in sunny rain.

Seattle is cold, gray rainy days. We spend the day playing tourist. Music museum, glass museum, and now eating in the space needle. I need to find Ben a girl, a good one, like me, his new sister. I smile as I tease him about his hidden guitar fetish. With Ray on base, Christian on piano, Kaylee and me on vocals we almost have a band. I watch as Ray and Christian both come out from behind their walls. We are a happy group. A happy family.

Kissing Chris, I see dad and Kaylee kissing, it fills me with joy. We need to set up Ben so he doesn't feel left out. But he looks so happy. So happy for his mother and Ray. I relax, leaning into Chris watching the skyline float by.

Xxxxxxxxxxx

The next day.

Gail wakes me, I quietly and quickly follow her out to the hall. She looks stressed. "Mary called. Steve's mother has had another breakdown. His Father when nuts and slammed him thru a door. He's got bruised ribs and nasty cut on his head." I hurt, Steve's so gentle and Mary is so kind. "what can we do?" Gail looks around. "could they stay here. For a few days till we find them a permeant place." "o' Gail of course they can. Have someone bring them over." She looks down "They're in the staff quarters. I wasn't sure with everyone here. How to proceed." I hug her. kissing her cheek. "Gail, I trust you. You always have my best interest had heart. Let's get them set up in the guest room. I know they'll need some downtime."

I feed Mary some tea as she cries on my shoulder. Steve is sleeping. Steve's parents are a nightmare. I know he tries to help them but his mother is seriously unstable. And his father is lost in alcohol and family strive. He's the only one with a job. I know he hates being there. I suspect the absent of Jason has directly to do with the bruise on Mary's face. She won't say what happened. I won't push. I brush her hair, and talk about school.

Christian walks in. he stares at Mary, turns and leaves. She tenses "Calm down, Mary. Christian just has work to do. He'll be back later for breakfast. We could make broken waffles?" she laughs, the first I've heard this morning. Gail re-enters with a large pitcher. Followed by Kaylee. I intro everyone and we gab for a bit. We three gang up on Mary, pour unconditional love and caring on her. she brightens back to the girl we know. Christian, Ray, and Jason walk in. breakfast starts up. Here comes the broken Waffles.

Ben wanders in with Steve. They are talking about chess and computer games. They seem to have hit it off. Everyone relaxes. After breakfast we hustle Steve back to bed. Mary curls up with him. I leave a book on the nightstand. They need alone time.

I find Kaylee arguing with Gail. She wants to go over and kick ass. The guys come in. each one hugs their lady. Christian speaks "Steve's father is in jail. His mother is being committed. Flynn, my therapist is see to it personally. I've had Steve's stuff moved to a condo downstairs. I know he'll argue against it, but he's my friend, and he need a new start." I hug him tight. "Steve doesn't like taking Charity." "I know, but he has to think not just himself but Mary too." I nod. "Is there anything we can do?" Ray speaks as Kaylee nods. "Not right now. Jason has everything covered. We just need to give them space and love." I smile, my man as so grown. I feel my inner goddess doing triple back flips with twist. We laze the morning away. We planned on going out for dinner. We'll see how the young love birds are doing. Although the older ones are very loud. Ben mumbles red faced.

Xxxxxxxxx

New York

I sit in my small rat infested apartment. Eating canned raviolis and week old bread. I've had nothing but bad luck since Seattle. Elizabeth has a new boyfriend, a cop. I notice she has bruise, so he's training her, preparing her for me. six times I cruised the college hangout. Used up a dozen knock out drugs without bagging any sluts. Even tried hookers, usually an easy pick, but they shy off, like I'm giving off some bad vibe. Work has been a bitch; the company is tanking. The only offer is from a small shop across the street. Mostly trash novel, and political dripple.

A baby bird has a girlfriend, looks like Miss Seattle. the last good piece I had. I need to go out tonight a hunt.

Next morning.

I lay in bed hurting, fucking eagle eye bitch saw me spike a drink. Half dozen guy's jumped me. I almost talked my way out, till they found the drugs. Twenty dose lost. Shit four hundred dollars down the sewers. My face looks and feels like hamburger. I lost three teeth and my fingers are broken. The doctor set them in the ER. The frigging cops laugh when I wanted to press charges. I have to explain what happened to my dickless boss.

I stew, this would not have happened if baby bird had not stolen my life. I dream of Miss Steele under me, strapped to a table, while I brand her. I have such a hard on I forgot it swollen and bruised. Fucking pain.

Xxxxxxxx

Dec 20

Seattle GEH Security offices.

Welch-pov.

I just got the lab work back for Anna's friend Mary. The found useable DNA and a good fingerprint. I fire the information into the FBI database. It should take a couple of weeks to get any hits. I look over at the threat board. Grey's a very different man since Anna entered his life. Calmer, more focus on having a life. I see a conference next month possible more eco and anarchist threats. Being a twenty-three-year-old mutli-billionaire has a down side.

After lunch the phone rings. "Welch." "Detectives Bambrosias, NYPD SVU. You put an unsub DNA report in this morning." "Yes, you have a hit?" "Yes, several here in the City and southern New Jersey. I like a copy of the full report" "Ok, but I want a copy of what you have." "it doesn't work like that Welch. I don't allow private security to trample thru my evidence." "you will make an exception in my case. Detective. I don't want to have to pull rank, but the commissioner understands my point of view." I hear silence on the phone. "I can have a lawyer there this afternoon, we need to work together to catch this animal." "I won't give copies. But I will let your lawyer read the file. Deal" "yes. Deal, thank you."

I call GEH NY legal. Henry Ho, does a lot of pro bona work for woman shelters, and children, will lead the case. His boss isn't happy, till I inform him that the victim is Grey's Girlfriend coworker; An Henry is pumped to tackle a serial rapist.

Dec 21:

Henry sends a massive email in the night. The rapist has hit Princeton NJ and New York mostly college girls. With a couple of prostitutes. With the hit in Seattle. I suspect he was here as a tourist. The Flintstones have down time during the holidays'. I have them create a program to shift thru the airline and bus, train list for people that have all three reference point. I suspect it will be hundreds.

Dec 30.

Fred calls me at home, its frigging 1am. He bright and cheerful. The program ended. Twenty names. Only twenty names. This is doable. I get up check my email. They already did primary background checks. Three have criminal records, two with sex crimes. Four names stand out for finical issues. And one is a black hole, highly suspicious. I forward the email to Henry and Detectives Bambrosias for deep digging.

Jan 9

A long day. Grey and company did a fun-run. Everyone ran but the two beat up kids. Some eco-nuts showed up. But Grey argued them down. I mean he's putting his money where his mouth is. Feed the hungry, helping farmers. Using green tech. I mean these nuts need to go harass the Coke brothers or Trump. The Adults get back tomorrow. Can this day not end? At least the Hunt is getting smaller. The list is down to ten. All three criminals were cleared. The one with statuary rape, is married to the girl, her parents are racist as hell and a Puerto Rican boyfriend wasn't acceptable. So now I need to get DNA and prints from the ten. Morris, GEH security NY, as a just released guy Reynolds. I know Roz and Grey will ok the money. Anna's worth it.