((Don't own it. I just wanted to say thank you very much for the compliments. I was worried that I wasn't treating the subject matter with the gravity it deserved. There still will be some dark things going on before the end of the story. Sorry I didn't get this up sooner, it was my wedding anniversary. I have a one shot that will be posted soon, it's not connected to this story, it's just a writing technique I'm trying and I'd be grateful for any and all feedback on it as well as Changes and SPR on twitter. Without further ado))

Mai raced with Naru to the kitchen where Jackie Hines's screams were reverberating from. Naru reached the kitchen a moment before she did and whatever he saw made him turn and block the view by putting his body between her and the horror that lay within. For him to do that she knew whatever was behind him had to be bad. Very bad. As she struggled to try and see what lay behind him, Lin rounded the corner in a full tilt run and nearly collided with her. Stopping just in time he look between Naru and Mai for a moment and then because of his height looked over Naru's shoulder to see what was going on.

Mai's heart was pounding from the run down the stairs and the fear coursing through her veins. She could hear Jackie Hines's sobs and the the high pitched wail of little Amelia Hines, what she couldn't hear was more frightening. She didn't hear Adia Hines. She became frantic at the thought of something having happened to the little girl.

"Let me through Naru, I have to see! Where's Adia?! Why won't you let me see!" She demanded.

"Mai, calm down. I'll let you see once you're calm." He sounded slightly winded but his voice remained neutral, betraying no emotion. Seeing him so calm actually helped to calm her own nerves. He placed his hands on her shoulders and she could feel his eyes probing her. Usually when he's dark eyes roamed her body it filled her with a desire and longing, but right now it made her feel treasured. She felt his finger tips as the tenderly moved down her arms. When her breathing had resumed it's normal rhythm he looked her in the eyes. He must have liked whatever it was he saw because he gave her a weak smile and moved out of the door way allowing her to see what lay beyond.

Bracing herself Mai stepped around him and saw Jackie Hines' crying softly as she held her infant daughter to her chest. The baby was wrapped in a towel and she looked like she was covered in ketchup at first. For a moment Mai's mind could not make sense of what she was seeing. The baby had calmed down but she was covered in what appeared to be bright, red blood. Her mouth fell open and stomach lurched, she turned to look at Naru for reassurance.

"It's ok," he breathed in her ear. "It's not hers or her Mother's."

"But where's Adia?" Mai grabbed his hand. "Where is she? Is she ok?!" She knew her voice was rising and she took a deep breath to steady herself so that she would not agitate Jackie Hines all over again. It was Lin who answered her. Mai took great comfort in the fact that he too was calm. Surely if something had happened to the little girl they would be upset and not trying to soothe her or the clients.

"She's outside playing on her swing, here you can see for yourself that she's safe," He said moving the kitchen curtain to the side so that Mai could see the little girl swiging. True to what Lin had said Adia seemed to be blissfully unaware of the panic that had happened inside the home. Mai dropped her shoulders and faced Jackie Hines who was still crying softly. Little Amelia seemed to be not understand what was going on. She waved her little arms happily at Mai and smiled. She was so relieved that the little girl wasn't hurt that she reached out to take the bloody child from her mother.

Jackie Hines hesitated for a moment but Naru nodded to her and she handed Amelia to Mai. "Let Mai get her cleaned up for you so you and I can talk about what just happened." When Mai smiled at the other woman she nodded and closed her eyes wearily, leaning back in the kitchen chair.

"I'll stay right here with her, so you know she's ok Mrs. Hines?" Mai opened the faucet in the kitchen sink and allowed the water to run for a few moments before plugged the drain. As she eased the small baby into the warm water she heard Lin return with his laptop and tape recorder. Taking a seat across from Jackie Hines she watched out of the corner of her eye as Naru took a seat next to Lin. It didn't escape Mai's notice that he chose a seat that would allow him to watch Mai while conducting the interview. Despite feeling emotionally exhausted from her wildly changing emotions over the past few days seeing the small gesture made her heart flutter. She was in love with him. He loved her. Now all they had to do was save this family and they could finally put the past behind them and move forward.

Mai started to gently rinse the blood off the little girl who splashed the water with her hands and gave a huge toothless smile. Secretly Mai wondered what it would be like to be a mother to such a young child. Years ago she had fantasized the she and Naru would get married and have children. When he left Mai wouldn't allow herself to dream like that, but since she found out he was back that night she was out with Monk and Ayako she'd caught herself a few times as her mind wondered wondering if he had a girlfriend and what it would be like to kiss him. Her dreams didn't even come to close to the reality.

While she gently cleansed the baby and played with her until the water that ran from her was no longer pink she listened to Jackie Hines's tearful story of how her daughter came to be covered in blood.

Oliver took careful notes as he questioned Jackie Hines. Every time he began to form a hypothesis of what was happening in the Hines's home. Apparently Jackie Hines had been bathing her infant in the down stair's bathroom when the water began to turn pink. As she wanted the water began to run to blood and her daughter was sitting in. She'd screamed and grabbed up the splashing child, wrapping her in a towel as she fled the bathroom.

Amelia didn't seem to be fairly nonplussed by the whole experience. When they'd finished the interview Mai reluctantly handed the child back to her mother who headed towards the destroyed nursery for what he assumed was a fresh pair of clothing. Lin coughed into his hand quietly and looked him in the eyes before he gave a small half smile and drifted off.

Mai took a tentative step towards him and he reached a hand out to meet her half way. He gently pulled till she was standing in front of the chair he was sitting on. He reached his arms around her waist and pull his cheek to her abdomen. He wished he could stay like this forever. Her fingers brushed through his hair and he thought about all the things that were weighing on his mind. People didn't realize how lonely he really was, especially since Gene's murder. He hadn't realized just how empty he was till Mai had breezed into his life. When he'd returned to England he felt as if his heart were a blast zone. He'd seen pictures of the aftermath of the London bombings and he likened his core to those destroyed buildings. He was a shell, hallowed out inside.

Now with Mai back he was a hopefully for the first time since Martin and Luella had come to the orphanage looking to adopt a child. When they found Eugene they'd instantly been enamoured with his older brother. He saw how much Gene had liked them as well. He knew that if they wanted to just take Eugene he wouldn't object and he'd do everything that was in his power to get his twin to go. He wanted him to be happy and if that meant that he'd e left behind, so be it. It would be worth it.

Closing his eyes and listening to her draw breath he realized how helpless hers he really was. When he'd watched her with Amelia and Adia he thought of how gentle she was and she'd make an excellent mother. Would she want to be the mother of his children one day? He had to push that away for now. He didn't know if she'd even ever want to be with him in that way.

"What is going on in this house Naru?" she broke his thoughts and sent them scattering like ghosts from the light. He was grateful she had spoken, it was too hard for him to consider Mai not being his.

"I don't know. If you had asked me an hour ago I'd have sent it was a curse against David Hines. None of the other family members were being harassed on the level he was. Now, I'm at a loss. The girl's possessions had been moved but they'd never had anything physical done and it was never done while their mother was present. Now today we have an infant girl who's covered in blood in her bath while her mother was present.. It doesn't track with the previous activity."

Mai shuddered slightly as if she was cold. "Do you think the girls are safe here, what about Jackie?

"I don't have the answer for that Mai but I think it's time we brought in a medium so they can tell us what they see here." He stood up with that and retrieved his cell phone. "Would you be so kind as to call Miss Hara and request her assistance? I believe she is more likely to at least listen to the case coming from you. Also I'm sure Lin collected a sample of the blood off of the baby and bath tub so we'll need to make arrangements to get it tested"

"Sure thing, Mr. Manager." She mock saluted him and he smirked at her. As she went to key in Masako's number he leaned down and captured his lips with his own. His tongue slipped past her lips and he tasted the tears from them. He with the intensity that matched his fevered dreams for the last three years. He felt her stiffen at first and he was worried that he'd come on too strong but when he reassured her by running his fingers through her hair and slipping his free arm around her waist to pull her body flush with his . He broke away from her lips for a moment to place kisses on her jaw, cheeks, and neck. He made an intensely male sound and she gave him a seductive smile she he did. She became braver as he kissed her. She placed one hand on the back of his neck to pull him closer and the other around his waist. He allowed his own hand to drift lower. God he'd wanted this for so long.

As his fingers moved down her back he knew the exact moment her courage failed her and she pulled back. Biting down before he could growl at her he loosened hir hold from around her. She could leave if she wanted to. He was giving her the control and to decide what happened. It was extremely hard to do so he had to shut his eyes. If he looked at her swollen lips or bright eyes he wouldn't be able to walk away if she told him. He felt a gently pressure pushing on his chest.

Very softly she bit her lip and looked at him. "I don't know how you can still want me now that you know."

"Please stop saying that. You aren't some victim you're a survivor. You've beaten every obstacle that life's ever thrown at you. You'll beat this too. You're my beautiful, brave Mai. The same woman who at sixteen tried to exorcise a school filled with fox fires. There's nothing you cant do. If you're not ready, it's ok. I'm not going to give up though."

"Not going to give up what Naru? We have to focus on this case."

"Oh I intend to, but I'm also not going to give up until you're with me." He said with a smirk. When she smiled at him he gave her a wink and stalked off towards the base. That ought to give her something to think about. He refused to lose Mai to the pain she'd suffered. She was his girl after all. She just didn't know yet. "When you're ready please finish the last two rooms temperature readings and join us in the base."

"Sure thing Naru."

"And Mai?"

"Yes?"

"I need tea." With that he was gone and he could only imagine the look she was giving him behind his back. It made him smile. The real one, not the smirk.