[h3] Dean and Anna [/h3]

Dean stood up straighter, giving Anna time to slip out from in front of him, which she did, the moment that Mika and Sam began making their plans. Dean took a long moment to look over Sam’s face, his own brain having a tiny little buzz at the familiarity he saw there, even if there was [I] nothing [/I] about the man that actually rang any bells. Dean nodded his head, “I can touch bases with management, and see if maybe I can get any information they have about correspondences and…things like that. Alright…”

“I’m going with Duke? I don’t know if Duke is um…available. He has that…thing…” Anna chimed in awkwardly, which just caused Dean to huff a frustrated sigh, not that he could say much about the connection his wife had made. It wasn’t as if it was a well kept secret that she had been sleeping with the ranger, or that the both of them weren’t…great at communication, about any of it. Couples therapy wasn’t exactly Dean’s thing.

“Mika, you want to come with me to sift through this stuff? We’ll let the rangers get to work, and my wife can decompress on her own. We’ll order her some coffee in a bit. I could use an extra set of eyes.” Dean waved his hand around, nodding his head toward the hall leading to his office as he stepped away, “Thank you both. Be safe out there and call me if you find out anything at all. No matter how small the information seems.”

Anna sighed, feeling like she had probably started a little bit of drama, while trying to tell Sam that she didn’t want to interrupt Duke, if he was with Esme. She knew he would be irritated at her, best friend or not. She reached out, and squeezed Sam’s hand, tilting her head with an awkward smirk, “Go on. I’ll grab him.” And she stepped away, off to find her best friend. Seeing that the door was mostly closed to Esme’s office, Anna simply leaned against the wall beside it for a moment, catching only a bit of what Esme said, and choosing to give them at least a moment. She knew that Duke needed it.

[h3] Duke [/h3]

Duke laughed softly, knowing that he could be pretty damn scary when he wanted to, white hat or not. Esme was right. But at least she confirmed that things were mostly taken care of. She could relax. She could take a moment to just breathe, if she would let herself. And that sigh that left her nose, with the way that Esme’s shoulders dropped at she leaned forward told him that she desperately needed it. If he was any more of a mans man, he would say that she needed her husband. She needed the support from the person that was supposed to know her better than anyone. But in that moment, he was happy it was him she was reaching for. He was happy it was him that she was touching foreheads with, “I’m not goin’ anywhere until I have to…”

He let her just breathe for a moment, “Well, after I get out of whatever work shit I’m about to be thrown into, today? I’m planning to cook some brisket. I’ll have to bring you some tomorrow. Leave it with Mika, so you have plenty to eat? You always did say food was one of my ‘love languages’.” Duke laughed softly, but then he lets that soft smile fall a little, nuzzling Esme’s nose gently, leaning into her touch as he does, “I’ll be careful. I ain’t got any reason to risk any more skin than I have to. Plus, the badge and the vest tends to clear a path in those places. Don’t worry about me. And I’ll have my phone on me…the whole time.” 

He tilted his head, hesitating for just a second, before pressing an oh so gentle kiss to Esme’s lips, reaching his other and up to pinch her chin. In the same moment, Anna quietly knocked on the door, not looking in, just keeping her back against that wall in the hall, “Duke? Chief wants us to head over and um…try to find out what’s happening at the venue. Take your time, but I thought I’d let you know.”

[h3] Beau and Cason [/h3]

Cason wrapped an arm around Natalia’s entire thigh, not figuring that anyone else in the room would really flinch at the show of affection, and support. He did his best to not panic at the message that lit up her phone, that he could see, even from where he was sitting. He read over it, as best he could, and let out another frustrated sigh. But he was drawn back to Natalia’s restlessness and how badly she wanted out of that room. Right when Beau chimed in, after Rosie, his best friend’s more bossy side immediately coming through, probably because Rosie was so upset and frustrated herself.

“I’m going out there. I’ll go out. I’ll push them back, with the threat of someone worse. I’ll get some people out of the way…” And Beau stepped up to the door, right as he heard some of the reinforcements screaming at fans in the hall, there to back him up, “See? My backup is here. Give me three minutes. Don’t come out the door.” 

And Beau nudged Rosie playfully, stepping out into the chaos with the other security guards that had already managed to start placing columns and ropes around the door and against the wall, giving them a clear line to walk out when they were ready. He joined them, using his broad long arms to push people back, a good ten to twenty feet on all sides of the ropes, so they couldn’t reach over and touch Natalia.

Whether she was safe back stage or not, was another struggle. But at least she could get out of the room. 

Cason sighed, hearing some of the noise dissipate as Beau worked his magic, and he tilted his head to lean a little closer to Natalia, “I almost want you to ask this freak where they plan to meet you backstage. See if I can get my hands on him…”