AN: Hey everyone, after this there's only one chapter left that I have pre-written so I'll be taking some time to finish this story before it updates again! I know that's frustrating, but I really want to do this story justice and I need a little time to make that happen! Thank you as always for reading, commenting, etc.

Songs for this chapter are: "Heart Attack" Wild Rivers, "Hope in the Air" Laura Marling, and "carry me home" The sweeplings.

"I'm telling you, they know!"

"If they knew they'd have done something by now! You need to get ahold of yourself Claire or we're going to have a fucking problem."

"Oh are we? Are we going to have a fucking problem Paul? Maybe if you hadn't decided to fuck some waitress in the middle of nowhere and gotten videotaped doing it, we wouldn't be in this situation!"

"Oh that's right, it's all my fault, isn't it Claire! Forget the fact that the money we get from that casino pays for your plastic surgery and oxy habit-I'll just call them and let them know that we're done. No more money, no more oxy; it'll all go away Claire...is that what you want?"

"Just...fix it Paul."

Henry reclined against the couch, one arm slung around Maya's shoulders, holding her close as Vic and Cady explained to the two women the progress that was being made on the case.

"We've gotten a federal warrant for the arrest of the Senator, his wife, and the chief of staff. We anticipate arresting them within 24 hours, with the aid of the FBI, and within a week we anticipate you'll be able to return to your homes and be out of protective custody."

Maya and Casey exchanged a relieved look; soon this dark chapter of their lives would come to a close, allowing them to move on and look ahead.

"What if something else happens?" Casey asked softly, "What if they come after us again?" Her brow was knitted together, worrying at her lip with her teeth as she clutched her hands tightly together in her lap.

"We're going to have round the clock guards posted, I promise they won't hurt you. The FBI is going to be here too, there's no way anyone is going to get past all of us," Cady assured the women.

Maya frowned too, "What do we do when this is over?" she asked, sounding lost.

Henry squeezed her shoulder, drawing her gaze up to his face. "After this I would very much like it if you took the manager position for the waitresses. It is clear we need someone who has heart and a good head on their shoulders and it seems to me that you fit that bill well."

Maya blushed and ducked her chin, hiding the smile growing on her lips.

"I'd like that," she murmured softly, lifting her face back to his to receive the kiss he happily planted on her cheek.

"Eww Maya," Casey teased, laughing when her older sister flushed and slapped her leg in gentle retaliation.

With that, the meeting broke up; Vic and Cady went to the front porch to sit and enjoy the mild weather that came with the end of summer while Casey, Maya and Henry began a game of Monopoly.

"What do you really think; are they gonna come after them?" Vic asked quietly, casting a glance over her shoulder to make sure the occupants of the cabin couldn't hear. When she looked back to Cady her brow was lined with worry, lips pinched tight as she waited for an answer.

"I…" Cady sighed and shook her head, peering out at the towering trees surrounding the cabin, "I don't know. I hope not, but," she shook her head again, "I can't believe that they'll just let them go without a fight. Hopefully with the FBI stepping up they'll think twice before they do something stupid."

Vic snorted and shook her head, "I've never known criminals to not do something stupid when pushed into a corner," she replied dryly, recalling all too well how Chance Gilbert had nearly killed her when his back was to the wall.

"Yea...well, we'll just have to hope that with all of us protecting them, nothing will happen," Cady replied softly, sharing a skeptical look with the other woman before she sighed and shook her head, "I'm so tired," she confessed.

"It feels like I've been going nonstop for a year and I just don't know how my dad did this without burning out," she admitted.

Vic laughed sharply, "Why do you think he finally retired?" she ribbed.

"You."

Cady shot her a pointed look when Vic turned to stare at her, surprise widening her eyes. They hadn't really ever talked about the relationship between Walt and her deputy, both of them avoiding the topic through mutual unspoken agreement.

"I'm serious," Cady murmured, "I think if you hadn't taken the job here in Absaroka he would have died doing this job and been okay with that. You gave him something to live for again, to hope for, and as odd as it might be to you, I'm really thankful to you for that."

Vic stared at her, wide eyed and stunned into silence.

Nodding slowly, she turned her chin down to speak at the floor. "I wasn't sure how you felt. You never said anything and I mean, you're my boss, but also my friend, and I just...I'm glad you're okay with us."

Cady's hand landed on her arm gently, squeezing to draw the other woman's gaze up so she could smile at her. "I'm not calling you mom if you guys get married," she told her solemnly, eyes twinkling with amusement.

Vic laughed at that, head thrown back, lines wrinkling around her eyes, and in that moment, Cady could see why her father loved her.

The two women sat in amicable silence, comfortable together now that an understanding had been reached. There were too many things they couldn't control about the days ahead, and knowing that they were not just coworkers, but friends who could trust each other, it alleviated some of the worry.

Two days later they joined the FBI in delivering the warrants and brought Claire and Paul Stein into custody along with the Chief of Staff, William Kane. Within the hour high priced lawyers were demanding to see their clients, advising them to remain silent until they could get before a judge and insist upon their release.

Until that happened, Cady and Mathias sat in separate interrogation rooms, sweating the Senator and his wife while Vic and Caleb worked on the Chief of Staff.

"See Claire, I think you knew about this sex ring your husband was operating because we have forensic financial evidence that shows you were writing checks from a bank account under your maiden name to your husband's chief of staff, which in turn was used for campaign financing and donated to a PAC and used for campaign advertising."

Cady smiled slowly, all teeth, like a shark, and a shiver ran over Claire at the expression.

"We've also managed to trace some of that money as cash withdrawals and payments to plastic surgeons, which means Claire, your hands are just as dirty as your husband's. If you want to avoid a hell of a prison sentence, I suggest you start talking."

The women stared at each other as Claire's lawyer leaned over and whispered something in her ear. Claire shook her head and the lawyer looked up at Cady, "I'd like a few minutes with my client," he murmured forcefully.

Nodding, Cady rose, shutting the door behind her as she walked down the hall to observe the interrogation Mathias was conducting with the Senator. It didn't seem to be going any better than hers had. Flipping on the intercom, she leaned against the wall and listened as Mathias questioned the Senator.

"Now Paul, tell me, how did you get started on this little adventure?"

"Please address my client as Senator, Chief. He deserves your respect."

Mathias shook his head sharply, "Your client deserves nothing from me, least of all my respect counselor." Turning his attention back to the Senator, he sighed softly and shook his head, "I can't believe a man like you lets someone else do his talking for him," he scoffed, "don't politicians usually like to hear their own voices?"

Stein glared at him but refused to speak, turning his chin to stare pointedly away.

She could see from the set of his shoulders that Mathias was tired and annoyed, but to his credit he didn't snap at the man.

"Hmm, well then. Maybe you aren't allowed to say anything, hmm, it that it?" he taunted, "is your wife the one that runs the show? She wear the pants in the family?" He laughed when the other man's scowl deepend, "Yea, is that it? She the one who makes the choices, the woman behind the curtain so to speak? I bet she's the real power behind the throne," he mused, laughing when the other man's face flushed red, mottled with anger.

"So you got her daddy's money, used his connections to get yourself in office, turned her into a trophy wife when she was the one who got you where you are, and now she's the one who is going to either fry your bacon or set you free."

He let the moment hang and then leaned forward, voice softer now. "How do you want to be remembered Paul, as a corrupt politician running prostitutes in a casino, or as the man who came forward and turned in the men behind the ring? Hero or villain?"

With that, he leaned back and waited, the silence growing in the room as the disgraced Senator mused, brow pinched. When his lawyer leaned over to murmur in his ear, Cady sighed, knowing it would result in the same bullshit that she had just faced with Claire and her lawyer.

A few moments later the same request came through and Mathias was scowling as he shut the door behind himself. Smirking at him, she jerked her head towards the glass, "That went well."

"Bout as well as it did with the wife, I'm guessing," he murmured in reply, joining her in leaning against the wall.

"Yea, they might have a dysfunctional as fuck marriage, but they're never gonna flip on each other," she mused, shaking her head. Rolling her chin, she swept her gaze over him and smiled softly, "You wanna get Santino's for dinner?" she suggested.

His eyes are warm when he looks away from the glass and meets her gaze, lips curling in a faint smile, "Yea, that sounds good little storm." He leaned in slow, giving her time to pull away, but she wasn't going to, and when his lips met hers she sighed softly, opening up to him, fingers curling into his belt, pulling him closer, mouth opening up to his to deepen the kiss.

The distant sound of a door opening had them slipping apart and standing a respectable distance apart when the two lawyers came out of their respective interrogation rooms, meeting in the middle to speak in hushed tones.

"You think they're gonna offer us a deal?" he asked softly, sounding vaguely amused.

"If they're not stupid they will," she replied, smirking faintly when the two men stepped apart and headed toward them. "Fifty bucks says the wife has something to say," she whispered as they approached.

"If you're wrong, you have to move in with me."

Bright eyes widening in shock, she whipped toward him, heart beating so fast it felt like it would burst from her chest.

"Chief, Sheriff, we have a proposal for you."

"And what would that be?" Mathias asked politely, smirking faintly at the fact that Cady was still staring at him, stunned into silence.

"The Senator would like to offer up the names for the men responsible for running the prostitution ring in Absaroka, in return for charges being dropped against his wife."

Mathias's lips pinched together, "Well, we'll have to speak with the District Attorney, but I doubt he'll want to take that deal. Why don't you boys let your clients know we'll take a break till he's here. Get them some food, and we'll go call the DA, hmm?"

The lawyers shared a cautious look and then nodded, murmuring their agreement before turning away and heading back to their clients. When the doors had shut behind them he turned and ran an assessing gaze over Cady, a slight tremor of worry running through him at the slightly stunned look in her beautiful seaspray eyes.

"Little storm," he called softly, smiling reassuringly when her gaze cleared and met his, cautious and a little hopeful.

"You want me to live with you?" she asked quietly, "I mean, I kind of already do," she reminded him with a faint smile.

Laughing quietly in return, he nodded, smiling as he slipped a hand around her hip, fingers tightening into the warm flesh beneath her uniform shirt. "Sure you do sweetheart, but I'm talkin about you staying, making a place for yourself there long term."

"Long...term?" she repeated, sounding puzzled, eyes calculating as they studied him, and he wondered suddenly if he had made the wrong choice. He had thought they were on this track, what with the loving each other, and the lack of discussion on her moving out...but maybe he was wrong?

Before he could find out, a commotion from the bullpen drew their attention. Shouting, loud and angry, drew them out into the open area where Caleb and two other deputies were restraining a young woman who was sobbing and screaming.

Mathias strode over, Cady close behind him, brow furrowed as he reached the distraught young woman.

"Miss, what's wrong," he asked, lifting his hands cautiously when she flinched back, "hey, hey, it's ok," he soothed, reaching out slowly to her. "Why are you here?" he asked softly, eyes darting to the front door of the res police station where Ferg and Zach were standing, pale and haunted looking.

"H-he's dead!" the young woman sobbed, hands lashing out as Mathias tried to soothe her.

"Who? Who's dead?"

"N-nate!"

Mathias flinched back, shock and confusion playing over his handsome face. "W-what? What do you mean?" he demanded, hand closing around her wrist and squeezing.

"He killed himself! And these, these pigs did nothing to stop it!" she screamed, ripping her wrist from his grip to lunge towards Ferg and Zach, hate etched on her face.

Mathias grabbed her, yanking her back, "Hold up, we need to talk to you," he huffed, propelling her towards his office, shooting Cady a look before jerking his chin at the two men still standing in the doorway, looking stunned.

"Take care of that," he muttered before turning and pushing the young woman into his office.

Cady stared after him, heart in her throat and stomach churning unpleasantly. Turning to Zach and Ferg, she waved a hand and led them back through the halls and into an unoccupied interrogation room.

When the door had shut behind them, she rounded on the two men with a grim set to her jaw.

"What the hell happened?"

Nate had been found hanging in his cell; the sheets from the cot used to strangle the young man till his face was mottled and nearly unrecognizable.

Ferg had been responsible for checking on him every thirty minutes while Zach went out to answer a call about a ranching dispute. While Ferg was in the bathroom, shortly after checking on the young man, he had taken up the sheets, knotted them into a noose, and proceeded to strangle himself.

When Ferg had come back to check on him again, he was long dead.

Hand covering her face, Cady shook her head and tried to keep the tears burning in the back of her eyes from spilling out.

God, he was just a kid…

"Ferg, we're going to have to do an investigation into what actions you took," Cady murmured, shaking her head. "You're suspended with pay until we've completed it."

When she looked up, he was pale and stunned looking, but nodding. "Y-yes ma'am," he stuttered, shame darkening his gaze. Jerking her chin towards the door she gave him a ghost of a smile as he departed, leaving her with Zach in the uncomfortable silence of the interrogation room.

"There wasn't anything Ferg coulda done Cady, that kid didn't want to live," Zach murmured, shaking his head slowly, lips pursed in regret.

"Did he say so?"

"Not in so many words, but yea, I got that vibe," he admitted hesitantly.

"And you didn't say anything to me?"

Mouth opening and then falling shut, Zach shook his head slowly, "I didn't think it was this bad," he admitted, shamefaced.

"Goddammit Zach," Cady swore, whirling to pace, shaking her head angrily. "You should have told me. You should have told me the minute you suspected he was feeling anything close to suicidal. We would have put him on suicide watch and kept eyes on him so this didn't happen," she snapped, turning to glare at him.

Zach stiffened defensively, eyes darkening in anger, "I'm sorry Cady, I don't know what else to say."

"Well, sorry isn't going to bring back a dead kid Zach."

Flinching back, Zach stared at her for a long moment and then nodded slowly, "You want my badge?" he offered softly, unbuckling it from his hip.

Cady stared at the outstretched hand, offering her the shiny bit of metal, stomach churning.

"No, keep it." Shaking her head, she sighed heavily, "I need you to submit a written report on when you noticed his suicidal ideation and what steps you took to prevent it. Based on that and the investigation into this incident, I'll decide what steps to take next."

There was a long moment of silence before Cady sighed and turned to leave, "We're all going to burn for this, you know," she murmured shaking her head regretfully before slipping out, leaving the door open behind her.

Zach stared after her, eyes haunted and expression haggard. A boy was dead, and he just might have been able to stop it. Nausea rose up within him as he staggered back, leaning his forehead into the cool cement wall, taking deep steadying breaths to try and calm himself.

What had started as a senseless tragedy four days ago had ended in more death, and he was starting to wonder if there would ever be a light to burn away the darkness again. Hopeless and sorrowful, he slid to the ground and dropped his head onto his hands, unsteady breaths turning to sobs as he broke down.

I'm sorry...I'm so so sorry

Perhaps if he said it enough times, it would mean something.