"Hang on!" Breccia was in her kitchen, elbow deep in dirty dish water. She had a weeks worth of cleaning to do around the apartment and only a day to do it in. With all her work in the lab, everything piled up and she hadn't much time to take care of it on her work days.

Going to the sliding glass door that led to her balcony, Breccia pulled back the pleated blinds and let Nibs in. "I know its cold but you gotta learn patience bud." Nibs came in, flapping his wings to toss the built up snow away and warm himself. Koffing was sitting a ways off, glued to the TV, and Flora was asleep on her pillow in Breccia's bedroom. It had been a quiet day and Breccia was trying to enjoy it.

She hadn't heard much of Riker since their last conversation but she figured he was busy doing Boss things, just as she was busy in the Lab.

Returning to the dishes, Breccia pulled the plug and was busy wiping down the counter tops when Morice came in the front door, using the key Breccia gave him.

"Took you long enough." Breccia taunted.

Morice removed his stocking cap, pulling his scarf down from around his nose and mouth. "Bite me, the snow's hip deep out there."

Breccia pushed her bottom lip out. "Oh, so you're gonna be spicy with me today?"

"You started it." Morice threw his outer layer on one of the dining room chairs before taking notice of Nibs, who had waddled over to him and leaned into his leg. "What do y'want peanut?"

"Probably wants you to drop the attitude." Breccia said, still in jest, as she approached him.

"Oh please." Morice snagged her by the wrist and pulled her in, hooking an arm around her waist before pressing a kiss to her cheek. "You like my attitude."

"It's cute." She grabbed his ear. "Putting on like you're a hard ass." She reciprocated the affection, kissing him on the lips. When she went to back away, Morice kept her in place by securing a hand behind her head, lacing his fingers through her hair and pushing his tongue in to coax hers.

"I'm guessing you missed me?" Breccia asked when he dragged his lips to her jaw line. "It's only been a couple days."

"Do you want affection or do you want the hard ass?"

"I like both." Breccia said. "When's your shift start?"

Morice collapsed at the dining table, still rubbing his hands together to work some warmth into them.

"I'm off today, but I have to be up around noon tomorrow."

"That's when your new position starts?"

"Basically." Stretching his legs out, he accepted a soda when Breccia took two from the fridge. "Not sure what pushed Riker to promote me. Last I checked, I just smash heads together."

Breccia chuckled. "Well now you're the number one head smasher."

"More like a glorified babysitter." Morice shrugged. "More money, more beer I guess."

Breccia took a swig of her drink. "You think I could ever kiss you and not taste whiskey?"

"Depends, you think I'll ever get to see you in fishnets?"

Breccia continued in her cleaning spree for a while longer, folding her laundry, sweeping the carpets and making her bed. Morice helped by tidying the living room, letting Pecks out to socialize with the other Pokemon as he did so.

"I swear." Breccia complained, coming out of the bedroom "My mother told me a hundred times, but I cant remember how to fold fitted sheets-" She paused. Morice was busy tying his snowboots, having pulled up his pant leg up in order to do so.

On his calf, a faded tattoo of a magnamite could be seen.

The same one as the picture Breccia remembered in Ethan's living room.

"Lee..." She murmured, the realization washing over her.

"What?" Morice looked up at her from the floor, finishing his laces.

Lee is running, but he'll come around.

Oddly, Breccia didn't want to believe it at first, staring at her partner for a moment before finding the right words.

Morice repeated himself when she didn't answer him. "What?"

Telling herself that maybe she was overreacting and was wrong to assume, the words came out anyway. "That's your name, isn't it?" She asked, her voice hollow. "Lee."

Morice stared at her, opening his mouth to say something but closing it when nothing came forward. For a second there was silence between them, both confused for different reasons.

"How..." It was all Morice could manage when he finally thought of something to say.

Breccia swallowed. She knew this would involve breaking her promise to Ethan, but she had gone too far already. "I...ran into him." She licked her dried, cracked lips, swallowing saliva to quench her arid throat. "Ethan."

"He's here?!" Her boyfriend dropped his surprise and a never before seen panic took place. "He's supposed to be at the league."

"He stepped down."

"Why-" Morice clenched both of his fists into his hair. "How the hell did you even see him?!"

Despite her guests panic, Breccia remained resigned. "He lives on the island where daddy's buried."

"He had a happy little life where he was at." The words were bitter. "I came here for a reason, I didn't need him following me."

"He didn't follow you." Breccia said, defensive.

"Then what excuse does he have?!"

There was another pin drop stillness that followed, you could hear the whisper of a leaf touching the floor. "After...you went away. He lost his home, it burned down. His Typhlosion died-"

"Cinder is dead?" Morice interrupted, his voice now hinted in sorrow. "He wasn't that old."

"He was sick...He said everything started falling apart after your mother..." Breccia sucked a breath in, remembering the same conversation with Riker. She was glancing off to the side, nervous to meet her lover's gaze. When she did, she saw his chest rising in deep breaths meant to calm him.

"I'm guessing he told you how." When Morice didn't receive an answer, he crossed his arms. "How she died?"

Breccia shook her head.

"It was an accident." He continued, hesitant. "She was on the sidewalk, some woman fell asleep behind the wheel and crossed the line..." He frowned. "You talk about fucking shit up. I couldn't handle it. Dad couldn't handle it." When he turned slightly from her, trying to compose himself, Breccia came up behind him, wrapping her arms around his waist and lacing her fingers. She placed her cheek on his back. "She was just going out for some damn milk." His next words came out with the same fear that came at his initial realization. "I-I have to go."

"Morice, don't."

"I'll talk later, I just can't-"

Breccia put her hand on the front door to block him. "You can't run every time something gets uncomfortable."

"I'm not-"

"Yes you are."

Morice huffed. "What do you want me to tell you Breccia? That I'm just some lowlife drunk running from his daddy issues?"

"That isn't who you are."

"Your biased." Morice did back away from the door, but paced in the dining area instead, ignoring when Pecks walked over to him and settled near by.

Breccia watched him, wondering if what all she was told was true. What Ethan said about what Morice had done, what had gotten him behind bars...

"Is it true then?" She asked. Her partner didn't ask, though he shot her a quizzical look. "You and those boys...that old man..." She didn't want to believe he was capable of hurting such a frail, innocent person.

"It didn't start like that." Morice gave up his pacing when Pecks bumped her head lightly into his shoulder, a signal to help him calm his nerves. "We were just dumb kids, dumb shit. Spray painting trashcans, staying out past curfew...I was perfectly fine with it staying that way." He clenched his jaw. "Then one of the guys wanted something bigger, said his neighbor was going on vacation and the house would be empty. Said we should hit it up. Just money and shit." He sighed. "I wasn't comfortable with big time stuff, but they kept pushing me, said I was some kind of pansy. I guess when you're a teen, that kind of crap stings...so I agreed to drive." Pecks kept nudging him until he gave in and scratched under her chin. "We got there a little after midnight, the guys went in. Turns out the neighbor missed his flight, and seeing the boys breaking in startled him. His heart couldn't handle it."

Breccia's brow furrowed. "That isn't some horrid murder case, it was an accident."

"If I hadn't driven them he'd still be alive." Morice corrected. "And it didn't matter, Dixon got his nails in me and I squealed." He paused. "He kept throwing around terms like '1st degree', I was terrified thinking Id go away for the rest of my life so I ratted out my gang. The judge threw me in for 5 years. Dad went into debt paying bail, hiring lawyers. He'd visit me every week when I was in but I couldn't look him in the eye once I got out. I had to leave...I thought maybe he'd write me off and realize I'm not worth it."

Pecks had since lowered her head, as he scratched her feathery scalp.

Breccia pursed her lips. "He misses you."

Morice closed his eyes in thought. "I'm sure he does...I just can't see him."

This wasn't a good enough answer. "Morice, you're all he has." Her voice quivered. "Some of us will never that chance again. I'd give anything to tell dad I'm sorry."

Morice didn't respond, still petting Pecks with his vision to the carpet. He rubbed his eyes with his free hand, holding the bridge of his nose as he thought.

"I wouldn't know where to start." He said finally. "Besides, if he knew I shagged up with this place, it'd probably kill him."

"If it helps." Breccia had her arms crossed. "He doesn't know that about me either." She was ready to say more but was silenced by a knock.

Not expecting any more company, Breccia caught herself wondering if it was someone from the lab. Instead she found Riker waiting for her on the other side.

It had been a bit since she'd seen him, so maybe he finally thought of something for the lab to do.

"Long time no see." Breccia tried to jest, hoping the serious air in the apartment wasn't palpable.

"Typically Id just call you to my office, but I was out and about." Riker looked over her shoulder, spying Morice. "Good, you're both here. That should save me some hassle." He stayed in the doorway. "We have a basic idea where our adversaries are operating out of, but I was hoping to find where their hapless leader could possibly be."

"Did Laurent find something?" Breccia asked.

Riker cleared his throat. "No. Though I have an idea of someone who may be in contact with him. Or at least know where he is."

Breccia noticed a shuffling in Morice's posture. She didn't need to be reminded further.

"Wait, how did you know-"

Riker interrupted. "You think I haven't put the pieces together over the years? It wasn't important enough to bring up." His attention went to Morice. "Until now."

"You're asking the wrong person." Morice said. "I don't know where the old man is."

"Oh I know where he is." Riker corrected, glancing at Breccia. "As sneaky as you think you are, you'll find we tend to find things out eventually."

"Look, I promised him I wouldn't say anything." Breccia commented. "I don't want a bunch of people pestering him."

"We don't have an option. If he can point us in the right direction, we can get this bullshit taken care of before another attack happens." Riker exhaled. "I'm not exactly concerned about feelings. I know if his kid is involved, he might be willing to cooperate."

"So you're going to use Morice to force complacency?"

"Basically."

"You cant-"

"Breccia the entire public is in danger, not just us. I don't really care about sensibilities."

"I-"

Morice stood up, injecting himself into the conversation and cutting his girlfriend off.

"He's right." He went to where the other two stood. "If it'll stop all this madness...I'll manage."

Breccia scowled. She'd be heartless not to take whatever chance there was to put an end to everything. She just didn't want Ethan to be inconvenienced...she also didn't want him finding out about who she really was.


Sitting at his fireplace, Ethan had a cup of coffee in hand. His new friend, an Umbreon, was curled on the couch next to him, sleeping with the occasional snore. It had been a nice day, something that he typically enjoyed, though lately he was starting to get skittish. It would be time for him to return home soon. He had his time away to clear his head, he couldn't stay gone forever. Besides warmer weather would be better for Rusty, as his arthritis was starting to get worse.

Maybe he'd settle back in his home town, his mom had long since passed but the family home was up for sale.

Standing to refill his cup with the percolator hanging above the open flames, Ethan heard a commotion outside. Like the sound of the outside door being pried open. People typically stayed away from the lighthouse, so for a moment, he found himself on edge.

Maybe it's Rusty

That thought was tossed out when a knock was heard.

"What the hell..." He said this under his breath.

Upon first opening the door, Ethan spotted Breccia and lowered his guard slightly. "Oh it's you, it's a bit late isn't it?" He then noticed the two men. "Can I help you?"

Morice was standing in the center of the three, swallowing back nervousness. He hadn't seen his dad in years and it would seem Ethan didn't recognize him. "Hi Dad."