Warning: Intense Violent ahead.

"Why can't we at least offer to help?" Gilbert argued for probably the hundredth time and Roderich groaned, falling back in his office chair and adjusting his glasses.

"We have no business getting anywhere near a police investigation that's not taking place in our own district, let alone our own city. And besides what could we offer them? More stale donuts? More clueless cops?"

"More manpower!"

"More bodies getting in the way."

Gilbert made an angry snarling sound, "Those Micnat kids were found on the edge of our jurisdiction. That cop just got lucky cause he got turned around-you read it in the report yourself!"

"But it's not our case, and you have no right to mention getting lost while on patrol if I remember correctly." Roderich snapped, pointing his pen accusingly in Gilbert's direction, "If something in connection to their case were to magically appear from the sky then I'd already be on the phone. But nothing has, and probably nothing will. Let those cops do their jobs and you do yours."

"But-"

With probably the worst timing anyone could possess, Vash stuck his head into the office looking for Gilbert.

"Are you ready to-ah, I'll… I'll wait out here." He blanched, realizing he'd interrupted another of his cousin's arguments and quickly ducked back out again. However the damage was already done as the distraction gave Roderich an opening.

"Go on patrol. Do your job and protect this city." He said, standing up to get the door for Gilbert, "And let the rest of us do ours, okay?"

Not able to think of anything helpful to retort with Gilbert stomped from the office, sparing a dark look for his partner before storming out the door. Vash's only response was a sympathetic shrug in Roderich's direction before following. Roderich sighed, closing his office door and collapsing in his chair, glancing at the email holding the report of the Micnat kids.

It wasn't like Roderich didn't want to help; it was just there was no legitimate-or believable-way to help. He didn't know those kids or the people that took them, he didn't know a lot of the areas they'd been sighted in, and try as he might he wasn't much of an expert on missing kids.

Except for how it felt, and how you live with something like that every day.

He knew Gilbert saw Ludwig in every kid that went missing. He made them all personal, like if he could find them then he could find him. And he knew it tore his brother apart on every case. Because Ludwig wasn't the one that was found in the end, and odds were he was never going to be.

He had to chew on his tongue at that thought for a moment before burying himself in work as a means of distraction. Hours flew by and before he knew it there was a knock on his door.

"Come in." He called, putting the last touches on a report before looking up to see Vash standing awkwardly in the doorway.

"What's up?" If anything, Roderich had expected to see Gilbert ready for round two.

"I… I think Gil's right." Vash said quietly, "I think we need to try and do something."

"What?" Roderich asked, "What could we possibly do?"

Vash stepped further into the office, shutting the door carefully, "We've kinda been following the sightings and reports as they've come in. And logic argues that if those kids were found just outside our reach, then it stands to reason the people responsible could have possibly come our way."

"Thus you're on the lookout for suspicious activity and now this…" Roderich glanced at the wanted paper buried under his reports, "Julius Vargas character."

"Well," Vash sighed, "Remember when we used to play war?"

"When we were kids?"

"Yeah. And how part of that game was finding a good hiding spot to be your base?"

"You always ran for the park down the road if I remember correctly." Roderich said.

"Until Ludwig disappeared and then we were confined to the backyard." Vash said, "And so I'd hide anywhere from the shed to the treehouse to the attic. But you always hid in the same spot-your closet."

"So?"

"Well at first I couldn't find you even when you chose that same spot. You liked staying close to where you were comfortable."

"Vash, what does this trip down memory lane have to do with anything?"

"It's the same in perps too," Vash explained, "They like hiding where they're most comfortable. And if those kids were found not too far from here I'm willing to bet those guys are still in the area. Maybe just in a new rat hole but still in a setting they know their way around."

"You want me to call the other precinct up and say maybe their guys are in our area? What good will that do?"

Before Vash had a chance to answer the phone rang. Roderich considered ignoring it but something in his gut told him to answer it, along with Vash's gesture to go ahead.

Picking the phone up from the cradle Roderich tried to not sound as tired as he was at the end of a work day, "Hello?"

"Lieutenant Edelstein?"

"Yes? Who is this?"

"I'm Detective Wang, I'm from the district over," The voice said, "I've recently uncovered some leads to a case I'm working and it's pointing towards your jurisdiction. I was hoping we could work together while I investigated."

Roderich was pretty sure he choked on air or something because he began coughing in surprise, much to Vash's concern, and he had to fight to shout, "Yes, o-of course. Anything you need we'd be honored to provide."

"I'm glad," And suddenly Detective Wang sounded almost as tired as Roderich felt, "I'll drive over in the morning with some case files if that's alright?"

"Yes, yes," Roderich said, reaching up to tug at his hair as what he couldn't believe was happening, well, happened! "I'll have a conference room set up for you and provide some officers as support."

"Thank you very much sir, good night."

"G-good night…" Roderich let the phone drop back to the cradle as the call ended, barely registering Vash calling out to him, "Mm-what?"

"What was that?" Vash asked, "You look like you've seen a ghost!"

"That was Detective Wang… apparently we do have something to offer his case after all."

He knew something was wrong when the car pulled up and only two got out.

Gerhalt's car had been the last to arrive and Grandpa had started to get worried as the hours ticked by. Now that worry was threatening to vault into a full on panic attack as only Gerhalt and Lovino stepped from the car and there was no sign of their other two passengers.

He slowly approached the two of them and when Gerhalt noticed he nodded in his direction.

"We dumped them at a gas station, though I'm a bit insulted you told that thing your plans and not me."

Grandpa stopped short, blinking, the wheels turning in his head before a conclusion sprang forward.

Oh no.

He. Wouldn't. Dare.

Evidently he would as that thing stood awkwardly beside Gerhalt instead of bolting into the room like he normally would. He kept his gaze to the ground but guilt radiated off him in thick waves and Grandpa worked to force a smile.

"Timing was a bit of an issue, won't happen again." He then reached out to snatch the young naïve idiot of a charge and drag him towards the motel room, "I'm tired, I don't want to be disturbed. The others are already settled in the other room if you want to join them."

Lovino didn't fight him as the two entered the motel room and he was thrown harshly to the dirty carpet. He didn't fight as Grandpa aimed a kick in his direction and then another. Finally the older man hoisted Lovino up by his collar with a snarl twisting his face into something menacing.

"What the hell did you do?" he hissed before swiping at Lovino's head. Lovino flinched at the blow but remained quiet, "You're just lucky I value my image more than I value you or I'd let that meat head wipe you up and down the pavement!" He shoved Lovino onto the bed and backhanded him before he had a chance to sit up.

Lovino was breathing heavily and swallowing blood down from where he'd bit his cheek. He fought to remain silent but couldn't suppress a small squeak when his groin was kneed as hard as Grandpa could manage.

"Talk!" Grandpa snapped, slapping Lovino so hard he tumbled from the bed and back to the floor.

"I thought… I thought we're already on the run as it is because of those two, why not give them back?" Lovino managed to get out before he was kicked and ended up nose-deep in the carpet.

"Or maybe you were worried they were going to replace you." Grandpa hissed, "Guess what, they were!" He punctuated his words with feet to Lovino's abdomen, "They were more valuable than you could ever be. You lost me an investment!"

"They were slowing us down!"

"You were trying to save them since you can't save yourself!" Grandpa's voice was nearing a scream, "Or those little punks in the room next door!"

"I'm sorry!"

Grandpa grabbed Lovino roughly by his bloody jaw, "Oh sweetheart," He whispered menacingly as he leaned down, "You're going to be."