Violet Young was running out of options. She was scared shitless at what she had seen and what could happen to her. While she was on her run past the headquarters of Kelvin North America she had made the mistake of running past the rear of the building near the shipping and receiving area. It was a short cut that would result in her fearing for her life. As she ran through she took note of the door that was ajar. Slowing her run to a quick walk she started to move towards the door her curiosity now piqued. Just as she was about to reach out for the door handle to open the door, she was met with a man exiting said door in a hurry. He was carrying 2 large crates. She looked into his eyes and what she noticed was the fact that his eyes were cold and unforgiving. This is the point when she thought that this man would stop at nothing to get to her.

Xx

Mike Royce was at his favorite sports bar. He was so totally into the Dodgers game since it was the bottom of the 4th and they had the lead by one run so much so that he never heard his phone ring. Well, the noise in the bar sure did not help either. Just as he left the men's restroom he heard it ring again. Swiping to answer it, he brings it to his ear and he's met with a frantic woman's voice on the other end. The voice is one that he's not familiar with so he tries to calm her down.

"Wait a minute sweetheart. Slow down and take a breath, okay?"

"Okay! But you don't understand he's going to kill me.!"

"Who is?"

"It's a long story. Can we meet somewhere?"

Royce was never one who'd turn anybody away who needed help. So, he reluctantly agreed to meet this woman.

"Okay, but first what's your name?"

"It's Violet, Violet Young."

"Violet, there's a diner in LA off South Main Street called The Nickle Diner. But since you feel your life is in danger use the alley entrance off East 5th Street. Werdin Place is the name of the alleyway that leads to the rear entrance."

"What time?"

Royce takes a look at his watch and tells her to meet him at 10 pm.

He has time so he does a search for Violet Young. He finds out that she is an aspiring actress, and she has been in a "B" movie. He wonders why she thinks her life is in danger. He heads out to the diner because a little advance surveillance time would never hurt. As he parks his Challenger he notices nothing out of the ordinary. He enters the diner and takes a booth looking towards the door and windows. He scans the crowd for any threats. When the waitress comes over he orders a coffee, black.

Xx

Violet got his number from a friend who he'd helped recently. He was a man who always looked out for people, that's what made her call him for his help. She walked along the route he had told her about on the telephone. She turns down the alley and then finds the back door to the diner and enters. She sees him sitting at a booth. Sliding in opposite him she greets him.

"Mr. Royce?"

"Yeah kid, that's me."

"I'm in trouble."

"Alright, let's start with this trouble. Why do think this?"

Violet told Mike what happened when she was on her run and he had heard of Ganz because honestly, this could be only him. Calvin North America was a top military defense contractor. Ganz was ruthless and would stop at nothing to kill her for what she had witnessed. Knowing that he would stop at nothing he pulled his phone out and searched for a flight to JFK. Finding a flight that left at midnight they would be in New York around 8 am the next morning. Then he did not look forward to the next call he needed to make. She was still his first number on his speed dial knowing that she'd be sleeping. He hit the send icon and it rang. After two rings it went to voicemail so he left her one.

He and Violet left the diner for her place if they were going to make the flight in time. She packed quickly and they were speeding down the 110 and since it was late they made it to the airport in no time.

Xx

Kate had just come back from her run and was getting a bottle of water from the fridge when her phone chimed with a voicemail alert. Picking it up she listened to the message.

"Hey kid, it's Royce. I know I got no right to ask, but I need your help. I just got back into town and the fires coming fast. Please, call me."

Kate withdrew the phone and as she did it rang.

"Royce?" She said.

"Beckett?" Her captain asked.

"Sir, what is it?"

"Beckett, I have bad news."

"Go on sir."

"Royce has been murdered. I'm sorry Kate."

"Where is he?"

"Kate listen, there's no reason for you to come out here. We can handle this."

"Sir, he was my T.O. I am going to investigate this!"

Against his better judgment, he gave her the address where Royce was found. He knew that he would never stop her from finding out who killed him.

Xx

Ganz had taken the only operative he could think of that was not involved in a current contract. Mannis was just a little too overeager to go along, and because of this since he was one of his best assassins he knew that he could only use him as a driver. Only because he had a job coming up and he did not want the NYPD to catch wind of him killing Royce. So, he'd do it himself.

Royce was smart. He had somehow taken advantage of the fact that Ganz was looking for him and set a trap. But then again, he'd underestimated his opponent. When Ganz had cornered him in the back of a boarded-up dry cleaner shop he pulled a silenced 9 millimeter and shot him in the right leg. Royce managed to rush Ganz and knock him over and then he limped out of the store out the back door. Falling when he tripped on the uneven pavement, he started to drag himself towards the only hiding place he saw. He made it behind a dumpster and held his breath.

Ganz knew that Royce had nowhere to go. He went directly to the dumpster across the alley and found him. He raised his gun and aimed right at Royce's head as he turned to look at him. Then Ganz told him,

"You should have stayed out of this Royce."

"You have no idea the hell that's about to rain down on you."

Ganz replied with a one word comment "Scary."

At that instant, Ganz just squeezed off a round and ended Mike Royce's life. He left the alley and met back up with Mannis. He thought as Mannis drove to the airport.

"Don, I need you to stay here in New York and find that bitch. I want her dead before I land in LA!"

"I'll make sure that happens." Mannis said through the open window then he left Ganz standing at the terminal at JFK.

A/N: The first two chapters were basically following cannon. From this point on this story becomes 100% A/U. Thanks for the favs and follows.

P2P