One would think after the case with Abigail and the missing kids turned killers, our heroes would have a break. However, life seemed to have started toying with them for the next cases, which were more straining one after the other.
It tested the mental will of everyone, including Rana. She passed tough times of her own, not only on a personal level but also because she had to see others she cared about passing through tough times, while she stood with her hands tied. If there was one thing she hated, was being unable to do something or help.
That thing one would trace back to her childhood years, something deeply planted there as a seed that had now grown into something more ferocious and threatening.
It was such times that Rana had trouble sleeping, ending up just tossing and turning. She was still getting some rest and that black wolf was no longer in her dreams, but that didn't mean she got the peaceful dreamless sleep she used to have.
She wasn't the only one, however, for Will was passing through something similar. To her surprise, he approached her first about the subject.
It was late at night, way after midnight but the sun had yet to rise. In a stone house on the outskirts of Fairfax city,
Rana was asleep in her bed. She muttered a few things but didn't move from her position as she lay on her side. That was until her phone started to ring.
Red eyes snapped open, looking around for the noise before her brain registered it was her phone ringing. She picked it up, seeing the caller ID as Will. She found it odd that he called her so late; for a moment, her mind thought something had taken place.
She was quick to pick it up. "Will?" She asked, her voice croaky as her throat felt dry. "What's wrong?"
"Did I wake you? I am sorry...I knew this was a bad idea...I shouldn't have called-" before he could continue blabbering, Rana interrupted him.
"Will. It's okay. I told you that you could call me anytime. What happened? Something I can help with?" She asked, rubbing the sleep off her eyes with the fist of her free hand while laying on her side.
"I am sorry to bother you, Rana... it's just...I had this weird...moment...I just don't think I can sleep more tonight and thought...maybe you knew something about it...maybe it was related to...you know...the other side..."
Rana pushed her body to a standing position, legs hanging from the edge of the bed. Dressed in a simple pair of sweatpants and a baggy t-shirt, she stood up. "I am coming over, Will. I won't be that long"
Before Will could protest, Rana had hung up.
The trip to Will's house was merely a 25-minute ride from her place but she made it in 15 since the roads were empty. The cloak showed to be almost 4 in the morning. When she arrived, the dogs greeted her with their tails wagging and Will was waiting with a guilty look on his face.
After she had reassured him and he didn't comment on her very casual dress, Will made them both coffee. They sat outside on the porch as they were the only ones awake. There was something peaceful in the silence of the forest and the sound of dogs sleeping by your feet.
Will explained his trouble, waking up because of the flashlights of the policeman. He had been sleepwalking barefoot and had ended up away from his home. He shook his head after he finished and popped a few aspirins in his mouth, feeling his head killing him.
Rana could smell that something was odd about him but in the cover of swear and aspirin overload, she couldn't tell and she blamed it on that, unaware of what was truly taking place.
"...I thought that it was maybe because of the full moon, you know...I mean, scientifically proven, dreams do get affected by the phases of the moon because of the water that exists in our body..."
Rana took a few deep sips of her black coffee as she leaned back on the couch that was placed on the porch. She was glad that Will had trusted her with this information and had even called her for advice and help. She truly wanted to help him but she felt that case, was something she could not do much.
"If you think we get affected more because of the moon, we don't. It's one of many myths and mixes of books" she explained, both arms holding the mug as she looked ahead. "Remind me to bring you one of my father's books. It's not fully accurate but should help with any questions you might have"
Will's ears perked up at the mention of her father, considering Rana was a very private individual and rarely spoke about herself, let alone her family.
"First time I hear you talk about him. Think he might be able to help? I mean, I am not even sure when I am awake lately"
There was a sudden silence between them, Rana not answering but Will noticed the grip on the mug increasing and the jaw tensing. Before he could apologize, she spoke up.
"He can't but doubt he would be able to either way," she said and looked at him right in the eyes, making him look to the side to avoid her stare. "Only thing I know it helps, to ensure you are awake, is your eyes. You can't activate them in your sleep, only when you are awake"
She placed her hand gently on his chin, making him look into her now-red eyes. His own flashed a bright golden as he felt the need to look down under her sharp and commanding gaze. She let go of his chin and blinked, her eyes returning to normal.
"If you were asleep and you dreamt that I did that, you should have been awakened now. The blood getting pumped faster in your body and your instincts kicking in, immediately wake you up" she explained and emptied her mug. "Quite useful if you are being restrained or drugged. Gives you a helping hand"
It was clear to Will, that she spoke from personal experience. However, her words did not offer the total peace he had hoped for. Yes, he knew a new cheat code now but how much help could that be, and what if he is present with others and he exposes his secret?
So many questions suddenly haunted his mind, making him stare into the coffee that he had yet to touch. Things always had to be too complicated and he could never have something easy for once.
Rana noticed his sudden silence and let out a sigh, leaning her body more against the pillow of the couch. "I am sorry I can't be much of a help, Will. Perhaps...Dr. Lecter can help you" this made him turn his attention to her as she bit the inside of her cheek. "I mean...I know might not be the best idea but he has a better insight into the human psyche. And perhaps that's what we need to focus on, Will. After all, no matter how different we might be compared to others, we are also very similar"
That was only the beginning. Their latest case was about a dying man, who killed "sinners" and turned them into Angels to watch him over as he slept, so he wouldn't die in his sleep.
It was an exhausting case, with Will falling behind in his profiling and Jack pressuring him enough that Will snapped and talked back. Rana interfered, trying to calm down Jack and also ensure nothing extreme took place, considering no one else had the courage or the influence she did with Jack. One would argue it was her "supernatural charm" that worked on him but that wasn't always the case.
Unknown to almost everyone, Jack and her went further back than just her Academy days. And it was clear that Jack saw Rana as something more than a simple agent, yet had his moments when he used his rank authority to force his orders.
Rana, could not truly what was going on with Jack but she could tell something was bothering him. That theory in her mind was confirmed after the case was done. Free to return home, she had planted a day to shoot targets and ease her nerves but her plans were interrupted by someone knocking on her door.
She opened the door, coming face to face with a beautiful dark-skinned woman that was all too familiar to her. With a smile, the young agent pushed the door open and accepted the huh from the visitor.
"Phyliss" she acknowledged the woman that was married to Jack for many years and with whom, Rana had a special relationship.
"Rana, I hope I am not bothering," the woman said as they broke the hug and they looked each other in the eyes.
The wolfskin could immediately tell that something was wrong and she allowed the woman to enter. "You never bother. Let me bring us some drinks and you can tell me what's wrong"
Phyllis was used to the little but cosy house by now and she sat on the red couch as Rana returned with a bottle of opened scotch and two glasses. She filled them both and passed one to her.
The older woman accepted and took a few sips before looking at the blond. "He knows...or better say, he found out"
Rana knew what the woman meant. For she had been diagnosed with stage four lung cancer not that long ago. The female agent knew for she had accompanied her to the doctor and then had been forced to swear secrecy, not telling Jack anything.
It was not easy, especially when Jack faintly asked her about his wife's odd behaviour, becoming more distant and cold towards him without a reason. Rana always tried her best to be supportive and hide the truth from him.
"I am not surprised" she started, taking a sip from her drink. "Our latest case. The man had cancer and his wife told us how he behaved and changed...similarly to what you did" Phyllis felt guilty and emptied her glass with one go, glaring at the now few drops left in it. "I was afraid it would lead to that. He is the Head of the FBI, he would connect the dots eventually"
Phyllis let out a sigh. "I know. It doesn't mean it makes things easier for us" she confessed and the female agent placed her hand on top of hers, offering a comforting touch and giving the smallest of smiles.
"I know you will make it through, you two are made for one another," she said, honesty behind her every word.
Rana had a past with Jack. Nothing big but it was a start and after Jack chose her as his protégé, it only allowed the female agent to come closer to the couple. Especially to the smart woman that never had a chance to have kids of her own.
Phyllis remained quiet for a moment before standing up. "Let us go for some shopping, take our mind off things," she said and made Rana lift an eyebrow.
"I don't think now it's the time," she said, trying to be as courteous and gentle as possible.
The older woman, however, did not want to listen. "Come on. You need a change of wardrobe. It will be like before" she said, making our heroine bite her bottom lip. "I will go, I need the distraction. It's up to you" she continued and grabbed the bottle, wanting to pass the message that she would drink and drive.
That made Rana stand up and grab her car keys with a sigh. "I will drive. Come on"
The shopping might have helped Phyllis and given Rana a small break to feel normal, but it was not something that would help her prepare for what came next. For their next case...brought certain skeletons out of their closets.
A former surgeon and wife murderer named Gideon had started to claim that he was the Chesapeake reaper; the notorious serial killer that has yet to be caught. Worse, was the fact that not only did his attempt to prove himself that he was the reaper, ended up with an innocent nurse dying...but also angered the true Reaper.
The mysterious serial killer made it clear that he was not happy, by leaving a nice surprise for Jack. Calls from his now Deceased protégé Miriam Lass and even a souvenir of her detached arm. Things got more complicated when the calls continued, the same last message of Mirian asking for his help playing on repeat.
Rana could see clearly how Jack was slowly breaking down, pressuring Will as well. It was clear when Jack was certain the killer had entered his house in the middle of the night.
He had called the team in the middle of the night, to dust for prints and anything else that might help find the reaper. However, everything pointed out that it was Miriam in the house. It was getting clear that the team was trying to believe him but it was becoming harder when prints and hair strands were belonging to none other than his Deceased protégé.
Rana believed Miriam to be dead even though her body was never found, but it was hard to truly prove it to anyone. What, however, had struck her interest was the fact that when she entered Jack's bedroom...she didn't smell anything unusual. If the true Reaper had broken into his house, he had left no feeble trace of scent for her to pick up and hopefully, later recognise if she ever met him or her.
This made her feel dread deep within her guts, for only two kinds of people know why and how to cover their true scents...those who were Wolfskin and those who knew of their existence and haunted them.
