(TAG LEON)

The whole rainy night Brian had spent awake in his bed. He was dead tired but sleep just wouldn't come, not even after two beers.
The man got up and walked downstairs bare feet touching the cold wooden floor boards. His eyes didn't look up at the pictures of his little family on the wall as he forced himself not to look at her...Mia. But in his mind an image of her was clearly present: Her beautiful geniune smile and her warm brown eyes. What he she would never return and the only thing left would be that image in his mind.
Filled with a deep sadness he stepped outside in the rain and looked up at the dark clouds. It was almost ironical how well the weather matched his mood.
Right now he didn't care that he got drenched. He barely noticed it. For the thousands time he went over the possibilities in his head.
Still in his pyjamas and t-shirt he went to his car and took a drive.
The streets were empty at 4 am.
His drive took him to Verone's house. All lights were turn off, everything quiet except for the barking of a dog.
For a long time Brian sat outside shivering in his wet clothes and contemplating whether he should try to brake in...threaten verone, search for Mia but finally decided against it.
Instead he found himself knocking at Leon's door, who had Tyler for the night.

He hadnt slept, not one bit, not even when Tyler had finally dozed of, poor little guy could tell something was wrong and had been vocalising it ever since his father had dropped him of at his door. If it wasnt for the little tyke being under his care he would have been out there, searching, turning every rock until he found his baby sister. He had vowed to protect her and now she was gone, vanished without a trace.

With a sigh he ran his hand oved his face as he once more tried her phone, it wasnt the first time she had gone missing but she always called him, or picked up her phone, so with each passing momoment, every time she didnt answer his heart cracked, his anger increased. SOmoene had his baby sister, his world, and he was going to make them pay, dearly.

He half wondered what the hell Jack had been doing, how could he not notcie the girl he was meant to be marrying hadnt arirved home, that when she had left work the night before she hadnt come back. Wondered how it took him till the next day to realize she was gone.

Running a callused hand over his face he sighed and stared down at the beer in his hand, he wanted to do something, but was useless to do anything, right now someone else was relying on him and he had to rely on Brian and Jack to get her back.

A knock at his door draw his attention and he was over to it in moments, pulling it open he stared coldly at Brian, drenched to the bone and looking as terrible as he himself felt. "No news" He questioned as he allowed Brian to enter his home.

Brian simply shook his head. He had nothing good to say so why say something at all? He didn't even know why he came here in the first place.
For a moment he stood in the hallway lost in thoughts.
Then he ran a hand over his face and sighed. "I need to see Tyler. He's okay, right?" Tyler was the only person he still had, the one thing that united him and Mia more than anything, their son. brian needed to see with his own eyes that he was okay. The only reason he had dropped him off was that he thought the little guy wasn't safe with him since he had brought this upon thier little family.
While he walked to Leon's bedroom where the baby was sleeping he could feel his body starting to shake without knowing why.
At the door he spotted the small kid sleeping soundly on Leon's pillow tucked in a blanket.
What if he'd never really get to know his own mother? The thought made Brians throat tighten and suddenly brought tears to his eyes.
He wanted to touch him and hold him but simply couldn't because he felt guilty.

Leon nodded his head as he granted Brian into his apartment, his own gaze was haunted, and the face he didnt have news about Faye, or Mia he wanted to be out there, looking for them, not trapped in his home with their child, unable to do anything.

"He's asleep" He gestured for his room where he had finally placed the thankfuly now quite child, not that he was sure how long he would sleep for, he could feel the atmosphere around him, and it was affecting him the way it was every one else.

With a deep breath he followed after Brian, he folded his arms over his chest and let out a deep breath, with a raised brow he looked over at his friend. "This isnt your fault" He mummbeled, his voice still deep, despite how soft he was speaking, licking his lips his gaze drifted over to a sleeping Tyler.

Brian kept his eyes on Tylers chest moving up and down and tried not to blink so no tears would fall.
Finally he left the doorframe and closed the door before he walked down the hallway and stood at the door.
With chocked up voice he admitted. "Unfortunately it is partly my fault. I think Veron's got Mia and he wants revenge for me messing with his business a few years back."
Swallowing became harder each time."If the boy never gets to see his mother again it's my fault. I have to make sure she's coming back."
He avoided Leon's gaze as long as he could before he continued.
"I've got news about Faye."

Leon shook hsi head, he wasnt going to argue with the man, he was blaming himself and Leon doubted there were any words that would make him feel better. With furrowed brow he looked over at Brian.

"You said there was no news" He all but growled as his eyes darkened as he looked over at Brian.

"Yeah, I know..." He looked away again.
"But I still need to tell you that I know who has her and that she's okay. Nobody can know about this."
Of course Brian's words would make Leon angry and confused so he needed to explain a little more detailed and finally looked him in the eye.
"A guy I know is infiltrating Verone's operation, who wanted us to be scared. So he told the guy to kidnap her and torture her but he faked it and she's safe with him but we can't tell Jack because he needs to beleive it's true. Otherwise Verone can tell that the guy's a rat. Only if he finds enough proof to take Verone's organization down all of us will be safe again. I think the fucker has Mia,too."

Leon listened, but not once did he hear anything that he really wanted to hear, he didnt want to know about what was happening, the only good news was that Faye was okay, and safe, with a growl he advanced onto hisold friend. "

"Where the hell is my sister Brian" He snapped, his voice, in a low growl.

Automatically Brian wanted to take a step away from Leon. As much as he liked him he would probably never be able to get rid of the fear he was able to install in him due to past events.
nevertheless he stood his ground and explained in a calm tone.
"She's with this guy...not sure where exactly. But I think she's safe there...safer than anywhere else right now. She knows him."

Leon let out a breath and shook his head, "She's safe you think" He questioned with a shake of hsi head, he let out a chuckle and stepped away from his old friend.

"I want to speak with her" he stated, when it came to his sister he wouldnt listen to any one but her he wouldnt beleived she was safe until he heard it from her lips.

"Yeah." brian frowned. "me, too but we can't. I don#t have any way of reaching her and Walter is not going to let anybody talk to her. He'll beat the crap out of me if he knows I told you that she's okay."
Brian shrugged.
"I'm really sorry, man. I just figured you should know she's alive."

Walter, he knew that name, the guy who had helped her out before, the guy he still to this day he didnt trust, with a sigh he shook his head and let out a breath.

"No news on Mia though"He stated, for now he would deal with the fact his sister was okay, ish, with a breath he looked over at Mia, it was obvious by his face there was no news, "Drink"He questioned heading to the kitchen.

"No news is good news, right?" brian tried to calm himself. in reality he expected to get a call any time that the cops found her body somewhere.
When Leon offered a drink Brian wanted to decline. he didn't feel like company but what else would he do? Drive around with no destination?
"Okay, got any beer?" he wondered as he followed him into the kitchen absentmindedly.
Right now he didn't care where he was or who he was with. He simply wanted Mia to be okay, he needed her back. Lost in thoughts brian stared out the window at the house next door.

Silently Leon headed into the kitchen and pulled open the fridge door pulling two beers from within, he popped the tops and handed one over to Brian.

"Mia's a fighter" He stated, "If this is about you, the longer she's alive the more you suffer"

Brian took the bottle of beer but ddn't drink.
"Wouldn't he let me know that he's got her to make me suffer then? I don't even know if she's still alive."
The words hit him as he spoke them. it was like a backhand right in his face.
"I got to do something but I don't even know where to look for her."
He grimaced as if somebody was torturing him which was pretty much the case.

Leon let out a breath and looked over at his friend, he couldnt begin to imagaine what he was goign through,loosing his sister was one thing but his wife, the mother of his child. In his bedroom Tyler began to cry,with a look over at Brian he placed his beer down and moved to grab him.

With a breath he returend to the kitchen rocking Tyler gently against his chest, "Brian your FBI okay, you know where to start looking"

Brian watched Leon with his son for only a brief moment before he stretched out his hands to hold him. His fingers were almost shaking when he pulled him closer, trying to soothe him. Gently he ran his hand over the small head whipering. "It's going to be allright, buddy, Mom's going to be home soon." His words were a big , fat lie, one he had to tell himself to hold together. nevertheless he felt his face heat up and his eyes water up while he was rocking back and forth.
Never had he felt so scared for somebody else, never so responsible for another beings fate. He closed his eyes and placed a kiss on the baby's cheek, then burried his own face in the small kids neck.
It felt as if Tyler was soothing him more than the other way around.

After a long moment he pulled back and cleared his throat.
"The phone trace came back negative, I've knocked on verones door...nothing, all I can do is sit and wait."

Leon watched him with his son for a moment and rested his arm ovre his chest, his gazefocused on the man in front of him. He had know Brian for many things, his cooll head,andhis willingness to do anything for those he cared about. Yet he had never seen him this depressed, this scared and uncertaine, obviously being married, being a father changed things.

"Then you prepare" His voice was deep and cold as he turned his gaze over to Brian, "Carter has been one step ahead of you, you gotta be three steps ahead of him" Letting out abreath he offered him a tight smile.

Finally Brian took a long drink from the bottle. leon was right, rather than whining about not having Mia he needed to figure out what to do.
"First thing tomorrow I'll file a report. maybe they have other ways...maybe I can get a search warrant for his place if I get him to confess that he's got her."
A plan was forming in his head.
"would you take care of him until I'm back?"