Chief Munson hung up the phone and let out a sigh. He was just getting ready to stand up when a knock on his office door stopped him.

"It's open!" he called, gruffly.

The door opened and, just like it was any other day, Jackson Wolfe poked his head in. "You busy, Chief?" he asked with his lopsided grin.

The Chief let out a laugh. "Wolfe! You criminal! Get your ass in here!"

Jackson opened the door the rest of the way and sauntered in, followed by Detective Grey. She was smiling. The Chief got up and went around his desk. He shook Jackson's hand and gave Macy a quick hug. He received his peck on the cheek with grandfatherly delight and then returned to sit down.

"So! My dear boy, you have fallen head first into some sticky, deep bullshit, haven't you?"

"That I have, Chief." Jackson gave Chief Munson his usual wink and grinned again. The Chief had learned by now that the young detective usually did that when he was wanting to reassure the Chief that he had things under control. This time he didn't feel reassured.

"So, what did you two find out? What are we going to do about this mess?" Chief Munson folded his hands in front of him on his desk and looked from one of his prized detectives to the other. Macy had plucked her nail file from her bosom and was busily filing her nails. She seemed so unaffected by the dark side of life. It was one of his favorite of her quirks.

"Well... I think we need to call in the troops, Chief." Jackson spoke casually, but there was an edge to his voice.

"The troops, huh? As in the rest of the force? Or..."

Jackson sat forward. He shook his head. "No. As in the F.B.I. The Army. The National Guard. Along with the rest of the force. Every resource we've got at our disposal. Chief, this goes deeper than anyone knows. These people are attempting to create a weapon to use against our country and they are doing it right here on our soil. We've gotta put a stop to it."

Chief Munson sat back and narrowed his eyes at Jackson, thoughtfully. "I see. I heard a bit about it, yeah. You guys found out more?"

...........

Jackson proceeded to tell the Chief the rest of the story, carefully and creatively omitting Father Time and the vigilante team they had befriended. He didn't enjoy having to hold back, but he wasn't sure how much he wanted his boss to know. He was the Chief of L.A.P.D. Jackson didn't want to force something on him that he would feel obligated to do something about because of his position.

When he was finished, he stood and looked at the Chief with a smile. "Chief Munson..." He turned and opened the door, gesturing to the person waiting on the other side. Lillian walked around the corner. "I'd like for you to meet my sister. Dr. Lillian Wolfe."

Chief Munson stood to his feet and took Lillian's hand in his. "Well, little lady. It sure is shocking and amazing to make your acquaintance."

"It's nice to meet you, too, sir," she said smiling.

"Have a seat! Have a seat!" the Chief urged, ushering her toward a third chair.

"She has the information and knowledge we need," Jackson said after taking his own seat. "Now, they most likely pulled up the ropes and left the base they were using. They aren't stupid enough to stay there now that we know where it is. We need to find out where they are going to continue operating. I know how we can do that."

"How's that?" Chief Munson asked, his eyebrows raised in question.

"Me."

"You?"

"They want me. I'll let them take me again. Then we'll know where it is."

"You were lucky to get out of there the first time, boy! What makes you think you'll do it again?"

"You just have to trust me on that one. And have the troops ready to descend when you get the go ahead."

"Are you holding out on me, Wolfe?" The Chief narrowed his eyes again.

Jackson swallowed and flashed his boyish grin. "Of course not, Chief! I would never do such a thing!"

Chief Munson sat back in his chair and eyed Jackson for a minute before responding.

"Alright, kiddo. I'll let you do it. You tell me where to position my men and whatever other man power I can round up. I'll get on it tomorrow morning, bright and early. Meantime, you three go on and get yourselves some sleep. I'd suggest a hotel room for all of you, unless you want to go ahead and get yourself caught again tonight."

Jackson yawned. The thought of sleep hit him like a load of bricks. "Nope. We'll get started in the morning. I don't think any of us could proceed without a little rest."

Everyone stood and Jackson opened the door for the girls. When they had said goodbye and walked out, the Chief stopped him. "Hey, kiddo."

Jackson turned back with a raised eyebrow. "Yeah, Chief?"

"It's really good to have you still with us, Detective." The Chief stared at him for a moment and then shook his head. "I thought I was gonna lose ya there... for a little bit."

"Aw, Chief! You sentimental 'ol goat!" Jackson grinned at his boss. 

"Getcher ass outta here, boy!" Chief Munson bellowed at him. "I swear one of these days I'm gonna..."

Jackson winked at him again before cutting off his threats by closing the door. He could hear his boss chuckling softly on the other side.

...............

Jackson, Macy, and Lillian had already made arrangements to stay at the vigilante headquarters. It was the safest place in the city. The fact that it was an old hotel turned headquarters made it ideal. That and the fact that they would be surrounded by folk with super-human skills. There were many rooms in the place that had been left as they were. They were kept ready for the use of new members as they joined the team.

Macy waited while Jackson got out of the car. "Orion" had navigated on auto with Lillian in the driver’s seat and Macy on Jackson's lap. He would be parked in the underground parking garage. The hotel's parking entrance was around back near where the maintenance entrance they were to use was. Jackson turned and patted the car's roof. "You going to be alright, buddy?"

"Of course, Detective. Please rest well. I am at your service when you are ready for me," the car replied in his mechanical voice.

"Bye Orion!" Macy waved at him and blew a kiss.

"Good night, Detective Grey. Please sleep well. Good night, Lillian."

"See you in the morning, champ." Lillian gave him a pat, too, and they watched as he drove into the darkness of the garage.

"So, Lillian..." Macy began as they started toward the hotel.

"Yeah?"

"Does he need sleep, too? Like us?"

"The car? No."

"What does he do to keep from getting bored while just sitting there waiting?"

"Well, that's a good question. Whatever he wants, I suppose. It's his time off, after all."

"Is he allowed to leave and go where he wants?"

"He's allowed to do anything he wishes. He has a will of his own. When he became sentient, or when he was 'born', he stopped being property and became a friend and member of the Wolfe team!" Her eyes sparkled as she smiled down at the little blonde.

Macy looked at her in amazement. "Wow, so you really were able to do that?"

"It wasn't just me. It's been a process that has been evolving since the first form of A.I. I just happened to be the one lucky enough to be there to help it evolve into what it has become. There may be others out there, I don't know. If there are, he'll probably locate them."

The three of them entered the hotel when Jordan answered the door. He showed them all to their rooms so they could freshen up. He told them where to go to meet up with the others when they were ready and then left them.

Each had a nice room of their own. Macy walked in and took a deep breath. She was anxious. She was tired and worried. She sat down and unpacked her little overnight bag. Jackson had sent a rookie cop to fetch some of their things from both of their homes. She pulled out her toiletries and took them into the restroom.

After freshening up, she returned to the hallway and went over to Jackson's door. She raised her hand to knock, but the door swung open and she jumped back with a squeak. Jackson stood framed in the doorway. He looked as though he were getting ready to head out. 

"I was just about to come get you," he said quietly.

"I'm ready. Let's get Lillian and go see the others."

"Yeah... Macy...?"

She had turned toward Lillian's door, but stopped and turned back around. "Yeah, darling?"

"I'd really like to keep it short. I want to come back here and relax."

She nodded and then turned back toward Lillian's door, which opened just then and Lillian walked out to join them. "You guys ready?" she asked, smiling.

"Yep. Let's go." Jackson strode toward the elevator.

Macy followed them, but she hung back a little. She was nervous. She didn't understand what Jackson had meant by "relax". Did he mean with her? Did he want to just go to his room and sleep? What was he thinking? She wrung her hands together and slipped into the elevator. 

They reached the top floor and, because they had never been there, she led them to the conference room. Everyone was there except Vivian and Natasha. Anthony stood to his feet and greeted them with a smile. Jerome was already standing, but he bowed and kissed both of the girl's hands. They twittered and blushed.

Jackson nodded at him and everyone sat down except Jerome. He rarely sat down. He was more of a perch kind of guy.

Anthony cleared his throat. "I'll bet you three are beyond exhausted, so we'll make this short. Afterward, some meals can be brought to your rooms, or you are welcome to go down and have them in the common areas. It's up to you."

"Thank you, Anthony. We can come down and get something to eat. No one needs to wait on us," Jackson said.

"Nonsense. You three need your rest. You don't need to be wandering the place trying to find a meal. Jordan will be happy to bring something up. He's a good boy."

"It's really no problem, Detective Wolfe," Jordan offered a bit too eagerly. He grinned at Macy.

Jackson just nodded, tiredly, at the green-haired boy. He was too exhausted to give the little seedling a stern look.

He went ahead and told them what had transpired when they talked to the Chief. Everyone seemed relieved that the Chief of Police was willing to call in help. It would have been difficult if they had to face this threat without any kind of support. 

They all agreed to meet up in the morning and then the three guests took their leave to return to their rooms. Macy was quiet. When they stepped off the elevator she headed toward her room without saying anything. She reached her door and looked back over her shoulder. Jackson had already gone in and shut his door. She took a deep breath and then turned and went inside.

It wasn't long before Jordan appeared with dinner. He brought in a tray loaded with roast beef and potatoes and chocolate cake. Macy thanked him and then shooed him out when he stayed to make a go at flirting with her. He grinned at her as he opened the door.

"I'll do my best to steal you away from Jackson. I won't even lie about it. You're the hottest girl I've ever met."

Macy laughed and threw a coaster at him. "Go on, silly boy!"

She smiled and shook her head as he closed the door. She was hungry, but she didn't eat much. Her stomach was in knots. She placed the tray on the table by the window and went in to draw a bath. After she had soaked for about 20 minutes, she stepped out and dried herself off. She slipped into her soft PJs and went out to turn the covers down. 

Her stomach did a flip-flop when she heard a quiet knock on the door. She stared at it.

"Macy?" 

It was Jackson. She looked around frantically. She hadn't brought a robe. She quickly looked in the mirror at her silky tank and boy shorts. Finally she went to the door and opened it a crack, while hiding most of herself behind it.

"Jackson!" she squeaked. "What... what are you...?"

He stood there looking at her, his eyes hooded. She couldn't tell what he was thinking.

"Can I come in?" he finally asked.

"I'm... I'm not really dressed, sweetie! I'm in...” She looked up at him for a moment, but he didn't move. She sighed and stepped out from behind the door, shrugging and embarrassed. "I'm in my PJs."

Jackson's eyes stayed on hers and he just stood there. She looked up at him and then down at the floor. After about two minutes of fidgeting, she stepped aside and allowed him to walk past her into the room. She closed the door and followed him.

"I was just going to climb into bed. I wanted to..."

He turned around and took a step toward her. "Wanted to what?"

"I... I wanted to see you, but... I didn't think you wanted to see me."

His eyes widened for a moment and then he reached forward and took her by the wrists. She let out a tiny squeak as he pulled her against him, her body pressed to his. He put his arms around her and held her there, looking down into her eyes.

"Do you still think that?" he asked, his voice a low purr that she could feel against her chest.

She slowly shook her head, trying to stop her body from trembling. He lowered his head until his mouth was just inches from hers.

"I wanted to see you more than I've ever wanted anything in my life," he whispered. His breath was warm and sweet.

"I want you to stay here with me tonight," she said, closing her eyes and moving her mouth closer to his. She shivered when she felt his lips brush against hers. "Jackson," she whispered.

"What, Macy."

"I can't live without you."

He kissed her as he lifted her up and she wrapped her legs around his waist. He turned toward the bed and broke away as he lay her gently down against her pillow. She grabbed onto him, wrapping her arms around his neck and tangling her hand in his hair. He stopped, hovering over her supported by his arms on either side of her head. He looked down into her blue eyes. "I can't imagine my life without you, either." He kissed her again and then pulled away. 

He shut off the light and slipped in beside her. She turned and wrapped her body around his. Together they watched the moon slowly make her trip across the sky outside the window. They were both sound asleep before she had passed beyond view.

Edited.

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