X.W.P. 3257: WORST CASE SCENARIO

pt.7

There was broken glass and blood on the floor, things thrown all over the place and a sinking feeling in Xena's stomach as she stood in the destroyed apartment. This was the last known address for Luka's mother and the scene did not give Xena much confidence that she was going to find anything good there. She stayed on high alert as she began to cautiously search the apartment, calling in the scene as she walked through the living room. She stopped when she stepped on something and looked down. Moving her foot back she squatted down and picked up a damaged and glitchy digital picture frame. The image on the screen flickered but Xena could still see the photo clearly when it was up. She sighed when she saw it was was picture of a smiling woman holding a happy little boy in her arms. And that boy was Luka. Xena shook her head sadly as she stood up and put the photo on a table as she continued her search. She was half hoping that she had gotten the wrong address at first, but now there was no denying that this was Luka and his mother's apartment. With no one in the living room, Xena moved through the rest of the place but didn't find anyone. Not long after the crime scene unit arrived and Xena left to let them work. She had already gone over everything there and didn't find anything that would help her find Luka's mother. She went back to her precinct and told Ares and Gabrielle what she found.

ARES
I'll see if I can put a rush on the DNA from the blood found on the scene. Make sure we know exactly who we're looking for here.

GABRIELLE
If the blood is his mother's, what does that mean for Luka?

ARES
He'll remain with you two until we find her. And if we do and she is dead, then we'll go from there.

XENA
I wouldn't be surprised if she was in that warehouse where we found Luka.

GABRIELLE
Damn your probably right. If that's the case then who knows how long it'll take to find out for sure.

XENA
Yeah that place was already a mess of a crime scene and with the explosion. I don't even wanna think about what it's gonna take to get everything sorted out there.

Gabrielle sighed.

GABRIELLE
(Sarcasm) This just keeps getting better and better.
So what's the plan now?

Ares checked the time.

ARES
It's getting late and it's been a long day. We're not gonna find anything else today, so why don't you two take Luka and go home. I already got things set up, so you're good to go.

XENA
That was fast.

ARES
Well I am a god.

Gabrielle smiled.

GABRIELLE
Thanks Ares.

ARES
It's no big deal. Besides I did this for me. Because not getting the kid ment that you weren't happy. And if you're not happy, Xena's not happy. And if Xena's not happy, well that's not really good for anyone. Especially me. And I don't need that kind of headache.

XENA
(Joking) So it's all about you then.

ARES
(Joking) It always is.
Now I would like to get out of here some time tonight, so as that old saying goes "You don't have to go home, but you can't stay here."

XENA
Don't gotta tell me twice.

Xena and Gabrielle left Ares' office, got Luka and went home.

GABRIELLE
There we go, all tucked in

Gabrielle lightly patted the blanket as she finished tucking in Luka on the couch.

GABRIELLE
Are you sure you're gonna be okay sleeping here?

LUKA
I'm okay.

Xena leaned on the arm of the couch.

XENA
You need anything we're right in that room there.