Ch.7

Own nothing except for the people you don't know.

Setting: precinct three days later

Time: 12:00 p.m.

Narrative p.o.v.

Everyone was on the edge of finding the two little girls. Their mothers especially, Olivia was on the edge to a mental breakdown to nearly killing anyone who talked to her that had nothing to do with Chloe. While Melinda had resulted to drowning her fear, anger and sadness in alcohol. The drink was enough for her to lose consciousness for the night and have nothing to remember in the morning. People worried about the two mothers but knew that nothing would help until they find the two girls.

Since it had been three days since the girls were seen, the case had no leads and cragen was on the verge of just giving up on the search. Cragen looked out of his office window where his detectives were looking for any possibly leads. He knew that he had to fix this which also meant breaking some hearts. Cragen walked out of his office to talk to his team but was stopped by a young boy of 13 who looked nervous. "Can I help you young man?"

The boy which was amiel looked cragen over for a minute before telling him some happy but distraught news. "Ohm my name is amiel Hernandez and I know where Miranda is." Cragen looked at the boy trying to see if his was telling truth before pulling him into an interrogation room and had Munch interview him. "Now amiel you told my captain that you know where Miranda is. But what about Chloe?"

Amiel stared at the table before looking up. "Chloe's at mercy hospital she came to my house yesterday and told me what happened after she got down with the doctor." Munch pinched the bridge of his nose. He knew this case was going to go bad. "Did Chloe tell you where Miranda was?" amiel was quite as he stared into the cup filled with water. "Chloe told me that a cab driver took them to and a banded warehouse. The driver took Miranda to a different part of the warehouse while he left Chloe with another man. The second man wasn't bad. Chloe said that he let her go so she could get help."

Munch stood up and led amiel out of the room to call his parents with another cop while he and the other detectives went to talk. Cragen stood in front of his detectives while they made out a plan. "Olivia I want you to go to the hospital and check on Chloe while the rest of us go find Miranda." Everyone walked out and went to get ready for the bust. Cragen had already told their technician to run a search on warehouse and came up with a possible lead. As everyone left the precinct Olivia pulled Elliot away. "Liv what is it?" olive stood in front of her husband for a minute thinking of what to say. "Be careful el."

Setting: warehouse

Time: 1:00 p.m.

Once the detectives reached the warehouse things went very fast. Doors were kicked open rooms were checked and guns were fired. The only thing found on the first floor was a dead man and some shackles. On the second floor eight rooms were checked. Most of the rooms were dingy and had torn mattress and dirty bathrooms. But it wasn't until fin opened that last room is where he saw a man pulling up his pants and Miranda on a bed tied to the bed.

"Put your hands up!"The man looked up towards fin with a smile on his face; he then pulled out a gun and aimed it at Miranda who was passed out. "You know she was really good just like the last time." Fin inched closer to the man who stood by the bed. "I said put your hands up!"The man cocked the gun an aimed it directly at Miranda's heart.

Things seemed to go in slow motion. Two shots were fired. One was from fin and the other was from the mystery man. The man was shot in the back while Miranda was shot in the chest. After the shots were fired the rest of the team ran into the room along with paramedics who went to help Miranda and the man.

Setting: mercy hospital

Time: 3:00 p.m.

Melinda sat in the room with Olivia and Chloe. Chloe only had a few bruises but was unconscious. The doctor said she would be fine in a few days. "Mel what did the doctor say?"Melinda looked up teary eyed at her friend. I don't know Miranda still in surgery and I haven't heard a word. Except for the fact that the man who shot Miranda is fine." Olivia hugged Melinda to comfort her. "Mel shell pull through you just have to stay strong." Melinda sat in the room for a few minutes before going to get some coffee.

After getting her Melinda went up to the top of the hospital and stood outside staring at the passing traffic down below. Melinda knew that she loved her daughter and didn't want to lose her, but some things were going to change. Miranda needed to talk to Melinda if something is wrong, Melinda couldn't take her crap anymore. Melinda also hoped that fin would be able to stay in a relationship with her even though her daughter was being this way. "Hey Mel." Fin stood beside Melinda on the roof of the hospital. "I've been looking for you; people want to know how you're holding up."

Melinda looked at her hands thinking of what to say. "Thank you fin." Fin looked at his lover before pulling her closer to him. "Baby you don't have to thank me. I know me and Miranda aren't the best of friends but were able to stick with each other. Plus if you really want to thank me then you'll be my wife." Melinda froze in fin's arms; she looked up to meet his soft gaze. "Are you serious?"Fin got down on one knee and held Melinda's hand. "Melinda Warner, will you marry?"

Melinda looked shocked at the man in front of her and started to cry, "Oh fin of course." With that fin placed a ring on Melinda's finger and gave her a deep kiss. The now engaged couple walked back down stairs back to their friends. "Hey fin did you get anything from the man?" fin put his arm around Melinda's waist "no baby he got lawyer so we can't talk to him till after he's released from the hospital." Melinda said and snuggled deeper into fin's arms until a doctor came up to them. "Miss Warner may I speak to you?"

Melinda followed the doctor to a secluded area of another hallway. The look on his face gave nothing away to whether Miranda was fine or not. "Miss Warner there's a problem with your daughter."