"I don't believe it." a shocked Doug said after Hanson had finished telling him the news.

"Neither did I."

"He seemed like he really loved her.

"Maybe that was the problem. This is such a giant mess."

"Hey, it's done now." Doug said earnestly. "You went in to catch Nikki's killer. You did that and you put a very sick man where he belongs."

"One mistake and two kid's lives are over. It's such a waste."

"Do Nikki's mom and dad know?"

"Not yet. Fuller wants me to go with him to tell them when he's finished up here."

"You gonna go?"

"I don't know. Maybe it's not the right time. Maybe you should go." he said turning pleading eyes on his partner.

"You are going to go." Doug said with a knowing smile.

"Why are you so sure?" Tom snapped.

"Because I know you, man, and you're not an asshole. Besides you've always gotta be fixing people."

"No I don't!" he replied indignantly.

They both turned their attention to the other side of the room as Fuller walked out from his office.

"You ready Hanson?"

"I don't think so Coach." he said.

"Any particular reason?" Fuller asked kindly.

"I've got too many questions and too many things going round in my head to deal with this right now."

"Like what?"

"How could she leave my mom on her own after Dad died? Aren't families supposed to be there for each other at times like that no matter what?"

"Usually." Fuller replied.

"You know who my mom's entire support was through the whole thing? Me, a sixteen year old kid who had no idea how to deal with all that stuff."

"And who was there for you?" Doug asked.

"No one. Sure Charlie Rosemont, my dad's partner, tried to help out. But he had his own stuff to deal with. I was all on my own. How could they have just left us to it?"

"While you're asking questions Tom" Fuller began warily, "Maybe you should ask your mother why she took out a restraining order on her sister a week after your father's murder."

"What?" Hanson said, his eyes as wide as saucers as he took the sheet of paper Fuller was holding out. "She tried to see us?"

"A couple of times according to that."

"Why would she do that?" he said as his intense gaze flew over the paper. His mother's name there in black and white on an order keeping her sister at least 70ft from her, her family and residence.

"People react to grief in different ways, Tom. Maybe she just didn't feel strong enough to deal with it then. Your dad had just died and you said yourself she was in bits."

"But after 13 years?"

"I told you anger was a rough thing to carry around. Sounds like two people who both made mistakes and have left it too long to put things right."

"So are we going?" he said with determination in his eyes.

"I thought you weren't ready?" Doug said

"It's gone on long enough. Anyway, didn't you just say I needed always need to fix people?" Doug looked at him with a knowing smile. "You knew about this didn't you?" he snapped.

"He's the one who searched through records." Fuller told him.

"Family's important Tom." Doug said with uncharacteristic seriousness. "You should hold on to whatever family you have. Even if they're not always perfect." he said with sadness in his eyes.

"You're giving me advice?!"

"Yeah. Take it." he said looking intently at his best friend.

"Thanks man" he said softly. "You know this means war don't you?" he smirked.

"Just call it pay back for Dorothy the other night."

"What?" Fuller asked his eyes switching between the two younger men.

"Nevermind." Tom said, "Let's get this over with before I lose my nerve."

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Fuller pulled his car up to the curb outside the small pleasant house he had seen all too often over the past few days and glanced over at the young man sat in the seat beside him. It seemed strange that he should know this woman better than her nephew did.

"You ready?" he asked trying to make his tone as light as possible.

"Not really. What do I say?" Hanson asked turning wide worried eyes on his superior.

"Hello's always a good place to start."

"Oh yeah. Hi, you probably don't remember me but I was the one who nearly gave you a mental breakdown the other day. I'm also the kid you used to smuggle drugs who you haven't seen for 20 years. Oh and while I'm here I know who killed your daughter."

"I always find being straight forward and truthful always works best."

"I have no memory of this woman at all. Oh apart from scaring her half to death."

"It's not all her fault Tom."

"I know?" he sighed. During the ensuing silence Fuller studied Toms face watching the muddled thoughts as they painted their picture on his still too young face.

"Ok Hanson, if you're' not ready I can go in alone. You can come back when you feel you're ready." he said kindly.

"No. I wanna do this." he said his face pure grim determination. "I want answers and should think she needs a few as well."

"Probably right." Fuller said smiling slightly.

"At least I can give her that. I don't know if I'd have been able to come here if I couldn't". Fuller allowed himself a self congratulatory knowing smile. Sure this kid could be as closed off and defensive as they come, but there were times when you could read him like a book.

"But you knew that didn't you captain?" Tom said, feeling it was his turn to look smug. Fuller looked back at him and decided this kid could also be the most annoying person on the planet. "Thanks." he said, his tone deadly serious.

"So, are you coming?" Fuller asked.

"Yeah."

The two men exited the car and made their way to the small path to the door. Before he rang the bell Fuller turned the young officer bedside him a watched him intently as he asked "You want me to do the talking?"

"No it's ok. I want to. Really."

"Ok, no problem." Fuller replied placing his hand on Hanson's shoulder. He was quite startled and Tom flinched at the contact like he'd been burnt and slightly shied away. Fuller looked at him with a confused look on his face. "You sure everything's ok?"

"Yeah." he replied smiling unconvincingly. As Fuller was about to grill him further the front door opened to reveal two women deep in conversation. One with dark hair and dark eyes and the other with hair that was so fair it was almost white. The dark haired women was the first to notice the two men on the front porch and her eyes widened as they came to rest on her young son.

"Captain Fuller." Alison Stokely said in surprise.

"Mrs Stokely. We have some news I think you might want to hear."

"Of course. Come in officers." she said as she moved aside to let them in. Fuller noticed she seemed brighter than she did the last time he had seen her, though he suspected her older sister might have something to do with that. As the two men passed by her she took notice of the younger of the two for the first time since she opened the door. A look of confusion and slight recognition passed through her eyes for a moment.

"I should go and leave you to it." Margaret Hanson said turning to her sister.

"Ok." Alison replied somewhat disappointed. "I'm sorry officers, this is my sister."

"Ma'am" Fuller replied, while Hanson remained silent shifting uncomfortably in the small hallway.

"Excuse me officers." Mrs Hanson said as she turned to leave. She pulled her younger sister towards her in a quick fierce hug. "I'll see you soon, I promise." she said looking into the younger woman's eyes as unshed tears stood in her own.

"Thank you" Alison said as they parted. As Margaret walked past the two men she made eye contact and smiled slightly at the younger of the two and gave his arm a barley noticeable squeeze. It should have reassured him but he once again flinched away unable to get the memory of what happened in that room with Mackenzie out of his mind. He managed a weak smile as she passed by, a troubled look on her face. He watched her go until he was brought round by Fuller's voice as he spoke to Mrs Stokely.

"Mrs Stokely, this is Officer..."

"Hanson" Tom cut in quickly. He watched her face as realisation flooded in. Seeing the look that passed between this boy and her sister, hearing his name, and of course the striking family resemblance, it was not hard for her to reconcile this young man with the small boy with the large brown eyes that seemed too big for his little face.

"Tommy?" she said, her questioning eyes looking him over.

"Hi." he said uncomfortably.

"That was you the other day wasn't it?" she asked. Tom nodded his head a quick apologetic smile crossing his face.

"I'm sorry. You weren't meant to have seen me."

"You always were a funny little thing. I never expected to you to take to cross dressing though." she said smirking up at him. Tom felt like he was in the twilight zone. He had no memories what so ever of the woman stood in front of him, yet she was talking like they went back years, which he supposed in a way they did.

"Let me look at you." she said as she stood back and looked him up and down, making him feel really nervous. His eyes moved awkwardly around the room as he realised to his horror that all the aunt stories were true. All he needed was for her to say how much he's grown and he was running out that door as fast as he could.

"You got so big." she said as if it was a surprise to find out that kids tend to grow after 20 years had passed.

"Well, it has been a while." Tom replied not quite succeeding in keeping the bitter tone from his normally soft voice. Her face darkened and she looked away.

"I suppose I deserved that." she said. Fuller let out an uncomfortable cough. Tom looked over at him and once again offered the faint apologetic smile.

"I'm sorry" he said, "That's not why I'm here."

"No?"

"The DNA tests came back positive and confirmed that Sean Mackenzie was the father of your daughter's baby." he told her, his tone formal and purely professional.

"I see." she said, hit by both the news and her nephews manner. "Did he murder my baby?" Her eyes were once again brimming with tears and her voice shook.

"No." Tom said quietly. Seeing the younger man's discomfort Fuller stepped in.

"He has been charged with rape and he will be going to prison."

"Are you saying she killed herself?" she asked distressed. Fuller shot a panicked look at Hanson, who took a deep breath and gestured for her to sit down, and it was with a much softer tone that he next spoke to her.

"Your daughter…."

"Tommy, your cousin's name was Nikki."

"Sorry. Nikki was murdered. We have the person who killed her in custody." he said gently. Alison's eyes shot up to meet her nephews.

"Who?"

"Sam Taylor confessed her murder to me."

"Sam?" her distraught and pleading eyes boring into the young man opposite her.

"I'm sorry" was all he could say.

"How?" she said, steely undertones to her voice.

"I don't think this the right time" Tom said softly.

"I want to know."

Tom turned pleading eyes on his commanding officer, and for one moment Fuller was sure he could see the little boy Alison Stokely remembered somewhere in that look.

"She was suffocated." He told her bluntly, his tone matter of fact. Alison let out a gasp.

"She must have been so scared" she sobbed, "How could he do this?"

"He found out about the baby and he was jealous" Tom said, his eyes sending warning signals to his commanding officer. He didn't think his aunt needed to know that her daughter was being raped as she died.

"She wasn't involved with Father Mackenzie was she?" Alison asked her gaze flitting between the two men.

"No." Fuller answered. "This is a very disturbed man Mrs Stokely. Don't worry, we'll see to it he gets what he deserves."

"What about Sam?"

"He confessed. All that remains is to wait for the sentence to be passed."

"What do you think that will be?" she asked quietly. Fuller looked up to see both Alison and her nephew's troubled gaze. Hanson hadn't really had time to think about what was waiting for the teenager after he had confessed to killing his girlfriend, and was surprised to find that he was genuinely worried about the boy's fate.

"We'll let you know" Fuller said non commitally. "Will you be ok?" he asked Alison.

"I think so. My husband will be home soon." Then she turned to Tom. "You should stay and meet him".

"Maybe some other time." he replied looking like a deer caught in headlights.

"Tommy?"

"I prefer Tom." She stopped and studied him and smiled.

"You may look like your mom, but you're your father through and through" she said fondly. "I did try and see you and your mom after he died."

"I know." he raised his eyes and said "We could have used your help." Once again as Fuller looked on he saw that scared child looking out again.

"I wanted to take care of you both but…"

"I know about the restraining order too." he said quietly.

"Let me explain." she her voice suddenly desperate.

"You don't have to. I've seen it."

"Don't blame your mother. She had every right to do it. She thought she was protecting you." her face grew distant. "I hurt her child. Now I understand what I put her through."

"You didn't….."

"I could have."

"Well nothing happened, I'm still here." he said with a faint smile rising to his feet.

"Yes you are" she said sadly.

"I am sorry about Nikki." he said as he softened for a moment.

"Thank you. I hope you won't be a stranger now."

"I know where you are." Tom replied. Fuller watched the exchange and smiled at Tom's skill in dodging making rash promises he may not be ready to keep.

"We'll leave you in peace Mrs Stokely." Fuller said.

"Thank you for everything Captain Fuller" she said offering him her hand which he shook warmly. She turned and reached out to hug Tom but instead he took her hand in his larger one and gave her a small smile.

"Bye" he said simply before following his Captain out of the door.

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"Hey!" Hanson looked up from the spot on his desk he had been staring at for the past hour when he heard Judy's voice calling from across the room.

"Hey."

"You ok?"

"Just doing some thinking"

"Yeah, I heard you went to meet your aunt. How was it?"

"Could have gone better." he sighed.

"What happened?"

"Not much. I know who raped and murdered your daughter just isn't usual conversation at family reunions."

"I heard about Sam, Sorry. What's going to happen to him?"

"I don't know." he shrugged sadly. "I don't think he even knew what he was doing. How do people get so messed up?"

"I ask myself that question all the time." Judy said smiling slightly

"What do you answer yourself?"

"I can't." Judy said simply. "Did you get any of your other questions answered?" Tom let out a deep sigh before looking up again.

"It didn't really feel like the right time. It can wait."

"Are you going to keep in touch?"

"We'll see. My mom was there."

"That's good isn't it?"

"Yeah."

"Don't you think if she can get over this you can too?"

"I've spoken to her, I know where she lives. We'll go from there."

"Sounds like a plan." she said, Judy knew when pushing Tom was futile.

"So how did the big voodoo cursing go?"

"Great. We finally got the guy. You'll never guess who he turned out to be?"

"The gym teacher, I always knew they were in league with the devil."

"Not even close. It was the school janitor. We had to chase the guy through three fields."

"Remind me to take away all Sal's back magic books." Tom said lightly.

"I always did wonder what he did in the room all day."

"He's got voodoo dolls of each and every one of us." Doug bellowed as he and Harry made their entrance. "But don't worry, he usually only plays with his Fuller doll."

"I really need to find that?" Hanson said thoughtfully.

"Come on, we're taking you for a well deserved drink."

"I don't really feel like it Doug."

"It'll do you good." Harry added.

"I'd rather just go home."

"We're not taking no for an answer." Doug said pulling him to his feet.

"Fine, but just one." he sighed.

"How about it Jude? You in?" Harry asked

"Sure. But if Hanson pulls a better looking guy than I do I'm going home." she replied grinning.

The End.

Well there you go guys. I hope you enjoyed reading it. I'm off to catch a plane now so thank you and goodbye :0)