The tires of the cab nearly screeched to a halt as she nearly shouted instructions to the cabbie.

"I will actually pay you double if you get me there as fast as you possibly can."

Bree had said when she first climbed into the cab. She found herself sobering at an alarming pace. Mentally, she felt there, but she knew her reaction time would be horrible compared to usual.

She nearly threw the money at the cab driver as she ducked out the door and muttered a quick "thank you."

Rushing up the doorsteps, she slowed as she approached the door, carefully testing the knob.

It was unlocked.

She paused, taking a moment to slide off her heels.

No point of those… she mused, reaching into her purse and grabbing her Glock. This is a horrible idea, she thought vaguely, sliding the rounds into the magazine.

Click.

She opened the door slowly, keeping her gun at the ready as she crept inside. The stairs creaked softly as she snuck up the small flight.

Her heart thrummed painfully hard in her chest as she reached for the doorknob. Her head was as nearly spinning as she tried to keep her breathing a quiet as possible. She turned the knob….it was unlocked as well.

"Something is really not right…" she whispered under her breath, pushing the door open with a small burst of confidence. Her grip on her gun never faltered.

The lights were not on as she crept inside the small apartment. Her eyes darted across the room, looking from any movement. The dim glow of a light around a wall partition caught her eye and she slowly began to walk towards it. She rounded the corner and found herself in a small kitchen and was greeted by the large shoulders of burly man, his back to her. Her stomach dropped as she heard an unmistakable sound.

Click!

"It's about time you showed up, girlie," the man said turning around and raising a gun in her direction. She swallowed as she noticed a seated figure behind him, tied to a chair. Ed.

He looked at her with wide eyes. Bree met Samuel's eyes with a steely edge.

"GCPD….pun the gun down, Roberts," she said with less certainty than she intended. Samuel laughed, stepping forward slightly. Bree stepped back, nearly tripping over a carpet, but kept her arms steady.

"Really, GCPD? Then I'd like to see some credentials."

"Drop the gun and maybe we'll talk," Bree retorted. Samuel shook his head.

"No can do, kiddo."

"Where are the children?"

"Not here."

"It was you that killed Jason. You killed your own brother….why?" she took a jab at a theory she had been beginning to suspect, hoping that it would at least buy her some time. Samuel's smirk faded, and he scoffed, clenching his hand not holding his gun.

"That man had not been my brother for a very long time. He had turned into just another hired thug….I was just doing the world a favor," he said bitterly.

Shit, he really did kill his brother. She thought, trying to hide her slight surprise from her face.

"And he hurt Michelle and the kids…"

"You were in love with her…" Bree mused, raising her brows, "You were protecting them."

"Jason never deserved a woman like her," Samuel narrowed his eyes, his frown deepening.

"Hence the amputation of his left hand and the placement of the wedding ring still on it…" Edward interjected quietly from behind Samuel.

"That was clever making it look like a mob hit," Bree commented, drawing Samuel's attention back to her. "But why approach us again?"

He was quiet a moment, gun lowered slightly.

"I knew something was wrong the moment Michelle said there were a few students trying to interview her about Jason…and I just knew you weren't students. I couldn't let you go knowing what had actually happened….I couldn't then and I can't now—"

Bree's heart skipped a beat as he suddenly raised his gun and she almost dropped to the floor, but a loud THUNK froze her to the spot. With wide eyes she gaped as Samuel's form slumped and collapsed onto the ground, only to reveal a brow furrowed Edward Nygma wielding a frying pan.

"Ed…" she gasped, staring at the heap of a man on the floor. She watched as Ed dropped the pan on the ground with a loud clang.

Bree lowered her gun, dropping the magazine and stowing it away with rather shaky hands.

"I froze…" she muttered, eyes downcast. In her peripherals she noticed Ed step around the unconscious lump and move toward her.

"I froze. I froze and I almost got myself killed because of it," she blinked as she fought back the wave of unforeseen emotion. She swallowed hard, nodding softly as she dared to raise her head and meet Edward's eyes.

She could see the thoughts dancing across his dark eyes, not quite sure how to process the situation. His lips were slightly pursed together and he stared at her as he reached out and lightly patted her on the shoulder. A smirk played upon her lips at the gesture.

"Thank you," she took a moment to wrap her arms around him, clinging to him tightly. "Thanks for being the one to save my ass this time around," she chuckled into the lapels of his suit. She felt him stand stiffly, as if he genuinely did not know what to do.

"It's easy, Ed," she sniffed a little as she laughed, biting back the slight sting of tears at the corners of her eyes. "You just, take your arms, put them around someone and squeeze a little," she smiled into his shoulder, her brows still deeply furrowed, fighting back a sob. She felt his lean arms hesitantly wrap around her form. After a moment, just as she moved to pull away, his grip tightened, holding her in place his arms tugging her closer to his lanky form. She felt his cheek rest against her head. They stood like that in silence for what felt like hours. After another moment, Bree spoke up.

"Edward?"

"Hhmm?"

"There is an unconscious body on the floor that we likely need to address."

"Interesting….so there is."

/

"What turns everything around, but does not move?"

"Wait—so does this answer my question about the Roberts' thing?" Bree raised a finger, tilting her head slightly. Edward just about rolled his eyes.

"Come oooooon, just give it a try!" he quipped.

They stood back at GCPD headquarters, Edward leaning over Bree's desk.

"It is way too early for this."

"Brianna…" he droned impatiently, tapping on her desk.

"A mirror," she said with a sigh and Edward beamed.

"Correct! See, that was not so bad."

"Yes, but how does that answer my question about how you managed to get Roberts locked up without involving us?"

"Oh, but in a way, it does! I reflected back on his past, and found that he was on parole for drug related charges. I simply gave him a dose of said drug and called in an anonymous tip of a domestic disturbance of some sort at the address, and voila!" he said excitedly, a wide grin spreading across his face. Bree blinked a few times.

"Wait—you could have made him go into a relapse!"

Ed shrugged. "I think a thank you would suffice."

Bree sighed, narrowing her eyes briefly at him while dragging a hand through her hair.

"Thank you, Ed," she said eventually, a smile playing on her lips. "Oh! Wait, I got you something!" she said, snapping her fingers and reaching under her desk. "I was in this bookstore yesterday and I passed this and it reminded me of you," she laughed, pulling out a small box and handing it to him. He raised his brows, taking the box into his hands curiously.

"Go on, open it up!"

He pulled off the bits of tape keeping it together and popped open the cardboard top. A large grin appeared on his face as he reached inside and pulled out a white ceramic mug, its side adorned with a large question mark.

"Oh my word….that's beautiful."

"I thought you'd like it," Bree grinned, gathering her papers.

"Oh, and another thing! Have you heard anything about that strange case Bullock and Gordon picked up this morning? It's some sort or mystery drug that—"

"Nygma! Get down here!" a gruff voice called out, causing his face to drop. He sighed.

"Duty calls…"

Surprise fast update! It's a bit short, but to the point. I just had to keeping going with a cliffhanger like that last chapter. You all are wonderful and thanks for the lovely reviews. If things go well, I may even have another chapter up by the end of the week!

Once again, feel free to ask questions or roleplay with Bree at .com

Till next time.