Disclaimer: R

Some violence and language hopefully nothing to terribly offensive.

The motorcycle pulled into the parking lot the rider slid down the stand and shut off the engine. Dawn, the sun was rising probably not the best time to but his need for answers for once out weighed his caution.

He stood and strode toward the University's lab casually scanning the area as he went.It was still to early to draw much attention and the few awake would take him for another student.He idly studied the building finding a spot to see who entered and exited then leaned back to wait.

The cell phone discretely buzzed." I'm here.."

"OK, heres what I got apparently its boys nite out.Raine is with Parker."

"Where?"

"Supposedly at the Doc's apt." Are they?"

"Nope if they were their not as of an hour ago.O you should warn Daniel's to beef up her home security it sucks."

"Good work,his lips twitched how did you do it?"

"Do you really want to know? "

"Hmm. Distracted he replied," maybe later."

Watching Peterson leave his car and head for the building he closed his phone and started toward him on a path to intercept.Deep in his own thoughts he didn't notice him until he was almost in front of him when he did, he saw Michael already had his gun out glancing around he gestured with it making sure Peterson got a good look then laid his other arm across it" you recognize me curious I don't think we've met."

His smile empty he continued to scan the area"I know of you of course..but I've never had the pleasure..Now Mr.Peterson we can do this one of two ways,seeing no one paying attention he replaced his gun."

"Go ahead Peterson said dryly,you have the advantage."He looked at him from behind mirrored glasses and smiled with a hint of humor.

"True but I have no interest in you or the Doctors.I just want to know where the girl is.So we can walk in together calmly and I can get that information or I can go in myself unfortunately I may cause some damage."He shrugged,"frankly I'd prefer the first I haven't had what one would call the best of nites."

He studied Michael warily,"why doesn't that surprise me.OK we'll do it your way."

"Thank you,"he nodded.

"So.. he said conversationally you have anything to do with the actresses death?" Michael glanced at him well he drawled,"lets hope not because that would mean I have nothing to loose." Entering the building they headed toward the desk.

Ray showed his ID to the guard,"I'd like to see Dr. Attwood please." The guard glanced indifferently at the ID,and then at Michael "identification please,he asked politely.Reaching in his jacket,he pulled out a bit of plastic as soon as the guards eyes shifted to the card.His hand flashed out slamming his head face down into the desktop.

Glancing around he reached over and disengaged the video equipment, ejecting the tape he looked at it placing it on the counter top then slammed his fist down on the tape destroying it.Then shoved the remains onto the unconscious guard sprawled on the desk.

Peterson watched all this without expression,"was that really necessary?" Michael glanced at him mockingly.

"OK Ray asked, what now? Now?" We have a chat with Dr Attwood."

They stopped just outside the lab area,Ray watched him closely he got a distant look in his eyes.Then his look shifted to Ray,he reached beneath the jacket and pulled out a knife,it was early maybe that accounted for the lack of guards still he thought its better to be prepared.Ray felt a tendril of fear start at the base of his spine and work its way up.

Meeting his eyes squarely,"Mr. Peterson he explained softly,I not interested in hurting you but I will get my answers one way or the other.And I'm afraid I need you to guarantee Daniel's gives me that opportunity."He smiled tightly,so no heroics and we wont have to add a bad day to my nite as well."

He grasped Ray's shoulder,then stepped behind him placing the blade at his throat."Alright,Mr Peterson head toward the inner offices."

Walter looked up at the sound.."Dr Attwood you have a visitor,Ray offered in a strained voice."Silently studying Ray's face he decided he wasn't harmed,so he turned his attention to the young man in the doorway.

"Attwood you seem tense,relax and we'll both feel better about the situation,"nudging Ray inside the door he pushed him into the chair.He looked around the office appraisingly,removing his glasses he studied Attwood.

"Where is Raine,"he asked flatly.

Before anyone could answer he sensed a change lowering his shields he sought it out.Without thinking he acted, reaching back where he sensed the presence,he saw Peterson arm move from the corner of his eye.Grabbing for his gun, a second after he threw the knife he pinned Peterson's jacket to the arm of the chair.

Completing his move.He grabbed the advancing hand,applying pressure he jerked and twisted the arm Ed landed awkwardly on his knees in front of him.The tazer clattered to the floor,placing the gun against the back of Ed's head the three men froze.

Looking coldly down at Ed,Michael smiled grimly raising his head he looked at them "Do we have that out of our system now?" Silence met his question.Kicking the tazer away,he then pushed Ed away with his foot.

"Hmm.. Nasty thing so much for the Hypocratic Oath ehh Doctor." He walked toward Ray meeting his eye's calmly he leaned down to pull out the knife."That was your freebie," he said softly.

He stepped over to the wall leaning back,lifting his foot against it the gun clasped loosely in his hand he looked like he hadn't a care in the world."What do you want from us," Attwood demanded. Turning his head toward the entrance his spoke loud enough to carry into the outer offices.

"Come in, Tom." A moment passed before he appeared in the doorway.

"Enough.I'm tired,I'm pissed ,and I want answers so lets try again where is Raine?"

"A woman is dead, you were seen coming from her apt do you really think we'd tell you anything," Ed replied his words vehement,as he rubbed feeling back into his arm.

Michael looked at them examining each in turn,"I'm not stupid enough to advertise,there would have been no tape."He turned his head staring at Attwood,"and when I do remove someone there isn't anything and I do mean anything left to trace back to me."

The phone ringing stopped the conversation,"that will probably be the lobby,"he offered."I'd prefer to get what I want and leave everyone in one piece but frankly I'm starting to get a little irritated so its all the same to me."

Walter answered,"yes? No everything here is fine."

"That wont be necessary.Yes,he is here as a matter of fact.Yes, the gentleman he was with as well."

"I apologize but it was felt a test of the security was needed."

There was a long pause,"I can appreciate that,he said finally."

"But the methods of this new species are somewhat harsh as well, of course we'll be discussing the results later.Right now,however I'm rather pressed for time "

"Yes,Thank you."He slowly replaced the receiver.

Michael raised an eyebrow Attwood,"you do that amazingly well.

"You dislocated the man's jaw," Walter said curtly.

"He's alive he countered,that should be all that matters." Michael looked over at Ed,picking up the previous hread,"the individual that killed Karen is dead the one responsible however remains unknown."

"Are you admitting to murder,"Ray inquired.

"I haven't admitted anything,he replied aloofly,except innocence in Karen's death."

"And I don't suppose you know anything,about the body of the second murder victim missing from the morgue either,"Ray asked sarcastically.

"It was stolen from the morgue," Walter questioned. Ray leaned back unbuttoning his jacket,"it never made it to the morgue,the attendants and the body vanished."They switched their gazes toward their uninvited guest in an assessing manner.

"No he stated,I don't know anything about her body missing."

Tom watched Michael closely,"who did kill Karen?"He shrugged,"Rogers he was one of those I sent to retrieve Karen,my mistake its now been corrected."

"Why did he kill her,"Ed asked suspiciously.

"He didn't seem to know,just following orders or so he said." Tom asked,"whose orders?"He searched his face a moment,"actually its suppose to be someone you know well..Lewis."

"But your not buying that are you,"Ray supplied thoughtfully. "No...Its just a little too convenient."

"Enough with the twenty questions,he said evenly.Leaning forward enough to tuck the gun in the small of his back."Where is Raine?" They all exchanged glances.You could see muscles in his jaw clench,yet his voice still sounded composed.

"Alright a compromise,you call her and let her decide,he glanced at his watch I'll give you five minutes and then I find her on my own."Looking up he pinned Attwood with eyes cold and hard,"lets hope if I'm forced to do that nothing has happened to her when I find her."

Ed asked tensely,"What makes you think she wants or needs your help?"She doesn't seem to be beating down the door to contact you."

Michael leaned casually off the wall coming to his full height,rage hot,intense, and irrational flashed like lightning, thru him. He just did manage to reign it in.When the red haze cleared from his mind he realized distantly Tom had braced himself to react if it became necessary.

"And you know what it is she needs Tate,"he asked slowly spacing his words as if it took some effort.Ed looked into eyes that caused the hair on his neck to stand.They had taken on an almost other world quality to them.

"I find that incredible,his tone continued icily that you could offer advice about someone you've met only once?"Aahh I forgot you helped her with Karen didn't you?" Ed exchanged a wary glance with Tom.

"Just how long were you in that apt with her Tate,"he asked in a voice that had gotten progressively lower and more menacing with each word.

"Not *that* long,"Tom replied trying to deflect attention from Ed.

"Maybe,he allowed with a cold look,but Dr. Tate is apparently an authority on a woman he's only been in the presence of twice before." And their species is so imaginative,so it begs one to ask his tone turning savage just how he arrived so fast at such level of intimate knowledge."

He barely finished his comment before the glass panel in the door behind him popped loudly then cracked from one end of the frame to the other.

"Easy," Tom advised.The others exchanged worried glances with him as they looked from the glass to him "he was only there a few hours before Sloan and I arrived if you know he was there you also know that as well."

"Hey he stepped back,holding up both hands I spent all of my time in the bedroom with Karen,"Ed replied quietly.

He drew a deep breath,ruthlessly suppressing his instinct the tension in the room suddenly diminished turning his head and studying them with cool appraisal.

"Perhaps you should make that call now." Walter considered him a moment longer, then nodded reaching for the phone he dialed.Leaning his head back against the wall. He closed is eyes and concentrated on regaining control.

Walter cleared his throat," There is no answer." Without opening his eyes Michael wondered distantly if they would admit what he already knew."Is she with Dr Parker? "

The silence stretched,finally Attwood reluctantly answered,"Raine spent the nite with Sloan."Turning his head he opened his eyes,"with all thathas been going on he inquired no one thought about checking on them to make sure everything was alright?"

Sounding uncomfortable Ed replied,"actually we did they um came into the lab earlier.His tone caught Michael's attention "aaah his lip curled that would be when she saw the incriminating tape."

Walter leaned forward steepling his fingers together,"you couldn't believe we wouldn't be suspicious in light of the evidence."His face tightened with anger,"frankly I don't give a damn what you believe. "What I'm interested in is keeping her alive long enough to regret getting involved with you people."

Ignoring them he pulled his cell phone out,and checked his machine.. Nothing but several hang ups, feeling frustrated he dialed Cy's number.It rang for several minutes when a muffled voice answered.

"Call back later I'm sleeping." Keeping one eye on the others he said curtly, " No I need you get up."

"Need me later."

"Its important get up..There was a muffled thump of something falling over, "damn its always important." Would I lie to you?"

"Hell yes..."

Watching Attwood pick up the phone again he mentally split himself. Listening to Cy whine,while remaining alert for a pick up at Attwoods end. Seeing him hang up again he frowned tuning back into Cy's catalog of complaints.

"Are you finished now,"he asked in irritation.

"Do i have a choice?"

"No... "Then I'm finished, What is it ?"

"I need to find out who has called my phone in the last 48 hours get me numbers then forward my calls to my cell phone."

"Shit Michael,you were there don't you know? Sheesh how long were you at that chick anyway."

"Shut up,Raine is missing."

"I told you where she was...."

"Well she's not there now he argued, and apparently he looked scornfully around the room no one knows where Dr. Parker is either."

His shout of laughter could be heard by the others."I'm glad we're amusing you."

"O man you just don't know,maybe you both should take my advice.I hear he's got it as bad as you do." Watching Tom prowl the room,he conceded,"maybe your onto something at that."Cy moaned,"its gonna take some time."

"How much?"

"At least forty five minutes."

"You got twenty..

"Hell .."

Cy's voice took on a warning tone,"I get at least 5 of your newest computer games."

"Done.."Hanging up he said flatly."I asked someone to check out my calls I should know something soon."

Ed offered hesitantly,"we could do that here." Michael watched gauging his sincerity he inclined his head,"I'm sure you could have but I have my own methods."

Ray stared intently at Michael,stood buttoning his jacket" perhaps someone should go to her place and check things out." Michael's eyes narrowed,weighing,judging calculating.

The silence stretched on while the others watched seeing what he would do.Suddenly he nodded,"In this we want the same things." Tom interrupted," I'm coming with you." Ray shrugged,"tell me something I didn't know."

Moving to sit in the chair he inquired,with a bland expression"it wont be an imposition if I wait here for their return will it?"

"No,Walter replied with irony,"not at all make yourself comfortable."The corner of his mouth lifted,"Thank you."

The ringing of his phone,pulled him from his thoughts startled he notice Attwood watching intently.Tate had apparently disappeared into the lab area somewhere, flicking it open he asked brusquely." Is it done?"

"Yes its done your calls will come to this number.I even eliminated those your not interested in."Got one number that looks promising keeps popping up the most in the last couple of hours."

"What is it?" Cy's voice became muffled,as he rattled off the number Michael's eyes cut to Attwoods as he nodded his expression curiously blank.

"That's the good news.."Michael cut in,before he could finish" I don't want bad."

His sigh came thru loud and exasperated, he continued on as if he hadn't been interrupted "the bad is its a cell phone and I can only give you the areas the call came from." But seems likely that it is Raine,she's been trying to reach you."

"OK give me what you got. Where did the first one come from?"

"looks like Sacha's area. So she went to the house.."

"That would be my guess and you'll love this,time on this is right after you hung up from me."The next couple are made from what I can figure while they were on the Interstate heading hmmm..Your direction."The last one is an hour later within the same calling area as the Doctor's apt and the university."

"OK thanks, you know where the key is help yourself. I'm not sure when I'll get back .."

"Will do.."

"To the games," he emphasized.

"Alright,alright just the CD's sheesh cut back on the caffeine."

He closed the phone and sat there a moment silently in thought.Then looking up "you heard?" Walter nodded,"Enough.. Apparently Sloane must have taken her to her mother's house."

He stood and walked toward the glass looking into the lab area he rubbed the muscles in his neck,"that was long enough ago for them to return to Dr. Parker's apt or the lab."

"Yes," Walter said.

"I got a number I can try ,glancing over one shoulder thats about all we've got until we hear from Daniel's."

Looking down at the phone, he hesitated the muscles in his stomach tightened and clenched. Punching in the numbers he tried to figure out what was happening to him.Listening to the endless ring of the phone he felt? Felt,he let it linger in his mind trying to decide if he was going to allow that.

Objectively he realized he had already been allowing it all along Raine had always managed to have an curious effect on him but he had never allowed himself he opportunity to examine it much less put a name on it.From a distance he could hear a phone ring but he ignored it because on the heels of that thought came the questions did he effect her the same way and what did she feel for him.

He disconnected the phone,and stared unseeing out the window his palms were sweating and he noticed distantly that the answer to those questions scared him more than he could imagine.What if she didn't ? "Michael? Michael? Is everything alright?"

Without turning he said," there was no answer. He sensed Walter's hesitation and lowered his shields to find out why,he sensed worry frustration and fear. Turning to look at him. Walter looked up from fiddling with a pen," Tom just called the apt is empty.In light of what we've learned,we can assume then they haven't been back there since they left the lab early this morning." The apt is clean."

Michael stiffened.Turning his head slightly, toward the door was the only indication he gave that he knew Ed had come to stand in the doorway.Walter's glance encompassed them both,"Det. Peterson is going to ask the police to start looking for Sloan's car.Considering the increased tensions around the lab with our work they'll cooperate."

"What about your boss,can she help" Ed asked.Walter sighed,"I'd rather hold off on that for now.See what we can accomplish ourselves first.She'll have to be told eventually but as soon as we can determine anything with a degree of certainty."

Ed shifted glancing at Michael's stiff back and then Walter,"in the mean time?"

In a voice devoid of emotion Michael said," we wait."