Title: Family Ties

Author: I AM GRUMPY BEAR

Rating: PG 13 (for later Chapters)

Spoilers: None

Disclaimer: Don't own them. Sorry.

Summary: Sequel type thing to Problems with the Past. Hazel is back with a new partner to help Gary and Crumb with a problem. (Really bad summary.)

Note: No note

Family Ties

Chapter Two: Bad Day

"I thought yesterday was the worst day of my life, and then today came." Rae Slaton

Hazel let out an angry sigh of frustration and stared at the red light. She knew she was going to be late and there wasn't anything she could do about. It wasn't good for FBI agents to run red lights.

The light changed to green. "Finally," said Hazel as she started to drive again. She turned a corner and a rollerblader skated out in front of her car. Hazel slammed on her brakes and swore loudly. "Watch where you're going!" Hazel shouted out the window. The rollerblader didn't even acknowledge her. Hazel swore again and drove the rest of the way to work. She got out of her car and slammed the door shut. "Forgot my briefcase," said Hazel. She turned around and tried to open the car door. It was locked. Hazel looked inside and saw her keys still in the ignition. "God Damn it," said Hazel. She started to bang her head against the car roof. "I hate my life," she said through clenched teeth.

"Do you need a hand?" someone asked her.

"No," said Hazel. "I need a crowbar."

"Don't have one of those," said the person.

"Then you can't help me then, can you, Tom?" said Hazel. She turned around and walked into the building.

"How was the funeral?" asked Tom as he followed her.

"Sparse," replied Hazel.

"Not a lot of people?" said Tom.

"His parents," said Hazel, "and a few others. His parents glared for awhile, then swore at me, and then spit at me. Then this guy started asking me too many questions, and I glared at him, and then I left. End of story. Today on the other hand has been incredibly horrible."

"What happened?" asked Tom as they stepped into the office area.

"So far today I have stubbed my toe, cut myself with a knife, lost some important papers, caught every red light on my way to work, nearly hit somebody in my car, locked my keys and my briefcase in my car," Hazel looked up at the clock, "and now I'm late for work." She slammed her hand down on her desk. "This day cannot get any worse!"

Tom, who had been taking a drink from his coffee, spit it back into his cup. "Don't say that, Hazel," said Tom coughing a bit. "Things can always get worse."

Hazel looked at her friend. "You know something I don't, don't you?" said Hazel eyeing Tom carefully.

"No," said Tom quickly, "but in this business we should know things can always get worse." He took another drink of his coffee.

"You do know something I don't know," said Hazel.

"No, Hazel," said Tom. He sat down at his desk and started to work.

Hazel was about to say something else when she called into her boss's office. "Get in here, Hazel," said her boss. Hazel looked skeptically at Tom and then walked into the office.

"Yes, Anderson," said Hazel as she looked cautiously at her boss.

"Have a seat, Hazel," said Anderson. Hazel slowly sat in the chair in front of his desk. "How was the funeral?"

Hazel stared at Anderson. "This isn't about the funeral, is it?" she said suspiciously

Anderson sighed. He really didn't want to do this to Hazel, but he didn't have a choice. "It's not about the funeral," said Anderson. Hazel continued to stare at him. "You're getting a partner, Hazel."

"What!?" shouted Hazel as she stood up. "You can't be serious."

"Sorry, Hazel," said Anderson.

Hazel stared at him and then muttered, "Some days you're the dog, and some days you're the hydrant."

"You'll meet your knew partner tomorrow, Hazel," said Anderson.

"I really hate this," said Hazel as she turned and walked out of the office. She walked over to Tom's desk and said through clenched teeth, "You knew about this." She walked out into the hall and screamed at the top of her lungs. Everyone in the office looked toward the door

Hazel walked back into the office and sat down at her desk. "You guys all knew, didn't you?" she asked the four people in the office.

No one said anything for a minute until finally Tom said, "Yeah, we did."

"Why did you tell me?" asked Hazel. Her voice was unnaturally quiet.

"We knew that's how you would react," said a woman.

"It's gonna repeat itself," said Hazel. "I'm almost as old as John was."

"No you're not, Hazel," said another man. "He was forty, you're thirty."

Hazel ignored him and went back to work.

???

Hazel walked into her boss's office and sat down in one of the chair's in front of his desk.

"I'm ready for my punishment," said Hazel sarcastically.

"Try to make this work out, Hazel," said Anderson.

Hazel didn't respond to what he said. "Just introduce us," said Hazel.

"You have paranoias, Hazel," said Anderson. "Get some help for them."

"Just introduce us!"said hazel. She had a short fuse lately.

"I can't yet," said Anderson. "She's late."

"That's great," said Hazel sarcastically. "What's his name?"

"Her name is Nicole Stevens," said Anderson. "She's brand new to the game. You'll be teaching her everything."

"You're really not making me feel any better about this," said hazel. "I don't have good luck with partners."

"You've only had three," said Anderson.

"My first one was killed, my second got me shot, and my third turned out to have no will power," said Hazel. "So far, I haven't had a partner that stuck."

"Let's hope you do better with this partner then," said Anderson. Hazel heard the door behind her open. "Here's your partner now," said Anderson with a smile.

Hazel stood up and turned around and stared at the girl standing there. "You're that idiot rollerblader!" shouted Hazel pointing at the girl.

"You're the crazy lady that almost hit me," said the girl.

"I see you already know each other," said Anderson with a smug smile.

"What are you?" asked Hazel as she continued to stare at the girl. She wore an old jean skirt, hot pink t-shirt, and an old pair of tennis shoes. She had a bag that Hazel was sure she had put the rollerblades in. "Are you seventeen?"

"I'm twenty-six," said the girl.

Hazel walked out of the office and the girl followed. "I'm Nikki," said the girl.

"Hazel," said Hazel simply.

"Alright," said the girl. "They told me you're a pretty good agent."

"So?" said Hazel. "They told me you're new to this."

"Yep," said Nikki. "My parents wanted me to be a doctor. Too serious."

"So you chose this instead?" asked Hazel staring at Nikki. "Why?"

"For the adventure," said Nikki.

Hazel shook her head and walked away.

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I know. Still no one from Early Edition has been in the chapters. They will be. Next chapter. I'm promise.