#cape cod trails

[moltengarnet]

Portals at the Local Trail (June 2023)

Some photography from a trail near my old house. I loved spending time here to get away from my family.

[harveyspictures]

Kennedy Legacy Trail in Hyannis MA. August 23, 2023. Over 60 years after JFK signed the legislation protecting the Cape Cod shoreline, we continue to benefit from the protection of the coastline.

[paulpingminho]

[swforester]

The Province Lands bike trail.

Provincetown MA 10/10/23

[briansolomonauthor]

Imagining Orleans

Kris and I are on our annual visit to Cape Cod. Every morning, we’ve stopped for breakfast and coffee at the Hot Chocolate Sparrow in Orleans, Massachusetts. This is located near the site of the former Old Colony Railroad Station (a component of the New Haven System). The railroad has been gone for more than half a century. Today little remains of the Old Colony at Orleans except the right of…

[capecodholidays]

Top 10 Scenic Hiking Trails On Cape Cod

Explore the hidden gems of Cape Cod beyond its famed beaches with our guide to the Top 10 Scenic Hiking Trails on Cape Cod. From serene salt marshes to towering dunes, these trails offer breathtaking views and adventures for all. Perfect for guests of vacation rental properties seeking a unique Cape Cod experience. Immerse yourself in nature's tranquility and make unforgettable memories.

[reasonsforhope]

"Eavesdropping on whale songs over the last six years is providing new information vital to answering questions about these giants of the ocean.

The number of whale songs detected is associated with shifting food sources, according to the California scientists—and the number of days humpbacks have been singing has nearly doubled.

When monitoring baleen whale songs in the Pacific Ocean, researchers found year-to-year variations correlated with changes in the availability of the species they forage on.

In vast oceans, monitoring populations of large marine animals can be a “major challenge” for ecologists, explained Dr. John Ryan, a biological oceanographer at the Monterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute in California (MBARI).

Their team deployed underwater microphones called hydrophones to study and track baleen whales, which communicate over long distances through sound.

“Surprisingly, the acoustic behavior of baleen whales provides insights about which species can better adapt to changing ocean conditions,” said Dr. Ryan, a lead author of the study.

They also monitored songs from blue, fin, and humpback whales off the West Coast of the U.S. to see what the song data could reveal about the health of their ecosystem.

The findings, published in the journal PLOS One, showed “large” year-to-year variations in whale song detection.

“The amount of humpback whale song continually increased, with their songs being detected on 34% of days at the beginning of the study and rising to 76% of days after six years,” said Dr. Ryan.

“These increases consistently tracked improved foraging conditions for humpback whales across all study years—large increases in krill abundance, followed by large increases in anchovy abundance.

“In contrast, blue and fin whale song rose primarily during the years of increasing krill abundance.

“This distinction of humpback whales is consistent with their ability to switch between dominant prey. An analysis of skin biopsy samples confirmed that changes had occurred in the whales’ diets.”

He explained that other factors, including the local abundance of whales, may have contributed to patterns in song detections observed in some years, but changes in foraging conditions were the most consistent factor.

“Overall, the study indicates that seasonal and annual changes in the amount of baleen whale song detected may mirror shifts in the local food web.”

WHALES ON THE COMEBACK TRAIL: • Gray Whale, Extinct for Centuries in Atlantic, Is Spotted in Cape Cod • Sighting of Many Blue Whales Around Seychelles is First in Decades – ‘Phenomenal’ • Majestic Sei Whales Reappear in Argentine Waters After Nearly a Century

“The results suggest that an understanding of the relationship between whale song detection and food availability may help researchers to interpret future hydrophone data, both for scientific research and whale management efforts”, which could better protect endangered species."

-via Good News Network, March 1, 2025

[sturniholo]

casual - matt sturniolo

in which things between you and matt get complicated

warning: some suggestive mentions

┊ ✫ ┊ ┊ ☾⋆ ┊ ⊹ ┊ ✯ ⋆ ┊

Complicated. The only word that could be used to describe your relationship with Matt. One minute it was lovey-dovey between the two of you, the next minute it was just having sex with him in his car.

You were currently in his bed, naked underneath his blankets. He was lying next to you, passed out, snores leaving his mouth. It was another one of those nights. He had called you over to hang out for the night, which ended with him on top of you, moaning your name.

You couldn’t complain though. Sex with Matt was great, it always was. He knew exactly how to take care of you, which spots to hit to make you go crazy. But after you both reached your orgasm, you couldn’t help but want more. Not another round, but more from him.

You had always seen Matt as a great guy. He was cute, quiet, and the most gentle guy you’ve ever met. In a way, this whole thing felt wrong to you. Just using each other for sex, even though there was a little more than that.

He had introduced you to all of his friends and even some of his family. During that moment, you felt like things could be progressing. He would eventually ask you to be his girlfriend, but you were wrong. Those things meant nothing.

You even went on a vacation with his family. They owned a vacation home in the Cape Cod area, which they stayed in frequently. They went up there for a long weekend and invited you. Safe to say, it was the most fun you’ve had in a long time.

However, nothing had changed. You were still just fuck buddies, nothing more. You had even managed to sneak a quickie in before dinner. He had you pressed against the bathroom sink, fingers in your mouth to muffle your moans.

No one questioned the dynamic between you two. They just thought you were talking or in the early stages of becoming a couple. But that wasn’t the case.

You rolled over, pulling the blanket tighter to your body. You stared off into space, trying to drown out your thoughts so you could go to sleep.

┊ ✫ ┊ ┊ ☾⋆ ┊ ⊹ ┊ ✯ ⋆ ┊

Your fingers twisted in Matt’s dark locks, pushing his face further into your cunt. He had you sprawled out in the back seat, his head between your thighs. His eyes occasionally glanced up at you, taking in the sight of you fucked out above him.

As his tongue continued to dance around your clit, you couldn’t help but think. How did every time you hung out end up like this? You let out a deep sigh, causing Matt to pull away from you. “What the fuck was that?” he asked as he wiped his mouth.

You sat up. “What?”

“You sigh as if I’m not giving you the best head you’ve ever received,” he said with a chuckle. You reached for your shorts, sliding them up your legs. You attempted to climb to the front seat, but a pair of hands around your waist stopped you. “Hey, what’s wrong?”

You look away from Matt, letting your hands fall in your lap. “What are we doing?” you ask with a chuckle. You look over to him. He has a confused look on his face, his eyebrows wrinkled. “This isn’t just two people fucking. There has to be something there.”

Matt goes silent. He was not expecting those words to come out of your mouth. “Y/n…” he trails off.

“Save me the bullshit that’s about to come out of your mouth. This isn’t just casual, Matt.” Another sigh escapes your mouth as you run your fingers through your hair. “I mean, I know most of your family, hell, I even went on a vacation with them. And we can’t go two days without fucking each other.” He looks away from you and stares out the window. “Just last week I was at your house. I even left my favorite bra on your floor. And now,” you start, “you're eating me out like your life depends on it.” You let out a soft laugh.

He still doesn’t say anything, which makes you scoff. “Look, it’s just a complicated situation, alright? Neither one of us agreed to anything more than this.” You can feel your heart break at his words.

“Matt…” you whisper. “I can’t do this. Please, just drive me home.” He looks over at you and nods, making you get out of the backseat. The two of you are back in the front, sitting in silence as he drives you home.

┊ ✫ ┊ ┊ ☾⋆ ┊ ⊹ ┊ ✯ ⋆ ┊

For the past few days, you’ve been lying in bed, letting your thoughts consume you. It’s been about a week since you last talked to Matt. He hasn’t bothered to reach out, so you didn’t feel the need to.

Your phone buzzed, pulling you out of your thoughts. You picked it up, glancing at the screen.

matt 👩‍❤️‍👨

come over. please.

i need to see you.

y/n

im not coming over just to fuck

find someone else

matt 👩‍❤️‍👨

thats not what it is

y/n please

y/n

be over in 5

You let out a sigh as you get up from your bed. You grab a hoodie that’s lying on your floor, not caring how long it’s been there, and pull it over your head. You grab your slippers and head out the door.

As you knock on the front door, you can’t help but feel nauseous. Like you shouldn’t be there. Before those feelings sink in anymore, Matt opens the door. He wears an expression that you’re unable to read.

“Thanks for coming. I just needed to see you.” You follow him into the kitchen, taking a seat at the table. He stands across from you, letting out a deep breath. “I’ve been thinking about what you said,” he looks at you, his nerves running rampant, “and I’m sorry.”

“Well, I appreciate the apology,” you say with a weak smile.

“That’s not all. I guess throughout our relationship, I’ve found that I have developed feelings for you.” Your expression softens as he speaks. “That’s why it was easy for the casual sex to happen. Deep down, I knew I wanted more, I guess I was just afraid.”

You stand up and walk over to him. Your arms wrap around his neck, your eyes staring into his. His hands find your waist, firmly holding onto it. “So, I guess what I’m trying to say is I want you to be my girlfriend. Will you be my girlfriend, y/n?”

Your heart bursts as he asks the question. This was the moment you’ve been waiting for since you first hung out with him. “Of course.” He smiles at you as he leans in, connecting your lips. You feel the same spark that you always felt when you kissed, it was just ten times stronger this time.

He pulls away before the kiss can get too hungry. “I still have your bra, by the way, the one you were complaining about.” You laugh at his words before leaning in once more, pressing a kiss to your boyfriend’s lips.

┊ ✫ ┊ ┊ ☾⋆ ┊ ⊹ ┊ ✯ ⋆ ┊

a/n: this is based off the song casual by chappell roan, which is incredible btw !!!

[lovebillyhargrove]

The bell above the door jingles softly, announcing a new customer.

"Hi. I'm here to return these?"

Steve's raising his eyes from the counter and

"Holy fuck ..!"

"Yeah .. Long time no see. How are you doing, Harrington?"

"Uh .. same old?"

Most definitely, same old.

"You're .."

"Alive, thanks for asking. Just visiting Max and the shitbird asked me to return these tapes. So ..?"

"Yeah! Yes of course .. Just a second."

A black bike helmet is placed on the counter

"You're on a .. motorbike?"

"Uh-huh. My baby .. my car can't drive long distances now. After some asshole rammed into her a couple of years ago."

Steve remembers.

"You staying here long?"

"Nah. Going to the Atlantic with a couple of friends of mine. Vacation."

"The Atlantic ..?"

"We're thinking Cape Cod. Or wherever the road takes us."

"That's nice .. What friends?"

Slightly raised eyebrows, in mild surprise

Oh, Steve's such a fool

"Just friends." An aloof shrug of wide shoulders

"Alright. Thanks, Harrington." Takes the helmet alongside Steve's last crumbs of self-control

"Hey .. Hargrove, wait!"

"What?"

"How come are you .. alive?"

"Long story."

Jesus, you were so much more talkative in school

"Where .. where do you live these days?"

"San Diego."

"Does Max know your number?"

"Of course. Why?"

"No reason."

"Bye, pretty boy." A tsk. "Oops. Apologies. An old habit."

"Uh .. bye."

Steve's trailing after him to the door, cheeks starting to burn

Or

Two years after Starcourt. Steve's still working in the Family Video and still looking for his lost mojo, when one day Billy Hargrove, who's supposed to be dead, walks into the store, looking as gorgeous as ever, wearing black leather and holding a black bike helmet. Not dead. Different but same. Same but so different. So .. exciting. Like a thrill. Like a .. pirate treasure, unreachable and alluring.

Also, he looks like he doesn't give a fuck about Steve anymore.

Harrington's going to do some life priorities revision.

Tonight. It feels like he's been dormant this whole time. Wasting his youth, wasting everything. Probably having let go of something .. someone important.

***

"Rob! Robin ..! Hey, listen .. I think, I'm in love. I think I need to .."

What will Steve do?

[desiredcaramellatte]

Can I have dark choco x soft!reader? Just heard the term soft reader and had to try it out.

I think I might’ve had a request similar to this before but uhhh oh well, if I did it was a long while ago. Yippee

I don’t really know which version of Dark Choco wanted to be done here so I just went with the old CoD timeline version before the Dark Cacao stuff

Not really too sure what soft means in this definition here but I just went with really sweet and kind of like energetic maybe idk-

Yay new post. Been a bit hehe, haven’t had much time over my break to write, I’ll probably post some more when school starts up again. ALSO I opened up matchups if anyone wants

Dark Choco x reader

(Who is soft)

Welp, they say opposites attract, you know. On the outside the two of you are completely different- the dark knight being a feirce and brooding presence and you being nothing than, well… soft, really.

Very few people actually know that Dark Choco is an absolute softie inside too. He is very closed off and not expressive in most forms aside from anger, but he does have a very pleasant heart in him.

He likes hand holding. Very subtle hand holding in areas that don’t have a lot of people but may contain some. Otherwise not a big fan of PDA. He will let you lead him around or push him places you want him to go, though.

If you do hug him in public he is likely to get extremely flustered and shut down. He will then promptly avoid everyone who might as so much have been in a fifty foot radius for a while, including you.

Dark Choco will let you snag his cape and use it whenever you want, so long as he’s not about to go into battle. He needs it for his emo boy aesthetic. Even then, a little bit of asking too polietly or begging and he’ll let you keep it just this once-

We all know the last part is an absolute lie ^ you two practically share custody over that thing now.

Refuses to let you touch the Strawberry Jam sword at all. No. Never. That is pretty much the one thing that you can’t win over by begging or owning being cute. It’s completely off limits to you, and for good reasons.

Likely to follow you around everywhere like a big, lost puppy dog. He’s not even too interested in what you’re doing tbh, he just wants to follow and trail after you whenever he can. He likes experiencing your daily life.

Dark Choco just likes hanging out with you and watching all the little things you do. His favorite times are when you two have little picnics or decide to have a camp out. In his eyes, you’re way too good to him.

[moltengarnet]

Nature trail close to home, Sandwich Massachusetts (2023)

[paulpingminho]

[tradfolkpoll]

round 1 matchups

round 1 matchups are listed under the cut. since there are so many, i can't make a bracket chart right now; i'll probably make one once we're down to 64 songs and they can all comfortably fit on a chart in a font size that you don't have to strain to read

i've been working on the railroad vs wreck of the six wheeler

all the pretty little horses vs gallows pole

omie wise vs virgin mary

jelly jelly vs green grow the lilacs

stewball vs rising of the moon

lily of the west vs rose of aberdeen

there is balm in gilead vs john hardy

erie canal vs mi y'malel

sept ans sur mer vs skip to my lou

hob ich a por oksen vs feuilles-o

the e-ri-e vs roll the old chariot

the cuckoo vs samson and delilah

santiana vs wild mountain thyme

blind man lay beside the way vs wind and rain

el cañutero vs haul away joe

old blue vs lauterbach

rock island line vs rye whiskey

motherless child vs black is the colour of my trule love's hair

roving gambler vs turtle dove

jesse james vs oh miss i have a very fine farm

down by the riverside vs blackest crow

arkansas traveler vs hold the fort

streets of laredo vs one morning in may

liza up a 'simmon tree vs st james infirmary

sloop john b vs we shall overcome

the crawdad song vs the wagoner's lad

cotton eyed joe vs foreman monroe

wade in the water vs wild goose grasses

go tell it on the mountain vs careless love

i bought me a cat vs sea lion woman

jubilee vs froggie went a-courting

single girl, married girl vs the bailiff's daughter of islington

go down moses vs little joe the wrangler

the water is wide vs go tell aunt rhodie

storms are on the ocean vs come along john

frankie vs roll jordan roll

captain kidd vs midnight special

worried man blues vs the chickens they are crowing

joshua fit the battle of jericho vs jam on jerry's rocks

did you feed my cow vs trail of tears

jane jane vs colorado trail

take this hammer vs long lonesome road

dink's song vs molasses

five nights drunk vs pay day

make me a pallet on your floor vs cape cod girls

john the revelator vs all her answers were no

engine 143 vs every time i feel the spirit

diamond joe vs call of the moose

michael, row the boat ashore vs farther along

buffalo gals vs boston come-all-ye

wayfaring stranger vs undone in sorrow

the unquiet grave vs the moonshiner

the longest train i ever saw vs banks of the ohio

shenandoah vs this little light of mine

how can i keep from singing vs i ride an old paint

little black train vs this train is bound for glory

the riddle song vs railroad bill

grey goose vs goin' down the road feelin' bad

when first unto this country vs cripple creek

pretty saro vs song of the boatman

cotton mill girls vs wildwood flower

fatal flower garden vs cumberland gap

twelve gates to the city vs git along little dogies

sliding delta vs darby ram

when johnny comes marching home vs down in the willow garden

down by the bay vs darling corey

oh freedom vs old chisholm trail

another man done gone vs deep blue sea

john brown's body vs matty groves

wabash cannonball vs ell corrido de gregorio cortez

the wild wild berry vs

down to the river to pray vs casey jones

tom dooley vs la delgadina

the old soldier vs cindy

the e-ri-e vs poor working girl

avondale mine disaster vs sun will never go down

greenland whale fisheries vs the dodger song

way down the old plank road vs railroad boy

lost jimmie whalen vs shady grove

watercresses vs remon

stagolee vs clementine

pay me my money down vs la rancherita

bulbe vs young hunting

little brown bulls vs we shall not be moved

i never will marry vs the dying soldier to his shipmates

golden vanity vs scarborough fair

bury me not on the lone prairie vs ox driver's song

little moses vs didn't my lord deliver daniel

what shall we do with the baby-o vs twelve gates to the city

handsome molly vs cigarettes will spoil your life

whisky johnny vs pretty polly

when the stars begin to fall vs solidarity forever

in the pines vs bootlegger's story

buffalo skinners vs siss net alli daag luschdich leewe

hallelujah, i'm a bum vs ain't it a shame

silver dagger vs bring me a little water, silvie

i'll fly away vs evil hearted blues

las posadas vs no more auction block

the diggers' song vs sitting on top of the world

green grass grows all around vs big rock candy mountain

corrina, corrina vs columbus stockade blues

hold on vs wreck of the old 97

old joe clark vs soon be over

follow the drinking gourd vs de colores

peggy-o vs house carpenter

springfield mountain vs the foggy dew

come all ye fair and tender ladies vs don't let your deal go down

johnny has gone for a soldier vs steal away

railroadin' some vs jan jansen

love is pleasing vs the devil's nine questions

lonesome valley vs we shall be free

geordie vs when i first came to this land

red river valley vs leatherwing bat

scandalize my name vs boll weevil

you are my sunshine vs down in the valley

audubon zoo vs poor paddy works on the railway

on top of old smokey vs the cherry tree carol

three ravens vs schpinn, schpinn

she baked a hoecake vs see that my grave is kept clean

barbara allen vs take a whiff on me

polly vaughn vs skip to my lou

nine pound hammer vs the wild wild berry

no hiding place vs deep river blues

hares on the mountain vs der rebbe elimelech

john henry vs jenny jenkins

didn't old john cross the water vs bury me beneath the willow

skin and bones vs the fox

knoxville girl vs house of the rising sun

mary don't you weep vs going across the mountain

[mbta-unofficial]

Re: a cape tip extension of the flyer, I know Provincetown had train service until the 1960s, while I’d guess the tracks are gone or have weathered away into nothing the rights-of-way might still be there for some of it.

Good news! Much of it was preserved as the Cape Cod Rail Trail which goes as far as Wellfleet and freight still runs as far north as Eastham. If you wanted to rebuild track much of the original alignment could be used and run alongside route 6, with a possible new station where the bike rental on shank painter is.

[fern-funtime]

| Corvette Corvette <3 |

wc: 1,182

paring: gojo x fem! reader

warnings: 18+, gojo is cringy ngl, tw! rich people

an: if i don't get embarrassed and delete this i'll make a pt 2. maybe, if i get asked nicely -Fern xo ♡

A one night stand was never your kind of thing, yet you find yourself walking to a small rundown bar. It wasn’t exactly trashy but definitely not ideal but hey alcohol is alcohol, and sex is sex. Walking into the bar you immediately catch a whiff of cigarettes and cheap cologne. It was surprisingly busy, the booths were filled, a group of men around your age were playing pool, and there were only a few seats at the bar that were open.

You nervously walked up to the bar and asked the bartender for a drink, “Cape cod please.” He went to make your drink and all of your confidence started to dissipate.

The reason why you were alone was because all your friends were out with their boyfriends. You couldn’t come to terms with the fact that you were alone so you decided to pick someone up from the bar. Which sounded great in hindsight but actually being here…you’re thinking about your life choices. The bartender hands you your cocktail, and you gladly take is and chug half of it.

“Can I get a-“ your thoughts are interrupted by a man coming up behind you to order a drink, he looks at you for a second and seemingly losing his thought. Another brief moment passed before he looked back to the bartender “Uh- sorry can I get a coke?” The bartender nods and goes to grab his drink. You glance back at the man and he’s already looking at you. You can’t help but feel nervous, he is very attractive. Nice suit, messy white hair but it fits him, and he smells really nice. Definitely an expensive cologne. But the thing that really caught your attention were his eyes. Sadly covered by sunglasses, but you could still see their bright color.

“Hey pretty lady~” he smirks and you cringe. “Pretty lady?” you laugh “That was bad.”

He jokingly pouts “Bad?” he sighs and puts his hand over his chest “You wound me.” you roll your eyes but the smile stays, you can’t believe this is working.

“So what can I call you pretty lady?” “Well definitely not that, call me y/n” his smile widens and he leans against the bar “So, what are you doing here Y/n.”

"I just wanted to...relax I guess.” you take another sip of your drink and he raises a brow “Are you alone? A pretty thing like you should be with her friends…” he trails off a bit “Or with her boyfriend..” he raises an eyebrow.

“My friends are busy, and I don’t have a boyfriend.” you look away for a moment and see him in the corner of your eye grin ear to ear.

“Oh really now, are you looking for one?” You admired his boldness but you couldn’t help but laugh. “You’re very forward, I dont even know your name.” he rubbed his neck “That’s rude of me, my name is Satoru Gojo.” Satoru Gojo. “Well Gojo, I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t intrigued.”

He smirked and leaned in a bit “Wanna get out of here, y/n?” you think for a moment, you were going to say no but the way he said your name, literally made you weak, and you wanted to hear him say it more. “I’d love to.” you smile at him before getting up from your seat. He leaves the bartender a $20 and walks besides you. He opens the door for you and you both eagerly leave the bar.

You both walk to the parking lot and he takes you to his car. Which you could not tell he was rich by looking at him but his car. “A corvette?” you give him a curious look. He laughs “My corvette.”

He opens the passenger door for you before walking to the drivers side and getting in. Once you get in he turns to you and he looks a little nervous, you look back at him and the world seemingly stops, he’s much more prettier in this lighting. You started to get nervous, the very little alcohol you drank did not help. He brings his hand to your cheek and moves a hair behind your ear.

“Can..I kiss you?” he whispered. He leans in closer and you do the same, his eyes glance at your lips before going back to your eyes and he stops moving, your lips slightly brush against eachothers and you softly say “please.” with your permission he quickly, but softly kisses you.

You both sigh into the kiss feeling content, he’s warm. Pulling away he lets out a breath he didn’t know he was holding and he smiles. Your body felt a little to warm and your cheeks were practically burning. “Are we going to your place or m-“ before he can finish his sentence you take his glasses off and bring him into another kiss.

He moves his hand along your cheek all the way to your waist and the other hand rests on your neck. You pull away and he’s looking back to you with half lidded eyes, he wants this just as bad as you do. “We can- um” he stammers a little bit and you notice how pink his cheeks were “We can go in the back or you can..” he pauses and realizes how awkward this is.

“I can what?” you know what he was trying to say, but he looked really cute like this. “Y’know..” he starts but before he says anything else you move over the center console and straddle his waist.

Once you’re on top of him he looks up to you with puppy eyes. “You look good like this.” he moves his hand up your stomach to your chest. You take his hand and move it down to your thigh, and you guide it under your dress. “Maybe…i’d look better without this on.”

His smile gets wider and he starts to pull your dress up revealing the lingerie you had on. “Wow, you came prepared.” you get embarrassed and pout “Stop you’re making me sound like a who- oh.” you’re cut off by the feeling of his fingers teasing you.

“What you were saying gorgeous?” he smirked and pulled your panties to the side, allowing his fingers full access to your pussy. You let out a quiet moan and you wrap your arms around his neck. You kiss him to hide your noises, honestly it was embarrassing at how much you were getting off just by his hands alone. Pretty soon you felt a knot bundled up and you couldn’t hide your noises, you started slowly grinding yourself against his hand.

“Aw, is the pretty girl close?” he moves his mouth to your neck and leaves soft bites along it. You let out a pathetic ‘mhm’ and before you reach your peak he stops and pulls his hand away. You furrow your brows and you go to say something but before you can even open your mouth he’s already licking his fingers and unzipping his pants with his other hand.

[xxgoblin-dumplingxx]

Some batmom! and Abigale?

"Dr. Smith?"

"Y/N," she said turning from the window. Trying to rein in her shock. She knew you'd been injured. Almost killed. But. She didn't expect to see you... Like this. Looking frail and shrunken.

You'd never been a big person but- you had presence. The way you walked, even in your public persona made people pay attention when you wanted them to. But now... Christ.

"I need your help," she said cutting to the chase. "There's-"

"She's retired," Bruce said, stepping closer to you. "She isn't-"

"With what?" you ask, shooting your husband a look. If she was here, it was dire. Now that your contract with the company was dissolved, involving you in any company operations went against the charter. And even as the director... well. She might have some oversight but. Not enough to protect her from the fall out.

"Danya is missing," she said. "We think she was looking for Cooper who went to ground after an operation went sideways in Cape Cod."

"Where did-"

"We don't know," Dr. Smith admitted. "But last contact was in Cairo where she thought she'd picked up a trail."

"Get me everything you know-"

"No." Bruce said sternly, "You can't-"

"You're my husband not my boss," you tell him, eyes narrowing even though you had to look up at him. "You can't stop me."

"Can you give us a moment?" Bruce asked Abigale through gritted teeth.

"Of course," she said, letting herself out onto the balcony.

And Bruce took a deep breath. Your Birthmother was trying to extort you for money and now the woman who raised you was going to get you killed. Not for the first time he wondered why he was attracted to women who had insane families.