Reunion


Cassie woke up the next morning, dragging herself into the shower before getting ready for work. She loved her job and everything about it. Every day was different. But at the moment with everything that was going on at home, with her family and also with Theo, it was hard to find the escape in it like she used to.

She headed downstairs after drying and straightening her long dark hair. She then got into her gear, grabbing what she needed and leaving her messy bedroom to head downstairs for some quick breakfast.

She did think about moving out into her own place sometimes. She was twenty-two and definitely had the finance to live on her own, she just wasn't sure if she was ready for that responsibility just yet. It was pretty convenient to still live with her parents, and she liked the company of course.

She headed into the kitchen, puzzled when she saw it was empty. Her parents were normally up for work, both having breakfast together. Her dad would be reading the paper and her mom normally would be on her computer doing last minute work before leaving the house. But neither of them were there, and she was sure she saw their bedroom empty upstairs.

Not thinking much of it, she switched the coffee pot on and began making herself a cup. When she opened up the fridge for some milk, it was then she noticed a note stuck onto it beside the collection of family pictures.

She ripped it off and read what the note said.

Cassie

Me and your dad will be gone for a few days. Don't worry and please don't alert the cops. We'll call you soon but for now just let us take care of this. Let Thea and Jude know and keep an eye on each other. Dean is there if you need anything. We love you and we're going to fix all of this.

Mom

Cassie sat the note down on the table, nervously placing her hand over her mouth. She felt sick at the thought of her parents walking into a potential trap, or somehow ending up in grave danger. She knew that all they wanted to do was protect them all, and to make it better for them. It was just the type of parents they were, but she wasn't sure she could stay quiet and let them do this.

She switched the coffee pot off, grabbing her jacket and leaving the house, getting into her car and driving to work whilst calling her oldest sister.


She arrived at the station, mid phone call with Thea as she frantically told her she suspected their parents had already left to go to Puerto Rico, no doubt early hours of the morning. They hadn't given any time for any of them to convince them otherwise.

"The note didn't say much." Cassie said, walking into the station with her phone pressed to her ear, talking to her sister.

"That's definitely where you think they're going?" Thea asked.

"Well they're not going on vacation, Thea." Cassie shook her head, quickly punching in for her shift, "Dad was out all last night, probably finding out stuff he shouldn't have. God, they're gonna end up getting killed. It's just the two of them. Who knows who she has working for her. Maybe this was her plan all along. Maybe she was waiting until they snapped and took action themselves." She said, walking through the station towards her desk.

"We don't know anything yet." Thea said, "I'll try call mom and dad."

"Mom said she would call soon on the note." Cassie said, "We should have known they'd do this. Quickly leave without anyone seeing so no one could stop them." She said, "And they're doing this because they think we blame them."

"I'm sure that's not entirely why they're doing it. The woman is evil." Thea shook her head.

"Yeah and mom and dad think we blame them for her showing up and messing with everything." Cassie said, "And they're trying to make it better and they're just gonna end up dead." She sighed stressfully, sitting down at her desk and leaning back, "God, this is not good, Thea."

"What if we tell the cops?" Thea asked. She was currently at the hospital for her shift, stepping outside to take the call from her worried sister. She was struggling with her sobriety, but pushing through the best she could.

"Mom said on the note not to tell the cops." Cassie said, "And if I did, they'd probably get in trouble." She shook her head, "Thea, what do we do? We can't just wait on them coming home. And even if they do find her… what are they gonna do? Kill her? And then the Puerto Rican police take them in?"

"Ok, you need to take a deep breath." Thea suggested, "Stop thinking ahead of yourself." She said as Cassie sighed, "Come to my house after your shift, we'll talk about it. I'll call Jude and let her know." Thea said.

"Yeah, ok." Cassie took a deep breath, "Ok." She nodded, "What if something happens to them?" She panicked, "We should have made sure that… that they didn't do anything crazy-"

"Listen to me, they're a lot smarter than you think. They're not gonna go over there and jump into things. Just… don't let your head go there. I'll see you tonight." She told her sister as Cassie nodded, hanging up on the call and sitting her phone down as she ran her hands over her face.

She then watched as Theo was approaching her desk, groaning to herself. This of all things was not what she needed.

"Hey." Theo said as Cassie looked up at him.

"Hey." Cassie sighed.

"Are you… ok?" He asked, noticing she looked stressed.

"Yeah… yeah, I'm fine." Cassie shook her head.

"Look, I was hoping we could talk." Theo said, "We haven't said a word to each other since that night last week." He said.

"Theo, now isn't really a good time." She said as Theo nodded.

"It's never gonna be a good time." Theo said, "I really think we gotta talk about all of this. I hate coming here and feeling like I can't even look you in the eye." He said as she sighed, "I miss you. And not just… not just being with you like last week but… talking to you, being friends." He nodded as she looked at him.

"I'm sorry but I have a lot more important things to think about right now." She said as he looked across at her.

"What do you want me to do?" Theo asked, "Get down on my knees?" He questioned.

"I want you to just leave me alone, Theo. Ok?" Cassie said seriously, standing up as he watched her.

"Oh, ok. So I'll just wait until you're ready then. Shall I?" He asked with attitude, "You know what? If you keep pushing people away you're gonna end up alone, with no one." He nodded as she looked up at him, staring at him as he pushed by her and walked on down the station.


"Hey, what's going on in here?" Jude smiled, walking into her bedroom where she saw Sean sitting up against the headboard watching TV with Mirren sitting beside playing with her blocks. She was a very happy, content baby. Easily amused by the smallest things. It made their life a lot easier.

"I'm watching TV and Mir is cooking up some fine architecture." He nodded as Jude smiled, "Although… I think she's getting ready for her nap." He smirked as Jude smiled.

"As inviting as that sounds… I actually just booked a flight to Chicago. I gotta pack a bag." She nodded.

"Why? You're going on your own?" Sean questioned, turning the TV down.

"Thea called me. My mom and dad have gone to Puerto Rico. They've not told Cass or Thea anything, just that they'll be gone for a few days. They've obviously found out information on their own. Cassie is in a panic and Thea doesn't know what to do so. I mean they could be walking right into a trap." Jude sighed, her heart beating fast at the thought of anything happening to her parents, "And I feel like…" She looked down at the ground and sighed, "I feel like I've pushed them to this. Making them feel guilty. And that… God, that wasn't intention."

"I know that wasn't your intention." Sean said.

"I want you to stay here with Mirren. I'll feel so much better if you stay here with her. I don't wanna take her to Chicago." Jude shook her head.

"I'm not letting you go back on your own." Sean said unhappily.

"I'm a big girl. I'll be fine." Jude assured her, "My flight is in the late afternoon. I'll get there around dinner time. I'm gonna stay with Thea." She nodded, "We're gonna figure out what we're gonna do-"

"Well what are you gonna do?" Sean asked, "Why don't you call the cops? Why doesn't Cassie just tell Jake?"

"The note my mom left specifically said not to involve the cops." Jude shrugged, "And that Uncle Dean was there for us if we needed anything so… I'm assuming he knows what's going on. We'll get it out of him." She nodded.

"Babe, I'd feel better if I came with you." Sean said.

"No, you stay here with her. She's way safer here." Jude nodded, "I'll call and check in." She said as Sean nodded. He recognised that her sister's needed her, and he knew she'd be there in a heartbeat if any of her family needed immediate help. It felt like the thing they'd all been dreading was finally upon them.


Later that night, Cassie headed to Thea's after her shift, immediately bombarding her sister with her concerns and worries. Thea did her best to try calm her down, but as one sister entered her house, the other one followed.

"I'll get it." Thea said after hearing a knock at the door, walking down the hallway and opening up the door where she saw Jude in person for the first time in six months.

"Hey." Jude sighed, relieved to see her sister, feeling her heart swell. It wasn't until she touched down in Chicago, thinking about so much on the plane ride there, that she realised just how much she'd missed her sisters and her family.

"Hey." Thea sighed, a lump in her throat, pulling her sister into a tight hug as Jude squeezed her tightly.

"Are you ok?" Jude asked her, pulling back from the hug and looking at her sister who just nodded by default.

"I'm so glad you're here." Thea shook her head as Jude nodded, walking through to the kitchen with her and into the kitchen where Cassie immediately ran to Jude and grave her a hug.

"Hey." Jude smiled, hugging her baby sister tightly, "It's so good to see you guys." Jude sighed. She couldn't emphasise it enough the fact she was not leaving Chicago because of her family. Her family meant everything to her.

"I'm so glad you came." Cassie sighed with relief as Jude cupped her cheeks and nodded.

"I spoke to Dean." Thea said, "Dad got information from an old buddy, got an address for Janet but… there's a chance she might not even live there anymore." She said.

"And they're planning on just knocking on her door?" Jude questioned.

"You haven't seen how they've been this past week. Especially mom." Cassie said, "They want this finished. I figured when mom said about going to Puerto Rico that she was just putting it out there. I never thought they'd actually just take off. And now I feel terrible because… you know them, you know they're doing it to make sure nothing happens to us." She sighed.

"Dean also said something about a PI meeting them in Puerto Rico to help them." Thea added.

"FYI, PI's are shady." Cassie said, "Well, most of them anyway. Wannabe cops who get you in trouble." She nodded.

"What the hell are we supposed to do here?" Thea shook her head, standing with her sisters in the kitchen.

"Has anyone tried calling mom or dad?" Jude asked.

"Yeah but no answer." Cassie said, "She did say on the note she'd check in but… I don't know if that was just to keep me sweet." She said, looking at her sisters, "I think we've gotta go to Puerto Rico." She said with no choice.

Jude looked over at Thea who sighed to herself and nodded.

"Yeah…" Jude nodded, "Yeah, ok. Thea check flights." She said, "Cass, is there anyway you could find this address from the station? To see how legit it is?" She asked.

"Uh… yeah." Cassie nodded bravely, "Yeah, I can find the address. I can search her up in the system and get a list of them. Gives us options." She said as Jude nodded.

"Ok." Jude nodded calmly.

"We can get a flight tonight." Thea said, looking on her phone.

"Can you get that information tonight?" Jude asked Cassie.

"Yeah." Cassie nodded with determination. It was what her mother was after from her in the first place, but she refused to find it for her, because of this exact situation happening.

"Ok, get the flights." Jude nodded, taking a deep breath as they looked at one another.