::Ducks head:: I know, I know…but I'm back! Doesn't that count for anything?

As Nancy drove her old blue mustang up to the Morgan Estate later in the afternoon, she noticed everything seemed unnaturally quiet. That wasn't like Justin. Normally there would be loud music coming from the house if he were home. She pulled up the gravel drive way and got out of her car. She walked over to the garage and peeked through the glass window. She noticed Justin's car was parked inside – a gorgeous Audi R8.

All he needs is an Iron Man suit, Nancy thought with a shake of her head. She opened the side door to the garage and peeked inside.

"Justin?" She called. When she didn't get an answer, she headed towards the main house.

She always loved the Morgan cottage. Whenever Jenna got a free weekend and could get away from DC, she would come out to the cottage and invite Nancy and Lizzy out. The estate was very large but very secluded. With a large stable and pool, it was a mini vacation spot close to home.

Nancy rang the doorbell and heard the gongs ring inside the house. After waiting for a few moments, she rang it again. When she still didn't get an answer, she tried the door and found it unlocked.

The smell hit her first. She had been a detective a long time and knew the smell of blood. The stench of decay made her eyes water and her hand flew to her mouth. At the bottom of the stairs lay a body. Nancy immediately turned and ran back outside into the fresh air. After a few gulps, the nausea that threatened eased and she was able to regain her senses.

"Justin," Nancy whispered out loud, real tears forming in her eyes. Even though she hadn't gotten a close look at the body, she knew it was the Morgan heir.

Jenna Morgan paced her DC office nervously. Her blonde hair was falling out of its bun, she had bags under her eyes and her clothes were disheveled. The young FBI agent hadn't slept in three days. Her blue eyes were cloudy and she kept glancing at her phone, waiting for it to ring.

Come on Nancy. Call me Justin. Either of you! She thought constantly.

"Hey Agent Morgan," a voice came from the door of her office. Jenna turned with a scowl.

"I'm a little busy Joe, what do you need?" Jenna asked. Joe Hardy threw his hands up in mock defense.

"Geez, woman, calm down!" He said, smile flashing. Jenna rolled her eyes. Joe chuckled until he got a good look at his friend. Even though they had tried dating, they realized being partnered up so much would wear on their professional relationship and decided to remain good friends instead. Six years later, they were thick as thieves.

"You okay?" Joe asked, placing his hands on her upper arms, stopping her pacing. She huffed a breath and faced the younger Hardy.

"My brother hasn't called in three days."

"Do you want to go to Chicago?"

Jenna smiled. She knew Joe would understand her concern in the one sentence. He and Frank were just as close.

"He wasn't in Chicago. He had gone to the cabin."

Joe's expression remained passive but Jenna could see the question flash in his eyes.

"It's being looked into," Jenna said evasively, resuming her pacing. Joe leaned against her desk and crossed his arms.

"Are you sure?"

Jenna stopped and glared at Joe.

"Nancy is looking into it." She said with conviction. She knew he would know which Nancy she was talking about. Joe's expression didn't change except for the slight widening of his eyes.

"Joe, I know you and Frank haven't spoken to her since she left Quantico but she and I are good friends. I trust her. She will let me know if there's anything to be worried about." Jenna said, going around her desk and pulling a few files from a cabinet.

"I know she's a good detective, I worked with her many times. But I can't fully trust her after what she did to Frank. I wish it was different but he's my brother, I have his back." Joe said, facing her. Jenna sighed. It was days like this she wished Nancy had just told Frank she was pregnant with Lizzy.

"I know Joe. But I also know you respect me enough to let me worry until I hear from her."

Joe nodded slightly and turned to leave her office.

"Did you need something Joe? Or did you just come in to annoy me?" Jenna asked with a slight smile.

Joe turned back towards her and grinned.

"Nah, I was just going to ask a pretty woman to lunch, but I understand you're preoccupied. Maybe once you hear from your brother or Nancy."

"Thanks Joe, next time."

With a slight nod, he left the office. Jenna let out a sigh. She loved the Hardy men, but ever since Nancy left, things had been different. Shaking off those thoughts, her mind turned towards the file she had on James Marcello, aka "Jimmy the Man". The mob boss specialized in extortion, loansharking, and offered "protection" to local businesses. However, the FBI had yet to implement the man in any crime. Marcello had the best lawyers money could buy and was always released on some technicality or another. It was frustrating. Jenna's father, Troy Morgan, had a personal connection to Marcello. The two men had grown up together in Chicago. After high school, Marcello had fallen in with the Chicago mob and swiftly rose in the ranks. Morgan had gone on to Yale and had become a very successful businessman. Despite the separate paths they had taken, the men remained friends. Even though Mr. Morgan never had any connections to any of Marcello's crimes, tabloids and papers loved to link the two families whenever Marcello was in the spotlight for some crime. It also meant her brother was invited to certain activities she didn't approve of.

Recognizing that she was reading the same line over and over she tossed the file to her desk. She turned back to her phone, hands on her hips and willed it to ring.

Nancy took a deep breath and walked to her car. She flipped open her phone and dialed a familiar number.

"Chief McGinnis," The gruff voice on the other line said. All thoughts of keeping calm fled Nancy and she sobbed.

"Chief, it's Nancy," She said, trying to control her breathing.

"Nancy, what's wrong?" McGinnis asked quickly, picking up on Nancy's distress.

"I'm at the Morgan Cottage," Nancy started.

"Aw, hell, what'd the kid do now?" The police chief interrupted. Nancy sobbed quietly. "Nancy?"

"Something's happened, Chief. You and Detective Jackson need to come down. Justin…" Nancy sobbed again and put her hand to her mouth. She heard McGinnis swear and shout out to the bullpen.

"Nancy, is anyone there with you? Are you alright?" McGinnis asked quickly. The young investigator was a favorite of his and Carson would skin him if anything happened to her.

"I'm alright, I just need Detective Jackson and Dr. Logan to get here as soon as possible. Please." She said, tears running freely down her face.

"We are already on our way, Nancy. Just hold tight." McGinnis promised. Nancy nodded into the phone even though he couldn't hear it.

"Thanks Chief." Nancy said and hung up her phone. Now she was going have to make one of the hardest calls in her life.

"NO!"

Frank Hardy jumped at the scream. As he looked up he saw his brother hurrying towards another office. Other agents were looking in the same direction with curious gazes. Frank stood up from his desk and headed over towards where Joe was. He realized it was Jenna Morgan's office.

As he looked into the office, he saw Jenna slumped to the ground, crying, in Joe's arms. Her discarded cell phone lay next to her.

Joe looked up and saw his brother just inside the office. He gave a slight shrug he knew Frank would catch, letting his brother know he didn't know what was wrong yet. Joe reached for the cell phone while holding the crying woman and lifted it his ear.

"This is Special Agent Joseph Hardy," He said into the phone, "Who is this?"

For a moment, no one said anything on the other line. Joe heard the person take a shaky breath and could tell the other person was just as upset as Jenna.

"Hi Joe," Came a voice from his past. He stiffened in shock. "Please take care of her."

Then the line died.

I know, it's kind of short and it's kind of late. I'm sorry. Thank you for pestering me to post. Working as fast as life let's me!