📎A/N.  Hello my lovelies and welcome to another weekend.  I hope you are all safe and well.

Since I last mentioned which counties our fellow Buried readers are coming from, we have been joined by : Jamaica, Trinidad & Tobago, Mexico, Spain, Saudi Arabia, Nigeria, Namibia, Tanzania, Kenya, Thailand, Japan and Vanuatu.

Welcome to you all and I hope you are enjoying the journey thus far :-)

... Well a few of you hazarded a guess at who was at the door - and thought it was her father.  @Porter-Fuzz1218  pointed out that I usually have an odd twist.  You will just have to read on to work out who was closer with their guesses ;-)

Don't forget to vote to show your support.  It's really easy - just click the star. Remember, each vote lets me know that someone is enjoying my story and really makes my day.

Take care and enjoy the chapter :)

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Kaitlyn was dumbfounded. Very little had shocked her over the years. But within a short span of time her understanding of the world had been shattered not once, but twice.

She continued to stare at the unexpected arrival standing in her doorway. His expressive grey eyes both familiar and unfamiliar at the same time. A warm smile with a hint of apprehension was attempting to lessen the shock.

"I guess from your expression, you know who I am?" he said.

Kaitlyn continued to be rooted to the spot, unblinking, absorbing the situation that could not possibly be happening. A movement from behind the man caught her eye, and she realised that the new arrival was not alone.

Standing a short way off was the person she had been expecting.

Her lungs, unable to survive much longer without air, forced her to breath out in a rush. Blood began to circulate throughout her body and colour returned to her face.

"I need a drink," Kaitlyn mumbled. She turned and headed towards the kitchen, leaving the two men standing in the hallway a baffled look tossed between them.

Reaching for a glass and a bottle, Kaitlyn's hands were shaking enough to hamper the ability to uncork the wine.

The bottle opener was gently removed from her hand. "Here, let me," said Murphy as he pushed her out of the way.

Turning to face the third occupant who had, by now, entered her apartment. Kaitlyn watched as he wandered the living area picking up and studying some of the photos which were lying around.

She closed her eyes and turned back to face O'Neill. Her breathing becoming erratic, almost threatening to reach hyperventilation state. She was not ready to face the third person just yet.

"Here," Murphy said as he handed her the alcohol.

Grabbing the offering, she consumed the entire contents in one long gulp. After placing the glass back down on the counter she once again closed her eyes. Opening them, Kaitlyn looked straight at Murphy who was already pouring her a second glass.

"Is he still here?" she whispered to her new partner, who right now, was the only thing keeping her sane.

"Yes, he is," came the reply from somewhere behind her.

Not able to put off the inevitable any longer, she took another deep breath and slowly turned.

O'Neill materialised beside her and gently guided her across the room. "I think you had better sit," he murmured. His voice devoid of the usual briskness she was used to.

The initial shock now wearing off, Kaitlyn looked at the familiar face of the man she had never met but knew well.

"So you recognise me?"

Kaitlyn nodded. Confusion still reflected in her eyes. "Ummm... you're my... umm..." she stammered, unable to say the words.

"I think the word you are looking for is Grandfather."

The person sitting across from her was the exact same one from the photo's sitting in her shoebox. The same one who's Police Commendation and photo had pride of place beside her father's on the bookshelf. The exact - same - face.

"I don't understand," began Kaitlyn, "you're dead."

A dreadful thought came to mind with the revelations about Murphy, and the fact that humans were not the only race running around.

She turned to O'Neill who had taken a seat on the couch beside her. "Please don't tell me ghosts are real?" she pleaded.

The abject horror on her face was so priceless that Murphy couldn't help himself from chuckling out loud. "Joshua is very much alive."

Kaitlyn glanced between the two men, her mind suddenly firing again after its initial lethargy.

"Oh... Oh!," she exclaimed as realisation hit her, "that, means he's a... you know... like you."

Murphy nodded in confirmation.

A snort could be heard from the other couch. "He's in the room you know," remarked Joshua.

Turning to face the man that only looked a few years older than her. "Does that mean my father was a - Werewolf?" she blurted out, asking the first question that sprung to mind.

"No, sorry Katy, he was human just like you," came the reply from the man claiming to be her Grandfather.

Kaitlyn took another sip of wine to allow her thoughts to become unscrambled. A plethora of questions began to form and she quickly fired them at the now very surprised Werewolf.

Joshua raised his hands in a show of defeat to halt the inquest that was being emitted at the speed and velocity of a machine gun. "Perhaps I should tell you a little about myself first, and then you can ask questions?"

"How much Murphy has told you about us?" Josh began after Kaitlyn nodded her agreement to this tactic.

Kaitlyn threw an accusing glance across at her partner. "Nothing."

Joshua sighed as he contemplated where to begin. This was a conversation that he had never prepared for. "Before I begin, I need you to understand, as much as it has pained me over the years, you were never supposed to learn about us."

"Why?"

"It was for your own safety, as well as ours," he paused slightly before continuing, "as you have discovered, there are some of us that can change back and forth from Wolf to Human."

"Werewolves," she confirmed, feeling a little more in control that she at least knew this much.

The man claiming to be her Grandfather nodded. "Across time, we have kept our existence a secret from the Humans. We have discovered, all too tragically, what happens when they do find out about us."

Joshua went on to explain how the Werewolf packs had gotten caught up in religious persecutions across Europe during the middle ages. The devastation that was being waged across the continent had greatly affected not only the Human population, but had decimated the Werewolf packs as well. To the extent that they had almost become extinct.

"During the mid 1800's a number of Werewolf communities who were living in Europe and England banded together and travelled together to the new World.

"We abandoned our homelands in hope of a better and more peaceful life here. When we got to America, the packs disbursed across the country. Some of the smaller ones merge with larger packs to give them a fighting chance of surviving the unknown.

"As with many of the human states with the Union, the packs realised the need to work together rather than separate and the Alliance was formed. It is this council that serves as our governing body."

Joshua paused to check how Kaitlyn was reacting to this. She indicated for him to continue. "The main council is made up of the Alphas from each of the original packs. Overtime, as new Packs were created they aligned themselves with the Alliance and are afforded the same protection and rights as the other member packs. They also must abide by the rules.

"A great deal of change was implemented, but many of the old laws were brought across with us. The main one centering around the need to be invisible.

"As with the human population, not everyone is happy with the way in which things are done. And we have trouble makers and malcontents as much as you do. Often, their actions spill over into the Human world causing a number of problems, including exposure.

"One of the Alliance Alphas' is in charge of ensuring the protection and security of all the Werewolves in North America. Alpha Locke quickly learnt the fastest way to know if a Werewolf is causing trouble, is to have other Werewolves in front line Law Enforcement.

"It is viewed as a great honour to serve our people, and once I was mature enough, I sought permission from my Alpha to serve in this capacity.

"I had already been in the Boston PD over ten years when I met your Grandmother. One thing lead to another, and one day she announced she was pregnant," at this he stopped and looked directly at his Granddaughter who was listening intently.

Reaching for the words to explain his actions, "Unlike many of my kind caught in the situation, I made the decision to marry her even though she wasn't my mate. I couldn't bring myself to abandon my unborn child and allow him or her to grow up with the stigma of having an unwed mother - times were different back then," he murmured, more to himself than anyone else.

Clearing his throat he continued. "Just after your father's tenth birthday, Sally was killed in a hit-and-run. It devastated him. And, in my own way, while she was not my mate, I was fond of her.

"It was around this time that people were starting to talk. By then, I had been with the Boston PD for nearly twenty years. People had started to notice that I had not aged during that time and they were beginning to ask questions.

I had already stayed longer in one place than I was supposed to, so I resigned and took Ryan back to my Pack. It wasn't until then he knew what I was," Joshua smiled, "it is amazing what a child will accept unconditionally. The pack accepted him wholeheartedly even though he was not a Werewolf, and he spent the next few years surrounded by family. Alpha Locke managed to get me posted to the local Sheriff's department so I could be close to my son. Ryan grew up knowing who his father was and what he was.

"Your father was the joy in my life. I treasured each and every day, despite knowing we were on borrowed time with our ageing difference," his voice sincere and melancholy as he fondly remembered times gone by.

Taking a deep breath he continued. "Ryan wanted to play his part and, understanding that we were limited with the number of years we were able to be be posted to a city, decided that he was going to join the Police force. His reasoning was that he could be our eyes and ears much longer than a Werewolf was able."

Joshua smiled as he glanced across at Kaitlyn. "I can't tell you how proud I was the day he graduated the police academy," he then paused as the smile disappeared, "in order to protect him and any backlash, we needed to fake my death in the human world. It was a hard decision to make. It meant that we would no longer be able to spend time together as I could not return to Boston on the off chance of being recognised. Most of our contact after that was by phone.

"Once a year he would visit for a few days. It was his yearly 'fishing trip'," he chortled as he shook his head, "I don't think those rods ever did get used."

"I will never forget the day he phoned to tell me Madeline was pregnant. He loved your mother so very much. You were such a beautiful baby," Joshua declared as he leaned forward on the couch.

"How do you know?" questioned Kaitlyn in surprise.

Joshua frowned. "Do you seriously think I would miss the birth of my own Grandchild?" he accused, "I was there the day you were born. The lungs on you, you certainly made sure the nurses knew you were there."

"Nothing has changed much then," Murphy remarked, handing Joshua a beer he had found in the fridge.

"Help yourself, why don't you?" Kaitlyn muttered, watching the exchange.

Murphy sat back down on the couch ignoring the barbed look Kaitlyn threw him. "Thanks, don't mind if I do."

Joshua stood up and walked over to the bookcase. He picked up the framed photo of her father, a pained expression reflected on his face as he did so. "The day your father died..." his voice broke as he struggled to bring his emotions back under control.

Joshua turned back to Kaitlyn who could see the anguish and hurt reflected in his eyes. "I couldn't even pay my last respects. I had to say goodbye to my only child from the other side of the cemetery. I knew I only had a few years with him. I knew we were on borrowed time compared to that if he were a Werewolf. I just didn't realise just how short it would be."

Joshua put the photo of his son carefully back onto the shelf. "Elijah took my son from me. I went through it once, and I will not allow it to happen again," his voice now more firm and resolute.

Striding across the room and couching in front of her so that they were eye-to-eye. "I want you to remove yourself from the case and let Murphy deal with it. You were never supposed to know about us. And you certainly were never supposed to get on that bastard's radar," his voice now angry and demanding.

Kaitlyn stared at the man crouched in front of her, his grey eyes begging for her to comply with his wishes. Her mind in turmoil from the moment he had stepped foot in the door.

"No," she said firmly.

"No?" Joshua repeated in surprise, rising up from his position.

"No!" she confirmed, as she too stood and faced him head on, "My father was a good man. I get that from my mother, his old colleagues, the people he knew, and now you," she spat out bitterly, "I never got the chance to learn that for myself. This Werewolf you call Elijah, took him from me... from us. I have a chance to bring him to justice and I am going to do it."

Putting some distance between them she closed her fists in anger at her side. "You have no right to tell me what to do, just because you turn up and claim to be my Grandfather."

A thick unpalatable silence descended across the room as Joshua considered his next move. He needed to tread carefully. The angry young woman was all that he had left of his son. He had watched from a distance over the years and it had nearly killed him. He did not want to alienate her now that he had an opportunity to get to know her better.

"Look I realise you are angry," he pleaded, "and you have a right to be. I only want what's best for you. I want you to be safe. And right now, you are not safe from those who would harm you - just because you are aware of our secret. And you are definitely not safe from Elijah."

"That is my call don't you think?" her temper now escalating.

Murphy, who had been watching the unfolding drama in silence, decided that he had better diffuse the situation before it got out of hand.

"Okay, that's enough both of you," his voice suddenly boomed across the room, forcing both Kaitlyn and her Grandfather to stop in their tracks.

"Joshua, I think Kaitlyn has had enough of a shock this evening without you pushing your agenda."

He then turned to Kaitlyn. "Don't try to over analyse it. Joshua is your Grandfather. You have my word on that. You are going to hear him out. But I think you have had enough for one night."

Kaitlyn looked as though she was about to argue when Murphy cut her off. "Don't argue with me on this one. You will lose," his voice held enough danger and forcefulness that Kaitlyn wisely kept quiet.

Now addressing both his partner and old friend. "Josh, tomorrow Kaitlyn and I are going to have a chat with some of Elijah's old acquaintances. You will be coming with us. Kaitlyn, this will give your Grandfather a chance to speak with you further. You will hear what he has to say."

With that, Murphy headed towards the door, fully expecting Joshua to follow.

Glancing apologetically in Kaitlyn's direction, Joshua cleared his throat once again. "Katy, I appreciate this is going to sound strange. But I have a small request."

Kaitlyn cocked her head. Confused on what the request could possibly be. "What is it?" she asked.

"It has been twenty-eight years since I hugged my Grandchild," he began haltingly, "I was hoping I did not need to go another day without holding her again."

She was not sure whether it was the way in which the words were said, or the haunted way in which his eyes met hers. But something snapped, and she quickly closed the distance between them, reaching around the man that she knew within every fibre of her being was indeed her Grandfather.

As she stood her face resting on his chest, her body in his large and comforting embrace, she could feel the love and sense of coming home securing into place within her heart. The feeling both strange and alien as it settled as though it had been there a good long while.

Stepping back, she could see the same welling of tears that was reflected in her own eyes.

"I'll see you in the morning Katy," the only words he could emit before emotion completely overtook him. Placing a gentle kiss on her forehead he headed towards the door. "Make sure you lock up tight," the last thing he said before the door was closed and she was left standing in the middle of her living room. Not really sure of what to think, do, or say.

As the two Werewolves reached Murphy's car, the Profiler could see the conflicting emotions running rampant across Joshua's face.

Sighing as he opened the door he spoke for the first time since leaving Kaitlyn's apartment. "Josh, you have followed her over the years. You know exactly what she is like. I have no idea why you thought she would be any different from Ryan?"

A flash of anger was directed at Murphy, "You do know if anything happens to Katy, I will come after you. I don't care if you are from an Alpha line. I will make you pay if he gets anywhere near her."

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A/N... who guessed it... none of you??? any of you???

...So what do you think of Joshua??  ... and wasn't that a lovely hug... nearly three decades in the waiting :-)

...Cannot imaging what is going through Kaitlyn's head at the moment... she has had a very surprising couple of days don't you think??

Next chapter will be out midweek, and we can continue our elicit rendezvous  :-)

Don't forget to vote :-)

Take care.

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