Sirius Black was not prepared. He had never seen such a mess, which was ironic considering his entire life had been one. In fact, that's the reason why he blocked so much of his childhood out. At only sixteen, Sirius had abandoned the only place he knew as home and severed all ties to his family, this included Regulus as well. While the last thing he ever wanted was to leave Reg behind, it came down to self-preservation. And if he were ever given the choice again, he would flee from that toxic environment over and over, regardless of the hardships that came with it. The freedom he found away from Grimmauld Place was worth every struggle, yet as he stood in that rain-soaked alley, forced to confront the chaos before him, Sirius realized that some messes were impossible to escape entirely.

Sirius felt a familiar knot of dread twist in his stomach as he glanced down the alley. The sight of Peter's lifeless body, the blood pooling around him, and the sheer terror in Regulus' eyes brought back memories he had tried so hard to forget. The streetlight overhead flickered much like the daze in Sirius' mind as he tried to sort out his past and present.

He remembered the night he packed his bags and left. It was rainy, much like tonight. The only difference was the silence. On the night Sirius had left, it was loud. Thunder cracked just like the sound of a belt - a sound Sirius knew unfortunately well.

It had been a bad night, but most nights with his parents were. The specifics of the argument were hazy, but Sirius could remember Regulus muttering something under his breath, and sending their father into a fury. Sirius shivered as he recalled the scene: his father crossing the room with an undeniable rage, and Sirius, acting on instinct, throwing himself between them. The memory of Regulus' screams and sobs still haunted him, each blow from Orion meant for Regulus landing on Sirius instead. At least Sirius was doing his job as a brother, and at least Regulus would be safe.

He blinked as a drop of rain collided with his cheek, pulling him back to the present. Regulus was huddled against the wall, eyes wide with terror and hands stained with blood. He looked up at Sirius, searching for some semblance of reassurance, some indication that everything would be alright. But Sirius didn't have answers - only questions and a deep, gnawing dread.

When Regulus had called him, he had failed to mention a few details. Actually, he hadn't mentioned anything; he'd only managed to sob into the phone, and Sirius found him by tracking his phone's location. Sirius was already expecting something unpleasant, but this was beyond anything he could have imagined.

"Reg," Sirius said softly as he approached Regulus. He looked at his brother, whose eyes were glassy; it seemed Regulus was completely out of it. "Regulus?"

Regulus didn't respond at first. He just stared at Peter's body, watching as the rain continued to turn a soft pink as the drops rolled off his body. Sirius crouched down, putting a hand on Regulus' shoulder and giving it a gentle squeeze. "Regulus, look at me," he urged, his voice steady but unable to completely mask the fear. He wasn't sure what he was looking at.

Slowly, Regulus turned his head, his eyes meeting Sirius'. The terror and confusion in them broke Sirius' heart. "Sirius, I... I didn't mean to," Regulus choked out, his voice barely audible over the rain. "He... he attacked me. I didn't have a choice."

"I know, Reg, I know," Sirius soothed, yet it wasn't helping to calm his own nerves, and it was a lie. The truth was, he didn't know; he didn't understand.

Sirius moved towards Peter, and carefully slid his arms into Peter's armpits in an attempt to lift him. He knew they had to move the body.

"What are you doing?" Regulus asked, seeming to finally wake from his daze.

"We have to get rid of him before someone finds out."

Regulus shook his head, a look of resignation crossing his face. "No. I have to turn myself in, Sirius. I killed him. They'll understand it was self-defense. We can't run from this. It's wrong."

"No. Wrong is stabbing a man well over thirty times. This was not self-defense, Regulus; look at him!" Sirius gestured emphatically at Peter's lifeless body, the blood-soaked mess that bore testament to the ferocity of the attack.

Regulus' face crumpled as he glanced at the body, horror etched onto his face. "I didn't mean to... I lost control. But hiding it? Sirius, that makes us just as bad as him."

Sirius crouched down, his hands still gripping Peter's body. "Listen to me, Reg. If you turn yourself in, they'll lock you away. They'll see you as a murderer, not a victim. We need to think about this. We need to be smart."

Regulus' eyes filled with tears, his voice breaking. "I can't live with this, Sirius. I can't live with what I've done. The guilt – you don't understand. I close my eyes, and I see him."

And I can't live without you.

That's what Sirius wanted to say, but he couldn't. It seemed as if his voice was caught in his throat, unable to escape. It was his fault, after all. Sirius was the one who left Regulus behind. He did it ten years ago, and he did it again tonight.

A lump formed in Sirius' throat, guilt gnawing at him like a relentless beast. He looked at his brother, seeing the broken boy beneath the blood and tears, and felt a wave of regret crash over him. "Regulus, I.." His voice faltered; the words he wanted to say were lost in the storm of his emotions.

Regulus' shoulders shook with silent sobs, his hands clenched into fists. "Every time I try to move on, to try and be better, it's like he's still here. Like I can't escape him. And now... now I've become just like him. A monster."

Sirius' heart ached. He took a deep breath, forcing himself to speak. Even without Regulus specifically saying who, Sirius knew. "You are not him, Regulus. You will never be him. You did what you had to do. Peter was a threat, and you protected yourself. You protected us."

Regulus shook his head vehemently, tears streaming down his face. "No, Sirius. I lost control. I... I enjoyed it. For a moment, I felt powerful. And that's what scares me the most."

Sirius' mind raced, his own fears and doubts bubbling to the surface. He didn't exactly plan to get this far. What exactly do you do when you find out your little brother is a sadist? He shook his head, and tried to ignore Regulus' words.

"Regulus, listen to me. That power you felt doesn't define you. What matters is what you chose to do with it. You chose to protect, to defend. That's not what he would have done. You're not a monster, and you never will be; you're my brother."

Regulus wiped his eyes and turned to face Sirius. The normal light in his eyes had gone dark; it was like Sirius was looking in a mirror. "What if I can't control it next time? What if this is only the beginning?" Regulus' questions attacked.

Sirius squeezed Regulus' hand, and then pulled his younger brother in for a hug. "There won't be a next time. I'll be there with you; I won't leave you alone again. We'll get rid of the evidence together, and I'll make sure nobody ever finds out."

Regulus clung to Sirius, his sobs muffled against his brother's shoulder. The rain continued to pour down around them, a relentless reminder that the world would continue turning and that they would have to eventually get up. Regulus didn't want to move; for the first time in the last six hours, he felt at home. Sirius was his home.

After some time, Sirius gently pulled away. He cupped Regulus' face in his hands. "We have to go. We have to clean this up before anyone sees."

Regulus seemed to watch him in a daze.

"Can you help me?" Sirius prompted as he pushed himself off the cold, damp gravel.

Regulus nodded slowly, his movements robotic. He stood up slowly, feeling the weight of the world on his shoulders. Together, they worked to move Peter, their hands trembling underneath his dead weight. The alley was once again silent, home to only the sounds of labored breathing and constant raindrops.

"Sirius?" Regulus questioned, cutting the silence.

"Yes?"

"Where do you plan on hiding him?"

"Somewhere no one will ever think to look," Sirius whispered as he pressed the unlock button on the handle of his car door. He was only able to hold his half of Peter up with his legs long enough to unlock the door. "We need to sit him up in the back."

"Why? Couldn't we just throw him in the trunk?"

"You sound like you've done this before," Sirius tried to joke, but he quickly realized it was way too soon when Regulus cast him a glare that made him physically shiver. "Okay, okay, too soon. Got it."
The two of them didn't speak for a while after that. Instead, they worked to maneuver Peter's body into the back seat of the car, propping him up as best they could. When they walked to the front to admire their handiwork, it simply looked like Peter was just riding along with them.

Sirius concentrated on driving; it wasn't necessarily a long drive to where they were going, but time seemed to drag on. It didn't help the fact that Regulus had barely interacted with him at all since leaving the alley; he had gone mute, staring blankly out the window. Sirius could only wonder what was going through his mind.

He managed to steal a few glances at his brother as he drove, but they only seemed to make Sirius' guilt worsen. Thankfully, the rain continued to pour, keeping the silence away as they traveled out of Chicago and further into Illinois. Every so often, they would pass a streetlight that was bright enough to illuminate Regulus' face. Sirius could have sworn he still saw tears.

As they pulled through the gate, Sirius broke the silence. "Reg, we're almost there," he said softly.

Regulus gave a small nod, but remained otherwise distant.

"Are you not going to make a snarky comment? Come on, that was perfect for a dirty joke," Sirius mused as he shifted the car into park. He didn't know how else to cope; humor had always been the answer.

Regulus rolled his eyes, and Sirius exhaled with relief. Phew. Regulus wasn't gone, at least not completely.

"Well," Sirius said as he cleared his throat. "Since you're not asking, I'm going to tell you a bit about this location. Welcome to Green Lake! While the small size of the lake may be deceiving-"

Regulus couldn't help himself from cutting his brother off, "It's the deepest lake in Cook Country. It has a maximum depth of 38.1 feet, correct?"

Sirius grinned, the familiar banter bringing a sense of normalcy to the surreal situation. "Exactly. See? You're still the smart one." He stepped out of the car, shutting the door softly behind him. "This place is perfect. It's got proximity, woods, and acres."

Regulus nodded, although he still didn't like the idea of covering this crime up, and he couldn't figure out why Sirius did it without looking back. "So, what's your plan?"

"Well. We need to weigh him down," Sirius said, his voice losing some of its earlier lightness. "There have got to be some big rocks around here somewhere. We'll tie him up and then drop him in the deepest part of the lake."

Regulus stared at his brother for a moment, and then he started to laugh. It wasn't his normal laugh, though; it was slightly unnerving, a low tone that seemed to echo in the silence of the deserted land but carried no emotion. "Did you bring a boat to get out to the middle of the lake? No. And I doubt you carry ropes in your car on a daily basis."

Sirius walked around to the back of his car, and opened the trunk. "Well, I hate to burst your bubble, but Sirius Black never leaves home without his trusty bag!"

"Please don't tell me you have ropes in that."

"You never know what you'll need!" he said as he lifted up the bag and cradled it in his arms like a child.
Regulus managed a weak smile, shaking his head, "You kinky bastard."

Sirius chuckled, the sound a welcome break from the tension. "It's called being prepared. Now, let's get to work."

They gathered the necessary supplies, and trudged through the wet underbrush, the rain-soaked ground making their footsteps heavy. The foliage was dense, and the branches snagged their clothing, as if nature itself were trying to hold them back. They wrapped the rope around Peter's ankle, the rough fibers cutting into their already numb hands, and began to drag the body to the lake.

Sirius' arms ached with a deep, relentless pain. His shoulders screamed in protest, and his lower back throbbed with each step. He hadn't done anything physical in a while, and it had been ages since Sirius had time to go to a gym. Peter was no easy feat, that was for sure.

When they finally reached the bank, Sirius paused, catching his breath. "Alright, let's get him into the water."

Regulus nodded silently, his charcoal eyes hollow. Together, they lifted Peter's body; the weight of it almost too much to bear. In addition to Peter's body, each of them was carrying the largest rock they could muster; the body had to be weighed down somehow. They stumbled to the water's edge, the mud and clay sucking at their shoes, trying to pull them into the water as well.

As they waded into the lake, the cold water surged around their ankles, sending a shiver up their spines. It was a bitter, biting cold that seemed to seep into their very bones. They pushed forward, the water rising higher with each step until it was lapping at their waists.

Sirius hated the feeling of wet jeans; the way the fabric seemed to engulf the skin and water at the same time had to be some kind of criminal offense. At this point, he was concluding that his outfit might not have been the best choice. He looked over at Regulus, whose eyes were forced shut, and his body was nearly frozen.

They continued forward a few more steps, just far enough for the water to reach their chests. Sirius knew Regulus wasn't going to be able to walk much further into the lake. He had always hated swimming and any other kind of activity that required a large body of water. Even if his brother wouldn't admit to being uncomfortable, Sirius could tell Regulus was longing for the mud on the bank.

They positioned Peter's body, securing the stones they had been carrying with the rope they had previously used to drag him with. The rocks were heavy and cold, their rough surfaces scraping against their hands. Regulus finished tying the knots first, and Sirius went back and checked them. Everything had to be secure, or else they were both screwed.

"On three," Sirius said, meeting Regulus' eyes.

"Three?" Regulus questioned.

As soon as the words left his mouth, Sirius dropped his hold on Peter, and Regulus lurched forward, taking all of Peter's weight into his own arms. He hadn't planned for Sirius to drop the body; he was just trying to make sure they had the same idea in mind.

Regulus lost his footing and fell forward into the water, and Sirius lunged forward to catch him, pulling him back to an upright position just in time. Regulus gasped, struggling to catch his breath, his soaked clothes clinging to his body.

"Are you serious?" he exclaimed, his voice trembling with a mix of fear and frustration.

Sirius couldn't help but smirk, despite the gravity of the situation. "Well technically-"

"Don't you dare," Regulus interrupted through gritted teeth, his eyes narrowing in warning.

Sirius chuckled softly, though his amusement was short-lived as he glanced back at the lake. The surface was once again calm, the ripples fading into the distance. Peter's body must have sunk according to plan because Sirius couldn't see anything through the dark and murky waters. He turned his attention back to Regulus, who was now shivering due to the coldness of the rain and water.

"You ready to go?" Sirius prompted as he turned to leave.

"I'm quite sure I've been ready to go since we arrived."

Sirius gave a curt nod as the two of them waded their way back to the bank. Sirius couldn't lie; it felt amazing to be on solid ground again, even if he had only been in the water for ten minutes. He didn't even mind the mud, which tried to steal his balance with every step.

As they reached the car, Sirius opened the trunk and rummaged around. Eventually he walked back to where Regulus was; he was holding an old blanket. He handed it to Regulus, who gratefully accepted it, wrapping it around his soaked frame, his teeth softly chattering from the cold. Sirius practically stripped before he stepped into the car. He pulled his long-loved shirt over his head, and wrestled his jeans off. There was no way in hell he was sitting his wet ass on his leather seats.

Regulus had turned to watch with his mouth ajar.

"Stop staring; that's weird," Sirius said, turning his back to his brother as he trashed the backseat in search of a spare set of clothes.

Regulus shook his head, a faint smile tugging at his lips. "I just didn't expect you to strip in the middle of the woods, that's all."

"Desperate times, Reg," Sirius muttered, pulling on a dry pair of sweats, and casually throwing a hoodie on. "Now get in the car, or else you're walking home."
Sirius got in the car after checking their surroundings one last time. It seemed, after all, that everything was going to be okay.

~~~

James really needed to give up alcohol. He had lost track of how many times he had made that his New Year's resolution. Groaning, he slowly opened his eyes, wincing at the harsh sunlight streaming through the gap in the curtains. The room spun, and he could feel the familiar pounding in his temples.

"Ow," he muttered, dragging himself into a sitting position. His head felt like it was splitting open, and every muscle in his body protested as he moved. He glanced around the room, trying to figure out what he was doing on the floor. It seemed he couldn't remember much from last night.

Stumbling to his feet, James made his way over to the bathroom door, clutching the wall for support. When he reached for the handle, it wouldn't budge.

"Just a moment," a voice pitched from the other side.

Oh god. Did I bring someone home?

Panic surged through James as he tried to piece together the hazy fragments of the previous night. He vaguely remembered the bar, the drinks, the laughter, dancing with some women, and well, everything after that was a blur.

The bathroom door opened, and a tall, collected man stepped out, rubbing a towel through his dirty-blonde hair. He held a toothbrush in his hand, but that wasn't what caught James' attention. It was all the scars on his face. Each scar had a unique pattern, and no doubt they all bore a story - obviously one James couldn't ask about. The man was fully clothed; James let out a sigh of relief - he had no backup plan if that hadn't been the case. The stranger's brown eyes widened slightly when he saw James. "You're awake. How are you feeling?"

James stared at him, his mind racing. "Uh, not great. Did we... I mean, did we...?" He couldn't bring himself to finish the sentence because the thought was too mortifying.

The lanky, curly-haired man frowned, clearly puzzled. "Did we what?"

"Have sex," James blurted out, his face burning with embarrassment.

The man couldn't help himself from laughing. "No, we definitely did not. You were in no condition for that, trust me."

Relief washed over James, followed quickly by confusion. "Then why are you here?"

"Sirius asked me to look after you," the man explained, his tone softening. "I'm Remus. Remus Lupin. I just so happened to get a call from a very mysterious FBI agent last night asking me to look after his 'Jamie Poo' and frankly, I was too shocked to say no. Not to mention, Sirius Black is a very intriguing man, and he doesn't happen to take no for an answer."

James walked back across the room and sank onto his bed. "I don't remember much from last night. I must have made quite a scene."

"Well, you were pretty far gone," Remus said with a sympathetic smile. "But nothing too embarrassing, I promise. I just brought you back here, made sure you didn't choke on your own vomit, and then I slept in your bed because you kept arguing that the floor was more comfortable."

"I've been told I'm a pretty noisy drunk," James said with a flushed face.

"Oh, you weren't bad. You only seemed to keep asking about Regulus. Something about needing to know where he was."

"That's my partner. It's Sirius' brother," James said, his first reddening further as he processed his words. "Not as in like a romantic partner, but like a work partner," he quickly clarified.

Remus raised an eyebrow, a small smirk playing on his lips. "Got it. Work partner. Not romantic."

James rubbed the back of his neck, practically welcoming the awkwardness into the room. "Yeah, I just... I guess I worry about him a lot. We've been through a lot together."

Remus nodded, "I understand. It's good to care about the people you work with. Especially in your line of work."

James looked at him curiously. "What exactly do you know about our line of work?"

"I know more than you think. From your expression, I'm guessing Sirius hasn't told you about my profession?"

"I've always been told my poker face is a dead sell-out," James said with a playful shrug.

Remus chuckled at how nonchalant James was. He was actually quite envious of Sirius for having such a good friend. "Well. I happen to be one of Chicago's best journalists. I specialize in the dark and dirty. That's how I ran into Sirius."

"He is both dark and dirty, and unfortunately for us, charming too."

Remus narrowed his eyes as he choked back a laugh. "I mean, I specialize in following what goes down behind closed doors. Much like that case you and Regulus are working on, the Death Eaters have quite the reputation around here. Nobody has been brave enough to actively pursue them for a long time; you and Regulus should applaud yourselves for that."

James felt a mixture of pride and concern. "It's dangerous work. The Death Eaters don't play around, and from everything Regulus is finding out, it seems they're willing to do anything to stay under the radar."

Remus nodded, his expression serious. "I know. I've been following their actions for years. I'm just not stupid enough to write about them; I have some value for my life."

As the two men talked, they realized they had more in common than either of them could have possibly imagined. What began as two strangers quickly blossomed into a growing camaraderie. James could tell that Remus would turn out to be a valuable friend.

There was no telling how long they had been talking, but at some point, the door to the hotel room burst open, and Sirius walked in, looking like the epitome of death. His hair clung to his face; it seemed wet. Maybe sweat? And his outfit seemed to be a whole different ordeal. It was boring; Sirius Black didn't do boring. Sweatpants and a hoodie? James couldn't imagine that being the outfit Sirius had worn to the bar. His whole life motto was 'be flashy'; Sirius always claimed that it would have pissed his father off to see him now.

"Morning, sunshine," Sirius said, his blank stare quickly replaced by a soft smile. "How's the head?"

James raised an eyebrow at Sirius' disheveled appearance. "Better, thanks to Remus. But what happened to you? You look like you've been through hell."

Sirius rubbed the back of his neck, avoiding James' gaze. "Long night. Regulus was a mess by the time he left the bar. He'd drunk more than you." James opened his mouth to interrupt, but Sirius quickly started talking again. "I know right, completely shocking! Regulus never drinks, but I think he took the loss of being wrong hard. You know, he's never wrong, James. It was a humbling experience for him!"

James' concern lightened. "Oh, you mean Tiberus? I knew that man was guilty. Regulus was just set on it being Peter. Speaking of Peter, I didn't get a chance to talk to him last night; he must've left early. Did you get the chance?"

Sirius nearly choked on the water he was drinking. "Chance to what? Talk to him? No, I'm afraid not, but the time I managed to spot him. He was dead-tired and left in a hurry."

James frowned, thinking back to the events of the previous night and his past. "That's odd. Peter usually sticks around longer. He used to love parties."

Remus glanced at Sirius, sensing there was more to the story. It happened to be a skill of his, reading the room. "Maybe he just had something urgent to attend to. People change, James. Perhaps Peter isn't as much of a party person as he used to be."

Sirius nodded quickly – too quickly. "Yeah, exactly. People change."

"I suppose. Still, it's strange. I'll have to catch up with him later. Right now, I need to check on Regulus," James said with a shrug, accepting the answer for now. He turned and left the room before Sirius could mention that Regulus wasn't in a talking mood.

As soon as James closed the door behind him, Sirius' smile faded, and he found himself jumping flat onto James' bed. On a normal day, he'd care that he was covered in lake filth and would avoid dirtying up the sheets, but for now, he couldn't be bothered.

Sirius sighed deeply, and then exhaled as if he were letting all his problems go in that gust of air. He just wanted everything to go back to normal, but what warrants normal now?

Remus watched him from across the room. He was skeptical, and didn't believe anything Sirius had said at all. "So, Sirius," he began, his tone light yet probing - the journalist special. "Want to tell me what really happened last night?"

"I figure you already have a guess, so I'd love to hear it, Mr. Lupin. I wouldn't want to steal your thunder."

"Well, if I had to guess, I'd say you ran into Peter last night, and he wasn't dead-tired. Maybe you even exchanged some words with him. And Regulus drinking? James mentioned something about him never drinking."

Sirius let out a dry chuckle. "I have to give credit where it's due. You've been listening to everything James rambled about."

"Habit of the trade, eh? But you could just end my suffering and tell me all the dirty details."

"Mhmm," Sirius mused as he closed his eyes, "You'd like that, eh? Everything has to be dirty with you, Remus. But alas, dirty is putting it lightly. Peter confessed to killing Marlene, then stabbed Regulus and took off."

Remus' eyes widened. "Peter admitted to that? But why-"

Sirius cut him off by promptly sitting up and holding a finger to his own mouth, "Don't interrupt me, love. We followed him around for hours, but at some point, he must've doubled back because we lost him. By the time we had made it to his apartment, we had found his gun, badge, and a note. Something about him not always being able to hide from the truth, bla, bla, bla. To summarize a lot of boring scribbles, he's fleeing the country."

Remus narrowed his eyes as he crossed the room and stood by the bed. "And how exactly did you end up looking like you've been through a swamp? And don't even get me started on the smell."

Sirius chuckled, shifting on the bed, the movement causing him to accidentally brush against Remus' leg. "Like I said, we followed him around for hours, on foot and in the car. It wasn't pleasant, and trust me, I know what pleasure is."

Remus' breath hitched slightly at the accidental touch, and he tried to maintain his composure. "You seem to be handling everything remarkably well, given the circumstances. Any chance you're hiding some secret superpower?"

Sirius' grey eyes sparkled with mischief as he studied Remus' face. "Well, if I am, I'm not telling. But I must admit, having a handsome journalist around seems to make everything a bit easier."

Remus blinked; once again, Sirius Black managed to stun him with words. His cheeks flushed a deep red, and he looked away, playing it off as coolly as he could muster. "Oh, is that so? I didn't realize I had that kind of impact. I thought I was just here to babysit your boyfriend?"

Sirius grinned, propping himself up on his elbows. "Now where would you get the idea I have any such boyfriend?"
"You and James seem awfully close."
"If you couldn't pick up the fact James has something for my little brother, I would have to retract my earlier statement where I said you were the sharpest journalist I'd ever met," Sirius whispered, his eyes never leaving Remus.

"I don't remember that statement."

"Oh, then let me say it again. You, Remus Lupin, are the sharpest journalist I've ever met."
Remus felt his heart race, his attempt at nonchalance crumbling under Sirius' intense gaze. "Well, it seems you have a way of turning even the most serious conversations into something... more," he said, his voice slightly trembling despite his best efforts to stay composed.

Sirius' grin widened, clearly pleased with the effect he was having. "I like to think of it as a talent. Life's too short to be serious all the time, don't you think?"

Remus glanced away, trying to catch a moment to regain his composure, but the warmth creeping up his neck from his very core seemed to betray him. "You certainly have a unique approach. Not many people can mix business with flirtation so seamlessly."

"I'd say it's a skill. One my parents are surely proud of. Why else would they name me Sirius? Plus, it seems to help all messy situations be a bit more bearable."

"And here I thought you were just trying to distract me from the fact you're a bad liar."

"Maybe I am," Sirius said, leaning in slightly, his voice dropping to a teasing whisper. "But sometimes, it's nice to focus on something other than the expected. Like how irresistible your flustered face is right now."

Remus took a step back, trying to put some distance between them, but he couldn't break his gaze with Sirius. "You really know how to make things complicated, don't you? What's it been? Three days? Is that a new record for you?"

Sirius shrugged nonchalantly. "Oh, Remus, don't humble yourself; I've swooned men and women after a sentence before. Three days seemed to be a challenge, but I can tell there's still more in store. I prefer to think of it as adding a little excitement to the mix. It keeps things interesting."

"Yeah, interesting is one word for sure."
"Now, Remus, why don't you get that little notepad out, and start scribbling down a story that's going to send this city into chaos? It must be exhausting to always play the obedient good boy. I say stick it to the Death Eaters; let them know that two can play any game they challenge."

"Yeah... I think a little excitement is warranted," Remus said with a nod, settling down on the bed, and furiously scratching his pen to paper.

~~~

Lily paced back and forth in her small office, her frustration growing with each passing minute. The clock on the wall seemed to mock her with its slow, deliberate ticking. Regulus had promised he would come by with enough evidence to clear Tiberus' name, but as the hours dragged on, she was starting to doubt whether he would show up at all.

The longer she waited, the more the room felt like it was closing in on her, the silence punctuated only by the rhythmic clacking of her heels against the hardwood floor and the clock's weary reminders that Regulus was late. She stopped to glance at her phone for what had to be the hundredth time, secretly hoping that she'd missed a message or a call from Regulus. Yet, there was nothing.

This was bad, but what about this entire situation hadn't been a mess? And if Lily looked deep enough, she could eventually tie everything back to her. It was her fault that Marlene had been looking into the Death Eaters, and it was her fault that Marlene had been killed. Regardless of who exactly the killer was, the fact that they were members of the precinct was undeniable; the killer was one of Lily's own. But where had she gone wrong?

Lily plopped down in her chair with a small huff. She was exhausted and would do absolutely anything to sleep for a whole night; unfortunately, her stress levels had been too high to allow her to get any solid sleep. She buried her head in her hands, and she closed her eyes for just a moment. Or at least, that's what she thought. Her exhaustion got the best of her as she drifted off.

A knock on the door caused her to jump up, her hands sliding up past her chin, and her head lurching forward onto the desk.

"Come in," she mumbled as she gently rubbed her temple, which had a fast-appearing red spot directly in the center.

She was silently hoping and praying that Regulus would be the one to open the door, but much to her dismay, it turned out to be Mary Macdonald. Mary was one of those individuals you could never quite manage to forget. She always stood out in a crowd, and her beauty always seemed to radiate. Mary's soft brown eyes tracked Lily as she attempted to make herself presentable.

"Thought you could use someone to talk too," Mary said, standing in the doorway. She hadn't closed the door yet. "But I can always come back later if now is a bad time."

"No, no, it's okay," Lily quickly reassured, "Please, sit," she said, motioning towards the chairs across from her. There was a couch in the room, but Lily couldn't, in good faith, recommend anyone sit on it.

Mary closed the door behind her and took a seat, her presence bringing a small measure of comfort to the room. "Lils, you look exhausted," she said, her voice filled with concern. "Isn't it time to rest? The case is over."

Lily sighed as she interlocked her fingers. She wished it was over, but that's the thing with her job - a case was never truly over. A case would manage to exist as long as there was evil in the world. "This one might be, but there's always another one. Sometimes it's just all so overwhelming," she said softly.

Lily really was a personal person. She tended to keep everything bottled up until she couldn't anymore. She had been managing all the media presence, and the precinct, all while grieving the loss of a friend at the exact same time. She could only imagine the damage she'd done to her liver in the last week.

The touch was gentle yet firm, and Mary's hand radiated warmth that seeped into Lily's skin, providing a sense of comfort she hadn't felt in what seemed like an eternity. "You can't keep going like this, Lily. It's okay to take a step back every once in a while. And it's okay to breathe. Remember, you're not alone in any of this."

"I know," Lily whispered. "But it's just so hard to let go. I feel like I owe it to her to see this through. And not just for her sake, but for everyone's. She wanted to unveil the Death Eaters, and I want nothing more than to finish out her will, but the truth is, I'm a coward. I don't have what it takes or the resources to pursue the Death Eaters. There's just so much to do, but not enough... well, not enough of me."

Mary squeezed Lily's hand gently, reassuring her. "That's what I'm saying, Lily. It doesn't just have to be you."

Lily looked up, meeting Mary's gaze. In Mary's eyes, she saw her reflection, and she could see her own tears. She hadn't even realized she was crying.

Lily quickly wiped her eyes with the back of her free hand, not daring to pull her hand away from Mary. The tears she had been holding back for so long were finally escaping, and she allowed herself to surrender to the vulnerability in front of Mary. The tight knot in her chest began to loosen, even if it was only ever so slightly.

"How?" Lily asked, her voice small but curious. "How do I let others help when it feels like it's all on me?"

Mary pulled back slightly, just far enough to make sure she could look into Lily's eyes. "Start by trusting me or by trusting yourself to accept help. You don't have to have all the answers right now. All you have to do is put a little faith in those around you. Remember, every important journey begins with a single step. And you don't have to take that step alone, not if you don't want to."

Lily nodded, a wave of relief rolling over her. "Okay," she said, her voice a bit stronger. "One step at a time."

"That's right," Mary encouraged, her smile warm and reassuring. "One step at a time. And I'll be right here with you every step of the way."

"You mean you're quitting your job with the Bureau?" Lily asked, shocked. Mary had been working on and off with them for years. That's how they met. Lily met Mary at a police academy many years ago, but they had ultimately gone their separate ways when Lily settled down in Chicago and Mary began freelancing with the Intelligence Branch, helping agents prepare for undercover work with false identities and whatnot.

"I feel I'm more needed elsewhere, if you catch my drift," Mary said with a soft smile. Lily quickly stood up and pulled her hand from underneath Mary's. "Well, in that case, let me be the first to welcome you to the Chicago PD," Lily said with a large smile; she knew Marlene was watching the two of them from above. She knew Marlene would be proud.