I took in the scene in front of me in disgust. There were bodies of children spewed all over the floor like trash bags. It was impossible to tell who were alive and who was dead, and Chiron had given me the honorable job of checking each one of them for a pulse.

If any of them were still alive, they would need one of the greasy cheeseburgers Percy was always eating more than anything.

I was nearing the end of the room when I felt movement under my fingers. It was slight and weak, but I quickly scooped up the little boy it belonged to and rushed him out of the room. There was a paramedic car waiting in case we found anything.

Chiron looked up from his interview long enough to register what was going on and order Percy to continue my work. Wordlessly, I jumped in the back of the car.

A strong voice made me look up from the magazine I was reading. Or should I say una revista since they were all in Spanish. "How's he doing?"

I sighed, tossing the magazine on one of the side tables next to my chair. "Very malnutritioned and several broken ribs. Not to mention the mental trauma." I rubbed my eyes. "He won't let me leave."

"What do you mean?"

"He seems to only trust me, and anytime he is awake, I have to be holding his hand or he goes into a fit; so of course the doctors keep on insisting I stay as well."

Percy laughed and sat in the chair next to me. "Seems like you're always end up in a hospital. Has it always been like this for you? Like even in Israel I mean."

"Only for my brothers really." I answered subconsciously. "They got hurt all the time."

"Never you?"

I looked up at him slightly annoyed from all his questions. "No."

"What changed?" He laughed out loud and a startled gasp came from the bed.

Quickly, without answering him, I stood and walked to the edge. "Are you alright Kade?"

The smaller than normal boy clung to my arm, his bright blue eyes were clouded with worry. "Who-who's that?"

I smoothed blond his-now clean and soft hair to calm him. Percy held out his hand to the little boy. "Name's Percy, how are you doing little guy?" Kade cringed away from him slightly and Percy retracted it. "Right then."

"Look, Kade, I have to go home. I have a daughter of my own I have to take care of, and I need to do some research. I will be back soon, not to worry." I added when the look of horror spread across his face.

"Don't go, please!"

I pried my arm out of his death grip. "Percy is my partner, you can trust him. He will protect you while I am gone." I left without giving either of them time to react.

I stared at my computer screen. I was horrified, disgusted, appalled, any word along those lines at the activities that had occurred in that farmhouse basement. Well, not the basement specifically, the actual farm, but you get the point.

All the children that were there had been worked to death-literally-for cheap labor, harvesting food, canning, rolling hay; then on top of all these things they weren't being fed nearly enough food themselves.

"Annabeth." I almost jumped. "Has Rachel matched any of the DNA we took from the house?"

I shook my head. "No, she is trying to match the children with missing reports from the last four months since James placed the first death at two months ago."

Chiron sighed. "That is very important, but the more immediate issue is the people who did that to them. I'll go talk to her, keep doing..." He waved at my computers, "...that." I rolled my eyes in amusement as my boss walked away.

"Oh, by the way, Annabeth." I hummed in acknowledgement. "How's that boy doing?"

My eyes widened. "Oh no."

As I ran out of the building, Chiron called behind me, "You left Percy in charge, didn't you?"

I satisfy didn't satisfy him with an answer.

When I got to the hospital, I can't say I was surprised to find Kade hiding under his covers. The puppet show wasn't expected, however. "Come on kid! This is pure gold!"

I sighed. "Are you ok Kade?"

At the sound of my voice, Kade nearly jumped out of his bed. "Whoa, whoa. Be careful, your IV will come out." My phone started ringing. "Pick that stuff up." I ordered Percy before answering it.

"Annabeth, Rachel did some back story on your survivor." I looked down at Kade and detangled myself from him. "Turns out he's an orphan, he doesn't have any parents to pick him up from the hospital."

I looked back at the frightened young boy, somewhat torn. "He would never survive in a home Chiron."

"I know." There was a pause on his end and I faintly heard Rachel's voice on the other side. "Madison has done marvelous the last few years with you..." He trailed off.

He was right, Maddi-who was eleven now-had completely recovered from her injury and the trauma of being kidnapped. It didn't help when her father's plane was shot down when she was nine, but she was strong. I taught her well.

"Madison has been dropping hints about a sibling..." I mimicked him.

"Then you will sign him out of the hospital when he is well again. In the meantime, send Percy back, I need his help."

I growled. "I guess that means I am on babysitting duty."

"Well, he is going to be your son. Glad you understand."

The line went dead. I sighed again and told Percy he could leave. "Thank you, so much." He said sincerely with his hands on my shoulders. Almost without realizing it, he kissed me and ran out of the room. I shook my head, I needed to talk to him about that later.

And no, our 'relationship' over the last three years has not improved. I don't want to talk about it.

"So, how bad was it?" I joked. Whenever he got really stressed-like I could imagine he was now-I would always tell him a joke or try to make him laugh. It always calmed him down, I know that before he was kidnapped he must have been a 'class clown'.

Sure enough, he giggled. "Just imagine the worst actor you've ever seen, times a kajillion." I laughed with him.


Percy's POV

I sat in the car, clutching the steering wheel but not going anywhere; I hadn't even started the engine yet. I was too busy thinking about Annabeth.

I had heard her talking to Chiron about Kade and adopting him. It seemed like anytime kids were involved in any of our cases, Annabeth was the first one to reach out to comfort them. Then in Madison's and now Kade's case, take them in as her own.

That's not something I expected of a hardened Mossad assassin.

Or how surprisingly soft her lips were. God I was an idiot. She had told me three years ago that she didn't want a new relationship, but here I am- still trying to make moves on her. She must think I'm some sort of...I didn't even want to think about what she thought of me. IT was probably bad though.

FInally I started up and drove down to the office, Chiron was going to have my butt if I didn't answer his call soon.

"What's up boss?" I asked.

Chiron looked up from his computer. "Rachel and Nico are working on DNA, but I need you to go back and check for any clues."

"Back at the house?" He nodded at me like that was the stupidest question I could have asked. "I thought we already...right got it. On my way."

I parked the car in the dirt driveway of the farmhouse twenty minutes later. I was right when I said we had already scoured this house looking for anything, and then brought everything that wasn't bolted down back for further study, but Chiron knew what he was doing.

Think like Chiron I thought What would he do...the Barn! There were three buildings on the property; the house, the barn, and a separate garage next to the house. We had searched the garage already, so that left the barn.

I walked in cautiously, my hand on my gun enough though the only thing I expected to find in here were cows. Like I thought, there were two pigs and a horse. I checked in each stall only to find hay and empty air, with the occasional stool.

Exhausted, I sat down on a hay stack only to have something hard and metal stick me in the butt. I jumped up in surprise. "Huh." I muttered to myself. "What do we have here..." I moved the hay around and found what I had sat on; a laptop. "Gotcha ya little bugger. Let's get you back to nerds squared."

After checking the rest of the hay, and thoroughly annoying the remaining animals, I had found only a blank passport; not the most astonishing discovery but oh well.

"Hey Rach! Nico! I brought you a gift!" I called into the lab as I walked off the elevator.

"It must be my birthday," The redhead commented with a smile. "Yes! A laptop! My favorite. Where did you find it?"

"In a barn hidden in some hay."

"That explains the smell." Nico wrinkled his nose. "Then again that's normal for you." I punched his shoulder and got back in the elevator.

"Whatcha doing boss?" I asked since I didn't have anything else to do.

"Trying to find a cellphone, but this is really confusing." He frowned at the screen.

I laughed. "Why don't I help you boss."

"I got something guys!" Rachel exclaimed as she ran into our little cubicle. "The laptop was wiped for the most part, like totally wiped and unobtainable, but I did manage to get the basic information."

"You got a name?" I stood.

"Oh yea." She beamed at me, proud of her accomplishment. She handed me the piece of paper. I took it and thanked her.

"I'll get right on that, Nico, you coming?"

"On your 6!"

"CSI!" I yelled, busting the door of a motel open without knocking. There was an old guy around 50 and a woman that didn't look too much younger hunched over something on the desk. When we entered with guns pointed at them, they looked up.

The man stood slowly, and I thought he was going to go quietly, but then again when does anyone go quietly? The woman quickly pulled a gun out and shot. I heard the bullet whiz past my ear.

Thank god this lady's aim wasn't as good as mine. Nico and I immediately hid behind the bed. I didn't want to kill them, so I aimed more towards her hand in attempt to get the gun out of her hand, but it wasn't working.

Now the old man had a gun out and we had no choice. I nodded to Nico and we aimed to kill.


Annabeth

"It is just car Kade," I got in the driver's seat, exasperated. "Besides, I am driving."

"Now I know why he's so scared to get in it." Percy mumbled from the back seat.

I waved his comment off. "You are just mad I made you sit in the back, now, Kade get in. You wish to meet your new sister don't you?" Finally he stopped fidgeting and jumped in, I sighed in relief thinking Finally and started the car.

When I opened the door, I was met with a cheerful greeting of, "Hey mom, long time no see." Over the years she had gotten use to calling me 'mom'. "Who's that?"

"Madison," I pulled Kade so he was standing in front of me with my hands on his shoulders. "Meet your new little brother."

Percy and I were sitting on the couch watching Maddi and Kade play Yahtzee! "Come play with us mom!"

I sighed and made an over exaggerated move to sit next to Kade. "Oh alright, but you better not cheat missy."

Madison mocked hurt. "I do not cheat!"

I hummed, unconvinced. "Go ahead Kade, it is your turn." I tried for gentle as I handed him the dice. Thankfully, he took them with only a slight hesitation and I breathed a silent breath of relief.

The whole thing reminded me of a scene out of one of Percy's classical movies.


So, an actual back to back update...wow...I surprised myself.

If any of you followed a story of mine called A Star is Born, then you'll be happy to know I am working on a sequal :) It'll be out soon enough.

I love hearing your opinions in reviews!

Always yours,

~Arty