Now with Diana to protect and also at a loss on how to find Eileen, Neil decided it was time to team up. It was time for him to pay a visit to John's team. Neil knows all about Harold, John, Sameen, and Samantha. He had after all been watching them.

Neil showed up at Harold's loft with Diana. He rang the bell, and the door was soon opened. He ushered Diana inside, before checking behind him, and then he walked inside too.

There were a lot of steps to walk up, but when they finally got to the loft, they were greeted by Harold's two kids: the recently turned eleven year old Sarai. She had really come out of her shell. She was talking Neil's ears off.

He nodded as he listened, "Right. Okay, kid. Where's your dad?"

"Oh...follow me." Sarai said, "He's with my brother. I'm Sarai by the way."

"Neil." He introduced, "And this is my niece Diana."

Sarai led Neil and Diana to the library where Harold was with Symone.

"Dad." Sarai called out, "Daddy! There's a man here to see you."

In a matter of moments, Harold came round the corner leaving Symone in the library reading his book.

Harold smiled at the man and the little girl, "Neil. Diana. It's nice to finally meet you both. I'm Finch."

"I need your help. I can't protect my niece on my own."

Neil didn't show any indication of shock. He wasn't surprised that Harold knew who his and Diana's names. Since he had been watching them, he knew that they had also been watching him.

"Sar, take Diana into your room. I need to have a talk with Neil."

"Okay dad." Sarai replied with a nod as she led Diana to her bedroom.

Harold watched the kids disappear into his daughter's bedroom. Once the two girls were out of sight and earshot with the door closed, he turned back to Neil.

"Tell us how you got mixed up in this."

"It's a bit of a long story, but I was helping my brother." Neil explained

- Flashback -

Xavier hit rock bottom a year after his wife left. It was his first daughter's birthday and she was calling her uncle 'dada'. That was the moment he realised how much he was missing of his children's lives, and he didn't want to miss anymore.

After the party, once his children have gone to sleep, Xavier sits down to have a talk with his brother. He looks like he's on the verge of crying.

"Xavi, what's wrong?"

"I messed up again, Ne. I messed up big."

Neil placed his hand on his brother's shoulder, "Talk to me. Tell me everything."

Xavier let out a breath, "I thought they were investors. I thought they were trying to help kids...families like mine, but they aren't. They are exploiting them. Please, I need your help."

"I will always help you. Lay low. Take care of your kids. I will take care of everything else."

Xavier nodded, "I can always count on you."

- End of flashback -

"You see after my sister-in-law left her husband and her two children, it was hard on my brother. He loved his kids, but Melanie...she was soulmate. His lifeline. My brother was always a good person, but he was impressionable. Melanie kept him on the straight and narrow. She kept him from getting dragged into any bad deals. When she left, he ended up made some really bad choices. He came to me for help, and I tried to get him out, but I failed and he was killed. I made a deal. I was going to finish his debts, but I was really hunting them. I got too close and a year later, they took Diana. I left Desmond at that orphanage because I was afraid they would come after him next." He shook his head, "I'm not a bad guy, Finch. Neither was my brother. He made mistakes and I'm trying to catch the people that destroyed my family."

Harold hummed, "Do you know where they would have taken Eileen?"

"No, but they called me to tell me that they had her. They called her 'the vessel'."

"Interesting." Harold replied, "We heard a mention of a holy grail."

Neil looked solemn as he thought about those two things.

'Vessel. Holy grail.' He thought, 'If Eileen is the vessel..." His thoughts trailed off as he drew out a breath, cursing to himself.

"What is it, Mr. Palino?"

Neil closed his eyes, "I know what this is about. Jarvis Miller. My former father-in-law. He was obsessed with having this holy grail child. This perfect child. His words chilled me to my bones on the day Eileen was born."

"What did he say?"

"He took one look at my daughter and said that she was the one. I didn't know what to make of it at the time, but now having heard her called 'the vessel', I know what he meant. She's the one who will deliver the holy grail child." Neil informed, "We have to find her before that child is born."

Harold gave a nod, "We will. My team will stop at nothing to find your daughter. You just need to lay low with your niece."

"My daughter needs me." He half-raised his voice, causing Diana to come running into the room

"So does she." Harold added as he gestured to the little girl.

Neil let out a sigh as he stared at his niece. He knew that Harold was right, but Diana was safe right now. Eileen wasn't, and he couldn't help but think about how scared his daughter must be.

Hope you enjoy. Comments are greatly appreciated. In fact, they keep me going.

What would you like to see happen next?