Our Father's Crusade (leverage x Psych) COMPLETED

I Don't Know How But You Found Me

Elliot has been working his first case with us, he's settling into private eye work pretty well. I was sitting alone in the office waiting on him and Shawn to come back from a lead. I had digital leg work to do, so they left me at the office. It helped that we close on the house tomorrow and I was already tired.

I was about half way through my digital decent when I heard the door rattle. It wasn't Elliot or Shawn, and Parker wouldn't be that loud. My brain went to the worse case scenario as I grabbed my gun from the desk. The lights were out, other than my little lamp so I had the element of surprise as I clicked it off.

I took position crouched behind the desk as I texted Elliot the sos. I was 26 weeks pregnant, I was far from my prime. I didn't want to use it, but the gun was my only option. I held my breathe as the door opened with a loud creak. The footsteps were small and light. I quietly peaked out to see a small girl looking around. She was no more than thirteen, her hair was bright pink and short. It was a contrast from her brown skin. Her clothes weren't those of a criminal, but a rebellious teenage girl. She didn't look like a threat.

She looked around for what I'm not sure. Her eyes finally stopped  at the photo of me, Jules and  Shawn on his desk. She put it in her bag before she kept up her search leaving me more confused as I stayed hidden carefully putting my gun away so I didn't scare her.

"Are you looking for Shawn? He's not here." I announced myself peaking out from the desk as she jumped.

"I, uh, no one was supposed to be here." She stuttered panicked and backing into the table.

"Calm down kiddo, my name is Carter, are you in trouble?" I asked standing up as she looked wide eyed at me.

"You're pregnant." She remarked quietly motioning to my very obvious belly.

"I am, I'm not gonna hurt you. Come on, sit down, don't be afraid." I quietly instructed walking towards her. She didn't say anything before jumping forward and hugging me leaving me even more confused. "Are you in trouble?"

"You're Carter Ford, you're 30, you've been an Interpol agent since you were 24 and you worked for the FBI before that and you had a baby when you were 17." The mystery girl rattled off still clinging to me as she spoke. Her whole body was shaking as I just held onto her.

"That's not public knowledge. How do you know that?" I asked quietly as she still held onto me.

"I may have hacked some things, I know it's a crime but I have good reasons." She defensively rattled off as she still kept her grip.

"Okay, let's start with your name?" I asked as she finally let go looking up at me.

"Beth, my name is Beth." She quietly answered still staring at me. Her face was oddly familiar but I couldn't place it.

"Okay Beth, wanna tell me your reasons?" I asked motioning for her to sit on the couch as I texted Elliot it was just a kid so he didn't come in guns blazing and scare her more.

"I, this was easier in my head. I was supposed to get in, get out and then figure out a plan." She muttered as she paced. "You're Carter Ford?"

"I am, why were you looking for me? I saw you take the picture." The pieces still weren't adding up as I spoke.

"I'm, see you're, I'm adopted and I, I ran my DNA through the police database and it was sealed so I unsealed it and you're my mom." She rambled out as it felt like I got hit by a semi truck. "I know you gave me up so you must've not wanted me, but you're pregnant so maybe, I don't have anywhere else to go."

"Slow down, what do you mean you're my kid?" I asked trying to catch my breath. It was like all the air got ripped from my lungs.

"I was adopted when I was like two, it lined up with you becoming an FBI agent. I just figured you didn't want me when you started working." She mumbled as I felt like I was about to pass out. "My adoptive mom died, and I was with this distant aunt and she's awful. I just thought if I found my birth mom, then I found out you were only in Santa Barbara."