Title: Family Ties

Author: I AM GRUMPY BEAR

Rating: PG 13 (for later Chapters)

Spoilers: None

Disclaimer: This is my second EE story and I still don't own it.

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: I had problems with this chapter, but I did my best.

Family Ties

Chapter Three: Roman Numerals

"Live ever day as if it were your last...and someday, you'll be right." H. H. "Breaker" Morant

Two Years Later

Hazel walked into her apartment and set her briefcase down on her couch. A huge dog came bounding through the hallway.

"Hey, Wadsworth," said Hazel as she looked through her mail. "Bills, bills, bills." She came to a letter with no return address and set down the rest of the mail. Hazel opened the envelope and pulled out a sheet of paper. The paper said 'Dear Hazel' and the rest of it was covered in roman numerals.

"What is this?" Hazel asked her dog not expecting an answer. The dog just stared at her. Hazel sat down at her kitchen table and started to puzzle over the paper. "What is this?" Hazel asked again. Hazel figured it was either a prank or a code. She got several more pieces of paper out of her briefcase and started to work. Wadsworth settled down at her feet.

???

Hazel rested her head in her hand. She looked over at the clock and saw it was three o' clock in the morning. She looked down at the paper in front of her and saw that only about a third of the letters had been figured out. "The code keeps changing," Hazel said to Wadsworth. The dog looked up at her and yawned. "I know how you feel," said Hazel with a laugh.

???

Hazel filled in the last letter of the sheet of paper and sighed. "Done," she said through a yawn. She looked over at the clock and saw that it was 8:45. Hazel shook her head and looked back at the paper. Hazel read the paper to herself and then looked down at her dog. "This is bad," she said her voice trembling a little. She shoved the paper into her briefcase and ran out of her apartment.

???

"Where is she?" Nikki asked herself after looking at the clock again. Hazel had been late more than usual lately. She saw Hazel run into the office in the same outfit she had worn yesterday. "What's going on, Hazel?" asked Nikki.

Hazel stopped and stared at her for a minute. She tried to say something, but no words came out. She ran into Anderson's office and Nikki followed.

"What's going on, Hazel?" asked Tom who had been talking to Anderson.

Hazel was only able to mouth a few words. She handed the paper to Anderson and collapsed into a chair.

Anderson read the paper and then looked at Hazel. "What is this, Hazel?"

"I found it in my mail yesterday," said Hazel quietly. "It took me all night, but I figured out the code."

"This is serious," said Anderson.

"What is it?" asked Nikki.

Anderson looked at Hazel and she nodded. Anderson handed the paper to Nikki and she read it aloud. "' Maureen Elizabeth Hazel. Born December 19th, 1967, Died April 14th, 1999. Gary Daniel Hobson. Born March 16th, 1967. Died April 14th, 1999. Zeke Marion Crumb. Born August 7th, 1938. Died April 14th, 1999.' What is this? Who are these people?" (A/n: Please understand, I don't know what Gary's middle name is or what Crumb's name is or when they were born. I thought I heard that name for Crumb on the show once. Please don't be mad. I haven't been watching the show for very long.)

Hazel was staring at her hands. She looked pale and tired. "I'll tell her," said Tom. He turned toward Nikki and said, "The people on that list are from a case Hazel worked on about two years ago. You heard of Bostwick, right?"

"Yeah," said Nikki. "I did."

"That's the case they're from," said Tom.

"What is the paper about?" asked Nikki.

Tom shrugged and looked over at Hazel. She looked up at them and said, "Look who signed it."

Nikki looked at the bottom of the paper and saw the name. "Bostwick," said Nikki. "I thought he was dead."

"He is," said Anderson. He looked over at Hazel and saw that she was staring blankly at the wall. "I think you might want to take a bit of time off, Hazel."

Hazel looked up at him as she quickly stood. "No," said Hazel. "I have never taken time off. I'm not starting now."

"I'm telling you," said Anderson lowering his voice. "Take some time, or I will find a way to make you." Hazel glared at him. She grabbed the paper from Nikki's hands and left the office.

"You're taking time off with her, Stevens," said Anderson as he sat down at his desk. Nikki looked over at him. "With this letter, I don't want her off on her own. You're her friend. You can help her."

"I wouldn't call us friends," said Nikki. "I think we're just partners."

"You've stuck," said Anderson. "You're the second partner she's had that stuck."

"Second?" said Nikki giving Anderson a funny look.

"If you take some time off you can ask her about her first partner is this business," said Anderson.

"Fine," said Nikki, "but I don't guarantee a thing. See you, guys." She gave a small wave and walked out of the office.

???

Nikki knocked on Hazel's apartment door and waited for a response. There wasn't one and Nikki knocked again. "Hazel!" she shouted as she pounded on the door. "Hazel! Are you in there?!" She heard somebody stumbling around inside, but Hazel still didn't come to the door. "Let me in, Hazel!" Nikki shouted pounding even harder on the door. Still no one came. Nikki grabbed the handle and found the door unlocked. Nikki threw open the door and saw Hazel running around the apartment carrying clothing.

"What's going on?" asked Nikki.

Hazel looked over at her. "When did you get here?" she asked in a confused tone. Hazel ran a hand through her hair and walked over to her couch. She had a suitcase open that she was packing.

"Where are you going?" asked Nikki.

Hazel looked at her. She looked dazed and confused, but behind her eyes there was something Nikki had never seen before in Hazel. She saw fear. "I'm going to Chicago," said Hazel quietly. She continued to pack the bag.

"Why are you going to Chicago?" asked Nikki.

"I have to help some people there," said Hazel. She saw that Nikki was stilling staring at her. "I have time off."

"You're a terrible liar, Hazel," said Nikki crossing her arms and staring at her partner.

Hazel looked at her and said, "What are you going to do? Make me stay here?"

"Why would I do that?" asked Nikki. She was worried at Hazel now.

Hazel stared at Nikki for a moment longer and then zipped up the bag. "I have to get going," she said as she walked toward the door.

"You're not going any where, Hazel," said Nikki grabbing hold of Hazel's arm. "What the hell is going on?"

Hazel pulled her arm loose from Nikki's grasp and said, "None of your damn business."

"It is my business, Hazel," said Nikki. "You're my partner. We look out for each other. Obviously something is wrong. More than just that letter. What is it?"

Hazel avoided Nikki's eyes and started to walk toward the door. "I have to go."

"I'm going with you," said Nikki.

"What?" asked Hazel turning toward her partner.

"I'm going with you," said Nikki. "Maybe then I'll find out what the hell is going on. You give me twenty minutes to go home and pack my own bag and then we can be on our way."

"I don't need a partner for this," said Hazel.

"Yes, you do, Hazel," said Nikki. "It's obvious someone isn't happy with you. Partners look out for each other. You of all people should know that. Come on. We'll take my car." Nikki walked out the door and reluctantly Hazel followed.

???

The plane took off into the night sky. Hazel was sitting on board next to Nikki. She still couldn't believe she had let Nikki come. Hazel sat there with her head hanging down. She hated to admit it, but she was scared to death. She had no idea what was going on and two other people were in danger.

"Right now I hope someone is playing a sick joke on me," Hazel muttered to herself. Nikki looked over at her. "Did you say something?" she asked.

"No," replied Hazel. Nikki shrugged and went back to the magazine she had been reading. Hazel yawned. The night of lost sleep was catching up to her. She closed her eyes and fell asleep.

???????????????????????????????????????

Yeah. Next chapter will be better. I promise.