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: Reviews and help would be greatly appreciated still.

Family Ties

Chapter Seven: Friction

"Learn the rules so you know how to break them." Chris Katton from SNL

"We can't do anything," said Hazel. "We don't have enough evidence to go to the police, and we have no idea where to look for him at."

"Are you saying it's hopeless?" asked Marissa. Her voice had a bit of anger in it.

Hazel sighed and said a bit more calmly, "I'm saying that April fourteenth is two days away. We know Hobson is missing, but he has to be missing longer than a little over a day to have them do anything about it. We don't have a lot of time."

There was silence in the office for a moment and then Nikki said, "What about going to the police as FBI agents?"

"But I thought you said you're here unofficially," said Crumb.

"We know that," said Nikki, "and you know that, but they don't."

Hazel thought for a minute. "Hell," she finally said, "what they don't know what hurt them."

"You can't be serious," said Crumb.

"Of course I'm serious," said Nikki. "We have an emergency. They're not going to look for him until he's been missing for a bit longer, by then it might be too late. Crumb, if you think about, you and Hazel are in danger too."

"Fine," said Crumb, "but what ever happens with that, I'm not involved."

"Fine,"said Hazel. "You're not, but we're not worried about what's gonna happen if they find out this is unofficial right now. Gary is missing and we have two days before the fourteenth."

Nikki could here a bit of anger in Hazel's voice and said, "Me and Hazel have to get going. We'll see you guys later."

Hazel gave Nikki a strange look, but didn't say anything. She got up and followed Nikki out of the office.

"I have to get going, too," said Crumb. "Good-bye."

"Bye," said Marissa. Crumb left the office and Marissa went back to work.

???

Gary was struggling to stay awake. "Why are you doing this?" Gary asked Bostwick who was staring at him from across the room.

"I told you," said Bostwick. "I want revenge. If you haven't guessed, Frederick Bostwick was my brother."

"So you're trying to get revenge for him?" asked Gary.

"Why would I try to get revenge for him?" asked Bostwick with a laugh. "I hated my brother. Always have, always will."

"Than who are you getting revenge for?" asked Gary. He was completely confused.

"Myself," said Bostwick. "My brother took every bit of attention in life. Everyone liked him more, even after he was arrested, my parents still didn't believe he couldn't do anything wrong. And you helped with that."

"What?" asked Gary. "I didn't even know your brother."

Bostwick glared at him and shook his head. "Just like Hazel had nothing to do with his death," said Bostwick as he walked out of the room.

Gary started to struggle with the ropes. He winced suddenly as his side hurt. He closed his eyes and waited for the pain to stop. Gary leaned his head against the wall and waited for a few minutes before he tried to get out of the ropes again. He was using all his energy just to stay awake.

???

"I'm not sure this is gonna work anymore, Hazel," Nikki said to Hazel as they walked into the police station.

"You're the one who suggested it, Nikki," said Hazel.

"I know," said Nikki, "but what if they try and check it out. I really don't want to get in trouble for this. We don't really have FBI support."

"Like you said," said Hazel, "you know that, and I know that, but they don't know that. Sometimes you have to bend the rules a little to get things done. Remember that."

"I never thought you would be one to break the rules," said Nikki. Then she thought for a minute. "I take that back. You would be one to break the rules because you don't seem like a person that would be a FBI agent anyway."

"I don't know whether that's an insult or a compliment," said Hazel.

"Just take it as a statement," said Nikki.

Hazel asked to see the police chief and when the officer gave her a funny look, she flashed her badge quickly. The officer quickly showed Hazel and Nikki into the officer and walked away.

"Can I help you?" asked the police chief slightly irritated. (I don't know who the police chief is. Sorry. Don't be mad.)

"My name is Agent Maureen Hazel and this is my partner Nicole Stevens," said Hazel. "We're with the FBI."

The police chief got a little pale. "How can I help?" he said trying his best not to sound tense.

"I received a letter in the mail," said Hazel. "It mentioned two names of people in Chicago. One was Zeke Marion Crumb, he used to be a police officer, and the other was a man named Gary Hobson."

"Yes?" said the police chief.

"I have the letter here if you would like to see," said Hazel getting the letter out of her pocket. She handed it to the chief and waited while he read.

"Do you know why they would be targeted?" asked the chief.

"I believe it has something to do with a case I worked on in Chicago a couple of years ago," said Hazel. "They were both involved."

"Your name is on this letter," said the chief looking up at her.

"I am quite aware of that," said Hazel, "but that's not the point. Gary Hobson has gone missing. I believe it has something to do with that letter."

"What would you like me to do about it?" asked the chief.

"I would you to have your officers on the look out for Hobson," said Hazel, "or this man." She handed him a copy of Samuel Bostwick's picture. The chief took and looked at it.

"Anything else I can help you with?" asked the officer. He trying to stay polite.

"No," said Hazel giving him a sly grin. "I don't believe there is anything else you could us with. Thank you for your time. Here's my number and my partner's. Good day." She and Nikki left the officer.

"What was that about?" asked Nikki as they left the station.

"What do you mean?" asked Hazel. Nikki could tell she knew exactly what she was talking about.

Nikki rubbed her hands together real quick and said with a "you know what I mean tone", "Friction."

"Not getting you," said Hazel as she quickened her step.

Nikki stepped in front of her and turned to face her, "The friction between you and that police chief. You met him before or something."

"No," said Hazel. "It's just me and police chiefs don't get along. They think the feds but in and they never seem to really like me personally."

"That's because you're arrogant sometimes," said Nikki. She was fed up with Hazel.

"Sorry for caring that someone has gone missing," said Hazel. She stepped around Nikki and continued walking.

Nikki stared her for a minute and then ran towards her. "There is something more to this," she said shaking her finger in Hazel's face.

"Don't do that," said Hazel grabbing Nikki's wrist and twisting it.

"Ow!" shouted Nikki pulling her wrist loose. "What the hell did you do that for?"

"Because," replied Hazel. She started walking again.

"I'm just trying to help you, Hazel," said Nikki.

"How?" asked Hazel angrily turning to face Nikki. "By trying to be my friend. Well newsflash. I don't need a friend right now. I need partner."

"You didn't need a partner a few days ago," said Nikki as she crossed her arms.

"Things change," said Hazel.

"Admit you were wrong then," said Nikki. "Go 'Nikki, I was wrong. I need a partner.'"

"No," said Hazel. "I don't have time to admit was I was wrong."

"We always have time to admit we were wrong," said Nikki. "Everybody is wrong sometimes."

"I don't have time for one of your little speeches," said Hazel throwing her hands up in the air. "In case you have forgotten, April fourteenth is in two days, and that's the day the letter says me, Crumb, and Gary are going to die. I don't have time. Gary's already missing."

"What did you call him?" asked Nikki.

"What?" asked Hazel obviously confused. She saw people were walking by and staring at them so she started walking again.

"What did you call him?" asked Nikki as she followed Hazel.

"Crumb," said Hazel quickly. She stuck her hands in the pocket of her jacket and looked around trying her best to avoid Nikki's eyes.

"You called him Gary," said Nikki.

"So," said Hazel. "I call you, Nikki. I called Marissa, Marissa. I call Tom, Tom. I call my brothers by their first names."

"But you've been calling him Hobson forever," said Nikki. "Why change?"

"It was a slip," said Hazel quickly. She continued walking.

"What's the deal?" asked Nikki.

"What do you mean?" asked Hazel quietly.

"I mean this entire thing," said Nikki. "It doesn't make sense. Why is even in that letter? Was he involved in the last case? Was he like Bostwick's partner gone good?"

"No," said Hazel quickly. "I told you. He wasn't really involved."

"Why is he in the letter then?" asked Nikki. "Why do you seem to care about him more than the other people in the letter?"

"What the hell do you mean by that?" asked Hazel angrily. "Are you saying I don't care that people's lives are in danger?"

"No," said Nikki. "I'm just saying you care about one of those lives a little bit more. I think you could care less that your name is one it, and you care that Crumb's name is one it, but you seemed to be worried the most about Hobson."

"He's the one missing," said Hazel through clenched teeth.

"I know that," said Nikki, "but I think there's something more there. Did you date while you were here in Chicago?"

"No," said Hazel.

"All I'm really saying is that it's really odd that his name is in the letter," said Nikki. "I read the file on the old Bostwick case and you're right. It doesn't seem like he had much to do with the case at all, but I'm going to look into him more."

"We have to find him," said Hazel. She was getting angry.

"We will," said Nikki. "Maybe his past will help.

"You think he's a criminal, don't you?" said Hazel.

"No," said Nikki. "I just think it's a possibility that there is more to this than meets the eye and if you really cared about this case, you would look into it."

"Nikki," said Hazel stopping suddenly.

"What?" asked Nikki.

"You have no idea what you're doing," said Hazel quietly. She was angry. "So why don't you just the shut fuck up and leave it alone. I know what I'm doing."

Nikki glared at her and said angrily, "I know exactly what I'm doing."

"No," said Hazel shaking her head. "You don't." She turned and walked away.

Nikki stood there stunned as she watched Hazel walk away.

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

I know, Bad language. Personally, I like the chapter.