Morning followed up far too soon for Jessicas taste, and she woke with a start on the couch. Brad was snoring, having fallen asleep opposite of her, splayed out in an attempt to fit on the makeshift bed. May was cuddled up against Alex who opened his eyes as she tried to step lightly over them.

"Morning," he croaked in a whisper.

"Morning," she responded.

"Where you going?"

She gestured to the door," well. The girls still need milking. And with this rain, I want to make sure everything is doing well."

"I'll come," he was already sliding out from under Mays clinging form," You can't do the whole farm on your own you know."

"Thanks," she grinned.

"I could help," came the deep still half-asleep voice from behind them and she turned to see Brad rubbing his neck it must have been sore the position he had been in- and stepping lightly over May as well.

Jessica looked to him," Oh? You want to muck around farm animals all day?"

Still wiping the sleep from his eyes, he responded following after them with a yawn," Well. I suppose if my girlfriend is a farmer, least I could do is learn out how to help a bit. I can at least-I don't know. Muck out a stable?"

Both her and Alex laughed at that, knowing what that entailed before they all readied to go out. Alex had slightly larger feet than Brad but his extra pair of work boots did fine for the time being, and even though his coat was a bit small on the other it would do as well.

For the next few hours the 3 went about various farm tasks, both Alex and Jessica teaching a very determined Brad on things to do on the farm.

As they sat aside the goat milking station, and she was congratulating Brad on being able to handle his 3 goats at milking- the first kicked her feet so much there was not much milk to be had, the second he had sprayed himself in the face, and the third was far more mellow, his hands – while sore surely- were completing the motions smoothly enough to pacify the beast.

They sat in silence as he seemed to loose himself in the rhythm of the milking and his thoughts. She felt the air become more solemn and her own thoughts turned to the text from last night.

"Care to tell me what had you so upset last night?"

He didn't look up but nodded, his mouth a grim line.

"George," he started, and paused to look up at her noticing the tensing of her form.

At his hesitation she urged him on," I'm not delicate in any way, Brad, and I deserve to know what is happening."

He nodded, turning his eyes back to the slowly filling bucket, and the slowing of the milk from the goat," He made bail. Or I should say, somehow a bail was negotiated from a 3rd party person and paid. In full."

She stood, startling the nanny and the other goats in the barn who wailed their complaints. Brad took the bucket from under the Nanny and undid the knot that kept her tied to the milking stand- she quickly pushed off shoving past them, aggravated at the split attention.

"Who?"

"Jessica," he tried for a soothing tone but she stepped back in warning at his advancement. He put his hands up.

"Who got him out Brad," her voice couldn't stop shaking.

He sighed," A Mr. Douglas Skinner. You told me that he was harassing you before."

"I knew it! He and that damned group he is apart of is behind this! And now-now George is out? He. . ."She deflated, feeling a bit lost. At seeing the fire simmer, Brad made to slowly approach her.

"This is both a good and a bad thing," he said," but we can use it to our advantage."

"How so?"

"Well," he sighed, and he seemed to become lost in thought," This man, Skinner, that you have put in several complaints about is now linked with a man who assaulted you and is awaiting trial. Despite not being imprisoned any longer he still must stand trial for a crime he has committed- and from what I can tell he admitted to it as well. All I could get was that he admitted working for a company that thought he could be utilized to hit closer to home to get people to sell their lands. If that meant causing harm, of any fashion, that company is now accountable. We could potentially uncover what their trying to do and make them stand trial."

"That is a lot of good," she said once he lapsed into an uncomfortable silence and she leaned on his shoulder nuzzling herself into the crook of his neck," but I recall you said you had both good AND bad news. "

"The bad news is," he paused to smell the top of her head, planting a kiss to it and pulling her in for a much welcomed embrace," well, this becomes federal at this point. We were uncovering many locations they had businesses through, all up the coast to California. It's past state lines, which means it would no longer be my jurisdiction and the FBI would take over."

Jessica breathed in a sharp breath," The FBI?!? But what then!??!"

"Well. I will have to hand over all my research, all documents pertaining to any interview, any inspection anything will be handed over and I will have to completely cease my investigation. The FBI has more resources, yes, and I have nothing against them. But then it become a 'bigger picture'. Any potential crime that has occurred, at any place, must be reviewed and documented to be brought in court.. . that takes time. . .and. . "

"And they could get away?"she looked up to him.

He looked back down," It's a potential, especially now with just our department looking into them. I wanted you to know this, because I was going to go to the office tonight and try and dig up what I could. On everyone."

Jessica felt like a fish out of water, and suddenly felt very worried for Brad. As if something terrible was going to happen if he left her slice of heaven on the farm.

Before she could say anything they heard the rumble of a truck and, both giving a quick look to one another, broke apart and left the goats to see who was arriving.

Mannys truck wasn't as old as her had been, but it was a classic thing, that he kept in great condition and his love for it shown in its smooth ride.

He was already hopping out and rushing to them before they had crossed the field to the driveway.

"I heard about everything," he said simply in greeting, eyes hard as he looked to Brad then softer at Jessica," Are you okay?"

"Yes. I am good, thank you Manny."

"Good. Cuz I got news."

"What?" she said blinking

He took out his phone while talking," You remember Jesus, tall dark handsome-"

"Married," she said dryly to wake her friend from his rant.

He waved a hand at her in a shooing motion," Never you mind that. He got divorice after all, at least that says something about him."

"Yeah," she scoffed taking the offered phone," somethin'."

It didn't take her long to realize the message, from Jesus it seemed, was that of a blurred photo of a security camera screen. On it were several figures. Two of which she noticed.

"Oh my," she gasped and Brad stiffened.

"Where is this?" he demanded firmly.

Manny didn't seem at all offended," At Nightengale club. Its pretty expensive there, Jesus has worked security for almost a year since his divorce which is why I have been able to get in. Real ritzy place, lots of big wigs go there, its in the city. Jesus moved there when coming to terms with being a fag, you know- easier than here in the country."

Jessica felt guilty for thinking so poorly of the other man for only a moment, and thought of Manny own plight in dating. It wasn't easy for the gay community. But, cheating was cheating, and she had trouble looking past it.

"When was this taken?" Brad sounded all business already heading to the house both of them in tow.

"Maybe 2 hours ago? I headed over here as soon as I could- I was watching over Darren and Tyron while Jackie and Eligh were meeting with the bank. Insurance covered the cost of the fire, so their discussion legalities and stuff," Jackie, being nearest to Manny and along term family friend, had been thankful for his help at watching her boys. 

Thankfully, the family had a small mother and law home on their property that they used to rent out years ago to traveling farm hands. They had stopped when Eligh's mother had fallen ill and allowed his parents to reside there. Now that his mother had passed, it was just his father, who probably enjoyed the company of the family, but would appreciate his peace of space when they moved out.

Brad was already out of Alex's too large boot before he mad it past the threshold and was quickly grabbing his own things as a bewildered May blinked curiously as she left the wonderful smells in the kitchen.

"Don't do anything rash Brad," she pleaded," Please be safe."

"I will, I'll call this in but not yet-I have to do something. He's, my brother." He said and ran out the door to his cruiser, lights and sirens peeling down the road.

"His brother?" Questioned Jimmy.

Jessica nodded, phone still in hand as she looked down to the picture," yes. The man next to George. It's Bret, his brother."

May had gasped upon seeing the photo much like Jessica had upon first inspection.

There, surrounded by large men in dark suits and with a couple other unrecognizable men in a place that seemed much like a casino, were George and Brett.