Alison sat the computer in the corner of the lab. There was a new drug that hit the street and it was taking down users. She was doing her best to help Adam try and get information on the websites that were selling the drug. Mac came into the lab.

"Any luck on the Boogeyman." He asked. Alison leaned back running her fingers through her hair.

"No the sites are getting taken down as fast as they are getting put up." She exhaled.

"I don't know if we will be able to track down the source. None of these places are up long enough for me to track them." Mac nodded looking around the lab.

"I put Greg on analyzing the drug but he came upon a dead end too." Alison nodded.

"Well if I know my father he's doing his best to get these guys off the street." Mac Nodded.

"Speaking of your Dad I have a meeting with him." With that, he walked out. Alison turned back to her computer when her phone rang. Alison answered it on the first ring.

"Detective Reagan-Sanders." She didn't keep the last name but found when answering the phone there was gently less confusion if she used both.

"Aunt Al," Nicky said, Alison looked around her seeing the lab was empty she put the phone on speaker so she could continue to talk and work.

"What is it, Nicky." She asked pulling up another website.

"Mom is all mad about the party and is taking it out on the colleges," Nicky said.

"Nicky can you blame Her," Alison said, Nicky sighed.

"I did everything she ever wanted me to do in a situation like this so what's the problem." Alison stopped typing and picked the phone up.

"Nicky your mother is 12 years older than me and I am 9 years older than you. Your mom has always treated me like a daughter more than a sister. I have always talked to you more like a sister than a niece." Alison said.

"I have thought that too so what." Alison took a deep breath.

"Your mother had to live with the fact that on my way home from a party. I'm sure much like the one you went to I was taken. And unlike you who came home and told her what happened, I was gone. Six months of my life are completely dark to her. There was nothing she could do. I was going to MIT not some party school so the idea of you going off to school is terrifying." Nicky was quite for a few minutes.

"What happened." She asked quietly. "I was too young to know. Mom just said you were gone." Alison gave a sad smile.

"One day when you are older you can look at the file like everyone in the family has been given the chance too. Not everything is included but it has the general facts." Alison said.

"Did my mom look?" Alison smiled.

"I don't know. I don't know who has looked. That's something that was established." Alison said.

"I'm sorry," Nicky said her voice was trembling slightly. Alison smiled.

"Nicky there is nothing to be sorry about what happened to me had nothing to do with you. But be sure to cut your mom some slack. This is going to be hard for her." With that, she hung the phone

The family sat that the dinner table eating.

"So where are we with the college search?" Frank asked Erin and Nicky share a glance. "Or not."

"We're kind of going in different directions," Nicky said.

"I wouldn't say that," Erin said.

"My top three choices are Stanford which is the reach Duke and Vanderbilt," Nicky said.

"Stanford's in California," Henry said.

"I went to Stanford it's a good school," Greg said around a mouthful of food.

"If she goes to Stanford she'll come back for Christmas with bleached tips." Alison smiled at him. Greg rolled his eyes.

"I knew I shouldn't have let Hodges show you those pictures." He growled out at her.

"They're all great schools Pop," Frank said.

"Yeah but all a plane ride away," Henry said.

"It's just by coincidence," Nicky said.

"Coincidence," Erin said.

"Yes," Nicky said.

"Nothing in the northeast," Frank asked.

"You wouldn't even consider Harvard Nicky," Jamie asked.

"More like I don't think Harvard would consider me." Nicky said.

"Nah if you're shooting for Stanford then Harvard should be on the list," Jamie said.

"Yeah," Henry added.

"She wants to be away," Erin said

"I think it's great Nicky I mean we're gonna miss you not just your mom but all of us," Linda said.

"And I'm gonna miss all of you. And nothing definite obviously but I can we please just change the subject before I start crying." Nicky said.

"In other words, she might still pick MIT," Alison said. Everyone looked at her. Greg patted her hand shaking his head.

"My dear if Nicky is going to one of our Alma Mater then it will be mine as you heard it was already in the top three," Greg said making everyone laugh.

"Nicky wants to go someplace big and new and far enough away she can feel like she's truly on her own" Erin said.

"I remember that feeling," Danny said.

"You do," Nicky asked.

"Yeah Ended up in the middle of Iraq in a war can't say I recommend it," Danny said.

"And I'm having trouble dealing with it Columbia was plenty big and new and far away for me," Erin said.

"And she's not you," Frank said.

"I know that," Erin said.

"Hey I live in the house I grew up in I got the same job my dad did my sons have the jobs I had when I was their age and I wouldn't have it any other way so…But you're not me either." Frank said.

"You know how I know it's the right way to go," Nicky said.

"How sweetheart," Henry asked.

"Because when I really think about it I feel excited but also kind of like throwing up," Nicky said.

Alison and Erin were doing the dishes. Erin turned to look at her.

"Do you really want Nicky to go to MIT," Erin asked. Alison sat on the counter drying the dishes.

"Sure I do it's a good school." Erin looked at her.

"But will she be safe there." Alison took a deep breath.

"Erin it happened 8 years ago. And in New York, not MIT." Erin held up her hands.

"But the guy has killed 8 other women and is still out there." Alison flinched.

"Believe me I know Erin but I finished my degree at MIT without incident. He hasn't don't anything in years. If Nicky wanted to go there she would be fine." Erin shook her head.

"You don't know that you cant know that." Alison hopped off the counter.

"Don't you think I know that! When I'm walking home or when I get called to another woman found shot and left for dead. But Erin It's been 8 years I can't let him live my life. If I let him direct all my moves I would have never married Greg." Erin crossed her arms.

"Al why are you so nonchalant about this." Alison got close to her.

"Because he is not interested in anyone in this family but me. He will find me one day and there is nothing I can do about it." With that, she walked away. "He will finish the job one day."