~Becoming One of the Family~ |Private RP|

[Princess De Luna]

▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀ ▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀ ▀▀▀▀▀▀ ▀▀▀▀ ▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀ ▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀ ▀▀▀▀ ▀▀▀▀▀ ▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀ ▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀

xxxSpecial Agent...
xxxSpecial Agent...Maria Braford
xxxSpecial Agent...Maria Brafordxxxxxxxxx...of the FBI
xxx¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯
"How about a....
"How about a.... strong shot of honest
"How about a....strong shot of honest, ...don't you owe that to me?"

xxx¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯

Catching the Taxi back to the hotel she was busy on her phone sending the info she found out to another partner she often worked with, asking if he could help her out adding the fact that Richard was supposed to stay out of it. Richard was supposed to think she had given up completely on this side case, that she had agreed that she wouldn’t look into it more. By the time she was back in her room the email had been sent, the request was made, and there was still no word back from Nick. Not putting too much thought into she went to work on adding the info to her case file, adding it to her pile of notes and even did some touch up on reports for her actual purpose for being there.

Getting some of the paper work done she changed and crawled into bed turned on her tv knowing there wasn’t anything she could do until the morning on either case she was working on. Checking her cell phone she noticed she hadn’t missed a call and Nick still hadn’t gotten back to her. For some reason it was bugging her, like she was missing something, or maybe it was just her emotions getting the better of her. Nick was emotionally evolved in the case, he couldn’t have denied it no matter how hard he tried, so a possible crack in the case should have sparked some kind of imitated response either good or bad. There was the possibility he didn’t have the phone on him meaning he still hadn’t gotten the message but… that seemed unlikely as well, he was all about his work and if someone couldn’t get a hold of him, he wouldn’t be doing as well as he did.

Frustration entered her mind as she tossed the phone and quickly turned off the TV knowing she needed to stop thinking about such things. She wanted distance between Nick, so him not getting right back to her was a good thing, maybe he was thinking they needed distance too. Still… it was a gut feeling she had that something was off, it wasn’t like the night before she was battling the idea of what she was doing was right or wrong, this time there was something just… wrong and she hatted the fact she couldn’t put her finger on it. The words of Bruno entered her mind, him warning her that she was playing with fire…she was just praying now that she wasn’t about to get burned.

(( Out Of Cookies; Gah!
May take me a few post to get back into the swing of thing, I mean this was trash!
Had such a bad case of writers block. ))

▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀ ▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀ ▀▀▀▀▀▀ ▀▀▀▀ ▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀ ▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀ ▀▀▀▀ ▀▀▀▀▀ ▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀ ▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀

[icefire26]

xNicholas Russo

xxx¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx"Make a wish...

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx...it'll be your last"

xxx¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯

David was able to compose himself to gather himself off the ground and shuffled away from the unhappy mobsters. Jackson headed back instead leaving Sam and Nicholas out in the fresh air. Its funny how an area can be tainted and violent one moment then a moment later the wind blows it all away.

Nick's phone went off followed by a sigh. What now? he grumbled silently as he pulled the phone out of his jacket. It was from the little vixen herself. Reading it made his anger towards her come to a halt. His mind repeated the information of a 30-something year old and powder blue care.

"You seemed kind-of angry," Sammy started distracting Nick for a moment. Sam pulled out a cigarette for himself then offered one to his friend. "Everything all right?"

Nicholas eyes flickered to the phone briefly again as if to finally decide how he felt about this. "Yeah," he answered plucking a cigarette out. "This-this is good."

The text brought hope. That message also meant that she had something to hold over him. Minutes ago, he was the one with all the power. Knowing a bit of her secret and having limited entanglement. Whoever Maria was he had something that she wanted. And now, Maria had something he could admit to wanting.
(It always looks larger in word. -pokes post- But anyways I'm back!!! ^_^ )

[Princess De Luna]

▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀ ▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀ ▀▀▀▀▀▀ ▀▀▀▀ ▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀ ▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀ ▀▀▀▀ ▀▀▀▀▀ ▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀ ▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀

xxxSpecial Agent...
xxxSpecial Agent...Maria Braford
xxxSpecial Agent...Maria Brafordxxxxxxxxx...of the FBI
xxx¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯
"How about a....
"How about a.... strong shot of honest
"How about a....strong shot of honest, ...don't you owe that to me?"

xxx¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯

Maria wasn’t long waiting inside a little café restaurant where another order of coffee was ordered in the meantime. Bruno finally came looking chipper and actually happy to be there, or maybe it just seemed that way against Maria’s own attitude towards life that day. When the conversation started, moods changed quickly, Bruno once again got nervous and scared actually pissing Maria off in one way. Of course she should have expected this to happen, no one leaves the family, and now Bruno was just getting cold feet. It would take her close to a half an hour and a purchase of a meal before Bruno would come back to reality and the idea of turning state again. Decisions were made to get a police escort even done from Bruno’s place the Friday to get him and his wife to the airport, it seemed to be a good solution, she on the other hand would be armed and dangerous at that point, and be able to show her badge with getting on the plane and no longer be this damn Maria Romano. Maria Romano had way to many issues of dealing with what was right and wrong, Maria Bradford would be back to knowing what was truly right, and back to the idea that justice in the end was what mattered.

It was like Bruno could tell there was some kind of turmoil under Maria’s surface as the conversation between the two of them became strangely quite at times. “You’re a smart woman Maria, so you don’t need me telling you that what you’re doing here is playing with fire,” Bruno finally said randomly at one point towards the end of the meeting looking up at her with a serious tone making her stop and try and figure out what he was getting at. “Nicholas is pretty smart guy, one of Vince’s best and he’s got loyalty to him… watch your back is all I’m saying,” Bruno finally spelled it out for her to avoided any confusion.

Maria sat there for a moment taking in his words, knowing that on some level they were true, still she couldn’t let it really be knowing as she smiled and forced a chuckle in return. “I’ve dealt with bigger bad-er guys than Nick, I’ll be fine. You are the one who I want to do double takes,” Maria pushed it off as but still there was a glimmer in Bruno’s eyes to know he wasn’t completely buying it. Maria moved back to business, pushing the fact that Bruno was to make sure he got all the copies of the reports he had when it came to finances, business dealings, and anything else that he could get his hands on. Ducking and covering was mixed in the list as well as if there is ever an emergency or any kind of tip that he or she was discovered that he was to call a number that he was given and they’d get out at that moment.

The meeting took the afternoon which she was actually thankful for, and by taking notes with what Bruno had so far she would take them back and locking them in her safe in the hotel taking a moment to say a mental note to her badge and gun… she still felt weird without having them on daily. Gathering her own things she left again noting the time coming close to even hours, taking a cab she headed back to where Nick and her were that morning, buy a yet another coffee at the same little café that the screaming match happed at and took a seat there just sitting. It was a lengthy process which she killed time by doing digital notes on her phone, keeping eyes out for runners and dog walkers.

Finally people would start to show, approaching the passer byes she introduced herself as, ‘Maria Romano, private eye’, figuring that if she said she was a cop, they may one day ask for her at the station which wouldn’t go well, and giving her real FBI status somehow may have tracked back to people she didn’t want knowing. Still with the amount of information given she may as well have said her name was, ‘Annie Oakley, a farmer hick’. People were either ones who didn’t live in the area years before, or don’t even really remember the shooting at all. Things were being to look hopeless as things finally turned dark and the street was being coming even more dead then before. Just about to give it in, she was stopped when seeing two women walking dogs coming down the street where she shrugged her shoulders figuring what the hell. Walking up to the women Maria gave her false introduction and explained her purpose of why she was there and what she was looking for, yet when the one woman said, “I remember that night, god that was awful, reason we started walking together,” it at least perked Maria’s ears.

“You do remember? Uh… were you threw this area before or after the shooting?” Maria asked the women wondering if they would no remember anything useful.

“We were threw before, like minutes, we were down the block when the actual shooting happened,” the other woman began to explain as she held a sad expression on her face from the memory of it all. “I mean… I’m not sure what we could tell you, we weren’t there for the actual event,” she pushed further admitting her confusion but Maria didn’t care at that moment.

Maria smiled and shook her head in response, “It’s okay… now I know it’s been a long time but… do you remember anything from this area of the street? I mean didn’t you notice any people, or any certain cars, anything like that?” Maria asked as the women then looked to one another as they started to think. Maria gave them a few moments to think it over as they looked like they were about to shake their heads, no, they couldn’t have just not remember nothing! “I mean… did you see anyone standing around that normally wasn’t there, anyone that gave you the creeps maybe?” Maria said trying poke at feels that some people got when they just knew a situation just wasn’t right.

“Uh… well…” the one woman said trying to think, “There was a guy standing by the tree I remember for some reason,” she said pointing back to the tree which had been discussed between Nick and Maria that morning. “I remember him because he was smoke an ill smelled cigar, I found it odd for this neighbour, he was well dressed too, suit I remember,” the woman continued explaining suddenly triggering the memory of the other woman as she nodded her head in agreement.

“Right, he was… I don’t know maybe mid-thirties, white… I just remember the smell of the cigar, we smelt it up the block even,” the woman continued explaining wrinkling her nose in discuses. It was apparent that Maria wasn’t the only anit-smoker around. “I do also remember a really old beat up car going down the street when he headed up the block,” the woman continued on explaining as Maria had already pulled out a pen and started to frantically start to scribble things down on a piece of paper only pausing slightly when the woman explained the car and raised an eyebrow. The woman shrugged her shoulders, “I remember it because it was a powdered blue colour, really old and rusted in a lot of the frames… honestly didn’t belong on the road in my opinion, and it was loud.”

Maria couldn’t help but smile, were things actually looking up for her? I mean actually looking up to turn into something good. “Okay… so a man mid-thirties white, and a powder blue rusted car, any other details can you remember like was the man clean shaved, was the car a four or two door?” Maria asked giving suggestions as the woman started to think again.

“I think the man was clean shaved, as for the car it was four door, and loud… that’s all I really remember I mean… it looked like it belonged in a wrecking yard to be honest, I’m surprised it even ran,” the woman gave finial thoughts which triggered one in Maria’s head, a if someone could get a working vehicular from a wrecking yard that would be a great vehicle to use right? “We’re sorry… we just don’t remember anything else,” the woman explained for the both of them still leaving Maria smiling.

Maria shook her head, “No, no, that’s great but in case you do remember anything… here’s my number, and please do not hesitate to call at all,” Maria said tearing off a piece of paper writing down her number and name passing it to the women wishing she could just use her actual business cards but still… it was great news what she had just gotten, things were looking good. Maria thanked them again and let the woman go on their way before picking up her own phone calling a cab for her own ride and while waiting for it sent a text message to Nick saying, ‘Male clean shaven mid-thirties, powder blue rusted four door car’ and that was it. She had made a promise she would let him know about news as soon as she knew… even if her plan was distance this was good news that she couldn’t just keep to herself, and Nick deserved to know. Things at least seemed to be working out at least a little bit after the awful day.

(( Out Of Cookies; haha... she thinks things are good, and Nick's pissed because he knows she's lying Oh boy!
lol and yeah... no obsession is still here, may get to see him in May... just maybe! ))

▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀ ▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀ ▀▀▀▀▀▀ ▀▀▀▀ ▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀ ▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀ ▀▀▀▀ ▀▀▀▀▀ ▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀ ▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀

[icefire26]

xNicholas Russo

xxx¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx"Make a wish...

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx...it'll be your last"

xxx¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯

Hours later Nick was back gambling with everyone else again. It might look like they were messing around again but in fact Vince's boys were working tonight. Nicholas, Sam, Vince's son, Jackson and about five other men were playing at various tables. Most used the houses money in order to keep it away from the "innocent" citziens who decdied to play in this den of thieves.

Despite Vince's planted people an outside player was having all of the lot. His winnings doubled the next closest person. Nick tossed his cards folding, bad cards and a only a few chips left meant he had to choose his battles here. As he watched the others play his hand his phone went off.

"I'm going to go take this. Don't let David over there kick your guys a** while I'm away," he teased.

Once outside he picked up the phone being glad it was still ringing. "What do you got for me Hank?" Nick asked looking up at the street lights thinking they might magically turn on any second.

"Evening and bad news. The number you gave me from Maria's contact book turned up to be a government number in New York. I don't have the resources to tell you who exactly she called but I can tell you for sure as hell wasn't a simply answer like the dmv. There is no Maria Romano living in Manhattan. Whoever that girl claims to be she is lieing," Hank explained.

"What! Why didn't you call me sooner with this?" Nick exclaimed.

"You do remember I have paying cilents right?"

Nicholas sighed into the phone trying to remain calm. It was hard through this was really bad and even hated being fooled. Still he wanted whoever this Maria's help. It would explain how a people who came for guns was such a decent dectective herself. "I got to go back to work now, thanks for the wonderful news," Nick said scarastically.

"Sorry man, thank you later," Hank said hanging out.

Nick walked back inside, even if he wanted to do something about Maria right now he couldn't. He had to focus on one task at time. If he spun this right he still might be able to keep the advantage.
"Seriously, Sam what happened? You had like a thousand bucks when I left," Nick asked sitting back down noting his buddy was now out of the game.

Sammy shurged before speaking, "I went all in at the wrong time."

David sat one man over with a grin on his face. "That you did my friend, but I thank you for that," he said as he gathered up his winnings, "Actually I think I'm going to head out now." The men said their goodbyes and Jackson was gone.

Jackson gestured towards Sammy and another man to follow him out and to recieve his fathers money. The order was wordless and discrete so they didn't alert the other nice folk who were losing money.

Twenty minutes or so past and no still one came back. "Why do you go find out whats taking them," Jackson suggested. Nick nodded and headed outside again the night grew darker just in the short time. It seemed fitting though since he wasn't in the mood for anymore bullshit tonight.

Nicholas found all three man almost right away. They all made it down the street a bit out of hearing distance but still not very far. Davids face was roughed up his arms were held behind him by one of Vince's guys. Sammy was standing off to the side talking to David, his own bloody knuckled suggested that he hadn't been talking to whole time.

Nicholas moved closer not in a rush or any sort. "Nick!" David pleaded upon seeing who he hoped to be his rescue, "Please, I got a family. Out of everyone I think you'd understand."

"Oh I do," Nick answered coldly. They looked at each other in the moment and the hope in David's eyes vanished. Nicholas slugged him in the stomach taking all of his anger about the phone call out in the swing.

David groaned only not slumping over because of the man holding him up. Soon enough he found the ground being pushed towards it. Nick crouched down by him not worried about being attacked himself since the guy was trying to breathe over the pain. "You see now David, no one cheats us."

(OCC: Tehe, maybe someday you can get past your Hunter obsession =P)

[Princess De Luna]

▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀ ▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀ ▀▀▀▀▀▀ ▀▀▀▀ ▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀ ▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀ ▀▀▀▀ ▀▀▀▀▀ ▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀ ▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀

xxxSpecial Agent...
xxxSpecial Agent...Maria Braford
xxxSpecial Agent...Maria Brafordxxxxxxxxx...of the FBI
xxx¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯
"How about a....
"How about a.... strong shot of honest
"How about a....strong shot of honest, ...don't you owe that to me?"

xxx¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯

Nick took the news of her short stay better then she expected, or maybe better then she had hopped? What did it matter, shouldn’t she had been just looking for the signs that he did still wanted to work with her? Take all the good he gave her way as she deserved none of it? Still maybe it was the idea that her leaving in nine days was a fact which made it so easy to accept, it wasn’t her choice it was what was going to happen with or without her want to. There was part of her that for some reason was seeking maybe some kind of approval from him, or some kind of acceptance though which she couldn’t shake from her no matter how hard she tried. Maybe it was part of her figuring that if she got good in with him now that he wouldn’t take the news of her being an agent so hard, but really, wouldn’t it do the complete opposite?

It was because of those thoughts and question that ran threw her head which caused her no sleep the night before, and they made her silent while sitting in the car not paying too much attention to the world around her. How had she managed to get into the stupid mess she was in now anyway? None of this went the way she planned, none of it and now she was just trying to play along. Finally they arrived at the hotel and Nick stopped in the drop off lane for her to jump out and asked of seeing each other later. Maybe more distance would have been good for both of them? She could work on the case, and maybe it could cut back on the strong desire she had to do right by him, and gain his acceptance she was who she was, who was he to change her? Still she gave a smile looking over at him, “Yeah sure, call me, thanks for the ride,” she said giving him a smile. So she wouldn’t call him unless she had anything, but it still had the potential for some distance to be put between them without making it seemed forced.

Maria softly moved her in hand in a wave like gesture before she jumped out of the car trying her best not to look back at the car as she headed into the hotel. Distance, that’s what she needed she was becoming too emotionally involved with the case, it was going to cost her big, could cost her the case, her career, or worse her life if she didn’t start watching what she was doing. Still determined to solve Rachael’s crime she wouldn’t give that up, that was just justice there she was trying to pursue but she needed to listen to Richard and start looking at what she had come there for. Once inside out of the noise of the city she pulled out her cell and started to call Bruno up, the go to man she original started with and really shouldn’t have left. The conversation was short and sweet, a meeting was arranged to take place within the hour, it would be better for it to happen face to face and in a place which should have held enough of a privacy for the conversation to keep a secret.

(( Out Of Cookies; lol it's okay
So my post was rather plain,
I'll do the meeting next post just wanted to post something but my minds been on like a lot of youtube videos and such as a of late as a way from homework breaks
Need to stop doing that, it's really going to ruin my brain.
I've watched way to much Hunter Hayes video's today alone... It's an obsession I must get past. lol ))

▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀ ▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀ ▀▀▀▀▀▀ ▀▀▀▀ ▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀ ▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀ ▀▀▀▀ ▀▀▀▀▀ ▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀ ▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀

[icefire26]

xNicholas Russo

xxx¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx"Make a wish...

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx...it'll be your last"

xxx¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯

"Hotel it is," he said almost sounding like an obedient cab dirver. Nick might have objected more to driving her everywhere she pleased if he didn't enjoy driving so much. Most people lost the enjoyment of driving soon after they got their license but not him.

"Nine days?" Nick repeated then whistled an wowed little tune. In some ways that seemed like a lot of time.That would her whole trip what about two weeks? That was more then enough time to work out business deals but it didn't seem like enough time for anything else. The city wouldn't win her over in that amount of time and convicne her to say. Nine more days was also a drop in the bucket when it came to solving old cold cases. "I guess that will have to do,"

Nicholas tried to hold back his personal thoughts about when she was going to leave. It didn't really matter what he thought of them. He wasn't the one paying her, nor the person in her bed. There wasn't much power he had besides which direction to point the car. They pulled up to the hotel making use of the drop off lane. "All right sounds good," he said, "So, see you later some time?"

(Nah.. mine was slow and meh. Sorry!)

[Princess De Luna]

▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀ ▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀ ▀▀▀▀▀▀ ▀▀▀▀ ▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀ ▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀ ▀▀▀▀ ▀▀▀▀▀ ▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀ ▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀

xxxSpecial Agent...
xxxSpecial Agent...Maria Braford
xxxSpecial Agent...Maria Brafordxxxxxxxxx...of the FBI
xxx¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯
"How about a....
"How about a.... strong shot of honest
"How about a....strong shot of honest, ...don't you owe that to me?"

xxx¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯

Walking back to the car it was apparent that whatever happened between them and the screaming outburst was put behind them. No more would be said about it, it was a silent agreement between the two, maybe it was said when they acknowledge that they did understand each other on some off level. Once back in the car Maria pulled down her folder and organized the file she was using back inside of it and placing things in order. More things to help her out, hopefully. “Hotel would be great actually,” Maria smirked looking over at him hearing him call her partner was nice… it was almost like she was working with her real partner, someone she could trust. “Need to make some phone calls, plus I’ve got to do some actual business,” Maria sighed as if she didn’t really want to do her actual work.

She thought back to the phone call with Richard, she should be getting in touch with Bruno, it would be soon time to move him out, move him out before the actually took down Vince, the other way around may have been dangerous. “Talking about work…” Maria dragged out, not really wanting to say but figuring it was bet for Nick to know the time limit they were now on. “My boss called, my tickets been booked for next week, gives us nine days,” Maria popped out in pure honesty as she clipped the folder close and allowed it to rest on her lap as she looked over towards Nick. “Really, I’m lucky he’s giving me this much time... but still, I’ve worked with less,” Maria explained putting more a hopeful spin on things. She was in no way giving up on Nick’s case, she just needed him to know the facts about what was going to happen. “So tonight I’ll come back to the café and do my own thing, and then let you know how that goes and if we get anything then maybe we can go hunting for more information tomorrow,” Maria explained her thought process to her tempary partner.

(( Out Of Cookies; So... that was a fail >.< ))

▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀ ▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀ ▀▀▀▀▀▀ ▀▀▀▀ ▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀ ▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀ ▀▀▀▀ ▀▀▀▀▀ ▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀ ▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀

[icefire26]

xNicholas Russo

xxx¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx"Make a wish...

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx...it'll be your last"

xxx¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯

He helped pull Maria up then let go of her hand right away. The last thing he needed was to was add more emotions and hold her hand again. What Nicholas did like was that Maria picked partner for him instead of victim. The pity the came with the second was almost as annoying as guilt she has dished out to him earlier.

"To the car it is," he said as they decided to pack it in. Once back in the door he looked over to the papers wondering if he would ever be done with this bit of land or not. It was a possibility that this bit of land would be ever craved into his life. A fixed point in time holding everything together.

The traffic was even lighter now so he didn't have to wait long as he shifted his car into drive picking a random direction for the time being. "Where to partner?" he mused not knowing where she wanted to go next. Possibility the hotel but she could really want to go anywhere. The two weren't officially partners. Maria was originally brought down to trade money for weapons and strengthen Vince's ties to other big cities. The fact that they keep doing things together was simply accidental. Or maybe something more, fate maybe? The last official partner he had was Sam but that hadn't been for at least six months. Besides that brief outing, Nick has to remind himself that his passenger was not his new partner in crime. A bit disappointing since he liked to work in teams.

[Princess De Luna]

▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀ ▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀ ▀▀▀▀▀▀ ▀▀▀▀ ▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀ ▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀ ▀▀▀▀ ▀▀▀▀▀ ▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀ ▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀

xxxSpecial Agent...
xxxSpecial Agent...Maria Braford
xxxSpecial Agent...Maria Brafordxxxxxxxxx...of the FBI
xxx¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯
"How about a....
"How about a.... strong shot of honest
"How about a....strong shot of honest, ...don't you owe that to me?"

xxx¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯

Maria looked over towards him when he at least made a noise and saw the smile dance on his face making her smile back, yeah… quite a pair they were. Both screwed up individuals really, and just trying their best to get out of the situation on hand. When he said it was just how the lives of the illegal worked it made her grin more, oh it was just more then those lives, the apparently uprights and legal life was turning to be no picnic in this case but she thought it would be better not to say anything. Maria looked at him as he said that it was time to get up, and that they were ruining their clothes by sitting there… they were but Maria was use to that idea. “I guess,” Maria said reaching up and taking Nick’s offered hand to help herself to her feet where she then would brush herself up after.

“So, partner… I promise I’ll try and go a little more sensitive next time,” Maria said giving him a half smile, it was in a way her best try to compromise in the middle. It was so she could still be honest with him but still trying not to be so rough around the edges of the subject. “So… if your done here, so am I.” she settled on giving him a shrug ready to get going, she’d come back that night for her own investigation but waiting around all day would just be a waste.

(( Out Of Cookies; No, no I agree, completely went with the flow. ))

▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀ ▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀ ▀▀▀▀▀▀ ▀▀▀▀ ▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀ ▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀ ▀▀▀▀ ▀▀▀▀▀ ▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀ ▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀

[icefire26]

xNicholas Russo

xxx¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx"Make a wish...

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx...it'll be your last"

xxx¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯

Nick broke into a smile even though it was more of a "we understand each other after all" type of thing then one born out of a good mood. Even though he didn't know he was screwing things up for Maria he seemed to have a knack for making situations more complicated. To be fair she wasn't making his life easier either. "Ahhhh," he said just making noise then a real words at first, tapping his fingers against the ground, "I guess that happens in wonderfully illegal lives like ours."

"Come on let's get off the ground. We are getting our nice clothes dirty," Nick continuing getting up from the side walk using the wall to help. Once up his brushed his pants off offering his hand to help her up.

(OCC: Sorry its short, seems to flow this way feel free to jump anywhere if you want to push to forward more)

[Princess De Luna]

▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀ ▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀ ▀▀▀▀▀▀ ▀▀▀▀ ▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀ ▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀ ▀▀▀▀ ▀▀▀▀▀ ▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀ ▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀

xxxSpecial Agent...
xxxSpecial Agent...Maria Braford
xxxSpecial Agent...Maria Brafordxxxxxxxxx...of the FBI
xxx¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯
"How about a....
"How about a.... strong shot of honest
"How about a....strong shot of honest, ...don't you owe that to me?"

xxx¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯

Nick looked rather hellish, but was at least attempting to pull it together, she was sympathetic towards him. She turned to rest her head against the wall as she looked over to him, see him laugh, most likely at her comment of he didn’t deserve it, he thought he did, of course he did, he blamed himself, the way she said how it all went down, she in a roundabout blamed Nick. Oh yeah, she knew how to screw up right left and center. Nick finally spoke back to her own question admitting he didn’t know, then again she could see why. He wanted to figure it out and get answers but… it was obviouse the topic hit way to close to home and his emotions were raw on the subject. Still Maria stayed silent as she just sat there and looked over at him, listening to him admit he wasn’t mad at her… well not really mad. Maria smirked slightly, she would have said it was bullshit, he was mad that she brought up the point but… she understood anyway. He then asked her a question almost like he was trying to get to the root of some of his own problem.

Maria sat there thinking about it for a bit, it seemed like the right thing to do, he wanted a serious answer was her guess. She slowly started to nod her head, yeah she didn’t know who she was. Last week she figured she was the good guy, out to do what was right in the world, help other families who had lost loved ones. This week she was just a two timing con-arties, one of the worst people around. “Yeah,” she verbally said rolling her head so it faced forward again. “All the freakin’ time lately,” she admitted to him, in way she should have been blaming Nick, it was supposed to be an easy mission and she was supposed to use Nick like any other mobster, no learn about his good nature and his last and… damn it all, he screwed it up.

(( Out Of Cookies; lol just a bit razz ))

▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀ ▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀ ▀▀▀▀▀▀ ▀▀▀▀ ▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀ ▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀ ▀▀▀▀ ▀▀▀▀▀ ▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀ ▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀

[icefire26]

xNicholas Russo

xxx¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx"Make a wish...

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx...it'll be your last"

xxx¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯

Nick stretched legs out blocking the sideway but luckily it didn't seem like anyone was heading this way. His arms were at his side, head tilted back, cigarette staying in put with gravity's help. The time alone helped him to mentally build himself back up, get control over his emotions again. The last time he had lost control it ended up with him being arrested for assault. At least this time he hadn't thrown a punch.

Maria found him walking around to take a seat by this point not even his coffee was left. His tilted his head rolling it against the wall waiting for her to say something. When she didn't, he didn't ruin the silence either just straighten his head watching the cars go by.

It seemed Maria was trying to bring him back over. Her words were actually a sorry but they were at least a confession of her being a jerk. That was at least something. Nicholas let out a small laugh at her last words. Didn't deserve this? Hadn't she basically said it was his fault.

Either way, what did he want to be treated like? "I don't know," Nick answered softly. He wanted to be an equal about this but deep down he was the grieving victim. "I'm not really mad at you. Not really. It's just," he said taking a deep breath, "Do you ever just not know who you are?"

[Princess De Luna]

▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀ ▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀ ▀▀▀▀▀▀ ▀▀▀▀ ▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀ ▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀ ▀▀▀▀ ▀▀▀▀▀ ▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀ ▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀

xxxSpecial Agent...
xxxSpecial Agent...Maria Braford
xxxSpecial Agent...Maria Brafordxxxxxxxxx...of the FBI
xxx¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯
"How about a....
"How about a.... strong shot of honest
"How about a....strong shot of honest, ...don't you owe that to me?"

xxx¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯

And the dirt came flooding as Nick was pissed yelling at Maria before storming off making her roll her eyes at the reaction, as if he was a child and was told he couldn’t have his favourite toy. Did Maria deserve it? Yeah… she did and there was no denying that. She was a b***h to him there but it was done, she was honest and told him what he needed to hear. Stepping outside of the café away from some staring eyes she looked down the street to see he hadn’t gone to the car… so far she was stuck, she needed that file before she left. Taking a seat on the outside patio she figured Nick needed some time to cool off before she even attempted to go after him. If she had gone after him in that second that was when things would have been worse.

Sitting back in the chair she ignored the stares from the people who had overheard the outburst and wondered what the deal was. A distraction came quickly as her phone started to ring making her pull it out of her pocket and check to see Richard calling her. “Yeah?” Maria simply answered no longer in the mood for simple pleasantries, in her own way telling Richard to be quick to the point in the conversation.

“Good day we’re having I see,” he still commented on her tone anyway but moved on, “So your ticket’s booked for next Friday, we take what we got then, give you a little over a week,” Richard explained making Maria sigh. Great news, now she was forced to be leaving, less the a week to solve a cold case? Yeah… like that was going to happen. Still… maybe it was for the best, she had been too involved, allowing her emotions to get the best of her more than once while she was there… being pulled out was most likely for the best. “Did you hear me?” Richard asked as she realized she still hadn’t replied.

“Yeah… a week Friday, got it. I’ll get my a** back there and it’ll be over, we move on,” Maria sighed out placing down the coffee to rub her temple. “Anything else you wanted me to know? Or is that it?” Maria pushed further picking up the coffee to take a drink which now put Richard to a silent mode. “Well?” Maria asked impatiently.

“You alright?” Richard asked finally. Ha… was she alright? She was fine, it was Nick who was pissed off at the moment, it was Nick who was being played by her. Maria, Maria was just fine, she’d be leaving within a week. “You’re not normally this snappy,” Richard commented on her personality, “If things aren’t going well I’ll be out there by night fall,” he added which made Maria unsure if that was a threat or a supporting solution.

“I’m fine, I got no sleep last night, so… if you don’t mind I’ve gotta go,” Maria said and barley gave enough time for Richard to say he was out before she hung up. Maria could continue to sit there and look towards the car knowing she needed that folder, she needed it before she left and she couldn’t break into the car, not that she even could if she tried. Giving Nick about ten minutes and after she finished her coffee she would throw out the take out cup and would start her way down the street but stop after noticing the Nick was sitting down beside the building. Sighing Maria puffed a breath up so it moved her hair before heading down the side of the building knowing it was a dangerous idea of her own.

Maria stayed silent as she walked down and moved to the other side of him before she slunked down the side of the walk to sit beside him. Sitting there she stayed quiet and just looked out in front of herself wondering how she should have even started to say with him. “I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again… you can’t take to heart everything I said. Was I a b***h? Yes. Did I deserved to be slugged for what I said? Oh most definitely,” Maria started off as hoping he would at least attempt to listen. “It’s my process, when I’m working with my partner I’m honest, I don’t let emotions to cloud me. When I’m dealing with a grieving victim I’m more sensitive now… do you want me to treat you like my partner or a grieving victim?” Maria said still on an honest approach with the subject but at least this time trying to be slightly more sensitive about the subject.

“You don’t deserve any of this Nicholas,” Maria said being completely honest about the subject as a whole. Thinking about everything she knew, and what she was holding back. “Believe what you want but that’s the honest truth of it all.”

(( Out Of Cookies; Awe... she's trying to make up.
I think she has an issue of being able just to say sorry to him.
She just never says those words. razz ))

▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀ ▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀ ▀▀▀▀▀▀ ▀▀▀▀ ▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀ ▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀ ▀▀▀▀ ▀▀▀▀▀ ▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀ ▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀▀

[icefire26]

xNicholas Russo

xxx¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx"Make a wish...

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx...it'll be your last"

xxx¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯

Nick really didn’t drink coffee that much but it was something you could drink all day long without people really complaining. “Yeah, go ahead,” he said encouraged. One of the workers was eye balling him looking displeased about something. He held his hands up in front of him before putting his cigarette out and tossing it away. Geez, some people got really crazy about that.

“Thanks,” said almost automatically she handed him a free coffee. Looked like fate handed him something else to hand onto now. He took a sip nodding along with her statement that the cops didn’t care. The next part he expecting her at least to sugar coat thing instead of completely telling him the cold hard truth. There weren’t a lot of people here with them but they were in public still. Speaking about the cops didn’t really bug him but she got much worse.

Nicholas stared at her for a moment as if his expression alone asked what was wrong with her. Maybe the fact that Maria called him one of Vince’s best workers multiple times was meant to help but it didn’t in the least. All he wanted to do was to take a swing at her and her little “ouch” and stupid air quotes. She was right they were where a family and he left on decent terms. Family didn’t hurt each other like that sure you fight but you get over it. Plus, if they were really such a tight group what right did she have to talk about their “father” like that.

She tried to make it better by saying there was still hope. That the there was enough pieces to be figured out. But what sort of hope did he have if the only connections he had left were the very thing that toppled his happily ever after?

“You know what? You are a f---ing b***h,” he spit going on passive emotional to a sudden hate in his voice. Nick turned around and left the café not wanting to spend a second more with her right now. He walked around the side of the building stopping around the corner where no one inside could watch him.

The worst thing wasn’t that she blamed Vince for it. The part that really pissed him off that Maria blamed him for Rachel’s death in a way that he had always had blamed himself. Everyone had told him he was overreacting for such thoughts. Everyone even including people who shouldn’t have been on his side about the matter. Whatever, like she knew anything. She didn’t see how upset Vince was at her funeral, she hadn’t been there when it happened.

He wasn’t a freaking pawn to be used and played like that. Nicholas’s clenched his fist so tight that his fingers had a white tint to them. But still what if it was true? After reaching back to find the wall behind Nick slowly brought himself down to the sidewalk. He set the coffee down not really wanting it right now and dug into his suit jacket, shakily tapping out a cigarette from the package. That seemed to be the last one ruining his chain smoking for the rest of the day.