"Why on earth did you bring Jason!" the blond exclaimed, unable to help himself. His friend stood in front of him wearing a dress shirt, tie, pants and a kangaroo vest with a baby on the front. "Are you out of your mind?"

"Anne got mad at me and I couldn't get anyone to watch him."

"That's no reason to bring him here! Anne will kill you!"

"She said to bring him to the interview," he said carelessly trying to brush a spot of milk off his shoulder. He knew damn well Anne would kill him, but, just as she was trying to force her own point of view, he wanted to overlay his own on this situation. Barrie was a good choice and he was willing to shoulder the household expenses so that she could devote herself solely to Jason. She didn't have to accept that the two of them being a family, just to understand that it was the best thing for them at the time.

"Oh God, you're going to drag me into that hell with you!"

"She won't do anything. You just need to calm down."

"You brought a baby to an interview at a construction site, Justin! Her baby! Do you really think she won't do anything? You'll be lucky if you can see Jason through a fence after this."

Justin tensed his jaw. "I won't walk away from my son. And I'm not irresponsible enough to bring him into the construction zone. We'll be fine as long as we stay in this office, several feet from danger," he sighed. "I really need this, Ryan, you know that. Could you take my side for now?"

The blond rolled his eyes. "I'm always on your side, especially when she wants to mince you. And believe me I'm considering switching to her side for good."

A chuckle escaped the brunette's lips. "So, is that girl trustworthy?"

"Of course she is. She wouldn't kidnap Jason for a million dollars. Trust me."

"How long before you go out to lunch?"

"At least forty minutes. I'll go get him after I finish and we'll wait for you to come out."

"Thanks again," he took off his kangaroo bag being careful not to wake the baby and handed the diaper bag he had left on the chair next to him to his friend. "Please take care of him," he gave his son a kiss and handed it to the blond.

"That's what I've been doing all this time."

"I know, but things are different now."

***
Oh, God. Oh, God, Anne repeated mentally as she read the note Justin had left on the refrigerator. This is not true. He didn't take my baby... He didn't dare take my baby.

She tossed her purse on the couch and headed for the bedroom of the small apartment. Jason's diaper bag was gone and a few things were missing, like diapers and clothes.

She ran to the kitchen and 3 bottles were missing along with the formula can.

Oh, God. Oh, God. Oh, God. She pulled her phone out of her pocket and looked up the brunette's number trying to keep her hands from shaking.

"The number you are trying to reach is busy."
"It can't be busy! He has to answer!"
"Leave a message after the tone."

She hung up and dialed again. The operator jumped again with her annoying automated message.

This can't be happening.

She repeated the dialing process several more times until the trembling in her hands and the tears in her eyes no longer allowed her to continue.

Maybe he's with Nina, she thought and ran out the front door. It was cold outside, but she was so desperate that she hadn't thought of grabbing her coat before she left. The only thing she had on her was her phone and the keys to the apartment. It was the only thing her brain was able to process through her fog of fear.

Justin would never do it, she tried to convince herself as she walked towards the nursery. He wouldn't.

She looked at the time on the screen of her phone. It was too late for it to be the brunette's tantrum alone. He wouldn't dare...

The man smiled. At last, after so many years, the moment he had waited so long for was there.

"I'm sorry, Anne, but I haven't seen them."
"Are you sure, Justin didn't come by?"
"No. I'm really sorry."
"Please call me if you see them."

The girl turned away and sighed trying to hold back her tears. She walked set on not giving up yet. She would find them even if she had to search those people's house.

The air was flowing harder. Her hands were so cold and numb that they hurt. She could feel the lack of warmth under the sweater she was wearing. Maybe she should go home for her coat before continuing her search. Hopefully Justin and Jason would be there by now.

She walked the few blocks that separated the daycare from the small building where her apartment was. She climbed the stairs to the second floor and opened the door to her home. The heater gave her a pleasant welcome which she gladly received.

She made her way to the couch and grabbed her coat ready to continue her search.

"Hello, Annie. It's been a while."

A cold sweat ran down her back. She couldn't move. Pure terror coursed through her body.

"I know. I know. The sight of me isn't as pleasing to you as it is to me. What can we do? This is what families are like."
She clenched her fist trying to muster all her courage. "We're not family," she turned her gaze across the barstool to the kitchen so she could face John squarely.
"Oh, Annie, we will be even if you don't want us to. You can get rid of the legal ties, but you can never get rid of the blood ties. Now come and give daddy a hug," the man smiled wryly and all his wrinkles immediately scored. The girl felt scared. It was too grim of a sight.
"I don't know how you got in here, but I want you to leave or I'll call the police."
A rumbling laugh escaped his lips. "You can have a murderer living under your roof, but you can't get a visit from your father after so many years of not seeing him?"
She tensed her jaw. "I don't have a father."

***
Justin got out of the cab in a hurry and ran for the stairs of the building. Now Anne would officially kill him. He had planned his round trip perfectly to be home before the girl arrived, but he hadn't accounted for the fact that his new boss would ask him to stay at the construction site until the end of the day. And his battery had been dead for several hours. It wasn't as if the man had let him leave his side for a few seconds either. He was determined to show him everything before he left.

Jason stirred in his arms as the hustle and bustle of his little marathon disturbed him. He lightened his step, walked to the front door and opened it. He stepped cautiously inside. The lights were off.

"Anne, are you there? I'm sorry I'm late, really. I wasn't supposed to be this late, but my boss..." he heard some sobbing and stopped. He closed the door behind him and reached for the light switch.

The apartment was trashed, or at least part of it. A shiver ran through his body.

"An, where are you?"

He ran into the room guided by the sound of sobbing. Jason was stirring in his arms again. He paused for a moment. Anne might be hurt, but, if the person who had done that was still there, then the baby was in danger too.

He grabbed some pillows from the couch and headed for the kitchen kitchen. He arranged them in a corner under the barstool, right next to the refrigerator, and placed the baby on them. He spotted an empty diaper box lying to one side and decided to use it as a barrier to disguise the little one's hiding place. Once he made sure everything was in order, he headed back into the room.

"An?"

The sobs continued. He opened the door slowly and turned on the light. He scanned the place with his eyes immediately. There was no one there besides the girl, who was curled up in a corner. He hurried over to her.

"An, are you okay, what happened?" he asked as he searched with his eyes for wounds or blood. The girl seemed to be fine. "An..."
She sniffled and raised her head slowly. "Did you get the job?"
"An..."
"Answer me. Did they give you the job?"
"Yes, I did. But that doesn't matter now. Tell me what happened," Justin watched as the girl stood up and did the same.
"Let's go to Barrie."