Hey everybody!

I thought I could post two chapter tonight to make up for the late updates.

Enjoy your reading!

Pavs.

Chapter two: It takes a lost soul to find the way

[Lee]

He was woken up by his ringtone and swore under his breath when he saw that Barney was calling him. It had been two days since he'd disappeared, and when he'd asked Tool what was going on, he was told not to worry.

Well, that was easier said than done when you lived with a woman like Lacy. He finally answered his phone, knowing Barney would just call him back rather than leave a voicemail.

''Not dead yet?'' asked Lee, sarcastic as possible.

''Sorry to disappoint you, but no. Thanks for asking anyway,'' answered Barney, and Lee smiled.

''You sound like I care about you, crazy bastard,'' mocked Lee.

Barney laughed and Lee—not that he'd ever admit it—was reassured that his friend was fine.

''Listen, I need you to do me a favor,'' Barney said, and Lee sighed. ''I need you to put the guns back in the warehouse of the hangar. We'll postpone the inspection.''

''Are you mad? It took us hours to sort them!''. Lee exclaimed, outraged.

''I know. Look, Lee, I wouldn't be asking if it wasn't important. Take Gunnar with you," Barney instructed.

''Yeah, it better be. Anything else I can do for you my lord?'' Lee asked, and when Barney declined, he hung up on him.

He threw his phone on the bed and looked up to seen an angry looking Lacy staring at him.

''Well, fuck me,'' he muttered, thinking that Barney owed him an explanation.

[Tool's]

Tool was pouring himself a drink while half-listening to Lee's ranting.

''Why would he want us to do that anyway? Does he not know what it's like to have a life?'' Christmas demanded, and Gunnar snorted. Hale just smiled into his beer while Toll smirked over his book.

''You mean a crazy chick?'' Gunnar replied, and Tool tried to hide his smile while Lee was staring at Jensen.

''Well, at least I have someone,'' Lee retorted back at him, and Gunnar laughed before he walked to Tool's bike.

''Get that off,'' Tool ordered and Gunnar removed his shirt before he sat on the bike.

''You know, you ought to buy yourself a real tattoo chair,'' Toll laughed and Tool looked at him with an amused smile.

''And what about the style, eh?'' Tool answered, and Toll shook his head.

Tool started to tattoo Gunnar while Lee resumed his complaints about Barney and the fact that he should stop wasting his time. Toll decided to ignore him and went back to his book. Hale took it upon himself to call some food.

They'd been waiting for the pizza to arrive for about fifteen minutes when they heard footsteps. They looked at the open garage door, waiting for Barney to show up and explain what was going on, only to find themselves facing a beautiful young woman.

[Gabrielle]

It was just past dinner time when we finally arrived in New Orleans. I had fallen asleep on the flight, and my father had put my things in his truck before waking me up. I got out of the plane and saw that we were in a hangar. It was an old one by the look of it. There were three metal doors on my left, one garage door behind me, and the one used for airplanes was still opened in front of me.

Barney told me which one lead to the bathroom, and I went to open it, only to find out it was a locker room with a common shower and two bathroom stalls. I frowned thinking it was weird before telling myself that it probably already was like that when Barney bought it. I finished what I had to do there before going back to the hangar.

''Ready to go?'' he asked, and I nodded. ''Good. Let's go home then.''

.

It was a forty-five minutes drive from the hangar to Barney's house. New Orleans was bigger than I thought, and Barney didn't talk to me, giving me all the time in the world to look at the roads and buildings. As the time passed, I noticed that Barney was driving us into a…questionable part of the town before he stopped in front of a two-storey house that seemed out of place between two abandoned industrial buildings. He opened the garage door remotely and drove in, stopping the engine before he closed the door behind us.

I got out the truck and saw a beautiful motorcycle near a workshop with everything needed for mechanical maintenance. There were also locked cupboards located along the back wall. Barney went to unlock the door for me, and I followed him into the house.

Even though the garage took up a lot of space in front of the house, the main floor still had a respectable size. It consisted of an open area with a kitchen, dining space, and a living room. I smiled when I realized that I shared my father's taste for simplicity when it came to colors and style. He put my bags on my trunk and took all of it upstairs. I followed him to the first room on the left, which was apparently my bedroom.

''You've got a bed, a desk, a couple of book cases and a wardrobe. Behind this door you'll find a private bathroom with a shower. Use them as you wish,'' Barney said before adding, ''the door facing your room is the main bathroom. On your left is my office, and facing that is my bedroom…make yourself at home, kid.''

''Thank you, it's perfect,'' I responded with an honest smile.

''You know if you need anything to…upgrade your room or um…woman stuff we can go shopping,'' he said, visibly uncomfortable.

''Nah, I am good. Besides, I don't like shopping that much unless it's book, movie or music related,'' I said, and I had to stop myself from laughing at the pure look of relief on his face.

''Yeah, so um…call me if you need anything, I'll be downstairs,'' he said, and I nodded.

I then took the time to unpack my things and was almost done when I heard my stomach protest. I went down and saw Barney hanging up the phone.

''Everything ok?'' he asked me, and I looked at my feet.

''Just wondering when we would eat?'' I answered, and he seemed to hesitate.

''I gotta go to Tool's place. He's a friend of mine. The guys I work with might be there as well, and they're probably gonna eat with us if that's ok with you?''

''I guess I would have met them sooner or later,'' I said, and he took his keys and wallet before heading outside.

We walked to Tool's, and on our way there, Barney showed me where were the local stores and told me where to find the guys in case there was a problem. I was about to ask him how he met them when I saw the Tool's Tattoo Shop sign.

The windows were covered by posters of classic rock bands, and I smiled. The place would have scared the hell out of my family, but I could hear Barney's friends laughing, and the closer I got, the more I could smell gas, beer, and ink. There was a large garage door opened, and I could see a wall covered in drawings and paintings. I was almost inside when I saw who I supposed was Tool tattooing a blond man on a bike that was converted into a tattoo chair.

All the others' bikes were parked in the front, and I finally walked in. They were all staring at me. They all seemed younger than my father, except for Tool, who put down his tattoo gun and smiled at me. I smiled back and offered him my hand to shake. He laughed, kissed my cheek and put a hand on my shoulder.

''No need to be so formal, love. Welcome to my place. The name is Tool,'' he said, and my smile grew bigger.

''Gabrielle,'' I said.

The blond man got up, and I suddenly realized how imposing he was, more so than any of them. And I'd be damned if he didn't have the bluest eyes that I had ever seen. The circular scar that barred his cheek and his size alone should have scared me, but I felt safe. I didn't understand why, I just did.

''Hey Barney! I didn't know you liked them that young. Missing the old times?'' he mocked, and I looked at my father with a questioning look.

Hadn't he told them who I was? I looked around and saw two men sitting on the back of a couch. There was also a pool table, chairs, a TV mounted on the back wall and a target with gashes that looked like they were made by knives.

''That's the reason I had to clean up the hangar?'' another one said, and I turned to him.

He'd spoken with a British accent and had moved from one of the chairs to face us. He was bald, a bit taller than Barney without being as muscular—although I had no doubt he was just as strong— and was currently looking at me with an annoyed look on his face.

I stared back at him, daring him to make another comment to my face.

''Wow, not only has she got your eyes, she even inherited of your stare,'' Tool commented, clearly amused.

The guys looked confused, and Barney cleared his throat.

''Guys, this is my daughter, Gabrielle. Gabrielle, this is Tool, Gunnar, Lee, Hale and Toll,'' my father introduced, and I tried to hold my laughter at the expression on Gunnar's face.

I really did try and failed miserably. I laughed so hard I started crying. I could hear Tool laughing too, and when I calmed myself, I could see the rest of them smiling except for Gunnar, who looked uncomfortable. Lee was looking at me like it would give him answers.

''Sorry, it was a long flight,'' I apologized.

''Don't worry kid, they've seen worse,'' Tool reassured me, and I shrugged.

''Well…um…sorry about that,'' Gunnar said awkwardly, and I smiled at him.

''No problem. Could've been worse,'' I said, and then I looked at Lee and added, ''I could've been the one to transform you into a maid.''

Lee snorted and turned around to get another beer from the fridge under the TV.

[Barney]

''Hey man you don't feed her or something?'' Hale asked him when the pizza got there, and Gabrielle looked at him with an amused smile.

''I was told you'd share,'' she said, taking Hale's plate from his hands.

''Wow, you are a brave one,'' Hale said, and Gabrielle laughed.

''Yeah, sure. Whatever you say sweetie," Barney's daughter said, and even Barney had to laugh at the offended face Caesar made.

The guys exchanged a knowing smile, and he had no doubt that Hale had just got a new nickname for their next mission. He saw Tool's smile disappearing from his face, and Barney sighed when his friend came closer to him.

''You didn't tell her,'' Tool commented, and Barney took another sip of his beer. ''How much longer do you think you can hide it from her?''

''As long as I can. She's got so much going on already. She deserves some peace and quiet,'' Barney answered.

Their attention was caught by bursts of laughter, and they both saw Gabrielle and Toll laughing at Hale.

''I can't remember the last time I saw them like that,'' Tool said.

''Me neither,'' Barney agreed. ''I thought she would be shocked to be here. It's not anything like her home.''

''And it's probably exactly why she's better here. You and I both know what it's like to have a constant reminder that we lost people,'' Tool observed.

They saw Gabrielle yawn before she got up and walked up to them.

''You've got a nice place here Tool, but I am dead tired,'' she said, and Tool smiled at her before she looked at Barney. ''Do you mind if I go back to your place?''

''Do you want me to walk with you?'' offered Barney, and she declined.

''Nah, I am good,'' she said before shouting, ''Good night guys!''

[Gabrielle]

I was walking back to Barney's place when I saw that the store on the corner was still open. I wanted ice cream, so I went in, and the woman behind the counter offered me a polite smile before she went back to her reading.

I took some chips too and went to pay for my stuff. I was about to leave when the woman showed me a door in the back. I looked outside and saw three drunk man in the front. I nodded at her and left.

I was almost out of the alley when I heard them whistle at me. I accelerated and turned onto the wrong street, a fact that I only noticed when I saw one of the restaurants mentioned by my father earlier.

''Fuck,'' I swore under my breath and kept walking to go back to Tool's.

''Yeah, we 'bout to,'' said one of the men while grabbing my arm, and I screamed.

I dropped my bags and managed to get away long enough for me to start running. They caught me again, and one of them sent me to the ground. I was seriously starting to panic. My lungs were on fire, and tears started to roll down my cheeks. One of them got on top of me. He reeked of alcohol and kissed my neck before he whispered in my ear: ''You're not going anywhere girl; the fun part has just begun.''

He got up, and I tried to make a run for it. One of his friends hit me in the stomach, and I fell on my knees. He grabbed me by the collar of my shirt and slapped me in the face. I pushed him as hard as I could and started running again.

[Tool's]

''You didn't tell her!'' Christmas accused after Barney told him why he'd had to clean up the hangar.

Barney could feel the judgment, but he still wasn't ready to tell Gabrielle.

''She's living with you Barney and it looks like she might be here often as well. She's gonna discover it sooner than later,'' Hale added.

''I just don't want her to be exposed to our world before she has to be,'' Barney said. ''She doesn't know what our life feels like, and I'd rather keep it that way.''

''By not telling her the truth?'' asked Gunnar, sarcastic as possible. ''You told us yourself that she's coming from a family that didn't care about anything else than their own asses. You really think lying to her is the way to go?''

''Why the fuck do you care Gunnar?'' asked Lee.

''Because you saw her earlier. She was happy. She was herself,'' Gunnar commented. She wasn't scared of me, he added to himself.

Barney wanted to blame him for interfering, but he knew Gunnar had a point. Barney had known Sarah's family. If Gabrielle was like him, and if her family hadn't changed, she deserved better than that. He was about to answer him when he heard a scream.

A woman was calling for help, a young woman. They were all out in a few seconds trying to figure out where the screams were coming from. She was about a street away from them, and then they heard a scream that froze the blood in Barney's veins.

''BARNEY! TOOL! GUN…'' screamed Gabrielle before she was suddenly interrupted and they ran to her.

[Gabrielle]

I was almost there. So close in fact that I could hear them talking. Christmas seemed mad, but I couldn't care less. I needed to get there. I screamed for my father, for Tool and was about to call for Gunnar too when one of them caught me, pushed me against a wall, and strangled me.

''Stop fucking with us and start playing bitch,'' he growled, and then I heard people running and heard the whistling of something cutting through the air.

I didn't understand what was happening until after my face was covered in blood and the man was lying on the ground. Help had come. I tried to stay up, but my legs gave out, and I fell too. I could hear someone talking to me but couldn't understand a word. I tried to calm down, focusing on the voice that was close to my ear. Tool.

''It's ok love, breathe. Just breathe.''

I looked up and saw Christmas looking at me. He seemed worried, but didn't move. Like I was a ticking bomb. But why would I…Oh. I looked at him, then at the body, before I threw up and passed out.

[Tool]

She was hurt. He'd tried to calm her while the others took care of the remaining bastards, but she'd passed out. He took her into his arms and called out to Barney. She'd need a hospital. He brought her to his truck and went with Barney.

The guys would have to take care of cleaning. He didn't even think before he threw his knife. It was the first time in a while that he'd actually beat both Barney and Christmas. They arrived at the hospital, and Barney screamed for help. Tool was worried as he'd only rarely seen Barney lose it.

But then again, Gabrielle was his daughter. She was taken away by the doctors, and Tool looked at the blood on him. There was a lot of it.

''Fuck!'' Barney exclaimed while throwing a magazine away.

Tool looked at him and was speechless. He sat and took his head in his hands. He heard Barney sit beside him, and he put an hand on his shoulder.

''She'll be fine Barns.'' Tool said, still not looking at him.

''Like fuck she'll be fine,'' Barney snapped, and Tool looked at him. ''I'll have to explain this. I'll have to tell her not to worry while admitting to her that I am not a good guy but not the same kind so it's ok? She's been there for less than a day, and she's already been beaten up! That's fucked up.''

''You are good, Barns. Not the hero type of shit but still a good one. And well, you aren't the one who threw the knife, brother,'' Tool said, and Barney snorted.

''Yeah, since when are you that fast old man?'' Christmas asked, and they both looked at him, surprised.

They hadn't heard him coming.

''Always been,'' Tool answered, taking his knife back from Christmas's offering hand. ''Only waiting for it to really matter.''

Lee took a seat in front of them, and they waited. It was about half an hour later when the rest of the guys showed up, telling them the cleaning was done.

''Mr. Ross and Tool?'' asked a nurse, and Barney was on his feet in a second. ''Your daughter is stable but has suffered from a severe concussion. The doctors had to do stitches to stop the bleeding. I am sorry, but the visiting hours are for family only. The rest of you will have to go home.''

The guys nodded and got out while Barney and Tool followed her to Gabrielle's room.

[Barney]

They entered the room and saw her sleeping on her bed.

''I am so sorry, but I have to talk to you about this. Since we don't have her medical files, I am going to have to ask you if she's seeing a professional,'' said the nurse.

''I... I've only known her since yesterday. Her mother died, it's complicated. Why?'' asked Barney, and the nurse shook her head before removing the covers to show her arms.

Barney felt rage. The kind that come in waves. He knew her family was something else, but this…she had needed help. Barney couldn't recall any hospital record since Gabrielle had been 10 years old. She had been ignored.

''Thank you,'' Tool said, and the nurse left with a concern look on her face. ''Barns…''

''Stay here will you?'' Barney ordered before he went outside.

He got in his truck and screamed, pounding on his steering wheel. He couldn't remember the last time he'd felt like this. He was furious, scared. He had no idea what happened or how he would be able to help. He was terrified, and he didn't like it, not at all. He was a mercenary for fuck's sake! And Gabrielle…Gabrielle was his daughter. He loved her and it was terrifying.

[Tool]

He felt kind of numb. His mind was trying to bring him back on the bridge that he left so many years ago. He could remember what that woman looked like. She'd died, and he'd done nothing. He couldn't let that happen, never again. He took Gabrielle's hand and sighed.

Barney was having a hard time dealing with the fact that Gabrielle was his, he could tell. Not the responsibility or even the being a dad part, but the emotional part…yeah, Barney had never been good at that. Hell, that man could go through a war zone, seeing things that would make people insane, but that's because he was able to disconnect with his feelings. He couldn't do that with his daughter. As if someone ever could. At least, not a loving father that is. And Barney's heart might have been black, but it was still functioning.

''He's got as much to learn as you,'' Tool told her. ''But please love, there are other ways to learn.''

He caressed the scars on her arm while telling her that and didn't noticed she'd woke up.

''I am sorry,'' she said, seconds before she started coughing.

''Here,'' Tool said while helping her into a sitting position.

He got her a glass of water and waited.

''How bad is it?'' she asked, and Tool was about to answer when she added, ''Shouldn't we be running from the cops?''

And Tool was speechless.

''I am sorry. I never meant to put you in such a delicate situation. And, well, thank you for your help,'' Gabrielle said, and Tool was still looking at her.

Her concussion must have been pretty bad if she was more worried about them going to jail than the five stitches on her head. But then again…He looked at her scars and remembered what Barney had told him about her family. The bastards.

''Don't give a shit about me love. You are in quite a state, but since you woke up pretty fast, you'll probably be able to get out tomorrow,'' Tool assured her.

''Oh,'' Gabrielle said. ''So…um…what happened?''

''I…we found you, and I thought it was too late, so…''Tool trailed off, unsure of what to say since Barney had yet to talk to her about their line of work.

''Thank you,'' Gabrielle said. ''I get the 'don't want to talk about it face', it can't have been easy. And…I do hope I didn't vomit on you. I mean…so much for recognition, right?''

Tool couldn't help the laugh that escaped his lips. Gabrielle really was something special. Of course, it concerned him to no end that she cared that much more about the others than herself, but it was also nice to have someone to think about his wellbeing. She smiled a bit at him before her expression became serious again.

''He's dead, isn't he?'' she asked, and he nodded. '' And they didn't arrest you?''

''Self-defense,'' Barney answered for Tool while coming in with the doctor. ''Might not want to talk too much about it though.

Tool could see the man hated himself for such a blatant lie, but even he knew now was not the time.

[Gabrielle]

I couldn't look at Barney. It was too much. I could feel the pain, but it was nothing compared to the guilt. I was there for less than a day, and Tool had to kill for me. I looked at my scars and then froze. They could see them.

I looked up and saw my father looking straight into my eyes. I turned my head only to see Tool's sad attempt to give me a reassuring smile.

''I am leaving,'' I said.

''Miss Ross, your state is…'' the doctor tried.

''I am leaving. I'll rest and come back if needed, but I have to get out,'' I said and the doctor nodded before leaving to, hopefully, get the paperwork done.

I got up on my feet and felt the nausea. I ripped off the catheter and ignored the pain in my head as I started looking for my clothes.

''Gabrielle,'' Barney said quietly, and I stopped to look at him.

He was worried, not judgmental. Worried. I started crying, so much in fact that if he hadn't been there to hold me, I would have fell on the ground. And I kept telling him and Tool how sorry I was.

[In the Truck]

They were heading back to Barney's place. Gabrielle had fallen asleep, and Tool was looking at Barney, praying to whoever would listen to help them to help her. Tool sighed. If the girl was so intent on making sure they were ok, he'd make sure she was too. And of course, Barney would be there too.