"Look Vince. I need to shut this down." Scott said packing the case folders.

"No we haven't found Gil! We can't just give up like this!" Vincent panicked.

"It's been months Vince. We can't search anymore." Scott sighed.

"But what about Gil! We're just gonna let him suffer with that…. That man." Vincent said worriedly.

"No. But i'm also saying it's nearly christmas. He was captured back in April." Scott sighed. "If we don't find him now, we never will Vince."

"I still don't believe that was Jack." Vincent huffed. "Of course we'll find him!"

"Yes, it was Jack. But nobody's seen Jack anywhere." Scott sighed. "We'll still look out for him. Posters are still up. Hell he's on the damn juice carton. But if we don't find him now, we never will. He's gone Vince. Probably forever. Either way i can't extend this search any more. Unless you have some new piece of evidence or something new to go off of this search is off."

"He can't be gone, he just can't be. No he's gotta come home." Vincent said weakly.

"Vincent. I know you don't want to believe it. But he's gone. Probably dead." Scott said, putting hands on Vincent's shoulder. Vincent shook his head.

"He can't be! No he just can't!" Vincent sniffled.

"He is Vince." Scott sighed. "I'm sorry. I did all i could."

"No you didn't! If you did everything he'd be back home safe and sound!" Vincent snapped tears in his eyes.

"Vince. It's nearly christmas. If he's not home now, he never will be. I'm sorry Vince. He was my kid too." Scott said.

"No! He can't be gone! No just no!" Vincent huffed weakly. Scott sighed before hugging Vincent tightly. Vincent hugged back baring his face into Scott's shoulder sniffling.

"He can't be gone." Vincent whimpered softly.

"Shhh…. Shhh…. Everything will be alright. Big brother's got ya. Just let it out." Scott said.

"I can't lose him….. Not like this." Vincent whimpered.

"I'm sorry vince. Nothing i can do." Scott sighed.

"This can't be how it ends, Just no!" Vincent cired.

"Vince. He's. gone." Scott aid patting Vincent's back.

"No."Vincent said weakly hugging Scott tighter.

"Wherever he is… he knows you love him. That he didn't die hating you…." Scott tried to comfort. Vincent only cried softly into Scott's shoulder.

"Vince, it's okay. Be strong. For Sep." Scott sighed. Vincent sniffled but nodded. "I know you loved Gil greatly. What would you tell him, were he here right now?" Scott said.

"That i'm so sorry for making him feel unimportant, that i love him dearly, that… i wouldn't let anything bad happen to him again." Vincent sniffled.

"So tell yourself that. Tell Sep that. Protect Sep, but never forget Gil…." Scott said.

"R-right." Vincent said shakily

"What did you think of Gil, when you first saw him?" Scott mumbled.

"He was kinda cute even if he was a bit rude." Vincent sniffled.

"Kind of cute, huh? You never seemed the parent type. At least you were a father to him… in his short lifespan." Scott said.

"Yeah. He well seems i am." Vincent chuckled very weakly. "Yeah…"

"Just opinion, but i think he'd grow to be a great guy." Scott said softly. "But i know he'd hate seeing you cry."

"Of course he would it's Gil." Vincent sniffled softly before giving a shaky sigh.

"And what would Gil do, if it were you?" Scott said, patting his back.

"Take care of Sep and hope that i'd come back." Vincent said sadly.

"So just take Gil's place there. Take care of Sep, and hope Gil comes home by some miracle." Scott mumbled. Vincent sighed sadly pulling away from the hug still looking down.

"Bro. It'll be alright. I know it will." Scott said surely. "If i know him, he's out there on the road right now. Finding his way home. Hell he's probably hitching a ride home right now..."

"I hope your right." Vincent said sadly.

"I'm usually right, you know this." Scott said. "You loved…. Love, Gil a lot don't you."

"I love him like he was my own flesh and blood." Vincent sighed.

"Even when he isn't?" Scott said, surprised.

"Yeah. He kinda grew on me, he like you." Vincent said weakly.

"Like me? I wasn't half a rebel Gil was. Gil was ready to make the world bow as soon as he could figure out how." Scott chuckled. "Also… uh… Gil smoked. A lot of stuff."

"I mean you grew on me, like he did. I love him like my own flesh and blood and i love you like a blood related brother." Vincent chuckled.

"Hmph. Now you're just trying to flatter me to get me to reopen the case. No can do, unless you've got something to show." Scott scoffed.

"I mean it Scott." Vincent said.

"No you don't." Scott grumbled.

"Yeah i do." Vincent huffed.

"No." Scott huffed.

"Yeah" Vincent muttered.

"No." Scott huffed.

"Yeah." Vincent said rolling his eyes.

"No." Scott huffed.

"Yes." Vincent said.

"Go home." Scott huffed.

"Yeah, yeah." Vincent sighed. Scott went back to closing boxes of case files for Gilbert. Vincent sighed sadly he couldn't just give up like this but Scott couldn't drag this case on any longer.

"Someone show him out!" Scott called.

"Uh Yes sir?" A man came into the office, stumbling over himself awkwardly. Vincent stood up from the seat he'd taken in Scott's office.

"Show him to the door, Jack. The main door." Scott sighed, rolling his eyes at Jack's awkwardness.

"Right sir." Jack said awkwardly. Vincent shook his head at hearing the man's name. Taking a good look at Jack he was surprised to see just how out of place Jack truly was here. The blonde haired man stood awkwardly looking at him obviously uncomfortable by Vincent looking him over. His timid kind of stance made it hard to believe this man was on the police force. But who knew. Scott used to be stringy and nerdy himself and now… Scott was Scott.

"Sir is there something on my face?" Jack said awkwardly looking rather uncomfortable.

"... No. Well there is… but… no." Vincent said awkwardly, quickly rushing out. Jack followed after him as he had been ordered to escort him to the front door.

"So um… you work with Scott…?" vincent said awkwardly.

"Kinda." Jack said softly.

"Kinda?" Vincent looked surprised.

"Volunteered. N-never figured i-i'd work with the Chief. Lucky i guess." Jack said

"So… i guess my son is your first big case hmm?" Vincent said softly.

"Yeah. S-sorry that we couldn't help…." Jack said sadly.

"I guess nothing could be done…. I was really looking forward to… but i'm guessing that won't happen." Vincent sighed sadly.

"Who knows sir." Jack said softly.

"I just need to get home… sleep." Vincent sighed sadly. "F-forget this d-day happened." Vincent sighed, leaving out the front door to his car.

"Okay sir, Just don't do anything reckless wouldn't want anyone getting hurt." Jack said all timidness about him gone.

"Sure…. Reckless." Vincent said bitterly getting in his car and driving off.

When Vincent came home he was greeted with a sight he never thought he'd see. Gilbert's ragged coat on the coat hanger, travel worn but recognizable.

"Gil?" Vincent said surprised. No response.

"Gil! Are you home!" Vincent called going up the stairs hopeful. Still no response. 'Maybe he's sleeping?' Vincent thought. Vincent walked up to Gilbert's room and knocked hopeful to get a grumble or any sort of response from it. It was eerily quiet. Vincent gulped as he placed a hand on the door knob.

"Gil?" Vincent said. There was a large lump in the bed as he opened the door. Vincent walked over to the lump. The lump made no movement.

"Gil?" Vincent said worried. No movement, as Vincent could hear soft classical music being played through a pair of headphones. Vincent sighed rolling his eyes. There was still no movement from Gilbert…. Not even breathing. Vincent was unsettled by how still Gilbert was and took a deep breath placing a hand on him and shaking him a bit. Gilbert made no response.

"Gil?" Vincent said worriedly. He reached out, touching Gilbert's cheek. It was ice cold. Vincent froze in shock scared to even move the blanket but brought himself to grip the blanket. Pulling it away, he could see Gilbert fully. At first glance, Gilbert seemed to be peacefully sleeping, no obvious wounds implying his death or harm.

"Gil?" Vincent said weakly. He reached out to shake Gilbert more, Gilbert still feeling cold all over, no signs of life or body heat anywhere.

"Gil please you can't be." Vincent said shakily. He shook Gilbert harder as Gilbert made no movement to steady himself. Vincent started to tear up already putting the pieces together in his head. Sniffling, he sat weakly on the bed, holding Gilbert's hand as he tried to wipe his tears only for more to follow.

"I'm so sorry Gil." Vincent sniffled.

"Dad? What's wrong?" Septhis came in, rubbing his eyes. Vincent weakly looked over at Septhis tears still streaming down his face. Septhis still looked sleepy, walking over rubbing his eyes.

"Oh, Big brother came home. We should let him sleep, right dad?" Septhis mumbled.

"R-right." Vincent sniffled.

"What's wrong dad? Why are you crying?" Septhis asked. "Gil's home. You should be happy."

"J-just happy that he's home." Vincent said weakly wiping tears away as best as he could.

"Me too dad." Septhis smiled, leaning up and hugging Gilbert as best he could.

"Welcome back big brother." Septhis said happily before letting go. "Come on dad. Let's go to bed and let big brother sleep." Septhis said, leaving the room going back to bed. Vincent sighed shakily as he followed Septhis out of Gilbert's room. He'd have to get rid of Gilbert's body but he wouldn't scar Septhis like that. He was torn between giving Gilbert to Scott and Sep eventually finding out, or simply getting rid of Gilbert himself and leaving the whole investigation as 'unsolved'. If the case went unsolved then he could keep the hope for Gilbert coming back for Septhis but he hated to leave the case unsolved. On the other hand, he at least wanted Gilbert to get the proper treatment he deserved in this case, but again, that would leave Septhis only to assume the worst. He decided he'd wait till Septhis was asleep and take care of Gilbert then, as much as he hated the thought of sneaking out of his own house. He would take Gilbert to Scott when Septhis fell asleep so the case could be solved and closed, and give Gilbert the respect he deserved. As far as Septhis finding out… he'd simply have to keep Septhis away, as normal. Make everything seem normal. Seem.