Four and a half hours, 2 food breaks, 3 bathroom breaks and a whole heap of shouting and singing later, the crew of criminals arrived in Detroit. Alex and John sat in the boot with Thomas and James since Lafayette and Hercules had to be up near Eliza to help direct her through the streets. They avoided the heart of the city, but also avoided the ghetto slums, finding an in between on the outskirts. Eliza was directed to pull up behind a shady looking bar-motel hybrid, the fluorescent-by-night sign outside reading The Place To Be.

Lafayette and Hercules giggled like excited little girls, squirming and gushing to each other while everyone else watched them with worried expressions.
"Is this it?" Eliza asked worriedly, squinting at the run down exterior.
"Oh ho ho yeah," Hercules grinned, licking his lips as he undid his seatbelt and threw his door open. Lafayette beamed and followed after him eagerly, moving to stand beside the hood of the car waiting for everyone else to get out.

The crew climbed out of the car, scanning their eyes over the sketchy building carefully but following Lafayette and Hercules to the back door anyway. Hercules raised a fist and gave three firm knocks. There was a pause before heavy footsteps cluncked towards the door on the other side.

A metal slit was snapped to the side and two piercing sky blue eyes squinted through, instantly widening when they saw Lafayette and Hercules.
"Ho-ho-holyyy shit." A voice chuckled from the other side. "Show me your tats boys," the voice hollered excitedly.

Lafayette and Hercules grinned, turning around and tugging their shirts up to reveal identical lightning bolts on their left shoulder blades.
"I didn't know you had tattoos!" John exclaimed, his eyes widening in surprise.
"There is a lot of things you do not know about us mon ami," Lafayette grinned with a mischievous wink as the door swung open.

"The boys are gonna have a fuckin' ball tonight." The young man at the door grinned. He had short, messy brown hair and wore a black apron stained with alcoholic beverages of many kinds.
"So are you, his french ass got a bullet lodged in his collarbone," Hercules snickered, tugging away the collar of Lafayette's shirt to reveal the bandages Eliza and Maria had applied the night before.

"It sounds like a job for nurse Pendleton, does it not?" Lafayette smirked, the man's face instantly darkening to a menacing scowl.
"I don't care if you two own this joint I will kick you the fuck out, we don't talk about that, ever." Pendleton warned, his gaze shifting between the two boys dangerously like a mother scolding her children.
"Yes mom," Hercules chuckled, squinting at Pendleton teasingly.

"Alright, get you and your friend's wanted asses in here, you're all over the news, and Artemis has been barking mad without you, left your girl on my hands for 3 years, that's pretty dog of you," Pendleton lectured, ushering everyone in.
"One thing I did not miss in prison Nathaniel, your puns." Lafayette dead panned as he walked in.

Pendleton laughed and pat Laf on the back as he came in, also fist bumping Hercules. He then continued to greet everyone at the door as they came in. First up was Eliza and Maria whom he greeted with a firm shake of the hand.
"I see you brought some new hood girls for the gang?" Nathaniel yelled after Herc and Laf as he shook the girls hands.

Before Hercules or Lafayette could warn him Maria grabbed Nathaniel's crotch and twisted her wrist with a dangerous scowl, making him squeak and whimper.
"You demoralise either of us again and you won't live to see the light of day with those pretty blue eyes," she warned through clenched teeth before releasing him. She linked arms with Eliza and they strutted in behind Lafayette and Hercules together happily, leaving Nathaniel breathing heavily against the door.

Alex laughed as he and John came up to Pendleton, shaking his hand as he still tried to catch his breath.
"Alexander," Alex greeted with a smart smile.
"John," John mimicked.
"Nathaniel," Pendleton smiled to the both of them.

"He seems nice," John smiled, taking Alex's hand in his. Alex nodded in approval and they walked further into the back of the bar, surrounded by crates and unopened cardboard boxes.

"Uhm, so let me get this straight, Nathaniel said something about you two owning this place?" Alex piped up to Hercules and Lafayette.
"Damn right." Hercules grinned as they reached a set of double doors.

Alex opened his mouth to ask another question but was interrupted when Hercules burst open the doors, opening into a dimly lit bar that even at 2:30 in the afternoon was alive with people, laughing and cheering with drinks in hand.
As the doors flew open to reveal Lafayette and Hercules numerous people gasped and froze. Even the musicians playing live music stopped to stare with excited grins. The whole bar fell silent until the lead singer grabbed her microphone, beaming with joy.
"Welcome home boys!" She cheered across the bar.

The bar erupted with shouts and hollers as the boys were buried in a wave of rough hugs and playful punches.
Hercules managed to escape the clump, leaving Lafayette to be bombarded with affection as he ran up to the stage. The singer and lead guitarist jumped into his arms laughing and he swung them around, laughing uncontrollably.
"Lizzie! Adi!" He cheered, holding the girls close.

"Didya' miss us?" The guitarist grinned, pinching Hercules' cheek.
"Of course I did, and Laf didn't shut up about missing your beautiful music down here every night," Hercules laughed as he placed them down carefully.
"Of course he didn't, I have the voice of a mother fucking angel, where is the french fry anyway?" The singer asked, peering into the sea of leather and denim at the entrance.

The crowd gradually dispersed and Lafayette burst from inside it, the rest of their crew following behind him.
"Adrienne! Liz!" Lafayette sang with a smile as bright as the sun.
The guitarist opened her arms for a hug but Lafayette kept it to a side hug, flashing them the bandages wound around his chest.
"The hell did you do?" The singer frowned.
"Got shot." He grinned sheepishly.
"Of course you did," The singer scoffed. "Well I'm Adrienne de Noailles and this chick on guitar is Elizabeth Sanders, who are you beautiful outlaws, new editions to the gang?" The singer beamed, inspecting the 7 inmates ahead of her.

"Gang?" John squinted.
"Alright seriously, you've had your fun, what's going on here?" Alex sighed, shaking his head gently.
Lafayette and Hercules glanced at each other, Laf sighing and Herc grinning. Lafayette made a weak hand gesture to signal Hercules to 'go on'.

"Laf and I are founders and co-leaders of a criminal gang, the public call us a menace, we call ourselves the Revolts," Hercules smirked. Everyone's eyes widened, either grinning in awe or frowning in worry.
"You're the Revolts?" Alex gasped softly with an excited grin growing on his lips. Eliza stood slightly behind Maria, clutching her arm with a scowl.
"That's us, we-" Hercules began to speak before Eliza cut over him.
"Attacked my Dad." Eliza hissed. "That was you guys. Public menace, the Revolts, land building tycoon Philip Schuyler in the ER after interrogation gone rouge," She recited bitterly.

Lafayette and Hercules' eyes widened and they shot each other a nervous glance before watching Eliza with sorrowful eyes.
"You are Philip's daughter?" Lafayette whispered, Adrienne biting her lip and placing a reassuring hand on his shoulder.
"And so wa- is Peggy. And the psychologist, Angelica." Eliza spat, fury bubbling in her stomach. "You had no motive to attack him, this is just a sick game-" she began to lecture before Hercules spoke over her.

"Is that what your daddy told you?" He squinted, crossing his arms and leaning back. "No motive huh? Because wiping out a whole strip of land, businesses, generations of families, just to build more luxury hotels isn't motive enough?" He questioned sarcastically before Lafayette placed a hand on his chest to calm him down, taking over with a gentler approach.

"Eliza we are so sorry, and it never meant to get that far, but your father was about to leave hundreds of people homeless, this bar that we worked our asses off to build being demolished and developed before our eyes. We only wanted to meet with him to protest against the plans, but he did not respond well to, as I quote him, vile hooligans of our kind telling him how to do his job." Lafayette explained gently. Eliza pressed her lips into a thin line, her gaze downcast.
"I know what my Dad did was wrong," She muttered quietly. "But you didn't have to pull a gun on him, I can see why he got the wrong impression," She spoke with a weak laugh at the end, her frown returning when she looked up at the boys.

"Eliza, again we're, really sorry, and if there's anything we can do to make it up to you, just holler out," Hercules muttered, genuine sympathy in his eyes.
"I'll... keep that in mind," Eliza spoke quietly with a curt nod. There was a slight silence with the exception of calm chatter from the men and women at the bar behind them until Hercules clapped his hands excitedly.
"I know something that will lift our spirits," he grinned, shooting around to face Pendleton. "Where's Artie?" He asked eagerly, Lafayette perking up excitedly too.

Pendleton smiled and waved his hand, ushering everyone to follow him as he moved back through the bar and out a set of large double doors. He swung them open, revealing another set of doors padlocked shut. He retrieved a key and grabbed the lock, preparing to unlock the door.
THUD
Everyone jumped in surprise as the doors shook, something slamming up against it followed by excited, booming barks.
"No way," John beamed, squeezing Alex's hand.

Nathaniel unlocked the doors and they flew open, a stunning chocolate brown Chesapeake Bay Retriever bounding out towards the boys, barking excitedly and tail wagging erratically as it launched up onto Hercules, making him stumble backwards laughing.
"Artemis!" Hercules yelled as the dog bounced excitedly, barking and licking his cheek in 'I missed you' kisses. The dog's head swung to the side and upon spotting Lafayette she bounded towards him next. Laf crouched and wrapped his arms around the dog, burying his face in her silky coat.

John clasped his hands to his mouth and let out a muffled scream at how cute the reunion was, everyone else awing gently as the boys laughed and scrubbed their hands through Artemis' coat.
"The first reunion of many," Nathaniel smirked, walking deeper into the room. He flicked on the lights down the back to reveal 5 sleek black motorbikes parked against the back wall, that same back wall adorned with an array of weapons and guns. Lafayette walked in with his arms held open invitingly, tilting his head back and closing his eyes with a sigh.
"Maison!" he yelled with a smile.

"Well I need to fix Laf up, why don't you guys go back to the bar, get Liz and Adi to help you into some new clothes, you can't be walking around in prisoner gear," Nathaniel suggested casually, moving to the side of the room that was set up with medical gear of many kinds.
"How many rooms are free?" Hercules asked as he walked in after Lafayette.
"3, not including your room," Nathaniel replied quickly as he dug through a plastic box filled to the brim with bandages.
"Laf and I will take our room, Alex and John share, Maria and Eliza share, Sam, Thomas and James share, that works with everyone?" Hercules suggested with a grin.

"We're staying the night?" Alex double checked with a grin, shooting John a mischeivous smirk.
"Of course we are, now go get out of those, ennuyeuse rags and get something comfortable on," Lafayette grinned as he sat down on the makeshift operating table Pendleton had set up. Hercules ushered them out and was about to close the doors when Pendleton stopped him.
"Wait, I need another assistant on standby," he called out.

Everyone glanced at each other before Sam stepped forward meekly.
"I'll do it," he whispered.
"I don't think that's a good idea, there'll be a lot of blood Sam, what about Maria? She's good with med-" Hercules began to protest but Samuel was fixed on his choice.
"I can do it. Please," he spoke a little firmer, his eyes darting between Laf, Herc and Nat.

"Give the boy a chance," Nathaniel shrugged with a small smile. "Come in, Sam was it? And close the door behind you,"

Sam disappeared behind the door, leaving Alex, John, Thomas, James, Maria and Eliza standing in a group silently.
"Alright, let's get something new on then, yeah?" Maria grinned, grabbing Eliza's hand and tugging her back into the bar.

The others followed eagerly and found Elizabeth and Adrienne back at the stage, sitting on the edge talking quietly.
"Hey! Nathaniel sent us through to get an outfit glow up," Maria announced as they approached the girls. Adi's eyes lit up and she grinned excitedly.
"Oh ho ho yes. You two," she pointed at Maria and Eliza. "Follow me."

She jumped off the stage and lead them out, down towards the motel section beside the bar. Liz rolled her eyes and slipped off the stage, crossing her arms and inspecting the boys carefully.
"I think I've got something that could work," she slowly began to grin, nodding to herself before she swivelled around and lead them out behind the bar. To say the least? Alex was scared.