The Menace of Darkness.

Christian's POV

It has been two weeks. Fourteen days. Three hundred and twenty-six hours are since we were told that Phoebe was missing. Some media outlets refer to her being missing, some abducted while other speculate she is being held for ransom though none has been requested. A second rate Seattle-based newspaper wrote an article hypothesizing that Phoebe is dead, body dumped somewhere never to be found again which is why no ransom or demands have been received. The authorities believe the lack of ransom the most suspicious aspect of Phoebe's abduction, or missing status since she appears to leave with Laurence willingly if you wish. She is one of the richest heiress's in America and Ana and I have the means to pay anything. I would willingly pay any amount that Laurence or his father has asked for any. Though I know why, no ransom has been asked for. It's all in that damn book, withering heights. It was the key. This is about revenge. The question is who is seeking revenge? Carson… Laurence or both?

Ana, Carrick and Elliot had read the ghastly article before I was able to have it removed. The damage was done. It planted the seed of doubt in the minds of my family. Phoebe could be dead and in the added act of revenge not have her body to give her a proper funeral and provide us what closure we could muster.

I had been comforting Ana in our bedroom that late afternoon when the article was published. We went upstairs to prevent upsetting Josh or Lily. Ana was close to breaking point. She needed all of me to keep her together. I was holding her close while fighting my own emotions when there was a knock on the door of our bedroom. None of our children have ever been allowed to just enter our bedroom.

"Yes?" I call out probably for the first time. I always go to the door as we usually kept it locked when we were in here together. It was the only way to avoid an uncomfortable situation should one of our children enter without thinking. Today the door is open.

"Mom and Dad, can I come inside?" Josh calls out.

"Sure son. Come inside" He opens the door and peeks inside before entering. Ana is looking away, vigorously wiping her tears away. She is trying so hard to be strong, my strong Ana. I have marveled at her efforts to be resilient in front of our children, even our extended family. Lily is yet to know what is going on, but I wonder how long we will manage this.

"Mom and Dad I know about the article. The one that said that Phoebe was probably dead" I count back from ten and take deep breaths. I don't want to become thermonuclear, but I am so mad. Not at my child but at that bullshit paper. I will destroy them!

"How?" Ana questions before I can convince him that the article is wrong. I narrow my eyes at Josh and wait for him to answer this question. I want to know the answer as we haven't allowed him to access the internet or watch the news unless he is with an adult. Josh has spent all day with Lily, Cousin Matthew and Elliot in our indoor heated pool and playing basketball.

"Do I have to answer that?" Josh looks away. The first sign of guilt.

"Yes," I order.

"I heard you..." Josh indicates to me "…grandpa and Uncle Elliot talk about it" Josh replies still not making eye contact with us. He is also failing to elaborate.

"Where did you hear us talking?"

"In… uuummm…. you're … study." I run both of my hands through my hair and narrow my eyes at my youngest son. I am going to have to resort to locking the door to my study. We have retreated to the quiet of this room to discuss any particulars dealing with Phoebe since it was deemed the most secluded area of the home. An assumption that has now been proven wrong. "And before you say it, I know I have lost my iPhone for a month and I am grounded until I have regained your trust; however, in my defense I wouldn't have had to eavesdrop if you wouldn't insist I be kept in the dark. I know that Ted is withholding information from me even though we made that deal."

"Joshua we are trying to protect you, and we honestly have little information" Ana's voice is so soft and loving. She is the greatest gift our children could ever receive.

"But you know something. I am not Lily and am not six years old. I can handle the truth, and I find out everything anyway. Nonetheless, this isn't what I wanted to come in here and talk to you about…. Mom, I know you have been crying about the article, but it's not true. None of it is! I can't explain how I know, but I do. Don't worry mom… she will come back. This is Phoebe we are talking about… she always manages to find a way!" Ana closes her eyes relishing our son's words. We both desperately want to believe and for a moment we allow ourselves to share his optimism. But we are all too aware that with each day that she is missing, the chances of her returning to us alive dwindle.

I might not have been able to prevent Ana from having seen that article nor was I able to avert Josh from learning about it, but I can ensure that paper doesn't repeat its mistake. I have instructed Ros to buy out the paper, then terminated the editor and writer of the article. I intend to break it up and sell it off. I will ensure it never exists again. The edition that the article was written will be one of its last.

Phoebe is now on the top of the 'FBI Most Wanted Kidnapping and Missing Persons list', and, of course, has been a major feature of the media. As one of the richest heiress in America, this will bound to happen. It has benefited us as it has led to reports of any possible sightings, but there is a definite downside. A side effect of the mass media coverage also means that keeping these circumstances surrounding Phoebe's absence these past two weeks from Lily, Matthew, Kate and Elliott's son, and Harper, Byron and Mia daughter, has rivaled an international military operation but without extensive resources we have managed it. These young members of our family are only six and would find this all too hard to comprehend. I am almost fifty and I don't understand it. Also, I don't think any of our hearts could endure them asking us every day if Phoebe was coming home that day.

Along with the authorities' efforts and my security team, we have private investigators, offered rewards, conducted press conferences and thrown in every resource but nothing. Not a fucking thing. Laurence's car was found twenty minutes from Bellevue at a local shopping center. There was footage from the security cameras of Laurence holding Phoebes arm leading her to a black family car with stolen plates, followed by Carson, Laurence's father. This car was found by the side of the road north of Seattle, two hours away. After that, there is no other solid evidence. None of their bank accounts has been accessed and their credit cards haven't been used. There is no trace of them. The authorities scoped out the area around the abandoned car numerous of time and we even sent in our own men but still the same result. Fucking Zilch!

There have been some numerous false sightings. More than I care to count. The worse has been the several possible identifications at the state morgue, even one in Vegas last week. I died a thousand deaths entering those buildings to confirm whether or not the body belongs to my beloved daughter. Those girls were about the same age, height, long brown hair and grey eyes, but they weren't my daughter. Nonetheless, they are someone's daughter. I couldn't just walk out each time. I organized to pay for their funerals as soon as their family was found or whenever the state their bodies to be released.

Our normally joyful home is essentially on lock down. We have increased the security detail around my family and our homes. Taylor and Welch are coordinating with the FBI and two of their offices are stationed here on the sound should any calls come through, though they are in plain clothing. Television, news and anything which could discuss Phoebe's disappearance is prohibited during the day especially when Lily and Josh are present. However, I know that we are going to have to tell Lily something if there isn't an end to this madness. Fuck knows how Ana and I are going to be able to approach that.

Ted has left for college though he protested long and hard. I wanted to give in, and just let him stay in Seattle. However, classes start in a matter of days, and it was decided that he should go back. Who knows how long this will go on for and to have Ted's life placed on hold wasn't the right choice. He will still be told everything that is happening and any information we manage to scrounge up. Ana has taken a leave of absence from Grey Publishing and Ros has stepped up at Grey House though I am still answering emails. It is all I can, in conjunctions with being with Ana and my family to prevent the darkness from invading my core.

I don't know what is harder... the waiting around for any news or leads, yelling at security and the authorities due to their failure to collect evidence isn't good enough, or the days that information comes to light and having to wait to learn out if it is credible. The latter is today. A girl, fitting Phoebe's description has been found. I haven't even told Ana about this lead... if it is the same as the others, then it won't be our daughter. My wife doesn't need the extra heartbreak. I didn't even go with security to follow up on this lead so not to arouse suspicion. I conferred with Taylor and agreed to send Hughes to check it out and report back immediately. It was less than an hour from my sound which makes it unlikely that it will be our daughter. It is more probable that she is out of the state or several away.

I emerge out of my study to join my family for breakfast. Sleep evaded me even when wrapped in warmth and love of Ana's arms. I watched her sleep, then got up to play my piano. Tunes that I hadn't played for years are becoming commonplace in the darkness that fills our home not just at night.

"Daddy, can I have pancakes with chocolate chips when I go back to school next week?" Lily ask looking less than pleased with her porridge. Shit... Lily is scheduled to go back to school in five days. She can't... she will find out... unless we tell her... the day is early, but already it has proven to be challenging. I kiss Ana, softly and with all my love when she comes downstairs. She is dressed in a pair of yoga pants and a plain white shirt, but she still looks sexy as hell. I commence eating what I can manage when Taylor appears in the doorway.

"Sir?" I excuse myself and head towards Taylor. Each step is a mission in itself.

"Taylor?"

"Hughes has made contact. You and Ana need to go. The hospital is refusing to grant Hughes access to the girl who fits Phoebe's description as he isn't a next of kin…." What? We never had this issue with any of the other hospitals. Usually when they have an unidentified person, hospitals are flexible. This way they solve the puzzle much quicker."…They have a rather strict policy. I will have Gail watch the kids and bring the car up the front."

"What condition is this girl in?" I demand to know.

"Again because of the hospital protocols they won't disclose any information; however, they confirmed that the unidentified girl had a birthmark similar to Phoebe." Relief and anguish hit me. Phoebe... we found her or is this going to be another disappointment? I deny myself hope and darkness threaten to surround me. Even if it is Phoebe, what we know this tells us nothing about her condition. Please God, let her be well no matter where she is.

"We will be there ready in ten minutes. I will call my parents. Have Ryan collect them and drive them over. I don't want my father or mother to be driving." Taylor nods and hurries away.

I walk over to Ana and whisper into her ear. Josh and Lily are talking animatedly about starting school that they don't pay attention to us. "We need to go… there is someone matching Phoebe's description less than an hour away."

"Again?" hope and despair fills Ana's face. I use to keep information from her to protect her until I realized that I wasn't helping her. Maybe this should have been one of those situations that would be, though.

"We need to get changed."

Less than ten minutes we have dressed and heading south. We told our youngest children that we need to go out for a few hours due to work. Lily believed it, but Josh didn't. That look in his eyes… distress. Something no child should have to experience. I hugged him and told him quietly not to worry that nothing bad was happening. Poor kid desperately wanted to believe me. I need to talk to Flynn, he might need some help.

Taylor succeeds to get us to our destination quickly, due to his skillful driving and the quiet Sunday morning traffic. I haven't let go of Ana's hand the entire trip and we maintain our tight grip even while we enter the hospital. To all the unsuspecting people around us, I look like I am quickly but casually walking in, but each step I take requires intense focus The hospital is small, and we approach the desk where we are met by the doctor on the roster.

"Mr and Mrs Grey?"

"Yes. Do you have our daughter?"

"I will need you to identify her, but this is a picture. Can you confirm that this is your daughter?" I snap the picture of out his hand out of desperation. Tears pour from Ana's eyes, and my emotions boil over.

"Yes. That is our daughter, Phoebe Grace Grey. How is she?" What I really mean is…. Is she alive? This has been my biggest fear the second we learnt she was missing. One that I haven't even dared to say out loud.

A/N: I promise not to keep you waiting too long for the next chapter. I will write it ASAP!