Caesar was feeling like an idiot as he checked the hospital. It was a small town, so there was only one. He felt like a giant in there fumbling about and trying to find the right person. No one recognized the name or Serena's description, and he was left thinking that this entire thing was ridiculous.

But why would he dream about her?

That's the part that didn't make sense. He barely knew her. In his coma and that dream...she felt very real, like a person standing in front of him and not just something he conjured.

He got back to the car to find Tool smoking. He gave him a look.

"Is that a wise idea to do right outside a hospital?" he asked. Tool gestured to the three other people in hospital gowns sitting/standing and smoking just past the "No Smoking" sign.

"I think I fit right in," Tool commented. Caesar rolled his eyes and got into the car. He coughed for effect, waving his hand by his face. Tool looked at him and intentionally took a few more puffs before putting it out.

"Thank you," Caesar said, slightly emphatically. They started to drive away, and he drummed his fingers on his knee, thinking.

"I called the other hospitals while you were in there," Tool stated a bit later as they drove.

"What?"

"Yea. She's not there either."

Caesar felt slightly stupid now. Why had they driven all the way up here when he could have just called? He could see Tool's lips twitching a bit from a smile trying to grow at this very same thought.

"Just say it," he sighed.

"Say what?" Tool asked innocently.

"You know."

"Why didn't we just call instead of come all this way?"

"Yea, that."

"Well, brother, I got the feeling you needed to do this quest in person," Tool answered.

"So then why call the other hospitals now?"

"Because they're friggin hours apart," Tool replied. "Did you look at the map?"

"Well, no..."

"Doesn't matter. Let's try the local police station and see if they can tell us anything about her. They can confirm if they found her dead or not."

"Alright." Caesar refrained from asking if they should just call, but Tool seemed intent on going in person. Maybe he knew it was better to do that with law enforcement. He didn't know.

In the end, it didn't really get them anywhere. The officers gave them heavy stare downs and wanted to know why they were looking for Serena instead of offering any information about her. It was all very unhelpful, and they got out of there before they got arrested for something stupid.

"Well," Tool said as they were driving again. "Now what?"

"I have no idea," Caesar answered with a sigh. "No idea at all."

"Lucky for you, I do."

...

Lee was feeling very suspicious now. Not only was Tool and Caesar gone, but Gunner and Barney were too. Only Toll was around since Doc was out with the other team.

Something was up.

"Hey," Toll said when Lee approached him at the bar. "What's up?"

"Have you noticed that we're the only two left here?" Lee asked.

"What do you mean?"

"Tool and Caesar went on a 'road trip,'" Lee said with air quotes, "and Barney and Gunner have up and left too. All at the same time. You don't find that remotely strange?"

"Oh." Toll frowned. "They didn't say anything about where they were going?"

"Nope."

"Huh." Toll looked at his phone as if it had the answer, but it didn't. "Weird."

"I think it has something to do with Fred," Lee stated.

"But, and I don't mean to offend, why wouldn't they tell me?" Toll asked. Lee worked his jaw lightly, thinking. Then it clicked.

"The girls," he said.

"W-What about them?" Toll asked, looking startled.

"Think about it," Lee said, jamming a finger on the bar top now to make his point, "it's got something to do with the girls' deaths, and they don't want to mention it to us for some reason."

"I dunno," Toll said, scratching the back of his head. "That doesn't really make sense."

"It's the only thing I can think of as to why they're all keeping secrets," Lee insisted. He studied Toll. "Or is there something you know that you're not telling me?"

"No," Toll answered, shaking his head. "I don't know anything. Sorry."

Lee stared at him for a moment, not entirely buying it. Toll didn't flinch or blink, though, so he eventually gave up.

"I guess I really am losing it, aren't I?" he asked with a sigh.

"Nah, man. You're just holding onto hope still. That's not necessarily a bad thing."

"But it can be," Lee finished for him, pressing his fingers into his right eye gently and massaging. "I just don't know how to move on."

"It's okay to give yourself that time and space," Toll said. "Only you know when you're ready."

"I think Maya wants me to find somebody," he muttered.

"What?" Toll laughed. "You serious?"

"She doesn't want me to be sad and lonely," Lee replied. "She should not be even thinking about that. Why is she thinking that, Toll?"

"You're important to her, so she wants you to be happy...and we both know Maya is not an ordinary kid."

Lee snorted, and a smile began to grow on his face. "She definitely isn't."

"She's probably just craving a female figure to spend time with."

"She has Tia," Lee reminded him.

"Yea, but she doesn't live with you. It's not the same."

"I think you're just making shit up," Lee commented, and Toll laughed.

"I'm not, but whatever you think."

"She's trying to get me to date Lacy," Lee said after a moment.

"No," Toll said. "No, no, no, no. No. Just no. Absolutely not. No way."

"I'm sorry, did you say yes?" Lee countered.

"No!" Toll exclaimed, reaching to punch his arm.

"Tell me how you really feel," Lee retorted, rubbing the place Toll had hit.

"Do not date her again," Toll warned. "She is bad news, brother. You know this."

"I know."

"Don't let little miss big eyes guilt you into it."

"Lacy doesn't have big eyes."

"You know who I meant," Toll said, rolling his eyes. Lee smirked. He knew. Maya had the biggest eyes when she wanted something, and she wasn't afraid to use them.

"I think everyone is just gonna have to trust me," Lee insisted. Toll scoffed lightly and then checked his phone. A smile appeared a moment later.

"I gotta go," he said, putting it back into his pocket. "Don't do anything stupid."

"No one tells me what to do!" Lee called after him as he strode off. Toll just held up a hand to wave without looking back. Lee harrumphed to himself and played with the coaster on the bar top before leaving himself.

...

"Man, I don't think I can do this," Caesar said. He was standing on the dock of Barney's family cottage with Tool standing next to him. It all felt like yesterday—watching his wife get shot and all that chaos happening around him. Caesar rubbed the back of his neck and wished they would get out of there sooner than later.

Tool said nothing and walked towards the neighboring cottage, and Caesar reluctantly followed.

"You really think she's here?" he asked, dodging a branch that Tool let go of ahead of him.

"What better place to hide out?" Tool countered. Caesar could see it. Who would come back to this traumatic place? He certainly wouldn't have.

They reached the steps of the deck and went to look in the windows. It looked desolate and abandoned. Tool went to look around the cottage while Caesar continued peering in the windows. Nothing was out of place.

Tool came back around from behind and stopped, surveying the place with a thoughtful expression.

"I'm not breaking in," Caesar said on cue.

"You don't have to. There's no sign of anyone staying here," Tool replied.

"I think this was the stupidest idea I've ever had," Caesar said a moment later. He really did feel stupid. How could he have let a dream and a coma dream tell him something that wasn't true and make him believe it?

"It wasn't stupid," Tool said softly. "It gave you hope. We had to find out for sure."

"Thank God we didn't tell Toll," Caesar sighed. "And thanks for indulging in this wild goose chase."

"It was a pleasure to have an adventure." Tool started to walk back to the trail leading to Barney's place. Caesar stood there for a moment, listening. There was a slight breeze, but that was it.

He turned to go. Despite feeling nervous of finding Serena and seeing how it affected Toll, he was disappointed that his dream really hadn't been true. Or was it? He caught up to Tool.

"You think we could put something out there for her to find?" he asked. "If she is alive? She can reach out to us that way."

"I'll look into it," Tool agreed. "Good idea."

"I'm sorry...I'm just not done with my hope yet," Caesar replied. Tool gave a soft smile.

"Never give up hope, my friend. That's when it all goes to shit."

"Duly noted."

"We can stop at some places on the way back."

"Yea, good idea."

They walked side by side to the boat at the dock, and Caesar didn't bother to look back when they drove away.

...

She lay there under the cottage, keeping her breathing in check. Why had they come there? What the hell were they doing?! She couldn't understand. She couldn't be seen, couldn't be found. She still had a job to do, and she couldn't have anyone wreck all her hard work. Otherwise, it all really would have been for nothing, the hurt she'd caused would have been for nothing, and she'd never get her life back.

Days Later

"Where did you go?" Lee asked casually, and Caesar took a moment before answering. They were in Lee's truck and keeping an eye out for a bail jumper they'd been tracking all day. Lee had waited to question him, just to make him sweat a bit.

"Just for a tootle," he answered. Lee snorted.

"A tootle? Caesar, it's me. Come on," he said. Caesar pursed his lips for a moment before giving in. He knew Lee wouldn't say anything.

"I thought Serena was still alive," he spit out, and Lee gave him a startled look.

"You what?"

"It's stupid, I know. She was with me in my coma, and then I dreamt about her the other night, and she was telling me to come find her, so I just thought...it's ridiculous."

"Did you tell Toll?"

"No," Caesar answered quickly. "I don't know if I will."

"Did you find her?"

"No. We searched around the area up there, but we found nothing."

Lee wasn't sure what to feel knowing Caesar and Tool had gone back to the place where he'd experienced such pain and loss. He did feel disappointed that they didn't find Serena. She wasn't Emily, but he also felt terrible that she had died. He felt aggravated all over again that neither of them had asked for help. If they had, maybe this would have ended very differently.

"Are you mad?" Caesar asked.

"No." Lee shook his head. "I don't know what to feel right now." He rested his head back on the head rest, and he felt Caesar shift in his seat a moment later.

"I got Tool to look into putting something out there for her to find if she is alive. I guess I'm not ready to give up hope just yet."

"Let me know if you hear anything."

"I know we don't talk about what happened," Caesar started a moment later, "but are you doing okay?"

"I have my moments," Lee answered, staring ahead now.

"We all worry about you, man," Caesar added, making Lee look at him now.

"Tell Tia she's not getting her 100 bucks," Lee retorted, knowing that was some of Tia's worry—that he was going to get back with Lacy.

"That's not the only thing we're worried about."

"What then?"

"Erm...well..." Caesar started.

"Just tell me," Lee sighed, rubbing his face with a hand now.

"Maya told Louis she's heard you talking to someone."

Lee froze slightly. Maya had heard him? He felt foolish now. Apparently he hadn't been as careful as he'd thought.

"I talk to myself all the time," he tried.

"No, she said it was like a conversation with someone else."

Lee was quiet, chewing on his bottom lip a little. It was slightly sore, so he bit down a bit harder to feel the pain and focus on something else other than the embarrassment he was feeling right now.

"I used to talk to my grandmother after she passed," Caesar said softly. "It just helped, you know?"

"I'm not crazy," Lee began.

"I know," Caesar interrupted, holding out a hand. "I know you're not, Lee. You're just hurting and trying to cope."

Lee's throat was a bit tight now. He appreciated Caesar normalizing this for him. He also thought of Toll saying he sometimes saw Serena too. Maybe it was a grief thing, or maybe they were all just nuts and in denial about it.

"Don't tell anyone else," he said finally.

"Wouldn't dream of it."

"It gets less every day."

"Okay."

"I will be fine," Lee insisted.

"I know you will be," Caesar agreed.

Movement to Lee's left made him look, and he sat up straighter.

"There he is," Caesar said, seeing him too. They both got out of the truck, and Lee began to nonchalantly follow their target before getting spotted. Then the chase was on.

It really helped to take his mind off of the thoughts of Maya having heard him talking to her dead mother.

...

Maya was packing up her bag when her father found her in the music room. She'd been dallying on purpose to make him come find her.

"Hey," Lacy said to him. He nodded back.

"You ready, Maya?" he asked.

"Almost." She pretended to be trying to make room in her bag while listening hard.

"She's doing so well," Lacy said now.

"That's good."

Then silence. Maya rolled her eyes. Were adults always this dumb? She had a plan now.

"Dad, can you come watch me play this Saturday?"

"Erm..."

"Pleeeaaase?" she pleaded, looking at him finally and giving her best big eyed look. It typically worked. "It would mean a lot."

"Alright. I will for a little bit."

"Yes!"

"Let's go," he ordered, and she slung her bag over her shoulders quickly.

"Bye, Miss Lacy," she said, waving. Lacy smiled and waved back from her desk. She walked out with Lee with a slight bounce to her step.

"You're in a good mood," he noted.

"That's because I cried in the bathroom earlier today."

"About what?" He sounded alarm.

"Mum...what else?"

"Oh."

"Is it bad that I don't cry as much anymore?"

"No, Maya. It's not bad."

She'd felt guilty about it, like she was supposed to stay horribly sad forever. Grief was confusing. She was glad she had Barney and her dad to talk about it.

"I can't wait for you to hear me play," she said now, wanting to change the subject.

"I'm looking forward to it," he replied. She wondered if he knew her plan, but if he did, he didn't say anything. She smiled to herself. If she could have it that he wasn't alone, then she'd feel a lot better and wouldn't worry about him so much. She knew she shouldn't be worrying about it, but she did.

That was the price of being a bit too smart for her age.

...

"You okay?" Cheryl asked, and Toll looked at her. Something didn't feel right in his chest, but he couldn't explain it. Barney had taken off with Gunner without saying why. Tool and Caesar had disappeared on a road trip and came back strangely quiet about it.

Maybe Lee was right. Maybe it had something to do with the girls.

"Yea," he answered finally. "I'm alright." He gave her a smile, and she reached to pat his arm before going to finish serving dinner. He didn't want to ruin their evening by feeling weird, so he decided to push it all aside and focus on her.

"Smells amazing," he said as she finally sat down to join him.

"It better. I slaved away over it for hours," she joked. He smiled.

"I think I might be falling in love with you," he said truthfully, and she stopped laughing and looked at him. For a moment, he feared he'd said it too soon, but then she smiled.

"I think I might be falling in love with you too," she replied. She reached for his hand, and he loved how it felt in his. He felt like they could survive anything together. She made him feel good about things, and he wanted to feel good about things forever.

"Well, now that we've got that in the open..." he said, trailing off.

"Took you long enough," she teased.

"You don't think it's too fast?"

"I think it's just about right."

He nodded. They'd been dating for a while now and seeing a lot of each other.

"And besides," she said, taking her hand back and smiling at him, "you didn't straight up say you love me. You said you're falling in love. That's a process in itself."

"Touché," he said, chuckling.

"You make me happy," she said simply. "And that's all I've ever wanted from anyone in my life."

"Me too."

She smiled at him again, and he returned it. He took a bite of her dinner and groaned and fawned all over it, making her laugh and nudge him with her foot under the table. She was cute when she was embarrassed. He truly felt like she was the one the longer their night went on.

And for once, he didn't feel an immense amount of guilt for having that thought.

One Month Later

Barney was feeling frustrated, and he couldn't get Church's damn voice out of his head. He was not having any luck finding Fred after his lead ran cold, and he was running out of ideas.

He was also running out of excuses for being away so long.

"Where are you again?" Lee asked now in his ear. Barney pressed the phone hard against it.

"We...oo...ah...fff...meep morp...tunnel," Barney said, hanging up the phone quickly. Gunner was laughing.

"I didn't realize R2D2 was in the house," he snickered. Barney shot him a look.

"What am I gonna tell him?"

"I think anything other than that. Christmas is gonna be very suspicious now, especially since we've been gone so long," Gunner pointed out.

"I can't go back. I'm too close," Barney insisted.

"Are you? Are you really? We have nothing, Barns," Gunner told him matter-of-factly. "You lost your only lead, and now we're just running around like idiots and making a scene."

"You having a fit and throwing a chair out a window was making a scene," Barney sniffed.

"It was a bar, and that guy had it coming," Gunner growled.

"You were sober."

"He called me ugly."

He wasn't going to win this argument, so Barney let it go. He tapped his fingers on his phone and hated that he had to call Church for an update.

"What's up, mutt?" Church answered. "Can't find your bone?"

"Stuff it," Barney retorted. "You have an update for me or not?"

"Well," Church said, "let me tell you this—your digging around has caused Fred to kidnap my asset."

"Let me guess, you need a rescue team."

"You're damn right I do. This is on you. You get my asset back; that's an order," Church commanded.

"So you know where Fred is?" Barney asked.

"Yea, and you're gonna need more than just Godzilla for this one."

"Hey," Gunner said indignantly, having heard it through the phone.

"He's just jealous," Barney told him. Then to Church: "I'm on the way back. I better have a plan for extraction from you when I get there."

"Keep your panties on," Church scoffed. "You're dealing with a professional here. I know what I'm doing."

"You better." Barney hung up so as to have the last word. He looked at Gunner.

"Is it almost over?" Gunner asked.

"I think so, Gunner. I think so."

Two Days Later

Lee was feeling annoyed as he sat in the rowdy bar and waited for his beer to wear off before driving home. He wasn't getting any information out of Barney about where he was and what he was doing, and if his friend thought faking a tunnel for bad cell service was going to work, he really was an idiot.

Lee sighed. Why would Barney and Gunner be gone this long? What was going on? Something had to be happening for this to be occurring, but he couldn't figure it out.

"Hey, stranger," Lacy said, coming up to him. Lee looked at her. In the last month, despite Toll's constant nagging him to stop, Lee had found himself talking to her more and spending some time with her. Maya loved the piano lessons, and after that first time, he got sucked into staying and watching her play a few more times, which led to a lunch that led to texting that led to meeting up for a drink. He'd kept information about Emily mostly to himself. He didn't want her feeling sorry for him. All she knew was that she'd passed away and he'd adopted Maya.

"Don't do it," Emily's voice said in his head as he smiled at Lacy.

"Hey," he said back.

"Sorry I'm late. I was dog sitting for a friend, and the poor guy vomited everywhere and then wouldn't stay out of it, so let's just say I had a lot on my hands for longer than I anticipated."

"Oh no." Lee winced sympathetically.

"Yea," Lacy said, grimacing. "I really need that drink." She waved to get the bartender's attention and soon had a glass of wine in her hand.

"Maya is talking nonstop about the new song she's learning," Lee commented, and Lacy smiled over the rim of her glass.

"She's so good, Lee. Honestly, I hope she goes pro, but that might be my own selfish reasons coming out."

"Why's that?"

"I wanted to be a musician, but my parents thought that was a waste of time, so I settled for teaching. They still frown about that, but at least it 'pays the bills,'" she said with air quotes. Lee chuckled.

"Well, you're great at it, and a lot of kids get to learn from the best."

"I'm hardly the best," Lacy said with a blush now. She ducked her head, and he smiled again. This was the part he liked about her. He'd been seeing more and more of that lately, and it was making him forget what she'd done to him.

"Don't you dare," Emily said almost accusingly. "Lee, come on!"

"You are in my opinion," he told Lacy. "Accept it."

"Alright," she caved. They chatted a bit about some random topics, and then she finished her drink and was looking at him.

"What?" he asked.

"It just feels like we never stopped," she said, reaching to touch his arm. He looked at her hand, feeling things inside—things he never thought he'd feel again. Was he mental? He swallowed and met her eyes.

"Lace," he started.

"Don't deny it," she said when he stalled. "I was hoping to ask if we could...if we could try again—you and me. I think it'll be different this time. I know you really took a hit losing Emily even though you don't say it out loud, and I respect if you're not ready, but I also don't want to miss out either, if you are ready."

He felt his breathing get a bit quick, and if Ghost Emily could hit him upside the head, he was sure she would.

But she was dead. She'd left him behind.

"I guess we could try," he said finally, and Lacy's eyes brightened.

"Yea?"

"Yea."

She didn't wait very long to kiss him, and he let her, ignoring Ghost Emily's aggravated sound behind him. It felt familiar. It wasn't the same as Emily's, but he couldn't have her, so this would have to do.

At least it had been just over a month, so Tia couldn't get her 100 bucks.

When they got to her place, Lee knew he wasn't being smart as he followed Lacy to her bedroom. He just felt incredibly lonely, and he didn't feel like searching for someone new or having a random fling. He went back to what he knew, even if it was stupid.

Lacy pulled him close and kissed him, and he closed his eyes, trying to get lost in her.

"Are you shitting me?"

He jerked back and saw Emily standing behind Lacy. Apparently, she was back, and she was shaking her head at him.

"You okay?" Lacy asked, concerned. She looked at him carefully. He exhaled through his nose slowly before giving her a smile.

"Yea," he answered. He kissed her again.

"You're an idiot," Emily went on. He ignored her, kissing Lacy further and letting her pull him down on top of her.

"I missed you," Lacy said as he kissed her neck.

"She cheated on you!" Emily shouted. "Are you that desperate? Are you that crazy?!"

Lee broke the kiss, trying to regain his concentration. Apparently, this allowed the hallucinated version of Emily to move in closer and keep berating him.

"She's using you, Lee. She knows you're vulnerable. She knows you're not really into this. What the hell are you doing?" Emily demanded.

"Are you sure you're okay?" Lacy asked, sliding her hands onto his skin under his shirt.

"Yea, I'm just..."

"Trying to convince yourself that this is the woman you want to be with when you know she is far from it," Emily finished for him. He said nothing. He couldn't. Lacy would think he was insane, which he was starting to think he just might be.

"You wanna stop?" Lacy asked, propping herself up on her elbows.

"No," he answered, moving to kiss her again, pushing her back down. He could drown out the nagging voice over his shoulder. He could.

"Maya deserves better," Emily said now. "If you can't think about anything else, then think about her. Lacy would be a shit step-mother. Just saying."

Lee growled in his throat, and Lacy took this to be something entirely different. She started to move faster.

"I am begging you to please not do this!" Emily cried. "Lee, you are worth more than this! You can't do this. Don't do this! You don't love her! You have to at least be with someone you love!"

"Then you shouldn't have died!" he shouted finally, tearing himself away from Lacy and staring at Emily. He was breathing heavy and feeling emotional and very much finished with what he was trying to do.

"I'm sorry," she whispered. And suddenly, she was gone.

"Lee?" Lacy asked, sounding nervous. He looked back at her, and she was giving him a funny look.

"I'm sorry," he said, moving to get off and back onto his feet. He ran a hand over his head. "I...I gotta go." He walked fast, feeling like a crazy moron. Emily was no longer there, and he'd just made Lacy think he was a lunatic. He got to his truck and gripped the wheel tightly with his hands. He rested his forehead against his knuckles, still breathing hard. He was trying not to cry. He knew Emily was really just repeating all the thoughts he was having himself, but hearing her say them had really impacted him. Tapping on his window made him jump and turn his head to see Lacy standing there. He rolled the window down slowly, feeling nervous suddenly.

"Yea?" he asked.

"When my brother died," Lacy started slowly, "I saw him all the time. He'd just show up randomly and start talking to me, giving me advice or warnings about things. I thought I was losing my mind, but I soon realized that my brain was just manifesting his voice in my head into the form of him that I could actually see, and when I went to talk to someone, it helped to make it stop." She handed him a card, and he took it gingerly with his fingers. He almost laughed. Did everyone have this experience? Or was he just lucky enough to know a few people who did?

"Lacy..."

"You must have really loved her," Lacy cut him off, giving him a sad smile, "for her to be that much in your head like that. I'm sorry you lost her, Lee. Please, go talk to this counsellor. They're really good."

"I'll think about it," he said. She gave a nod and another smile. Then she reached to squeeze his hand briefly.

"When you're feeling better, give me a call," she said softly. She released his hand, giving it a final soft pat and turning to walk back inside. Lee watched her go, and he knew in his heart of hearts that he would never reopen that part of his past ever again.

...

Tool was staring at Barney, trying to understand.

"So, Church lost an asset, and you have to go rescue this person?"

"Yea," Barney confirmed.

"Who is the asset?"

"No idea."

"You're hoping it's Maggie, aren't you?" Tool inquired. "So you can be her hero?" When Barney blushed a little, he smiled.

"No," Barney lied.

"If I recall, she does not need any saving, and I told you to call her..."

"And I said it was pointless," Barney finished for him. "And of course I don't want it to be Maggie. That would mean she's getting hurt right now, and I never want that for her." Tool was about to say more when Lee walked in. He looked tired and emotional.

"Uh oh," Barney said. His voice made Lee's head snap up.

"You're back," Lee said dumbly.

"I am."

"Where were you?"

"Here and there," Barney answered vaguely. He earned a scowl from Lee at this point, and his friend crossed his arms and gave him a level stare. It was like Lee could read his mind. It was unnerving.

"It's Fred, isn't it?" Lee asked. Barney sucked his teeth.

"Well..."

"Just say yes or no."

"Yes," Barney said promptly. "It's Fred." Lee blew out a breath and growled a bit before giving himself a shake and looking back at Barney.

"Where is he? When are we leaving?"

"Whoa, there's no 'we,'" Barney answered, holding up a hand. "You retired, remember?"

"I'm not staying behind for this. No way," Lee argued.

"Think about Maya..."

"I am thinking about Maya!" Lee exploded. "This bastard took her mother from her! From me! I'm not letting him get away with it!"

"Let him go, Barney," Tool said. "You know you'd want the same if roles were reversed."

Barney knew this, but he also worried for Lee's wellbeing. If Maya lost him too, she might never be okay again.

"Fine," he caved. "We leave in the morning."

"You got the layout? A plan?"

"Yea. Church dropped it off."

"Where were you anyway?" Tool asked curiously as Lee finally sat down, still looking grumpy.

"Nowhere."

"Wait," Barney said, holding up a hand and taking a sniff. "I recognize that smell."

"Me too," Tool agreed.

"Aw, no," Barney groaned, realizing. "You didn't. Not Lacy!"

"Relax. I didn't do it," Lee muttered.

"Thank God..."

"Can we skip the lecture and get back to the job?" Lee countered, glaring at him. Tool nudged Barney to silently advise he should drop it, so he did.

"Yea," Barney agreed, reaching for the papers on the counter in front of him. "So here's the layout..." He watched Lee examine it fiercely. He really hoped that nothing bad was going to happen on this job.

He'd never forgive himself if something did.

...

She'd never felt so scared as Fred stood before her, leering at her helplessness. She couldn't get free, and she knew he wasn't going to go easy on her. Her heart pounded as he came closer, a taser in his hand.

No one could hear her screams, but she desperately hoped that someone was coming to help her before it was too late.

One more chapter to go and then Part II is done :) Everyone will finally get the answer they're waiting for ;)