for insurance. Might be, I'll leave her somewhere ye can find her…someday." He laughed again as Jemma began to sob.

"That's not gonna happen, James." Coulson's tone hadn't changed. He remained calm despite the fact that his heart was slamming against his chest and he could feel the sweat running down his spine. He could see May out of the corner of one eye, inching closer to the man. Hunter had also gone wide and now moved along the wall to the far left of the intruder. Bobbi remained close behind.

"You know I can snap their necks before you pull that trigger." He sneered giving away the nervousness in his voice.

"But you won't." Coulson smiled as he stepped forward.

"You think I can't do it? I've done it before." He sounded like the school yard bully, boasting over his conquests.

"Sure you have," Coulson crooned and took another step with Bobbi following. Hunter and May were closing the gap as well. Grant's eyes flicked from one to the other and back. He glanced at the gate a few feet behind. This did not go without notice. "You'll have to stand up to run, James, make you a much bigger target." Phil smiled.

Grant smiled back, wrapped his arms around the children's waists and lifted them as he stood. "I'm no bloody pillock!" He backed toward the gate never breaking eye contact with Coulson who continued to advance. He held Jemma a bit higher and snorted, "and if ya ever do see this one again, she won't be so pretty then will she!" He took the last few backward steps, squeezed out the tight opening in the wall and grumbled into Fitz' ear. "Now grab the gate and close it lad and we'll be on our way."

Fitz stared at Phil, pleading with him for rescue, to do anything to make this nightmare stop. He looked toward Jemma trying to block out her sobbing and then noticed that his was in harmony with hers. He reached for the gate and suddenly was pulled away as James, Jemma and he were thrown backward to the ground. Quickly Fitz rolled away, scrambled to his feet, pulled Jemma to hers and pushed her behind him. He brought his small fists in front of him and wiped his tears with the sleeve of his jumper.

"You leave her alone!" His voice squeaked as a large hand fell on his shoulder. He began swinging wildly.

"Hey, hey Turbo, slow down there, it's me." Despite the horror of the situation, Mack's voice seemed laced with humor. He held his hands before him deflecting the boy's punches easily.

Fitz slowed his effort gradually before he opened his eyes and dove into the large man's open arms. "Mack," he sighed into his friend's shoulder. Mack held him close and pulled Jemma into the hug as well.

Coulson and the others burst through the gate a few seconds later to be met by the sight of Mack squatting in front of both children assuring them they were now safe. James Fitz lay sprawled unconscious a few feet away.

"Mack," Coulson breathed a sigh of relief as he holstered his gun. Melinda and Bobbi quickly moved to the children while Hunter half kicked/half rolled Grant to his stomach and secured his wrists. He turned back and smirked at the large man now standing next to Coulson.

"What the hell is going on?" He snarled at Phil. "I just got back from checking that lead in London and walk into this! Who is that guy?" He tossed his head toward the man who now grumbled as he began to wake.

Despite protest Jemma and Fitz were hustled off to Dr. Fletcher's office, both received thorough examinations and other than a few bruises were given a nod from the doctor. Coulson and Hunter filled in Mack on the man they knew as James Fitz after turning him over to the local constables. A few hours later the entire crew sat in the small parlor just enjoying the fact that they could.

Phil and Melinda rested on the love seat with Jemma and Fitz snuggled between them. Mack looked like a real giant squeezed into the small but comfy chair in the corner, while Bobbi and Hunter took up space on the floor in front of the crackling fire place.

"You're safe, now," Melinda assured Jemma wrapping an arm around her and pulling her closer. Jemma nodded and relaxed into the half-hug.

"We won't let him get to you, Fitz. You don't have to worry." Phil promised a skeptical Fitz putting a hand on the boy's knee and squeezing gently. Fitz nodded but made eye contact with no one, simply stared ahead and remained quiet.

"No way is that blighter getting anywhere near you, kiddo, even if he is your uncle." Hunter almost snarled until Bobbi poked her elbow into his side reminding him to watch his tone with the children. Both she and Mack nodded and gave their own verbal reassurances that they would protect him as well as Jemma.

The adults continued their conversation, carefully avoiding anything they deemed too frightening for the kids to hear. They recounted the first visit from James and the altercation in the garden. Hunter was quick to slap Mack on the knee and congratulate him for the hundredth time for his actions. Mack shook his head refusing to again tell him he did not do it for the kudos. Coulson reassured everyone that the man was now in custody and probably wouldn't see the light of day for some time to come. He was sure there was more the idiot would be charged with before this was truly over. The conversation went on as everyone added to it and moved from one subject to another.

"He's not." Fitz' voice was small, barely audible above the adults but Jemma pulled forward to acknowledge she'd heard. "He's not." The boy declared again a bit louder. Jemma wrinkled her brow, clearly confused. Phil patted his leg but continued speaking to Hunter. Fitz looked from one adult to the other and back to Jemma. "HE'S NOT!" His shout stopped the conversation as all eyes trained on him.

The boy swallowed and dropped his view to the floor.

"You want to say something, Fitz?" Phil asked turning toward the boy.

"He's…he's not…" He whispered into his own chest before picking up his head allowing everyone to see the unspent tears in his eyes. "He's not my uncle." Fitz finally spit out quickly swiping the tears from his cheeks with his sleeves. "He's NOT my uncle." He said again with more conviction.

The room went quiet, almost as if everyone was holding their breath waiting for the other shoe to drop. Seconds of uncomfortable silence ticked by until Melinda shattered it. "Go on."

Fitz looked into May's eyes swallowing the fear he had of the woman and gave a quick nod. "He's not James Fitz like you're all saying. He's James Grant. My maw and me lived with him for a bit in Busby. He told me she went to find work in London." He looked up at Phil. "That's why I was there. That's who I was watching for that day. He'd whack me good if I did not get back with what I'd pinched. I knew he'd come looking."

It was a confession, an explanation that the boy hadn't been able to give to the man.

"It's okay, Fitz." Phil spoke softly. "We understand. We aren't upset with you." He smiled at the boy who was still trying unsuccessfully to hold back tears.

Those tears fell freely as Fitz told his entire story, how his mother had gotten sick and how they lost their flat and how they came to live with Grant. He told them as much as he could about as much as he could and then he cried more, cried until there were no tears left. Phil handed him his handkerchief and wrapped an arm around the boy's shoulders pulling him close. He was pleasantly surprised when the boy didn't pull away.

"I don't think I'll be seeing my maw again. He's probably gone and done away with her, hasn't he?" He mumbled into Phil's side.

"We don't know that Fitz," Coulson answered honestly looking for support from the others. "We'll keep looking." The others nodded but the look Melinda gave him said it all. Despite his honesty in answering the boy's question they both knew when and if they found Emilie Fitz she would more than likely be deceased. He gave her a subtle nod and pulled the boy next to him even closer.