Author's Note—Like all of my other stories, this one has inadvertently been put on-hold. (Much to XfilesGuy123's dismay… sorry again, man!) But here's chapter three! Hope you like it, and please review!

Chance and Storm sat down in the hall while they waited for Cody and Carey. Storm tapped her foot while Chance cracked his knuckles.

"That's such a bad habit, Chance," said Storm.

"Been doing it for a few years now. I do it when I'm nervous sometimes," said Chance.

"What are you nervous about now?" asked Storm.

"A lot of things. Zack Martin. The killer. An abduction case in Salem that's getting uglier by the minute. A double homicide in New York that I'm helping out with. A serial killer about to go on trial. Sick bastard murdered six nine to thirteen-year-old boys in Philadelphia. He has a crap load of money so he hired a ruthless defense team who are trying to either get him off or claim insanity. They're attacking every angle of the prosecution." Chance sighed. Storm felt a wave of sympathy wash over her. Chance always had a lot on his plate. It was the job he chose. Multiple cases at once. Storm usually took cases one at a time.

"How's Toby?" asked Storm, trying to change the topic to something nice. Chance smiled.

"He's good. Best student in his class. Popular. Happy. Little League pitcher. Kid has a mean fastball. He's doing great," said Chance. Toby Matthews was Chance's world. A bright and happy eight-year-old boy who took after his father in ambition and kindness. Well, Toby was a little nicer then Chance. Chance could be nasty at times.

"I'm sorry I acted like an ass earlier," said Chance.

"Don't worry about it. It's good to see you, Chance. Honestly," said Storm. Chance smiled. Chance and Storm looked up as the door to Zack's room opened. Carey walked out.

"Cody wants to spend a little more time with Zack. I'll be more then happy to answer any questions," said Carey.

"Agent Matthews would like to talk to Cody. But I have a few questions. If you don't mind going somewhere more private," said Storm. Carey turned her attention to Chance.

"No offense, Agent Matthews, but I'd feel better if Ms. Henshaw was present when you question Cody," said Carey.

"None taken. She is Cody's lawyer," said Chance.

"OK. We can talk some other time, Mrs. Martin," said Storm.

"So what kind of agent are you?" asked Carey, looking Chance over with question.

"FBI," said Chance, flashing his badge.

"FBI? What's your interest in Zack?" asked Carey, leaning against the wall.

"You watch the news a lot?" asked Chance.

"Yeah," said Carey.

"So I assume you know about the killer going around shooting people in the chest," said Chance. Carey's mouth dropped.

"You think that madman shot Zack?" asked Carey. Chance showed her the bag with the bullet in it.

"Yes I do," said Chance. Carey put a hand over her mouth.

"That's between you, me, and Ms. Henshaw. Your son doesn't need to know that yet," said Chance. Carey nodded.

"Zack's lucky to be alive. He must have a guardian angel or something," said Carey. She gathered herself and looked at Storm.

"Are you still going to represent us if that psycho is the one that shot Zack?"

"Of course. I'm mainly here to build a case against Drew Taylor and his friends for attacking Zack. That's assault and I think they deserve a few months in juvie."

"And if the killer did shoot Zack, she'll be an expert witness at the trial when we catch the bastard," said Chance. Carey nodded.

"We're both here to fight for you and your boys," said Storm.

"I can't thank you both enough," said Carey. Chance looked Carey in the eyes.

"You can thank us when this psycho is behind bars," said Chance. Carey gave a weak smile and nodded.

Cody spent another thirty minutes with Zack. Carey came in to remind him that he needed to talk with the FBI agent. Cody kissed Zack on the cheek as he stood up.

"I'll be back later, buddy," said Cody. Cody followed Carey out into the hall.

"Why don't we go somewhere more comfortable," said Storm. The four of them went to small waiting room. Carey and Cody sat down on a couch while Chance and Storm took a seat in two chairs across from them.

"Cody, my name is Chance. I'd like to ask you a few questions." Cody nodded.

"Do you remember seeing anyone who looked suspicious?"

"No. I was just looking at Zack in disbelief." A single tear fell down his cheek. Cody wiped it away.

"Can you think of anyone else who may have wanted to hurt Zack instead of those three boys who attacked him?" Cody thought about this for a minute.

"No. Drew was Zack's arch enemy. He'd be the first one to pull a gun on him." Chance sighed. He was starting to think more and more that the faceless .45 Caliber Killer was his shooter. Part of him didn't want to believe it. Chance would have rather been kicked in the head then work alongside Violent Crimes on a case like this. Especially with a kid involved. Violent Crimes would be merciless when they questioned Cody. Chance had no way to prepare him. He had to get as much info out of him before Violent Crimes turned him into an emotional wreck.

The questioning lasted an hour. Cody did his best to be helpful. But he was longing to go back into Zack's room and sit with him. Chance was out of questions. If he kept going, he would start to tread on personal ground. Cody wasn't ready for that. He needed to spend a few days with his brother. Cody excused himself and went back to Zack's room. It was getting late. Chance glanced at his watch. 10:34.

"It's getting late. We should all get some rest. It's going to be a long day tomorrow once Violent Crimes shows up," said Chance as he gathered his things.

"Violent Crimes?" asked Carey.

"They're heading up the serial killer case. I'm just the profiler. They call the shots," explained Chance. He stood up.

"I will see you all tomorrow. Storm, nice seeing you again. Mrs. Martin, I assure you I'll do everything I can to find the person who hurt your son," said Chance. Carey nodded.

"Thank you, Agent Matthews," said Carey, a slight tremor in her voice. She was dying to go sit with Zack for the rest of the night. Chance gave her a weak smile and then left.

"I need to get going to. If you need anything at all, Carey…"

"I'm fine. Thank you, Storm," interrupting her. Storm nodded.

"Take care," said Storm. She got her things together and left as well. Carey sighed and walked to Zack's room.

It took Chance more the thirty minutes to drive to his apartment. Once there his energy started to sag. He'd be surprised if he didn't pass out in the hallway. Chance sighed as he put his coat away in the hall closet. Ida Fields was reading a novel in the living room.

"Sorry I'm late," said Chance.

"That's OK," said Ida, marking her place in her book and standing up.

"Was everything OK?" asked Chance.

"Oh yes. Toby was an angel as always. He finished his homework right after practice and watched a Spongebob marathon right up until bedtime," said Ida. Chance smiled.

"Thank you, Ida. I'll try not to work so late tomorrow," said Chance. He handed her an extra twenty along with the usual twenty.

"Chance, you work for the FBI. I'd be worried if you didn't work late," said Ida. Chance chuckled.

"Good night, dear," said Ida, heading towards the door.

"Night, Ida," said Chance. Ida smiled as she left and went to her apartment across the hall. Chance locked his gun in the cabinet and went into Toby's room. Toby's back was to the door and he was curled up under the covers fast asleep. Chance sat down on the edge of the bed and watched Toby sleep. Toby had inherited looks from both parents. He had his father's grey-blue eyes and round nose. He also had a freckle on his stomach that was identical to one Chance had his own stomach. From his mother Toby inherited light brown hair and very full and sensual lips. His eyelashes were long like his mother's too. Chance felt his heart ache as he thought of his loving wife and best friend. Amanda. Now six years dead. The victim of a serial rapist who turned to murder when he attacked Amanda. After raping and beating her, he cut her throat from ear to ear. He killed three more women before he was caught, convicted, and sentenced to death. Chance had sat in on the execution of Edgar Tilman. The man's final words were, "You can all go screw yourselves."

Chance snapped out of his thoughts as Toby stirred.

"Dad," said Toby, his lips curling back in a sleepy smile.

"Hey, punk," said Chance.

"What time is it?" asked Toby.

"Twenty past eleven. Sorry to wake you," said Chance. Toby shook his head.

"That's OK," said Toby. He sat up in bed a little.

"How was practice?" asked Chance.

"Good. My team won," said Toby.

"Cool," said Chance. Toby stuck his bottom lip out.

"Hey, dad. Can I ask you a kind of weird question?" asked Toby.

"Sure," said Chance.

"Mom had a lot of tattoos right?" asked Toby.

"Three," said Chance.

"Could I get one?" asked Toby.

"Absolutely not," said Chance, smiling a little.

"Why not?" asked Toby.

"Because you're only eight. Ask me again in ten years."

"How about a piercing? She had piercings right?"

"Two."

"Ear?"

"No. I'm not watching as hole is put in your ear."

"Nose.

"Mom didn't have a nose ring. And no."

"Lip?"

"You're not going to get a lip ring. And Mom didn't have one"

"Bellybutton?"

"Mom did have one of those. But no."

"Why not?"

"Can't pierce an outtie." Toby thought about this.

"Good point. Why'd I have to be an outtie?"

"What are you going to do?" Toby shrugged.

"Thought I'd ask." Chance ruffled his hair.

"How was work?" Toby sat up in bed some more.

"Same old routine."

"Any new cases?"

"Yeah."

"Let me guess. The .45 Caliber."

"Yep."

"I knew it. The second I saw that most recent news report, I knew they would call you in."

"You were right." Toby yawned.

"You need to go back to sleep." Toby nodded and laid back down.

"Night, pal," said Chance, kissing Toby goodnight.

"Night, Dad." He turned on his side and closed his eyes. Chance rubbed his head and then quietly left his room. He sighed and walked to his room. His mind was still on the case. A million questions were playing back and forth. Who had motive? Who had the opportunity? Was the .45 Caliber the shooter? Was it a copycat? The questions haunted Chance until he descended into a restless sleep.

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Storm Henshaw rubbed her eyes and listened to the soothing sound of the running water. She was sitting on the edge of the Jacuzzi in her lavish bathroom. Everything was decorated in a green and violet color scheme, with hints of marble. When it came to decorating her upscale apartment, Storm spared no expense.

When the tub was filled with steaming hot water, Storm slipped out of her silky bathrobe and stepped into the clear water. She flicked the switch that turned on the bubbles and sighed as her tense muscles began to relax under the soothing massage of water.

It had been a long day, and it was finally over. She closed her eyes and leaned against the porcelain basin, and tried to think of something that wasn't work related. But, as they often did, her thoughts traveled back to everything that went on that day… starting with seeing Chance.

Who would've thought that I'd ever see him again? She wondered listlessly, talk about a blast from the past.

But it was a past that she wanted to forget. And now her job—what she loved more than anything else in the world—was forcing her to confront it once again. Face to face.

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"You're going to get through this, man," Cody whispered to his still unconscious brother, "and when you do we're going straight home. And don't even think about causing another dramatic scene in the parking lot. I'm sick of you getting all the attention."

Carey smiled at Cody's attempt at a joke. Laughter can get you through anything.

"Mom?" Cody asked suddenly.

Carey looked up. Cody had spent the last half hour talking quietly to Zack while she, Carey looked over his shoulder. Both of them focused their full attention to Zack, pretty much forgetting that the other was there.

"Yeah?"

"He is going to be okay, right?"

"Yes," Carey whispered, resting her hands on his shoulders. He sagged slightly, leaning into her. She smiled, glad that she still had this—this ability to comfort her teenage son, "Remember what Jack said before he left tonight? He lost a lot of blood and he's really week from the gunshot and the operation, but he's going to be alright."

"I remember," Cody said, turning to face her, "I just… I don't know."

She brushed his hair back and kissed his forehead, "You've had a long day. You should sleep."

He nodded.

"Night, Zack," he whispered, giving his hand a squeeze, "I'll see you first thing in the morning."

Carey bent forward and kissed Zack's cheek, "be strong, baby," she said.

Carey and Cody left the bedside and went to the on-call room to get some sleep.

"Everything's going to be okay," Cody said softly, more to himself than to his mom, "It has to be."