A/N: Glad people are enjoying this story-it's been a fun and quick one to write. Work has gotten a bit hectic suddenly so there may be a delay in the next chapter, but I will try to get it out as soon as I can. Until next time-ya'll are the best-PCGirl.

To say Matthew was angry was an understatement-this was his station now, his officers. But instead he was having to take orders from a former Commissioner, a former Chief of Detectives, and his Forensics Supervisor. Now he was standing by the door ready to grab Liam before someone else had a chance to tell him that John was in the building. He didn't know what was going on with these three-and they refused to answer any questions until he got Liam to the conference room they had set up.

"Liam," he said, getting his cousin's attention and hoping he didn't get mad at him later for this "Before you get started I have some paperwork I want you to read over."

"Ok?" he asked with a raised eyebrow, wondering why he was being stopped at the door today about this. Seeing the look Matthew gave him he put his hands up, "Alright. Can you tell me at least what it's over?"

"Not really," he said as he opened the door to the empty room and Liam saw a file on the table. "This isn't my idea-I was just asked for you to read over this and then call my office when you are done."

Matthew watched as he thought it over before nodding. Closing the door he headed back to his office-telling a few officers to hold on. Going in he slammed the door and looked at the other three in the room, "He's in there-now someone better tell me what the hell this is about."

Liam sat down in the conference room to read over the file-he didn't understand why he was given this task, or what it was about. Giving a deep sigh he opened it up and began to read the beginning of the detailed report.

March 2013

Agent M has previously been undercover in regards to a gambling ring. The persona he put on before will be a good match to that of a handler getting girls into the trafficking ring. Since his previous stint he has been out of the agency and name can be found in searches, a new identity will need to be created.

October 2013

Operation is complete and Agent M was to be released from service. Agent M has brought it to his superiors attention that he believes his true identity was determined as someone else in the organization has taken pictures of two women in his life in order to keep him in. Agent will be coordinator for new handlers and plants in the organization and continue taking action to bring down the whole system.

Liam read the end of the page and while he understood the situation written down he still wasn't sure why he was being given this. Reaching over he dialed Matthew's extension to tell him he was done and waited. A minute later Matthew came in, along with Bo, his mom and John McBain.

"What's going on? Is this some kind of ambush?" he asked, anger that he felt he was tricked into going through with this.

"It's not an ambush, Liam," said Natalie softly. "What you read is a report going over what happened when John left-why he couldn't come back. We figured if you read it from an objective standpoint-."

"That what? I'd be able to forgive him for not being here. For missing out on all of my childhood? Sorry, mom, but that's not going to happen," he said as he looked at John-knowing his mom was probably close to tears and if he glanced her way he'd break down too. "I told you in DC I don't care. Now that I've done this stupid training I'm going back to work."

"I don't think that's a good idea," spoke Bo. "Your head isn't in the right place at the moment, Liam. If you were to get called to a scene right now you could miss something or put yourselves and others in jeopardy. I'm not your boss, but I strongly suggest you take the day off."

Liam looked over at his cousin who had a look on his face saying listen to him. "Fine-whatever. I'll be back tomorrow."

Natalie watched as Liam and Matthew walked out of the room before slipping down into the chair. Bo looked down at her, feeling sorry for what she was going through, "You ok, Nat?" he asked as he squatted down in front of her.

"No, he's right-it was an ambush. I just thought-if he was to look at it through the eyes of a detective maybe it would make more sense."

"It will-once he's had time to digest it. Remember when you first came to town? The thought of being abandoned by us and how angry it made you? This is the same thing with John. Just give it time. I'm going to give you some privacy, I'll see you before I leave though."

"Thanks, Bo," she said with a sad smile. She remembered how she was when she first came, and how Bo seemed to be on her side from the beginning. She was so glad he was still there-all this time later.

John took one last look at Natalie before leaving as well, "I can stay with her-if you need to go somewhere."

"No, I don't think that's a good idea."

"Excuse me?"

"She needs space, John. They both do. You may not have meant to but you caused this situation. You had her-for lack of a better word-mourn her relationship with you by herself. And then-after she had, she still wasn't sure what all to tell Liam. What was safe to tell so he wouldn't go down a pipe dream later in life to find you."

"I wanted to come back-but I wasn't going to ruin another marriage. That was what the medal was for. You never gave it to her."

"Because she was going through a lot at the time."

"Yeah, I keep hearing that," he sighed and looked back at the room she was in.

"Listen-Liam will come around-he's his mom and forgives with time. That's what you need to give him right now-time and space."

Liam stood at the Angel Square fountain studying the statue's face as she looked up to sky. He wondered what stories she could tell-having stood tall all these years he was sure she'd seen it all. Then he wondered what of his parent's relationship she might know.

He shook his head-he didn't care about their story. Or at least that's what he was trying to continue to believe. After he'd left the station he'd gone to the apartment, but for the first time he'd found it too quiet. And in the quiet he heard himself wanting to go back to the station and find out the answers. So, he'd left there and gone to the gym to work out his frustration. He'd thought about going to LU and happening to run into Charlotte. Maybe he could talk her into skipping the rest of her classes for the day and spend it with him. But her getting an education was important to both of them, so instead he'd texted her to meet him for lunch.

She was a sweet girl and they were casually dating. More than just a girlfriend she was one of his best friends-someone he could talk to when he needed to talk, or just sit in the quiet and seem to have a conversation without any words. She was a few years younger than him-a point that both Ryder and Drew loved to mess with him about, but he didn't care.

"Hey, McBain."

He heard the voice, and though he was having a pretty crappy day by his standards, he couldn't help but smile. "Hey, Vega," he said back as he looked back and saw her coming towards him.

"So you finally decided to come out of whatever hole you've been hiding in for the last few weeks?" she said as she made her way over and they both sat down on the ledge.

"Yeah, I'm sorry about that," he said, feeling guilty for blocking her out. He valued her friendship so much, and he'd treated her like it was nothing these past few weeks. "Uhm-John McBain was at the Station earlier," he said and watched Charlotte laugh. "What's so funny?"

"Sorry, it's something my dad said. I mentioned how you'd been standoffish and aloof these past few weeks. He said that sounded just like John McBain."

Liam shook his head, "Yeah, I guess so. Mom wants me to hear their story-or at least why he left."

"My dad's told me some of their story-if you want to hear it."

"Really? Why?"

She shrugged, "I guess he thought it'd help me understand you more."

Liam studied her and wondered if he even wanted to know, "Ok-so what did he say?"

"They were married before-your mom and my dad. Did you know that?" she asked and watched him nod. "When John McBain first came to town he underestimated your mom-and caused a lot of heartache to her. But mostly he says your dad is a good man. That he's saved mine's life a few times, and your mom's as well. He didn't know why he left, but knowing John McBain it had to be something pretty big in order for him to walk away from the two of you."

Liam thought back onto the write-up he'd read earlier and realized that maybe what Mr Vega said was true. "So that's why you get me so well? Because you know where I come from."

Charlotte reached out and pushed his dark hair back some so she could look into his eyes that she loved to get lost in, "Perhaps. So what do you want to do this afternoon?"

"Don't you have classes?"

She shook her head, "No, it's my short day today. Which you would have known had you actually talked to me the past few weeks. How about we pick up a pizza and head back to your place for awhile?"

"Ok," he said as he pulled her into a side hug. "You know-I didn't want to sit in the quiet-but maybe, with you there, it won't be so bad."