Luke walked down the long corridor of the old warehouse. In the front, there were several small offices- the back was made up of smaller rooms that held electronics or other goods. In the very back, the back that no one unauthorized ever visited, was the larger rooms and behind them the loading docks.

This corridor, this long, narrow corridor with no doors except one at the end and one at the front, was only used by one person... unless that person invited someone else to do so. As he walked, Luke began cracking his knuckles and flexing his arms. Today someone was going to talk. And so, as he reached the end, the door opened and he strolled through.

"In the back?" Luke asked the man who held the door open without bothering to look his way.

"Yes sir." the man said, closing the door behind him.

Luke moved then towards a group of men who stood beyond a wall of crates, and as the clicking of his shoes grew louder, they turned to face him.

"So..." Luke said as he cleared the crates. "Who do we have here?"

"Perry White." Marco said, staring at the man who was now sitting in a metal chair, arms and legs bound. Luke walked around him quietly, taking in every last inch of his appearance. He was a thin man, pale, marked skin and eyes that seemed to be sunken into his face. His hair was thinned out to the point that you could see his scalp, where large scaly patches seemed to cover most of it. He was crying, his mouth open as he did so, revealing that most of his teeth had long gone.

"Where'd you pick him up?" Luke asked, stopping in front of him and taking his sunglasses off. He tucked them slowly into the pocket of his blazer, and then began to take that off too.

"Out by the gravel pit in south town." Marco said, taking Luke's coat and placing it down on a nearby table.

"Those boys sure love to dump things there." Luke said folding up his sleeves. "Hey... Hey."

He slapped the man a couple of times gently, trying to get him to focus.

"Please... Please." the man said, looking towards Luke, his eyes rolling back.

"He's fucking high as a kite." Luke said with a grin and a shake of his head.

"Actually, I think he's in withdrawals." Marco said.

"So tell me why Mr. White is here. You mentioned he was an interesting find." Luke said, taking a few steps back.

"Mr. White isn't just your everyday neighborhood addict, his name is on the deed for the offices you visited the Russo Brothers in." Marco said. Luke raised his brow.

"Well holy shit." Luke said, turning to him. "This is how they've been moving around undetected?"

"Yep. They're using the names of their clients on leases." Marco said. "and keeping them so doped up they do and sign whatever those bastards want."

"Jesus, they could be anywhere." Luke said.

"We'll find them. For now, I say we let him detox and see what we can get from him once he's straight." Marco said and Luke nodded.

"Fine. Keep him alive... feed him if he wants it." Luke said to the men and then snapped his fingers at Marco. "and untie him, he needs rest. Come on."

Marco picked up Luke's blazer and tossed it at him as they walked back out.

"So." Marco said when they had passed through the door and were back in the corridor.

"So?" Luke repeated, adjusting his collar.

"When are you seeing her again?" Marco asked, "That's if you didn't change your mind yet."

Luke smiled. No, he hadn't. She might be the most difficult and annoying woman he'd dealt with so far but she was also one of the most amusing.

"I'm seeing her tomorrow night." Luke said simply.

"That's funny because I'm sure that I heard her say for you to leave her alone." Marco said, holding back a chuckle.

"She's confused but I'll help her figure it out." Luke said with shrug.

"She doesn't sound confused." Marco replied. 

"She doesn't know she is." Luke said.

"Well her parents sent us the proposal yesterday. It's a great offer. I'm impressed by how quickly they put it together." Marco said, watching Luke.

"I saw that and I fully plan to accept." Luke said. "I just have a few counters, I'll need to set up another meeting. I think for Friday."

"Consider it done." Marco said.

"I need you to do something else for me." Luke said.

"Flowers?" Marco asked, making Luke turn to him.

"Am I growing that predictable?" Luke asked.

"No, It's actually been a while." Marco said, "to her home? I thought you promised."

"I promised I wouldn't go visit. She never said I couldn't send her a present." Luke said, "There's another thing too."

Marco raised a brow as they finally reached the door at the end of the hall.

"Yeah?" Marco asked.

"This." Luke said, taking out his phone and sending him a text. Marco raised his brow and took out his phone.

"Really?" Marco said. "What makes you think she'll want one?"

"She does. Trust me." Luke said. "and even if she doesn't, she'll love it anyway since it comes from me."

Marco tried not to laugh- Luke was always very confident.

"Today?" Marco asked.

"Yes, today."

---

"Hey! Echo... get in here and help us." Lena said as Echo passed the family room.

Echo slowed down and stopped, noticing that she and Maru had posters and markers scattered around the floor.

"What is it this time?" Echo asked, walking in.

"Reproductive rights!" Lena said excitedly as she drew. Echo nodded with a sigh.

"Sorry guys, I have to finish up some work." Echo said, backing out of the scene in the family room. After everything that had been going on lately, she just did not have the energy to deal with this.

When it came to social justice issues, the Reid sisters each had their very own particular way of supporting the causing that they believed in. Each of them had very strong opinions that were based on the way that they had been raised, their personal experiences and the impact of their well rounded education. 

Romy, for example, was a major donor for women's abortion access and although she didn't show up for protests or march with signs, she was a board member for at least one pro choice non profit. Vera and Echo were both supporters of immigrant's right but whereas Echo limited herself to financially supporting organizations because of her many social shortcomings, Vera provided pro bono legal aid on a case by case basis.

Then there was the twins, who at the moment were jumping on board the pro choice, reproductive justice movement but were liable to switch at any moment. They still hadn't found their social justice 'baby' yet but they loved to show up and be loud at any protest they could get too.

"Come on, they're trying to strike birth control from the campus health center." Maru called out to Echo but she was already several steps down the hall.

As Echo filled her coffee mug in the kitchen, she remembered all the times those girls had tried making her show up for one thing or another and how many times she had said no. She almost felt guilty over it, after all, they would show up for her if she asked and Maru had really helped her out lately.

"You look guilty." Romy said, interrupting Echo's thoughts. Echo glanced over at the clock, realizing how late it was getting.

"Momentary lapse in judgement." Echo said regarding her remorse.

"I hate it when that happens. I see the twins are fighting another war this week." Romy said with a shrug.

"It's nice that they care about something." Vera said, walking into the kitchen. Romy rolled her eyes. Sometimes it was like Vera was constantly scolding her for being who she was.

"Mom and dad on their way?" Echo said, feeling slightly uncomfortable and preparing to leave the room as she picked up her coffee mug.

"They were just pulling into the driveway." Vera said, noting the coffee. "Oh Echo, isn't it a bit late for coffee?"

"It's only 6pm, It'll be fine." Echo said. "Mom and Dad are never here this early."

"They are when they're sure we've got company coming." Romy said, making Echo stiffen. It couldn't be?

Echo heard the footsteps coming down the hall and the sound of her parents laughing and talking. No, he promised he wouldn't come... it couldn't be. Romy and Vera glanced at each other as Echo put the mug down and quickly moved into the hall.

No, no, no, no... no.

"George." Echo said, realizing it was not Luke she was about to face.

"And Ben? Nice to see you too." Ben said, almost feeling offended that Echo had not said anything to him. Echo relaxed and let out a sigh.

"Sorry, I'm all over the place lately." Echo said.

"Usually, dear. You meant to say usually." Romy said with a grin as she and Vera popped out of the kitchen.

"Oh leave her alone." Vera said.

"Hey! George." Maru said, walking out of the living room with a smile. She wrapped her arms around him tightly before turning to her brother.

"Lena, it's George and Ben!" Maru called out. You could hear some shuffling in the living room and then Lena finally made an appearance.

"Hi." Lena said, moving to hug her brother and then doing the same with George. "Karen not joining?"

George looked at Lena for a second before shaking his head.

"No, she had somethings to take care of on her own." George said, turning back to the others. "But she wishes she could be here."

"I'm sure we'll get to have her over again soon. Come on, make yourself comfortable while I go check on what cook's got going on." Alice said, moving towards the kitchen.

"I'll come with you." Vera replied immediately, as always wanting to be of some use.

"Come on, Lena, let's pick up our mess." Maru said, strolling back into the living room with everyone following.

"You two look like a couple of kids doing finger paintings." Ben said, trying not to laugh as he watched them pack everything up.

"I feel like a kid whenever I do this." Maru said with a smile.

"Well, we're not! We're 20." Lena said suddenly. Echo watched her, Lena really hated being compared to a child.

"No, I suppose you're right. You two have grown up before we even noticed." George said with a sigh.

"I'll be back in a second." Echo said, searching her mind for an excuse not to come down until dinner was being served but as she walked into the hall, she heard the front bell ring and for some reason, she stopped and turned.

"Don't worry, I've got it." Echo called out as she reached the door.

"Hello?" Echo said, inspecting the stranger. Judging by the uniform he was some sort of delivery man.

"Ms. Echo Reid?" He asked.

"Who is it?" Vera asked, appearing with her mother from within the kitchen.

"I have a delivery for Echo Reid." The man repeated to them as Echo had not responded.

"She's Echo." Alice said, patting her on the head gently.

"Sign here, please." He said, holding out a pen. Echo reached out and signed, confused about what was happening. Had she ordered something lately? She searched her mind...

"What'd you buy?" Vera asked as they moved and held the door open.

"I didn't buy..." Echo began to say but she stopped as the men started trailing in, each with a different flower arrangement in their arms.

"Oh my." Alice exclaimed, completely caught off guard.

"Where should we?" They asked. Alice and Vera turned to Echo who was staring completely in shock.

"Ummm Anywhere... in here." Alice said, realizing Echo had no idea what to do. She led the men into the living room, where immediately everyone stood and stared curiously.

"five... six... seven..." Maru set herself to the task of counting as the flower arrangements were being placed on any open counter top.

"What's going on?" Michael asked, coming back into the room.

"They're for Echo." Vera said, staring as more men came in. Echo slowly walked around the room, staring at all the colors.

"Twenty two." Maru said.

"Are you sure?" Vera asked and Maru nodded.

"Echo, who are these from?" Alice asked.

"I... I..." Echo tried to stutter out some explanation.

"I don't see a card." Lena said, fishing around.

"Excuse me, Ms. Reid?" The delivery man said, reappearing from the front door.

"Yes?" All five sisters asked in unison. He just stared at them for a second.

"Echo?" He asked and she stepped forward.

"Yes, sorry." Echo said. She could tell from before that he was still a little surprised that she was the sister getting the flowers.

"There's one more thing." He said, handing her a small box. She raised her brow and extended her arms curiously. "Well thank you for your time, you folks have a nice evening."

"What in the world just happened?" Romy asked staring at the door. 

"What's in the box?" Alice asked as Echo knelt down onto the floor.

Everyone watched in anticipation as she pulled back the tie and opened the lid.

"Oh my god." Echo muttered, followed by the collective gasp in the room. A smile slowly crept onto her face then.

"He's beautiful." Maru said with a big smile as Echo held a very small toy poodle in her hands.

"Yes, he is."