FIRE AND RAIN

DISCLAIMER: I don't own the characters they belong to others.

Please send me reviews. I love the feedback

Author's Note: Just a reminder this story runs concurrent to the Something Big Series, it's just what was going on with Webb.

Sorry DiverSam for changing your view of the nose tapping.

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Clayton Webb was back.  His plane landed at Andrews Air Force Base and he couldn't get out of there fast enough.  It was 6am and he didn't care.  He wanted to see Anna.  The past few months he had done a lot of thinking.  Every moment he could, he spent with Anna.  Something he had never done before. The amazing time they had at Mac and Harm's wedding, well suffice it to say that Clayton Webb was most definitely a changed man. 

He had been gone almost 3 weeks, the trip lasted a lot longer than expected. He was able to speak to Anna once while he was gone, that was two weeks ago.  The connection was poor and the most he got to say was "I miss you." He picked up his cell phone and said, "Call Anna" the phone rang and then a pre-recorded message came on, "The number you have reached has been temporarily disconnected."  Webb looked at his phone and dialed the number manually, it rang again and the same message came on.  This is weird. He thought.  He then said, "Call Gianetti" this time Angelo picked up the phone.

"Hello?" Angelo said with a yawn.

"Angelo, its Clay Webb is Anna there." Webb asked.

"Clay where are you?" Angelo asked.

"About 30 minutes from Anna's. I'm trying to reach her the number's been disconnected." Clay said impatiently.

"Clay, come to Fredericksburg." Angelo said.

"Angelo what's going on?" Clay asked.

"Clay, just come here." Angelo repeated.

"No tell me what's going on?" Clay demanded.

"Clay, things happened while you were away." Angelo began.

"What things? Where's Anna?" Clay asked again.

"She's gone. We tried to find you" Angelo said. "Even called those Navy friends Anna mentioned."

"What are you talking about? Where's Teresa?" Clay asked.

"She and the kids are in New York with Lucia." Angelo said.

"This is crazy; I'm going to Anna's." Clay said.

"Clay, listen to me. She's not there." Angelo said.

"Then tell me where she is." Clay yelled.

"I don't know." Angelo began. "She should have never gone back into law."

"What the hell are you talking about?" Clay shouted. "She is dealing with petty criminals."  Clay only heard bits and pieces of what Angelo said.  Her client was killed in her office, something about a deal, she's gone. "I could have protected her."

"Clay we couldn't even find you.  How were you going to protect her?" Angelo asked.

"I have friends, she knew that." Clay said.

"What could an employee at the state department do?" Angelo asked trying to make him see the absurdity of his comment.

"Where is she?" Clay demanded.

"I don't know. None of us do." Angelo replied.

"Was she kidnapped?" Clay asked.

"Clay she's gone. That's all we know." Angelo said.

"What are the police doing about this?" Clay asked.

"They are looking for her." Angelo said. "They want to question her for murder."

"Murder? She wouldn't kill anyone." Clay yelled.

"She sent a letter, she's gone.  She ran." Angelo said.

Clay didn't even respond he just disconnected the call. 

Webb pulled over and banged his fist against the steering wheel.  She didn't run she would never kill anyone. Someone took her.  He dialed a number.

"Reston Police how may I direct your call?" The operated stated.

"Sergeant Osgood, please." Webb said. Osgood was always in early.

"Osgood," He answered.

"Osgood, it's Clayton Webb, what can you tell me about Anna Paparini?" Webb demanded.

"Webb, long time, what does your office have to do with this?" Osgood asked.

"We handle everything." Webb snapped.

"A client was found shot in her office. Ms. Paparini is no where to be found.  You put it together." Osgood said sarcastically.

"Cut the sarcasm. Anna wouldn't kill anyone. What kind of gun?" Webb asked.

"A .357 put a hole the size of the Harbor Tunnel through the guy." Osgood said.

"Anna has a small .22." Webb stated. "I am sure you knew that."

"We did, how did you?" Osgood asked.

"I know everything." Webb said flatly. "She's not running someone took her."

"Webb, right now she is the only suspect." Osgood said.

"Who was the client," Webb asked.

"A kid named Mike Giordano." Osgood replied.

"He got into some trouble recently," Webb said remembering the last time he saw Anna. "Around April 27th, he called her because he was at Metro. I don't know what the problem was."

"Well the ADA from DC is the one who found him at her place. It was a dead end." Osgood replied.

"Osgood, trust me here, check that angle, that case is connected to his murder. I know Anna, you should be looking for her because she missing not because she killed someone." Webb stated.

"Webb, this woman has mob connections. You do know that? I think this was a mob hit and I believe she's the one that pulled the trigger." Osgood said.

"She is not in the mob, nor is her family.  She worked for the Federal Prosecutor in New York. I'm telling you she is a victim here." Webb said.

"Webb why is this so important?" Osgood asked.

"She's a friend, a good friend." Webb replied.

"Maybe you have clouded judgment?" Osgood stated.

"Trust me." Webb said. "Check out Giordano."

"Ok, if you say so." Osgood said unconvincingly.

"Do it," Webb ordered.

"Webb, are you telling me how to run an investigation?" Osgood asked.

"You have to know that she is another victim here, not a murderer." Webb said.

"According to our evidence she is a murderer. Webb, do you know where she is?"  Osgood asked.

"No I don't." Webb said.

"Webb, don't get in the way of my investigation." Osgood warned.

"Are you threatening me?" Webb snapped.

"Not at all, I am just warning you.  I have a job to do." Osgood said.

"So do I. Check out Giordano." Webb said and disconnected the call.

ANNA'S APARTMENT

Clay started his car up and drove to Anna's.  He looked around her parking lot and did not see either one of her cars.  He ran to her door and knocked, there was no answer.  Using his key he opened the door and went up stairs.  The entire place was in perfect order. He stood in the middle of the living room frozen.

Just yesterday morning they let me know you were gone
Suzanne the plans they made put an end to you
I walked out this morning and I wrote down this song
I just can't remember who to send it to

He closed his eyes and pictured her dancing around singing to Aretha Franklin.  He then walked over to the piano; the last time he was here they played "Heart and Soul."

I've seen fire and I've seen rain
I've seen sunny days that I thought would never end
I've seen lonely times when I could not find a friend
But I always thought that I'd see you again

He walked into the master bedroom, the place where they had shared their love; it looked cold.  He went down to the lower level, her office.  Everything was also perfect. 

Won't you look down upon me, Jesus
You've got to help me make a stand
You've just got to see me through another day
My body's aching and my time is at hand
And I won't make it any other way

He went back upstairs and stood there.  Thinking about everything they had shared.  He thought about the future he was planning, he couldn't believe any of this is happening.  Why didn't someone contact him?  He promised he would protect her.

Oh, I've seen fire and I've seen rain
I've seen sunny days that I thought would never end
I've seen lonely times when I could not find a friend
But I always thought that I'd see you again

He walked to the landing and sat down on the stairs.  He was hunched over, his head hanging and hands dropped between his knees.  His cell phone rang; he didn't even look to see who the caller was.  He threw the phone against the wall.

Been walking my mind to an easy time my back turned towards the sun
Lord knows when the cold wind blows it'll turn your head around
Well, there's hours of time on the telephone line to talk about things to come
Sweet dreams and flying machines in pieces on the ground

For the first time in his life there was at a loss. He had to find her, what ever the cost.  He no longer cared about anything else.  He reached into his pocket and pulled out the small velvet box.  He bought the ring on his layover in London.  He let the box fall from his hands and watched it as it rolled down the stairs.

Oh, I've seen fire and I've seen rain
I've seen sunny days that I thought would never end
I've seen lonely times when I could not find a friend
But I always thought that I'd see you, baby, one more time again, now

It turned dark and Clayton Webb had not moved.  He had been sitting there all day.  He heard the door below open; he didn't even reach for his gun.  He didn't care what happened anymore.  All he cared about was Anna.


"We thought you might be here. Everyone is looking for you." Harm said.

"Hey Clay," Mac said. "Have you been sitting here all day?"

"Clay? Say something." Harm said.

"When did you get back?" Clay asked.

"Last week." Mac said.

"Why didn't you contact me?" Clay demanded.

"We tried.  It all happened so fast." Mac said sitting down on a lower step.

"What happened?" Clay asked. "Do you know?"

"From what we have been told, Anna's client, Michael Giordano, was arrested for arson.  As she worked on his defense, he told her he was hired to set the fire." Harm began. "He offered to testify against those who hired him. Anna went to the ADA and relayed this information.  They were to meet at her office the next day.  By the time the ADA got here, Giordano was dead; Anna was gone." Harm told him.

"Her brother in law said the family doesn't know where she is." Clay advised them.

"We know. He called us that night.  We came right here.  To see what we could find." Harm said. "They think she killed him and ran."

"Anna wouldn't kill anyone, she didn't run.  Someone took her."

"Clay, what can we do?" Mac asked.

"Help me find her." Clay said.

"Clay, she sent me a letter and asked I give this to you." Mac said. "No one has seen it yet."

"I don't understand why she sent it to Mac." Harm said.

"She knew I wasn't here." Clay replied. "And my mail might have been checked. She doesn't know if they are investigating her or not."

"Clay here," Mac said handing him the letter.

"I don't want it." Clay snapped.

"Clay, she loved you. I would think you'd want to see what she said." Mac offered.

"Why? When I tried to give Harm your letter last December; he refused to take it." Clay stated. "He knew he would see you again."

"Clay that was different." Harm said.

"How? How is it different?" Clay asked getting up and walking into the living room.  Mac and Harm Looked at each other. How was this different? The followed Clay into the room and stood there not knowing what to do.

"Clay, come home with us." Harm said.

"You need family right now." Mac added.

"I need to find Anna." Clay replied.

"Then that's what we'll do." Harm said.  The three walked out of the dark empty apartment.  As they went down the stairs Mac noticed the broken cell phone and the small velvet box.  Causally she picked them up.

"Clay how about I ride with you?" Mac asked.

"Fine, whatever," Clay said. The cars left Anna's parking lot and drove to Mac and Harm's.

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Fire and Rain – by James Taylor