AN: Yet again I would like to thank everyone who reviewed my story.
Dedication: I'd like to dedicate this chapter to anyone involved with creating the SpongeBob show. It's the only thing that keept my brothers out of my hair long enough for me to write this chapter.
On with the Story!
A loud rapping at the door started Sara out of her sleep. She didn't even know she had fallen asleep. She looked quickly at her side and saw Tony. He was looking up at her, his eyes full of fear. Sara got up, and Tony watched her walk over to the door and put her eye to the peep hole. Sara smiled when she saw who it was.
"Hey Greg," she said opening the door and letting him in.
"I brought food," Greg said with a grin, indicating the pizza box he was carrying. When he put the box down, Sara gave him a quick hug.
"Thanks."
Greg shrugged. "I was coming over anyway to tell you about the case, and I figured you must be hungry, the kid too."
Tony had gotten off the couch and was standing next to Sara. Greg smiled at him. Tony just stared back.
"Tony," Sara said to the little boy. "This is Greg, one of my best friends. He's a little weird, but don't worry he's okay."
Greg grinned at being called one of her best friends. Sara picked Tony up and walked to the kitchen. Greg picked up the pizza box again and followed.
Dinner was relatively silent. Tony ate half a slice of pizza then she sat in his chair, staring off into space again. Greg helped Sara clear off the table and wash the dishes. When that was done Sara dug around the cabinets and drawers for paper and some colored pencils. These she put in front of the little boy, who immediately picked one up and started to draw. She would have to go to the store tomorrow to get some other forms of entertainment for him, along with clothes and a few other things.
Sara and Greg went into Sara's living room. Sara took a seat on the couch. Greg sat on the floor and put a few folders out in front of him.
"The house wasn't her's. She was renting it from the owner. Paid 3 months in advance. Cash. We found two packed suitcases in the closet. There wasn't any... family touches in the house. No pictures, plant life or anything like that. Only the bare nesscities. Not even a television set. There was only enough food in the house for a week or so. Her bank account has only a few hundred dollars in it. Her prints are being run through the system to see if anything pops"
"It sounds like she was hiding from something. Or someone," Sara said
Greg nodded in agreement. He put the few papers back in the folder. He stood up and sat next to her.
"I can't believe you became a foster parent for that little kid," he said, his voice filled with admiration.
"He had no one else. Literally. They probably would've stuck him in a mental hospital. No one want's a kid who screams constantly and hits the walls hard enough to make his hands bleed."
The two sat in silence for a moment and then Sara checked the clock.
"You should go, shift starts in an hour."
Greg looked at the clock for himself and then stood up. Sara stood as well.
"I'll see you later," Greg said, giving Sara a quick friendly hug.
Greg opened the door.
"Greg," Sara called. He turned and Sara gave him a quick kiss on the cheek. "Thanks, Greg. For everything."
She was still smiling as he walked down the hall and out the door of the apartment building. She was still smiling as she shut the door and walked back to the kitchen. Tony looked up at her.
"Hey," Sara said " It's not like I'm hopelessly in love or anything." She ruffled the boys short brown hair.
In the morning Sara took the little boy shopping. They picked a some clothes, and a few kids movies. They also got some coloring paper and crayons along with a few toy cars Tony seemed particularly interested in. Sara also got some groceries for the next week or so.
When they got back to Sara's apartment Sara sat Tony on the couch again. She put Finding Nemo on the TV and Tony was instantly absorbed in the movie. Sara unpacked the shopping and groceries bags. Then she started to make pancakes for breakfast. She and Tony ate their pancakes in front of the TV. Sara was just washing the breakfast dishes when there was a knock at her door.
She went to the door and wasn't surprised to see Greg there. She left him in. He looked tired and a little guilty, like a kid who got caught with his hand in the cookie jar.
"What's up Greg," she asked. his face showed he was obviously deciding weather to tell her or not.
"Spit it out Greg," She demanded.
Greg sighed and reached into on of the folders he was carrying again. With out looking at her he handed her an x-ray. Sara frowned and held it up to the light in the hall. Not the best way to view an x-ray but it definitely worked.
"Are these our vic's x-rays," she asked, her voice flat.
"Yeah," Greg said sadly.
The x-ray showed many broken or fractured bones. All facial injuries.
"How old are these fractures," She asked, a hint of anger in her voice now.
"Some are fresh, other are years old," Greg said, still not looking at her. "And there's another thing. We printed her house, and found prints belong to this guy." He pulled out another paper. A printed rap sheet. The guy was an ex-con. Covicted of several violent crimes included assault with a deadly weapon.
"Tyler Dirchy. What's his connection to the vic," Sara asked.
"Her husband." Greg pulled out yet another paper. A missing person report. "Lilliana Dirchy. She and her son Benjamin Dirchy have been missing for almost three years."
"Guess we found who our vic was hiding from," Sara muttered looking at the x-ray again.