OKAY so this idea has been bugging me for weeks, so I finally wrote it. I wasn't sure where to end it, so if y'all want more, let me know and I'll be happy to write it. I will be continuing this story eventually as a multi-chapter fic, but for now it will rest as a one-shot.

Pairing: Soccercop (if you look squint)

A.N. Hey y'all, hope you enjoy my collection of shorts and drabbles. If you dig my work, come visit and/or follow me on Tumblr at b00ksandcleverness dot tumblr dot com. I'm always up for some more prompts!

It had taken a few months, but he'd finally done it. He knew that his instincts had been correct, and once he got a feeling he was like a dog with a bone. 'Or a wolf on a trail.' he thought with a smirk, his affinity for wolves well known amongst his friends.

He had used all of his contacts and called in all of his favors from his PI work, but it had been totally worth it.

Few people knew that Tony Sawicki was a certified private investigator; he loved the thrill of the chase, but to be completely honest the pay sucked, so he 'supplemented' his income with his grifting work.

But after Sammy had told him to 'find Beth', he'd dropped all of his jobs and current chases to do just that. Sammy was more important than anyone. So, he contacted Beth, but gotten Art instead. Learning about his sisters had been amazing, and he couldn't wait to meet them all. He'd always felt like he was missing someone, and meeting Sarah had filled a tiny part of that hole.

He was about to make that empty space a little bit smaller.

She'd changed her name to Isabella Young, and had gotten a job at a pet shop in a tiny town in the backwoods of Indiana. She rented a one bedroom mobile home, and didn't have a credit card. Her credentials were good, thorough, and Tony had a suspicion that she'd had some not so straight-and-narrow contacts that had helped her with that. He'd admit, she was good. But he was better. He knew how to think like someone on the run, like someone who was scared of their own shadow, unlike those suits in DYAD. He knew that the military would leave Beth alone now, so he didn't worry about them.

He sneered at the rundown home she had been forced to live in; his sister deserved far better than this, and he couldn't wait to get her out of here. He'd worn his best leather jacket and made sure his hair was properly combed and tamed. He was surprised to note how nervous he was, but his excitement outweighed anything else.

As he knocked lightly on the door, his heart pounded so furiously he was sure he'd be able to see it if he looked down. Adrenaline made him run hot and cold in waves. He held his breath as the door opened.

She'd cut her hair short, a pixie cut that looked cute on her. She looked tired and pale, but at least she'd been eating properly. Her eyes widened comically when she saw who was at the door.

"Hey, sis." He greeted, flashing a silver toothed grin at her. "I'm Tony. I'm here to take ya home."

Tears welled up in her eyes, and he caught her as she collapsed into his arms, sobbing.

—-

"So, long story short, it's just about over. DYAD is on the way down, the military has agreed to return Helena and keep Project Castor out of our beeswax, and Cosima cracked Dr. Frankenstein's code for each and every one of us."

He'd managed to maneuver a shell-shocked detective onto the motheaten couch inside and rummaged around until he'd found coffee. He made a very strong pot, and forced her to drink some of it before he'd explained what had happened since she'd gone into hiding, all of which Sarah had told him after much weedling and nagging on his part.

She took a deep shuddering breath, and looked at him with a pleading expression. "They…they told me if I didn't stay out of it, that Ali and Cosima would be in trouble. And after I found out Paul was…who Paul was, I just…something inside of me broke. I thought, I thought if I left, that everything would be okay. I forgot about Katja, god I'm such a horrible person! If I had met her, maybe she'd still be alive. And Ali…how can I ever make it up to her?"

"Hey, hey, they'll understand. And you've got lots of time to make it up to them. You're family, Beth, and if they can take Helena in and love her, then they can sure as hell find it in them to forgive you. Honestly, I think they'll just be so happy to see you it won't matter. I mean, I've only met Sarah, but I feel like I know everyone else through them and they seem like an awesome…family." He gave her another toothy grin. "And besides, I didn't come all the way down here to come up empty handed."

She gave him a small, watery smile. It wasn't much, but it was something. He held out his hand. "C'mon sis. Let me take you home. I'd kinda like to meet everyone else, too, if you could introduce me."

For several minutes, she stared at his hand, frozen in place. He could see the struggle in her gaze.

Finally, she grasped his hand. "Okay. Take me home."

—-

The drive from Michigan had been pleasant; he and Beth had similar taste in music, and conversation was easy when either of them felt the need to talk, which wasn't very often. They'd chatted about police work versus private investigation, and joked about some of the jobs they'd been on. He had called Sarah when they were a few hours away, and had her gather everyone in Felix's loft. He'd told her that he wanted to finally meet everyone, and that he had a surprise for them. Beth was still a little shell-shocked and overwhelmed by the change in events, so he kept a firm arm around her waist as they walked up the stairs to Felix's loft, but had her stay at the end of the hall with a look of mischief in his eyes. He knocked firmly on the door, and was pleased when it was Felix who opened it.

"Hey, FeFe." He grinned playfully, pulling the taller man into a hug, and waving at the girls behind him. "Hey, sisters. So, as much as I'd love to give you all hugs and meet you and all, I have someone here who really wants to say hi."

He leaned out of the door and gestured to Beth. She wrapped her arms around herself as she walked closer to him. "Hey," he said gently, placing his hands on her shoulders. "Don't worry so much, 5-0. It's all gonna be great." Keeping his hands on her shoulders, he gently guided her into the room.

"Holy watershed" gasped Dreads, as soccer mom dropped her coffee mug, which promptly shattered on the floor.

"Beth?" She whispered, stepping closer as a hand covered her mouth. "Beth, is it really you?"

Beth nodded, tears in her eyes. "Yeah, Ali. It's me." Alison sobbed as she lunged forward into Beth's arms.

As the two clung to each other, Tony rubbed the back of his neck self-conciously, and waved awkwardly at Sarah, Cosima, and Helena. Felix, still standing next to him, nudged him in the ribs. "You did good, Tony. You did really good."

Tony's heart swelled in his chest, warm and comforting. He finally had a family again.

He didn't feel so empty anymore.