OK - I finished off the last of the action chapters yesterday (Jeezo it's been an intense writing period!) so I figure I will keep posting daily for now - at least you shouldn't be left with any cliffhangers for more than a night! I may slow to less frequent when we get into the aftermath though as my other responsibilities are taking a beating. Shame - as I love fanficland :D

Anyhow, here we go - the working title for this chapter was "Brandon is an eejit chapter" which should be a bit of an indication that he may be slightly frustrating - but heck, that's what makes it exciting, right? If kids were all well behaved then there would be no stories!

Hope you enjoy, thanks for all the feedback so far and as always I would love to know what you are thinking! Is Brandon being an idiot or is it fair enough he wants his answers while he has the chance? Is Kasey right to go with him even though it goes against her instincts? Should Evan start wearing his helmet just in case? Is Stef secretly glad he's there with her as a support? Any views welcome; I'm just the storyteller - I'd love to know opinions!

OK, on with it...

"Broncos?" Brandon looked at her confused.

"The bar Evan was at - Mum said something about a drugs bust. I was so mad with Evan for being there and that Jesus followed him...what's the betting he was trying to find out about this? He never drinks on that side of town." She didn't mean to say it out loud but the memory was just flowing out and Kasey's own suspicions momentarily grabbing her.

"Out east?"

Kasey nodded as Brandon snatched her phone and furiously began typing in. He was a man possessed now he had a clear idea of where she would be.

"Brandon - wait! You can't be...Brandon! That is literally the bar Moms reemed Jesus for going to."

"It's like 11am Kasey, we can't be in any danger now." he sped away as she slapped his arm.

"Brandon! We're going to a drug den. A drug den! You seriously aren't pushing this any further! I'm calling Mom."

"I've got your phone..."

"Brandon! Don't be such a dick about this!" Kasey hit him again as the car swerved slightly.

"Are you trying to get us killed?" he yelled.

"Are you?" she fired back as Brandon inhaled to calm himself.

"Once we are there Michelle won't be able to avoid me. We don't even have to go inside. She doesn't know why we're here..."

"And what if they go to our house to get the money while we're there? What if they go to grab it and someone gets hurt?"

"They wouldn't be stupid enough to - they know Mom is a cop. They don't know she's not there...besides..."

His voice dropped as he flicked the turning signal.

"They wouldn't find it there..." Kasey's eyes exploded.

"You didn't...you brought..."

"It's their friggin' money - not ours and probably not even Michelle's. The police will find it where it belongs."

"Oh my God." Kasey whimpered before turning back to shouting. "You are insane! Absolutely insane! What the hell has she done to you? You're going to plant...what part of your brain...pull over! Brandon - pull over!"

It was like she was talking to a brick wall. He had been completely consumed by his adrenaline.

"They don't know we have it! I'll talk to Michelle, we leave it and..."

"Brandon that is evidence! You're...we're harbouring evidence! What part of this is not getting into your head?!" she screamed.

"Kasey she won't let anything happen to me. I know it. She may have been using me, I'm not denying it - but if you saw her the other night...she doesn't want to be doing this. I may be able to get through to her. I'm the only stability she has! Whether it began like that or not. Porter doesn't give a shit about her - nobody does. No wonder she's the way she is." he stared at her almost with tears in his eyes. The lights changed ahead and he returned his eyes to the road. "I have to talk to her, Kasey. I have to know how much she had to do with this - if anything to convince myself I wasn't completely..." his voice broke. She could tell he was struggling with how blind he had been. He wanted closure - some reassurance that Michelle was the puppet - not him.

She stuttered seeing how stubborn he was being. He had been completely taken over. Completely blinded by his pity for her and his embarrassment. He genuinely couldn't see the danger. Fine. She would just have to try and stop him once they arrived. She was calling Stef as soon as she could get her phone back - hopefully before he got inside.

"That little...! She hung up on me!" Stef cursed.

Evan cowered slightly almost on Kasey's behalf. That was very bad move.

"I'm sure she just lost reception..." he suggested as Stef threw him a look.

"Oh she hung up on me! I'm gonna - oh my I'm gonna - I cannot believe she hung up on me!" Stef waved her hands furiously but Evan couldn't avert his gaze from the gun strapped around her belt.

"But what did she say before that? Where are they?" Evan asked calmly, hoping it would transfer. It didn't.

"They're safe she says! Safe! "Bonding" apparently. As if it was the most normal situation in the world. Safe! I'll show her safe!"

"I'm sure she just wanted you not to worry..." he kept his eyes fixed on the gun, gulping slightly as Stef's hand floated around it.

"If she didn't want me to worry she'd tell me where they were! And will you quit staring at my gun!" she slapped him on the chest as he snapped his eyes to hers.

"I'm sorry - it's just...you're scary enough without it..."

Stef rolled her eyes, but it did momentarily distract her at least.

"Good - well you remember that next time you are deciding whether to make a stupid decision or not. Your girlfriend's mum is packing" he nodded obediently before noticing her choice of words.

"Wait - girlfriend? We've split up."

Stef sighed heavily. "Evan I don't think there's any doubt that is going to change when she knows the truth. That is if she survives the day!"

"You really need to stop thinking the worst..."

"I mean after I get my hands on her for hanging up on me!" she strode off down the hall as Evan scurried behind rolling his eyes. He was quietly enjoying being back in the fold though - even with angry Stef.

"Foster - what are you doing here?" Captain Roberts asked as Stef came into her office, Evan obediently in tow.

"Lost my damn kids." she quipped.

Roberts raised an eyebrow. "Again? Should I be worried about you?"

"No but feel free to worry about them when I find them. Look I think they may be caught up with a drug dealer. Not as in they're getting drugs but Brandon's girlfriend Michelle seems to be involved with one and I think they've gone after them or something. Long story short - what do we know about...what was his name?" she asked looking back at Evan.

"Carl Lorimer" he replied.

"The Broncos owner Lorimer?" Roberts' eyes flashed to Evan.

"Yes." Evan said firmly as Stef swung around to him.

"You didn't tell me that!" she snapped slapping Evan's arm again.

"I said I was looking for him at Broncos - you're the cop..." he rubbed his arm defensively.

"Broncos is full of potential drug dealers - they're chasing after him?! Captain, I need to find their car."

"OK Stef, calm down. Do you even know they're going after him?"

"Well...no...they're just...I have no idea! They just won't answer and this morning Kasey was being really fresh with me which makes me wonder if she heard us talking about Michelle and if she told Brandon -"

Evan put his hands on Stef's shoulders as she covered her face. "We don't know any of this for sure. Kasey said they were safe - maybe they are just having some space to process away from the house."

Stef took a deep breath.

"I agree - though this girl - Brandon's girlfriend. What makes you think she has links with Lorimer?" Roberts queried, red flags flying high in her mind.

"I've seen him with her a few times, they used to work together at Broncos and I think he has her in some kind of abusive relationship. I've seen him play rough with her." Stef swung around looking at him even more sternly as he took a step back. This clearly was again more detailed information than he had divulged to her.

"Evan, we just had a 15 minute journey - did you maybe think to mention these details?" she scowled.

"I didn't want to worry you more than I needed too..."

He stepped back as Stef lunged forward with a strangling motion as Roberts grabbed her arm.

"OK - you're off duty so I'm not going to discipline you for attempting to strangle the witnesses but I'd appreciate it if you'd at least wait till you take him home."

Stef bit her lip with a glare at an apologetic looking Evan.

"We'll get the cameras on the hunt for the car - you " she pointed at Evan. "I want you to tell Inspector Hernandez about this girl Michelle. Our leads went dry on the Broncos bust but it sounds like this may be another."

"Another lead that my kids are chasing completely unarmed! We need to hurry up tracking that car."

"Stef - watch it. You've been in enough trouble for bursting in to these kinds of situations..."

"I'll do everything by the book Ma'am, but you can't seriously expect me to not go and find my kids."

"Well let's see if there's a reason first."

"You - come with me." Roberts pointed a finger at Evan and he followed her out flashing a small look at a nervous Stef. She pulled her phone out of her pocket and dialled Kasey again.

Stef's name flashed up temporarily blocking the GPS.

"Damnit, why does she keep calling? We're clearly not answering."

"Oh I don't know, maybe because her kids are trying to plant drug money on a criminal to protect your psycho ex and your potential demon spawn." Kasey huffed folding her arms. She wasn't packing any punches now, still furious with Brandon.

"So we're back to that. Whatever. We're nearly there." Brandon grumbled.

"What do you expect Brandon? This is single-handedly the stupidest thing you've ever done."

"I need some answers Kasey. We'll be fine - they can't hurt us. The ball is in our court." Brandon insisted as if trying to convince himself more than anything.

Kasey simply looked across at him and shook her head. She was buzzing with frustration.

They pulled up a street away from Broncos. The whole neighbourhood was quiet - as if it was yet to wake. There were no signs of life. No cars, shutters down, but they didn't want to get too close to draw attention

"It looks like no-one is there - how do you reckon we can get in?" he asked looking around.

Kasey squinted. "So you don't have a master plan behind this...what a surprise!" she huffed.

As Brandon unbuckled his belt Kasey put her hand on his arm sighing away her anger.

"Please Brandon - don't take the money in. Talk to Michelle but don't put yourself in that kind of danger. We should hand it over to the police. I'm begging you."

Her eyes pleaded. She had decided to try one last ditch attempt and had chosen calmness as her attack.

Brandon took a deep breath.

"OK." he finally responded. He could see how genuine her plea was and although he was still dead set on finding out the truth from Michelle he had been having doubts himself as his brain had more time to process.

He grabbed her phone and tapped through a text before getting out of the car. Kasey sprang to unbuckle her own belt getting caught slightly as he ran towards the bar.

"I'm going to go look in. It all seems really quiet...maybe it's the wrong bar..." He shouted back to her. His eyes were fixed on target and he spoke once again to reassure himself as she couldn't hear him anyway. Kasey finally freed herself and ran after him.

"Brandon - are you..." she registered he had already disappeared. Idiot!

He peered around the edge. All was deadly still. There was an open window but nobody inside.

He poked his head in as Kasey caught up with him and pulled on his shirt firmly.

"Brandon - you're not breaking into a bar!" she whispered harshly. "I don't care how crazy you are right now!"

"I'm not - I'm just trying to see if Michelle is inside." he looked at the phone again but still no text from her.

"Why are you putting us in danger for this? It's not worth it Brandon!" she snatched her phone back off him.

"Kasey just let me be! I'm not breaking in. I can hear voices. Raised voices. I'm just trying to hear if it's her."

"All the more reason we should be going now!" she slapped him on the back a couple more times but it didn't stop him wandering over to a backdoor as she scurried after him looking around nervously.

He opened it carefully to poke his head in further. He knew the room was empty, he could see it from the window. There was a table there with some empty chairs. There was a lingering smell of smoke. Someone had been there recently.

He poked his head in further before wandering in a further couple of steps, straining to hear the now silenced voices.

"Brandon!" Kasey exclaimed as quietly as she could. She lunged forward and grabbed his shirt firmly yanking him back before hearing voices behind them from the outside.

"Shit!" she whispered now pushing him forward as they scrambled into the empty room and closed the door behind them.

Panicking, they ran in and jumped into a closet type office leading from the side of the room.

Kasey pounded several times on Brandon's arm with her fists as he pulled it away trying to shush her.

"Don't you shush me Brandon Foster! We're trapped in a frickin' closet in a frickin' drug dealer bar after your stupid..." Brandon put a hand over her gasping mouth as she slapped it away punching him one more time.

"If we don't die here I am going to kill you for this!" she whispered angrily. She whipped out her retrieved phone and typed "Broncos. May need help." she clicked to send and her finger hovered over her Mom's number. Eventually she took a deep breath and scrolled up.

Evan's name glowed bright. She exhaled her breath and clicked it. It was too late now to go back. Evan was with her Mom and he would at least break it to her gently. Plus, there was no one else she wanted with her right now.

"So what now, Einstein?" she whispered almost crying with rage.

Brandon gulped, his heart pounding. For some reason his drive and adrenaline was giving him some courage. He was almost displaced from his body and remembered facing that gun when he and Callie rescued Jude. It was a wake up call as he put his arm across Kasey's front as of to protect her. There was absolute silence outside. The distant voices had stopped but then begun again. They had heard the door open and someone walk through but it had then all gone silent. Brandon put his ear to the door trying to hear anything over the pulsing in his neck.

Very carefully he moved the door open a crack and poked his head out. The room was empty and he closed his eyes with relief.

"We're getting out now." Kasey ordered and he nodded as they both ran to the door they had entered through.

They ran out the same way they came in and skidded round the corner. Brandon slightly ahead of Kasey stopped suddenly as he heard a yelp. He swung round and his eyes widened with shock as he saw one of the men he had met at the party holding a flailing Kasey.

He then felt a hard smack across the back of his head.

Chapter 51 Preview: Kasey stalls Carl, buying some time for some reflection on past memories. Stef and Evan receive and important update.

Kasey bit her tongue over her bottom lip. It reminded her of an experience of her own.

"You're not the first person she's ever duped Brandon. You're just the dumbest."

He looked across at her, unable to tell if that was supposed to make him feel better or not.

Kasey looked back and forth between him and the wall ahead. "Dumbest compared to me I mean."