The Academy: Discovery

Come Home to Me

A/N: this one is for Kpersons09 for always encouraging me to continue this story! If for no one else I'll keep on keeping on for the two of us :) For everyone else please comment and vote I would very very much appreciate it!

"Thank you." I tell Mr. Blackbourne.

"I'm sorry there is a file like that at all but especially sorry you had to find it. I've done a quick preliminary search and haven't found any others. Just in case though. I'm going to ask you to look through the desk contents and then join Mr. Coleman and Mr. Taylor in the apartment."

I nod my agreement crossing the room to do as he ask. Just as I pull open the first drawer Luke and Sean return. "There were 7 cameras in just that small apartment. Most were aimed at either the shower or..." Luke grimaces and looks at me. He's asking if I'm okay to hear this.

"Go ahead I want to know whats going on. Please don't leave me out of the loop on this."

"She's a strong girl Mr. Taylor. Please continue."

"Her bed. If you can call it that." I have the sudden sensation of bugs crawling all over me and know I'm imagining the times his eyes must have been on me. I feel angry still but now I also feel dirty somehow. Only the thought of a shower scares me even more now than it did before.

"Miss Cathcart I need to ask you something and I want you to feel free to tell me to take a hike if thats what you wish. It is important that you hear me out first though."

The idea of me ever talking to Mr. Blackbourne like that almost makes me laugh but my stomach hurts to badly for that right now. "I'm listening."

"Darlin' I need to show the others these pictures." I gasp at his calling me Darlin'. He misunderstands the action and holds his hands up in surrender. "Please hear me out. As I told you before there is little I can't do when I put my mind to it but sometimes the time it takes for me to do something on my own is more dangerous than necessary. In this case it could cost us valuable time in finding this Mr..." He lifts a piece of paper from the desk and reads over it before continuing "Richards. I wish to ask the others to take a look at the pictures and try to get several perspectives so that as quickly as possible we may find Mr. Richards and confront him on your behalf."

"Owen. You can't ask her that." Sean admonishes but I use my hand on his arm to stop him from further speaking for me.

"It's okay Sean. I don't like it but I can trust you all. Right?"

"Of course you can Cutie Pie."

I take a deep breath and tell Mr. Blackbourne. "Go ahead. But can we burn them when you're done?"

"If you wish." He hands Sean the file first.

I get to work searching the small skinny drawer in the center of the desk to keep from watching his reaction. It only contains a few writing utensils and what appears to be glass medicine vials of some kind. I think I've seen diabetics use something similar. Tom must be diabetic. The second drawer through the fourth are empty and the fifth only has a couple of old time sheets. The time sheets don't appear to have anything of use on them so I close the drawer and sit back in my chair. I look up to find Sean watching me with a blank expression on his face. Oh no. He isn't picturing me naked is he? "I'm not picturing you naked if thats what you're thinking. I was just thinking Owen was right. You really are strong."

Smiling at him again I stand to hug him. "Thank you Sean." I give them all a small wave "I didn't find anything useful in the desk so I'm off to help North and Meanie. If you want me to help when you move to my parents office just holler."

Upstairs I find my apartment looking like a tornado hit it. "North? Meanie?" I call out getting no response. I skirt around debris and make my way to the bedroom to find the two of them with there heads together reading something Gabriel holds between them. "Whatcha reading?" I ask making them both jump and hide the book behind their backs. As it disappears behind their backs I see a little of the warn cover and have the thought that it looks like the book I had taped to the couch. Oh no. I passed the couch and it was upside down with no book in sight. "How long have you been reading that book?!"

"Long enough" they say together as if they rehearsed the line.

I jump for them both trying to knock them over at the same time I'm reaching for the book. "Give it back. Thats embarrassing."

"Careful Beautiful you elbow me again and I'm going to have to spank you."

"I'm guessing by her choice in reading material she'd like that." North teases playfully patting my rear. Gabriel joins him and suddenly I'm being spanked by the two of them.

"We're supposed to be working! Get to it and give me my book or I'll sick Mr. Blackbourne on you."

They both snort. "This is just a guess but I think he'd like to spank you himself." North says.

"I get the same vibe. Dude is uber controlling I doubt that shit shuts off in the bedroom."

I hear a throat clearing and suddenly I hit the bed and neither North or Gabriel are anywhere close to me. "If you're finished discussing my sex life and/ or habits gentlemen I have something I need you to look at." I jerk up on my elbows looking over my shoulder to find Mr. Blackbourne watching me from the doorway. I look around and find Gabriel and North both backed against the far wall. I fight the urge to stick my tongue out at them but loose and end up doing it. "It looks like you've finished up here so Miss Cathcart I'll ask you to return..." He's interrupted by a piercing alarm sound.

Silas burst through the apartment door causing North and Gabriel to flank Mr. Blackbourne. They were both putting themselves between me and any potential threat. "Two guys attempted to enter through the rear door. The alarms Victor set up tripped and they took off. The others went after them." Silas tells us. Just then we hear two gunshots. They sound to me like they're coming from the back parking lot and I can't contain the small squeak that escapes me.

"Mr. Taylor and Mr. Coleman secure the first floor. Mr. Korba see Miss Cathcart home immediately." I stand and wait for my wall of protection to let Silas through. Both Gabriel and North turn to kiss my forehead before they run to do as Mr. Blackbourne instructed. As Silas quickly walks to me Mr. Blackbourne reaches his hand out and grasps mine. "I'll bring them home to you." he tells me.

I use his hand linked with mine to pull him into a hug. "You too. Come home to me too."

Silas pulls me from an apparently speechless Mr. Blackbourne. I turn to climb him like a monkey in a tree and latch myself to his torso. "Good Girl. Lets get you home safe for all of us. Okay?" I nod into his neck watching as Mr Blackbourne first looks out the second floor window then climbs out it.