A/N Kayla – you're absolutely correct about the prologue, that was simply poor editing on my part, I apologize if it caused problems. Yes I do know about the crossover category, but the story just seemed to fit here.

To all – I've been reading some stories by Helen Pattskyn that are what you would imagine the ultimate crossovers to be like. She has characters from at least four different series and some movies and even video games in her stories. If you like crossovers I highly recommend this author. POE1911

THE LEGACY – CHAPTER 2

Inspiration had struck while she was painting and two hours turned into six. Even so, when she got back to her dorm, Ruthie couldn't sleep. There was something about Gary Hobson that was tickling her brain. She knew that she had met him before, but she couldn't remember where or when. Even when she put the thought of the enigmatic (but handsome) Mr. Hobson to the side, sleep still eluded her. It just went against her grain to accept help from other people, even her friends. Teressa was right, Ruthie knew this; but lying in bed at night, it didn't help her ego that she had needed someone else to bail her out of her trouble. Maybe it was simply growing up in the Camden house you were much more used to helping out than needing help. She allowed this line of thinking to percolate in her brain for a bit. Maybe that's why the Camden kids seemed to have so much trouble dealing with adversity, because that's when you needed to rely on friends, and they (as a group) were too used to being the ones that others relied on. I guess we're just wired different Ruthie concluded. And with that final thought, she finally went to sleep.

Saturday was laundry day, but this Saturday was also the day she was going to have to tell her parents that she had another job, and then wait for them to break out the smelling salts when she told them where it was. She had a few pairs of khaki's at school, but she had a lot more at home, and she was gonna need them, which meant she was gonna have to explain why she needed them, which meant that she was gonna have to tell her very over-protective parents that she was working in a bar. Which meant that they would immediately be on the phone to Simon, asking (no, telling) him to check the place out. She thought to herself that maybe she could have some fun with this. While her clothes were drying she worked out the tack she would take with her mom and dad.

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Gary Hobson was enjoying some quiet time for a change. Toni was sleeping in and there was only one save in the paper today, and that wasn't until 6:30 tonight. He looked at the young girl sitting just a bit down the bar. There was no way you would recognize Teressa Walters as the same person that had been running from her father four years ago. She was happy and vivacious, and simply a joy to be around. She hadn't always been like this of course, but Marissa had giventhe girlthe first stable environment that she had known in a long time. Gary knew that the girl felt guilty at times, especially when Emmet had taken that job in Atlanta, and Marissa had decided to stay. He knew that she blamed herself for Marissa being un-happy, and had even tried to leave at one point. Fortunately Toni could tell what had been going through the younger girl's mind and had headed the attempt off before it had ever gotten started. Gary wasn't sure if Marissa knew about this, he just knew that he hadn't told her.

"So what's the story on this friend of yours" he asked.

"You mean Camden; she's a fifth year at school. We've known each other since my first day, I got lost and she helped me out. She's kinda weird though, she's always helping everyone else out, but hates it when anyone helps her, and she's so independent that she makes Crumb look clingy."

"Hmph" was all Gary did, trying to picture anyone that independent. "Has she ever been by here before?"

"Not with me, but I wouldn't be surprised if you've seen her."

"Why's that?"

"Well, you're always reading the paper, I've lost count of how many awards and stuff she's gotten, and they're always printed up in there, heck she was even written up in Time Magazine when they did a piece on new artists."

"Maybe that's it" Gary said "there's something about her that makes me think I've seen her before. Maybe she was here with a boyfriend or something."

Now Teressa laughed "a boyfriend, Ruth Camden; the girl's practically a nun. You may not fully get this Gary, but I'm good at art, I love it; Ruth lives for it, it's as necessary to her as breathing. I could live without art, she couldn't, and that kind of attitude doesn't leave much time for anything else. Other than me I don't know if she has a friend in the world, I mean there's lots of people that like her, but aside from me I really don't think she has any true friends."

Gary looked down at the paper in front of him, the description Teressa had just given certainly did remind him of someone, two some ones to be precise. He looked back at the people that he and Toni had been before they had gotten together; living for the job. Maybe he was just recognizing a kindred spirit. And maybe Marissa could tell him some more. He found her just sipping coffee in the office and listening to some jazz on the radio.

"Hi Gary, slow day today?"

"Yeah Marissa, what can you tell me about our new waitress?"

"Not much, she took all the forms with her to fill out. She put her cup down and thought for a moment; most of what I know is from what Teressa has told me. She's from California, the Bay area, she has a bunch of brothers and sisters, her dad is a minister and her mom just went back to work as a teacher. Teressa thinks the world of her; Ruth's helped her out a bunch of times."

"Have you ever seen her or talked to her before yesterday?"

Marissa thought long and hard "no, I never have. Why the questions?"

"I can't shake the feeling we've met before, but I just can't place her."

"Maybe you should talk to Meredith, see if she can find out anything."

"Good idea Marissa, I'll try that."

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"Hi mom, how's everything at home?"

"We're all fine, I'm getting used to being in a classroom again and your dad's grumbling about passing the job on to Chandler again, but I don't think he will. How are you doing?"

"You know me; painting whenever I'm not in class, well at least until Monday."

"What happens Monday" Annie asked with some alarm.

"I start a new job."

"Doing what?"

"Just waitressing, that reminds me, could you send those slacks in my closet to me, I've got a couple of serviceable pairs here, but I'm gonna need more."

"Sure sweetie, that shouldn't be a problem; so where are you working at?"

"This bar called McGinty's."

"WHAT, you're working at a bar?"

"Yes mom, I'm working at a bar."

"What kind of bar?"

"The kind where they serve alcohol and appetizers and watch football, just a bar."

"You don't have to wear anything suggestive do you?"

"They didn't ask, do you think I should volunteer to? Maybe I'll get better tips; good idea mom."

Annie just held out the phone to her husband, Ruthie was working in a bar and she just couldn't cope right now.

Once he had been filled in on this new development he asked "so how'd you find this place Ruthie?"

"Teressa, my friend from school, her foster mom is part owner of the place."

"Does it seem like a nice place?"

"Sure dad, but of course they don't bring the strippers out till after dark."

"Cool" said a voice on the other line "Ruthie's gonna be a stripper."

Eric Camden stood there and listened to his youngest daughter laughing at the other end of the line. He was having quite a struggle between laughing out loud at the way his daughter was jerking his chain, and being angry at the twins for eavesdropping. "Well as long as you wear clean underwear" he jabbed back "otherwise your tips might be a little light". He heard silence from Ruthie for a second, then she dissolved into nearly hysterical laughter. It was good to know he could still surprise his kids once in a while.

When she finally got herself under control she told her dad "when you send Simon out to check on me, tell him to dress a little down, this really isn't the kind of place commodity brokers hang out."

"I hear you Ruthie" Eric said "and we'll get those clothes in the mail later today, you should have them by Wednesday."

"Thanks dad; Oh, and tell mom I'm sorry for yanking her chain so hard, I just couldn't help myself."

"Sure Ruth, be careful, and I love you."

"I love you too dad, and mom and the twins. Bye"

Eric just looked at the phone in his hand. Ruthie was offering them the chance to have Simon check the place out; she'd be disappointed if they didn't have him do it. That and Annie would insist he did, because when she heard bar, she thought biker bar, or worse. Well, no time like the present he thought, and dialed the phone.

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"Carson"

"Meredith, its Gary."

"Hey Hobson, what can I do for you?"

"Could you run a search on someone for me?"

"No problem, what's the name?"

"Ruth Camden, she's an art student here."

"OK, now what's going on?"

"She's the new day waitress, I get the feeling we've met but I just can't pin down where or how, I was hoping that maybe something that actually got published would put me in the right direction."

"Got it. Christ there's fifty one articles here; you want the highlights or the whole things."

"Everything you've got, anything might give me a clue."

"Whatever, you want me to run that by or can you pick it up?"

"I don't have anything until six thirty this evening, so I can be by there in about thirty minutes if that's OK."

"Sure, anything interesting" she asked, meaning the save.

"Yeah, a pretty spectacular one. The old McCormick warehouse is gonna burn down and about ten homeless people staying there are gonna die."

"Any way you can stop the fire?"

"I hope so, but there's no mention about how it starts, so not much I can do. I'll try, but when that's the case it usually means the building's gonna go, and I should just focus on the people."

"I hear ya, well this stuff is now waiting on my desk, so if I'm not here, help yourself. And be careful tonight, I don't want to be writing your damn obit."

"I will be, thanks Meredith."

She hung up the phone and thought a minute; then leaned out her office and yelled "Aguilera".

Janet Aguilera had graduated with a degree in journalism from some redneck school in the south, but she was a top flight reporter. Sometimes her writing wasn't as polished as the big wigs wanted, but everything she did was solid. Her parents had been migrant workers, now they owned their own place somewhere in Alabama, so the kid wasn't afraid to work hard.

A Latino girl stuck her head in Meredith's office. "You bellowed Jefe?" (Jefe is Spanish for boss)

"Yeah kiddo, how's the story on towns poaching water from the Great Lakes coming?"

"Ready to publish in two days; I'm just pressing the collars and cuffs."

"I'm looking forward to seeing it in print. What do you know about the old McCormick warehouse?"

The girl frowned for a second "that's that place on the Chicago river that someone wants to turn into another 'Water Tower Place' isn't it?"

"That's the place; check into it and see who would get rich if it didn't happen."

"Has something happened?"

"No, but ya gotta learn to anticipate in this game, a big project, a lot of green being flashed; someone's gotta be pissed about it, see who is and how pissed they are. Then if something does happen, you're ahead of the game, not playing catch-up ball."

"Thanks Jefe, I'll get on it" and with that, the younger girl headed back to her desk. She had learned more in two weeks from Meredith Carson than she had in four years of college. She wondered where the hell her boss got her instincts from, and wished it was something else she could learn. She sat down and called up everything they had on the warehouse and got to work.

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Outside the McCormick warehouse at 6:15 in the evening, a very heated discussion was going on. "If you think you're going in there alone, you've been breathing too much smoke mister."

"Toni, we've been over this, ten people are gonna be trapped in the basement, I've got to go get them moving, and you've got to find a way out of there. We've got to split up."

Toni Brigatti just stood there and ground her teeth for a second. In the three years she had been married to Gary, she had picked up on the look he got when he wasn't going to budge on an issue. Unfortunately it tended to coincide with the times he was forced to do really dangerous rescues, like charging into burning buildings and such. "Fine, but take my badge and wave it around, if they think you're the police they'll move faster, and won't argue as much."

"Good idea dear, I knew there was a reason I love you so much" he said as he kissed her.

"Just watch yourself and come out in one piece, promise me now."

"I promise" he said, and went to roust the basement tenants.

She was searching for an exit from the basement when she heard something hit a door near her. It was something or someone pushing from the inside. She watched from the behind a dumpster as a non-descript middle aged man forced a door open, then closed it and started to chain it shut.

Knowing that she had seen enough, she drew her gun and yelled "freeze" from cover.

The man jerked around like the devil himself had just tapped him on the shoulder. Fortunately for him, he was unarmed or Brigatti would have dropped him on the spot.

Hurrying forward, she snapped the cuffs on and secured him to a nearby hand rail. Then she went back to the door so she could open it. 'Damn, the little weasel snapped the lock shut before I stopped him'. She turned to the guy who looked like a shoe salesman and asked "where's the key"?

Giving her a sneer of contempt he said "you're a detective, go detect one".

She realized that beating this guy to a pulp and then searching him for a key would be rewarding but would take too much time; she could already smell smoke. She turned back and pulled the door open as much as she could and yelled "get back from the door". Then stepping back and aiming her gun, she squeezed off about five rounds, trying to break either the chain or the lock. It was tricky business in the low light. She darted forward and pulled on the chain, it came apart and the door opened. Right behind it was a roiling mass of smoke, and the first of Gary's rescues. Eventually all ten were out, and now she was just waiting for Gary. Taking a deep breath she yelled "that's ten Hobson, now get out of there".

Hearing this, Gary didn't hesitate and sprinted for the door that Toni had opened.

Bent double and coughing he looked at the guy that had started the whole thing, "is this the guy" he asked his wife.

"Yeah, my guess is he's a pro."

"So he probably won't talk"

"Not likely, unless you've got a way to persuade him."

Gary gave a wicked grin and turned to the ten people that were now even more homeless. "Hey guys, it looks like we caught the guy that burned you all out."

There was a low muttering, almost a growl from the ten people now looking at the shoe salesman.

Gary turned to him "how about you tell us who hired you, or I just stand back and let these folks register their complaints with the way you do business."

The man gave a startled look from Gary to Toni to the ten homeless people "you're cops, you can't do that."

"I'm not a cop, did anyone ever identify themselves as a police officer, have you been read your rights? I don't think so, so we can pretty much play this as hard as we want. And right now I want a name or these ten people tear you to pieces while I watch."

Toni gave her husband an admiring look, she knew he would never allow anything like that to happen, but he came across as totally sincere. What's more, the weasel believed him; hell, if she didn't know him, she would have believed him.

The arsonist, his eyes wild, kept looking from Gary to the people, flickering, looking for some sign of mercy, and not finding it. Finally he broke, and started giving up not only the guy who hired him for this job, but every job he had ever done, once he started, he just wouldn't shut up. Eventually the guy just dissolved into sobs, Toni stopped taking notes and Gary dispersed the homeless people, telling them about a shelter near-by, a shelter that was holding cots for them thanks to a previous phone call.

Toni had recuffed the guy and was leading him around to where she knew the black and whites would be. Just as she rounded a corner, there was a flash, and she was momentarily blinded. "Great picture Detective" she heard, "you looked like a deer in the headlights".

"Dammit Diaz, one of these days I'm gonna plug you and make it look like an accident" she grumped, and kept moving toward the front of the building.

"No you won't, cause I make you look good Detective" the photographer answered as he sauntered away. He wondered how Aguilera had known something was gonna happen. She had asked him to get a couple of pictures of the warehouse on his way home, no rush, and now he found himself on the scene of a four alarm blaze. The kid definitely had instincts.

He headed back to the Sun-Times to develop these in time for the morning paper. The next day, the picture he had just taken would be on the front page, along with the headline 'Hero Cop Saves Ten and Nabs Arsonist' and that wasn't too shabby.

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Two people are wandering down the moonlit streets of Chicago.

"Well you had me convinced."

"Just good acting."

"I'll say; I could use a bit of that for interrogation."

"Well, we're doing 'Taming of the Shrew' this year, why don't you come out?"

"Acting, me, I don't think so."

"Why not, you've done undercover work, that's acting."

"Yeah, but this is in public."

"Come on, you'd be perfect for Katarina."

"Who the hell's that?"

"A character in the play, she's this hard headed girl that doesn't take any crap off of anyone, much like an Italian detective I could name. Besides Crumb would be your father."

"Crumb's in this?"

"Just like every year."

"I'll think about it."

"Thanks Toni"

"You're pushing it Hobson."