Stolen Ice is Aesla's AU. I don't own Frozen.

The drive was excruciating. EJ wanted to get to the scene with all possible speed, but the rain and inconvenience of public eyes forced a legal restraint on her haste. The unanswered questions filled the car, weighing down every thought, every word, the possible answers even worse. EJ was rigid with dread and frustration, and Anna knew better then to try verbal communication at the moment. Instead she rest her hand carefully upon EJ's thigh as they drove, and a thankful glance from her sister told her she'd done the right thing.

The rain was unusually hard as it pounded the streets. The burnt remains of an orphanage smoldered under soggy weights and emberlicked beams. Anna was thankful for the rain. It dispersed most of the crowd that had formed beyond the yellow lines of the no-entry zone. Everyone who remained was bundled up in raincoats, watching, murmuring. A news crew was braving the storm to broadcast.

Sirens and ambulances began to peel away from the scene. Anna found that she hated the sound. The worst- the blast- was over, and now it was time for the rain and recovery to set in. The danger was gone, and now they needed to discover what had happened. They slipped under the yellow tape to approach the scene.

The slick tightness of the raincoats felt constricting. Like it was pulling her away from something. Sensing her discomfort, EJ slid her hand in Anna's, and laced their fingers together.

Or maybe she's looking for comfort herself.

A stout detective noticed the two, and approached them. "I'm sorry, but you're going to have to leave the area ladies, this is off-limits." Anna quickly moved to slide their interlocked hands between them and hoped the rain obscured them.

"I'm E.J. Arendale." EJ said, looking at the man with an air of aloof coolness. Not that she was trying to be haughty- that was just the impression she gave when interacting with people other than Anna. "This orphanage was mine."

"Oh! My apologies, Miss Arendale." The detective rubbed his face. "I'm Detective Gantu. It's been a hard morning for all of us. And you are?" He turned to face Anna.

"Her PA." Anna said at a clip, falling easily into a business posture and attendant attention on EJ. It wasn't a lie outright, she basically did all the duties of a PA, but that was the story they were selling when people questioned who Anna was and why she appeared so much in public around EJ. It worked, for now, not in the least because there really wasn't that much attention on EJ in the public eye as of yet. "Tell me, were there any-"

"A few of the children have been taken to the hospital but no casualties or serious injuries." Both sisters sighed in relief and EJ squeezed Anna's hand a bit roughly, eliciting a nervous but sympathetic look from the younger sister. Not in front of the public. She wanted to say, but her sisterly instincts told her that now wasn't the time for that particular argument.

"Do we know what caused the fire yet?" Anna asked, forcing herself to look somewhere other than EJ's face when she slid her hand away. The situation was difficult enough without worrying about what people would think.

"Well, we're not entirely sure." The man adjusted his coat and ran his hand over the back of his neck. "No one recalls seeing the fire begin. It looks like it started in one of the ground level bedrooms- the damage there is the worst and structural damage progresses outwards from it." He pointed towards the site, and as he did so an officer stood up and waved for him to come over. "Hold on a minute, looks like we've found something." EJ and Anna followed at a safe distance, watching the inspectors talk in low, disturbed tones. EJ turned to Anna, eyes locking, speaking silently.

It'll be okay, EJ. I'm here.

Detective Gantu returned, with a plastic bag in hand. "Ma'ams, do either of you recognize this?" He held out the bag and EJ took it, inspecting the object within. A golden clip, somewhat elaborate, in the shape of an elongated W atop a shield. EJ closed her eyes and muttered under her breath, eyes twitching under eyelids, fingers jerking as if she were typing.

"No." She said without hiding her frustration, and handed the bag back to the detective. It wasn't Weselton, at least.

"Damn. Well, we have the scene in hand, ma'am, you don't need to stay here in this rain. Go home and we'll contact you if we find anything." He assured them, turning away.

"I want to go see the ones in the hospital." EJ said. Anna nodded, and watched tensely as EJ took out a sleek silver earpiece and tucked it in. "Olaf. Start a search on all nearby properties. I want to know cameras, recordings, feeds, anything that could have picked up any thing around the orphanage. Compile and isolate anything you find. Start a secondary search running on emblems shaped with a W atop a shield, two inches wide, half inch tall." She pulled the earpiece out and tucked it inside a pocket, biting a lower lip.

Anna loved seeing EJ in control. Giving orders. Expecting them followed. She only wished to see it in a less tragic context.

A news team approached them as they walked back to the car. The reporter didn't even get out her first question before EJ interrupted her. "Not now, please." She said, without even looking at the reporter, walking faster. The news crew followed, the woman intent on answers.

"Miss Arendale, do you have any comments? Do you know what caused the fire?"

Sensing EJ did not intend on answering as she moved to get into the car, Anna forced herself to give a polite, professional and sympathetic grin to the reporter. "I'm sorry, this isn't a good time." That was perhaps a mistake, as the attention and cameras turned onto her immediately as she got into the car, feeling somewhat violated when the crew moved closer for a better shot of her. EJ noticed. A moment later the news crew behind the reporter pulled back in confusion.

"Waltham, we've got technical issues!" An unknown voice called out to the reporter. Anna allowed herself to enjoy the reporter's frustration as they drove away, giving a small but knowing smile to EJ, who had earned herself a kiss on the cheek shortly.

A/N: I'm glad to get such a positive reception. :) Thank you all for your kind words, and please leave a comment if you have the time! They make all the world to me.