Well well well its been quite a while hasn't it. My bad I promise I'll try better to keep up but I'm just so busy right now. Nehoo out of lurkdom and on with the story.

Bobby, ever the gentleman, offered a hand to the frail woman, sitting in the alley in front of him. "C'mon, we need to find Alex. If what you tell me is true, then we need to get to a much safer place."

"I've tried all my life to find someplace safe Bobby, but they're everywhere."

Bobby regarded Tori with a cautious eye. She was much m ore intelligent than she let on. Together, they crossed the street, dodging the never ceasing New York traffic. However, when Tori saw the crowds, she began to double back, not wanting the attention of the hundreds of people now crowding the lobby, waiting for her to return. Bobby grabbed her arm and smiled. "It never ceases to amaze me how fast reporters can find a decent story."

He pulled over to the SUV parked on the side of the street, using his towering form to shield her from the press.

"Miss miss…"

"What do you know about the shootings..."

"Can you tell us who the shooters are…"

Alex, seeing the sudden surge of the crowd scanned the crowd for her partner. Spotting him trying to push his way to the car, she began making her own way through the throngs of people. Reaching the SUV at the same time, She took her usual place in the driver's seat, while Tori and Bobby slid into the back. However pulling out was going to prove more than a problem.

"Jesus, every reporter in New York must be here right now." Remarked Alex as she attempted to reverse away from the curb.

However Bobby paid no attention to his partner, instead watching the reaction of the woman now sitting beside him. She clearly hated crowds having curled up onto a ball, head resting on her knees, trying to shut out the sights and sounds of the small riot happening outside. Finally getting the idea that the driver of the large vehicle was fast losing her patience, and that the vehicle was likely to cause a lot of damage to a human being, the crowds began moving away, clearing a path for the SUV.

"Bobby what's going on here?" Alex asked, gazing at her partners concerned face into the rear view mirror.

"Just get us to the station Alex, we're all in hot water if we hang around here for too long."

The rest of the ride was partaken in silence, everyone lost in his or her own thoughts. Alex wondering what the hell they had stumbled into. Bobby, wondering how a man could do that to his daughter, especially when he had loved her mother so, and Tori wondering why it was so hard to stay awake when she had so often spent several days in a row without sleep. Eventually she succumbed to the darkness, finding the temptation of knowing nothing for the next few hours far too powerful. Upon reaching the station, both detectives realised for the first time that Tori was asleep. Alex was the first to comment. "Must be the excitement of the day, not to mention her injuries and the fact that she hasn't eaten in days."

Bobby smiled. He still thought she looked just like 15-year-old, still innocent, knowing nothing but school, friends and the next 'social event of the year'. "We'll put her in the crib, she needs the rest. In the meantime, I think I should fill you and Deakins in. This goes much deeper than we could have imagined."

"Damn straight you better."

Bobby smiled at his partners mild annoyance at being kept out of the loop. He picked up Tori, who didn't even stir, and made his way towards the elevator, Alex bringing up the rear.

Once Tori was resting peacefully in the crib, Bobby, Alex and their captain sat in his office, waiting for an explanation.

"Well you were right about one thing Alex, this is gang related. However the gang is going to be hard to find. There is no data, no file and absolutely no information on them whatsoever. They been operating under our nose all along without anyone knowing."

Deakins lent forward in his chair. "So your saying we have no ides who could even be involved in these homicides?"

"No. What I'm saying is, until now, there is no evidence that this gang even existed, let alone is running enough drugs to supply the entire population of New York. We are very fortunate to have the daughter of the gang's founder sleeping in the room next door."

Alex's head snapped up. "Tori the daughter of a gang lord? Daughters of gang lords are usually the royalty of New York."

"I know," Bobby continued. "But this is the unwanted daughter of a gang lord. The daughter who witnessed their top level members sexually abusing young girls at the age of 10."

"Jesus Goren. This girl has been through hell and she's still alive somehow." Deakins' face darkened as he thought of his own daughters, trying to imagine how their was any way he could ever hurt his princesses.

"Anyway, these murders are all the concubines of the original members of the gang. Tori calls it the Brotherhood. They've been murdered one by one to protect the gangs secret business. They were trying to go to the police and they ended up like every other person who got in the Brotherhood's way."

Realisation suddenly dawned on Alex, "And now we're in danger because we have the one survivor keeping the secret."

Each of the detectives sat in silence, the effect this case would have on their lives now much more personal. Deakins was the first to speak. "Alright this is how it's going to happen. Clearly I need all three of you here or this case will never get solved, and I would like these bastards of the streets. However you are all to stick together. You will be escorted to and from the building by uniforms and all three of you will stay in a secure house under 24 hour guard. There will be no complaining, no sneaking around and absolutely no midnight wanderings is that understood?"

Both detectives shared a frustrated look.

"But Captain…"

"There will be no buts, I don't care if you think you can take care of yourselves. I am not risking New York's finest because they want to play hero. You will follow orders for your own safety."

Alex and Bobby shared another look, they both knew when they were defeated. They both rose simultaneously from their chairs and left the room without a word. Stepping out into the noise and bustle of the main office, Alex stopped Bobby and stepped into his personal space. To an onlooker, the sudden aggressiveness of the considerably shorter detective might have been amusing, however, Bobby was scared shitless. "Alright if we have to live together for the next few weeks, you will understand this. I will not take any of this insomniac genius crap. If your awake at 2am that's fine by me as long as I don't know about it."

Bobby just watched as his partner turned to continue down the hall, a small grin starting to spread across his face. Alex tossed her head over her shoulder. "And by the way, you better not snore."

Well that's it for that chappies. Tell me what you think? Ill post again when I figure out where this story is going exactly. Suggestions are most welcome.