Race snuggled into the soft weighted fleece surrounding him, holding the steamy cup of hot chocolate Jack made him. He wanted something caffeinated but Jack said that "wouldn't be a good idea." So Race settled with chocolaty warmth.

Honestly the shock blanket was a bit much, but he supposed it must've looked bad when he was clinging onto Albert sobbing, which was an embarrassingly sobering thought. To be fair, how else do you react when you open a letter and a human toe falls out and rolls all around your floor.

Jack was pacing again, this time in uniform. Accompanied by a crew of his closest friends, Specs, Finch, and of course his partner Davey.

His once lively living room felt cold and dead, police markers were being placed down and tape was spreading across the room. Race was sure the only reason he was still here was because he was Jacks brother.

Davey walked up to Jack, holding an evidence bag with the horrid toe staring back at Race.

Even if he was into... bodily parts, a toe? Really? Of all things.

Well Race was glad it wasn't... something else.

Clearing his throat, Davey demanded the attention of all the officers.

"Specs is talking to Albert," poor Albert, who still looked white and frail. Race winced again. "But the toe found in envelope 2 is stuffed like a rabbit foot, taxidermy with a little wooden slab where the toe would extend into the foot. It's not much, but it's a lead, I want everyone researching all the local taxidermists, as many as you can find, talk to them, ask them questions. Finch bring someone with you."

Finch nodded and walked off.

Davey turned to Race, perhaps a bit more sympathetic. "Jack and I will be staying with you, under complete police surveillance. You will not go anywhere without us, speak to anyone without us, post anything on social media especially without telling us, you will not go outside without us, you will not go into the other room without us, you will be in our line of sight at all times. Every social media app should be deleted, make sure your location is off, we will put tape over all your phone or computer cameras, all gaming will be done offline, private internet search, windows closed, doors locked, you will carry a knife on you, and you will wear sunglasses and hats outside with us."

Davey took a breath as if to keep talking, but Jack laughed and pushed him a little.

"I think he gets it Davey!" He said, pointing to a pale faced Race.

Davey frowned, "I'll compose a list."

He walked off and Jack sighed, stepping over an evidence marker to sit next to Race, bumping his stiff shoulder.

"You know how Dave's gets. Especially because he loves y'a so much. He's just worried, we all are." Jack swallowed, his eyes taking on a glassy look. "When Albert called, I just.. all these terrible things were running through my mind and I was so damn scared Race. So many things raced through my mind, from stabbing, kidnapping, falling, death. And when I got here it was something so scary so terrifying that I didn't even think of it."

Race's bones chilled and he ducked his head down, pulling the blanket closer to him.

"Do you remember when I called you after Oscar drugged my drink?" He laughed, "I didn't even know I was high, and I was at my own damn house thinking how funny it would be to ask you were your refrigerator was. I think I got the joke confused. And you just came over, didn't say anything, hung up the damn phone and ran over."

Jack did remember, he remembered because he yelled at Race for getting high like their parents.

"You were so pissed off," Race giggled, eyes waxy, "but you took me home, wiped the sweat off my face, made me a snack, and tucked me into bed."

Jack didn't understand why they were talking about this story, he hated that day when he didn't notice the signs of his little brothers abusive relationship. He'd fail as a brother.

"I never understood why, I yelled at you, called you names, and you just shook your head and moved my overgrown curls from my eyes. I still can't figure out why no matter what happens you're always there for me, even when it's my fault."

Jack was at a loss for words because, wow that was a bomb.

But big brothers always knew what to say.

"Of course I took care of y'a Race, I love you. And none of that was your fault, and this isn't your fault either."

Jack noticed Race's hands were shaking, he frowned.

"Awe, c'mere Racer," he held out his arms and pulled Race into a giant warm hug.

Race sniffled tucking into Jacks arms, "I feel trapped."

Jack rubbed Race's arms shaking his head, "I won't let anything bad happen to you."

Race yanked back, twisting around to stare Jack dead in the eyes with a gnarling beaming gaze that hunted the soul and trapped it within its walls.

"Don't you, ever, ever, make me a promise you can't keep Jack. It's going to hurt you more than me when it doesn't come true." Race thunked his head, "just because I'm your stupid baby brother doesn't mean you can lie to me."

"You are pretty stupid."

"Wise guy," Race said, leaning over to look at Davey who was reading paperwork.

"Wise guy?" Jack laughed.

"Shut up! He gets so mad when I cuss." Race frowned.

"I am pretty wise."

"You're so insufferable," Race groaned, leaning back.

Jack snorted, "only for you."

Davey returned holding an obnoxiously long list, Jack eye'd it suspiciously.

"Here's your requirements." He supplied.

Race scanned it, scowling at the four front and back pages list, "the hell, why is it so long?"

Jack snatched it out of his hand, "Davey we don't have to watch him in the shower, that's not protocol."

"Yeah that's not happening." Race agreed blushing a bit.

Davey blushed too, scratching his neck, "well Jack I figured since you're his brother."

"Half of this stuff isn't protocol." Jack frowned, handing the list back to Race.

"I know, I just want him to be okay." Davey whispered.

Race looked horrified at the notion that he wasn't going to be okay, so Jack got off the couch to finish the conversation in private.

"Davey what's really going on." Jack asked confused.

"I got more info from the boss, it's bad Jack, there's several cases almost identical and not even bodies were found. They all disappeared without a trace, some right under the polices noses." Davey swallowed and rubbed at his eyes, trying to stop the growing headache, "if we want Race to be okay, this has to be treated completely different."

Jack's face contorted into a worried pain, "oh my God."

Davey hugged him, "I know."

They both looked at Race who sniffled, wiping his face with the blanket, looking so young in that moment. Too young to die.

And Jack might not be able to prevent that.