Thursday, May 4th

Home: 10:52 PM

Tom was sitting in the living room, waiting on the news to come on when the sound of the scanner locked onto a channel and the sound that came out of the speaker made him mute the TV.

"Chopper to Comm Center on Comm Channel." Came the voice of the observer in the chopper.

"Go ahead, Chopper." Came a different voice, this one female and belonging to one of the dispatchers.

"Yeah, can you check to see if a tag comes back to S12's residence?" The male voice said. Kira's eyes locked into Tom's eyes. Tom felt his blood run cold. Sophie looked up at her mother.

"Affirm, go with your tag." The female voice said again.

"Alpha Charlie Delta four three seven two. It's on a Volkswagen four door." Came the transmission from the observer in the chopper. Kira's eyes widened.

"Stand by, Sir." The female voice said again.

Tom didn't wait for the dispatch center to run the tag, he pulled his phone out and called the dispatch center.

"Metro PD, Tech forty three." Came a male's voice from the other end of the phone. Tom motioned for Kira to hand her phone over. It had been sitting on the arm rest of the couch. Tom pulled up the family locator and tried to track down Madison.

"This is Sergeant Winters, connect me to the radio room sergeant, please." Tom said. The urgency in his voice was unmistakable.

"Stand by, Sir." There was music as the call was transferred.

"Comm center to chopper." Tom heard the female dispatcher say from the scanner.

"Sergeant Wilson." Tom heard in his ear.

"Go comm center." Tom heard from the scanner, knowing what was coming.

"Sarge, This is Winters. The chopper is with my daughter's car, where are they?" Tom said, the urgency still in his voice.

"Sir, that tag does come back to a Madison Winters, and she is the daughter of Sergeant Winters. What do you have?" The dispatcher asked. From the phone Tom heard a door open and close.

"Thompson, where is the chopper right now?" Tom heard Wilson ask someone.

"Copy, start street units, we are southbound on the thirty seven coming up on Jackson Pike, speeds in excess of ninety, whoever's driving is running that Golf for all it's worth."

"Sir, the chopper is at the thirty seven and Jackson Pike." Winters heard Thompson relay.

"Wilson, I heard him. I'm not getting any tracking data from Madison's phone. Mark me enroute, call Wells and Cunningham and wake them up. Stage them somewhere, I'll be in a black Volkswagen CC. My car's in getting brakes done."

"Copy Sarge. What is your walkie?"

"Seven three two six four eight." Tom replied, having the number memorized. Kira, understanding what was happening jumped off the couch and ran for the bedroom to start helping Tom get ready to head out the door. Sophie sat up, her eyes wide and tears starting to form in them.

"Daddy, is Madison ok?"

Tom pursed his lips and looked at Sophie. "I don't know yet, but you can stay up until I can tell mom something." Sophie nodded and followed Tom as he headed for the bedroom. Tears started to roll down Sophie's face as they hit the top of the stairs. By the time that Tom and Sophie had walked into the master bedroom, Kira had pulled a suit out, laid each piece out, and was working on tying a tie for Tom. She stopped when she saw Sophie crying. The tie unraveled as she opened her arms to comfort the girl. Tom grabbed the pants, undershirt and dress shirt and headed into the attached bathroom and got dressed quickly. He came back out, pulled some socks on, slid his feet into his shoes then pulled the tie from around his wife's neck. Tying it quickly without using the mirror, he looked at his wife and youngest daughter. "I'm going to find her. I don't care about the car." Tom said as his phone rang. He glanced at the display and saw that it was Cunningham.

"I know you will." Kira said, looking into Tom's eyes. The last time he had been this determined, he didn't know where either of the two girls that were now his daughters were.

"Sarah, have the comm center move everything on this to DTECT2. I'm enroute, meet me where ever the chopper is now..." Tom said looking into Kira's eyes. He walked over and crouched in front of Sophie. Her eyes appeared blue in the light in the bedroom. "Soph, I'm going to bring her home." Sophie nodded, and Tom kissed her on the forehead.

"Be careful." Kira said after they had broken a kiss.

"I will. Keep the scanner on, and if you need to, explain what is going on to Sophie." Kira nodded. Tom grabbed his badge, sidearm, and walkie and left the room, headed for the garage. He pushed the button on the key fob for the CC. They had gotten the car only a few months before, after someone had run a red light and broadsided Kira's old Passat. He sat behind the wheel, opened the garage door, started the car, and pulled out, pausing long enough to make sure that the garage door was closed. Tom pulled out on the street and floored the accelerator. The force of the car shooting forward pushed him back in the seat, and he turned the broadcast radio off, and turned the walkie on. "S Twelve to Radio on Zone 1."

"Go S twelve." Came the voice of a dispatcher.

"Has D4 requested everyone involved in the run with my eighth units vehicle to DTECT2?" Tom asked, slowing for a red light. One advantage of this happening right now, was that there would be very little traffic.

"Affirm, Sir. They are on DTECT2." Tom didn't wait for the dispatcher to give him the time, the large screen in the middle of the dashboard was pretty good at that. He turned the dial on the radio to DTECT2.

"S Twelve is on DTECT2."

"Sarge. We are Southbound on the thirty seven, Coming up on Copperland." Tom made a hard right and punched the gas. He headed southbound on the thirty seven from Smithson.

"Copy, I'm southbound on the thirty seven. Comm Center, if you get any calls about a Black Volkswagen doing a high rate of speed, it's probably me."

"Copy." Came a dispatcher's voice.

"Tom where do you want me?" Sarah's voice came from the speaker on the walkie.

"What is your present location?"

"I'm on the thirty seven, but I'm still behind you. I've got beacons, if I can catch you, I can move traffic for you."

"Light 'er up." Tom said simply. "I've got an engine to match what you've got in your car. I'll fall in behind you when you catch me."

"Copy." The radio clicked.

"Comm Center to units responding to S Twelve's daughters car, We've had a request for you guys to respond on Metro Alert. Tom, somewhere behind you, you've left a deputy in your dust." Tom chuckled.

"Alright, lets go to Metro Alert."

Communications Center: 10:58 PM

Joyce Thompson had been following the discussions that had started on the channel for the communications center, followed them to DTECT2 and now followed them to Metro Alert.

"S twelve on Metro Alert, currently southbound thirty seven coming up on forty third street."

"D four is at the thirty seven south and thirty fifth, making up road."

"Chopper on Metro Alert."

"Delka County Sheriff's Office to the units on this thing. Can we help in any way?"

"Who from Metro has the lead on this thing?" Joyce Thompson asked, looking at the large map mounted at the front of the room that let her see the location of everyone except for Winters.

"Chopper has the lead."

"County, can you get a unit down to, oh say, thirty seven and Wisconsin and spike this guy?"

"We can give it a shot. Is one of your people driving a Black Volkswagen?" The County dispatcher said

"Affirm, S twelve is." Came Tom's voice.

"Copy, We'll have our units join up. They are trying to catch you."

"Copy."

"S twelve, D four, I think I see your tail lights." Sarah's voice came through the radio.

State Route 37: 11:01 PM

Tom saw blue lights flash in his mirror. He knew that the car that had the lights mounted on it didn't belong to the county, as they had red and blue lights.

"S twelve, D four, I think I see your tail lights." Sarah's voice came through the radio. Tom reached up and hit the four way flashers. "If your four ways are on, I'm almost with you."

"Copy." Tom said, turning the four ways off.

"Chopper, we are at the thirty seven and Underwood." Tom read an exit sign as he flew under it.

"S twelve and D four are two miles out. County, what's your status?"

"We don't have a unit close. We are coordinating with the State Police."

"Copy."

"Chopper to D four, I see you. Twe-" The transmission cut off. "TC TC TC. Southbound thirty seven at the JFK Overpass, Roll fire. Units responding, be advised, right two lanes are blocked." Tom and Sarah were on top of the accident scene before the observer had finished relaying the information. Tom steered for the left side of the road and began the process of slowing down. Both he and Sarah overshot the scene and simply turned around in the middle of the freeway and approached the scene from the north side.

Campus: 11:08 PM

An officer was on a regular security patrol through one of the student parking lots and as he was driving through, he spotted a young lady, sitting there, in a parking spot, apparently taking stock of her body. He turned the spotlight on her and watched as she blinked a few times and the put her hands up to cover her face. He got out of his car and walked around to her.

"You ok?" He asked. She blinked a few times and then looked up at him. He saw the strange jewelry that she wore.

"I think so. I'm not sure what happened. All I know is that my car is missing, and my phone is destroyed, and I need to call my father." Madison said.

State Route 37: 11:10 PM

Tom surveyed the remains of his daughters car. The inside of it was trashed, mainly from the force of the collision, but also because the person that stole it had ransacked it looking for things to possibly sell. The paramedics were working on him and the two occupants from the car that he had hit which had sent both cars spinning toward the wall on the right side of the highway. Tom was wondering how he was going to explain this to the insurance company when his cell phone rang. It was a number that he didn't recognize, but he knew the exchange belonged to the university campus.

"Winters." Tom said, after pushing the button on his headset to answer the call.

"Daddy, I'm sorry." Madison sounded like she was about to start crying. "Someone hit me and knocked me out and I don't know where my car is and my purse got ran over and-" That was as far as she got before she broke down and started sobbing. Tom heard the phone switch hands and then a male voice.

"Mr. Winters, this is Officer James Jackson with the campus security department." Tom heard someone say.

"I'm Detective Sergeant Tom Winters, How is my daughter?" Tom asked.

"She appears to be none the worse for wear, I'm going to run her over to the med center so they can give her a look over. You want to meet us there?"

Sarah looked over at him after taking a picture of the contents of the back end of the hatchback. She pulled Madison's pink backpack out and unzipped it. Sarah pointed at the bag and then at the CC, which was sitting there, four ways blinking, still running; some habits die hard. Tom nodded at Sarah, who put the bag in the back seat.

"Yep, let me let my people know what's going on, and I'll be enroute. I'm currently Southbound on the thirty seven, at the JFK Overpass, if you know where that is."

"Yes, Sir, I do. I'll see you in about twenty minutes."

"Thank you." Tom said, dropping the iPhone back in it's holster. He looked at Sarah. "That was an officer with the Campus Police. He's with Madison. I'm heading down to the University Med Center. When Frank gets here, turn this scene over to him, and head that way."

Sarah nodded, understanding that Tom wanted a female that Madison would be comfortable talking to there. Tom walked over, sat down in the car and picked up his walkie.

"S twelve to radio." Tom said into his walkie. He knew that a shift change was occurring, so he wasn't sure if he'd get a response quickly or not.

"S twelve, go." Came a male voice, sounding hollow from the speaker on the radio.

"Mark me clear of the scene on the thirty seven at the JFK overpass, and enroute to the University Med Center."

"Copy sir, Time is twenty three thirteen." Tom rolled down the passenger side window.

"Sarah." She turned to look at him. "If you find something, let me know." Sarah gave a high sign as Tom started to drive away. He punched the gas, causing the car to shoot forward and took the exit for the next street at a speed that was faster than most people would have taken it. Sarah watched as the car got back on the highway and flew north. Only the chopper would have gotten Tom there faster.

Home: 11:14 PM

"S twelve to radio." The scanner crackled.

"S twelve, go." Came a different male voice, sounding hollow from the speaker on the radio.

"Mark me clear of the scene on the thirty seven at the JFK overpass, and enroute to the University Med Center."

"Copy sir, Time is twenty three thirteen." Sophie looked at Kira. They both were laying in the bed, and Kira had brought the scanner upstairs.

"What did that mean?" She asked She had been asking that question about every piece of traffic since Tom had left, usually traffic involving Tom or a related unit.

"That means that Daddy is clear of where who ever took your sisters car crashed it, and he is on his way down to the University Med Center, Which may be where your sister is."

Sophie pouted. "Is she ok?"

"We'll find out soon enough."

Universty Med Center: 11:30 PM

Tom parked the car in the lot reserved for emergency personnel, and got out. A security guard came running up to him.

"Sir, You can't pa-" Tom held up his shield. "Oh."

"Make sure that nothing happens to it, my wife would be mighty pissed..." Tom said, cracking smile for the first time since he had left home that evening. Tom jogged into the Emergency Department and went right for the charge nurses' desk.

"Good Evening, Sir." One of the nurses at the desk said, eyeing him. It wasn't normal to have people come in the door that he had come in.

"An Officer Jackson from Campus Security brought a young lady in not to long ago, any idea where I may find them?" Tom asked. The nurse's eyes flicked from Tom to the computer screen in front of her.

"And you are?" She asked, typing on the computer. She knew what to search for, usually if an officer brought in a female patient, the person wasn't coded into the system as their name, but it was in the notes. The procedure was the same in most of the hospitals in the area.

"I'm the young lady's father. Also," Tom pulled his shield out. "Detective Sergeant Winters from Metro PD."

"Give me one second, sir. I have to find her in the system... Lot of Jane Doe's have been entered tonight." She clicked a few times, and then looked up at Tom. "Exam room three, I'll have her attending meet you there."

"Thank you." Tom said, pulling his phone out and calling Kira to keep her in the loop.

Home: 11:35 PM

Kira answered the phone and put it on speaker so that Sophie could hear it as well. It would save trying to repeat what Tom had said to Sophie.

"And?" Was the first and only word out of Kira's mouth.

"She's at University Main, I'm waiting on the ER doc to meet me. I'll let you know more when I get it." Tom's voice came through the speaker on the phone.

"Ok. I want to talk to her as soon as possible. I'm thinking about calling a cab to pick Sophie and I up to meet you down there." Kira said, Sophie glanced at her mom.

"Call Sarah and see if she has turned the scene on thirty seven over to Frank yet, if so, see if she will swing by and pick you guys up." Tom said. "Kira, I have to go, the on duty doc is walking up to me."

"Ok. I'll send you a text if Sarah can pick us up. Love you" Kira said.

"Ok, love you both." Tom said, and then the call disconnected. Kira turned to Sophie.

"Go get something out so that you can get ready if Sarah says she can get us. I want to be able to go at a moments notice." Sophie nodded and then left the room, going to her own room so that she could get something out to wear. Before Kira got anything out to wear, she called Sarah.

"What's up, Kira?" Sarah asked. Kira heard a car door shut.

"Tom told me to call you and ask you if you could pick Sophie and I up and take us down to the hospital."

"Yep, I can. Will be there shortly, I'll call when I'm close."

"Thank you." Kira said.

"You're welcome. See you in a bit." Sarah said, and Kira hung up the phone.

State Route 37: 11:43 PM

Sarah was just getting off the phone when Frank pulled up in the van. He got out of the van and walked over to her.

"You're welcome, see you in a bit." Sarah had said. She hung up her phone and tossed it in through the open window of her car.

"What do we have, Sarah?" He asked, surveying the scene. The accident investigation unit had responded rather quickly and were still on the scene. The driver of Madison's car had been pronounced dead at the scene. Airbags work great when you combine them with seat belts. The medics were still working on the people from the car that the guy had clipped. They seemed like they would make it.

"Winter's daughter's car was stolen. The EMS units pronounced the driver of her car about twenty minutes ago. They are still working on the people from the Ford that he clipped. The VW is Madison's. Bag and tag everything. Get the car back to the station so that Gracie can dig into it." Sarah said, looking at the two destroyed cars that composed the scene.

"How's Madison?" Frank asked, running his hand though his salt and pepper hair.

"She's at University Main. Tom's with her." Sarah said.

"Alright, I'll let you know what I find." Tom said.

Sarah nodded, got in her car and did the same that that Tom had done.

Home: 11:49 PM

Sophie was standing by the front door, purse slung over her shoulder. She had gotten ready quicker than Kira had and she was used to being ready to move at a moments notice. Kira glanced at her as she came down the steps. She was wearing a purple plaid skirt, black tee shirt, and black leggings. Sophie had been taking after Madison in terms of dress.

"You ready?" Kira asked. Sophie nodded, looking like she was on the verge of tears.

"Yeah." Sophie's voice cracked, she chewed on her bottom lip. She felt overdressed compared to her mother.

"Everything is ok, Madison will be fine." Kira pulled Sophie into a hug.

"I know. When will Sarah be here?"

University Med Center: 11:53 PM

"Mr. Winters, Madison is ok, she's going to have a good sized bruise on the back of her head. I've had an CT done, and there doesn't look like there is any swelling." Dr. Williams said. Tom nodded.

"Can I see her?" Tom asked.

Dr. Williams nodded, and reached over and opened the door. Madison was laying in a bed, covered up with a few blankets. She smiled weakly at Tom.

"Hi Daddy." She said.

"Hi Maddie." Tom walked over and took her hand.

"I'm sorry." She said. Tom cocked his head to the side.

"For what?"

"For getting hurt and letting my car get stolen." Tom smiled at her.

"It's ok. I can replace your car, I can't replace you." He patted her hand and then gave her a kiss on the forehead. "Your mom and Sophie are on their way."

"You're not mad at me for getting hurt and letting my car get stolen?" Madison asked, incredulous.

"No. Like I already said, I can replace the car, I can't replace you. My first thought when I heard the chopper call for a verification on the tag was that you were in the car and being forced to drive in a way that you normally wouldn't have been. Maddie, my heart skipped a beat and I felt my blood go cold. If you never have children, you may never experience the feeling of thinking that one of your children is in trouble." Tom said, giving her hand a gentle squeeze. "You're safe, and ok for the most part, that's all I care about." Madison reached up to wipe a tear from her eye.

"I still feel bad about the car getting stolen..." Madison said. "I had just placed my bag in the trunk when I was hit. It has everything in it, including my laptop." Madison pursed her lips and looked at Tom.

"It's in the back seat of your mom's car. It appears that it's ok." Tom pursed his lips. "Your car, on the other hand..." Madison looked defeated. She had received the car as a graduation gift two years prior and loved her little Cobalt Blue Volkswagen Golf.

"How bad is it?" She asked, almost fearful of the answer. She had been around Tom long enough to know that when a car was stolen, it was generally destroyed by the time that it was recovered.

"It's probably totaled, Madison." Tom said. "Don't beat your self up over it. That's why there was full coverage on it, to cover almost every possibility."

"I was supposed to take Sophie to school tomorrow..." Madison said.

"I know. You don't have classes tomorrow, do you?"

"No. When do you get your car back?"

"Sarah is picking me up tomorrow morning, and we are going to go to the fleet maintenance shop to pick it up first thing." Tom said. He was already working on how to get Sophie to school the next morning. "Your mom will have to take Sophie and I'll have to pick her up. If I can get out of work early, I'll come pick you up and we can start looking into getting you a new car. I've already called Bill Morris and he should call me first thing in the morning."

Friday, May 5th

University Med Center: 12:03 AM

Dr. Williams opened the door and let Sarah, Kira and Sophie into the small room. Tom smiled at Kira and gave Sophie a hug. Madison looked from Kira to Sophie.

"Shouldn't Sophie be at home in bed?" Madison asked, her gaze going back to Kira.

"No, but she may not be going to school tomorrow either..." Kira said.

"Sarah, You can head out if you want, I'll see you at six thirty."

"Ok. Keep me updated on Madison's condition. Frank called me on the way over here and said that the car was being towed to the station so Gracie could go over it. We still haven't figured out why this guy actually stole it. We know that he had a rap sheet that was quite long..." Sarah said. "See you in the morning, Sarge."

"See you, Sarah." Madison said, giving a slight wave. As Sarah exited the room, Dr. Williams came in.

"Mom, and little sister." Dr. Williams asked, pointing to Kira and then Sophie. They both nodded.

"Doctor, this is my wife Kira, and Madison's sister Sophie." Tom said, making introductions.

"Ok, since everyone is here, I'm going to discharge Madison, but if you start to have blurred vision or a headache that doesn't go away with normal medicines, get back into an emergency department tonight." He said.

Kira looked from Dr. Williams to Madison and then back at Dr. Williams. "Are you worried about a concussion?"

"A mild one if there is one at all. The CT that we did didn't show any swelling, but I don't want to take any chances." The doctor said.

"Should we wake her up every so often?" Kira asked. This was her field of expertise after all.

"No, it shouldn't be necessary, but I would recommend taking it easy for the next few days though." Dr. Williams looked at Madison and nodded. Tom recognized the look on Madison's face. She had been given a direct order, and to disobey it would result in punishment. Direct commands were something that they still had trouble with. Tom and Kira had made significant progress in trying to retrain Madison so that she didn't ask for every little thing. "Madison, the dress that you had on is over here on the table, but your tights are probably ruined. The dress got rather wet, so I don't recommend wearing it home if you can help it."

"I have a solution to that." Kira said, holding up a plastic bag. "I brought her a change of clothing knowing that when a patient is comes in the way Madison did, they need a change of clothing."

Home: 12:35 AM

Tom backed the car into the garage and shut off the engine. Sophie had been asleep since just after Tom had backed the car out of the parking spot. Madison opened her door and got out, taking her backpack with her school stuff and laptop in it. Madison walked into the house and went straight to her room. She hung the quartz grey sweater dress in the closet and slipped on a satin night gown. By the time that Tom had carried Sophie upstairs and tucked her into bed, Madison had already crawled into bed and was under the covers. Tom came in, gave her a kiss on the forehead, and then left the room, turning out the light as he went.

Home: 4:30 AM

"No! Don't hit her!" Tom heard come from Madison's room. He sat up and turned on the light, got out of bed and headed for her room. Right as he got to her door, he heard a thump and knew that she had rolled out of bed and was now on the floor. "No, you bitch! Get away from her!" Tom opened the door and flipped on the light. Madison was sitting on the floor, swinging into thin air. This had happened a few times since he and Kira had adopted Madison and Sophie, and Tom was usually the first one in the room with Madison. There was a thump when her fist connected with the night stand. Madison's eyes slowly opened, and she looked around, wondering why she was on the floor, the light was on, and why Tom was standing in her doorway.

"Why am I down here?" Madison asked, crawling over to her father. Tom offered his hand and helped Madison to her feet. He simply stood there in the doorway and held her. Kira walked up behind Tom.

"She ok?" Kira asked

"Yeah, she will be." Tom said, stroking Madison's dishwater blonde hair. "I'm just glad that she doesn't have to go to classes today." Tom said, he heard Sophie's door open.

"Why's everyone up?" She asked groggily, rubbing her eyes.

"I'll get her back in bed." Kira said.

"Ok." Tom said, gently guiding Madison toward the stairs to go down to the family room. Tom steered Madison toward his recliner, and sat down patting his leg. Madison climbed up his in lap and tucked her head under his chin. Kira came down and looked at Tom and Madison in the recliner.

"I got Sophie back to bed. Is she going to school today or not?" Kira asked, pushing a button on the coffee robot to have it make a cup of coffee. She knew that regardless of if she went to work or not it was going to be one of those days...

"Lets try to get her up at six and see how she feels about it. I'll have my car back today so if she does go and needs to come home because she's exhausted, I can get her. Sarah should be here about six to pick me up and take me to get my car." Tom said, feeling Madison's breathing deepen as she fell back asleep. He pantomimed this to Kira who nodded.

"She doesn't have classes today, does she?" Kira asked, handing the mug to Tom.

Tom sipped the coffee and looked at Kira. "No. And for that I'm thankful. I want to try to get over to Midwestern today and look at their selection. I'm expecting that Bill will have a check delivered to me before noon."

"Ok. Keep me updated. I'll take Sophie to school and be available to go get her if needed." Kira said. "May I get some coffee?"

Tom smiled at his wife. "Yes, that's fine. I'm going to try to move her to the couch and go get a shower. It's gonna be a long day."

Kira nodded and watched her husband head down the hallway.

Home: 6:00 AM

Tom was out of the shower and dressed before Sarah had called to say she was on her way. Kira had gone in and talked to Sophie who had decided that she was going to try to go to school, and try to tough it out.

"You and dad do it all the time, go to work on little sleep but you make sure that both of us get enough sleep. I'm sure that Dad is exhausted as I don't think that he went back to sleep after Maddie's nightmare had woken you guys up..." Sophie said.

"I haven't either," Kira said, a small smile forming on her face.

Sophie looked at her mother. A smile forming on her face. "I haven't been back to sleep since I woke up earlier." Sophie rubbed her eyes and she looked at the coffee robot.

"One cup," Kira said, and handed Sophie a coffee mug.

"Thank you," Sophie said, taking the cup. She walked over to the coffee robot and pushed the button. Tom came back into the kitchen and watched Sophie take the first sip of coffee.

"That stuff will stunt your growth." Tom said, getting his own cup and refilling it. After it was full, he did his customary morning action of walking over to the back window and looking into the back yard. Madison sat up and looked at the family that was standing in the kitchen.

"Can I have a cup of coffee?" Madison mumbled.

Kira got cup down and pushed the button to make another cup of coffee. "Tom, we're going to need to buy more beans soon..."

"Ok. Put it on the list," Tom said, turning to Madison. "Tonight we are defiantly going to go get you a new phone., even if we don't get around to going to looking at new cars tonight."

Madison pursed her lips and took the cup of coffee that her mother had handed her father. Madison took a sip, and then spoke. "Erin and I were going to go out tonight and study." Madison had spoken of Erin before, but Tom had never met her.

"What time?" Tom asked, tipping his cup up and draining his coffee.

"Six," Madison said. "We were going to go to one of the coffee shops down on campus."

"If necessary, take your sister's phone if I haven't been home yet. I'll make sure that I get you a new phone today. The car can wait till tomorrow. Can Erin come pick you up?"

"Probably, I'd have to call her." Madison said, a smile crossing her face.

"Ok. Let me know. I can try to get you a new phone and get it back over here before you leave, but who knows what my day is going to be like." Tom felt his phone vibrate and pulled it off his hip. Seeing that the caller was Sarah, he answered it and held it to his ear. "Morning," Tom said, he could almost picture her face with as he answered with so much enthusiasm.

"Morning..." Sarah said, caught off guard by how chipper Tom was. "I'm in your driveway. How's Madison this morning?"

"Madison, How are you this morning?" Tom asked her.

"I'm awake. May try to go back to sleep..." Madison said.

"Please tell me that you didn't wake her up to answer the question..." Sarah said.

"Nope, we had a rough night. I've been up since about four thirty, as has Kira. Both of the girls have been back asleep since then. I'll be out in a minute." Tom said. "Ok. Bye." Tom dropped his phone back in the pouch that it lived in on his belt. Tom looked at his family. He kissed the girls on the top of the head, and gave Kira a kiss on the lips. "Madison, if you need something call me. I'll have street units make passes on the house every so often."

"Okay," Madison said.

"Sophie, mom will take you to school, but if you start to feel like you are going to fall asleep ask to go to the office and call your mom or I. I'd rather come get you than have you fall asleep during class." Tom said, sticking his travel mug under the coffee robot and asking it to make a cup for him.

"Ok." Sophie said. "Be careful at work, Daddy." Tom smiled at her and patted her head as he passed to go out the front door.

"I will. Everyone be safe." Tom turned and headed out the front door. Sarah had backed into the driveway and sat there, window down just watching as the neighbors got into their cars and left for work. Tom hopped into the passenger seat and put on his seatbelt. "Morning."

"Morning," Sarah said, putting the Crown Vic in gear and puling out of the driveway. "How'd you sleep?"

Tom squeezed the bridge of his nose as he thought about that question. "Fine, until Madison had a nightmare at four thirty. I think I may have gotten three hours of sleep last night."

"You look like it," Sarah said, turning on to the ramp for the freeway. "Hopefully it's a light day so you can comp some of it, go home, and take a nap..."

"Maybe," Tom said, glancing at Sarah. "Except I have a household to run, a child who needs a replacement cell phone, and the same child that now needs a new car." He sighed and glanced out the window at the rising sun. It was shaping up to be a nice day. "Sarah, Madison was really upset last night when she called and told me that the car had been stolen."

"I would be upset if a car that my father who didn't have to care got me as a graduation gift got stolen." Sarah said, slowing down as she approached the exit for Chatterhorn street. Sarah slowed and pulled up to the guard shack that sat at the entrance to the massive fleet management facility that the city ran. Sarah rolled down her window.

"What can I do for you, Ma'am?" the guard asked.

"I'm Detective Cunningham, This is sergeant Winters, we're here to pick up his car." They both showed their shields and ID's to the guard.

"Alright, I'm sure that you guys know where the car's at. Have a good day." He pushed a button and the gate slid open and Sarah slowly rolled into the lot to where the car sat, very shiny in the growing daylight. The service crews had washed the car, which wasn't on the list of maintenance items for this visit. Sarah pulled up next to the car and Tom got out, unlocked the door, got in and looked at the list of things they had worked on.

North Middle School: 7:15 AM

Kira parked the car in the parking lot of the school and shut the car off. Her and Sophie got out, and walked into the deserted school. Sophie headed for her classroom and Kira made a quick stop by the office. The only person in the office was Mrs. Jackson, one of the two administrative assistants.

"Morning, Mrs. Jackson." Kira said as she entered the office.

"Good Morning, Mrs. Winters. What can I do for you?" Mrs. Jackson asked, sitting the stack of papers that she had been filing in the teachers mailboxes on the counter.

"Sophie got about three hours of sleep last night, and she is going to try to tough it out because Tom and I do it all the time; Or so she thinks... If she comes down and wants to go home call Tom or I, please?" Kira asked, a smile crossing her face.

"Yep. May I ask as to the reason why she only got three hours of sleep? I thought that you and Tom were pretty strict about bed times and knowing Sophie's whereabouts..."

"We are," Kira said. "Last night, Madison was attacked on campus and had her car stolen... You can imagine Tom's response to that."

Mrs. Jackson nodded slowly. She had seen Tom take control over the room Sophie was in one time during a lockdown. Tom cared about two children that he didn't have to care about. "Yep. Is Madison ok?"

"Yeah, she needs a new phone and a new car, but she's ok." Kira said. "That's the important part."

"I agree," Mrs. Jackson said. "If Sophie comes down and wants to go home, we'll get in touch with one of you."

"Thank you." Kira said, "Have a nice day and hopefully, Sophie makes it all day..."

Detective Bureau: 7:45 AM

Tom was sitting at his desk when his phone rang. Pulling it out, he saw that he caller was Bill Morris.

"Winters," Tom said into the phone.

"Tom, It's Bill," Bill said. "I just got your message. Can you tell me where Madison's car is now?"

"Yep, let me pull up the call and I'll tell you." Tom started typing on the computer in front of him. He dug into the notes. "It's at Cherish Towing and Recovery. Six thirty four Travis Street."

"Ok, I'm heading over there now, and I'll give you a call in a bit." Bill said, "Madison's ok, right?"

"Yeah. She's got a bump on the head, but otherwise, she's ok." Tom said, glancing up as Sarah came into the room. He held up a finger to indicate that he'd be a minute.

"What do you think about the condition of the car?"

"It's totaled" Tom said, "He clipped a car and went head first into the center barrier. All of the airbags deployed, it sheared the motor mounts, and killed the guy that stole the car."

"Ok. I'll assess it and if it's gone, I will be by at some point with a check. You want me to bring it to your office or drop it off at the house?"

"If you could bring it by the office, I'd appreciate it."

"Ok. Talk to you soon." Bill said, and hung up the phone. Tom sat his phone on his desk and then looked at Sarah.

"What do you have?" he asked.

Home: 9:21 AM

Madison rolled over and looked at the clock on the cable box. She sat up and stretched, and then looked around the living room. Standing, the tag on the collar jingled before becoming silent again. She folded the blanket that someone had covered her up with and laid it across the back of the couch before heading upstairs to take a shower. Madison went into her room and took off the night gown and tossed it in the hamper. Madison looked at her body in the full length mirror noting that she should probably shave soon. She was starting to grow fur in places that neither her or Erin wanted her to have any. Madison shrugged and then went to take a shower, leaving her robe in the closet.

Detective Bureau: 10:20 AM

Tom had just sat back down at his desk when the phone rang, the caller was the front desk. He knew by looking at the extension that the call had come from that someone had come in to see him.

"Winters." Tom said, after picking up the phone.

"Sarge, I have a Bill Morris here to see you. Are you available to speak to him."

"Yeah." Tom said, standing. "I'll be down." He hung up the phone and walked out into Roll Call. Sarah looked up at him.

"What's up?" she asked.

"Bill Morris is downstairs, I'm going to go bring him up." Tom said, walking to the door to the bureau. "What do we have on the suspect?"

"I'll put it all on your desk in about three minutes." Sarah said, sitting back down and going back to typing.

"Ok." Tom said, exiting the room. He went to the end of the hallway and took the stairs down to the first floor and then exited into the lobby. Bill turned as the door opened. Officer Updike had already given Bill his visitors badge and Tom waved him back. Updike nodded to acknowledge that Tom had taken the visitor.

"What the heck did that guy hit?" Bill asked as they got on the elevator.

"Officially: he clipped the back end of a Ford, it sent him front end first into the center wall on Thirty Seven; unofficially, he injured my daughter..." Tom said, with a chuckle.

"Remind me to not be either of their first boyfriends..." Bill said, stepping off the elevator as it hit the third floor. Tom walked up to the door and entered the code to open it on the keypad. Sarah was just walking out of Tom's office.

"I just put it on your desk, Sarge." Sarah said, going back over to her desk.

"Thank you, Sarah." Tom said, showing Bill into his office. Tom picked up the papers as Bill sat in a chair. Tom sat behind the desk, and skimmed the papers that Sarah had placed there. He handed the stack of paper to Bill. "Looks like this wasn't the first time that he had stolen a car..."

Bill skimmed the paper. "Yep... It's his last though..."

"Yeah... Looks like he left behind a two year old..." Tom said. He felt bad for the kid, but when your father was a criminal, this was usually the end that occurred.

"Sad..." Bill said. "But, lets get down to the business of why I'm here." Bill handed the papers back to Tom.

"Ok..." Tom said, taking the papers, and sitting them back on the desk.

"I looked at the car and it's totaled, like you thought." Bill said. "Current market value for the car is fourteen thousand." Bill pulled a piece of paper check out of his inside breast pocket for the fourteen thousand dollars. "It's left open as to who to make it out to, I kinda figured that you'd be out buying a new car today..."

"You're probably right. I think that I will just go get a car for her and be done with that part of this ordeal..."

Home: 11:45 AM

Madison was back in her room, looking in her closet for something to wear. Erin had asked her to wear something specific, but now she couldn't remember what it was. If only that damned fool hadn't run over her phone... Madison picked up the extension to the multi handset cordless system and called Erin. Madison got her voice mail as she expected.

"Hi, This is Erin, leave me a message after the beep." Madison heard the voice mail say.

"Erin, It's Maddie. I know that you asked me to wear something specific tonight, but I don't remember what it was and some asshole stole my car and ran over my phone last night. Call me back at this number and let me know what it is so I can be all dressed up for you. Bye!" Madison had gone back to staring into the closet while she waited on Erin to call her back. She got into her dresser and pulled out a matching bra and panties. Madison slipped the pink plaid thong on and then slid the bra on. She pulled out a baby pink v neck sweater and a short black skirt. She slipped them on and went to brush her hair. While she was brushing her hair, the phone rang and she saw that the caller was Erin.

"Hello." Madison said, setting the brush down.

"Wait, someone stole your car and ran over your phone, and you are just now calling me? When did this happen?" Erin said, her voice full of concern. That was not the response that Madison was expecting.

"Last night. I was getting into my car after class and someone hit me from behind, took my keys, backed out of the parking spot, running over my purse in the process, and running off with my car. I was found by campus security about ten minutes after eleven. I haven't had a chance to even call you until now."

"Are you ok?" Erin asked.

"I have a bump on the back of my head. Other than that, I'm ok. My fist hurts because I had a nightmare and Dad said that I punched my night stand... I was given a clean bill of health by the folks at the med center." Madison replied, "I don't remember what you wanted me to wear for our study date tonight." The two of them had been working through the same criminology major, and consistently scheduled the same classes at the same time. Their friendship had become really close.

"Silly girl," Erin said. "I was thinking your lighter maroon sweater dress, with the v-neck. You know, the one that shows off your collar. I love how that looks around your neck. I have a present for you for later."

Madison felt her self blushing. "Umm. Ok," She said, feeling the blush spread. "If we're still doing this tonight, you're gonna need to come pick me up."

"I can do that. You guys are still at 6294 Hunington?"

"We haven't moved since I've lived here..." Madison said.

"Ok. I'll see you about five thirty. I'd like to finally meet your dad and mom..." Erin said. Madison had spoken to Erin's mom on the phone and been introduced that way as being Erin's girlfriend. Madison wasn't sure what Tom and Kira would say when she introduced Erin as her girlfriend. They had been dating for around one year, ever since they had both realized that they were falling in love.

"Ok. But be forewarned, I'm not sure how they will take it," Madison said.

"We'll get through what ever happens," Erin said. "I predict they will be fine. Look at what they see in their lines of work."

"True. I'll be ready when you get here."

North Middle School: 12:43 PM

Sophie stumbled her way into the main office and looked at Mrs. Jackson, who had looked up when the door opened. Sophie looked like she was about to drop.

"Mrs. Jackson," Sophie started, her voice more of a mumble than anything. "Can you call my mom and have her come get me? I don't think I'm going to make it until we're done for the day."

"Yeah, I can. Why don't you sit down and relax until she gets here." Mrs. Jackson said, picking up the phone and dialing Kira's number. By the time the call had connected, Sophie was asleep in the chair.

Detective Bureau: 12:47 PM

Tom had just returned to his desk after showing Bill Morris out when his phone chimed. He pulled it out as Sarah came into his office.

"Looks like Sophie isn't going to make it until the end of the day. Kira's on her way to get her." Tom said with a chuckle. "I admire her for trying through." Truth be told, Tom didn't expect Sophie to last as long as she did.

Sarah looked at the clock and then at Tom. "Not bad considering that she's never really done this before."

"Yep." Tom said. "Bill agreed with my assessment that the car was totaled." Tom glanced at the check that was still laying on the desk. "I need to go get Madison a new phone. You should see her old one... The little case it was in did nothing to protect it from the weight of a 2000 pound car."

Sarah nodded. "I was thinking about going out for lunch, want to go take care of that while we're out?"

"Sure." Tom said, grabbing his suit jacket. "Let me call up to radio and let them know." He put the phone on speaker and dialed the extension for the radio room.

"What's up, Sarge?" Came the voice of one of the call takers.

"D4 and my self are heading out to lunch. We have our radios and phones, and will advise when we are back in service unless you need us first."

"Copy sir. Have a decent lunch." The tech said and then disconnected the call.

"You're driving." Sarah said.

Home 1:15 PM

Madison had just finished putting her hair in pigtails when she heard the garage door open. She only had a few more things to do before she was ready for her date with Erin that evening. Erin and her had decided that it was time to come clean with everyone so that they didn't have to hide fact that they were, officially, a couple. She figured that either Sophie hadn't made it through the day, or her father was home from work early. She heard the door to the garage open and then her mothers voice.

"Maddie, Sophie and I are home." Kira's voice drifted up the steps.

Madison got up and headed downstairs to see her sister, and if necessary help put her to bed. When she got downstairs, Sophie was starting to lay on the couch. "Come on, Soph, lets get you upstairs in your bed. It will be more comfortable than the couch; trust me, I know." Sophie groggily sat up and stood, headed for the stairs.

"Ok... What ever you say, sis," Sophie mumbled, clearly not happy about not being allowed to sleep on the couch.

Townsbrige Mall : 1:30 PM

Tom and Sarah walked into the AT&T store and looked at the sales rep.

"Good Afternoon, folks." He said. "What can I help you with?"

"I need to replace an iPhone... My daughter had hers ran over last night..." Tom said.

"Ok, we now have three models, the 3GS, the 4, and the brand spanking new 4S." The rep said.

"Hmm... can you check for upgrade status for all our lines?"

"Sure, give me one of the numbers."

"614-555-2122 is mine. It's the primary." The rep clicked a few times and then looked at Tom.

"Sir, two of your lines have been eligible for upgrades for about a month, the other two won't be available for another year or thereabouts." The rep looked at Tom. He was glad that two lines were eligible for an upgrade as he didn't want to have to pay full price to replace Madison's phone.

"Ok. Replace my line with a new 4S, and move my phone to my daughter's line. Hers is the 4343 line."

"Alright, give me a few minutes to go get it. Any accessories for it?"

"Nope, Everything I already have should work with it." Tom replied.

"Alright, I'll be right back. The sales rep said, before turning and heading for the stock room.

Pets 'R' Us: 2:34 PM

Erin typed on the touch screen display and then hit the button to cause the machine to start to engrave the red heart shaped tag that she would give to Maddie later that night. She was kind of worried about meeting Tom and Kira for the first time, but knew that her and Madison would get through it together. Erin had never had a tag engraved for anything, or anyone and actually found the process to be fascinating.

Detective Bureau: 3:00 PM

Tom sat down at his desk and looked at some of the papers that had piled up while he and Sarah had been out. It was mainly some requests for further investigation from the street units and he knew that there would be a few more once the first shift sergeant finished up his paperwork.

"Sarah," Tom said loudly enough for her to hear him over the din of noise in the larger bullpen area that the detectives shared.

"Yeah?" She said appearing in the doorway.

"Assign these and update the system." Tom offered the stack of paper to Sarah. "I'm going to head out, Frank is the on-call, and as usual, call me if anything happens."

"Yes, Sir," Sarah said, giving a playful salute as Tom stood and grabbed his suit jacket.

Home: 3:30 PM

Madison heard the garage door open and a car pull in, knowing that it was too soon for her mother to be home, she wondered if her dad was home. She left her room, the boots that she had slipped on her feet clicking on the hardwood floor that covered the hallway following a recent remodel the carpet had been replaced with. Madison descended the stairs and walked into the kitchen at the same time that Tom was walking into the back door with a bag from the AT&T Store. Madison had, in a way been expecting this, and wondered who actually got the new phone. Tom handed her his old phone, and smiled at her.

"I've plugged it into a computer to activate it, but you need to sync it." Tom said. "How old was the most recent backup you had?"

"A day, maybe two," Madison said.

"Ok, You should be ok once you restore it." Tom handed her the phone. "What time is Erin coming over to get you?"

"She said she'd be here about five thirty, and she wants to meet you and Mom." Madison blushed a little and bit her lower lip, hoping that her father hadn't notice it.

"Really..." Tom said, a smile forming on his face. "Bill Morris stopped by the office today."

Madison's face fell. "How bad is my car?"

"It was totaled," Tom said, matter-of-factly. "Bill gave me a check for fourteen thousand, which we are going to use to go get you a new car. Same rules as before, I take care of everything about the car while you are in school, blah, blah, blah."

Madison smiled and hugged her father. She knew that he didn't have to do this, but he wanted her to be able to focus on school. "Thanks, Daddy," She said.

"You're welcome. You look very nice, did you get all dressed up for Erin?" he asked.

Madison blushed again, this time even more deeply than she had done the first time. "Maybe..." she said in one of those shy little voices that Tom loved to hear out of both of the girls.

"How long has your sister been asleep?" Tom asked, pulling two cups out of cupboard and holding one to ask Madison if she wanted any coffee.

"Yes, please," she replied and then looked at the clock on the microwave. "Mom brought her home about one, she's been out ever since."

"Ok. When you go back up, wake her up so that she sleeps tonight." Tom said, offering her the first cup of coffee. He slipped his cup under the spout and pushed the button.

"Ok. When do you want to go look at new cars?" Madison asked after sipping the coffee.

"I was thinking about going and starting to look tonight. Maybe get some pricing ideas and options. The last one you had no say so in as it was a gift. Anything you want in this one?" Tom asked.

"Just an iPod interface, like what mom's car has." Madison said.

"Ok. If I pick out a car and buy it tonight, will that be ok?"

"Yep," Madison said. She trusted her father's judgement.

"Ok. I'm sure that you have school work to work on, so get on that before you go on your date with Erin tonight," Tom said.

"Daddy," Madison said, feeling her cheeks warm up. "Erin and I are going on a study date tonight."

"Uh huh..." Tom said, turning and heading into the den.

Madison wondered what her father knew as she turned and went up to wake Sophie up.

Home: 5:15 PM

Tom was sitting in the living room, flipping though channels on the TV when the garage door opened and he knew that Kira was home. Glancing at the clock, he saw that Kira was only home fifteen minutes later than normal, so he assumed that she had gone to get Sophie on her lunch break. He was still sitting there when she walked in the door and smiled at him.

"How was your day?" Tom asked, standing and giving her a hug.

"It was ok. Nothing major happened today," Kira said. "How's Sophie?"

"She's working on her homework. I had Maddie wake her up about three thirty, and she's been up since then. Tonight, I want to go to Townsbridge upgrade your phone and move your current phone to Sophie's line. I've already taken care of Madison."

Kira nodded. "What about car shopping?" Tom had sent her a text about Bill Morris dropping off the check to the station earlier in the day.

"I wanted to do that tonight, but that's one of those things that you could just drop me off and I'll drive her new car back... She has that study date with Erin tonight." Tom said, getting another cup of coffee.

"Ok. I take it that the two of you have already discussed this?"

"Yep," Tom said. Making another cup of coffee for Kira. He handed her the cup. "She said that she only cares about a legitimate iPod interface. Something I didn't even think of when we got the Golf for her."

"Well, to be honest at the time, she didn't have a large music collection like she does now, and besides, running one wire to the phone is better than running two." Kira's phone was docked in the car every time she got in it.

"True." Tom replied, glancing down the hallway as he heard Madison clicking her way toward the kitchen. She sat her pink backpack on one of the stools at the breakfast bar that they never used.

"Erin will be here in a few minutes. Please don't scare her away; I care about her." Madison said.

"We won't Maddie." Tom said. Maddie could only figure what he would be doing if she were bringing a boy over for the first time. Probably cleaning his gun, she surmised. "There is more to the two of you than just a study date, isn't there?" Madison blushed such a deep red that her face almost matched the color of her sweater dress.

"Can we wait for her to get here to discuss that?" Madison asked, not glancing into either of her parents eyes.

Tom and Kira smiled at each other. "Sure," was Tom's simple answer. Thirty seconds later, there was a knock on the door. Madison jumped and hurried to the front door. Tom was in the line of sight of the front door, so he saw the petite blonde with the pink framed glasses, purple sweater and black purse standing there. He watched as Erin and Maddie hugged, a smile forming on his face. Madison took Erin's hand and led her into the house, pausing momentarily to close and lock the door behind her. Erin saw Tom watching and smiled. Tom smiled back. Kira simply watched her husband, and had an idea as to what was going on out of her view down the hallway.

"Mom, Dad, I'd like you guys to meet Erin," Madison said, using her hands to gesture to Erin. "Erin, this is my Dad Tom, and my Mom Kira."

Tom walked around the island to take Erin's hand in a hand shake, and after shaking it, he turned it flat and kissed the top of it. Tom could smell the faint smell of baby powder, and could see that her nails were well taken care of. Erin giggled. "It's nice to meet you, Erin."

Kira offered her hand for Erin to shake, which she did.

"It's nice to finally meet you the two of you, Mister and Mrs. Winters." Erin said, her brown eyes sparkling behind the lenses of her glasses.

"Do you girls have time to sit and chat?" Tom asked, gesturing toward the couch and love seat in the living room. He noticed that Madison and Erin's hands had not unjoined since they had walked into the house.

"Yeah. We were just going to go on a date," Erin stopped mid sentence and blushed. "Go and study tonight." Tom's eyes flicked from Erin to Maddie and back again. They both were blushing as they sat on the love seat and cuddled in close to each other. Kira and Tom glanced at each other and smiled.

"Oh, just come out and say it." Tom said with a chuckle. Madison and Erin glanced at each other and then back at Tom, mouths agape.

"How long have you known?" Madison asked.

"Honestly, the thought kept coming back to me more and more. Especially recently," Tom said. "I just want you to be happy Madison, and if Erin makes you happy, then great. Only down side is that I won't get grandkids this way..." Madison and Erin glanced at each other, shocked. "Just remember, there are people out there that don't understand or like same sex relationships, and will attack people that are in same sex relationships. I will get both of you girls some OC spray."

"What's that?" Erin asked.

"The spray that police officers carry." Tom replied, as if everyone should know this. "Madison, I'll let you know if you have a new car in the driveway If I get you one." Erin glanced from Madison to Tom and back.

"You're going to buy her a new car?" Erin asked, her eyes wide. "She doesn't have to do anything?"

"Nope, and as long as she's in school, and doing well, I will pay for the payments, if any, insurance, and maintenance. She gets an allowance every week, and only has to do a few things around here."

"Wow. I wish that my parents could have done that for me..." Erin turned and looked at Madison. "You have no idea how lucky you are..." She let the thought trail off.

"Where are you from?" Tom asked.

"Cleveland..." said, "Dad died about three years ago and mom's been struggling to make it ever since. I'm only able to go to school because Mom's on disability." Tom recalled those questions from the finical aid applications that he and Kira had filled out. "I get so much in financial aid that it's almost like they feel bad for me."

"Are you having trouble with anything?" Tom asked . Maddie and Erin's hands shifted and Tom could tell that Madison knew something that he didn't.

"Yeah..." Erin said quietly. "Part of the reason why Maddie and I keep having our study sessions together is because I don't have enough money to cover tuition, room and board, and books. Something had to give and I chose books as I need a roof over my head." Erin wiped a tear from her cheek. "Maddie's been keeping me grounded and from losing my mind, the only reason I am able to eat is because the meal plans are included in the room and board." Madison pulled Erin close and just held her.

"Daddy, this isn't the place for this..." Madison said, trying to stop her father from prying any further, not realizing what he was actually doing. "Please stop." Madison glanced at her mother, who was having trouble with not smiling. She knew exactly what her husband was doing.

Tom shot Madison a look that caused her to simply plead with him silently. "Madison, buy her what ever she needs, use the card." Erin and Madison's jaws dropped.

"Mr. Winters, you don't have to do that. There's a lot of stuff that I need that I don't have. The books are only part of it..."

"Daddy, she doesn't even have a computer. She either uses mine or the ones in the labs on campus," Madison said.

"Madison, Erin can't keep using your books and computer. You both are taking the same major, right?" Both girls nodded. "Ok, it's going to get harder from here. At some point, you both are going to need the same book at the same time and be looking in a different section for the same thing. Or you are going to work on a research paper and not be writing the same topic. Erin is, by virtue of dating you, a member of the family." Both girls looked up at Tom. "You are welcome here any time, Erin." Tom stood, and opened his arms to hug the girls. They both stood and walked over together. Tom gave both of them a hug and Erin's hand disconnected from Madison's for the first time in a while. The hug that Tom received from felt like the hug that he had received from Madison after he had rescued both her and her sister.

"Mr. Winters, I don't even know what to say except thank you. That doesn't even seem like it is anywhere near enough." said quietly.

"You can repay me after I work for you." Tom said, with a chuckle. Erin pulled back a little bit and gave him a quizzical look. Tom could see the tears in her eyes, and smiled as one slipped out and rolled toward her chin. Tom stopped it midway and wiped it away, smiling at her.

"I'm joking with you. Repay us if you can. I want to see you succeed, just like I want to see Madison and her sister Sophie succeed." Almost as if Sophie knew she was being talked about, she appeared in the kitchen.

"What about me?" she asked, rubbing her eyes like she had just woken up.

"Erin, meet Sophie, Madison's sister," Tom said. "Sophie, this is Erin, Maddie's friend from school.

"Hi, Erin" Sophie said, shyly.

"Hello." Erin said.

"Madison, Erin," Tom said. "You guys go take care of what you need to take care of and you can stay out later tonight, but let me know if you do and what time you'll be home."

"Ok, Daddy." Madison said, taking Erin's hand and leading her toward the door, grabbing the pink backpack on the way out.

Enroute to Campus: 5:53 PM

Madison went out and got into Erin's car. She knew that the car was newer than the one that Erin's mom drove as Erin did more driving than her mother did. After they had backed out of the driveway, Erin finally spoke.

"Are you really going to buy my books?" she asked, not turning her head and looking at Madison.

"Yes." Madison said simply. "That was a direct command, I can't ignore that. I've explained that to you."

"And the computer?" Erin said, turning her head as she stopped at a red light.

"Dad said everything. That's what we buy." Madison said. "Knowing him, he also doesn't want me to buy something cheap that won't last out the next two years. I'm surprised that we have made it this far the way we've been going." Their hands joined, and they smiled at each other.

University Book Store: 6:30 PM

Madison and Erin walked into the book store and looked around. Once they had found an employee they got the books they needed and carried them out to Erin's car.

"I don't know how I'm going to repay your dad..." Erin said.

"You heard him. Deal with it when you are able," Madison said, getting into the passenger side of Erin's Camry. "Although I wonder how far he meant with the computer bit. There is software you are going to need that won't be on there when we get it."

"Maddie," Erin said, taking Madison's hand in hers after she had started the car. "The books are enough. You don't need to buy me a computer, or software to go on one."

"Eribear, my dad said to do this, if I don't, I may get in trouble. Just let me do this, ok?" Madison said, wrapping her arm around Erin's shoulders. She pulled her girlfriend as close as she could in the car. "Dad's right. It's going to get harder from here. Plus, with the fact that you live on campus, you can use the network there to get online and we can talk that way." Madison squeezed Erin's hand. "Let me send dad a text and see exactly what he wants me to purchase."

Towsnbridge Mall: 6:49 PM

"Alright, I have the two phones switched. So you guys are good to go now." The sales rep said, handing Kira her new phone and handing Sophie the phone that Kira had walked in with. He handed Sophie's old phone to Tom, who slipped it in his pocket.

"Thank you," Tom said, hearing his phone beep into his ear to indicate a text message had been received. Tom pulled his phone out and looked at it and decided that rather than answer via text, calling and talking to Madison would be easier. He dialed the number, told the phone to connect the call and then put the phone back in it's holster.

Campus: 6:52 PM

Madison and Erin both looked at the phone as it rang. Madison answered it and put the call on speaker.

"Hi Daddy." Madison said.

"Hi Maddie," Tom said. "What do you mean, what should you buy? Buy a computer that will last out at least her school years, something to carry it in and at least a word processing program."

"Umm... Ok." Madison said

"You don't have to do that, Mr. Winters..." Erin said.

"I want to do this for you, Erin." Tom replied. "Madison, Don't skimp."

"Yes, Daddy," Madison said.

"Have fun girls," Tom said.

"Bye daddy." Madison said.

"Bye Mr. Winters." Erin said. There was a beep from the phone as the call disconnected.

"Eribear, the way I see it you have two choices..." Madison paused to look at Erin. "Either you and I go and buy the laptop and related stuff, or my dad does it for you and you'll get what he picks out. At least this way you have a choice..."

"Ok," Erin sighed, buckling her seatbelt. "Let's go..." She put the car in gear and pulled out of the parking spot.

Electronics Store: 7:17 PM

Erin parked the car and shut off the engine. She looked at Madison and then smiled. Madison reached over and patted the light blue skinny jeans that Erin wore. Madison could count on one hand the number of times that she had seen Erin in a skirt or dress.

"Come on, lets go buy this thing and head back to the my house so we can get it all set up." Madison said.

"So much for studying..." Erin said, a giggle escaping her mouth.

"In a way," Madison said, getting out of the car. "We are simply empowering the future." Erin got out of the car and looked at Madison; a look of confusion spreading across her face.

"What?" Erin asked.

"By getting you the supplies you need, we are taking the steps to ensure success, Eribear." Madison said. Their hands automatically joined as they walked into the store. They walked right in and headed for the back of the store where the laptops were. A salesman walked up to the two girls, a smile on his face.

"Good evening, ladies," He said, eyeing Madison's strange jewelry. "What brings you in tonight?"

"We need to get my girlfriend a new laptop..." Madison said, gently squeezing Erin's hand.

"Ok, what were you guys looking for?" the salesman asked.

"Something reliable, and that will last out her next few years of college." Madison said, on Erin's behalf, her taking charge of a situation catching Erin slightly off guard.

"Ok, what screen size?"

"I have a 13" MacBook..." Madison said, thinking out loud. "Maybe we should go with a MacBook." The salesman looked like he knew he had just lost a sale, but he knew that a sale for the store was better than nothing. "Our Mac Department is over there."

Midwestern Auto Sales: 7:30 PM

Tom stood next to a dark silver Volkswagen looking thorough the window.

"Good Evening, Sir." Tom heard a voice off to his right. "Taking an interest in the Jetta?"

"Yes," Tom replied looking from the window back to the salesman, "My daughter had her Golf stolen and it ended up getting totaled. So, we need a new car." The salesman had a name tag that read "Bryce" pinned to his shirt

"I'm sorry to hear that," The salesman said. "Is she ok?"

"Yeah, She had a bump on the head from where the guy that stole the car hit her when he took her keys," Tom replied, glancing back at the car. "Does this one have bluetooth and the iPod interface?" The salesman turned to examine the sticker.

"Yes it does. Would you like to take it for a test drive?"

"Yes, I would." Tom pulled his wallet out and slid his drivers license, and insurance card out and handed them to the salesman. He looked at them in the light of from the setting sun.

"Alright," He started. "Mr. Winters. Let me go get keys and a tag and I'll be right back." Tom nodded, watching him go. He knew that if this was the car that he decided on, that he would be home before 8:30, and maybe even home before Madison and Erin. The sales rep walked back over to the car and pushed the button to unlock it before handing the key to Tom, who opened the door and got in, starting the engine. Tom felt the car rock slightly as he hit the gas before backing out of the parking spot and letting the salesman get in the car. After the salesman had buckled his seat belt, Tom dropped the car in drive and slowly pulled out of the lot. Once, he hit Automall Drive, he floored the gas, sending both he and the salesman backwards into their seats. Tom pointed the car toward the freeway where he could really test the car out. Tom made a left onto Katterhorn street and floored the gas again, starting to take the ramp to the freeway at highway speed. "Mr. Winters, You may want to slow down... The speed limit is 65 here..." The salesman leaned over and saw that Tom was already doing 90.

"There's one thing I haven't told you yet, Bryce," Tom said casually, passing three cars, before realizing that one of them was a Metro PD cruiser. "Aw, hell" Tom said, watching the cruiser pop out of the line of traffic and gain speed to catch him. "I've been trained to drive like this." He pulled on to the berm and casually rolled down the window as the marked car pulled up and turned on it's lights. Bryce turned to look at the cruiser that sat behind the Jetta, his eyes wide.

"What do you mean that you've been trained to drive like that?" Bryce asked, returning his gaze to Tom in time to watch him pull a second wallet from his left rear pocket.

"I'm a sergeant with Metro PD." The officer walked up to the drivers side window.

"Good Evening, Sir. May I see your-" The officer stopped mid sentence as he realized who he was talking to. "Hey Sarge, where's the fire?"

"Taking it for a test drive, Conrad," Tom said. "Madison's car was stolen last night and totaled. Looking at getting her this, and so far it matches my criteria for her car. She'd better never run it like I just did, but I can take it if I need to... I had to take Kira's car last night to get to the scene as mine was in the shop."

"Understood, Sarge," The Officer said, "Be safe, I'm just glad that Madison is ok."

"So am I, Conrad," Tom said, "So am I... Be safe out there."

"Will do, Sarge," Officer Conrad said, "You be careful too." They gave each other playful salutes as the salesman watched.

Tom turned to the salesman and smiled. "You, sir, have made a sale that you didn't have to do any thing for." Tom dropped the car in gear, punched the gas, and merged back into traffic.

Home: 7:59 PM

Madison and Erin walked into the house, loaded down with bags and boxes and headed for Madison's room. Her desk would provide enough space for them to spread everything out, and get organized. Once they had everything opened and made sure everything was there, Madison looked at Erin.

"I'm going to go get something to drink," Madison said, placing her hand on the door knob. "You want anything?" Erin looked at the clock and then at Maddie.

"A glass of water, please. Also, no coffee Madison. While we may not have classes tomorrow, we are going to get together tomorrow so we can work on what we didn't get done today." Madison pouted, even though she knew that it wasn't going to help her. Erin knew that sometimes if Madison had too much caffeine after four that she'd have problems sleeping.

"Yes, Ma'am," Madison said, still pouting and exiting the room. Erin glanced around the room, only having been here once and that was when Tom and Kira had been out of the house. A few minutes later, Madison returned with two bottles of water. She handed one off to Erin who took swig. Madison did the same and looked at Erin.

"Thank you, Madison," Erin said. She spun the laptop so that Maddie could see it. It showed the desktop. Madison tore into the packaging for some of the software and then handed the disc to Erin, who slipped it into the disc drive.

"What time should I be ready in the morning?" Madison asked. Erin clicked a few things and then looked at Madison.

"Eight," Erin said. "We have a lot to cover, remember we have a quiz on Tuesday in Algebra..." Madison's lips pursed. As Madison sat there and gazed at Erin, she heard the garage door open, close and then just two doors on the car close. Not knowing if anyone had been home when they got there, Madison had Erin park on the street.

"Madison, Erin," Madison heard her mother's voice floating up the steps "Sophie and I are home. Your dad will be home shortly."

"Where is he?" Madison asked.

"I dropped him at Midwestern Auto about forty five minutes ago." Kira said.

"Oh," Madison said. "Will someone let me know when he gets home. I have receipts for him."

"Ok, sweetie," Kira said. Madison walked over and sat next to Erin on the bed. Erin reached up and pulled on the tag that was attached to the collar that Madison wore and gave her a kiss on the lips. When they broke the kiss, both of them looked at the laptop which had just beeped. Madison heard the front door open and then close. She knew without being told that her father was home.

"Madison, Your father's home." Kira shouted up the steps. Madison knew that her father had been car shopping because her mom had returned home without him. Madison grabbed Erin's hand and drug her out of the room.

"Madison, slow down," Erin said, one of those tones that indicated that Madison should do what she was told. Madison slowed as they started down the steps, not letting go of Erin's hand. Tom was waiting at the bottom of the steps, a smile on his face and a key dangling from his finger. Madison stopped long enough to take the key, give her father a one armed hug and a kiss on the cheek, and then drug Erin out the front door. Her dad had backed the car in the driveway, and in the street lights, the car was a dark grey color. Madison hit the button on the remote and watched as all of the lights on the car flashed in the darkness. Madison opened the drivers side door and got in the car, finally letting go of Erin's hand. Erin went around and got in the passenger seat. Madison started the engine and looked at Erin.

"I need to go grab my purse, I'll be right back," Madison said, opening the door. She got out and walked up to her father who had stood there and watched in silent amusement as Madison took to her new car like a child takes to a new puppy. Madison gave him a hug with both of her arms this time.

"Thank you, Daddy," She said. Her mind sometimes drifted off to what she had because this man cared when he didn't have to do so. Tom stroked her hair as they hugged.

"You're welcome sweetie. Did you get Erin sorted out?" he asked. Madison tilted her head back and looked up at her father.

"Yeah. Her stuff is upstairs. We've got the laptop ready to go, just need to move her stuff off of mine. She has a lot of stuff on it," Madison said. "I was going to go grab my purse and go for a spin, if it's alright?" She smiled.

"Yep, try to be home by ten; After your mom puts Sophie down for bed, I'd like to talk to you and Erin and get to know her a little better, alright?"

"Ok," Madison said, smiling. Her father released the hug and let her run into the house to grab her purse. As she came back out, carrying both hers and Erin's purses, Tom grabbed her arm, causing Madison to stop and look at him.

"You two go get dinner, and if you are going to be later than ten, call me and let me know." Tom said, smiling.

"Yes, Daddy." Madison said, getting into the car and buckling her seat belt. Tom watched Madison and Erin pull out of the driveway, already caught up in a discussion.

Dinner: 8:14 PM

Madison pulled out of the driveway as Erin started to speak. "Maddie, I'd like for you to wear your knee length brown skirt, the brown v-neck long sleeved shirt, and the creme colored sweater vest and it's matching hat tomorrow." Erin said.

"Um, Ok." Madison said. "I can do that. I think that you should wear a skirt from time to time though, so I want you to wear one too." She glanced over at Erin who looked horrified by this idea.

"I don't wear skirts, Maddie," Erin said, turning her head to look at Maddie who kept her eyes on the road. "I will however, wear the tightest pair of pants I own for you." Erin watched as Maddie's face went from a slight smile to a look of bemusement.

"I don't understand how you can wear those super tight pants, Eribear." Maddie said. "I don't get how you can even walk they are so tight..." Madison let the thought trail off.

"I don't understand how you can always wear skirts and dresses; although I like it." Erin said. "You keep the skirts and dresses and I'll keep my pants, deal?" Their hands joined as the Maddie turned the car into the parking lot of one of their favorite restaurants, Waldo's. Madison shut off the engine and got out, Erin doing the same. They met by the trunk of the car and walked into the restaurant. The Hostess looked at them smiled.

"Good evening, ladies," She said, Madison read her name as Ginger, and noted that her hair was the color of ginger. "Just the two of you tonight?"

"Yes, Ma'am," Erin said, causing Madison to move slightly behind her and to her right as Ginger smiled. Ginger watched Madison with interest and looked like she was trying to figure out Madison's jewelry.

"If you ladies would follow me, would you like a booth or a table?"

"Table please," Erin said, following Ginger around the corner. Madison walked with Eribear to the table and sat across from her. They were in the corner of the restaurant, with Madison's back to an outside wall.

"So why is your dad doing all of this for me, Maddie?"

"You have to understand Daddy," Madison said. "He wants to see people do well. I know where Sophie and I would have ended up if he hadn't come along and rescued us. We would have been where ever mom's owner ended up, with me serving her every beck and call. I don't even know how to thank him enough."

"I know, but I want to do something to thank him," Erin said. "I just don't know what to do..." Their server, a girl, not much older than them walked up to the table. She had strawberry blonde hair and bright blue eyes.

"Good Evening," She said. Madison saw that her name tag read Caitlin. "I'm Caitlin and I'll be your server tonight. What can I get you ladies to drink?" Madison looked at Erin and saw an almost imperceptible shake of her head. Madison pouted.

"May I have a Sprite with no ice, please?" Madison asked.

"Certainly, and for you Ma'am?" Caitlin turned to Erin.

"Water, please?" Erin asked with a smile.

"Alright, I'll be back in a few with those and to get your order." Caitlin said. Madison and Erin nodded, and watched her go. They picked up the menus and looked at them, even though both had an idea of what they wanted.

"Why can't I have coffee?" Madison complained.

"You told me not to let you have any after four regardless of the day. That affects you sleeping, which you don't do enough of either..." Erin said.

"Neither do you," Madison retorted. "We've stayed up most of the night before working through a problem."

"I know. We need to change that. I've thought about saying that eleven is our bed time, but we've been up later than that working on school work..." Erin said. Madison blinked before speaking.

"Eleven is our bed time?" Madison asked, "It probably won't be that hard for me once I get adjusted to it, but how long has it been since you've had a set bed time? On top of that, who will enforce yours?"

"Umm..." Erin said quietly. "I haven't had a set bed time since I was ten or so. Why wouldn't it take you that long to adjust to a bed time, and yes, our bed time. I don't know who will enforce my bed time. I will have to do it on my own..."

"My bed time was eleven until I graduated from high school." Madison said. "If I were to ask daddy, and explain the logic, he'd probably enforce mine for me. I am nineteen and still have a curfew after all..." Caitlin came back with the drinks, and sat them on the table.

"You ladies decided what you would like to eat?" Her eyes were bouncing from Madison's collar to the cuffs that were a part of her every day wardrobe.

"Yes, we would like the grilled chicken salad, extra chicken, and light Italian dressing." Erin said, before Madison could say anything.

"Same thing for both of you?" Caitlin said looking from Erin to Madison and back again.

"Yes, please." Erin said.

"Ok, Let me get this in and it should be up in about five minutes..." Caitlin said.

"Thank you," Erin said, glancing at Madison, whose mouth was curled in a smile. "What?"

"You finally did it," Madison said. The statement on it's own was enough to cause a look of confusion to transcend Erin's face. Madison resumed smiling. "You ordered for me and didn't give me a choice."

"I ordered what you always get when we come here," Erin said, taking a sip of her water. "I kind of liked taking control of the situation... I may have to do that more often, also, I was just getting you back for completely taking control at the electronics store..."

"Eribear, I had an idea of what daddy meant when he said to buy you everything you needed. You would have tried to walk out of there with spending as little as possible... Dad would have just gone in and bought something for you, better than what you walked out with and he wouldn't have taken no for an answer." Madison said, taking both of Erin's hands in hers from across the table. This action caused Erin to smile, like it usually did when their hands joined. "Eribear, like dad, I just want you to succeed. He's right, we were not going to be able to go the way we have been for too much longer..."

"I know," Erin said, the smile dropping from her face. "I don't think that we would have had enough time in a day to do everything that we need to get done. Madison, I think your father has saved my college career. I just wish that I could get by without needing to work a job just to have money for food some times. The fare on campus gets old after a while, and I was really getting tired of dealing with the computers down there." Madison nodded. She had tried to use one of the labs for printing, and quickly abandoned that idea, emailing herself the article instead so she could print it at home. "We were getting to the point when the one computer wasn't enough, not just for writing, but also for research. With two machines, we can research on one and write on the other, work on the same paper with different topics." The girls gazed into each others eyes, not noticing that Caitlin had returned until their gaze was broken by a plate moving through it.

"You two look love struck," Caitlin said. Madison and Erin looked at each other and blushed. "Here are your salads, can I get you guys anything else?"

"No, Thank you," Erin said.

Caitlin eyed the tag that hung off of Madison's collar. "So, do you, like, belong to someone? And what does the tag say?"

Madison's eyes moved from Caitlin to Erin and back. While Madison had been looking at Erin, she gave an almost imperceptible nod to indicate that she would be there afterward to help pick up the pieces if necessary. "The collar and cuffs that I wear daily belonged to my mother before she was killed. The tag on one side reads 'In Memory of Kristen Corrine Nairn' and the other reads 'We miss you, Mom.' No, I don't belong to anyone that can claim me, other than my dad. He still holds every parental right that he's had since he adopted me." Caitlin looked like she didn't know what to say.

"I'm sorry." Was the best that she could come up with.

"It was four years ago," Madison said. "I've pretty much come to terms with it. I probably wouldn't be here if it weren't for my father. He stopped at nothing until my sister and I were rescued from the woman that killed our mother." Madison reached up to wipe a tear off her cheek. "There are still some things that I am unable to do without freaking out about it, but my life has defiantly changed for the better."

"It's nice to know that there is still some good in this world," Caitlin said, looking from Madison to Erin and back."I'll be back in a bit to see if you girls need anything." Madison and Erin watched her go, before digging into their salads.

Home: 9:30 PM

Madison backed the car into the driveway and parked on the same side that Kira's car was behind the closed garage door. After Madison had shut the engine off, the two girls walked into the house.

"I just got Sophie to get into bed and peeked into your room. That is a nice laptop you've got, Erin." Kira said. Erin smiled and blushed all at once.

"How was dinner, girls?" Tom asked, rising from his recliner to join the two girls at the kitchen table. Kira got her self a cup of coffee and sat next to Tom and across from Madison.

"It was good, Like Waldos' usually is," Erin said. Although you should have seen Madison's face when I ordered her food for her." Tom and Kira shared a glance.

"Erin, I need you to understand that you need to be very careful in doing that. What has Maddie told you about her past?" Tom said, his voice showing both concern and compassion at the same time.

"I've told her everything, dad," Madison said. "I mean everything. I left nothing out." Madison and Erin's smiled as their hands joined. "I've even given her instructions on how to bring me out of a flashback. She knows she needs to be careful."

"Mr. Winters," Erin said. "I was simply getting Madison back, in a way, for just completely taking charge when we bought the laptop. While we were at dinner, she explained to me why she did so and it makes sense, to me at least."

"Madison took charge of a situation?" Tom asked, looking from Erin to Madison, both of whom were nodding. "Way to go, Maddie!" Tom reached over and placed his hand on her shoulder. Kira was smiling; this was a major achievement. "Erin, I'm sure that you know, since Maddie has revealed her entire past to you, that for a few of the most important years of her life, she had to ask to do every little thing that she did, up to and including going to bed. The only things that she didn't have to ask permission to do were automatic biological functions. It has taken us four years to correct most of that, and then there are relapses which we work through." Tom looked at Kira and smiled. "Kira, can you get me a cup of coffee, please?"

"Yep," Kira replied, standing. "Either of you girls want anything?" Madison and Erin shared a look, and then Madison snapped her fingers.

"Darn," She said out loud after her mom and dad had looked at her. "I told her that I shouldn't have caffeine after four and she hasn't let me in about a year." Madison smiled at Erin. "My Eribear helps take care of me. Can I have a bottle of water, Mom?"

"Anything for you, Erin?" Kira asked.

"A bottle of water, please?" Erin responded, feeling like she was at home.

"One cup of coffee, and two bottles of water coming up!" Kira said, starting to giggle.

Tom was watching Erin closely. "You haven't let her have caffeine after four in about a year?" Erin nodded, blushing. "You guys have been dating that long, haven't you?" Erin smiled, and Madison felt her own cheeks warm up.

"Yes," Erin said. "We have. Sure we've had our moments, but what relationship hasn't?" Erin smiled at Madison. "I'm honestly surprised that we are just now coming out about it... I would have thought that you would have picked up on the fact that Maddie had been dating someone that you didn't know. I do have one question, though: What would you have done if I had been a boy and named Aaron instead?"

"Been cleaning my pistols, just finishing up and reassembling them." Tom chuckled. "Of course it was today before I put six and seven together and came up with thirteen..." Kira had just sat down and passed out the bottles of water and the cup of coffee for Tom when the scanner made a high pitched tone. Erin spun in her chair to try to pinpoint the source as Tom, Kira, and Madison all raised an eyebrow and looked into the kitchen.

"Units eighty six, one oh nine, S eight, S ten, L 3, Chopper, canine four, and eighty three, please respond to a robbery in progress, six three four two Tinderbrook, It's a silent alarm, calls inbound from the call takers have gone unanswered." Since Tom hadn't moved when the call came through the speaker of the scanner, Madison assumed that her father was not the on-call.

"What was that?" Erin asked, still in a slight state of shock.

"The scanner." Madison replied, "It's always listening for that tone, as well as dad's car radio and his walkie. There are a few other channels that it monitors continuously, but those are the biggies. That's how he knew that something was very wrong last night." Madison glanced toward Erin. "It's woken us up in the middle of the night before..."

"I like to know if something is going on that may involve my detectives." Tom said, sipping his coffee.

"Ah..." Erin looked at the clock, and then at Maddie. "We should go finish getting things transferred to my laptop. Bed time is approaching..." Tom and Kira shared a glance.

"Bed time?" Tom asked, looking from Madison to Erin and back. "Whose bedtime?"

"Maddie's," Erin said. "And to and an extent as well, mine, but I have no clue how to enforce my own bed time..."

"Maddie has a bedtime?" Kira asked.

"We discussed it tonight," Madison said. "And we both decided that neither of us get enough sleep. So, Eribear here gave us a bedtime of eleven, doesn't matter what day it is, bedtime is eleven."

"I've seen her come to class looking ragged as hell, basically as if she didn't sleep at all the night before." Erin said. "That's not healthy, and it doesn't help either of our grades."

"She is right." Tom said, looking at Madison. "Are you going to do it on your own or do you need it to become a rule?"

Madison looked from her father to Erin and back, her gaze passing over her mother's green eyes. "May I try it on my own at first and then if I can't do it, can we make it a rule?"

"Yep. Do I need to make your phone shut off at eleven?" Tom asked.

"I don't think so..." Madison replied. "Besides the only person I'd be talking to besides you or mom is Erin."

"Wait," Erin said. "You can limit what her phone can do after a certain time?"

Tom nodded. "Yes, and I can also track it. The parental controls feature has been on her line since we got the phones for the girls four years ago. As long as Madison lives under my roof, she has to obey my rules, even if they seem unfair." Tom glanced down at his coffee cup and swirled the remaining coffee in it around by moving the cup in a circular pattern. "I'm not sure if you've caught it yet, but I am very protective of my daughters."

"This is nothing," Madison said. "You should have seen him when Chloe was still at large... Every move we made there were police officers that watched our backs, constant patrols around the house and both of our schools." Madison shuddered. "I remember when Chloe got into Cassingham and tried to sign Sophie out. It sent four schools into lockdowns. I had never been removed from a classroom by an armed escort before... I hope it never happens again..." North Middle School had gone into a lockdown one day because there was a barricade situation near by. When the lockdown was lifted, Madison had to go pick Sophie up because the lockdown had caused a flashback. "I'm glad that you had me talk to Dr. Walters, Dad." Sophie was still in counseling, and Madison only really had the occasional nightmare now.

"I had just rescued you two from her," Tom said, in his own defense. "She was still trying to get to you. She really wanted you, not Sophie. You messed up all of her plans."

Madison smiled, a rare thing when they talked about it. "Don't mess with a girl who is driven to live..."

"Amen" Erin said, squeezing Madison's hand.

"So," Tom asked, glancing at the clock on the microwave. "What's on the agenda for tomorrow for you two?"

"One of us is going to pick the other up at eight and we are going to do the studying that we didn't' get done tonight." Erin said. "Oh! That reminds me. I never gave you the present I got for you, Madison." Erin said, digging around in her purse. Tom and Kira glanced at each other. Erin pulled a small black box out and handed it to Madison, who slowly opened it and peered inside. The two girls looked at each other and grinned. Madison pulled the red heart shaped tag from the box and read what was engraved on it.

"Erin's girl." Madison said, blushing. "You do consider me to be yours don't you?"

"Yes," Erin said. "I do. I want you to be mine forever." Tom and Kira smiled at the little trinket of love that Erin had presented Madison with.

"Can you put it on the collar, dad?" Madison didn't know where the tool to open the collar that was encased in the glass tube was, and she didn't know if her dad knew where his tool to unlock the collar was right this second. The collar could stay on while the tag was attached, it had been when the tag that hung there now had been placed on the ring that was welded to the collar.

"Yep come over here so I can." Tom said, taking the tag from Madison. Madison got up, and knelt up next to Tom, her head dropping to look at the floor, her wrists crossing over her lap. Tom furrowed his brow. This was a fairly uncommon thing, so it was something that hadn't been worked on a lot, and this was how Chloe had trained Madison to kneel. "Maddie, relax. I didn't tell you to kneel, just come here." Erin had watched as Madison knelt, not quite understanding what she had done. A few seconds later, the tag denoting that Madison was claimed hung from the collar alongside the remembrance tag for Corrine. Madison got up and sat back in her seat. The two tags hanging from the collar jingled as they touched each other with Madison's movement. Only a bell would have been noisier...

"Maddie, let's go up and get my stuff packed up. Tomorrow morning will be here earlier than you realize..." Erin said, taking Madison's hand.

"Ok." Maddie said standing and jingling. I'll be back down in a bit to show Erin out."

"Ok." Tom said, smiling. "It was nice to meet you, Erin. If you need anything, just shout. You are welcome here any time. Have Maddie give you both of our phone numbers, Ok?"

"Ok." Erin said, a smile forming across her face. "This makes me feel like I'm at home. Thank you for semi adopting me into the family."

Home: 10:15 PM

Erin and Madison sat in her room, looking at Madison's laptop. They had pulled up the schedule for the following week.

"So your dad tracks your phone, huh?" Erin said. Madison looked at her.

"Yeah," Madison said. "He has since we got them after he rescued us from Chloe. You ever notice how I always have mine?" Erin nodded. "That's a rule, it's been in place since before we were adopted. I've never been told that it has changed so I keep following it."

"Does he still track the phone?" Erin asked.

"I think so," Madison said. "However, it's probably nothing like he was doing to start with, I know that about five people knew where Sophie and I were at all times."

"Five?" Erin raised an eyebrow. "Who were they?"

"Mom, Dad, Sergeant Schafer, Detective Cunningham, and Grace Tompkins." Madison leaned over and gave Erin a kiss on the cheek. "It's still there because he cares, and also I kind of like someone knowing where I am. Could be useful in an emergency."

"True..." Erin said, turning her head and returning the kiss on the cheek. "I'm still trying to learn about all of this... It almost sounds like you want me to take control more often." Madison pursed her lips.

"In some ways I do, in others I don't. It's kind of hard to explain." Madison said. Erin opened Madison's closet and pulled out what she had told Madison to wear the next day. They would be in public and she loved it when Madison's collar was visible.

"What do you mean?" Erin asked, turning toward Madison.

"I miss not having any control over my own decisions," Madison looked sad in a way, but excited at the same time. "Granted, the training Chloe put me through really steered me the wrong way, but I felt free. Honestly, not having someone micromanaging me has helped some, but someone to run some portions of my life for me, like you are sort of doing, really makes me comfortable. You ordering dinner for me was thoughtful, and controlling at the same time." Madison crossed the room and wrapped her arms around Erin. "I liked that. Thank you and thank you for giving me a bed time. It's something I've been trying to do for a while, and I cant seem to get it to stick..."

"That could be fixed..." Erin said, a grin spreading on her face. The two of them hugged again. "This could be fun, Maddie, but lets take it slow, I don't really know what I'm doing and I don't want to hurt you."

"You're not going to hurt me, Eribear," Madison said. "You know, unless you run me over with your car or something..." Erin rolled her eyes. "Am I picking you up or are you picking me up?"

"You pick me up, bring all of your stuff, and we will take care of business." Erin said, making another decision for Madison, who smiled.

"Ok," Madison said, looking at the clock and pouting. "You need to get going if you are going to get your self to bed before eleven. Call me when you get home?"

"I will, Maddie," Erin said, hefting her new pink back pack onto her back. "This thing is heavy..."

"Well, yeah, it's got your whole life in it..." Madison replied., taking Erin's hand and walking with her down the steps and to the front door. "I love you, Erin."

"I love you too, Maddie." Erin said, glancing up as Tom came down the hall.

"Are you heading back to campus, Erin?" Tom asked, looking at the girls standing in the foyer.

"Yes, Mr. Winters." Erin dug her keys out of her pants pocket. "It was really nice meeting you and thank you for my books and the laptop. I don't know how I'm going to repay you."

Tom opened his arms to give the girl a hug. "You're welcome, and don't worry about it, ok?"

Erin nodded. "I still feel like I should be doing something to say thank you..."

"Take care of Maddie, that will be thanks enough." Tom replied, watching Madison blush.

"Daddy!" Madison tried to hide her face to hide the fact that she was blushing.

"That's all I ask." Tom said. "Be careful going home, Erin. Who's picking who up tomorrow?"

"I'm picking her up and then we are going to study. I don't know where though." Madison smiled.

"Ok," Tom said looking at his watch. "Maddie, bed time is in twenty minutes, you need to let Erin go so she can get home, call you and get ready for bed herself. You both are doing this, and it's going to make you both do better." Madison and Erin glanced at each other.

"Yes, Daddy." Madison said, a smile forming on her face. She turned to Erin whose jaw had dropped.

"Yes, Mr. Winters." She said before giving Madison yet another hug and then a kiss on the lips. "I'll call you when I get back to the dorms." Erin opened the front door and Madison walked her to the car as Tom watched. Madison opened and closed Erin's door for her, and then curtsied, which looked like it elicited a fit of giggles from Erin. Erin started the engine and waved as she drove down the street. Madison watched her go from the end of the driveway before walking back up to the house and looking at Tom.

"I love her, daddy," Madison said. "I really do."

"I can tell," Tom said. "Run upstairs and get ready for bed. I'll be up in a few to tuck you in."

"Yes Daddy," Madison said, turning and heading up the stairs.

Saturday, May 6

Home: 6:00 AM

Madison rolled over and hit the snooze button on the alarm clock. It was the first night in months that she had made it through the night with out having a nightmare. Madison blinked a few times in the brightening sunlight before swinging her feet to the floor and getting out of bed. Madison slipped her baby blue satin nightgown off and threw it on the bed, and slipped on her robe. Six in the morning was early to be getting up on a Saturday, and she only expected her father to be up that early. Sure enough, her father was coming out of the bedroom, dressed in a suit like he was going to work. Madison gave her father a confused look.

"Sleep well?" He asked with a smile.

"Yeah. No nightmares," Madison said. "First time in months..." Tom opened his arms to hug his daughter.

"Great!" Tom said, hugging Madison tightly. "I need to get going, they have a scene they need D-units on... You and Erin have fun, and behave..." The latter was something that Madison always did.

"We will," Madison said. "You be careful too." Tom nodded, and headed down the stairs. Madison headed into the bathroom and hung her robe on the hook.

Erin's Dorm Room: 6:15 AM

Erin rolled over and clobbered her alarm clock. She was usually never up this early on a saturday morning. She sat up, looking forward to seeing Madison again that day. She also looked forward to surprising Madison herself. There would be no tight pants today, just tights. While Erin hardly ever wore skirts, she was going to wear a dress today.

Home: 7:35 AM

Madison had been watching the TV trying to find out if she would be too warm or not warm enough wearing the clothes that Erin had picked out. After finally getting the weather info from the TV, she wondered if Erin had a inside source to the weather. Kira had come down about twenty minutes ago and had a bowl of cereal.

"Are you and Erin going to get breakfast?" she had asked getting a cup of coffee.

"Yeah," Madison said, turning from the TV to look at her mom. "And then a long study session. Now, thanks to dad, we won't be trying to do two things from one computer at a time."

"Your father has always been like that," Kira said with a smile. "He is always looking out for others. That's why he became a police officer."

"That makes sense," Madison replied picking up her bag. "I need to go if I'm going to pick up my girlfriend at eight like she decided..."

"Ok," Kira said, sipping her coffee. "You still have the subbie genes in you." A smile crossed her face.

"I don't think they will ever go away..." Madison said. "I'll be home before curfew. Love you Mom."

"Love you too sweetie," Kira said, watching her go. A few minutes later, Kira heard the car start and her daughter drive away.

Roberts Hall: 7:54 AM

Erin had walked down to the lobby, and stood by the door at ten till eight. Four minutes later, Erin watched as Madison's car pulled up outside the six story building. Madison had glanced over toward the doors as Erin exited, her jaw dropping. Erin was pleased to see that Madison had dressed the way that she wanted her to, and was surprised by her own attire.

"Morning," Madison said cheerfully as Erin got in the car and put her new backpack in the back seat next to Madison's.

"Morning," Erin buckled her seat belt after shutting the door. "How'd you sleep?"

"Great," Madison put the car in gear and pulled out slowly. "No nightmares and I slept all night. It's been months since I've done that." Madison and Erin's hands joined and Erin squeezed Madison's hand.

"Yay!" Erin's hand separated from Madison's and Erin reached up to play with one of Madison's pigtails. "I love your hair when you do pigtails. Let's go to the coffee shop on Water Street. I hear they have a decent breakfast menu, and they take the school's ID cards." That told Madison that Erin was planning on paying.

"I'll get breakfast," Madison said.

Erin looked at Madison and shook her head. "No, you won't." There was that voice again. "Madison, you guys have done enough for me in the last twenty-four hours, let me buy breakfast."

"Yes, Ma'am." Madison said, taking the statement as a direct order, which it sounded like it was. Madison turned the car down Water Street and finally parked the car in front of the little coffee shop. With it being on a college campus, and it being eight in the morning on a Saturday, the place was pretty deserted. Madison and Erin went in and sat at their customary table in the back corner of the shop, away from the windows.

"Morning girls," Mrs. Raglan said, cheerfully. "You both look very nice today, and quite a bit earlier than normal. I'm sure that you both want coffee, you normally do, but, what else can I get for you?"

"Can you give us a few minutes to look at the menu?" Erin asked, a grin spreading across her face.

"Sure thing, sweetie." Came the voice from behind the counter. Madison and Erin continued to look at the menu and then finally decided what to eat. Mrs. Raglan carried their drinks out to them and sat them on the table. "You girls decided what you want?"

"Yes," Erin said. "We both would like ham and cheese omelets and some hash browns." Mrs. Raglan looked from Erin to Maddie and back.

"You both want the same thing?"

"Yep," Erin responded. "Do you care if we stay for a while and work on some school work?"

"You may," Mrs. Raglan responded. "The two of you are in here enough. I'll be right back with your food." Mrs. Raglan turned and headed toward the kitchen. Both girls pulled their laptops out and sat them on the table. Erin looked at Madison.

"Ok," Erin opened her laptop. "How do we get my files from your laptop to mine?"

Madison smiled, opened her own laptop, and then rooted around in her bag and pulled out a thumb drive. "We use this." Madison logged into her account and then looked at Erin. "What's your password, I'm going to switch to your account and start pulling your data out."

"I'll type it." Erin said, standing and walking around the table so that she could type easier on Madison's laptop. Once she logged in, she sat back down in her chair. Madison started to copy the files from the laptop and decided to check her email. She launched her web browser and let the computer check the mail.

Home: 9:00 AM

Kira had been sitting in the living room, reading a book, when Sophie had come down stairs.

"Mommy," Sophie asked quietly. "Where is everyone?"

"Your father is at work, and Maddie is with Erin at school." Kira replied, patting the love seat. Sophie came over and sat next to her mother and then glanced at the TV, which was off.

"What are you doing?" Sophie asked, laying her head on her mothers shoulder.

"Reading a book. You want to go get something to eat?" Kira asked, smiling at her daughter.

"Ok." Sophie said. "What's the weather like?"

"It think it's a little cool, but not overly so." Kira said, standing. "A long sleeved shirt and jeans should be ok."

"Ok," Sophie said. "I'll be back in a few." She turned and headed back the way that she had come. Kira stood and walked into the kitchen and sat her coffee cup in the dishwasher. Sophie came down and looked at her mom. She had put on a purple sweater dress and black leggings "I'm ready when you are."

"Ok," Kira said, picking up her purse and pulling her phone out. She dialed a number. "Hey, I don't know when you are going to be home, but Sophie and I are going to go have a mother daughter breakfast." Kira smiled at Sophie. "Ok. Love you, Tom." Kira dropped the phone in her purse. "Let's go, you can ride up front." The two of them left the house and headed for somewhere to eat.

Library: 10:58 AM

Madison and Erin had relocated from the diner on Water street to the library on the school's campus and had taken over one of the small group study rooms. Between the two of them they took up an entire four foot table with books, papers, laptops, pens and pencils.

"Ok, so why did they do that?" Madison asked, looking up at Erin.

"Because they wanted to kill the king," Erin said, looking up from her laptop's screen. Madison could see the reflection of the display in Erin's glasses. "The people had gotten tired of his dictatorship, and revolted."

"Hmm..." Madison said. "True, but the book says that it was over taxes, not a dictator ship..."

Erin smiled, "He was still as dictator."

Detective Bureau: 11:14 AM

Tom sat down at his desk and looked at the papers that were strewn about. There had been three robberies that had occurred in the same area, All around campus but inside of Metro PD's jurisdiction. Glancing at the map on the wall, Tom tired to figure out the perpetrators next move. He frowned, looking at the push pins that were stuck where the perpetrator had struck. Tom looked at the pictures of Madison and Sophie on his desk. He pulled his phone out and called Madison.

"Hey Daddy." Madison said, her voice a quiet whisper.

"Where are you?" Tom asked, gazing at her photo.

"The library, Eribear and I are working on our psychology homework, what's up?"

"Keep your eyes open, there is a guy that has hit a few establishments around campus, so far we only know of the ones in our jurisdiction. I haven't talked to campus safety yet, but it wouldn't surprise me." Tom said, glancing up as Sarah poked her head into Tom's office. "Sarah's here, I have to go, be good and call if you're gonna be late."

"I will, Daddy," Madison whispered. "Love you."

"Love you too, Maddie." Tom stood and walked out into the bullpen.

Roberts Hall: 12:18 PM

Erin and Madison walked into the dorm room and sat their bags next to the little breakfast bar that they sometimes used for studying and eating small meals that they brought back to the room. The rooms in the newish Roberts Hall, were more like studio apartments, including a small kitchenette and a separate room to house the sleeping quarters. There was a full sized bed in the room, but neither girl had laid in it.

"Ok, so beyond the reading for Thompson's class," Erin dropped to the couch, in a very un-ladylike fashion. "We are both caught up."

Madison sat on the couch, lowering her lithe body to the couch. "Yep. It's a good feeling." Madison kicked her brown ballet flats off and leaned back into Erin.

"I love you so much." Erin said, kissing Madison on the head.

"I love you too." Madison smiled up at Erin.

"You look warm," Erin said. "Why don't you take the sweater off?" She released her grip on Madison and watched as Maddie stood, removed the calf length sleeveless cream colored sweater and draped it across the back of the the chair that sat perpendicular to the couch. Madison returned to the couch, this time with Madison sitting up, Their hands joined and they smiled at each other.

"I do feel better now that that I've taken the sweater off," Madison said, noting that Erin looked like she was going to ask a question.

"Last night," Erin started, "When you your dad asked you to come over to him so he could put the tag on your collar, what was that thing you did?"

"Hm?" Madison asked, confused at what Erin was talking about.

"You had knelt on the floor." Erin prompted. "Your dad told you that he didn't tell you to kneel, and to relax."

"Oh," Madison said, understanding. "That." Madison bit her lip in an effort to figure out how to explain this to Erin. "When Chloe ran my life, I would have to kneel when ever I approached her, it was a symbol of my place compared to her, the dominant. Basically, I was beneath her, nothing more than a subject to order around... When she threw moms and my pants in the fireplace, part of me went into hiding. I'm pretty sure that part of me is back now, I'm doing a lot better in school... Tom treats Kira as an equal, even though she is not. I am an equal even though I am not."

"Your mom's not an equal? Erin asked, confused. Madison looked into her chocolate brown eyes.

"Nope. Tom is her owner. I've known that since I first met her," Madison said. "With them you have to know what to look for because they look like any other, ordinary married couple. Would you like a glass of water?"

"Yes, please." Erin said. Madison rose gracefully and walked into the kitchenette, pulling two glasses out of a cupboard before filling them with water from the fridge. Madison carried the two glasses of water to where Erin sat on the couch. She handed one to Erin, sat the other on the table and dropped to her knees, kneeling. Madison couldn't see Erin's expression because she was looking at the floor. "Maddie, Look at me." Madison heard Erin's quiet voice. Madison slowly raised her chin to look into Erin's eyes.

"Yes, Ma'am?" Madison asked.

"What are you doing?" Erin asked.

"Kneeling, Ma'am." Madison said, figuring that the best way to show Erin what kneeling was than to demonstrate it.

Erin furrowed her brow and smiled. "Get up here." Madison followed the command and sat next to her girlfriend. "Chloe would make you do that every time you did something for her?"

"That or curtsy..." Madison responded.

"Curtsy?" Erin's eyebrows rose.

"When Chloe would hold parties, I would have to dress up like a maid, and serve drinks and food," Madison shrugged. "I can set a table for a formal event like I've been doing it all my life, I can clean a house as if it were brand new and had never been lived in, and I can do it without a second thought. If you were to hand me a bikini and tell me that I had to wear it outside when it snows, I would." Erin looked thoughtful, and then sipped her water.

"You would have to dress up like a maid?"

"Yep," Madison said. "Knee length black dress, petticoats, stockings, heels, little cap, everything. I don't know where the dresses finally ended up, but I would have liked to have kept them..." The girls smiled at each other. "Even with the way that I was treated by Chloe, I have the heart of a servant, nothing is going to change that." Erin got a funny look on her face, and then a small grin spread across it. "What?"

"Come here, I want to show you something," Erin said, rising from the couch much more gracefully than she had sat down. Madison followed Erin to the bedroom and when Erin opened the closet door, Madison was surprised by what greeted her... Erin's closet was full of dresses and skirts. Most of them would pass as casual dresses, but there were a few that were defiantly more formal. Erin reached in and pulled out a black, short sleeved dress and looked at Madison. "While mom may not have a lot of money, she does know how to sew... she hand made all of these and for the first thirteen years of my life, all I was allowed to wear were dresses and skirts. She made this one for a dance we had in the eighth grade. I haven't grown much since then." Erin stood about five foot tall, and her and Madison had the same slender body. Madison had about two extra inches of length to her legs, and looking at the dress it looked like it would hit just above her knees. Much longer than most of the stuff Chloe had her wearing. "I wonder if it would fit you? It still fits me." Erin said, a grin forming on her face. Madison took the dress from Erin's hands and held it up to her own body. She was right, it would hit just above the knee. While Madison was holding the dress to her body, Erin turned back to the closet and pulled out a few petticoats. When Erin turned back around, Madison was smiling.

"May I try it on to see if it fits?" Madison asked, practically bouncing like a five year old that wanted a toy and was begging her mother for it.

"That's why I pulled it out," Erin smiled. "I'll have to help you, it buttons up the back; Mom has a thing for stuff that buttons up the back..." Erin smiled. "I have nothing against dresses and skirts, but I don't really like wearing them. I'm surprised that you still wear primarily skirts and dresses..."

"I like them, always have," Madison said, slipping her thumbs into the waist band of her skirt and dropping it to her ankles. Erin smiled as the skirt hit the floor and she saw Madison's Tinker Bell panties. Madison removed her shirt and sat it on the bed. Erin handed Madison the petticoats and watched as Madison slipped them on, the white taffeta producing a bell shape from Madison's waist to her knees. Erin smiled and picked the dress up off the bed, unbuttoning the back of it and helping Madison slip her arms though he holes for the short sleeves. Madison pulled the dress down and situated it over the petticoats, feeling the bodice of the dress get snug as Erin buttoned the back up. Madison spun and looked at Erin, both girls sharing a grin. Madison walked over to the bathroom and looked in the full length mirror. The fit was perfect, and the dress hung two inches above her knees, the petticoats showing only if she moved the wrong way. Erin appeared behind Madison with a small black hat and a pair of shoes that had a four inch heel.

"How high is the highest you can wear?" Erin asked.

"I've worn six inch heels before, but it's been a while." Madison said, turning around. "How high are those?"

"Four inch heels," Erin said, smiling at Madison. "I haven't worn these in a while, they don't really go with any of my pants..."

"I can't imagine why..." Madison said, smiling. "What size are those?"

"Seven." Erin said, handing the shoes to Madison. Madison carefully sat on the edge of the bed, and slipped the shoes on her feet, buckling the small buckles. Madison stood and slowly adjusted to the change in height. Erin lowered the hat on Madison's head and smiled at her girlfriend in the mirror.

"Anything I can get for you, Miss?" Madison suddenly asked, her voice becoming very formal.

"Not right now," Erin said. "Thank you, though." Both girls broke out in giggles.

"We really should study for psych..." Madison said. "May I stay dressed like this?"

"Well," Erin said, an evil grin crossing her face. "I have to undo the buttons, remember..."

"Yes, Ma'am," Madison said, curtsying. Erin's jaw dropped.

"I've never seen such a perfectly executed curtsy..." Erin commented. "My old ballet teacher would be very proud of me if I could do that."

"I wonder what kind of looks we'd get if we went out with me dressed like this..." Madison pondered, already used to odd looks. It wasn't uncommon to see a nineteen year old wearing a collar, but most nineteen year olds didn't have a solid titanium band around each limb... "Maybe we should find out."

Erin shook her head. "Not right now, my dear maid..." The girls shared a smile. "I would like a bowl of popcorn to snack on while I study."

"As you wish, Ma'am." Madison said, executing another curtsy and heading for the kitchenette. Erin smiled as Madison went. They would have to go out with Madison wearing one of the dresses just to see the looks they would get.

Intersection of Main and Young: 12:35 PM

Tom hit the gas and started to go through the light that had just changed when there was the sickening sound of breaking glass, crunching metal, tires squealing, horns honking and the explosions of airbags deploying. Tom shook his head as people came running up to the pair of cars that sat in the middle of the intersection. He wasn't sure where his phone had ended up. The microphones for the two radios that were mounted in the car were in a floor board, and Tom looked around the intersection. He helped push the door of his car open and got out, checking on the other driver. The other driver wasn't wearing their seat belt and had taken the full force of an airbag deploying and colliding with the steering column.

"S12 to Radio." Tom said into his walkie, knowing that the sound of the horns would be audible to the dispatcher.

"S12 go," came a dispatchers voice.

"Ma'am, I've been involved in a TC at Main and Young, tag on the other car is FGI 9932." Tom paused to look at the driver. "Can you start some units for traffic control, a supervisor, and medic? Also, can you call my half unit and advise her?"

"Affirm, time is 1236."

Home: 12:36 PM

"S12 to Radio." Sophie heard her father's voice from the scanner.

"S12, go" she heard someone at the dispatch center respond.

"Ma'am, I've been involved in a TC..." was all Sophie heard before she turned and ran up the steps to her mom's room. Kira had gone into her room to relax on the bed.

"Mommy, Daddy was involved in an accident." Sophie said. Kira looked up at her.

"Sophie that's not funny." Kira said as her phone rang. Kira picked it up and looked at it, noting that the caller was the dispatch center. Kira looked Sophie in the eyes and answered the call.

"Hello." Kira said into the phone. "Yes, Ma'am." There was a pause. "Ok, do I need to come get him?" Kira looked around the room, "Ok. I'll be there in about twenty minutes." Kira hung up the phone and looked at Sophie. "Go get your shoes on, we're going to the hospital. They are transporting your dad to University Med Center to make sure that he's ok." Sophie turned and went into her room and slipped her feet into a pair of black ballet flats, before heading down stairs. Kira came down a few seconds later, on the phone again. "Maddie, it's mom." She paused, pulling her keys out. "Your dad is being transported to University Med Center. He was involved in an accident, and they want to make sure that he's ok." Kira opened the door for Sophie and watched as she got into the car, wiping a tear from her cheek. "Ok, I'll see you there." Kira opened the garage door, got in the car and started the engine, pulling out and pausing long enough to make sure that the garage door was closed, turned left on Huntington.

Roberts Hall: 12:40 PM

"Hi Mom." Maddie said answering the phone. "He's what, why?" Erin sat her pencil down and turned her full attention to Madison. "Oh, ok. I'll meet you there." Erin watched as Madison hung up the phone and stood.

"What's up?" Erin asked.

"Dad was involved in an accident, they are taking him to the Med Center to make sure he's ok. I want to see him." Maddie said, reaching up to wipe a tear away from her cheek. "Do you think that it would be faster to walk or drive?"

"It's only across campus, we could probably walk it faster than it would take us to get to one of the cars and then find parking at the Med Center." Erin replied, looking Madison up and down. "What about how you're dressed? You are dressed completely different than you were this morning when you left your house..."

"I don't care." Madison replied. "I want to be there when he gets there. Lets go." Madison placed her hand on the door knob.

"Hang on," Erin said in a voice that caused Madison to stop. "Change back into your ballet flats, you will move faster than you will in the heels."

Madison reached down and removed the heels, standing there barefoot for a few seconds before running into the bedroom and slipping her feet back in her black ballet flats. "Happy, now?" Madison asked, not smiling, and not sounding very happy.

"Yes," Erin said, biting her lip. She knew that she had just made Madison upset, but she had a logical reason. "Maddie, I don't need you to twist or break your ankle while we scurry to the hospital. Then that's you and your dad in the Med Center..." Erin turned and picked up the sweater that Madison had worn into the dorm room. She handed it to Madison.

"I understand," Madison said, taking the proffered sweater. It wouldn't do much to keep her arms warm, but it was better than dealing with a full fledged coat. "I know that you care about me, and right now, I want to go see my father, so you making sure that I'm at least half way bundled up is nice, but lets go." Madison's voice was impatient, and Erin knew that any more delay would upset her girlfriend. Erin grabbed the keys to the dorm room and the two girls walked out into the hall. The only sound they made was their footfalls and the sounds of the taffeta of the petticoats swishing as they walked.

University Medical Center: 12:46 PM

Madison walked into the Emergency Department and eyed the metal detector wearily... They were the one obstacle that she had yet to figure out how to address with the collar and cuffs, so she did her best to avoid them. Erin and Madison shared a glance.

"Go first, I'm gonna set it off," Madison said. "Titanium and metal detectors are not a good combination."

"Ok." Erin said, dropping Madison's hand and walking through when the security guard waved her in. Madison watched as Erin walked in, nary a beep from the machine. Madison saw Sarah standing inside the waiting area, watching her. Sarah walked over to the guard.

"She's gonna beep, but she's with me." Sarah said to the guard. The guard nodded, and waved Madison in. The lights on the detector lit up where her collar and cuffs were. The detectors sound caused several to turn and look at the girl that had set it off. Erin stood on the other side of the guard and watched, in quiet humor as the guard pulled the wand off his belt.

"I still need to wand you just to make sure that the only thing that you have on that is metal is the visible stuff," He said. Madison and Erin shared a glance as Madison raised her arms so that the guard could run the wand around her body. Of course the wand went nuts near the cuffs and collar. This delay was making Madison more impatient, and she started tapping her foot. Erin shot her a look and she stopped, none of her patience returning. When the guard was done, Madison walked over to Sarah, and Erin walked over and joined them.

"Where is he?" Madison asked glancing into the nurses station trying to find a monitor that displayed any useful information. Sarah placed her hand on Madison's shoulder and Madison turned her head toward Sarah again.

"He's not here yet, 29 is bringing him in, Your mom and sister aren't here yet either." Sarah said, wrapping her arm around Madison's slender waist, and guiding her toward a chair in the waiting room.

"What happened?" Madison asked, looking at Sarah.

"He was coming across Main on Young Avenue, and the driver of a stolen car came across on red, broadsided him on the passenger side. He thinks that the guy had just stolen the car, and was making his get away." Sarah said.

"Dad has as knack for a way to stop a criminal..." Madison said.

"That he does, Maddie," Sarah said. "That he does." Sarah's radio beeped, indicating a private call was coming in. She pulled it out and pushed a few buttons.

"Go, Sarge." Sarah said. Madison looked intently at the radio.

"What should I do with the stuff from Winter's car?" Madison's face fell as she realized the sergeant wasn't her father.

"Put it on my desk," Sarah said. "I think his office is locked."

"Copy, Ma'am." The sergeant replied. "Advise Winters that his phone is in this pile of stuff."

"Copy," Sarah said. "Thank you, Walker." There was a beep as the private call disconnected.

"Dad doesn't have his phone?" Madison asked, incredulous. "I need to write that in a book somewhere..."

"I know, I'm just glad he has his walkie so I can talk to him..." Sarah said. "That's how he called the radio room and informed them of the TC. I kinda feel sorry for Sophie, she's the one that heard the call. She knew that he had been in the accident before your mom did." Sarah looked at Erin, having never been introduced. "Madison, where are your manners, who is this young lady that you came over with?"

"Sorry, Sarah," Madison said, glancing at Erin. "Sarah, this is my girlfriend, Erin." Madison turned her hand to Sarah, and then back to Erin. "Erin, meet Detective Cunningham. She works with dad."

"It's nice to meet you, Detective." Erin said, offering her right hand to shake. Sarah shook Erin's hand.

"So now your dad is looking out for Erin too?" Sarah asked, a smile crossing her face.

"He's started to," Madison said, shrugging. "You should see the receipts for the purchases we made last night..." Erin and Madison's hands joined.

"I would have imagined that the medic would have been here by now." Sarah said, glancing at her phone. She glanced up as Kira and Sophie walked through the metal detector. Sophie came running up to Madison and jumped in her lap. Madison hugged her sister and then slid Sophie off her lap being mindful of the petticoats that she had on.

Sarah stood to give Kira a place to sit in the crowded waiting room. "Sit." Kira said, pointing at the chair next to her daughter.

"Sophie, sit next to your sister." Kira said. She, like Madison would follow a direct command, but her children came first. Sophie sat, and then looked at her mother.

"Mom, when is he going to get here, I want to see him," Sophie practically whined.

"I'm not sure." Kira replied, glancing at Sarah. "Where is the medic?"

"No idea." Sarah said, pulling her phone out. She dialed a number and held it to her ear. "Hey, it's Cunningham, Where is the medic bringing S12 to University?" Sarah looked at Kira as the dispatcher tried to figure that out. "They are looking."

Kira nodded. "Maddie, that's a cute dress. Where'd you get it?" Madison and Erin both smiled.

"It's mine," Erin said. "I showed it to Maddie and she wanted to try it on, and then you called, so here we sit." Madison and Erin smiled at each other.

"Ah." Kira said.

"Ok, five minutes?" Sarah said into the phone. "Ok, Thanks Dwight." Sarah put her phone away and looked at Kira who was nodding.

"They must not be running hot, just being careful." Kira commented, glancing up as the speaker system made a ping sound.

"I need help!" there was a shout from the front door. Kira and Sarah both turned and took off toward the front door as other people came running out from behind a door that led back into the ED. Sophie tried to get up and follow, but Madison grabbed her wrist.

"Stay here, Sophie," Madison said, placing her arm around her sister's shoulders. Sophie leaned into her.

"I'm worried about, Dad," Sophie said, her voice shaky. "I'm pretty sure he's ok..." Two orderlies ran through the metal detector with a gurney, setting it off. Two minutes later, the hospital staff came back through the detector with an elderly gentleman on the gurney.

"Lets get him right up to the Cath lab, Stat!" someone said, as they passed. Sarah and Kira walked back in, just walked through the detector, it beeping as they walked through. Madison saw the lights light up at Sarah's waist level.

"What happened?" Madison asked.

"Myocardial infraction." Kira said, holding her hands out as if she had just scrubbed and was ready to walk into an operating theater. "Maddie, can you get into my purse and get the sanitizer out and squirt some in my hands?" Madison did as requested and then offered the sanitizer to Sarah. Sarah let Madison squirt some in her hands and then rubbed them together.

"A Myo what?" Sophie asked.

"A heart attack, sweetie." Kira replied. "The old gentleman on the stretcher had a heart attack."

"Oh." Sophie replied.

"Detective Cunningham," came a voice from the nurses desk.

Sarah walked over, and smiled. "Yes?"

"The medic with Sergeant Winters is here now, he's back in four," The nurse said. "You and the rest of your little group can go back."

"Thank you." Sarah said, turning and walking to where everyone else was watching. "He's here, we can go back." Madison stood, keeping hold of Erin and Sophie's hands. The three younger girls walked behind the two older women and back into the controlled portion of the ED. The group walked up to the door of room four, and looked in at Tom, who was laying in the bed.

"Should have figured that you would be out there, Sarah," Tom smiled and looked past Sarah to Kira. "Are the girls out there?"

"Yep," Kira said, walking into the room. Tom gave Madison a look up and down.

"That's not what you had on this morning when you left the house..." He said, chuckling. "It looks nice on you though..."

"Thanks Daddy," Madison said, fighting the urge to execute a curtsy. "How are you?"

"I've been better," Tom said. "Everything hurts, but I am pretty sure that I am all here. Got another car thief off the street though..."

"What happened?" Sarah asked.

"I was southbound Main, had a green light, he came from west bound Young, and broadsided me. Knocked the guy out, and he was just coming to as a call came in about the stolen car. He was threed on the spot, and the rest is history, as they say." Tom told the story for the third time that afternoon.

Roberts Hall: 2:53 PM

Madison and Erin walked into the dorm room and collapsed on the couch... After they had sat, Madison still sitting gracefully without trying and Erin showing her white satin panties to the TV, and in turn Madison.

"Ma'am," Madison said. "I can see your panties in the TV."

Erin blushed before closing her legs. If the two girls had been in the bedroom changing clothes nothing would have been said, but they could have just as easily been out to eat. "Sorry..." Erin said. "I grew up being restricted on how I moved and acted every day. Mom raised me to be a proper lady, Why do you think I always wear pants?"

"True." Madison said. Wasn't there a denim skirt hanging in the closet?"

"Yeah, it's ankle length, but there is one in there," Erin said, a confused look crossing her face. "Why?"

"I think that you should wear it tomorrow." Maddie said, a smile forming on her face. "With the brown long sleeved shirt."

"Nope." Erin said, looking at Madison. The look caused Madison to jump from the couch and kneel on the floor. Chloe had given her that kind of look before and the response had been the same. "Maddie, what are you doing down there? I didn't' say to kneel or anything of that sort."

"It wasn't needed, Ma'am," Madison said, not lifting her chin. "It was all in the look you gave me. Chloe would give me that look when I done something wrong."

"Come here," Erin said, patting the couch. "You didn't do anything wrong, although I may have to wear skirts and dresses occasionally just to see your face do what it did this morning. It was priceless..."

Madison rose and sat next to her girlfriend on the couch. Their hands joined automatically and the both looked at each other. "That was the same look that Chloe would give me right before she beat me for something."

"I'm sorry," Erin said, looking into Madison's stormy grey eyes. "I didn't know. How about if we leave the picking of clothing up to me?"

Madison nodded. "Picking out whose clothes?"

"Why both of ours, of course." Erin said with a grin. "I already do anyway..."

Madison grinned. "I know, and I like it. Should we focus on studying for a little bit?"

"Erin nodded. Yep, I think we should and I would like you to get me some more water."

"Yes, Ma'am." Madison said, rising to take Erin's glass. Erin rose as well and moved to the breakfast bar. Erin sat at the breakfast bar and Madison turned and gave Erin her glass of water.

"Here's your water, Ma'am," Madison said. "Anything else for you, Ma'am?" Madison said curtsied.

"Yes, please," Erin said. "Bring our bags, plant your cute butt on this chair and lets study."

"Yes, Ma'am," Madison said, grabbing the two bags and carrying them over to the breakfast bar. Madison sat the bags on the floor next to the stools and sat down.

"Where should we start?" Madison asked.

Home: 3:58 PM

Tom backed the CC into the garage and shut off the engine. Sophie had fallen asleep, and Kira looked drained.

"Do me a favor, please stop catching auto theives with the front of your car.." Kira said, looking at Tom.

"I'll try." Tom replied, getting out of the car and opening the rear door so he could wake Sophie up.

"Wha?" She mumbled, sitting up and looking around the darkened garage. "Oh, we're home..."

"Yep," Tom said, turning to the door that went into the house from the garage and unlocking it. They had already swung by the station and picked up the stuff that Sergeant Walker had put on Sarah's desk and to advise the motor pool that he would need a new car.

"What are we doing for dinner?" Kira asked, knowing that the last time that Sophie and her had eaten was eight hours ago, Tom even longer.

"I don't know, that's your responsibility..." Tom replied. "I was thinking that we could go out tonight. It seems like a better idea than cooking."

"Ok. I wonder what Maddie and Erin are going to do for dinner..." Kira let the thought trail off.

"Don't know," Tom said. "Why don't you call her and ask her?"

Roberts Hall: 4:00 PM

Madison and Erin were sitting at the breakfast bar when Madison's phone started ringing. She saw that the caller was her mother, so she answered it. "What's up, mom?"

Erin glanced over at Madison. They had just finished their biology homework and were taking a few minutes of break. Madison looked at Erin.

"Did we have any plans for dinner? Mom wants to know." Madison asked.

"Not that I was aware of." Erin said in response.

"None that we are aware of, Mom." Madison said into the phone. "Why do you ask?" Madison and Erin shared a glance as Madison smiled.

"Oh, you and dad want to go out for dinner?" Madison smiled at Erin. "And you want us to watch Sophie?" Madison smiled at Erin, watching as her eyebrows went up. "Ok, We'll meet you there at six." Madison hung up the phone and looked into Erin's brown eyes.

"We're watching Sophie?" Erin asked.

"No, I just wanted to see what you would do," Maddie said, a smile on her face. "Mom and dad want us to meet them at the restaurant"

"At six?" Erin asked, making sure that she had heard the side of the conversation that she could hear correctly.

Madison nodded. "Yep. That's in two hours, and mom said that she wanted us to get there around quarter till. She said something about a surprise for you."

"A surprise for me?" Erin asked after picking her jaw up from the floor.

"That's what she said, I have no idea." Madison said. "She did say that she wanted me to wear what I had on when we were at the hospital though... I guess we will get to see reactions to me being dressed kinda like a maid. Do you think the petticoats are overkill though?"

Home: 4:09 PM

"Maddie and Erin will meet us at six. Now we just need to figure out where we are going..." Kira said, looking at Tom, who sat at the table, his service weapon disassembled on a plastic mat. Kira sat across from him and watched as he cleaned the barrel.

"That will be the hard part. What do you think that Erin will do when we suggest the idea?" Tom asked, picking up the recoil rod and wiping it down.

"No clue. Probably try her best to refuse even though it would be in her best interest..." Kira watched her husband pick up the slide of the gun and wipe it down. "My 26 should get cleaned soon. Also it's been a while since I've been to the range..."

"Probably." Tom said, gently sitting the slide back on the mat before picking up the barrel and peering through it. "Go get both of the 26's and I'll clean them both. I have qualifications coming up in about a month so I need to go as well." The department required qualifications for every officer every six months, but Tom had his detectives qualifying twice as often as what was required. Nothing better than keeping your skills honed. Kira nodded and then stood, grabbing her purse and pulling out the Glock model 26 that she was licensed by the state to carry. She ejected the magazine and then locked the side back before handing the cold weapon to her husband. Sophie had chosen that exact second to walk in to the kitchen.

"Woah!" She said, after she had watched her mother expertly clear the gun before handing it to her husband. "I never knew that was in there..."

"Don't go telling anyone, either." Tom said, not looking up as he reassembled his department-issued Glock model 19.

"I won't." Sophie said, watching her father chamber a round, drop the magazine, replace the round and then put the magazine back. Tom holstered the weapon and then field stripped the first of the two smaller firearms. Neither had been fired recently, but Tom still wanted to make sure that they would fire if they needed them too. Sophie sat across from Tom and watch him clean the first of the two guns.

"Do you have any homework, Sophie?" Tom asked, popping the recoil rod out of the slide.

"Not any more. I got it done yesterday after mom and I got back from dropping you off at the car dealership." Sophie said, resting her chin in her hands so that she could watched her father.

"Ok. Anyone have a clue what we are doing for dinner?" Tom reassembled the disassembled gun and left it slide locked as he glanced up at Sophie.

"Are you asking me?" Sophie sat up. She wasn't accustomed to making decisions as she was the youngest in the house.

"I'm open to suggestions..." Tom said as Kira walked back in the kitchen with the third and final gun that needed to be cleaned, slide locked back and ready to hand off to Tom. Tom switched her guns and Sophie watched as she chambered a round on the gun that lived in her purse and then put it away.

"California pizza kitchen?" Sophie asked. Tom field stripped the last gun and then looked at Sophie.

"Sounds good to me." Kira said.

"Call Maddie and have her meet us at Townsbridge." Tom said, running a cleaning patch through the barrel and then looked through it. He quickly oiled the frame and reassembled the gun, handing it to Kira.

"Can I see it?" Sophie asked. Kira looked at her and then at Tom, who stood and walked over to where Sophie was sitting and crouched next to her.

"Yes, you may, but I don't want you to touch one unless your mom or I are with you. First I'm going to teach you a few things, Ok?" Tom said. Sophie nodded and gave her full attention to her father. "Ok, Rule number one: The gun is always loaded..." Tom held his hand out and took the cold Glock from Kira. "Even this gun that is obviously unloaded is loaded. You never point this end at something you don't intend to destroy or kill." Tom pointed at the end of the barrel.

Townsbridge Mall: 5:35 PM

Madison pulled the car in a parking spot and shut off the engine. "We have about ten minutes before they get here, max."

"You have no clue what this new surprise is?" Erin asked, toying with the hem of the skirt that she still wore having not changed out of what Madison had picked her up that morning in. She was unsure of what was going to happen at dinner, and what this surprise was, but she was ready for anything.

"Not a clue..." Madison said, opening her door. The air outside had gotten cool and she instantly had goosebumps appear on her legs and arms. "Let's get inside so we both stay warm..."

"Good idea," Erin said, opening her door. They both got out and Madison locked the door. As they rounded the back of the Jetta their hands joined and they walked into the mall. Madison had parked as close to the door that they needed as she could. As they walked through the door Tom, Kira and Sophie were standing there. Sophie gave a small wave to her older sister.

"Ah, Good," Tom said, smiling. "I was about to call and see where you guys were."

Madison and Erin shared a glance. "We just got here. How long have you been here?"

"About four minutes." Kira said. "Your father sometimes has a warped sense of time..."

"I do not..." Tom said, feigning insult. "I am, however, hungry." He motioned toward the entrance to California Pizza Kitchen.

Dinner: 5:45 PM

The hostess sat the group of five at a table and walked away. Madison was careful as she sat and made sure that the petticoats didn't show to the rest of the room. She was already getting glances from the other patrons, most of whom were probably looking at her state of dress rather than the collar that occasionally jingled. Madison didn't let the looks phase her; she had gotten over that after she had started to wear the collar and cuffs on a daily basis.

"What kind of pizza are we going to get?" Tom asked, looking at a menu.

"I know what two of the three girls will eat, but I'm not sure about Erin," Kira said. "Anything you don't like on a pizza?"

"Mainly veggies and what not. I'm good with pepperoni and cheese," Erin said, glancing up from the menu, and then sitting it down as the server approached.

"Good Evening, I'm Robert, and I want to welcome you to California Pizza Kitchen. Can I get you guys drinks to start with?" Madison glanced from Erin to Tom and back. Erin shook her head 'no' ever so slightly; Tom's head shook 'yes'. Madison smiled, Erin had been over-ruled by her father. Robert pointed at Erin, who started with the drink orders.

"May I have water, please?" Erin asked.

Robert nodded before moving on to Madison.

"May I have a Coke with no ice, please?" Madison asked, not surprised as Erin's head slowly shook side to side.

"Coke, ok," Robert said, caught slightly off guard by Erin's response to Madison request for coke.

"May I have water, and sprite with no ice for my wife and youngest daughter?" Tom asked.

"Certainly, Sir," Robert said, putting the notepad in the pocket on his apron. "I'll give you a few minutes to look over the menu and will be right back with the drinks."

"You're gonna be up all night," Erin said, still shaking her head.

"I don't think one glass is gonna hurt her too much Erin," Tom said. "Besides, she's only getting the one glass and then it's water..."

Madison pouted, "Ok..."

Robert walked back over carrying a tray of drinks and two pitchers of water. He distributed the drinks around the table, and then sat the empty tray on an empty table near by. "So, what are we ordering for dinner?"

Townsbridge Drive and Summit Avenue: 6:03 PM

"Twenty three, I have a car stopped at Townsbridge and Summit, break," Officer Emma O'Brien said into the mic attached to the radio in her car.

"Eighteen zero three," Came the voice of a dispatcher. "Do you have a tag, twenty three?"

"Affirm, Alpha Delta Tango three seven four eight. Vehicle is occupied five times." Officer O'Brien said into the mic.

"Copy ma'am."

Dinner 6:07 PM

The pizzas had just been delivered to the table by Robert when Tom's walkie made a high pitched tone, causing everyone in the restaurant to turn and look.

"KQD2983 to all units on zone one and zone four, unit twenty three is ten three at Townsbridge and Summit, repeat unit twenty three is ten three at Townsbridge and Summit."

"L4 Let's go 10-99"

"Copy zones one and four are 10-99." Came a dispatcher's voice.

Tom pulled his radio off of his hip as he jumped up and started toward the door. "S twelve, I'm at Townsbridge Mall, responding on foot."

"Copy, S twelve, Be advised that twenty three has five at gunpoint." That was the last thing they heard as Tom cleared the door and headed for the exit in a full run. The four females sat at the table looked at each other and started to eat the pizza. That was when there was the distinct pop of gunfire in the distance. After the gunfire had stopped, the mall was full of screaming patrons and Kira's phone rang.

"What's going on?" Kira asked. The eyes of the three younger girls were on her as she spoke to Tom on the phone. "Ok, We'll be right were you left us." Kira wondered who unit twenty three was, as far as she knew she had never met the officer. "Ok, see you in a few." Kira looked at the three girls and shrugged. "He's on his way back in."

Tom walked through the door and sat at the table again. "One of the five thugs that Emma pulled over pulled a gun and lets just say, that was a mistake... He is enroute to University Med Center."

Home: 7:20 PM

Tom backed the car into the garage and shut off the engine. He watched as Madison pulled into the driveway and parked in front of Kira's car. Everyone got out and wandered into the house, ending up in the living room. Madison and Erin sat on the love seat and cuddled into each other. Sophie sat next to Kira and did the same thing that Madison and Erin did; Tom sat in his recliner and looked at Madison and Erin.

"Since neither one of you have mentioned the surprise that Kira mentioned when she was on the phone with Madison earlier, I take it that you two have forgotten about it?"

"Oh yeah," Madison said, sitting up slightly. "What was the surprise?" Tom looked at Kira; it was her idea after all.

"I was thinking today that rather than Erin spending some of her school money on room and board, she could live here, and use the money that she was spending on room and board for other school related expenses." Kira said, watching as Erin's jaw dropped and Madison glanced from her mom to her dad.

"I wouldn't want to impose..." Erin said, her voice trailing off.

"You wouldn't be imposing, and I think that you and Madison could share a bed with no problems." Kira said. Madison was slightly confused, Her mother seemed to be the one orchestrating the whole thing right now. "Plus it would give you guys study time together..."

"Hang on..." Madison said, trying to understand what was happening. "You guys are offering to let Erin move in here to help her out with funding for school, and this all appears to be orchestrated by mom."

"No one ever said I couldn't propose and close a deal..." Kira said, chuckling. "But, yes, Maddie, you have the gist of the conversation right."

"I don't know what to say..." Erin said, her eyes watering.

"I don't want to influence her decision," Madison said, pretending to zip her lips, lock the zipper and throw away the key.

Erin pretended to catch the key and pocket it, smiling at Madison the entire time. "If it's ok, I'd like to talk it over with Maddie and my mom first."

"Absolutely," Tom said, almost expecting that answer out of the young lady. "You just need to decide before the school's deadline for housing."

"If I were to move in, would all of the rules that Madison follows be applicable to me as well?" Erin asked.

Tom and Kira shared a look. "Which rules would those be, Erin?"

"Things like curfew, always having the cell phone on me, letting you know where I'm going." Erin said.

"Well, that depends." Tom said, "Do you want them to?"

The scanner made a high pitched alert sound from the kitchen. This time Erin didn't even blink. "KQD2983, Prepare to copy stolen out of..." The scanner resumed scanning.

Erin bit her lip, causing Madison to smile. The thought of someone setting a curfew, and always knowing where she was hadn't happened in quite a few years. "Can I think about that?"

"Yes, you may." Tom said. "I don't want you to rush into anything." Another alert tone from the scanner. "KQD2983 to all units, S4 is in a fight at Main and Thompson, it's eight suspects, all male black, black shirts, black pants. This is a 10-3 situation. Zone 3 is 10-100. Zone 3 is 10-100. Responding units report on Zone 3 dispatch." Tom jumped up and ran toward the scanner, pulling his phone out as he ran. He speed dialed the dispatch center. Kira jumped up and ran toward the stairs, understanding what was happening.

"It's Winters, what was Cockerel on?"

"74 enroute" "72 enroute" "70 enroute" "89 enroute" "Responding units, time is 1943"

Tom turned the scanner down a little bit. "Ok. Call Cunningham, I'm enroute from home." Tom put his phone back in it's pouch and he ran for the stairs, taking them two at a time.

"Um..." Erin said. "What is going on?"

"It sounds like the on duty shift sergeant is involved in a fight with eight males. The 10-3 is an officer in distress situation. 10-100 is emergency traffic relating to the 10-3 only. No other traffic will be aired on the Zone 3 dispatch channel until the officer in distress situation is cleared." Tom came running down the stairs, in a dress shirt, tie slacks. He didn't bother with the jacket. His sidearm and badge clearly visible.

"Erin, I'm sorry to run, but I need to get there." Tom said, hand on the door to the garage. "It was nice having dinner with you and our chat. Let me know what you decide."

"Ok. Be careful Mr. Winters." Erin said. And with that, the door shut, the garage door opened, an engine roared, followed by a siren and everything was quiet with the exception of the scanner.

"S12, Mark me enroute, Huntington and 16th." The siren was audible in the background of the radio.

"1953"

"Chopper is overhead. We don't visibly see anyone on the ground except for Sargent Cockerel. Can you guys light his car up?"

Home: 8:16 PM

"S12, Mark myself and D4 enroute to Mercy Main, break." The scanner crackled.

"Go ahead." The dispatcher said.

"Can you have L3 meet us at Mercy Main?" Tom's voice carried through the otherwise silent kitchen. Kira, Madison and Erin were sitting at the table. Madison had been silent ever since a medic had taken Sergeant Cockerel to the hospital.

"I want to go see him." Madison said, suddenly.

"Why?" Erin asked, her voice full of confusion.

"Sergeant Cockerel is the person that was responsible for Madison and Sophie actually being rescued after they were kidnapped," Kira said, after taking a sip of her coffee. "He's like a second father to Madison."

Madison looked at her mother and girlfriend. "I'm serious."

"Maddie, Now is not the time," Kira said softly, she placed her hand on top of Madison's. "There are going to be enough people down there. You would just add to the chaos..." The phone rang. Kira answered it and put the call on speaker.

"How is he?" Kira asked.

"He was critical when the medic took him to Main." Tom said, his voice sounding drained. "He is in bad shape..."

"I want to see him." Madison said again. Erin shot her a look. Kira was right, it would be chaos in the ED.

"After they get him to a room, Madison." Tom said over the phone.

Two things stuck out to Madison, first was the tone in Tom's voice and second was the use of her full first name. The two things combined stopped her in her tracks. "Yes, Daddy."

"Has anyone called Tammy?" Kira asked.

"Yeah, Lieutenant Smith called her as soon as he got word," Tom said, pausing. "He had one of the perps stop him for directions... They pulled him out of the car and started beating him up. I need to try to get in with Garrison and Huntley. I'm going to recommend going to two man cars." The attack on Sargent Cockerel was now just the latest in a string of attacks on police officers. It was the first one in the state but now that the department was on edge, who knew what was going to happen. "Sarah and I are pulling up to the hospital. I'll give you updates as I can."

"Ok, honey," Kira said. "I love you."

Mercy Main: 8:23 PM

"I love you too." Tom said as he shut the car off. "Let's go do this."

Tom and Sarah got out, surveying the area around the front of the hospital. The turn around in front of the ED was full of vehicles that belonged to the division of police. They walked into chaos.

"Tom, how is he?" Officer Joe Smith asked.

"Joe," Tom said, dryly. "You know as much as I do right now..."

"Yes, Sir." Smith said.

Tom looked at most of the department that had rushed to the hospital following the call of distress to a fellow officer. Sticking his fingers in his mouth he whistled loudly. Everyone in the lobby of the ED turned to look at him. "I know you're all worried about Cockerel. Some of you need to be out on the street, others aren't due in until 2300. Standing around here wandering aimlessly isn't going to catch the guys that did this. I want all of you to keep an eye and ear out on our brothers. I'll have radio keep everyone updated. Graveyards will get an update in roll call."

"Well done," Lieutenant Smith said, walking up toward Winters. "Give an update."

"It appears that he got jumped by 8 male black suspects. They were wearing masks, so his body camera didn't get a good look. We know he fired his taser at some point but we don't know if it got a bite or not. The cartridge is missing and so is whatever it was attached to..." Tom pulled a notepad from his shirt pocket. "There is a bit of light in the tunnel on this," he glanced down, making sure that he was providing the proper information the the Lieutenant. "Only one of the perps had gloves on. Grace is going to be going over the car for prints."

"Alrighty. Keep me updated," Smith said. "I'll have radio keep units on guard here just to be safe."

Tom nodded. "Sir?"

"What's on your mind, Tom?" Smith said.

"I recommend going to two man cars," Tom said. "I think that once word of this gets out we may have a problem on our hands."

Home: 10:39 PM

Tom backed his car in the garage and shut off the engine. He sighed before getting out of the car. When he opened the door, Kira and Madison looked at him expectantly; Erin was stoic, never having met Sargent Cockerel.

"They have him in an induced coma," Tom said, collapsing in his recliner. "X-rays and CT scan revealed swelling on the brain, a fractured skull, broken ribs, arms and right leg..."

Kira pressed her lips together and hugged Madison. Nothing was said, but she knew that Tom knew the odds at this point. "Is Tammy staying at the hospital?"

"Yeah," Tom replied, finally standing back up. "Erin, are you staying the night here, or going back to the dorms?"

"I'm going to stay with Maddie, if it's ok," Erin said, her hand squeeing Madison's ever so slightly. "Doesn't matter anyway, my car isn't here."

"I could take you back to campus if you wanted to go," Madison said, turning her head toward her girlfriend. "Or I'm sure that dad would."

"I would if you wanted to go back to the dorm, Erin." Tom said, rising and walking into the kitchen and making a cup of coffee.

"I'm going to stay with Maddie," Erin said, the confidence returning to her voice. "I'm sure I'll find something to wear tomorrow."

"Ok," Tom said, carrying his coffee over to the recliner and sitting down again. "Why don't you two girls go get ready for bed, and come back down and we can chat, or you can go to bed."

"Ok, Mr. Winters," Erin said, grabbing Madison's hand and dragging her off toward her bedroom. Kira watched the girls go.

"What are the odds?" Kira asked quietly.

"Forty-sixty for survival," Tom said just as quietly. "Twenty percent for no lasting brain damage."

"Tammy must be going out of her mind right now..." Kira let the thought tail off as Tom's phone rang. He pulled it out and looked at it as Erin and Madison came back into the kitchen, both wearing night gowns.

Tom swiped on the screen and put the phone to his ear. "What do you have, Higgins?" Tom listened for a moment. "Really... Tell the charge nurse I'm on my way. Detain him pending the investigation..." Listening for a few more moments, Tom nodded. "Ok, I'll let the radio room know." Tom put the phone back in his pocket.

"I have to go to the University Med center," He said, stroking his chin. "Jackson fired his taser, but the gun wasn't at the scene. Apparently he got one of them with it..."

University Med Center: 10:57 PM

Tom parked his car and got out. There were now two marked units outside of the entrance to the ED. He locked the doors and walked into the large room. He was met just past the metal detectors by Officer Winston, who was holding an evidence bag with a Taser in it. The wires were just in a tangled mess, but that wasn't that important. Tom quickly located the serial number and then pulled a note pad out of his pocket. He had written down the serial number of the Taser that had been issued to Sergeant Cockerel; the two matched.

"Has he said anything?" Tom asked.

"Other than telling the nursing staff that he found the Taser and accidentally shot him self with it, in the back, no less, " Officer Winston said, trying to hide the chuckle in his voice. "Not a thing..."

Home: 11:20 PM

"So, I guess you get to see me in a dress again tomorrow..." Erin said, stroking Maddie's hair.

"Mmhmmm..." came the mumbled reply. Madison was drifting off to sleep; it was exactly what Erin wanted to happen. She could tell that her girlfriend was stressed out and on edge. Even Erin was worried; she was worried about Tom being out on the street; she was worried about every police officer that walked the the thin blue line. She had been basically adopted into the family of a police officer. Madison's breathing slowly deepened as she fell into a deeper sleep.

Metro PD Headquarters: 11:48 PM

Tom entered the code on the back door of the station and went inside. He knew that Grace was in the building and would be until she had enough evidence to put the attackers of Sergeant Cockerel behind bars.

"Gracie," Tom said walking into the forensics lab so he didn't scare her. "I need you to print this. I want to know who all touched it."

"Sit it on the table," she said slowly turning to face Tom. It was obvious that she had been crying, it was to be expected at this point... "I'll get to it after I finish processing the prints from Cockerel's car." It dawned on her that Tom was holding the Taser. "Do you have the thug that it was attached to?"

"Not with me," Tom said. "But he's in custody..." Glancing around the room before continuing, he noted that several photos of Sargent Cockerel were hanging around the lab. "He's already given up four of the others, It's a matter of time before we get them all. I'm going home to get some rest. I'm not going to be able to function tomorrow if I don't. You should do the same."

"If I go now, I'll lose track of where I am and what I've processed..." Grace said. Tom could tell that she was emotionally exhausted and close to the same physically. She had been in lab that morning when Tom had run into his office.

"Gracie," Tom said, aware the dominant tone was coming out, but then again, Gracie would acknowledge it too. "Go home and get some rest. You're going to start making mistakes if you keep going."

"But..." Gracie let the thought trail off as she processed what Tom was telling her to do.

"Do you want me to drive you home?" Tom asked, wrapping an arm around Grace, who nodded. He watched as she grabbed her purse and then shut off the light. The pair walked silently to the parking lot where Tom opened the door of his car for Grace and then walked around and got in, starting the engine. He pulled away from the station and headed toward Grace's house.

Westmere Drive: 11:54 PM

"County communications to all metro alert agencies, Unit forty-seven is eleven forty-four at the intersection of Main and State Route 92. Requesting assistance." The metro alert radio in Tom's car crackled. Before alert tones went out and the message repeated.

"Shit," Tom said, reaching for the siren control box mounted in between the seats "Hang on." He grabbed the wheel, spun it and hit the gas all at the same time, causing the car to turn one hundred eighty degrees and then hit the lights and siren. Grace sat up in the seat, instantly alert. Tom reached for the mic on the dash board. "S twelve to radio."

"S twelve, Go." Came a voice from the dispatch center.

"Mark me enroute on the assist from Westmere and Main."

"Copy," the voice said. "Time is twenty three fifty five."

"Twenty seven, Same mark."

"Is it the same guys?" Grace asked, bracing her self as Tom took a corner at high speed.

Home: 11:55 PM

"County communications to all metro alert agencies, Unit forty-seven is eleven forty-four at the intersection of Main and State Route 92. Requesting assistance." Kira was sitting in the kitchen when the radio had come to life. She jumped up to turn the scanner down before the alert tones that accompanied a Metro Alert broadcast. Unfortunately, she didn't get to the scanner before the tones finished. Kira heard footsteps behind her and then a voice.

"What's going on?" the voice belonged to Madison. She normally didn't wake up to the Metro Alert tones, but tonight was different. Everyone was on edge.

"County has an officer in distress" Kira said softly

"S twelve to radio." Tom's voice came out of the speaker.

"S twelve, Go"

"Mark me enroute on the assist from Westmere and Main."

"What's he doing over there?" Maddison asked, confusion in her voice.

"Grace lives over that way," Kira said. "He had texted me and said he was taking her home." The scanner locked on Metro One.

"Metro Chopper is overhead," the scanner crackled. "Four assailants are visible, Metro PD unmarked unit coming in from the west, watch your self."

Sunday, May 7

Main and SR 92: 12:02 AM

"Metro Chopper is overhead," the Metro Alert radio crackled. "Four assailants are visible, Metro PD unmarked unit coming in from the west, watch your self." Tom reached over and turned on the takedown lights and then spun the spot light up. The only thing he saw was a man with a gun pointed in their direction.

"Get down!" Tom shouted, as Grace dropped as low as she could in the seat. Tom leaned to his right over the console. Using the display for the camera mounted high in the windshield, Tom aimed the car for the guy with the gun. There was the unmistakable pop, pop, pop of the thug firing his weapon. The windshield started spraying glass shards all over Tom and Gracie. There was a thump and then the firing stopped.

"Chopper to Radio, Shots have been fired," There was an awkward pause. "Suspect is down, we're tracking three assailants via FLIR."

"Radio Copy," A voice said. "S12 checkup"

"T forty one and I are ok. Start me a supervisor." Tom's voice floated through the radio. "And a medic."

"Copy, Time is triple zero four," the dispatch center replied.

"L4, I'm enroute."

"Copy, triple zero five."

"S twelve to responding units, let's setup a premiter, Three blocks in each direction. Once that's done, we'll lock it down using the chopper."

"Copy, S12," A voice came from the radio. "S8 to responding units, Lets do this and not let them get away."

"Chopper, we have them running through back yards to the north. All four assailants were wearing what appeared to be dark over dark; possibly all male black."

"Copy, All responding units, coordinate to the north of the primary scene at Main and ninety-two." Tom said into his handheld. He looked into the deputies cruiser and shook his head. "Also be advised that the EMS units can come in, I have the primary scene secure." Pressing his lips together, he turned to Gracie.

"I've got this," She said, the determination in her voice unmistakable. "Go get the bastards."

"Chopper to the county unit at main and third, the assailants are to your east, one house."

"S8, get units up there with him."

"County 29 copy."

"Unit coming up from the south, you're almost on top of them." Tom pulled his gun out, and held it at the ready.

"Let me see your hands," Tom shouted. "Hands! Now!" All three of the men dropped to the ground as soon as they were hit by the night sun. Tom reached for his mic. "S12, three at gunpoint."

"Copy. Time is 0008." Came a dispatchers voice. The dispatchers were always the calm, cool and collected ones on the air. They kept everything functioning even when everything else was falling apart

"You move and it will be the last thing you do." Tom said as one of the three guys acted like he was going to make a move.

"Friendlies from the north!" an officer shouted as three officers appeared, two with guns drawn and one with three pair of handcuffs.

Home: 2:37 AM

"I'll see you in the morning, Sarah." Tom said, opening the passenger side door on the car.

"Alrighty, Sarge," she said, surpassing a yawn. "I'll be here by 7:30 unless something happens between now and then." Tom walked up to the front door and opened it, surprised to see that the lights the kitchen were on. He walked through the foyer and into the kitchen and looked into the faces of his wife and the older two girls in the house. He frowned as he realized that Madison was drinking coffee. At least she didn't have classes later that day.

"You girls should head to bed..." Tom said, giving Madison a kiss on the top of the head; he did the same thing to Erin, who blushed.

Home: 7:42 AM

Madison woke up before Erin and it felt good to still feel Erin's arm wrapped around her waist. Last night had been tiring and taxing, and given the two attacks on police officers, everyone in the house was on edge.

"Why are you wiggling?" Erin, who was still three fourths the way asleep asked in a still sleepy voice.

"Cause I have to pee..." Madison said, giggling. Erin started to run her fingers through Madison's hair. "I'll go back to sleep if you do that when I get back..."

"Ok..." Erin said, "I can do that." Madison climbed out of the bed and left the room, heading toward the bathroom. A few moments later she was back in the bed and facing Erin. The pair kissed and the snuggled in close to fall back asleep for a few more hours.

Home: 9:17 AM

Madison sat upright, being awakened by the sound of alert tones coming through the scanner. "All posts and departments, district 6 prepare to copy stolen..." A female dispatchers voice floated up the steps. Madison glanced at Erin who was still sleeping, her brown hair splayed on the pillow. Madison gently nudged her girlfriend.

"Hey," she said. "Get up."

"Unnngh..." came Erin's reply.

"Come on..." Madison said, flinging the blankets off the bed. "I want to go do something today. I'd rather not sleep all day so that it doesn't mess up my sleep schedule too much."

"Okay, okay," Erin said, finally sitting up. She ran her fingers through her hair, grimacing as she broke through a tangle. "I want to call my mom and talk to her about your mom and dad's offer anyway." Madison suspected that Erin had already made up her mind as to what she was going to do.

Madison stretched and stood up, the night shirt she had slept in falling back to her knees. She walked over to the closet and opened it, and tried to figure out what to wear.

"Wear the pink skater dress with the wide black belt..." Erin said, standing, the night gown she was wearing falling back to her knees as well.

"Alright, but," Madison said, reaching in the closet. She pulled out a matching skater dress that was navy with a thin white belt. "You're wearing this..."

Erin shrugged, and then smiled. "We are going to dress alike."

Home: 10:00 AM

Madison and Erin had taken over the kitchen table and were working on some homework. As it was Sunday, neither girl had classes, but they both had grades to keep up. So far, Erin, even with the stress of working to pay for gas and insurance, had maintained a 3.5 GPA; Madison, without having to worry about a job, held a 3.8 GPA. They both had struggled with a math class but had done well enough the following term to offset the low mark. Failing was not an option for either girl.

"I feel like I got so much more done here than at the library or my dorm room," Erin said, starting to gather her stuff.

"We still have more to do..." Madison replied, looking up from her laptops screen.

"Yeah," Erin said, standing up. "I need to stretch my legs and was thinking of doing that at the mall, plus I still need to call my mom because she will be awake."

"Sounds good to me, let me see if mom wants us to put our stuff away or if we can leave it." Madison stood, pushed her chair in and walked down the hall. Kira was still upstairs in her room relaxing and reading a book. "Erin and I were going to run to the mall for a bit, is it ok if we leave our stuff on the table?"

"Yeah," Kira replied, glancing up from her book. "Your dad said something about doing tuna casserole for dinner tonight so it'll have to be cleaned up by then."

"Ok. We can handle that," Madison said, a smile crossing her face at the mention of the tuna casserole; it had become one of her favorite dishes.

Townsbridge Mall: 10:30 AM

Erin and Madison walked into the semi-deserted mall. The shops weren't open yet, but the mall still had quite a few people walking around. As they wandered to find somewhere to sit, a display in a store caught Erin's eye. "That's cute." She said, causing Madison to glance her direction. Madison looked past Erin and saw the mannequin in the window wearing a white top and a burgundy skirt with suspenders.

"Cute for you or cute for me?" Madison asked. Glancing at her girlfriend, wondering what the answer was going to be.

"Cute for us, especially if they have different colors." Erin said, trying to peer into the darkened store. "I think with your hair and eye color the burgundy would be cute. I think we could do something different than a simple white top though."

"Probably," Madison said. "Lets go in and look when they open..."

"Sounds like a plan." Erin said, walking toward a bunch of seating near the fountain in the center of the mall. She could hear the water faintly gurgling. Erin sat, smoothing her skirt and the patted the seat to her left, indicating that Madison should sit. After she had sat down, Erin handed Madison an ear bud and plugged them into phone. After placing the other earbud in her own ear, she dialed her mothers phone number.

"Hello?" Came Erin's mom's voice. She sounded like she hadn't been awake for long.

"Hi mom," Erin said, sounding like her usual cheerful self.

"Hey!" There was a pause. "You never call this early and on a Sunday, what's wrong?"

"Nothing is wrong," Erin giggled. "Maddie's parents have offered for me to stay there with Maddie. It would free up money so I can buy my own books. Madison's dad paid for a laptop and my books for me. I wanted to make sure it was ok with you before I told the school I was going to move out of the dorm and in with Maddie and her family." There was another pause.

"He's a police officer, right?"

"Yes," Erin answered sharing a glance with Madison, wondering where this question was headed.

"I want to talk to him before you say yes," she said. "It sounds to me like you've made up your mind already though."

"Ok," Erin said. "I'll have him call you when he gets home from work today."

"Ok. You girls have fun." She said and then the line went dead.

"So was that saying yes or..." Madison let the question trail off.

Home: 1:07 PM

Madison and Erin walked back in the house, both carrying bags from stores at the mall. Kira was in the kitchen, giving them a strange look; she hadn't expected them to come home with stuff.

"We found some really cute clothes whiles were there," Madison said in response to Kira's expression. She reached into the bag and pulled out the burgundy skirt with the suspenders.

"I never pictured you as a suspender kind of girl," Kira replied, a smile on her face. "That is cute though."

"I found a denim one for Sophie as well," Madison responded.

"What about me?" Sophie asked. She had a habit of appearing when she was being talked about.

"I found a cute suspender skirt for you while we were at the mall." Madison said rummaging around in the bag before pulling out the garment.

"That's cute!" Sophie exclaimed. Madison handed her little sister the garment.

"Go try it on," Kira said. "If you need help, give a holler."

Madison watched her little sister run toward the steps. "I think I got the right size."

"It looked like it," Kira said. "Erin, what did your mom say?"

"She would like to speak to Mr. Winters..." Erin replied.

"Did you tell her what Tom does for a living?

"I've told her previously..." Erin shrugged. She doubted that it was because of what Tom did for a living. "She probably wants to try to talk him out of it."

Home: 2:29 PM

Madison walked downstairs, wearing the suspender skirt with a dark blue top under it; the tags still hung off the skirt. She was standing in the kitchen next to to the coffee robot making a cup of coffee when Erin came down and found her.

"No caffeine after two..." Erin said, sounding exasperated. "Maybe I shouldn't let you have any caffeine at all tomorrow."

Madison pouted. "But then I won't be awake in class..." she whined. The garage door opened and both Erin and Madison looked at the inner door in anticipation. A few seconds later, Tom walked in the door. He looked at Madison and Erin.

"Am I interrupting something?" he asked, chuckling.

"No..." Erin said, sharing a glance with Madison. "Also, my mom wanted to talk to you about me moving in. She didn't give me a yes or no answer..."

"Give me her number and I'll call her." Tom said with a shrug.

Home 3:38 PM

Tom walked up to Madison's door and knocked. "Can I come in?" Even though it was a his house, his rules kinda deal, he gave the girls a fair amount of privacy.

"Come in." Madison said. Tom opened the door and looked in the room. Madison and Erin were laying on the bed, entangled in each other's arms.

"Erin, I talked to your mom," Tom said, leaning against the door frame. "She said that she's okay with you moving in here, however, your grades are not to suffer, and you must obey all house rules..."

"All house rules?" Erin asked, sounding confused. "There more than just the take the phone everywhere and curfew?"

"Those are the two big ones..." Tom said with a chuckle. "There are a few others, but those are the biggies."

"What are the others?" Erin asked, looking from Madison to Tom and back to Madison.

"Madison can fill you in, she knows the rules..." Tom said, watching Madison blushed. "--You girls get to bed soon,-- I'd like to take you two to breakfast in the morning. I've got some comp time I can burn."

"Ok, Daddy," Madison said a smile on her face. "It's been a while since we've done breakfast."

"I'll leave you girls to do whatever," Tom said, turning and walking back down the hallway. Erin turned to look at Madison.

"So what are the other rules?" She asked, brushing a few of her locks of hair out of her face. Madison smiled back at her girlfriend.

"Well, we have to help around the house, you know, do dishes, help with laundry that kind of thing." Madison said, flipping over on the bed. "We have to keep our grades up and make sure our homework is done, We're only allowed to wear skirts and dresses..." Erin raised an eyebrow.

"That's not one of the rules," Erin said, sounding dubious. "Sophie was wearing pants before she went to bed."

"Darn..." Madison said, giving a sly smile. "I was hoping I could trick you into wearing nothing but skirts and dresses..."

"I'd like to remind you," Erin said, reaching up to grab the ring on Madison's collar and use it to pull Madison gently toward her. "That I'm not the one wearing the collar..." She pulled Madison close and kissed her, not letting the collar go until she was done kissing. When they broke the kiss, Madison just looked at Erin.

"Do that whenever you'd like..." she said, smiling.

"So, any other rules I should know about?" Erin asked, resting her hand on Madison's bare leg.

"Dad gets first dibbs on the coffee machine in the event that we are all up at the same time..." Madison said, smiling at Erin. "And you get to pick out what I wear because you're here now."

"Now that can be fun..." Erin said. "I get to have my own little dress up doll and just like a little doll, she can't stop me..."

“Be careful, I might just like that,” Madison smiled. “It wouldn’t be the first time that someone else has picked out my clothing…”

End