Page 54 of Pain
"Thanks." Xander smiled at her, even though her words were meant for Matt.
"I'll be at the hospital when they bring her in. They'll bring her to Children's Hospital. I'm not working tonight, but since I'm part of the child sexual assault team, if I'm there, they'll call me in on Faith's case. This way, I can get you honest and straightforward information. You won't have to deal with all the bullshit, at least from the doctor's side. There will be a million questions and a ton of offers of help, but that can all wait."
"We have a counselor for the team if you wish to speak to her in time," Bryon said.
Xander held up his hand. "All this can wait. Let's give him time to get used to what is going on now and tonight." He leaned in close. "Do you want to be alone for a bit? We can go to the guest room if you want."
Matt shook his head. "No, I want to see the file you've got, Trenton. I want to know what I'm going to be dealing with once Faith is home. I need to know everything that you know."
Xander bit his lip, not sure that it was the wisest move, but then again, he'd have to know sooner or later. At least letting Matt see the file, Xander wouldn't feel as if he was keeping things from Matt. They would both know everything.
"You're sure you want to do this now? It's not going to be easy," Trenton warned him.
"I'd rather break down here with you guys than in front of Faith. I need to be strong for her." He glanced at Bryon. "I'm going to need some time off."
"Already planned on it. You take as long as you need. The team is here for you no matter what. You just have to call." Bryon nodded to Trenton. "Let him look through the file, and get Xander and Kase the information they need to be studying."
Matt stood, his eyes red and swollen, his face pale. "Thanks." He took the water Xander handed him and went to the kitchen, sitting down at the table.
Xander wanted to go with him, but something told him that this was something Matt needed to do alone.
After watching Trenton hand Matt the main file, he took the files that were handed to him and Kase. "Anything major we need to know?"
Carter sighed. "More than you're going to want to hear about, but not the worst we've seen."
As Kasey moved over to sit on one side of him, and Carter the other, Xander forced himself to focus. He needed a clear head for tonight. This case mattered more than any other because, for the first time, he'd see the after results happening right before his eyes.
"Okay, first security systems." Carter opened the file and demanded they get to work.
CHAPTER NINETEEN
Xander glanced over at Kasey as they pulled up just down the street from the old blue farmhouse they were about to break into. Thanks to Carter and his knowledge, the alarm would be hacked and disconnected before they got to the side door where they would enter.
The location didn't make it easy on them, while there weren't any close neighbors, the house itself was huge, and from what little surveillance they could do, the man and woman inside didn't spend much time together. That meant that Kasey and he would have to split up, something they never liked doing if they didn't have to. Depending on where they found the adults, they would either get to work where they were or drag them into the same room.
"I hate that we have to leave Faith." Kasey sighed. "I would love to rush her home to Matt."
"So would I, but Bry is right, this is the best way. We do anything different and it will put suspicion on Matt. We need him to be just another hysterical parent right now. He can't let on he knows anything about the perps or what happened to them, and he has to act surprised when the call comes in."
"I can't even imagine what he must be going through." Kasey shook his head. "I'd lose my fucking mind."
"I don't know how he hasn't." Xander stared out the window, wishing they would get the confirmation text telling them to go.
"What's up with you two anyway?" Kasey asked.
"Nothing really, just friends."
"You and I are friends and don't hold hands or touch all the time."
Xander laughed. "I never knew you wanted to."
"Fuck off, You two a thing or not?"
"Not. We just found a way to work off a little steam together. Call it stress relief. It's nothing serious. I think he needed the distraction, and you know how we get after a job…. Sex is a good way to work off some of that shit."
"So, you're just fucking?"
"And friends. I don't know what will happen once Faith is home. I'm guessing he might not want me around much while he deals with everything. I don't know, we haven't really talked about it."
