I forgot to post the last chapter on this site, I'm so sorry. It's been finished on AO3 for 6 months. v_v


Sweat ran down Gavin's face. He fumbled with the wires clumsily and cursed. With the Captain's permission, he went full steam ahead into the newer operation. Not only had he set himself a new alias as Gavin French, a down-on-his luck security guard who really needed a job to pay his bills, but he'd also gotten with the department's tech team and managed to get a fair amount of recording devices.

The records wouldn't be admissible in court until the department secured a warrant which – Gavin hoped – would allow them both listening rights and permission to raid, should his operation prove fruitful.

Until then, Gavin had to make sure he planted and the devices well enough to stay hidden and also record footage and audio that would be useful. The department techs showed him how to set the devices up; an observer wouldn't know it though.

"Phck!" He checked over his shoulder. As the new-hire security, he was made to patrol the interior of the bar, which was the perfect opportunity to plant a few mics. He couldn't waste too much time though, because he was supposed to be patrolling. Fuck.

Gavin grabbed the failed attempt and placed it back in his bag. Another time.


Gavin swirled the drink in his glass. He eavesdropped on a nearby conversation.

"I'm surprised… just you know, with the children… yes." He pushed away from the bar and wandered nearer to the two dancers, eyes firmly fixed elsewhere. "…my son - he's so young. They must have older ones who care for them."

"If they ever return." Bitterness coated the other dancer's words. "Bastards." A chime signified the club would open soon ended the conversation and the two dancers made their ways to their spots.

Gavin tossed his own drink back and shifted on his feet. Children? He strode to the entrance and rolled his sleeves up to appear intimidating and stern. If they ever return.

Gavin tapped his wrist and glared at the doorway. What the fuck.


"Recently they did an overhaul of the hired help. You know. That crazy police investigation had everyone's panties in a twist. You never know who's watching you." The talkative drink server was chattering away again. They were a true wealth of information - and apparently they felt like the interior of the Eden Club was safe enough to do so - or they knew it wasn't and wanted the owner to be caught.

Gavin really couldn't tell, half the workers were willing and out of the loop, the other half were blackmailed to hold their tongues through the capture and hiding of their friends, family and loved ones. No one seemed willing enough to say who was who. Gavin wondered, not for the first time, with so many loose tongues and moving parts, surely someone has gotten free before the Tracey sisters' kidnapping and tried to report it.

How did this massive, underground organization, so openly in the public eye, get away year after year after year?

Since his report to the Captain and the subsequent call for backup from the FBI Tech Department, Gavin had a miniscule ear piece with such a low profile he hadn't believed it for what it was. But clearly the FBI had a higher spending budget than the DPD, and could afford such levels of technical assistance.


Gavin was still trying to figure out how to get into the good graces of Zlatko when a tall, thin and pale man strode into the back room. He was wearing a long-sleeved button up and a tie. Perhaps an investor? Fuck all, Gavin didn't know.

"Hey buddy." Gavin stood up from where he was leaning against the wall, taking his break. "I don't know who you think you are, but this is a private business and-" The man held up a hand motioning for Gavin to shut up, which he did begrudgingly.

"Hello." The man began. "You're new." His sharp eyes assessed Gavin. Suddenly Gavin had a feeling this person was much higher up in the business than a simple investor. Gavin felt threatened. "I make it my business to know everyone." His head cocked slightly to the side. "What's your name?"

"Uh." Gavin replied intelligently.

"Well, 'Uh.' If I am correct and you are relatively new, then I would advise you to run." Here his eyes glinted viciously and he pulled a fucking HK45 Tactical handgun fitted with a silencer from a leg holster.

"Uhhhh what the fuck?" Gavin fidgeted with his wristwatch, the emergency comm activating. If this fucking place was about to get raided, then he sure as hell wanted backup coming to save his sorry ass. At the very least he could activate the mics he'd been planting recently.

The head cocked again, almost quizzically as the man realized he was still standing there. "Unless you want to get shot: Run." He gave a little smirk and pointed the gun at Gavin. "Move."

Gavin moved. He tumbled out the back of the building and watched as the door was slammed in his face. Who the actual fuck?

A huge man Gavin had seen on occasion approached the door. Gavin knew him, he was someone to watch out for. He was practically Zlatko's right-hand man and honestly, Gavin had no fucking clue what the hell was going on. Should he say something to Luther or just walk away?

Luther seemed just as surprised to see him as Gavin had been to see the fucker in the button down. "He let you go?" Okay well now Gavin was even more lost. Luther knew about the crazy with the gun? And he wasn't angry? Fuck, did that mean the crazy was a planned shooter? Fuuuuuuck he hoped the FBI twinsies were listening.

Just then the back door slammed open again and the tall man strode back out, hauling none other than Zlatko by his arm, a gun pressed against his temple. "Move along Z, we have places to be."

Luther side-eyed the bruised Zlatko and then their witness. He sighed and fisted Gavin's jacket. "You should have left when you had the chance." And dragged Gavin alongside. Gavin was shoved into the back of the van beside the bound and gagged club owner. His own hands were zipped behind his back and a stern glare from Luther warned him to not even try to escape.

Okay seriously, what the fuck? Also shit shit shit shit. The DPD was about to show up, gun's a-blazing to the club and Gavin was getting kidnapped alongside their target.

"Why didn't you kill him?" Luther asked from the front seat.

Gavin strained his ears trying to listen to the other's reply. Why did they leave him alive? He wasn't sure who was on whose side right now and if being a detective would save him or ruin him. Surely if there were other undercover agents here he would know - right?

"We need him alive." Was all the fucker said and that explained fuck all to Gavin. Clearly they needed Zlatko alive, if this was a kidnapping. But then that meant Button-down intentionally ignored Luther's real question about Gavin and if there was one thing Gavin hated, it was being left in the dark. Was this a coup? Did he just get caught in the middle of a gang war? And why was Luther, second-in-command to Zlatko, kowtowing to this prissy asshole?

God Gavin just wanted to know what the shit was going on.

Gavin had a bad feeling that wherever they were headed, they weren't going to see the other side beyond whatever the two had planned. Gavin and Zlatko had their names, their faces and a list of crimes to ruin them; the end game was death and Gavin sure as fuck hoped neither would think to search him for a hidden comm. Right now, it was all he had to show the tech twins his location.


Zlatko and Gavin (God, Gavin never wanted his name to be grouped alongside that bastard's and yet here they were) were pulled from the van and roughly escorted inside what looked to be an abandoned warehouse. Ah fuck, shit, goddammit. Terror twins - listen!

Gavin was tightly bound to a pole to the side, while Zlatko was securely chained to a chair. Prissy-white-shirt ripped the gag from his mouth and began to circle the man. "Good afternoon, Z." He started, stopping to pull up another chair and sit across from the club owner. "You have something I want."

This was a gang war. Gavin shifted his wristwatch so the underside was aimed towards the conversation. God he hoped the mic was good on this thing because right now was probably damning evidence that could lock all three of these bastards up.

Zlatko spit at the other. The younger man hummed, eyes following the trail of saliva to where it landed on his shin. "Listen, Z. You and I both know you're a self-serving bastard. There's no reason for you to clam up like this." He disinterestedly glanced to Gavin, before shifting his eyes back to the front. "If you give me what I want, maybe you and I can come to some agreement. Otherwise…" He fingered the silenced firearm. "Well. I'm sure you can draw conclusions."

Zlatko laughed. "I know exactly what you're after. Believe me, boy, even if I tell you were Todd keeps the brats. His brat," he tilted Luther's way. "Won't be among them."

Luther startled forward. His voice a dangerous growl. "Be very careful what you say next."

"Oooh, panties in a twist Luther?" He mocked. "That brat of yours got what she deserved, shipped off to the highest bidde- eugh!" He grunted as Luther slammed a hand into his head.

Gavin winced at the cra-ack that echoed in the building. He couldn't help squirming in mild excitement, even though the topic was gruesome. Zlatko had practically just admitted to selling a human.

"I'm inclined to allow Luther to continue, Z." Button-down continued as if nothing had happened. "But like I said, you know what I want and you would rather leave this building alive. So!" He patted the man's knee congenially. "Tell us where Todd keeps the children and then we'll discuss what happens next."

Wait, wait. Back the fuck up. Children? Oh god, suddenly the slang 'brat' made more sense. This was very important information they were getting right now.

"The children Z." The young man continued in the background, urging the man.

"I'm not telling you anything."

"Very well." He stood up. "We will leave you alone, for now." He shoved the gag back in the man's mouth before wandering over to Gavin.

He settled down on the floor beside Gavin and rested his chin in hand. "I suppose I should apologize for dragging you into this. I'm not entirely sure what your awareness of the situation is. But now that Zlatko has tied you in with us, there's a target on your back." He scratched his cheek before leaning forward to remove the gag from Gavin.

Which meant he likely intended to question Gavin and Gavin still didn't know what side he was supposed to be on. The enemy of my enemy is my friend. Could he maybe convince Button-down to let him live? What was he planning to do with Zlatko? Because he seemed hella unwilling to act on all the threats he was vibing right this moment.

"Wha-what are you going to do to me?" Gavin asked, going straight for the jugular.

"Well, like I said." He rolled his hand to imply a few moments ago. "I am not entirely sure. I suppose that depends on how embedded in the Company you are."

There was definitely a capital 'c' on that word. Also, how embedded he was? Did that mean if he had useful information he wouldn't be killed or if he did have 'useful information' (which, by the fucking way, he didn't) did that put him on the shit list and have him not killed? God Gavin didn't know where this was going. Ben was the trained negotiator. Gavin was here for the comic relief, godammit.

"Look." The man bit his knuckle. "I know you're new. I haven't been around for a month. So you've been here less than a month. What I want to know is did you know what Zlatko was involved in?" His eyes pierced Gavin's own. "Because like Luther said, what you say next is very important."

"I-" fuck fuck fuck fuck, shit! "I had an idea." Gavin's eyes darted to the side. He felt sweat drip down his neck.

"Ah." Gavin looked back over and caught the single decisive nod. "Then you're sympathetic to his cause. That's all I needed to know." He forced the gag back into Gavin's mouth and strode back to Zlatko's seat.

Sympathetic to 'his cause'? Was Connor not? "Mhmmhph!" He tried to call out. Fuck come back! They were on the same side! Fuck! God if anyone was listening to the comm right now… well that would be great, actually, because this was all really fucking important information and clearly they now had some damned vigilante taking down Zlatko. But also, fuck Gavin just screwed up.

"Z!" Button-down ripped the gag from the man's mouth. "Ah I missed chatting with you. Come! Tell me about Todd. I know you hate his guts. Help me spill them." He fixed his tie and straddled the chair backwards so he could rest his chin on the backrest.

Zlatko gave him a hairy eyeball and kept his mouth shut. Even from where he was tied to the pole, Gavin could see the interrogator's frame settle into a dangerously relaxed pose. "Oh? Not feeling chatty for once in your useless life?" Yeah okay, definitely not a fan of Zlatko then. "No matter."

Zlatko sneered. "I remember you now, you're the brat Todd brought in half a year ago." Here he swept Connor's body in an assessing, vile manner which had Gavin's stomach twisting uncomfortably. "You've done well for yourself. Put on muscle." He leered.

"Very good." Connor agreed. "Maybe if you were smarter you would have realized Luther and Kara were never going to give up on Alice. Maybe you should have been wary of any acquaintances they knew from outside your business." He shrugged. "No matter, you have made my role ridiculously easy." He pushed a single finger into Zlatko's face, insistently irritating the other.

"Now Z." He sang the lines. "Don't make me upset. Tell me where Todd is. Loyalty will get you nowhere in your business. I have no doubt if the positions were reversed, Todd would be singing like a bird." He retracted his finger and inspected it as if expecting grime to be attached from where he touched the other. "I've heard your voice is terrible. Let's agree neither of us want me to make you sing."

Zlatko side-eyed Luther, hulking in the background. The young man reached out to pull his gaze back on him. "Oh hush, nothing like that. Rather," a snnk sounded and a reflection glinted off the silver blade which had appeared in his hands. "I like carving wood. I wonder how similar your face would be, hm?" Zlatko gulped. Gavin shared that sentiment because right now the knife-wielding maniac thought he was in agreement with Zlatko and he didn't want to be on the end of whatever crazy over there was planning.

"Shh." The maniac caressed the other's face, knife blade trailing from his hairline to his jugular and back. "No need to be scared, just tell me where Todd is."

"H-he said he was checking out a new lead. But you should know where that is, being his right-hand man!" Zlatko spat. "Caleb, right? I thought it was your job to distract the pigs for these moves; shouldn't you have this information already?"

The newly-dubbed Caleb clicked his tongue. "Don't pretend to know how the Ops work, Z. You're just a lowly club-owner." He pressed the blade against Zlatko's skin, then pulled away when the man shuddered. A thin line of red welled up.

Zlatko gulped. "Su- last I heard he was going to be at the old lots on Sherman and San Diego! But you won't find the children there! He's got another base for where he trains them! And his daughter," he flicked his eyes to Luther and back. "I have no idea where she is. She could be anywhere!"

"Hm." Connor nodded.

"Now please! Please don't ki-!"

Connor slammed the knife into the side of the man's head, knocking him instantly unconscious.

"Connor." Luther sighed, drawing closer as the other flicked his blade closed. "Come here." He opened his arms and the seemingly unshakeable crazy man collapsed into the other's arms. "You force too much, Connor." Thin arms wrapped tightly around the other's waist and gripped the jacket there.

Connor or Caleb? Who the hell was this guy?

Gavin couldn't hear what the fuck Connor said back, but whatever it was made Luther relax. With one hand, he reached into his pocket and retrieved a mobile phone. He thumbed at the main screen before propping it against his ear. "Kara." The man rumbled lightly. "Kara, have faith. Connor has gotten answers."


Gavin ran into the first shop he saw. He yanked his shoe off and pulled out the badge proving his law enforcement status. "The phone!" He barked at the poor store attendant, a young man with curly hair and wide eyes. "Detroit Police business. I need the phone now!"

"Uh!" The man yelped back, handing the store phone over and retreating further behind his desk. His head skittered back and forth, looking for something to do.

Gavin paid no more attention beyond that, he dialed the office by memory and then threw in the extension tagged to Chen's desk, knowing she was stuck on desk duty since her leg was injured in the field last week. He tightly gripped the phone and drummed his fingers on the counter as he waited for her to answer. He couldn't believe they just let him go. Who the fuck does that in a kidnapping situation? Unless they truly believed he was harmless and wouldn't tattle to the cops. Well sike on them, because he is the cops.

"Officer Chen, Detroit Police 7th Precinct, are you in trouble?" Chen's familiar voice almost made Gavin melt right then and there.

"Tina!" He barked, instead.

"Oh my god, Gavin!" Tina replied, excitement lacing her voice. "We were so worried when you went MIA. The raid at the club was fruitful and the twins said they have enough evidence to bag Zlatko but neither you or he was there! What happened?"

"No time, Tina." Gavin replied, thinking at a mile a minute. He needed teams to meet him at the next location where Todd supposedly was. Right now Connor and Luther were, presumably, going in alone with Zlatko and, as angry as Gavin was that the duo had kidnapped him alongside that scumbag, he now knew so much more than if they had left him behind. Whatever organization Zlatko and this Todd were involved in; it was so much bigger than the single nightclub the DPD had raided in his absence.

"I have a second location for a possible raid and hostage situation."

"Okay, okay." Tina interrupted him. "Before you tell me and I play telephone with Fowler, give me a second to call everyone to a meeting room. God, Gavin." Her voice went quiet and Gavin could hear background noise for a while.

He shifted his gaze to the clerk again, who was staring open-mouthed at him. He raised his hand and shooed the man away. No doubt he was going to post it to his social media and get some serious Internet fame for being here at Ground Zero. The news stations were going to go crazy if the kid found out too much more. Not that Gavin cared, but Fowler would have a fit.

He took the moment of respite to breathe a little deeper and calm his racing heart down. In a nearby window he studied himself and understood why the kid was so out-of-balance over Gavin's appearance. To put it frankly, he looked like shit. He was covered in dirt from when he had been tossed in the back of the van and his wrists were red and rubbed raw from the zip ties they had used to restrain him. He could feel a bruise forming on his spine from where the pole had pressed into him while he was fighting to free himself. There was headache already pounding merrily along. Scratches up and down his arms reminded him of the brief scuffle he had when Zlatko decided he was taking out Gavin for witnessing his own disgrace.

Like he said, he looked like shit.

"Gavin?" Fowler's voice brought him back to awareness. "Report, Detective."

"Oh thank god, Captain." Gavin replied, relaxing even more, knowing Captain Fowler would take this seriously. "I need a second raid team, ambulances and a hostage negotiator to meet me at the empty warehouses by Sherman Way. I have reason to believe there are a number of kidnapped civilians being held under duress and at least two vigilantes responding to a personal attack. Actually." He rubbed his forehead. "I know for a fact those two vigilantes will be there, they kidnapped me and Zlatko."

Cries of outrage echoed over the phone and Gavin wondered at what point his life got this insane. "Look, look," he interrupted them. "I swear I will explain everything after. But I need a pick up from, ah-" He cast his eyes to the cashier. "Kid, what's the name of this place?" The kid replied and he relayed the information over the phone. "If someone could grab me in a cruiser and rendezvous with the others at Sherman that would be the best course of action."

"Very well, Detective." Fowler replied over the phone. "Officer Wilson and Agents Stern and Stern will swing by to your location, ETA fifteen minutes. Hang tight. Prepare to debrief the Agents, they will be speaking into the negotiator's ear in the event of a hostage."

"Understood, sir!" Gavin replied and they hung up.

Damn. His life was a nuisance sometimes. He hung his head briefly, exhaling a long breath. His shoulders slumped minutely. It was a wonder how the calm voice of his superior officer taking his words seriously could calm him so much. He placed his hands on his back and tilted his head backwards to stretch. A solid crk snapped loudly, making him wince at the grinding of his spine. The adrenaline was beginning to wear off, which somewhat worried him. But, he had the assurance that his team would be there to back him up, he wasn't going in solo and hopefully, hopefully they'd nab the other piece of trash that helped run the operation.

And fuck, hopefully this Todd creep was the only other piece of shit involved. Because otherwise they would need to do some serious investigating and Gavin didn't think Zlatko would sing. Not after the torture the one kid had done. If that sack of shit could keep his lips sealed while under physical pain, Gavin didn't think any amount of wheeling and dealing was going to make the man admit his own guilt or tattle on any others.

Gavin didn't know what he would do if this was only the icing on the cake. What if, what if Zlatko and Todd were only underlings? What if they were on the bottom rungs and there was a more massive organization running under the cloak of darkness? God Gavin needed to stop thinking like this.

What if's were deadly and he really needed to focus on one step at a time. Speaking of: He saw a police cruiser screech into a spot in front of the store. Gavin staggered out and was met by Wilson, who helped him get into the passenger seat. Gavin hadn't realized how much the adrenaline had been keeping him going until he actually had to walk.

He closed the door and pulled his seatbelt across. Behind him the Stern Agents shifted. When Wilson got back in and flipped his sirens and lights back on, Gavin huffed and opened his eyes. He hadn't even realized they were closed. "Okay okay. You need a debrief, right?"

"That is correct." A fucking familiar voice replied evenly.

Gavin felt like he got whiplash from spinning so quickly. "Gaahhh!" He shouted.

Wilson slowed the car a little, Gavin could see his head tilting his way, a question on his lips.

"What the fuck?"

"Uh, Gavin they're twins. I know it's a little alarming at first, but-" Wilson tried to explain, misunderstanding Gavin's confusion.

Twins? Twins? God fucking triplets is what they were! "Your brother-!" He sputtered, still trying to grasp the idea that their FBI tech guys were related to his kidnapper.

"Brother?" Left Stern asked, exchanging a glance with Right Stern.

"Y-yeah. Fuck. Fuck fuck. Your brother fucking kidnapped me!" His thoughts were scattered. He hadn't thought- well shit he never met the twins. They were assigned to the case while he was undercover. He reported to Detective Collins on the club movements and, yeah, he knew the two were always studying his moves and dictating a lot of the camera and audio placement. But this!

"Kidnapped you?" Right Stern tried to clarify. His brows knit together in a complete lack of comprehension.

"Caleb is a florist." Left Stern continued, reaching out to pat Right Stern's shoulder. "You must be mistaken."

"I'm not mistaken!" Gavin argued back.

"Okay. Okay, Gavin!" Chris butted in, still paying attention to driving. Just debrief the twins like Fowler told you to! There's still a possible hostage situation and we aren't clear yet!"

Ah shit. Okay.

"I was standing duty in the back room of the club, checking food and shit. This man in a suit coat and tie strides in like he owns the place and barely passes me a glance. Considering I'm supposed to be preventing assholes from walking in, I ask him to stop. He tells me I need to leave. I didn't because I thought maybe he was one of Zlatko's business partners. He pulls a gun and tells me to scram before going further in the building. Being the dumbass I am, I stick around.

"Then suddenly he's back with Zlatko bound and gagged. When he sees I'm still there, he pulls me along." Gavin rubbed a hand over his face, but continued staring at the twin agents. Fuck him.

"He throws me in the back alongside Zlatko and I do my best to listen to their conversation. They're too quiet; all I get are their names are Luther and the guy who could be your brother is named either Caleb or Connor. Next thing I know, we're pulled out the back and into an old warehouse-"

"Connor?" Left Stern butted in, wrinkles forming on his forehead.

"Yeah fucking Connor and he's your spitting image so you cannot tell me he isn't related to-"

"Connor is dead." Left Stern interrupts him.

That shuts Gavin up real quick. Dead? "Oh you mean, like dead to your family-" Okay so he was the black sheep. Got it.

"No. Connor is dead." Left Stern continues, beginning to get agitated.

"Niles." Right Stern places a hand on his brother's arm. Great, now he couldn't refer to them as left and right Stern in his head anymore. Gavin mentally banged his head against the desk.

"Fucking look!" He gripped the seat. "Connor-Caleb-whoever-the-fuck and his friend Luther, kidnapped me and Zlatko and proceeded to bang the guy up until he told them where 'Todd' was." He made air quotes around the name. From what I could get, Todd is extorting Luther and another person, maybe Connor himself, through the kidnapping of their daughter. Considering the operation Zlatko was a part of, it makes sense he's not the only one taking advantage of civilians. And while the raid went superbly at the Club, that wasn't the end of it and I one-hundred percent believe Todd has a larger handle on this operation."

Gavin inhaled deeply before continuing. "What I'm worried about is if Connor and Luther reach the man before we do, they may conduct an act of revenge and murder the shit head. And while I understand revenge, if we want a better understanding of how big this operation is, we will need him alive. Those two definitely have a head start on us, considering they knocked me out before ditching. I thought they were about to tie up their loose ends and am honestly surprised they fucking didn't." Gavin trailed off, lost for a moment in thought, recollecting the memory of Connor wrapping his hands around Gavin's throat, an apologetic grimace on his face.

As far as Gavin was concerned, there was no doubt the man was somehow related to the duo. But whether he was an estranged brother or crazy distant cousin, the impromptu family reunion wasn't on his top ten most important facts for today.

"Your jobs are going to be comms with the negotiator in the probable event Todd threatens any of his captives. And god," Gavin slumped into his own seat, facing forward once more. "I have no damn clue what the fuck they did with Zlatko. By the time I came to they were all gone."

Chris reached a hand over to pat Gavin's arm before returning to the wheel. Gavin fucking appreciated his teammate's support.


Gavin could have wept when they arrived at the Industrial District and he could see his backup waiting for his say so. Once Wilson stopped the car he scrabbled at the handle and would have slumped out of the vehicle if not for his seatbelt. Chris made a soft hum before clicking him free. Gavin grabbed the handhold and hauled himself out. He shuddered. The relief of backup was causing more exhaustion than he had hoped. The adrenaline was about worn off now. God, he needed a coffee.

Gavin, Chris and the Stern twins strode (well, more like stumbled in Gavin's case) over to the collection of officers and SWAT milling about. At their arrival, the group stilled and seemed to turn as one in their direction. Well, no time like the present to practice his public speaking.

"Hello everyone! Thank you for coming so quickly!" Gavin straightened as best he could. "I heard the raid at the Eden Club was a success, good job to all involved. But we aren't done yet." He glanced over at the twins who had rushed to a van filled with technology. "I've already briefed the FBI agents who have been assisting us in the case. While you all were raiding the club, I was held captive by a rogue group which has it out for the organization."

"Gavin!" Captain Allen strode over, signaling for the listening officers to back down. "You may continue the debrief with myself and Fowler by the van. He gestured to the same van the twins had run off to.

"Ah, of course." Gavin limped over and leaned against the van. He waited for the required men to collect before continuing where he'd been interrupted.

"While in their control, I learned the organization is incredibly large and complex. The rogue group has an in-depth knowledge of them and it is extremely vital that they understand we are not arresting them. The two members are named Connor and Luther. Connor appears to be the leader, he looks exactly like Agents Stern and Stern: Caucasian, about 5'11", thin and scrawny." To his side, he watched the twins shake their heads in disbelief. He really didn't care about whatever family reunion was about to happen.

"Luther is African American, 6'5" and clearly the muscle. Neither are to be underestimated. Neither are to be seen as enemies. While I was in their control, Connor interrogated the club owner, Zlatko Androkov and determined this location to be his next destination. I didn't actually escape so much as Connor let me go." Here Gavin glanced at his Captain. "Sir, I had the choice to tell Connor I was the cops or to get the cops. I thought the wisest decision was still to 'get the cops'. I wasn't sure how he would react if he learned a cop knew his face, name and plans."

"It was a tough decision, Reed. You did well." Fowler affirmed.

"Thank you Sir." He cracked his neck and looked around. "So that's what we have. Connor, Luther and Zlatko are headed here. They're meeting with a man named Todd who apparently is housing a number of victims. I'm not sure if the victims are here or elsewhere… we will have to see. I also-" he hesitated. "I don't know what Connor's plan is. He wanted me to ensure the cops would come here, but he didn't say anything else. Just, 'listen, the Industrial District. You have to get the cops there. If you do this I'll tell them you're just a pawn, no involvement'."

"Well that's what Captain Allen is here for. The twins have rigged them up and Gavin." Fowler tossed him a vest. "I know you're exhausted and usually I wouldn't do this after the wild ride you've had, but you're the most involved and if Connor is in there, well he might just cooperate better with a familiar face."

Gavin caught the vest. "I'd have it no other way, Sir. Uh." He fidgeted with the vest. "Any chance anyone has a caffeine shot anywhere? I am asleep on my feet."

"You're lucky I like you!" Tina threw a 5-hour energy at him.

"Ah!" He grunted and juggled the vest and energy. "What's with everyone throwing shit at me?"


Silent as his cat back at his apartment, Gavin and the SWAT crept into the warehouse. Despite it being the middle of the fucking day outside, the interior of the building was annoyingly dark. Likely having been abandoned for several months, the windows were dirty which allowed about 10% of light in. Overturned desks provided ample hiding spots for potential jump scares - now come on this wasn't a crappy horror game, Gavin. He chastised himself. Captain Allen gestured to two of his team who moved further into the building. Gavin had been paired with the Captain, since he wasn't official SWAT and also would be the best option to speak with their MO if the man appeared.

Together, the team moved further into the building.

A murmur of voices had Captain Allen raising one hand. The sound came from ahead of them, nearer to the center of the building. The team had gone in dark and silent, the only voices they might be hearing would be their targets. Allen sent a ping to his team to stay alert over their headsets. Feeling like he was going to burst, the team advanced further.

The voices grew louder. The words became audible. "-not to say I didn't see this coming." Gavin didn't recognize it. "I'm simply surprised the three of you acted so soon. Especially considering the recent watch we've placed on your movements."

"Then I suppose it was better we reacted than recoiled." Connor's voice replied, still as calm as it had ever been while Gavin was his captive.

"I suppose it is. Well, how do you expect this to play out? I won't be telling you where the child is. Even if I did, I'm sure none of you could find her. The Organization has a well-practiced way of… making people disappear." A chuckle followed that sentence. Gavin felt a chill run down his spine. Goddammit, he had no idea how large this 'organization' was, did he?

He checked then double checked the open comm was recording and broadcasting everything to the twins. God he wanted this asshole to rot. The team had decided not to reveal themselves until they had enough recordings to send the asshole to prison for the next thousand years or if the situation went south. Connor could keep them talking all day long for all he cared.

If the man could get this perp to spill all his organization's dirty secrets, Gavin would make sure Fowler awarded him honorary negotiator and detective for all he cared. Gavin wanted this piece of filth and all of his buddies put away forever.

"Todd." Ah a name! So this was the person Connor and Luther had been looking for. "You must understand you aren't bulletproof. One day the organization will turn on you, just like it turned on Kara and Luther. Then what will you have?"

"Turn on me? Hah!" The man barked out a laugh. "The only thing they have against me is the trafficking, Connor." And the fucking gold star is awarded to Connor! "And what will they do with that once I air all their dirty secrets? I have no family; I have no friends. It's just me. That's why I'm perfect for the role." The man was gloating and Gavin was high on success.

God Gavin wished they had a wire on Connor so he could know they had Todd by the balls. Keep going. He wished he could encourage the man.

"Todd." Connor sounded exhausted, suddenly. Like the weight of the world had been thrust on his shoulders and he was barely holding it together. Gavin hesitated his inward cheering. "Todd if you tell me where Alice is and let the family free I'll give you myself."

Eheh. What the fuck? Gavin swung his head in Allen's direction, the two shared alarmed expressions.

"Oh?" The other man sounded gleeful. "And who's to say I don't already have you?"

"Come now. We both know you don't. If it comes between me or you, they're going to pick me every time." Connor sounded so confident in a quiet, bitter way. Gavin was completely thrown off by the change in conversation and he shrugged his shoulders when Allen signed what's going on?

The other man sneered, but didn't deny Connor's claim. "So what then?" He seemed to seriously consider the other's offer. "You're offering yourself up as a sacrifice? Taking the blunt for Zlatko's operation running aground? You know they won't ever let you go."

Did Todd not know, then, that Connor was to blame? What kind of game was going on?

"I know." Connor conceded. "But both of us know they were never planning on it and, well…" The clear sound of a gun's safety flicking off had the whole team stiffening in their positions. All were prepared for the signal to enter the scene. "Between you and me, I could care less about myself."

A high, slightly nervous laugh echoed about. "So what, you're going to shoot yourself in the head and when they arrive I'm to blame?"

"Oh no." Connor sounded put off. "Come now, you just admitted I had nothing on you, nothing you care about. I have nothing left to negotiate with. Clearly my mission is a failure."

A voice crackled over their built-in headsets, Fowler. "Proceed cautiously, it sounds like we're about to reach the end of their conversation. I don't want anything going south, we have what we need." Allen tapped the silent-mode transmitter to confirm reception. The device linked back to the main receiver and communicated a series of beeps the team could interpret.

Allen raised a fist and, from his position, linked eyes with all his men. He tilted his head in and the group advanced as one.

"Come now, Connor. You wouldn't want to make them angry. Just put the gun away." Todd was more discernible now, he almost sounded panicked. Just who was Connor and who was 'them'?

Allen halted suddenly and if Gavin hadn't been on high alert, he may have run into the other. As it was, he wiggled over to see what the man was looking at, and grew more still.

About thirty feet away, Connor was standing on a crate, a pistol pressed firmly beneath his chin eyes trained across to another figure near his feet. Todd, Gavin assumed, was reaching up towards Connor in a quivering mess. He was waving his hands about in a manner Gavin likened to a hysterical woman, except put that in the body of a clearly overweight and unwashed man.

Connor was standing stiffly, his finger on the trigger and already beginning to push down to release the bullet. He seemed to be ignoring Todd entirely, while looking down his eyes drifted along the ground behind Todd, as if tracking movement below. Gavin exchanged a glance with Allen, they needed to make their presence known but they couldn't risk startling Connor and forcing his finger to pull the trigger.

Todd spun in a circle seemingly grasping for straws when he apparently spotted movement across the room. "You brought back up?" He huffed and gripped Connor by the ankles. The question and grip forced Connor forward to his knees on the crate. Todd made a grab for the gun and then they were both on the ground, grappling hand-to-hand.

Amidst the scuffle, the team surged forward until they were surrounding the fighting duo. "Halt!" Captain Allen commanded, training his gun on the fighting men. The two froze, matching looks of surprise decorated their faces. Connor had a hand on the weapon, but before the team could advance forward, Todd scrambled for a hold of it and twisted himself behind the thinner man.

"No, you halt!" He called out, shifting his grip so the weapon was held against Connor's head.

This situation certainly was strange, Gavin almost shook his head in shock, but he kept his gaze fixed on the duo. Todd had clearly just been terrified of Connor killing himself.

"Easy there!" Allen called out, raising his hands in reply. "Killing him in front of us will do you no favors."


Todd shifted the grip and suddenly Connor found himself held within the other's arms with a gun held to his heart. The man laughed sharply and brokenly. "You've taken everything from me!" He ignored the cops and his other hand wrapped around Connor's throat and squeezed at his Adam's apple in a clear indication of power. Connor inhaled shakily while the other continued to shout about how much Connor's "bid for power" had destroyed everything he'd been building.

Even now, with Connor held firmly in his grasp and no saving in sight, the two of them knew how this would end. Either dead before the cops took action or dead after. Todd would never be a free man again. He'd been too firmly tied into the operation, too many victims would name him guilty and call for his blood. The only hope he had now was a bid for how many of his betrayers he could take down with him. Connor, being the known figurehead, was the primary target. He was okay with this.

"You've stolen everything from me!" He continued snarling, hand squeezing Connor's throat tighter, causing spots to dance across his vision. No matter, the longer he distracted Todd, the longer Kara had to evacuate the children from the home. Connor shifted, even knowing he might die, that ever present urge to survive forced him to wriggle, to try and do something to get away from he who held his life in his hands.

"No!" The man snarled, shaking Connor harshly. "No!" His wandering mind, starved for air only seemed to scatter further. Grey tinted his vision and he coughed harshly, trying and failing at getting more than a few spoonfuls of air into his lungs.

Distantly, Connor could hear the sound of a bull horn. The signal. So Kara had freed the last of the children then. They had decided not to involve the police until they were positive there could be no hostages.

Kara had been hesitant to let him alone with Todd while she and Luther broke the little ones out, but Connor had assured her. "Follow the plan." He'd gripped her arms, searched her eyes and forced her to leave. "Go save your daughter. Rescue Alice, Kara."

He hoped Alice was there, secured in her mother's arms. He hoped Luther was guarding them. He could imagine the man's voice, broken and cracked like he had only heard it once before, when the two explained the child's absence and part in their forced servitude. The lack of law enforcement.

Connor hummed mentally, allowing the seething man to shake him like a rag doll, allowing him to abuse him in place of all the others. Connor hummed as a little boy appeared in his vision, smiling brokenly back. "You're not free yet." The boy said, though Connor couldn't hear him over the sound of roaring noise - the thumping of his heart and the clanging of the doors. The doors?

Struggling to determine what was happening, Connor forced himself into awareness and witnessed a meeting held near the front of the house. Cops were warily regarding Todd and Connor's body he was using as a shield. Another group made a half-circle around their figures, hands on weapons. Connor had crumpled back into the man as oxygen deprivation made him weak and loose-limbed. Todd's grip on his throat had lessened as he turned his attention to spewing vitriolic insults at the police. Connor could feel bruises wrapping around his neck from the man's grip. The gun was still firmly planted against his chest.

Connor figured this was likely the only reason the cops hadn't charged the man yet. The very fact Todd supported his weight and threatened his life informed them Connor was still alive.

"Get away!" Todd screamed, jabbing Connor further with the weapon. His movements were jerky with stress.

Connor carefully remained pliant in the other's arms. As long as Todd thought him unaware and not a danger, Connor could potentially use his location to his advantage. He kept his head lolled to the side. Even through slit eyes, he could recognize the face of Gavin, the man who had knocked him out and escaped during the initial invasion of Todd's center. Gavin was with the police? Somehow, Connor was unsurprised. Gavin, however, seemed ridiculously fixated on Connor for some reason which he couldn't identify. Certainly not in the half-aware, previously strangled state he was in currently.

A single officer stepped forward from the group, hands up in the universal sign of I'm unarmed and not a danger, the writing Negotiator stamped on his chest in large blocked lettering. "Mr. Williams." The officer addressed him. "My name is Ben."

"Fuck off!" Todd jerked Connor, forcing him to buckle backwards to maintain the unconscious status he was going for.

"Sir. I am unarmed. I just want to check on your hostage. Is he breathing?"

"Stay away, pig!" Todd ignored the negotiator. Then he changed tactics. The one arm he was using to support Connor's weight shifted so he could fist Connor's throat again. "This asshole deserves to die!"

"Sir?"

"He ruined everything for me! I was one step away from moving up in the business! They were going to reward me for my results. And then this creature," he tightened his grip on Connor's throat once more. Connor shuddered minutely, enough for both the negotiator and Todd to notice. Todd's response was to dig his fingers into Connor's neck.

"Awake at last, eh?" His voice turned quiet as he tilted his head to whisper to Connor alone. "You destroyed my life. If they're taking me down, you're coming with."

"Sir. If you work alongside us, this doesn't have to end poorly." The negotiator tried to bring Todd's attention back front and center.

Connor had known Todd wasn't leaving alive, even before the man confirmed it just now. He squirmed so he could support his own weight. He flicked his eyes to the negotiator, to Gavin their other captive (actually a cop, eh?) whose gaze remained fixated and pointed. To the other officers fingering their weapons, alert. Todd wanted to take as many down with him as he could. He spoke. "You've destroyed more lives than can be imagined." He needed Todd to fixate on his victim, singular.

The negotiator's frame stiffened. He tried to bring the attention back on himself, again. "Mr. Williams, despite your crimes, we can still make a deal. Please, consider your options."

"What options." Connor bit back swiftly, locking eyes with the man whose job it was to save him. Save him? As if Connor was worthy of saving. "Todd. This is the end of the line."

"They're all coming with me!" Todd forced Connor's head back and to the side, glaring into Connor's eyes. "You can't save everyone, boy. And you certainly can't save yourself!"

"Easy now." The cop continued. Connor could detect worry in his voice. "Your name's Connor, right?" Oh, now he was talking to him? Perhaps he recognized Connor was trying to rile Todd's attention. "We're going to get you out of here. It's okay."

Connor felt Todd's grip on the gun increase, the minute spasms in his hand still digging into Connor's throat. Todd was about to break. "No." He locked eyes with Todd, as best he could with his back to the man. His head movement deliberately making his neck more inviting. "Come on Todd, follow through with your threats. Or are you too much of a coward?" He dragged the last word out, forcing a smirk on his face.

The officer in front of them made an almost wounded sound as Connor continued ignoring his efforts. "No. Mr. Williams, if you follow through there's nothing we can do to help you-"

"There's nothing they can do either way!" Connor interrupted him, a half-shout. He looped an ankle around Todd's knee. Just as the man shifted his attention back to Connor, decision made, Connor tightened his muscles and jerked the other's leg out. Todd gave a shout of surprise, the crack of a gun went off, and pain bloomed in Connor's left shoulder. The jerk had made the shot wide, just not wide enough.

The two of them fell to the ground in a pile of limbs. Connor gasped as his shoulder took the brunt of his fall, Todd lying across him, the weapon somewhere digging into his side. Desperately, he twisted so he could face the man above. He tried to use both arms to wrestle, but the pain in his shoulder let him know he was going in one-armed. He could hear shouting as the other cops rushed to circle them. The two were too tightly knit for them to be much help.

"Hey T." He fought for control of the gun, knowing in his weakened state the other had the advantage. "Going out together?"

"I'm going to take you out!" Todd screamed back. A hand disappeared from the fight only to return with a switchblade. Connor gasped wetly as he felt it dig into his side and again and again and ag-!

Connor coughed, something was pooling in his throat. "R-really? Like, on a date?"

"You're not escaping me!"

Connor finally managed a grasp on the gun, Todd seemingly forgetting about it in his rage. "Y-yo-ou m-misunder stnd me." He mumbled, trying to reach the right arm around to get a clean shot and failing. Was it just him or were the lights turning off? "I-I nev-never-" He stumbled and finally shifted the gun so it was planted into his own stomach. He was as good as dead either way. "I just wan-want yo-ou dead."

"Connor?!" He heard a voice, Gavin's maybe, frantic and worried.

"N-night Todd." He pulled the trigger and pain bloomed in his stomach, front to back. Todd rolled away from him in shock. The knife remained stuck in his side. Hands yanked Connor away from where he had been lying and carried him away from the scene.

"Don't you fucking die you self-sacrificing asshole!" Gavin? "What the hell was that shit?"

His ears clouded. His vision warped and the pain dulled.

"-ke! Don't clo-" He didn't understand.


Gavin sat outside the waiting room fingers digging into his knees. Beneath his nails, Connor's blood flaked and itched. He knew he looked a mess, hair matted and stinking of death. God, he hoped this blood wasn't the last he saw of Connor alive. What the hell had the idiot been thinking? He was already turned into a pincushion; he didn't need to shoot himself on top of that!

When he saw Connor on the ground, EMTs fluttering about, Gavin made the connection on why his face was so familiar. It wasn't the FBI twins awkwardly shivering behind him. No, it was that damned sketch Markus Manfred made for them. The bloodied, unconscious mess was the very same Connor who saved Cole's life.

He groaned and looked away from the floor. Across the room, Niles was pacing and speaking angrily into his phone. If Gavin thought he was a mess, then Niles was a fucking disaster. He didn't know the man well, but considering the situation, Gavin wouldn't say this was his normal state of being. Gavin had been right beside Connor in the ambulance, hands pressed on bleeding wounds. He didn't remember when or how the man had arrived, or why the other twin hadn't come with.

Back in the car, when he'd talked about Connor, the twins had been silent. Somehow their family had hidden the dirty laundry that was a missing presumed-dead fourth son. News that he probably wasn't dead and had been very not-dead their entire lives was probably very shocking.

Niles finally slumped into a seat, the phone off and in his pocket. Silence stretched between them and Gavin went back to counting the tiles on the floor.

"What is he like?" Niles broke the silence, a vulnerability in his voice.

Gavin looked back up, noted Niles beaten expression and face twisted in some expression that looked a lot like despair. "He's rough around the edges… uh. He kidnapped me so, there's that."

"Yes." He drew the word out. "But you also said he let you go as well." Gavin hummed in assent. He didn't know what the other man wanted to hear. Connor had clearly been going through some serious shit. Apparently ever since the day he disappeared from home. There was no way to sugarcoat what Gavin saw in that warehouse. Likely, the doctor would bring up the clear signs of using.

Gavin recalled how Connor would continuously look down and away, his eyes tracking some figure making rounds of the building. Every time he looked away and over, his brow would pinch and his shoulders tense. If Gavin hadn't worked with haunted youths, he'd never have noticed. As it were, Gavin presumed Connor might have a number of mental illnesses, likely caused by his use of heavy drugs.

"I just-" Niles voice cracked as he tried to speak again. "I don't even remember him." He laughed abruptly, a short bark. "I don't know if he's brave or stupid or kind or actually a bad person. This probably sounds ridiculous, us all being twins but, I don't remember what he looked like." Niles shifted out of Gavin's sight. "I have a twin and a brother, a brother who lost his twin and still doesn't know-"

When no more words followed, Gavin looked up to see Niles staring at the ceiling, his hands folded in his lap. "He is stupid." He offered up. He fucking sucked at emotional shit. He'd never be a negotiator. "He was stupid to draw attention to himself and interrupt Ben. But, I think he's a good guy - or at least has good intentions. Like you said, he let me go. And he was working to unveil their Organization. He has some morals." Niles didn't reply and Gavin didn't need him to. He didn't know what else he could offer the other. The whole situation was fucked.

His whole day had been fucked, since the very beginning to now. It had been non-stop. And quite frankly, Gavin was exhausted. He couldn't handle emotional drama on top of everything else. Sighing, he slumped back into the uncomfortable waiting chair. This sucked too. How long did people generally wait for news to come? It couldn't be terribly long. If the wait was long, then they had no reason to have such painful chairs in the waiting room. This was just cruel.

He cracked his neck and tried to settle. He needed to relax. He needed to nap. He shuffled his legs to ensure he didn't slump out. Now if he could just - his elbow slipped off his knee and he jerked awake.

God.

The waiting room fucking sucked.