Out Of The Past

God what a week it had been.

It was one which I thought would never come to an end but finally and mercifully it did. 

There were still so many unanswered questions though, including who Ian and Clint really were and what happened to Davey and Jimmy. It was all very mysterious and I was worried, at least about my two nephews I thought, as I stared at my other two problems who were sitting across the way. 

The ending of the trial was unbelievable and almost anti-climatic but Alan not being willing to tell me anything about the boys troubled me and I didn't know what to make of it. Not only that but the resources at Eric's as well as my disposal had been able to learn nothing as well. 

I had even made a call to my friend, but even that hadn't been able to tell me anything other than that they were alright and well cared for. 

On top of everything else, the FCC was protesting in various places from the courthouse to Judge Kendall's residence, not to mention the Governor's office.

They were not happy with the outcome of the trial at all and were having no qualms about telling the world of that fact. 

What they couldn't win in a court of law they were now trying to win in the court of public opinion and I wasn't sure I was winning that case although support had come publicly from several sources, several of which were unexpected.

I almost dreaded coming home and could only hope that I was making the right decision.

On the FCC's side of it, they had been dragging expert after expert out on the news media to say that I was a pervert and the children were in danger garnering protest calls calling for the removal of the children immediately from a number of sources around the country including various child welfare workers and even a few famous actors who seemed to have jumped on the bandwagon.

The anti child molestation groups were out in full measure in support of FCC and among them were a number of prominent celebrities including one of the most famous talk show hosts on the planet.

In addition to that, the talking heads on the media were skewering me without ever having spoken to me, claiming to know all about my life and that of my children. I wanted nothing more than to call them and tell them off but calmer heads ended up prevailing on that issue for the most part, if you didn't count what Sammy had done. 

The FCC had also called on the Federal Government to not only launch an investigation, but to remove the children immediately including pressuring Russia to take us into custody and deliver us to US authorities. 

Fortunately the Feds had quickly jumped in on that and said flatly that they would not get involved in any way whatsoever. 

Surprising many though was President Bush who was cornered on it during a speech in North Carolina to some religious contributors, amongst them the FCC, apparently.

He tried to avoid it, but they wouldn't let go until he finally turned on them and told them that the government was not the instrument of the religious right and would not be getting involved in this matter in any way, as it was a state matter. Further he felt that the case had been handled quite well and that the children had a good home, which knocked me on my ass in shock. 

Now he was facing concentrated condemnation at the hands of the FCC as well as the usual liberal diatribes which had plagued him from the beginning. 

My feelings had always been ambivalent regarding the man, but after that I liked him a lot more than previously for obvious reasons. 

Many forget that his party stands for less involvement in people's lives rather than the democrats more intrusive philosophy of 'I know what's best for you' which they had always expounded. Unfortunately, the President's party had too often forgot that, in recent years as well.

A number of Democrats as well as Republicans had come out in support of the FCC position but Bush had remained adamant on the subject so far. 

I found it ironic in the extreme that the liberals were supporting the ultra conservative position of the FCC, even though they would never admit to it. 

They found different reasons for calling for the children's removal but it amounted to the same thing, believe it or not, they were concerned about sex. 

There was currently talk of a lawsuit being filed to force the state to do something but various sources had told me that nothing would come of it and I sincerely hoped that they were correct in their belief.

As it had been explained to me, the idea behind that was that states had an obligation to protect children and in this case were not doing so, hence a lawsuit to force them into it. The other side being that a hearing had been held and all evidence of which there was none had been admitted and disproven. 

Not only that but they were demanding that social services investigate the Judge for much the same crap as I had been accused of, but Millie had put a stop to that, along with the Governor. 

The FCC were claiming that somehow I or my friends had done something to Mrs. Higginbottom, but of course couldn't prove it since I hadn't, but it didn't stop them from basically accusing me of it. They also said that with the Judge's connivance, we had done something to the children and were demanding that outside entities have access to the boys away from any of my 'friends' as they were calling them, meaning the judge or social services under Millie.

That was also flatly rejected by all parties involved, although it didn't stop them from demanding it.

That was actually a demand that was getting some play and numerous questions asked about it, but for now we had managed to forestall any action being taken.

The main problem of course with that, being that I, or no one else seemed to know just where the kids were right now.

Now the boy's psychologist had been speaking on 'their' behalf in the media and anywhere else she could, telling everyone that they had been molested by me with complete certainty. Alan had already filed a request for an injunction and a lawsuit over it, but didn't hold out much hope for any immediate relief, I guess protecting patient confidentiality and children didn't mean as much as she went around professing.

Most troubling was that the 'evidence' from the trial which was never allowed into evidence was now being shown everywhere, including video of the boys and their accusations. Alan said it was edited from the actual tapes, not showing a great deal and most of what was shown was later sessions rather than the earlier ones where for months and months the children had denied anything ever happening while they had been isolated and interrogated until caving in. 

Alan, of course, couldn't release the copies he had without being no better than whoever had released the others, which left us in a quandary as to how to respond. 

Finally it was decided to show them to experts and let them speak about what they had seen, but it wasn't as impressive as watching the tapes themselves which said something completely different or seemed to.

Kind of hard to argue with two adorable little boys saying their uncle put his pee pee into their mouth when they didn't want him to.

On my side, a number of child development experts had come out of the woodwork, many of them tired of the last 20 years of changes, forced upon that community by the zealots and spoke up about the issue of child sexual development, but more importantly my case in particular. I don't think it was me they were supporting so much as this seemed to be a case to get out there with and show what had been done over the years and how harmful it was to children. It just so happened that my case coincided with their goals which was a very good thing for me.

There was one lady from Pennsylvania though, that made the point of getting in touch with Alan and getting the information on us, and she being one of the most prominent child development and child sexual abuse experts in the country, looked over everything from both sides and even spoke with the kids before coming out and supporting us which really helped our cause, although she was not able to speak with David or Jimmy, just mine.

She was well known for being no nonsense and going after whatever was best for children. She was also one of the most visibly recognizable faces in the country on the subject and her support was immeasurable. 

Millie and a number of people in the social service community also came out in support of us. What surprised me though was that it wasn't just local social service workers but ones from around the country as well who added their voice to the others locally.

The Governor also spoke not to mention Eric of course but probably the most surprising of all was that Judge Kendall came out voraciously in our defense and was on the airwaves constantly even bringing his children on the news with him. They spoke quite well of the subject and in the way of kids, didn't pull any punches about it either. 

I was enormously grateful for his actions and had spoken with him several times in the last week. Sammy and the guys had also spoken with him as well as his children and my first impressions of the man from the trial were confirmed, if I had had any doubts that here was a good man. If you had any trouble telling that from interacting with him his children showed exactly what type of person he was. 

Eric, how can I say this, Eric was the most striking thing of all. Facing demands for his termination by the FCC and their friends, Eric had come out and fought back and did so with a vengeance. He pulled no punches and his intellect truly shown through as he would go head to head with these people and plant them easily without ever raising his voice during an interview. It was quite obvious and almost painful to watch as all they could do was start screaming while Eric just sat there quietly until usually the reporter involved cut the other party off from the interview. 

What surprised many though was the unwavering support shown to Eric when the demands for his removal had came in almost immediately along with mine.

Every single officer who could make it from our force showed up to protest for him and most of the city police force came out as well. What shocked many though was the county fire department, city fire department, EMS providers and officers from surrounding jurisdictions showing up to show their support also.

Eric had been in tears at the display and the county board of supervisors had issued a unanimous statement read by the board President in support of Eric and surprisingly me as well, making it clear that we were going to stay if we so desired and basically telling the FCC to fuck off. 

I had been deeply moved, but it was one of the Captains who stood up and said that they had seen what type of police officer I was and more importantly what type of parent I was because of the actions of one boy who they hoped would one day become a police officer as well, Sammy, that brought me to tears. He had gone on to say that a bad parent produces bad children not ones who would sacrifice their lives to save another child who they didn't even know. He told the amassed people that if there ever had been any doubts which he assured them there hadn't been, that action had spoken more than any words could ever have. He even went on to castigate the FCC on that issue that they would attack someone for risking their lives to save another which he pointed out that Sammy had done twice now. 

It certainly wasn't an issue to address with men in uniform who did it every day. 

That man's words reverberated around the country in a lot of ways but certainly one in our favor. It caused people to ask just how bad a parent I could be with a child turning out that way and the conclusion seemed to be that I couldn't be all that bad. 

To say I was deeply moved was an understatement although Sammy blushed a quite interesting shade of red when he saw all of that. 

Now we were onboard the plane and returning to our home and the uncertain future which awaited us there.

All we knew for sure was that we were safe now according to everyone I trusted. The FCC would probably not give up, but I had been assured they wouldn't actually be able to accomplish anything against us, so with that in mind we had departed our most recent stop on our way home.

I looked around me at the people occupying the plane with me and still couldn't believe that I had managed to acquire five more children essentially in the week we had been gone, although Billy was following us at the moment with only Ronnie here.

Yuri, Nikolai, and Alexei had fit into our family much as the others had, as if they had been born into it and once again I marveled at the ease with which I had fallen in love with them. 

Alexei seemed to have adopted Sammy for his roost whenever he wasn't attached to Yuri or me which continued to surprise little Nikolai but he also had become right at home with us always clinging to me or Samantha. 

Yuri of course still found his way into my arms with amazing frequency and sometimes I wished I had more than one lap as I would have more kids trying to get on it than could fit.

The same could be said for Billy and Ronnie, I thought, looking over to them. 

One a son I could have had but lost, the other one I never knew I had but both ones I was so glad to have found.

I was only sorry that it had taken so long, and that they had been through so much.

During the last week I had watched Brian continue to come out of his shell and soak up all the love and affection that we could give him and I certainly made it a point to give him as much as I could. 

It was like watching a miracle occur with the transformation that a bit of love could accomplish with a child as he opened up more and more.

It was like those old nature documentaries that showed the flower closed up tight as a drum and then suddenly with time lapse photography begin to unfurl it's petals until it was fully opened and exposing itself to the sun for all it was worth, soaking up the warmth available.

This was my Brian.

Over the past week, I had watched in almost awe as he had gotten over seemingly insurmountable obstacles that I had thought would take forever for him to do. 

It was all due to the other kids and their love and support for him.

To watch him ask for help going to the bathroom for instance without becoming shy and embarrassed was amazing to me but he now did it and even joked about it sometimes, with comments like he hoped things weren't too hard for whoever was helping him.

I would never have guessed it such a short time ago that he would be this open so soon.

The final hurdle had happened last night though and I happened to be present to witness it.

Sammy, Brian and I had been asleep when I woke to something which I quickly realized were moans of what I thought were pain coming from next to me.

Turning on the small bedside light and looking down I had discovered that the moans weren't ones of pain but pleasure as I could see Brian moving himself against Sammy in his sleep and since the covers were pushed back I could see exactly what was being moved. 

Both were still out as I smiled down at the scene before me. It looked like Brian was thoroughly enjoying himself and was close to the finish line if his speed and moaning were any indication.

I reached over to shut off the light when I heard

"Oh no" and quickly looked back to find Brian awake looking at Sammy who was also wide awake and looking back at him.

Brian's face was bright red and he was clearly embarrassed by his actions as he started saying "I'm sorry, I'm sorry" over and over again and I could see the fear on his face.

"What for?" Sammy asked smiling at him

Brian tried to answer but only managed a squeak as he finally wordlessly pointed down at what he was sorry for.

"So?" Sammy asked before saying, "There ain't nothing wrong with that." 

Brian just looked down and Sammy said, "Look Brian, it happens to all of us, I've done it lots." 

"I'm sorry, please don't hate me," Brian said softly, as Sammy gasped and said, " Oh God Brian, I'll never hate you, why would you think that?" 

"Cause I'm…I'm a…" he mumbled

Sammy surprised me with his next actions as he took Brian's chin and said, "Look" pointing with his other hand at his own midsection which showed his obvious interest in the subject at hand.

Brian looked at first shocked and then unbelieving until Sammy reached over and took hold of Brian's organ and squeezed it, causing Brian to gasp and look up at him and I watched as Sammy smiled and said, "There's nothing wrong with what you were doing," as he locked his eyes with a very disbelieving and frightened Brian.

I watched as the look changed to one of relief and gratitude not to mention love as Sammy said, "Looks like somebody needs to finish what they started." 

"You really mean that?" Brian asked of him, and Sammy just nodded his head and began to move his hand eliciting another gasp and an "Oh my God" at which point I turned over and said "Good night, guys" as I turned off the light, but not before seeing Brian's hand begin moving towards something as well.

I knew a major hurdle had been passed with those actions and the fact that Brian, I was pretty sure, was reciprocating the actions of Sammy showed me just how much had been overcome. I knew that Brian had major issues with this subject and Sammy had shown him once and for all that he was okay the way he was, whatever way that might be and that he would be loved, regardless.

I drifted off to sleep to the sounds of their love manifesting itself and with a happy smile on my face, knowing that my son had just truly become comfortable with his new family.

It was the next morning after I awoke and found that Sammy had taken Brian and had their shower that Brian came back into the room and clearly had something on his mind.

I went over and lifted him up bringing him back and sitting down holding him in my lap as I asked him "What is it, Baby?" 

"You know what happened last night?" he asked me

"Yeah, I was kinda there you know," I said smiling as he looked up at me.

"And you're okay with what we…what happened?" he asked softly, with some trepidation. 

"The question, little one, is are you okay with what happened?" 

"Me? Yeah, I mean why wouldn't I be?" he asked clearly surprised.

"Well, cause I know it gave you some problems before," I told him seriously.

He tilted his head for a moment thinking before saying, "It did, but now, now not so much anymore," not quite knowing how to say what he wanted to, apparently.

"Because now you know that no one will hate you for doing stuff like that or having feelings like those?" I asked.

He had already started nodding his head as I finished and said, "Yeah, but I wanted to ask you cause you like suddenly turned over and I thought you might be mad or something. Sammy said you were just weird about that stuff and didn't think you should watch, but I wanted to make sure," with it all coming out in a nervous rush.

"Weird huh?" I said, laughing, "Yeah honey, I'm fine with it and I wasn't mad, I just wanted to give you guys your privacy," I told him.

"It's cool, I don't mind and I don't know if I'm, you know gay or not, but since you told me that it's alright it don't matter so much anymore, does that make any sense?" he said to me.

"Yeah honey, it makes a lot of sense. Just be you, whatever that turns out to be, okay?" I said. 

"Okay dad" he said, which surprised me and I pulled him to me telling him, "I love you baby boy." 

"I love you too, Dad, but I'm hungry," he said, giggling.

"Why doesn't that surprise me overly much?" I said, laughing.

"I'm hungry too," a voice spoke up, and I turned to see Sammy standing there with a big grin on his face.

"You! Weird huh?" I said to him, which wiped the smile off his face as I suddenly stood up while setting Brian down on the bed, causing Sammy to squeal in terror and take off running saying, "oh shi…" as his voice trailed off.

Brian and I just laughed before I said, "Come on munchkin, let's go find you something to eat and since I'm weird, we'll let the brat starve this morning," picking him up and placing him back in his wheelchair. 

What I wasn't expecting was that someone had snuck back and now loudly announced "Daaaaad!" from just out of sight at hearing my proclamation which set Brian and I off in giggles again to the comment, "It's not funny." which didn't do anything to alleviate those giggles but Brian chimed in with, "Don't worry you can have a bite of mine," which got mutters from the other party of which it was probably best neither of us could understand as we broke out in fresh laughter.

For some reason, boys don’t like to be teased about food or should I say the withholding of it. 

Coming back to the present, I looked around at everyone again still thinking about this past week. 

The trinity had been there for all of us and were like a glue holding everyone together, always there but not noticed as much as they didn't have the needs the others did, yet we wouldn't be complete without them. 

As if they could sense me thinking of them, they all looked up and smiled at me causing me to smile in return and think just how important they were to me and my family, and just how much they had to do with it's success. 

Peter had been another one who, with the others help, had blossomed from the frightened little thing he had been into an outgoing mischievous little boy who loved to laugh, which was truly music to my ears.

There had not been any single thing which had done it like with Brian but over this last week he had also imitated that flower just as Brian had done. 

He, like the others, loved cuddling and being held and made it a point to get lots of both, to my delight. 

Gone was the little thing who had been frightened of his own shadow such a short time ago and now he was turning into a prankster extraordinaire, much to several others consternation.

Chris had also relaxed and became much more comfortable with things, knowing that he was finally safe and secure. He and Yuri had been together constantly and I was beginning to suspect that they might be, or one day would, become boyfriends if things continued as they were.

He had asked me about that last night, 

"Mike, can I talk to you?" the boy asked of me.

"Sure, Honey," I replied.

"Ah, in private," he stammered.

"Honey, if you need help, I can get Derek," I said kindly, as he started sputtering and said "ah, no, Yuri took, I mean I, I mean…ah…it's fine," he finally got out, but his face was beet red by this time and I felt bad for assuming that this was what he had wanted.

"I'm sorry sweetheart, I shouldn't have assumed that was what you wanted," I told him.

"It's okay, I guess it kind of does want it a lot," he said giggling now, which was something he wouldn't have been able to do a week ago I thought, as I smiled and picked him up, carrying him into the other room.

"So, what's up?" I asked, after depositing him on the bed while I sat down next to him.

"Ah…well…I…I mean…I think…" he stuttered before looking up at me with an almost fearful expression on his face.

I reached out and gently cupped his cheek and asked "What is it, Honey?" 

He looked at me with pleading in his eyes and I thought I knew the answer so said "Is this about Yuri, you and Yuri?" 

He nodded his head slightly and said, "I…I like him, a lot," with a look on his face as if he was expecting me to hit him or something.

"I think he likes you too," I told him.

I watched as his eyes got big at that, and he told me, "I mean, I really like him." 

"I know, Baby," I said as he just looked at me.

"You remember in the hospital, what I told you?" he asked me shyly.

"Yes I do, and more importantly, do you remember what I said to you that day?" I asked him.

He nodded his head and said, "I've never felt like this about someone before." 

"I know, and I bet that is kind of scary all in itself, isn't it?" I asked him which got a nod as he said,

"Yeah and wonderful at the same time, if that makes any kind of sense," he told me.

"Yeah it does, Sweetheart," I told him.

"I really like him Mike, I mean not just the…not just that, you know?" he said.

"Yeah, it's not really supposed to be all about that, you know," I said.

"I know, I just like being around him and when he sits with me or hugs me, it feels all weird in here," he said, pointing to his chest and blushing a bit.

"I know, Honey, I think you might be falling in love, or already in love with him," I said, which caused him to look up at me sharply.

"But I'm only 12," he said with uncertainty in his voice.

"I know, but why don't you just relax and see what happens and don't think that age has anything to do with it, it's what's in your heart. Don't worry about anything; just be together and see where it goes. It might be something special or something that you'll grow out of, but either way just love one another and let whatever is to be, be." I told him.

"I'm scared," he whispered.

I pulled him to me and kissed the top of his head before saying, "I can imagine you must be, as this is all new to you but truly sweetheart, there is nothing to be afraid of, it's only love. You just have to figure out in time, exactly what kind of love it is, but regardless of how it turns out, I think you two will always love one another in some way," I told him softly.

"You'll still love me, if I'm…if…." He tried to say.

"If you're gay?" I asked, and felt a hesitant nod against my chest.

"Yes, I will always love you, and whether or not you're gay, straight or like doing sheep won't change that," I said, which caused him to sit upright and gasp before breaking out in giggles saying "sheep" with incredulity in his voice.

"Well, that was all I could think of that might shock you a bit," I said smiling and chuckling softly.

"Well at least I can tell you that I don't like sheep," he said giggling again.

"Okay well that solves that problem at least" I said, still laughing.

"You're silly," he said, grinning.

"Yep, so I've been told a time or two," I replied and heard him mutter, "I bet" before he asked me, "You think Mom will be okay with it?" 

"Yeah baby, I think she'll be fine with it," I said.

He looked at me so I added, "Remember this is the woman who told you and Derek it was okay to play whenever you wanted to." 

He turned red again and said, "Do you have to keep bringing that up?" to which I replied "yup" which got giggles from him again, along with a dirty look, but I could tell he really didn't mean it.

"Thanks Mike, cause I've been talking to Yuri and I think I am," he told me, squeezing me as best he could with the one arm, but I more than made up for it as I squeezed him back enough to elicit a grunt from him.

"Anytime baby boy, anytime, and if you are, you are, and you're just as lovable," I said.

"I never thought I would be like okay with this, you know?" he told me softly.

"I can imagine, it's not something that the world makes easy on people," I told him

"Yeah" was all he said in response, but carried in that word was a lot unsaid as well.

We sat there for a couple of minutes, just holding one another before he pulled back slightly and I asked him "So, do you want to go back into the other room or should I go and find Yuri for you?" with a teasing tone in my voice.

"Would you quit." he said, laughing and blushing again. 

For some reason I found it irresistible to tease him and make him blush, blonds seemed to turn such a pretty bright shade of red.

"So, I take it you want to go back into the other room?" I said, as I reached over and started to pick him up

"Ah…well…" he said, as I let him go and looked at him seeing that the red was still there in mass quantity as he looked down.

I followed his gaze and saw that Yuri would definitely be needed, now.

With a smile I said "Ok ready to go?" reaching out to pick him up again not being able to resist as he started sputtering.

"What?" I asked, as he tried to answer me "Ah…well…I…well….maybe…ahhhh…."

"Got to thinking of Yuri eh?" I teased him.

"Miiiiiiike" he said, giggling while I told him laughing softly, "I'll go find him, Little one," as I gave him a kiss and stood up.

As I reached the door, he said, "Thanks again Mike, I love you," causing me to stop and turn back and tell him, "I love you too Sweetheart, I always will," before I left in search of the object of his thoughts.

Thinking back to that, brought me back to Derek who likewise had blossomed somewhat but with him it was different. He had been loving and caring from the beginning and I marveled again now, as I had done before over the fact that with everything, he could still be such a sweet and loving boy.

The biggest change I had seen was that he seemed more relaxed and free with showing his emotions than before. While he had latched onto me quickly, now he was free in showing his affection with everyone and would often have a kid in his arms or be with his mom and of course, me.

Derek was like a couple of other kids I knew, a real lover and he now showed it without reservation. 

Amazing what a little love could do, isn't it?

Sammy

Sammy was truly Sammy throughout this ordeal, insisting from the beginning that everything would be alright and with a child's surety being right. I just wished I could have as much faith as such a small child did. 

I think this past week or so had taken years off of my life, but Sammy had remained steadfast throughout and his support, along with the other ones, had kept me from sinking into the depths of despair, although I had came close and I knew I had crossed the line several times, but it was he who had pulled me out. If it wasn't for Sammy and the others, I don't know what would have happened. 

He had been through so much this last week, and a lot of it still left to deal with I knew, but what worried me the most was the responsibilities he had taken upon himself. 

He shouldn’t have to do that, I thought as I gazed at him.

Finally, I just thanked whoever one thanks in times like these, for bringing him into my life and counted my blessings once again for it.

I was truly blessed with him, along with the others, in my life and my biggest fear of losing them hadn't been realized which I still didn't completely understand, but just thanked God for all of them.

"What cha thinking bout, Dad?" a voice said, bringing me out of my reverie as I looked up to find Sammy standing there with a grin on his face.

If I hadn't had Alexei asleep in my arms I would have taken Sammy into them, but instead he snuggled into the couch next to me, as I put an arm around him, pulling him close to me.

"Just the past week or so is all," I told him.

"It's over, isn't it dad?" he asked, looking at me.

"Yeah baby, it's over," I told him.

"What if they try to hurt us?" he asked in a small voice.

That was a good question, but I didn't think they'd be that stupid.

"I don't think they will, Honey," I told him, they hadn't gone after Kendall, which was what all of us were worried about, so it was unlikely that they would try to harm us now.

"I'm still kinda scared, Dad" he said to me.

"I know Baby, but everything is going to be okay," I said.

"I know who to call if we need help," he told me.

"Sammy, there isn't anything they can do," I replied.

"I've been reading up on em Dad, and they could help if we really needed it," he said and I let it drop. 

Maybe they could, but I didn't really think it was going to be necessary for that kind of intervention.

"You just call Eric if you ever need help," I said, but he didn't answer me.

Then changing the subject, "You should stop thinking about it Dad, it makes you sad," he said in all seriousness.

"It also makes me realize how much I have and how much I have to be thankful for, little one. I've been sitting here thinking of all that has happened and the changes that have occurred with the new ones especially," I said.

"I know dad, but they just needed some love is all," he told me with the wisdom of youth.

"Yeah, love can do miracles, can't it?" I said. 

"Uh huh," was his response.

"You've been a huge help this week honey, thank you," I told him.

"Dad, I just did what you taught me," he said.

"Oh?" I asked.

"I loved them just like you did," he told me, as if it should have been obvious and he was right, it should have been, sadly, not to enough people though.

"Brian is gonna be okay now Dad," he told me.

"Yeah, I think so too honey," I responded.

"He is, as soon as he knew I wouldn't freak out or hate him for what he was doing last night, he was fine," he told me.

"I think the final thing was you sharing with him though," I told him.

"Well, it was the final thing," he said, giggling.

"Sammy!" I said which produced more Sammy giggles as he said, "Well it was." 

I just shook my head, what was I going to do with him?

"You remember that social worker in Dallas when you told her how we met?" he asked, still giggling, which made me laugh now thinking about it.

---

Memories: 

I awoke the next morning to find my Sammy still asleep at my side snuggled up to me with his arms wrapped around me as if he was afraid of losing me somehow in his sleep, 

I propped my head up on my hand and just looked at this marvel lying there asleep at my side, my son.

I don’t know how long I just sat there, but eventually those sweet brown pools filled with the most incredible vibrant gold flecks fluttered open and my stare was returned along with a Sammy smile that warmed my heart.

"Good morning, Little one," I said softly as he just looked back at me and once again I was lost in those depths which were his eyes.

At some point he said, "morning Daddy, I'm hungry," which caused me to laugh and tell him, "You seem to be that quite a lot," but my heart almost broke as a scared look came across his face and he said in a trembling voice, "I'll stop eating so much, I promise." 

"Ah baby, no; I was joking with you is all. You eat as much as you want, there's plenty of food, and plenty of money to buy more if we need to. I'm sorry I scared you," I told him, while he looked deeply into my eyes for a moment as I told him that, before relaxing once again.

I guess I had a lot to learn about this kid thing. The trinity came from a loving home where they didn't have fears such as this, Sammy didn't.

"Sorry, Dad," he said.

"No, it's I who am sorry, Honey, I just didn't realize that it would upset you like that. Let's make a pact right now and promise each other that if either one of us don't understand something, or are worried about something, then we will ask the other about it and that we'll always tell the other the truth, okay?" I asked him.

"Okay, Daddy, the man used to always say we ate too much," he told me.

"Well, from now on, you can never eat too much here, okay?" I said to him hating his 'man' more and more with every revelation which I learned of.

I just wondered what else I would step in before I got him calmed and relaxed with me.

"I gotta pee," he said, trying to wiggle out of my arms.

"I don't know if I want to let you go or not, I kind of like this," I said with a growl which caused him to squeal and giggle before telling me "I'm gonna pee!" 

"You are, and I haven't even started tickling you yet," I said which got a terrified look to come across his features and him to scream, "Nooooooooo," as my fingers lightly found his sides.

"Within seconds he had reached down and grabbed himself saying through giggles, "It's coming out silly," so I reluctantly let him go before we were drenched, telling him, "Well we don't want that, now do we." as he scrambled quickly from the bed and ran for the bathroom.

I lay back with a smile on my face as I heard him taking care of the problem, just thinking about the last day and all that had happened.

I now had a son.

I wasn't paying attention, as suddenly I heard a war whoop and opened my eyes to find an eight year old boy flying through the air about to land on me, giggling all the while.

"Oooommmph" was all that I could get out before I recovered enough to realize that now I needed the bathroom, right now!

I pushed him aside hurriedly, and ran for it as I heard the giggles following me into the bathroom where I barely made it in time, but thankfully for my dignity, did.

As I sighed with exquisite pleasure at the relief I was feeling, I looked up to find my giggle box standing there watching me with a big grin on his face as he told me,

"Now you know how it feels don't ya?", cheekily.

I didn't answer, as I was enjoying the process way too much at the moment to be distracted by anything else, but eventually as the saying goes, 'all good things must end' and I finished.

What he wasn't expecting was, as soon as I shook the last drops off, I let go of it and grabbed onto him, beginning a tickle attack as I said, 

"You think that was funny, eh?" but he was laughing so hard he couldn't answer as with an evil cackle I said, "You haven't got the excuse of peeing to get out of this, now," which caused screams and squeals to join the giggles.

I ended up on the floor with him almost unconscious from all the giggling he was doing, as he pleaded with me, not so seriously, to stop.

I was out of breath myself, as I finally eased off and just hugged him to me, holding onto him and cuddling him for a while.

Every once and a while, I would gently poke him with my fingers, eliciting more Sammy giggles and a half hearted plea to stop, but for the most part we just cuddled.

Somehow I knew we would be doing a lot of this from now on, and I wasn't going to complain at all, not at all.

Finally, as the giggles died away and the purring of contentment took it's place, we just lay together making quite a sight as my hand traveled up and down his back softly caressing him with my love.

Eventually though, I knew we needed to get up and get going, so I said, "Well little one, as much as I would like to stay like this all day long, we need to get going."

"Do we have to?" I heard in a soft mumble from the area of my chest. 

"I'm afraid so; besides I thought someone I know was hungry," I told him chuckling which got him to sit up suddenly making me exclaim, "Hey watch where you put that knee," which only made him giggle.

As he giggled he looked down, grabbing onto me and said, "I think it'll live," which caused me to ask, "I wonder if little boys can survive drowning?" which earned me a glare amidst his giggles.

"Let’s find out," I said grabbing onto him and sitting up coming to my feet as he squealed in childish delight at what was to happen.

I carried him over to the shower and started it and when it was the right temperature I stuck his head under the showerhead without warning, getting a "HEY!" out of him as I followed him into the shower.

I set him down with him glaring at me while I laughed.

"What? You do need to get wet, you know," I said, chuckling at his expression as it was what I could imagine a cat would have if you had poured water on it.

"That's not funny,” he said to me.

"Oh yes it is," I replied as he just looked at me.

"Can you wash me again?" he asked, all seriousness now, and I knew that playtime was over. 

I looked at him and replied, "Sure, Baby, but it has to be faster this morning than last night," which got a nod from him as I took the soap and began.

The shower may have been faster, but it was still every bit as enjoyable and special as the night before and like last night, he in turn washed me.

When we were done, we got out and again repeated the events of last night each drying the other carefully before he jumped up into my arms and we returned to the bedroom to get dressed.

After that, I went out into the kitchen area and threw together some French toast and bacon for us.

He surprised me by eating 4 pieces slathered in butter and maple syrup along with about 10 pieces of bacon and two large glasses of orange juice, which was what I ate with the exception of the juice, I had my first Pepsi of the day.

By the time we were finished, it was close to ten, and before I could even completely clean up from breakfast, the knock came on the door and the giggling open boy suddenly became a shy and frightened little deer, looking like he had been caught in a pair of headlights as he looked up at me in obvious fear.

"It's going to be alright, little one," I said, as the pounding resumed on the door.

Just to insure that these people knew where things lay, I quickly went back into my bedroom and pulled my service weapon from it's secreted place and placed it conspicuously on my hip along with my badge on the left front side of my belt before going back out and being followed by Sammy to the door.

Upon opening the door, I was met with an older man who had white hair and a craggy weathered face with laugh lines around his eyes.

I could tell he had seen a lot in his life, but I could also tell from his eyes that he was good people as we introduced ourselves.

He then turned to the woman behind him and said, "This is Michelle Desseiraux with social services," pronouncing it 'mee-shell des-seer-aay' as I invited them in.

Sammy was glued nervously to my side, with his arm wrapped around my waist as I stepped back telling him, "It's okay little one," but it didn't seem to do any good as he just tightened his grip on me and the two entered.

I also noticed that Detective Thomas had taken note of my additions immediately, although he didn't say anything about them as I directed them to seats in the living room.

Sammy immediately crawled into my lap and looked out at the intruders from the safety of my arms encircling him as the social worker stopped on her way to her seat to speak to him.

"Allo leetle one, my name is Meeshell, and you would be Sammy, yes?" she asked softly from a kneeling position as Sammy quickly looked up at me to see me smile and nod encouragingly to him.

"Yes maam," he replied.

"You may call me Meeshell," she answered with a smile on her face before continuing, "Sammy, it will be alright, I have the paperwork here now for your new father, and you will get to stay with him, do you understand?" she asked.

He just nodded his head and said, "mmm hmmm" to her.

"Good, that is very good, Mon Enfant, but we must speak of where you came from, in order to get the other les enfants from harm's way, yes?" she asked him, as he again looked up at me.

"She wants me to tell her about the 'man'?" he asked me.

"Yes honey, she does" I told him.

"My name is Darryl, and if it's alright, I need to speak with you also," the white haired man said in a surprisingly soft and gentle voice.

Sammy looked at him for a long moment as the detective stared back at him, but then he surprised me by scooting slowly off of my lap and walking over to stand in front of the detective, still looking at him. 

Detective Thomas likewise never broke his gaze from Sam's, as the scene played out for a couple of minutes, before Sammy once again shocked me by suddenly crawling into the equally shocked detective's lap and cuddling up to him, as if he were the boy's grandfather.

I heard Sammy say, "Will you help my friends?" while the detective got over his surprise rapidly and replied,

"Yes, I will, they won't be hurt anymore, I promise, but I need to know everything that happened," he said softly as I just watched this new development.

Then I heard, "You seem surprised by this, monsieur?" in an almost whisper.

"I am, he has been on pins and needles since learning of your coming," I told her.

"He seems to have taken a liking to Darryl," she said, watching the events taking place avidly.

"Yes, he seems to have a way of doing that," I replied absentmindedly.

"Qui les enfants they often sense things that we as grown do not," she said, watching the scene intently.

"Yes very true," I replied as I watched Sammy sit up and look at Detective Thomas before replying, "Okay."

We listened as he began and our hearts broke as he continued.

My earlier supposition that he had endured much more than he had told us was quite accurate from the older boys in the group home to the foster father in the last one. 

The man had been downright horrible to the boys in his care and it was far more than just the sexual abuse.

We listened to a litany of items from being locked in various places ranging from bedrooms to the basement to being denied food because they ate too much.

We heard how he struck them for anything and nothing and the bruises they would often sport to show his efforts. 

Then we heard the sexual part of it. 

When he stopped, Michelle said in French, "Mon dieu, cet homme doit payer, ce qu'il a fait aux enfants est un affront contre un dieu et l'homme. Mai où le seigneur ont la pitié sur lui pour ses péchés pour moi peut n'en trouver aucun à mon coeur."

At my glance she told me "I am sorry, but this…this is too much. I said this man must be brought to justice for his crimes are an affront against man and God and for Him to have mercy on him for I can have none."

I nodded my head unable to speak as Sammy crawled from the Detective's lap and came over to me crawling into mine and cuddling up tightly with tears running down his sweet face.

I am not sure who was holding who more tightly as I simmered in rage at what this small child and the others had been put through.

"Will you help my friends?" he asked.

All of us said very emphatically at the same time, "Yes" before looking at one another and shrugging our shoulders.

"Good" was all he said as he buried his head in my chest and I just stroked his back, trying to offer him some comfort.

It had been very hard on him to relate, and I knew he was going to need extra love and attention for a while and I was more than willing to give it to him.

"I have the papers here for you to sign, placing him with you," Michelle said, reaching into her case and bringing out a stack of papers which she started going through, before pulling out several of them and handing them to me.

I took them, glancing at them briefly before she said, "I will need a signature on these to make it official. There is also travel authorization in there, which will allow you to return to Montana with Sammy."

"Thank you, I'll sign them in a moment," I told her.

"très bien" she said and I knew that meant 'very well'.

"We will have those children out of there within the next two hours," Detective Thomas said to me.

"Can I see them?" Sammy raised his head and asked, while looking at the detective. 

"I think that can be arranged," the detective said, smiling at him.

"I would like to go along as well," I said. 

"Mr. Reynolds…." He started but I interrupted, "Detective, I am a sergeant as well as a former deputy with the Los Angeles County Sheriff's department," I told him.

"I am fully aware of that, Mr. Reynolds, but you joining an operation here in Dallas is another matter," he said.

"I didn't mean join it, but I would like to accompany you, I won't interfere or take part unless necessary," I replied.

He looked at me for several moments as I returned the stare before he said, "You will not take an active role in any operational manner?" he stated more than asking me.

"Agreed," I replied succinctly.

"Very well, and stay away from the suspect," he told me, to which I just nodded my head.

Sammy was looking back and forth between us during this exchange and now asked "Does that mean we get to go and see them?" 

"Yes, we are going to see them, but you have to remain in the car at all times, do you understand that, no matter what happens you can't get out of the car?" I said very seriously to him.

He just looked at me for a moment or two with a very serious expression on his face before saying, "I understand." 

I just nodded and hugged him back to me while detective Thomas stood up and said "I need to make some calls, I'll be back in a few minutes," and we watched as he walked to the door and stepped outside.

"So, mon petit, can you tell me about how you met Mike?" Michelle asked Sammy.

Sammy looked at her and then said, "I was trying to give him a blow job" which caused Michelle to start sputtering and choking while I said, 

"Samuel!" 

"What?" he asked, looking at me with an innocent expression, but I could see the twinkle dancing in those dark pools of his as I asked Michelle, "Are you alright?" 

She couldn't answer for a moment or two but finally said, "Oui, at least I think so," not sounding too sure of that fact.

Finally she looked at me and then Sammy before asking delicately, "Mon petit are you sure you know to what you are referring?" I think in an attempt to disbelieve what she had heard, but Sammy suddenly got an impish look to his face causing me to warningly say "Saaaaaaamy."

He looked at me for a moment before turning back to the social worker and replying "Yes maam, I was trying to do that to make some money, so I could eat, but he wouldn't let me," causing me to release the breath I had been holding before he turned his head back to me and gave me a look which didn't bode well.

"Ah mon cherie, I see now," she replied.

I think she was a bit afraid to ask any more questions because she stood up and took a seat across from Sam and didn't seem inclined to say anymore.

"What's going to happen to my friends?" Sammy asked her.

"We'll have to find them another place to live, one where they will be loved," Michelle said to him with conviction.

"Good" was all he said before burying his head back into my chest and I went back to stroking his back.

I noticed Michelle watching all this, but didn't pay it much attention as I concentrated on my baby and comforting him.

A few minutes later, Detective Thomas came back into the coach and announced "It's set, so if you still want to go then we better get going."

"Alright, I have to get something," I said, before gently placing Sammy on his feet on the floor.

He looked at me inquisitively, but I didn't say anything, just got up and walked back to the bedroom where I reached into a drawer on the bottom of the dresser and pulled something from it.

Standing up, I placed the item on my person cinching the straps as I walked back to the living room.

Detective Thomas took one look at the vest I was tightening and started to protest, "I said you may not be involved in any tactical operations," he told me, anger clearly in his voice.

"Detective, I have found that it is best to be prepared, and wearing this costs me nothing and may save me a great deal, because suspects often don't recognize who may and may not be involved in 'tactical operations' as you put it," I told him succinctly.

He glared at me for a moment, so I added, "I will not get involved unless it is absolutely necessary," causing him to back down and grumble something but finally saying, "Let's go," as he turned and walked out of the coach once again.

I noticed Sammy looking frightened and quickly went over and picked him up, holding him to me.

"What's wrong honey?" I asked him, but he wouldn't answer me so I said, "Sammy, I'll be alright this is just a precaution." 

"I don't wanna go no more," he said to me in a small voice that was clearly frightened for some reason.

"Sammy, we have to go and get your friends," I said, trying to project reassurance into my voice, but he just shook his head and kept his head buried in my chest.

This was strange and I sat down with him and grasped his head making him look at me before asking, "What's wrong, Baby?" noticing the terrified look on his face.

He looked down and mumbled "I don't wanna go."

"Well, I am sure that Michelle could stay with you…." I started to say, but he got a panicked look on his face and quickly said, "No, you stay with me, please."

"Sammy, I need to go and make sure this man gets arrested for what he has done, I need to see him in jail," I said to him.

"Please?" he begged now. This was damn strange and was worrying me a lot, what was he going to do when we returned to Montana and I went back to work.

"Sammy, this is what I do, I'm a cop. Sometimes it can be dangerous, but I take all the precautions I can. This is what I do in Montana as well," I told him, worried about his reaction.

He buried his head again and mumbled, "That's not it," as I asked, "Then what is it?" 

"Nothing" was all he would say, as I held him looking from Michelle to the detective and back before saying, "Then let's go." 

I stood up and carried him out to the Suburban, letting him crawl in as the detective walked up and handed me a handheld radio. 

"This is on a simplex channel, if you should need the repeater hit that switch right there and use the call sign 4 David 339," he instructed me, as he pointed the switch out to me.

"Alright, got it," I said as I put the radio into its holder on my vest in the upper left corner. 

"Just follow me then," he said, as he walked off and I started up the truck.

We headed out with Michelle keeping the detective company and followed them into the city and around various freeways before exiting into a nice looking area. 

We met up with several other units before all of us headed towards the final destination.

They all pulled up and stopped at a rather nice large two story house in a rather affluent neighborhood. 

I parked back from the majority of the units because I didn't want Sammy in harm's way in what was to follow.

I started to open the door and Sam said "Be careful, please?" in such a scared tone that I turned back and looked at him before reaching across, pulling him to me.

I gave him a hug and kiss and told him, "I love you and yes I'm going to be careful. I'm not even going to be involved in anything."

He just gave me an odd look and said again, "Please?"

I smiled and told him again not to worry as I got out of the car and walked over to where all of the officers were gathering around Detective Thomas.

"This is Sergeant Reynolds, he is here as an observer to this operation as he found one of the children that has been abused," he told them as they all looked me over before returning their attention to the detective.

"Alright, fast and hard, let's do it," he said and they all began moving off towards the front door with two running around the side of the house to the rear in case the suspect tried to escape through the back.

I looked around at everything and noticed various neighbors looking out through their windows and a couple even on their porches watching this as the main group of officers approached the house. 

I drew my service weapon more out of habit than anything else and began walking forward towards the house as they knocked.

What happened next was a combination of the quickest and longest few seconds of my life I think, both equally true.

I heard a loud scream, "Daaaaaaaaaaaddddddyyyyyyyyy!!!!!!!!" as I looked to see Sammy running towards me.

At the same time, I saw the group of officers looking back clearly not happy as I for some reason looked up and saw the shape in the upstairs window.

"GUN!!!" I screamed as I brought my weapon up and fired three rounds as I saw a flash from the suspect's gun at almost the same instant.

Almost at that same moment as I finished firing, I felt something hit me and knock me back and I couldn't breathe, suddenly only managing an "oomph" and was kind of surprised to see my gun falling from my hand as I seemed to be following it down.

I had no control over myself it seemed, and hit the ground still stunned and not comprehending what was going on exactly, although I could hear Sammy screaming again for me.

Then I was on the ground lying on my back and looking up to see Sammy throwing himself on me with tears streaming down his face sobbing, "Daddy, Daddy, no, Daddy!!!"

I know I opened my mouth, but nothing seemed to be coming out, as I tried to reassure him that I was fine.

Then the pain hit me, damn it hurt. I must have been shot. The vest should have stopped it though, oh it hurt.

I saw the detective come into view and I tried to say something but still couldn't seem to make my voice work, but his did as he said, "Shit!"

Then I watched as he screamed into the radio "David 339, shots fired officer down, get me a medic unit in here," while I tried to tell him I was alright.

Sammy just kept repeating "Daddy, Daddy" over and over again, as I saw Michelle come over and attempt to pull him away from me.

What I saw next scared even me, and I wasn't the one who it was directed against as I watched Sammy turn and snarl "Stay away from me," and it was so feral that apparently Michelle was frightened by it as she suddenly took a step back and looked decidedly uncomfortable.

It was detective Thomas who came around and said in a kindly voice, "You need to let us work on him, Sammy," and I watched as Sammy turned with that same feral look on his face and clearly prepared to say something to him as well, but suddenly it all drained out of him and he just had a completely lost look on his face.

The look was so sad that I felt the tears coming to my eyes witnessing it and tried once again to say something as I felt one of the officers doing something to me and could hear his mumbled "oh shit," but my concern was on Sammy, and I still couldn't seem to speak.

He threw himself into Detective Thomas's arms while looking back at me with such a forlorn look on his face that it broke my heart.

Then our eyes locked and I tried to put all my love and concern for him into that look and I guess something got through as he mumbled, "I love you too Dad, be okay, please."

Then things which had been blurry seemed to get dark and that was the last thing I remembered for a while, as I heard Sammy scream, "Daddy," as I sank into oblivion.

When next I awoke, it was to find myself in a hospital bed with something pressing down on me, that, and it hurt.

Damn it hurt.

I guess I moaned or something because the next thing I heard was "Haven't I told you before that you’re supposed to duck," in a sarcastic tone.

"Huh?" I mumbled, as I heard "I thought you got it in the chest not the head." 

"Fuck you," I mumbled, surprised at how weak my voice sounded as I heard some giggles in the background.

What were they doing here? I wondered, as Eric with the trinity arrayed around him walked into view and stood staring down at me, with worry clearly on their faces.

"Sammy?" I asked. 

"I guess that is who is growing out of your side" Eric said smiling down at me, as I tried to look down and could just see the top of a mess of brown resting on my chest.

"What happened?" 

"Besides you not getting out of the way of a bullet?" he asked.

"Bullet?" I asked stupidly, I guess before saying, "I had a vest on." 

"Doesn't work real well against cop killers," Eric told me, and I gasped.

"You're going to be alright," he quickly said.

"Sammy?" I asked again.

"He wasn't hurt, no one was, except you," Eric told me.

"What are you doing here?" I managed to ask. 

"Well, it seems you have me on speed dial and your little one there decided to make use of it" he told me.

"I'm sorry…" I started to say.

"Damn it Mike, don't be sorry, where do you think we'd want to be?" he asked me with exasperation clearly in his voice.

"I know, I'm just sorry he bothered you," I told him.

"He did exactly what he should have done," Eric told me emphatically.

"He's really something, Eric," I said with what I knew was a smile on my face. 

"Well, we haven't actually met yet, we just got here this morning and he was asleep," Eric told me, looking down at the bundle in my arms with a small smile on his face as well.

"He was quite…something on the phone," Eric said, oddly.

I looked at him but he didn't answer me as I turned my attention to the Trinity "Hey guys how's my favorite munchkins doing?" I asked them.

"We was worried bout you, uncle Mike" Randy said.

"I'm sorry kiddo, I'm going to be fine, don't worry," I said to him as well as the others as Eric said, "Yes, he's going to be fine now," which seemed to relax them somewhat.

Then I heard, "Who are you?" and looked down to find someone's head raised slightly and looking at the trinity.

"Sammy," I said, and his gaze turned to me and his face went from sadness to one lit up with joy as he said, "Daddy!!!!" 

"Hey little one," I said softly.

"Oh daddy, I was so scared," he said as tears started down his face and I brought my hand up and caressed his cheek.

"It's alright baby, I'm sorry I scared you, I'm sorry," I told him as he buried his head in my chest and began to cry letting all the tension out which he apparently had been carrying.

I looked over at the Trinity who were watching this avidly and also had rather odd looks on their faces I thought, but suddenly they all came over to the bed and joined in trying to comfort Sammy which surprised me as they weren't too demonstrative usually with strangers, even other kids.

Eric just watched this, shocked as I was apparently with this turn of events, but didn't say anything as we all tried to comfort him.

Finally his sobs tapered off and he raised his head and said, "I thought I would be alone again," looking at me as I just said, "Forever and ever and a million years past that," which got a small smile from him as Danny said "he's silly." 

"Yeah, I know" Sammy replied with love filling his voice as he looked at me.

After a few moments I said, "Sammy, these three monsters are the Trinity, Randy, Kevin, Danny and that big lug over there is their father, Eric," with love and affection in my voice as Danny said, "We ain't monsters," with an accusatory look at me.

Sammy looked at Eric and smiled gently at him with a shy smile then turned his attention to the boys, and it was like watching electricity arc through the air as everything became charged suddenly, as their stares all locked together.

I watched in wonder as they just looked at one another and time seemed to stand still as whatever was going on happened.

I didn't understand it, but I also knew that they were somehow forming a bond in those minutes, much like Sammy had done with me the other day and I had no doubts it would be just as strong, as well.

When it had taken place, they all seemed to come out of it with small smiles on their faces and Sammy then sat up and slid off the bed. With the others watching he walked over to a still befuddled Eric and stopped in front of him before holding out his arms, clearly wanting to be picked up.

Eric looked at me and I just shrugged my shoulders which was a mistake as a shot of pain went through me and caused Sammy to gasp and turn around to look at me along with the Trinity before returning his attention to Eric.

Eric just reached down and picked up the boy, settling him on his hip as Sammy turned his gaze towards the Trinity who smiled and nodded before turning his attention back to Eric and looking him deep in the eyes.

I watched as it happened again.

The Trinity had accepted Samuel, and he them, now Sammy and Eric were joining to become family.

I didn't understand it, but I knew it was important and quite beautiful to behold.

Eventually like a few moments before, it came to an end and with smiles Eric released him with a bemused look on his face.

Sammy walked back over to the Trinity and joined them and suddenly I had a flash that it was no longer the Trinity but a foursome, now and forever.

Somehow I knew that the four of them would become just as close as the three of them had been up until now.

"You should have listened to Sammy, uncle Mike" Danny intoned solemnly, which got Sammy and the twins hissing simultaneously "Danny!"

Danny looked up at them and suddenly got a chagrined look on his face before mumbling "Sorry."

"What's going on here?" I asked, which got four very quick nothings from the boys and Danny saying, "Nothing Uncle Mike." 

I was going to pursue this when the door opened and Detective Thomas entered the room.

I watched as the Trinity looked at him suspiciously but Sammy immediately went around the bed and gave him a hug while the other three looked at one another before noticeably relaxing.

"Detective?" I asked, with that one word filled with questions unspoken as I looked at him.

"Mike, it's good to see you awake, you gave us a bit of a scare there," he said, not answering any of them.

"Why don't you guys go down and take Sammy to get some ice cream," Eric said to his bunch who only looked at him with disdain on their faces before Randy opined,

"Come on guys, they don't want us in the room so they can talk," and proceeded to lead the rest of them out of the room, but not without some scathing looks back at us. 

"That bunch is too smart for their own good," Detective Thomas stated after the door had shut behind them causing Eric to chuckle and say, "Don't I know it."

"So what weren't you saying? Are your officers all alright, and what about the kids?" I asked in a rush, feeling there was something that he was reluctant to tell me for some reason.

"Our officers are all fine, you saved some lives yesterday," he told me, "The only casualty on our side was your HT" he added smiling.

I started to breathe a sigh of relief, but quickly stopped and said, "The kids?" 

He looked down and didn't speak for a moment but finally said, "We were too late for one of them, and the others are in bad shape" which caused me to gasp.

I'm sorry Mike, but the boy known as Adam seems to have been killed shortly after Sammy left the home, while the others have been beaten severely as well as raped. Their condition ranges from critical to serious and one of them named Devon is not expected to survive, I'm afraid." He told me.

I just shook my head and couldn't believe what he was telling me. These people were supposed to be there for abused and neglected children, yet they were the ones doing the abusing. It just sickened me and I didn't know how I was going to break this news to Sammy, it would devastate him.

"The suspect?" I asked in a clipped tone, hoping he was dead because it was entirely possible that I would make sure he was, if I had missed.

"Dead, on scene," he told me. 

"Good," I told him.

"I'm very sorry, Mike," Detective Thomas said, then added "For a while there, I was kind of worried about you too, he was using cop killers and it went through your radio and vest but didn't end up doing serious damage fortunately."

"Yeah," was all I could reply at the moment then thought to ask, "How many kids?" 

"Four" he told me, and I just shut my eyes and then felt a hand on my shoulder and opened them to find Eric offering me what comfort he could.

One dead and one dying with two more injured at least seriously.

"What about Kelly?" I asked.

"Serious condition, but he should recover fully in time, at least physically" he told me.

"This is going to hit Sammy hard, real hard. He doesn't know does he?" I asked

"No, he was wholly focused on you," Darryl replied, looking grim.

"We'll get through this," Eric said, and I just nodded.

"It's been ruled a good shoot, you saved some officers and there's a lot of people who want to thank you," he told me.

"I did what was necessary," I told him, not really thinking about that so much as the four boys who had been living in hell for God knows how long. I wondered again how a being that was supposed to be so benevolent could allow such as that to happen to those who were most innocent and defenseless, as well as supposedly His favored. If I ever met Him we would have to have a long talk.

"There's nothing you could have done, Mike, nothing at all," he said sadly, as I just looked at him.

"He's right Mike, you did everything you could, but the damage sounds like it had been done right after Sammy left," Eric added. 

"That's not going to be much consolation to Sam, now is it?" I said bitterly.

"No, but it's not his fault either," Eric said, looking at me.

"Try to convince him of that Eric, he's going to see it as a direct correlation between his leaving and what happened to them," I told him, and frankly, I did as well.

"I know that, Mike, and he has to be made to see that it isn't his fault. Yes his leaving probably set the guy off, but that isn't Sam's fault. He had to get away and he tried to take the others, didn't he?" Eric asked.

"Yes, from what he told me he did, but they were too frightened," I told him. 

He could sugar coat this all he wanted, but Sammy was going to see it one way I was convinced, and it wasn't going to be that way.

There was silence for a few minutes as we each were lost in our own thoughts until the door came part way open and Kevin stuck his head in asking

"Is it safe to come back yet?" 

I looked at Eric and then Darryl before Eric answered, "Yeah, honey it's safe," but the way he said it earned a double take and intense stare from Kevin before he came fully into the room, shutting the door behind him.

"What's wrong, Dad?" he asked, as he came forward and stopped in front of his father looking at him and then me before returning his gaze to his dad waiting for an answer.

Eric just looked at me at a loss as to what to say apparently. How do you explain what happened to a six year old innocent child.

Kevin then turned his gaze to me obviously sensing something and that he would need to get any answers from me if there were to be any, as he walked slowly forward towards my bed and me.

He stopped and looked at me without saying anything until finally I said,

"The kids we were going to rescue were all hurt really bad, one of them died and another is probably going to soon. They were hurt after Sammy ran away, and we're worried about how Sammy is going to feel about that," I said to him.

"They got hurt cause he ran away?" Kevin asked, still looking intently at me.

"That is the excuse that the person who hurt them used," I told him.

"Would they have been hurt if he had stayed?" he asked me.

"I don't know, probably, sooner or later, yes, but as bad as they were? I don't know," I answered.

"Sammy didn't have a choice but to get away, it was real bad there," he told me. 

"Yes it was. We're just worried that he will think it's his fault and blame himself for what happened to them," I told him.

"Yeah," was all he said before turning and leaving me very confused as he walked back and out the door. 

I just looked at Eric who merely shrugged his shoulders and didn't have an answer for me.

We sat there in silence for several minutes before the door opened once again and the four of them entered the room with Sammy walking over and crawling up on the bed with me.

"It's okay, Mike, I know what happened and I'm real sad about it, but I know it wasn't my fault. He would have hurt them sooner or later and just used that as a reason." He told me, which surprised the hell out of me as he buried himself in my arms.

I then noticed the Trinity standing there looking at him and knew that they had a great deal to do with his response, as I mouthed "Thank you," to them.

They didn't say anything, they just walked closer and each reached out and placed a hand on Sammy, offering whatever comfort they could to him during this very difficult time. 

He had hoped that being brave would have resulted in four children being saved, but instead it had resulted in this conclusion and it was not the desired one.

Detective Thomas quietly walked over and said, "Sammy, you are 100% right. It would have happened sooner or later. This was just an excuse that he used and it wasn't your fault" 

"I know, thank you," Sammy said, as he raised his head and looked at the detective, giving him a little smile before returning his head to my chest.

"I'll be back later on," Darryl said before slowly walking from the room, leaving us to our privacy.

I could tell that Sammy's heart wasn't really in it and I didn't know quite what to do other than love him to death, which I made a solemn vow to do. 

The other three soon crawled up on the bed and managed to fit, snuggling tightly up with Sammy trying to comfort him and I just continued to hold him.

I don't know how long this went on before the door opened and a doctor walked in, stopping and looking at us for a moment before walking closer and saying, 

"Mr. Reynolds, I am Doctor Rodriguez and I have been treating you since your admission." 

"Hello doctor, so what's the prognosis?" I asked, attempting to lighten the mood a little bit.

"Good, not too much damage, mostly impact trauma. You're going to be sore for a few days, and you should take it easy, but other than that you'll be fine," he told me.

"That's good to hear," I said.

"Yes, I thought you'd like that and there is no reason really why you can't get out of here today," he said, smiling. 

"That's even better to hear," I told him.

"Yes and that way the nurses won't be so afraid anymore," he said, chuckling while looking at Sammy, who was returning his look with one of wide eyed innocence.

"Is there something I should know?" I asked Sammy, looking down at him but only received a "no" in response.

"Your son is quite protective of you, Mr. Reynolds," the doctor said into the silence and I watched as Sammy blushed.

"Good, We'll protect each other from now on," I said, which caused Sammy's head to snap around and look at me, before a big Sammy smile appeared and I could tell he was pleased with my response.

"Well he certainly takes his duties to heart," the doctor replied, laughing softly.

"I will sign the discharge papers and you should be able to leave in about half an hour," he added before turning to leave.

When he got to the door he stopped and turned back to face us with his hand on the door handle and said "I have someone who I think you need to see," before turning back and opening the door, holding it open as Darryl pushed a child in a wheelchair into the room.

Sammy let out a gasp and sat up quickly as I looked at our newcomer.

It was a young boy of about six or seven, I would guess, and he was obviously battered with bruises and a split swollen lip, not to mention a nice shiner.

"He can only stay a few minutes, but we felt it was important that you saw one another," the doctor said, as he went out and shut the door behind him.

Sammy was off the bed and on his knees next to the boy in seconds, with tears streaming down his face as he cried "I'm sorry, Kelly, I'm so sorry."

I watched, as Kelly tried valiantly to smile a little smile and I heard him say, "It's okay man, not your fault," through his injured face.

"It is, it's all my fault," Sammy cried, looking up at the boy in the chair.

"No, Sam, he would have done it sooner or later. He just used you leaving to teach us a lesson is all. Adam was hurt real bad before you left, remember we hadn't seen him that day? Well, we didn't see him cause he'd been with him all night" Kelly told him.

"But…" Sammy started to say.

"Hey, you gotta stop this, man, you got what we all wanted now, a family so ya can't blame yourself, none." Kelly told him.

Sammy turned and looked at me suddenly before turning back and saying, "Maybe ya can come with us and be my brother for real," with hope permeating his voice.

Kelly visibly brightened for a moment before saying, "nah bro, I gotta stay here, this heres your family, not mine."

"But it could be yours too," Sammy said plaintively. 

"No, it can't. It ain't time for me yet," Kelly said while looking Sammy in the eyes, and I watched as something was exchanged between them and Sammy's shoulders slumped slightly.

Then they straightened and he said, "You're right, but I hope you'll stay in touch with me cause you're my firstest brother." 

"Yeah, I'll do that. Michele says she gots a new brother for me to take care of, and he's five. I get to meet him when I get out of here," Kelly said.

"Yeah, he needs you, bro." Sammy said, still looking at him and I wondered what that was all about. 

"She says it's gonna be different now, but I'm a little scared," Kelly told him, some of his vulnerability showing through and I just wanted to get up and go to him taking him in my arms and holding him to make the pain and fear go away.

"It's gonna be okay now, Kel. It is, and your new Daddy is gonna be a good one this time, a really good one, like Mike," Sammy said with a note of complete certainty in his voice.

"Daddy? I ain't gettin a new daddy," Kelly said to him.

"Don't worry bro, you'll see," Sammy said, before reaching gently out and hugging the younger boy to him.

About that time, the doctor came back in "I'm sorry, but I have to take Kelly back now," he said as Sammy released the boy. 

"I love you Kelly, I always will, Brother," Sammy told him with tears running down his face.

Kelly had begun to cry too, and said, "I love you too, SamSam, brothers forever," he said, as Sammy repeated, "Brothers forever."

"See ya SamSam," Kelly said as the doctor took hold of the chair and began to wheel it out of the room.

"See ya K" Sammy said back, with a little sad smile playing on his face that matched the younger boy's.

Just as he was going through the door, he said, "Hey don't be trying none of those tricks that Neal kid taught you on your new family, now." 

"I won't bro, I won't" Sammy said to the now closed door, before he turned back to me and smiled softly. 

"That was my brother, Kelly," he said proudly to us. 

All the boys got up and went over to him enveloping him in a hug and then released him to come to me where I did the same thing saying, "I'm glad you have him, and I can look into getting him anyway, if you want me to." 

He looked up at me for a long moment before saying, "No Daddy, thanks, but no. He's needed here and he's right, this isn't his family. He'll get one, a good one, but this isn't it." He got an odd look on his face for a moment before saying in a very strange tone of voice "Sometimes bad things have to happen so that the good things can."

 

"What honey?" I asked.

"Nothing, just something that I thought of suddenly," he said with a confused expression on his face.

"Well, it's very true sometimes, Baby," I told him and thought about it. Sometimes it really was, without all that had happened to Sammy, I wouldn't have found him.

"Yeah dad, it is," he said sighing contentedly and burying his head in my chest once again.

"I have spoken with Michelle, and she is being reassigned. With the testimony regarding the children's home, there is going to be a basic restructuring of it's complete operation and Michelle is being put in charge of it. She will run the center and it's going to be renamed Adam's Dream, she is being given carte blanche on it, Mike." Darryl told me.

"Adam's Dream?" Sammy said, looking up at Darryl.

"Yes little one, Adam's Dream, Children's Center, after your friend" he said to Sammy.

Sammy had tears running down his face and I realized that I did too as well as Eric and the boys.

"He'd like that, a lot," Sammy whispered softly.

"Michelle wants to make it a long term place, to provide loving and caring to the kids with people that will stay with the kids that are going to be there for a while. A place where they get lots of cuddles and hugs, a place where they will be loved to death," he said.

"That'll be good, Kelly will like that," Sammy said.

"I think a lot of kids will like that, honey," Darryl said.

"Yeah they will, you don't know what it's like to want a hug and no one will give it to ya," Sammy said sadly.

"No, I don't, but Michelle will see that it never happens again at least there," Darryl told him.

"Good, kids need lots of hugs," Sammy said before snuggling back into me, and Darryl responded, "Yes they most certainly do." 

The doctor came back in at that point and said, "I have your papers here if I can just take a quick look at you then you may leave." 

"Alright, Doctor," I said. 

We got the kids away and the curtain drawn as the doctor pulled the bandage back and changed it. I shouldn't have been, but was surprised at the amount of bruising present. There were also several stitches where they had closed the wound from the bullet. All in all, he said it was doing well with no signs of infection. He gave me prescriptions for antibiotics and pain killers and let me go.

As he pulled the curtain back, he was faced with four little boys all staring at him intently as he stopped in his tracks and said very seriously,

"I am going to release him into your care, do you think you can handle him?" 

The boys all looked at one another before Sammy said, "Yes doctor we will take good care of him," then giggled, being joined by the others.

"Oh no, maybe I should stay for a while," I said trying to hold back a smile as the boys all turned and looked at me with looks of betrayal fighting with giggles going across their faces and all of them shouted out, 

"Daaaaaaaaaaad" or "Uncle Miiiiiiiiike," respectively.

The doctor chuckled and said "Oh, I think you'll survive," as he walked towards the door pulling it open and calling back as he left, "At least I hope so," before exiting and pulling the door shut behind him.

"Ya know we're gonna get ya for that, don't ya?" Sammy said, with an evil grin, being joined by the others.

"Yeah, I kind of figured that," I said, chuckling softly.

I got dressed with help from the boys and Eric who had brought some clothes for me, from my coach apparently, and just as I was ready to leave, a nurse came in with a wheelchair.

"Oh no, I don't need that," I said to her, holding up my hand to stop her from coming any farther into the room.

"Hospital policy," she said primly.

"Well, I am not using that thing," I said, as the kids started giggling.

"It's not funny," I said, which they seemed to find even more funny for some reason.

About that time Darryl reached into his coat and pulled out my gun and holster, holding it out to me and saying, "You might like this back," but the look on the nurse's face was priceless as it turned white and she quickly ran out of the room as I broke out in laughter.

I took the weapon from him and fitted it on my waist and then took my badge back that he was holding out, placing it in it's spot as well.

Then another nurse came into the room followed timidly by the first one.

"Mr. Reynolds," she said sweetly to me, which made me think, 'oh no'.

"Yes?" I asked cautiously, of her.

"Hospital policy states that in order for you to be discharged from our care, you must exit the hospital in a wheelchair. If you are not going to do that, and wish to stay further with us, please let me know and I will be more than happy to schedule an enema for this afternoon followed by a colonoscopy for this evening," she said, as I ran for the wheelchair as fast as I could at that point.

"I take that as a no then, sorry to see you leave us, take care of yourself," she said before turning and walking away, laughing softly.

Eric was snickering and Darryl coughing while the kids just looked confused.

"It might have been fun though," the second nurse called out just as she walked out the door, which caused Eric to break out in full laughter to be joined by Darryl.

I didn't find it all that amusing.

I was wheeled down to the main entrance and finally was able to get out of the damn chair, and head out to where Darryl had my vehicle brought to.

It seems that he had picked up Eric and the Trinity from the airport and brought them to the hospital, so they would be riding with me to the coach.

As we got to my vehicle, he told me the directions to get back on the main highway before saying he would need to take my statement at some point before I left the area. 

We got in the truck and headed out to the coach my family complete finally, and all of us together. 

We spent a quiet couple of days just being together and Sammy and the Trinity seemed to bond even more as the time went by.

Our first major crisis happened that first night, as we all headed to bed.

We had said our good nights and Eric along with the trinity had gone off to bed, but Sammy seemed strangely reluctant to do so, and was still tarrying around delaying it.

The trinity had invited him to sleep with them, which was something special for them, but he had said no which surprised me. Kevin had looked odd when Randy had extended the invitation as well.

"Come on munchkin, lets hit the sack," I said jokingly, but was surprised to see a look of panic come across his face at my words.

"Hey, what's wrong, do you want to sleep alone?" I asked, thinking he was reconsidering being in bed with me.

"No, I mean yes, I don't know, maybe," he said ending in mumbling and with his head dropping down.

I grabbed him and brought him into my lap lifting his head up so I could look him in the eyes. 

"Baby, listen to me a minute, okay? With everything that has happened in the last few days, I understand if you're not comfortable with sleeping with me," I told him but was surprised at the look of confusion on his face at my words.

"Huh, no, no I don't mean that," he said, emphasizing the 'that' portion of it.

Now I was confused.

"Then what is it baby, you were fine the other night," I said to him.

"I kinda forgot" he mumbled.

"Forgot what?" I asked him gently

"You'll hate me," he said.

"Samuel Patrick Campbell, you don't ever say that, you hear me! I could never hate you," I told him sharply.

"You don't understand," he mumbled at me.

"You're right, I don't and I never will if you don't tell me what's wrong," I told him, much more gently now.

He looked at me for a minute before responding and then I had to strain to hear what he said as he spoke very softly these words which he apparently considered so awful,

"I wet the bed."

I was shocked but knew I shouldn't be that he was so worried by this. Sadly, a lot of children thought their self worth was diminished because of this problem.

I just looked back at him for a moment as he watched me, clearly expecting the worst before I said, "And?" 

He now had a shocked look on his face as he said, "And what, I wet the bed and I'm eight years old." 

"That's it, that is what you are so worried about? There's nothing else?" I asked in disbelief, trying to make him get the point.

He was openly staring at me with his mouth open in shock and I could see him begin to say something several times before he finally said, "Don't you get it, I might pee on you?" 

"Yeah honey, I got that part, I just don't have a problem with it," I told him gently.

"But…" he started to say but I interrupted him, "That doesn't bother me in the slightest come with me," I said, picking him up with me and carrying him back to our bedroom where I sat down on the bed with him.

Once there I pulled the sheet up and said "Look" 

He looked and asked, "What is it?"

"It's plastic and it's on all the beds here," I told him.

"Why?"

"You wet the bed?" a voice said interrupting us and I looked up to find Randy standing there looking at us.

I could see the fear come across Sammy's face at that, but looking like he was going to his doom he raised his head up and said, "Yeah, I do." 

Randy stood there shaking his head and I could feel Sammy shaking in my arms as Randy said, "You two are something else, KEVIN, GET IN HERE!"

Sammy had begun to cry now and the shaking had become noticeable as Kevin came running into the room seconds after Randy's comments.

Randy hadn't seen Sammy as he had turned to the doorway but just as he turned back Kevin entered the room and said "What's wrong with Sammy?" 

Randy quickly turned back looking at Sammy and said "Oh shit."

"Hey SamSam, it's okay; no one's mad at ya or nothing" but Sammy wasn't listening much at this point. 

I heard him begin to mumble "They're gonna hate me now, they're gonna hate me cause I'm a baby."

"Kevin, tell Sammy what you are so afraid of," Randy ordered his brother, looking over to him.

"Randy" Kevin gasped in obvious horror.

"Do it, Kev." he said making it an order again.

Kevin didn't look happy, but suddenly I had an idea of what was the matter and nudged Sammy whispering in his ear "You need to listen to him little one."

"I…I wet the bed" Kevin said, all in a rush.

Sammy's head snapped up and he looked intently at Kevin, and then Randy before turning his attention to me looking at me with a clearly defined look of 'is it true?'

"Yes, it's true honey," I told him as Kevin hung his head in shame at the admission, but not before looking at his brother with an accusatory look.

"Tell them," I said.

"I wet it too" Sammy said softly.

"Did you hear that, Kev?" Randy asked.

Kevin's head had snapped up in a repeat of Sammy's a moment ago, and he stared in disbelief at Sammy and then started swiveling his head around between the three of us again in an imitation once again of Sammy from moments ago.

"Both of you were so scared of the other finding out about it that ya both got yourselves in a fit about it. Kevin, he wets the bed too, and Sammy, Kevin has been freaking out about you finding out that he wets the bed too," Randy told the both of them as the two in question stared at one another in dawning comprehension.

"Really?" both said at the same time to each other as big smiles came across their faces, the relief obvious as they looked at each other in wonder.

"Kewl," they both said, again at the same time, causing them to blush and Randy to say "Hey, we're the twins here, we're the only ones supposed to be talking like that," while he giggled which broke the other two out in giggles as well.

"So, what is that stuff anyway?" Sammy asked going back to the topic we had been on when Randy had come in.

"That's plastic sheets so we don't wet the bed under it" Kevin answered still with a grin on his face.

"Really?" Sammy asked

"Yeah really, munchkin, I got them on all the beds in here as well as at the house, so does Eric at his place" I told him.

"That's kewl, but don't your brothers mind that you wet?" Sammy asked Kevin.

"Nah, we both do sometimes too, and we're used to it anyway even if we stopped," Randy replied.

"Are you guys ever coming to bed" a yawning Danny asked as he walked into the room.

"Yeah, we are, we just had to talk about some stuff with Sammy," Randy said to him.

"Good, cause I'm sleepy," he said.

"What you talking about?" he asked looking at all of them.

"Wetting the bed" Kevin said 

"Yeah what about it, does he got a problem with it?" Danny suddenly said waking up and glaring at Sammy but Randy quickly said, "No Sammy wets the bed too, and was freakin like Kev was about us finding out bout it." 

"Oh, okay, don't know why you all are going on about it so much, I told ya Kev, he'd be cool with it, I wanna go to sleep," he said ending plaintively.

"Okay Danny, let's go, you wanna come now, Sammy?" Randy said looking at Sam who had a hopeful look on his face as he looked to me.

"Go on, munchkin, have fun" I told him.

He got a big grin on his face and jumped up and ran for the door then suddenly came to a screeching halt and came back throwing his arms around me in a big hug saying, "I love you, Daddy" as I returned the hug and said "I love you too, Munchkin."

Then the others came over and gave me hugs and kisses and I watched as they all scampered off to their room, happy as clams.

I was surprised when a few minutes later Eric came into the room standing in the doorway.

"Crisis over?" he asked, with a smile on his face.

"Yeah," I replied.

"Kevin has been freaking out all day about what was going to happen tonight, and when Randy invited Sammy to sleep with them, I thought he was going to die. I am glad they got it straightened out," he said.

"Did you hear? Kevin isn't the only one," I said.

"Yeah, I kinda heard," he said smiling, "Good night Mike."

"Night Eric, sleep well," I said as he left and I crawled into bed, pulling up the covers and listening to distant giggles as I drifted off to sleep, content finally.

That was my first night with the whole bunch of them together, and I loved it even if I slept alone.

The next couple of days were spent recuperating and being cuddled and loved by all of them. They made it a point that at least one of them was always with me, and I loved every minute of it.

We couldn't travel yet, and we had one other thing to do which no one was looking forward to, but all of us knew it needed to be done.

It was on the third day that we got up to attend the funeral of Adam Scott Davenport, nine years of age, and brutally murdered by those charged with his care and well being.

Devon, the other boy, was in a coma and not expected to survive, but no one knew when he would die either. Sammy wanted to go and visit, so I knew that we would be going back to the hospital again soon.

It was to be a sad day as well as a remarkable one for us all.

It started out solemn from the moment the boys woke up and even though the Trinity didn't know them, they shared Sammy's grief and stayed close, as did I to him.

We got dressed and there were not even any complaints from the children over having to wear suits as we awaited the limousine I had ordered for us. 

When it got there, the subdued boys and I, along with Eric went out and got in, taking our seats for the journey to the church where the service was to be held.

It was a quiet ride with no one saying anything for the entire length of it.

As we got to the church and exited the vehicle, we were met by Michelle who offered us, and especially Sammy, her condolences as well as Kelly and Darryl and they led us inside to the front of the church to the section which was usually reserved for family where we took seats.

The church was crowded as the story had hit the media and people had been outraged over what had happened to the children. 

The public had come out in droves to show their grief at the loss of a child and to demand changes. 

The politicians of course were front and center with their mouths running and not much else being put into the problem although the Governor had signed an executive order regarding Adam's Dream and placing Michelle in charge of it. The head of CPS had been removed immediately and the Texas Rangers had launched a full scale criminal investigation into the CPS as well as the foster homes in the state. State Police were assisting as well as local jurisdictions and the Governor had made it a point that things were going to change and change now. Some had come out against him, but he essentially had the cujones to get up on television and tell them where to go. They couldn't say too much or be considered to be unfriendly towards abused children, but the unions were pressuring them to do something to stop the Governor. It was a mess and several legislators had come out to block the Governor's actions in any way they could. There was a fight ahead for him, but it looked like he welcomed it.

The service was beautiful, Michelle had been in charge of it and allowed no one to speak that didn't belong there. The only exception if you could call it that were the Governor and Darryl and both kept their remarks eloquent and short. 

This would not happen again if they could do anything to prevent it.

I was surprised when the minister asked if anyone who knew Adam would like to speak and Sammy stood up.

"Are you sure, honey?" I asked him, and he just nodded, "Do you want me to go up with you?" I asked.

He stopped for a moment and then said, "No" and proceeded to walk up to the podium, where the minister quickly got a pedestal for him to stand upon.

"My name's Sammy," he began, pausing for a moment to look out at the assembled mass of people.

"I was one of the kids in the home with Adam," he said, which caused a ripple and gasps to spread around the chapel.

Then Kelly in a wheelchair was wheeled out to join Sammy and said into a microphone "I was another one," which caused cries to erupt from those assembled as they took in his condition.

Sammy walked over and smiling, placed his hand on Kelly's shoulder in support saying "Thanks".

Kelly just smiled and handed the microphone to him as Sammy spoke again, "This is my brother and we were both there, in that place," pausing again for a moment.

"Adam was a good brother to us. I thought about telling ya all the stuff he used to do. Stealing food for us, so we wouldn't go hungry when HE wouldn't feed us, or getting HIM mad at him so HE wouldn't hurt the little ones, but then I seen what some people's been saying on the TV and all and I decided to tell ya bout what it means for us to be in places like that," he said, pausing.

There was dead silence in the chapel and it almost seemed like no one was breathing as Sammy began again, 

"Ya'll worry so much about stuff that don't matter none," he said sadly, shaking his head.

"We live in group homes where the older kids do stuff to us, and we can't stop it, bad stuff. Ya'll have rules that the grown-ups there can't give us hugs, cause you're afraid of them doing that stuff to us, but cha don't stop the ones who are already doing it," he said.

Then with so much emotion in his voice and on his face that tears came to my eyes, he said, "Do any of ya all know what it's like to be a kid and you can't get no hugs from anyone. Do ya'll know what it's like to crawl up in a grown-up's lap to be cuddled and they push you away and tell ya that ya can't? Do any of you know how that feels?" he asked them, as I watched the tears begin to fall.

"Can ya'll think about what it's like to have no place ta go, and get sent to a foster home where the only reason they take ya in is cause of the money theys get paid? Where they keep the money and don't feed us, or do anything for us that they don't make em do?" Can you?" he asked them.

"When we tell someone bout this stuff, they don't listen and just send us back to where we were gettin hurt? Where when we'd tell them about stuff, we would get told to be thankful that we had a place to live at all, and to stop whining? Can ya'll think of that? Cause that's what we live with all the time," he told them.

"No one wants us, no one will love us, and no one cares. Some people want to, but they aren't being allowed to by stupid people who worry more about what some stupid social worker wants to do, and not about us kids," he said, before pausing to look out at everyone again for a moment.

"It's supposed to be about us, and taking care of us. Why can't it be? If some of those changes that some people want to make now had been made before, then Adam would be alive today, not dead," he told them bitterly.

"I found someone to love me now and Kelly is going into a good place to live with Michelle, but so many of us ain't got no place to go, can't some of you who never knew Adam but showed up here today actually do something for a kid who really needs it? Can't ya stop these people who want more Adams to die, can't ya'll love a kid, is that so much to ask of ya'll?" Sammy finished brokenly, as Kelly reached out and took his hand in his and Sammy repeated in a near whisper "is it so much to ask?" before handing the microphone to the minister and stumbling down the stairs and over to me burying himself in my arms, where I just held him tightly.

Everyone appeared stunned, and it was dead silent in the chapel with even the minister appearing not to know what to say next, as the Trinity shocked me by getting up and walking to stand next to Kelly on the stage.

Taking the microphone from the stunned minister, Randy began, "That's my brother now," he said proudly, "We didn't know Adam, I wish we did. We're just little kids too, but even we know that you're supposed to love us, and not let us be hurt. Sammy didn't do nothing bad to have what happened to him happen. It wasn't right and you all should do something to stop other kids from getting hurt," he said and then quickly he handed the microphone to the minister but was surprised when Kelly reached out and grabbed it.

"I don't have a lot to say, but if'n ya'll don't want us, if ya can't give us families to love us and take care of us, at least don't stop people that wanna from doing it," he said, and handed the microphone to the minister as the Trinity wheeled him off stage and back to us.

The minister stood there and seemed to be at a loss as he stared out at the silent audience but finally said softly, "I do believe that Scripture says something about 'And a child shall lead them…' maybe you should take that to heart." 

After letting them sit there for a few more moments, he said, "We will now play our final song and it is I think quite appropriate, when it ends, that will conclude our service."

Then the haunting strains of the song began

Bless the beasts and the children

For in this world they have no voice

They have no choice

Bless the beasts and the children

For the world can never be

The world they see

Light their way

When the darkness surrounds them

Give them love

Let it shine all around them

Bless the beasts and the children

Give them shelter from the storm

Keep them safe 

Keep them warm

Light their way

When the darkness surrounds them

Give them love

Let it shine all around them

Bless the beasts and the children

Give them shelter from the storm

Keep them safe 

Keep them warm

The children

The children

Copyright "The Carpenters" 

I knew there were fresh tears in my eyes and could hear a lot of other sobs throughout the church, as the service concluded. What surprised me was that when it was over, no one moved from their seats. 

All was still and quiet except for the crying.

I noticed that the minister was looking out in obvious confusion at this turn of events, but something made him get a look of surprise on his face and then he began walking towards where we were sitting stopping in front of us.

We all looked up at him as he spoke "I believe they are waiting for you to leave," he said, as we looked at him in shock, although I am not sure the kids understood it as they looked confused.

"We go with Adam," Sammy said.

The minister nodded his head and walked away, grabbing the pallbearers and in another surprise, they proceeded to take the casket and begin the boy's final journey on this Earth. 

We all stood as they brought Adam down the steps and came to a stop several feet down the aisle allowing us to get in behind the casket with Sammy pushing Kelly first in the line and the Trinity surrounding him in support with Eric and I behind them.

With strains of "In the Garden" beginning to play the procession began and we slowly followed but were shocked once again as everyone in the chapel stood up and paid their respects to not only the dead but I felt the living as well.

The boys looked straight ahead their eyes locked on the boy in front of them being carried towards the entrance to the chapel to the words of one of my favorite hymns and it was as we reached the doorway and exited the church that the final words, so fitting were sung and went with us out into the world

And He walks with me
And He talks with me
And He tells me I am His own
And the joy we share as we tarry there
None other has ever known

For I felt that Adam was in the Garden now and at peace for all time as we stopped to watch the loading of the child into what would be his final car ride.

After it was done we retreated back to the limousine and not one person had exited the church, Michelle would tell us later that they had, each and every one of them, remained standing until we had left the area of the chapel.

We followed the hearse to the cemetery and once again followed Adam to his final resting place on this Earth just Darryl, Michelle, Kelly and us. 

The minister showed up and said a few words before saying "Know that his pain is over now, and he is in the arms of the Lord," bringing the ceremony to a surprisingly short conclusion.

The minister came over and shook our hands but when he got to Sammy, he was shocked to find an 8 year old boy asking him one of life's imponderable questions, one which I had been asking not so long ago myself,

"Why did God allow Adam to live and die like that?" Sammy asked him, looking up with tears in his eyes.

The minister looked at him for a long time before saying, "I don't know son, I'm sorry but I don't know," in an infinitely sad voice.

Sammy just nodded his head and the minister walked away with his head down and I blessed him for being honest instead of giving the usual bland answers, even if it didn't help much.

I was holding onto his shoulder and Kelly was holding his hand while the Trinity had placed hands wherever they could reach showing him their support.

Michelle walked down back towards the cars accompanied by Darryl who had a matching sad look on his face as he gave the boys one last glance before leaving.

"Would you like to be alone to say your good-byes?" I asked them and was told softly "Please, if you don't mind," by Sammy.

"No honey, I don't mind at all," I said, squeezing his shoulder before turning and walking back toward the cars with Eric. 

"Do you think he'll be alright?" I asked Eric. 

"I think so, it'll just take time is all," he said to me as I glanced back at my babies to see them walking up to the casket and standing around it.

We stopped with Michelle and Darryl and just stood there watching as Sammy and Kelly placed their hands on the casket to be joined by the Trinity and it seemed that they were talking to their friend, but we couldn't hear anything of course, being where we were.

After a few minutes, I watched as five boys slowly began walking back down to the cars where we were waiting, with their shoulders slumped and pain evident in their every movement. I knew the Trinity hadn't known the boy but they felt for the ones who were left here and it showed in the expressions of concern etched on their faces.

Kelly was walking with the others' assistance as the wheelchair really wouldn't have been practical at the cemetery, but I could tell that even this short distance had tired him out. He had finally been released from the hospital, but he was by no means mended completely yet.

As they got back to us, Sammy came over and leaned into my side and I placed my arms around him to comfort him as the rest just stood there looking on with concern.

"Dad, can Kelly come back with us for a while?" Sammy asked with his head buried in my side.

"I think that would be an excellent idea," Michelle said, before I could speak up, so I simply nodded my head and said, 

"Yeah, SamSam, I think that would be good for both of you."

"Thanks Dad," he said. 

"I'll be over tomorrow to check on you guys, call me if you need anything," Michelle said as I nodded and she walked away.

"Take care of each other and I'll check in too," Darryl said before heading out himself.

"Okay guys, let's head on home," I said to them as I began helping them into the limo along with Eric.

The ride back was as silent as the ride to the church had been to begin with, and I looked worriedly at all the boys, but especially my SamSam and his friend and the sad looks on their faces.

I knew that regardless of what Sammy had said, he still felt responsible for what had happened.

We got back and went into the coach where I had two boys cuddling up to me and wanting to be held and comforted somehow.

Eric had the Trinity and I had them and that is pretty much the way we stayed. I was getting worried, they weren't talking or crying they were just wrapped around me and quiet.

I finally got them up to get them out of their clothes with the Trinity giving Kelly some of their clothes to wear, and once I was sure they were okay headed off to my room to get myself into something more comfortable.

It was a somber and quiet night as well with the kids turning down eating much, which really worried me and when we finally went to bed, it was to Sammy and Kelly wanting to sleep with me and the Trinity crawling in too.

I was very glad I had special ordered a King size bed in the coach with all of them wanting to be in one bed like this.

I couldn't sleep and just lay there thinking about the events of the last few days and especially today and what had happened.

I knew the others had drifted off, but was surprised to find Sammy still awake when I heard a soft whisper, "Why Dad, why?" come from him.

"I don't have an answer for you, Honey, I'm sorry," I told him, and I was, truly.

"We're just kids, they're not supposed to do this," he said, and I could hear the confusion and pain in his voice and I didn't have an answer, I just didn't have an answer.

"I know," was all that I could get out.

We drifted off to sleep without anything else being said, but I could feel the tears dripping on my chest and the pain in my heart that there was nothing I could say or do to help him in this.

I don't know what woke me, but sometime in the middle of the night, I came fully awake and instantly realized that no one was in bed with me.

I could hear talking and what sounded like the door opening to the coach as I quickly stood up and ran out of the bedroom.

I found Sammy, Kelly and the Trinity standing at the door and watching a kid walking away from the coach.

"What's going on here?" I asked concerned,

Sammy turned towards me and said, "Nothing Dad, a friend came by is all." 

"At three in the friggin morning," I replied, which got some giggles as Sammy said "Yeah Dad at three in the morning," turning back to watch the boy who had stopped and was watching us.

"Where's his parents, what's he doing out at this time of night?" I asked them.

"He's leaving, and he had to say goodbye," Kelly said in an odd tone, as I watched the boy smile and then wave briefly at us before he turned and walked away again.

"Wait just a minute, he can't just take off in the middle…" I was saying but Sammy just said, "Dad", and I stopped.

I don't know why, but I stopped and stood there as I heard soft giggles coming from outside the coach and watched as the boy walked up to another older boy standing there and took a place by his side.

There was something that I couldn't place my finger on as I watched them for a moment but I noticed them just looking at the boys, with soft smiles on their faces as I turned back to Sammy and asked, "Just who was that?" glancing outside once again.

They were gone, and before Sammy could answer I said, "Where did they go?" 

"Home dad, they went home," Sammy replied quietly as he took my hand and began to lead me back to the bedroom with the others following, after shutting the door.

I didn't get any answers that night and strangely enough, I didn't even ask any more questions. 

It was a very odd experience and I almost chocked it up to a dream until Sammy apologized the next morning for waking me during the night. 

As we sat there I asked, "How are you doing?" and was surprised when I got a contented smile and was told, "Good, I'm doing good, Dad. I understand, now," he said. 

"You do?" I asked him and he just nodded his head before grabbing my hand and saying "Lets get a shower," pulling me towards the bathroom.

I don't know what happened, but I can't help thinking the mysterious boy had something to do with it, as both Kelly and Sammy were like different kids that morning.

They were still somewhat sad, but there was also a weight lifted off their shoulders, especially Sammy's, and all I could think was, 'Thank God', because I had started to become afraid of where he was going.

About mid-morning Michelle came by and had some remarkable news for us.

It seems that Devon had made a miraculous recovery somehow, although the details were confusing she admitted. 

The nurses claimed that someone was in the room with the child, and when they had gone in there it was to see a young boy just entering the bathroom and to find Devon awake and smiling, asking for something to eat.

What was so strange was that upon entering the bathroom after several minutes, no one could be found and the nurses were completely baffled. 

They also hadn't gotten a good look at the boy in question, and Devon claimed to have no knowledge of any boy being in his room.

All they knew for sure was that a boy who was dying was now alive, and while not yet running around playing, was well on his way to recovery.

At hearing this, I looked at Sammy who just smiled but said nothing and I noticed that Kelly was looking elsewhere as well.

Very strange to say the least, but at hearing the news the boys wanted to go and visit Devon and I put it out of my mind for now, as I was being bombarded with "Can we goes" from the monsters.

We got to see Devon and as Michelle said, he was going to be alright. 

We spent the next week there in Dallas and it was a time I will never forget as I watched my babies becoming a family.

I also realized I was falling in love with or had fallen in love with Kelly, who had remained with us, but it was he who approached me one night and asked if he could talk to me.

"Sure sweetheart," I told him, and was led to the back bedroom with Sammy watching us as we left with a look that was indescribable in his eyes but one mixed with sadness, strangely enough.

As I sat down, Kelly crawled into my lap and looked up at me 

"What's wrong, baby?" I asked, sensing that something was, but not knowing what.

He looked down for a minute and didn't say anything before looking back at me and I was surprised to see tears in his eyes.

"What is it, Baby, what's wrong?" I asked again.

"I love you," he said softly, and although I didn't understand it, I knew that was what was wrong somehow.

"I love you too, little one," I said as I bent my head down and kissed his nose.

"I know," he said in that same soft and sad voice as he looked away from me for a moment.

Then he looked back and said, "I wish…." Before tapering off just looking at me.

"You know wishes can come true baby?" I asked. 

"Not this one," was all he said.

"Yeah it can, one call and you could be my son too, and I would be honored to have you for a son," I told him, putting all the feeling I had into those words.

The tears which had been there in his eyes began to fall as the crying started and he just wrapped his arms around me hugging me tightly.

I didn't know what to make of this. I could solve this so simply and I just knew that Sammy would love to have him stay with us.

He finally pulled away from my embrace to look at me again and said sadly, "No Mike, I'd love to have you for my dad too, but no." 

He was all of six years old, but I had the feeling that he was so much older right then as he told me, "This isn't meant for me, not now at least, it's for you and Sammy. 

"Oh Kelly, Sammy would love it if you lived with us, I just know he would," I told him.

He just smiled at me and said, "I know, me too. It just can't be."

I started to say something when he reached up and placed his little fingers against my lips and said, "I just wanted you to know, I just wanted to say it." 

I just looked at him as he kept those fingers in place and looked at me. 

I felt somehow I was losing something very precious right then, but before I could say anything Sammy walked in and took up a place on the other side of my lap and said "Dad, it'll be okay, he'll get a family, a good one, but ours isn't it." 

"Sammy how can…" I started to say but he interrupted saying "I don't know, but I do. Everything will be okay, he's gonna get a dad like you, and a brother who needs him real bad. He has to be here for him, for both of them." 

I looked back and forth between them and for the rest of my life, I would never be able to say why, but at that moment I truly believed them. Somehow they knew that Kelly was destined for something else, someone else and as much as it would hurt us all, we had to allow him to go down that path instead of the one we all wanted.

"Alright, I don't know how or why, but I believe you. Just know that we love you, Kelly and always will. If you ever need…"

"I know Mike, thanks," Kelly said smiling, as I just hugged them to me. 

We spent the rest of our time there together, trying to put a lifetime into a week or so it seemed, as the time approached that we would have to leave. 

The final weekend we were there, Eric and I took all the boys to Hurricane Harbor and it was a time that I will never forget. 

From ten in the morning until midnight when the amusement park closed, we did nothing but let the boys be boys and have fun not to mention the adults acting like little kids too.

They were asleep the moment they hit the tram back to our car and they had had a wonderful time as did we.

It was a day just for them and they made the most of it. They got souvenirs and t-shirts, hats and funny glasses and were just happy kids once again which made it all worthwhile.

Our last night together was one of unconscious kids and exhausted adults as we carried them into the coach and followed them into oblivion. 

The next day was surprisingly not as sad as I thought it would be, as we went to Adam's Dream and were shown around by Michelle.

I was surprised when we got there to see what was going on.

It seems that a prominent contractor had seen the story on the news, offered to completely remodel and furnish the complex and he was doing it with a vengeance. 

Michelle informed me that the place wouldn't be open for a month or more, but that the contractor was spending millions on the project out of his own money.

The first thing noticeable was the gate on stone pillars with a rainbow arched across the top with Adam's Dream in bright letters for the world to see.

"He'd like that," Sammy said as we stopped in front of it.

"Yeah I think he would," I replied and then Eric pointed out, "Look over there," and we walked to a plaque on the right pillar and read what was inscribed there leaving us all with tears running down our faces.

Dedicated To:

Adam Scott Davenport 

Age 9 who should have had the dream fulfilled.

Adam had a simple wish, a simple dream

To be loved and cared for

To be hugged and held

To be safe and free of fear

To be happy and have a home where he could have all that and more

May this place grant all who enter it that simple dream.

I don't know how long we stood there looking at those words before Michelle began leading us into the complex.

She took us to the one completed home for that was what it was we all discovered, as we entered what looked like a normal house.

The only difference was the brightly lettered sign in front that proclaimed "Adam's place" 

"This is where you will be living, mon cherie," Michelle told Kelly who was looking around in wonder at everything.

You would never think this was an institution, but a real home as we all looked around in wonder at what we were seeing.

The house had five large bedrooms which could hold ten kids easily and a master bedroom that would belong to the house parent/s.

The contractor was going to build twenty houses for right now, and promised upkeep and repair as necessary as well as expansion if needed. 

There would be a school on site as well as a fully staffed medical facility that could handle most things in house for the children.

Most of this was being accomplished by donations, and I had made sure that a large sum had been set aside for ongoing operations with Michelle solely in charge of it.

After we were through touring the home, it was time for what we had been dreading, but I was surprised when it went a lot better than I expected, as we reached our car.

Kelly and Devon had an arm each draped over their shoulders by Michelle while Eric and I stood with Sammy, and the Trinity stayed right with him too.

Nobody said anything for several moments just looking at one another before Kelly said "Well, I guess this is it, huh?" to Sammy who smiled and said, "Yeah I guess it is." 

"For now," Kelly said. 

"Yeah, for now," Sammy replied, both with small grins on their faces.

They just looked at one another, just looked and so much was passed between them before they each started forward at the same time, wrapping each other in a hug that I didn't think they were going to ever break.

Finally Kelly pulled back and kissed Sammy on the cheek and said, "I love you bro," while looking into those eyes.

Sammy kissed him back and said, "I love you too, don't forget that." 

"I won't," Kelly replied, as they slowly let their arms fall to their sides still looking at one another.

"I wish…" Sammy started to say,

"Me too," Kelly interrupted smiling gently.

"Yeah," was all that Sammy said as he stepped back.

Kelly walked over to the Trinity and gave each of them hugs as well before going to Eric and giving him one too.

He then stopped in front of me and looking up at me said for the second time, "I love you," as he threw his arms around me and I scooped him up in my arms ending with "Dad," which brought tears to my eyes.

"I love you too…son" I said, my voice breaking with emotion as I buried my head in his shoulder.

"I love you too."

I just held him to me, feeling as if I was losing something if I were to let him go until finally he whispered in my ear,

"I guess you better put me down."

"Kelly…" I started to say, and again he moved his head back and brought his fingers gently up to my lips, shaking his head with a gentle smile on his face.

I just looked at him and finally nodded my head in acceptance, not wanting it to happen this way, but allowing it to, anyway as I slowly let him down to the ground.

He stepped back with Michelle and watched as we all said our goodbyes to Devon who was another sweetheart.

"Goodbye Mike," Michelle said softly, as I reached into my pocket and pulled an envelope out, handing it to her.

"Goodbye Michelle, take care," I replied, and then they were walking away and I felt as if something was being torn from me. 

Then when they were half way across the parking lot, Kelly turned around and yelled "Hey Sammy, no more blow jobs," causing me to begin coughing as the boys all broke out in giggles, but it was Sammy who got me choking as he yelled back,

"Hey, that's no fair, they're a lot of fun," giggling all the time.

That was the memory that I held with me as boyish laughter filled the parking lot dispelling the melancholy mood that it could have so easily been.

That and Sammy's comment as we pulled out of the parking lot to head home, "It's going to be okay Dad, it's going to be okay," and somehow I knew he was right, as I responded with "I think you're right, Honey, I think you're very right," and we headed towards our future, together, as a family.

---

Hard to believe it all started with a blow job and it led to all this I thought, as I looked around at my family today which had grown considerably.

Sammy was giggling and smiling at me, as I said, "What?" which just caused him to giggle some more.

"I love you Dad," he said, as I pulled him closer and said, "I love you too, Munchkin." 

We really should go back to Hurricane Harbor again sometime, that was lots of fun," he said with his eyes twinkling.

"You just want to see Kelly, again," I said teasingly to him.

"Yeah, that would be nice, it's been a long time," he replied with a wistful note in his voice.

I knew he had missed Kelly a lot, but they had stayed in touch over the years, and Sammy had been right, Kelly had been doing really well.

Somehow we had never gotten back to Dallas and he had never gotten up here either, but they talked and sent e-mails. 

They still loved one another and I still loved him.

I watched with interest as the Trinity were sneaking up behind Yuri with a glass of water and poor Yuri was oblivious until the wet substance was falling on his head.

He got up screaming something in Russian, dire threats, no doubt, and began chasing the three boys while the others were all collapsed in laughter.

I watched as they chased each other around the aircraft, until by chance, Kevin made a miscalculation and Yuri pounced eliciting a squeal from the captured boy, followed by a round of giggles which only increased as Yuri began to tickle him mercilessly.

Alexei woke up during all the commotion, and was watching events interestedly and I could see Nikolai in the doorway looking on as well, both content to stay out of it for the moment at least.

That was too much for the other boys and they jumped on to protect their brother turning it into a free for all while Yuri tried valiantly to keep ahold of at least one of them.

Finally, I heard Kevin crying, "I'm gonna pee, I gonna pee," in between giggles but Yuri was having none of it, as he said, "good, you will be wet like me then."

"Nooooooo!" Kevin giggled and cried at the same time, but Yuri wasn't giving up, even though Randy and Danny were all out attacking him now, trying to save their brother from that ultimate form of embarrassment.

Two overcame one eventually, at least long enough for Kevin to escape, clutching himself and running towards the nearest bathroom although it looked like it might be a tad too late from the wet spot which appeared to be present in the right place.

I noticed Samantha watching all of this with a smile of fondness on her face. She had really taken to the boys and they to her in the weeks we had been together. Kids need a mommy too, and she was fitting the bill very nicely, she was really good for them. 

Yuri had also been a huge help and showered the kids with attention. He was a big brother to all of them even though he and Chris were the same age. 

They had been denied love and affection for so long they were like shriveled up sponges exposed to water for the first time and just soaked it up, never seeming to get enough.

They were still skittish of course around others, but with us they had truly began to relax and be kids again. It was a wonder to see and Samantha had remarked on how changed her boys seemed.

Finally, it was too much for Sam and Derek when they saw that Yuri had Danny and Kevin pinned they both got up screaming, 

"You leave my brothers alone," then stopping and glancing at each other with a look that was comical before giggling and diving into the fray.

Of course Kevin chose that moment to return from the bathroom and quickly rejoined the battle to save his brothers as Nikolai and Alexei apparently came to the same decision and jumped in on Yuri's side of the battle with Ronnie in the middle already.

A total free for all was on, and before long Brian had crawled over, surprising a startled Yuri when he wrapped himself around him and held on while the rest tickled him to death. 

Brian was the determining factor in winning the war, even without the full use of his legs. Now it was Yuri's turn to squeal and giggle helplessly while he was fully attacked until it was his cries for mercy that went unheeded. 

In the end, Yuri was soaking wet with more than water as the boys cried "eeewwwww," and rapidly released a giggling boy who found it extremely funny

"I told you to let me go, now you get to be pee boys," he told them laughing all the while.

They looked at him and then each other before shrugging their shoulders and attacking once again a very surprised 12 year old Russian boy who thought he had had the last laugh.

I guess he hadn't learned that pee really didn't bother my bunch very much, if at all.

When it finally died down pretty much everyone needed a shower and new clothes but they had had a lot of fun, and those of us not involved had almost as much fun watching as they did playing.

Soon enough 3 at a time were going into the shower while the rest took the opportunity to run around at 30 odd thousand feet buck naked all coming over sooner or later for a kiss or quick cuddle.

Eventually, all got washed and then it was just a matter of convincing them that being dressed might just be a good idea. 

Samantha and I finally just gave up for the time being, as it wasn't hurting anything and it would be less of a headache.

I soon found myself with a yawning little boy in my arms and I settled back with Derek in my arms as he fell asleep and I quickly nodded off myself, I must have become immune to all the noise or something.

I was awakened to the Captain announcing that we were going to be landing in approximately 15 minutes, to find everyone out on chairs or couches and two boys asleep on the floor, all still naked as the day they were born, of course.

"Wake up little one," I said softly while kissing Derek's forehead. 

"ummgrrrlmmm," was the response so I just repeated "Come on, Baby, time to wake up." giving him more soft kisses as he moaned and squirmed a bit.

"Come on," I said again, which got more squirming resulting in a little boy eventually looking up at me with an accusatory look in his eyes begging the question, 'why are you torturing me', while I just gave him another kiss.

"We're going to be landing soon, and you all need to get up and get dressed before then okay? I told him.

"Landing?" 

"Yeah, we're almost home, honey," I said, smiling at him and watching as the information sunk in slowly through his sleep clogged brain, causing his eyes to slowly grow as he fully understood, until he sat up suddenly and got off my lap screaming,

"HEY GUYS, WAKE UP!" which certainly got everyone's attention quickly.

I chuckled at the looks of displeasure all being focused on Derek, and quickly told them "We're almost home guys, so you have to get up and get dressed."

I then watched an almost identical reaction to the one I had watched moments before with Derek occur on all their faces as their sleep befuddled brains processed what I had told them and their eyes all widened and they became fully awake.

The next few minutes were quite funny as the kids all jumped up and ran around trying to find their clothes and get them on before the plane actually touched down, but they managed it and were in their seats and buckled in by the time the aircraft was on final approach.

The short remainder of the flight passed with no further comments as the kids were clearly excited and nervous at the same time.

After we landed I made it a point of reminding them to remain in their seats until the plane came to a complete stop, which got a couple of "I'm not two" looks shot my way from the boys but did get verbal agreement anyway.

After the plane stopped, the door was opened and a ramp was extended as we began gathering our belongings that were with us here in the plane, in preparation for leaving.

"Come on, lets go, there's Dad," Kevin screamed, as I carried Brian and approached the door.

He was right, I could see Eric standing there shuffling impatiently back and forth while I corralled the kids and tried to keep some type of order.

We started down the ramp and I don't know how I managed to keep from being trampled by the horde that was on my heels the entire way down, but somehow we made it. 

As we started down the ramp, Sammy, who was at my side, looked up and asked me "Dad, is it really over?" followed by Brian in my arms, "Is it?" 

"Yeah, it's really over guys, finally, it's really over," I said with all the conviction I could put in my voice.

They had desperately wanted to go home, but at the same time had been worried about what they would encounter when we got there. 

With all that had happened, they were still insecure even though I had reassured them time and time again that we wouldn't be going home, unless there was no danger to them of being taken away.

Of that I was sure, even with the protesters I could see marshaled some distance away. Fortunately they were far enough away that we couldn't hear them, or see any of whatever was on their signs.

As soon as we reached the bottom of the ramp the trinity were off to attack Eric and he was bowled over literally as three tornados jumped on him and he just hugged and hugged them all while we watched, kissing whatever part of them he could reach.

Sammy soon joined them in hugging him and surprisingly to Eric and myself, Peter did as well.

Once Eric was free, he came over and surprised Brian by taking him from me and giving him the same treatment he had given to the boys and I smiled as I watched Brian eat it up.

He loved attention and I, as well as the boys, made sure he got a lot of it but Eric giving it to him meant a great deal; I could tell from the big smile that plastered his face.

Eric sat Brian down in his wheelchair, then turned and walked over to our newest editions where he stopped and knelt down saying, "Hello there, my name is Eric, and I'm the Trinity's dad, welcome to the family." 

I watched as they all looked at him and gave him shy smiles before Alexei, surprising everyone again, reached his arms out and wrapped Eric in a hug. 

I thought Nikolai was going to have a heart attack at witnessing this occur once again, but after shooting disbelieving looks at Yuri, joined his brother in hugging Eric. Yuri also got in on it and I was quite happy that they seemed to be accepting of Eric. 

Eric made very sure to welcome a pleasantly surprised Ronnie to the family as well.

He then turned to Clint and Ian and looked at them appraisingly for several moments and I could see they were a bit uncomfortable with his scrutiny, but finally he walked over and stuck out his hand saying "Eric Carlson, you must be Clint and Ian." 

"Yes sir," was all they said in response.

He looked at them for a moment or two more before saying, "Welcome to Montana."

Once all the greetings were over with, he surprised me even more by turning and wrapping me in a hug that felt so good to me. I hadn't realized how much I missed them until now.

I just hugged him back until he said, "You think you might want to let me go someday," but it wasn't that comment that got me to release him, but the giggles I heard as I let him go and looked to find thirteen sets of eyes smiling at us and giggling.

"What?" I asked "You think you're the only ones who like hugs?" I asked innocently, which only got more giggles as Eric walked over and gave Derek and then Chris the same treatment which once again surprised two little boys who basked in the attention before he turned to their mom and wrapped her in a hug as well.

When he broke the hug he looked at her and said, "Samantha, I have a little problem that I was wondering if you could help me with?" he said hesitantly, as if he were really sorry to be bothering her and was afraid she would deny him any assistance.

"Sure Eric, what's wrong?" she asked him.

"Well, one of my deputies found a lost child, and he's kind of scared. I was kind of wondering if you could help out a bit with him?" he asked.

Samantha looked totally confused but before she could think, Eric took her by the arm and started leading her towards his Suburban.

All the kids were looking back and forth between them and me, and were all giving me intent looks, especially Sammy, as I watched the scene play out.

I walked slowly closer, being followed by everyone as Eric explained, "We just got him and haven't had time to get anyone to take him, with you coming in and all," he said as they got to the car.

"Would you help?" he asked.

"Of course, Eric," she said, as he pulled the door open and I could see movement from behind it, as a small form streaked out from behind the door and around it, throwing himself into Samantha's arms which had come out instinctively as he screamed "MOOOOOOOOOMMMMMMYYYYYYYYYYY!!!!!!!!"

The look of shock, wonder, surprise, disbelief and joy which moved across her face was priceless, as she whispered in complete surprise, "Matty?" not quite believing it.

At the same time, Derek and Chris realized who it was and as the shock faded, they both looked at me and then back at their brother and mother screaming, "MATTY?"

Samantha was just kissing him over and over again, twirling back and forth in pure ecstasy with the joy of being reunited with her youngest son, then he wiggled down and threw himself into Chris's wheelchair kissing and hugging his brother before launching himself into Derek's arms, almost knocking the older boy down with the surprise of it.

He certainly seemed to be a little dynamo I thought, as I watched him hug his brother crying, "I missed you Der," and giving him another kiss as Samantha looked on with tears running down her face.

I realized that all of us had tears in our eyes at what we were witnessing, and I for one, made no move to wipe them away. 

It was such a joyous sight.

"How?" Samantha asked, still in shock at this turn of events.

"You'll never believe it in a million years," Eric said, shaking his head, "Maybe they got scared or something," he added, piquing my interest.

Samantha looked bewildered before finally saying, "What do you mean?"

Eric still shaking his head said, "I was at home and the doorbell rang. When I answered it Matty was there asking for a 'Mr. Eric' and when I told him I was Eric he said 'My name is Matthew, will you take me to my mommy,' I said yes, and here we are," he told us.

"How did he get there?" Samantha asked, puzzled.

"I don’t know, he won't say, so all I can figure is the kidnappers dropped him off," Eric told us clearly puzzled, himself.

(No one noticed the looks the two visiting boys shared rapidly between themselves or the slight smiles and twinkling which existed in both their eyes at hearing that story.)

"I can't believe it, thank you, thank you so much," she said.

"I wish I could take the credit for it," Eric said, shaking his head. "It's the damnedest thing I've ever seen, almost like he appeared out of thin air," he added.

Derek walked over to me and said, "Matty, this is Mike," and I was looking into the most beautiful gray eyes flecked with gold imaginable. 

His gaze was intense and reminded me a great deal of Sammy as that gaze fixed on me.

I smiled and said "Well hello there, little one," to him. He smiled in return and held out his arms for me, so I quickly took him into them hugging him to me.

"You'we nice," he said. 

"Well thank you," I replied as he pulled back and resumed looking at me with those eyes.

"I think you have another convert," Samantha said, chuckling as I replied, "It would seem so," smiling broadly.

They were so special when they were small like this.

"Oh there is one addition to this I forgot to mention," Eric said, walking back over to the truck and reaching inside the back seat.

What the…

Then he came out with a small puppy, who looked to be a golden retriever in his hands as Matty screamed "Wusty!, Wusty!, Mommy that's Wusty" to an astonished Samantha, not to mention the group of kids staring at this newest addition.

Eric walked over to us and handed a very excited three year old what was apparently his equally excited puppy.

"Wusty, this is Mike, he's nice," he said to the young dog speaking to it as if he could understand him, which I thought was cute.

He then turned to everyone and said "His name's Wusty! I named him aftew my new bwothew Wusty, he's nice like you and Chwis is," he announced, looking at his brothers.

Clint and Ian meanwhile acted like they had choked on something, and I wasn't sure if they were laughing or not, it almost seemed like it, although I couldn't see what was so funny.

"Are you two okay?" I asked, which got rapid nods but they were still coughing and had tears running down their faces. 

I frowned, but didn't say anything further.

Derek asked suspiciously, "What do you mean your new brother?" 

Matty suddenly got a panicked look on his face and he buried his head in my chest mumbling "Nothin."

"Matty?" Derek asked.

"Enough, we'll talk about it later," Samantha suddenly said, looking at Derek who opened his mouth and looked like he was going to say something, but suddenly decided against it as he shut it again casting another glance at his brother.

There was no telling what Matty had been through in the past few months, and in time, I am sure we would learn more than we wanted to, but for now I agreed with Samantha and felt we should leave it alone.

I heard Chris whisper loudly to his mother, "What's with the weird talking mom?" and her reply "I don't know, son." 

"How are you doing, Mike?" Eric asked me, as I glanced at him standing next to me.

"Much better now," I replied.

"I can't leave you alone for a few days without you finding more kids or what?" he said jokingly to me.

I gave him a sour look but said, "It wasn't my idea," which just caused him to laugh some more.

"Matty, I want to introduce you to my bunch okay?" I asked gently.

"Okay" he said, looking out once again.

I went around starting with Sammy and introduced him to the kids, but was surprised that he seemed rather shy with them, even though he had gone right to me.

When I was done, he wanted down and I let him and watched as he walked over and crawled into Chris's lap where he took up residence, but I noticed that he was watching Sammy intently for some reason, and the feeling was being returned.

It was a strange sight as they just stared at one another but then the puppy wiggled out of Matty's grasp and ran over to Sammy jumping up on his leg clearly wanting to be picked up.

Sammy bent down to do just that, then stopped and looked again at Matty and asked "Is it okay?" 

Matty just looked at him before finally smiling and saying, "Yeah Wusty'd like that," and I watched as Sammy very gently picked the pup up and holding him close began petting him.

This went on for a few before Sammy walked over and very carefully returned the puppy to Matty and very seriously said, "Thank you for letting me hold him."

The puppy was sitting there watching this and I could have sworn he understood what was going on which was more than I did.

Matty just smiled at Sammy and said, "Youw nice too."

"Thanks, little guy," Sammy replied as I said, "Alright let's go."

"I'm hungry" Peter called out, followed by fourteen other boys chiming in with agreement.

Oh boy!

I laughed and said, "You always seem to be hungry" which earned glares from the bunch of them, as I said, "Clint is the only one here who is a teenager and can justify it though." 

"Yeah maybe we should just feed him," Eric said, as the glares turned to him and Clint.

"Hey, you trying to get me killed or something?" he asked, in mock horror.

"Well, I suppose we wouldn't want that now would we? So maybe we should all head out to a nice restaurant and eat," which was met with a chorus of yells supporting that idea.

I grinned as Eric said, "I have just the place in mind." 

“Oh no! Where?" I asked but he wouldn't answer me, just said, "Follow me boys," and we proceeded to get the two suburbans loaded and headed off to fill the bottomless pits.

I grabbed the handheld radio and turned it to our tac frequency and off we went.

It wasn't until we got off on the exit that I realized where we were going, that, and the big yellow sign.

“Oh no!”

We parked and the kids were out in a split second and heading for the entrance as Eric, Samantha and I worked on getting Brian and Chris out and into their wheelchairs.

We wheeled them in to find the manager, the same manager scolding the boys for being loud and the same waitress standing back a ways watching all this, with a smile on her face that only grew in intensity as she saw us enter the building.

The manager hadn't noticed us at first, but quickly did saying, "Are these…all…yours?" with great displeasure in his voice.

"Why yes, they are," I said, as he finally looked at us as he started speaking, "Then you need to…." And tapered off as he got a good look at us, sputtering and looking around helplessly.

Fish time again, as Sammy and the Trinity watched with glee.

"I quit" he said, before he stormed by us and out the door.

"Gee, was it something I said?" I asked into the dead silence as Eric and Sammy started laughing, joined by the Trinity.

The waitress came forward laughing as well and offered us seats which we took and we proceeded to decimate their buffet.

When the waitress brought the check, she laughingly said, "I think we'll have to close, you guys have eaten all the food," which earned her glares from the boys but only made her and us laugh some more.

We finally got out of there and headed for home. 

Eric had said his goodbyes to everyone at the restaurant and we told him we would get together tomorrow. 

He needed some time alone with the Trinity, and I couldn't blame him, so I was left with just my eleven and the two new ones, at least until later when Adam and company arrived.

Since Peter's surprising actions of that first day upon their arrival, there had been a rather amicable truce in effect. I don't think they were totally accepted, but they were gotten along with, even by Sammy.

As we pulled off the road and headed down the lane to the house, there were oohs and ahhs coming from the back from our newest family members.

I stopped, and everyone piled out of the suburban with the newest ones standing around taking everything in with disbelief on their faces.

"You live here?" Yuri asked in wonder as I said, "No honey, WE live here," watching the play of emotions on his face, as he registered the word "no" followed by the word "we" and the look of love that came across his face as he came up and threw his arms around me. 

I hugged him for a moment before saying, "Well let's get the stuff out and into the house." and went around to the back to begin the process. 

First of all I took out the wheelchairs, and placed Brian and Chris in them and then began to unload the stuff.

Soon enough, we had kids grabbing things and running into the house with them. Chris had stayed inside as had Matty and Peter but the rest were milling around watching Yuri, Nikolai and Alexei look at everything they could see from here.

Sammy walked up and said, "I think they kinda like it here." 

"Yeah, you might be right, I suppose," I responded slowly, which earned one of his patented Sammy looks but then the twinkle turned to one of stark terror in an instant which sent an icy tendril of fear down my spine as he cried out 

"NO!!!" 

Everyone's attention riveted on Sammy, as I started to bend down and ask "Sammy, what's wrong?" at the same time as Samantha asked "What is it?" 

I felt something push me back into the Suburban and watched as Samantha began to scream for some reason, as Sammy cried, "DAD!!!" in anguish.

What? 

The air filled with the screams of children, as I felt myself sinking down to the ground with my back against the Suburban and couldn’t seem to stop myself.

What was going on here, what happened? Was all that was running through my mind, as Samantha started toward me only to my horror to stop as a bright bloom of red appeared on her chest and she looked down in disbelief before slowly crumpling to the ground with Derek now screaming and running to her side.

Oh my God, she had been shot.

Sammy was at my side screaming, but it was all distant as things seemed to be happening to someone else.

"Dad, please Dad, no, no…!" he was crying and I tried to bring my hand up to him but nothing seemed to be working, as nothing happened.

I could see blurred figures in the distance, and tried to speak, but found that I couldn't breathe for some reason.

I couldn't seem to get anything out at first, but finally managed, "Sammy….run….kids…hide" struggling with every word.

"No Dad, no, I'm not leaving you," he cried and I noticed the pain filled eyes that were looking at me, overflowing with tears.

"Safe" I managed to gasp out as the blackness began to close in, and I knew I was leaving him "I…love…" was the last thing I recalled being able to utter, as the world receded from me and everything became black, that, and Sammy screaming one word in such pain that I could never begin to describe it.

"NOOOO!!!!"

---

Sammy

God, I didn't think we had this much stuff for crying out loud, I thought as I hauled another load of junk into the house. 

Chris along with Matty and Peter had stayed inside, wish I could too, but I guess that wouldn't be very fair I thought, as I went back for another load of stuff.

Chris was in a wheelchair after all and Matty was parked in his lap along with Peter who was apparently taking care of the puppy at the moment, so at least they had a good excuse I thought, as I smiled and went back outside again.

Finally I came back and there wasn't anything left to take in, so I walked over to stand by Dad who was watching Yuri and his brothers.

The look on their faces was really something I thought as I watched them looking at everything

"I think they kinda like it here," I said to Dad, and he told me real slow like he was thinking about it, "Yeah, you might be right, I suppose."

I turned to look up at him and found him smiling at me and knew he was just teasing me. Not even adults could be that dense, although those ladies from the trial made me stop and think about that statement.

Then suddenly, images were flooding into my mind, blood, lots of blood and dad lying on the ground covered in it.

It hit me so hard that all I could do was cry out, "NO!!!!" with the horror of it as Dad started asking me what was wrong.

Then it became real, as he staggered back against the car and with a look of surprise and confusion on his face began to slide down the side.

"DAD!!!!" I yelled, as Samantha began to scream as well.

Then I watched as a bright spot of spreading red appeared on her shirt and she got a look of shock and disbelief on her face before slowly falling to the ground.

No this couldn't be happening, it just couldn't.

I watched as Derek ran to his mother's side screaming as I looked at dad again.

No, no, no, no. 

Then I saw Ian bringing something up to his mouth and it looked like some kind of phone or radio.

I knew it, I just knew it, they were after us, after all, was the only thought running through my mind, as I jumped up and running, I put everything I had into the kick I sent into his arm knocking the object from his grasp as he cried out in pain and I could hear the snap of bones even over the screams.

"I told you not to hurt my family," I said through the tears, as I began to punch and finally grabbed his arm and swung him around bringing my foot up solidly into his chest hearing more bones snap.

He fell to the ground unmoving, as more shots rang out, but I didn't care as I ran to my father. 

I did notice that one of the bullets seemed to have taken out Clint which was a good thing, it saved me the trouble as I noticed him lying there as I fell down beside Dad.

"Dad, please, Dad, no, no…" I cried. Please, no, please was all I could think of to say.

The rage of moments before was gone and now bleak despair had taken its place. 

Why? 

I wished the anger back over this empty hole that was beginning to fill me.

"Don't die, please, Daddy" I begged, but he didn’t seem to hear me.

I watched as he seemed to have trouble breathing, but he finally said "Sammy….run….kids…hide"

I knew what he wanted, but I just couldn't leave him, I couldn't I thought as I looked around.

There were people running towards us now and the other kids were huddled together but the only thing left in my mind was Daddy, just Daddy.

"No, Dad no, I'm not leaving you," I told him, wiping my eyes, but he just looked up at me and said "Safe" as I shook my head. Oh God he couldn't breathe. I had to do something and reached down to his waist and found his radio pressing the bright orange button there. I tried to get it out of it's holster but wasn't having much luck, finally just keying the mic and yelling “Shots fired, please help us, Daddy…Daddy’s been shot,” before being unable to go on. Then Dad said "I…love…." And I looked up to find him leaving me.

"Daddy, I love you too, but you stay, don't leave me, please don’t leave me," but it was already too late.

All the world seemed to stop at that second and a hole blossomed inside of me growing more vast with each passing second, as I felt my entire heart ripped out of my chest. 

"NOOOO!!!!!" I screamed, as the world came crashing down upon me.

“You promised, you promised,” I cried up into the air. 

Sobbing, I just muttered again, “You promised.” 

"Sammy, Sammy we must get out," I heard as I looked up to find Yuri there screaming at me.

Dad wanted them safe and I knew I needed to try, as I pushed the blackness and that hole back for now, at least a little bit.

I knew it was there, but for now, I had something to do as I kissed dad one last time and got up.

I was crying so hard I couldn't really see, but I wiped my eyes and looked around taking in the end of our lives.

"We have to get everyone inside, until help gets here," I said, running now to Derek and pulling him away from his mother.

He fought me but I didn't let go of him as I yelled, "Get the others," and began dragging him towards the house.

I got him into the house and told him to stay put as Chris was yelling, asking questions that I didn't have the time to answer right now, as I ran back outside.

Yuri was running in with Alexei and Nikolai and I looked around quickly only then noticing Brian wheeling his wheelchair towards me.

"RUN SAMMY RUN" he screamed as I started towards him.

"NO Sammy, run," he called out seeing what I was doing but I yelled "NO, I won't leave you too," and felt the tears begin again, as I saw the people chasing him now.

They almost were on him when I felt someone pull on my arm dragging me back.

"You have to," Brian screamed as I lashed out and knocked whoever it was away.

"Sammy, you have to come, or they will get you," a voice said and I realized it was Yuri who had been pulling on my arm.

I knew he was right, but I still stood there as Brian cried out, "GO!"

I started backing up as Yuri grabbed me again but a man came up behind Brian and grabbed onto his hair yanking it causing the younger boy to cry out in pain.

"Stop right there" the man called and we froze as Brian screamed, "GO" again, which earned him another yank which almost pulled him out of his wheelchair.

"Leave him alone you fucker!" I screamed, but he just raised his gun and laughed.

"GO" Brian screamed again, and struck out hitting the man in his balls causing him to cry out and bring his fist to Brian's head.

Brian went flying from his wheelchair and didn't move as I screamed "BRIIIIIIIIAAAAAAAAAAN!!" but we began to run as the man fired his gun once again. 

I realized then, that Ronnie had broken out one of the windows on the second floor and started to fire his pistol. It looked like he took two guys down, before he had to find cover as people started to concentrate their fire on the window he was in.

I could see bullets hitting the house in front of us, as we reached the door and then searing pain in my arm as we went through the door and slammed it shut behind us.

I turned to find everyone crying and sobbing as I said "Run, upstairs and hide now. Don't come out for anyone but Uncle Eric." 

God it hurt. 

They just stood there and I screamed, "GO, GO, GO," as I could feel the pounding begin on the door behind us.

They all took off running as I grabbed the phone from it's cradle and said "Come on" going to Chris who looked scared to death.

"Get Matty somewhere safe and leave me" he said, as I got to him.

"Fuck that," I cried, the tears flowing again, "I ain't leaving no one else," I told him, I’ve left too many already, I thought as I looked towards the door and those who I hadn’t been able to help, before turning back and picking one side while Derek and Nikolai grabbed the other side and we all began to run up the stairs.

I had lost too much blood, and I was having to fight off that void every second now to keep going. 

I mustn’t think, I just couldn’t. 

I had to do the last that Dad wanted, to keep everyone safe, I wasn’t sure how I was going to do that, but I had to try. 

I had to.

I looked to the door and I knew the door wouldn't hold for long, but maybe Uncle Eric could get there before they got us, if we stayed hidden.

We got upstairs and I took them to a back bedroom, slamming and locking the door behind us only to find the others standing there as well.

All of us were in one place, as Peter said, "You're bleeding," causing me to look down and see the blood dripping fast to the floor.

A lot of blood, but I didn’t have time to deal with that right now.

"I'm okay," I said, but was surprised when Yuri said,"I am afraid that I am not," and I turned to see him sinking down to the ground next to the bed.

"Oh God, what's wrong?" I asked, kneeling by his side.

"I think a bullet found it's, how you say intended destination?" he said breathing hard and trying to chuckle a bit.

"No Yuri, please not you too," Chris cried out and I looked to see the pain on his face as he crawled over to the injured boy, taking him in his arms.

"It is not that bad, but it does hurt somewhat," Yuri replied as I ran to the bathroom and grabbed some towels.

I quickly pushed him forward and saw the blood drenching his back.

Oh shit, this was definitely bad.

I started putting towels on his back, where the blood seemed to be coming from and told Derek to press hard on them to stop the bleeding.

“You’re going to be alright Yuri, you hear me, you’re gonna be fine,” I said, not sure who I was trying to convince more, him or me.

“Time to get some help,” I heard and looked over to see Ronnie pressing some keys on a rather sophisticated looking two way hand held radio.

“Man Down!!!” He called into it, then added.

“We need help! It's a damned war zone down here! Adam, can you read me?!”

I heard Adam’s voice come back then, saying “I've got you, Ronnie, what's going on?”

Adam, we got a lot of tango's here, Dad's down, and just about everyone's been shot! I don't know what the....” Ronnie was saying when suddenly a loud squealing came from the radio.

“What the hell?” I asked

“They’re jamming us, but I think they got the message.”

“Good, help's on the way,” Derek said.

“You don’t understand, they won’t get here in time,” Ronnie said, looking down.

“Then it’s my turn,” I said.

I could still hear the pounding downstairs and knew soon that someone would think to break a window, and then we would be screwed.

I pulled the phone out and hit 0 

"Operator how may I help you?" a voice asked.

"This is an emergency, I need to be connected to Teri Short, in Orlando Florida right now," I said, feeling kind of funny as I sat down on the ground.

"You need to dial 00 for a long distance operator ma'am" the voice said.

Is this lady for real, Jesus Christ!

"Lady, this is an emergency, I don't have time to dial anything just connect the fucking call already" I screamed into the phone and a moment later heard a ringing sound as I looked at everyone standing or sitting around me.

"Who are you calling?" Chris asked 

"Help, I hope" I said desperately.

---

Meanwhile in Orlando

"TIMOTHY CHRISTIAN SHORT GET YOUR LITTLE BUTT DRESSED THIS INSTANT" a voice rang out to a giggling red head who was busy streaking at warp speed through the house.

"Yes grandma," the giggling five year old replied completely unrepentant as the phone began to ring in the hallway.

"I'll get it grandma," he called out and ran over to pick up the phone.

"Short residence this is Timmy speaking," he said into the phone as Terri walked into the hall towards the phone saying, "Timmy, I told you to get something on this instant, you can't go……" but stopped when she saw the sight which confronted her.

"Oh shit," was all she could say as she looked upon her youngest grandson in full war paint.

"DAAAANNNNN!!!" She screamed as Timmy streaked out the front door, Austin coming from the kitchen hot on Timmy's tail.

"They need help grandma" Austin yelled as he flew through the doorway.

Teri brought the phone to her ear to hear a young voice sobbing on the other end.

---

Sammy

"Short residence this is Timmy speaking" a little voice said on the other end of the phone.

"Please I need to speak to Mrs. Short, please," I said trying not to cry but not being able to stop either.

"We're gonna help you." the boy stated in a suddenly cold voice, then there was the sound of the phone being passed off to someone. I could swear I just heard an eagle screech in the background, as another voice screamed something and then came on the line.

"This is Terri Short, what's wrong?" the voice asked and there was so much warmth and caring in it that I broke down and crying, said, "Please, they shot my dad and Samantha and…please help us."

"Where are you?" the voice asked.

Just then I heard more shots being fired, a lot of them and then the door crashing in from downstairs.

"Oh God, they're in the house, please they're in the house. Everyone hide, go hide now, wherever you can, but hide and don't come out," I said, Terri forgotten as I watched the boys look at me and not move, "GO! You have to hide" I said again, crying and they left running to the closet or under the bed, anywhere they could, until it was just Chris, Derek, Yuri and I left.

I knew Chris wouldn’t leave Yuri and Derek wouldn’t leave his brother. 

I heard the voice say again urgently, "Where are you, we'll help but we have to know where you're at" 

"Montana" was all I got out as the bedroom door came crashing in as I said "They're here, please…save my family" only to see a man standing there smiling a smile that was anything but friendly.

---

Outside the house, Montana

"Ian" Clint gasped as he looked around for his brother and then the pain hit him.

Oh God no, not now. Crystal was all he could think of, Crystal and his babies as he clutched his stomach in agony.

No one had ever told him it hurt this much to be shot.

He found his communicator and as the blackness began to come back he found his brother nearby not moving and he felt the tears running down his face in despair, as he opened the communicator and pressed the emergency button gasping into it

"... under attack; lots of people down ...." finally collapsing back to the ground as the blackness finally overtook him as his last thoughts were of his baby brother and finally of the babies he would never know and the person he loved more than anything else on this Earth.

Crystal………

---

Inside the house

 

"Put the phone down," he said.

"Fuck you" I told him anger beginning to take the place of the fear and loss now.

It was all I had left.

"Oh it's not me who is going to get fucked, did you think you would be allowed to get away with what you did to us?" he said, pointing the shotgun at me, and I heard the most sinister sound imaginable as he chambered a round into it.

"Now put the phone down," he repeated as I just looked at him.

---

Orlando

I took the phone from Timmy and heard a young voice sobbing on the other end causing my heart to go out to him as I said "This is Terri Short what's wrong?" 

I head the voice break down and began to cry hopelessly as he begged "Please they shot my dad and Samantha and…please help us"

There was so much pain and anguish in the voice that I could feel the tears beginning to form as I asked "Where are you?"

As I said that I heard what sounded like gunshots, lots of them but before I could say anything the child came back ""Oh God they're in the house, please they're in the house." And then he began speaking to what was obviously someone else as he cried " Everyone hide, go hide now, wherever you can, but hide and don't come out," then, "GO! You have to hide." 

The sobs never stopped as I asked him, "Where are you, we'll help, but we have to know where you're at," We had to know that if we stood any chance of helping him.

"Montana" he replied, and then I heard a crashing sound as he whispered in a panicked voice, "They're here, please save my family."

I could hear an adult's voice say "Put down the phone," followed by the boy saying "Fuck you," very emphatically to the man. 

The kid had fire that was for sure.

Then in a chilling tone that sent dread down my spine, I heard "Oh it's not me who is going to get fucked, did you think you would be allowed to get away with what you did to us?" followed by what was the unmistakable sound of a shotgun being racked.

"Now put the phone down," the man said in the background and I trembled at the sound of his voice and what it portended for these children, but it was nothing compared to what I felt next at the chill that went down my spine as every intercom speaker in the house came to life. "RED ALERT! All divisions! RED ALERT! Security Personnel stand by for deployment! All Medical Personnel prepare for incoming casualties. Report status to Headquarters immediately. This is not a drill, attack in progress. Casualties HAVE been reported!"

---

Inside the house

Just then Matty came running out with Wusty on his heels yelling

“You leave my bwothews alone!!!” as he launched himself into the man who without even looking it seemed simply bent over slightly swinging his arm out and swatting the little boy out of the air like you would a fly.

I watched in horror, as Matty went flying across the room into the wall and could hear the sound of bones snapping without his agonized scream of pain which followed or my scream of “MATTY!!!” 

“Hey Asshole!!!” I heard, as I looked around to see Ronnie standing there with a gun raised and pointing at the man while Wusty was chewing on his leg, although the man didn’t seem to notice.

“Eat this” he said as he pulled the trigger.

I watched the man’s look of shock turn to one of surprise, and then amusement as the look of Ronnie’s face went from satisfaction to horror as he realized his gun was jammed and the man was bringing the shotgun up and around pointing it at him.

“My turn, and mine’s bigger” he said laughing, as I felt fury overtake me and dropping the phone I launched myself at him.

I crashed into him rabbit punching him but it was like hitting a brick wall for all the effect it seemed to have on him, and fury turned to horror as the gun went off and Ronnie went flying backwards, red blossoming on his upper left chest and arm as all of us screamed at what we had just witnessed. 

Then it was I who was flying backwards as he batted me away like he had done with Matty and I landed back on the others eliciting grunts of pain from them.

All I could see of where Ronnie had been, was blood spattering the wall behind where the boy had stood as I shook my head dazedly.

There was deathly silence after that for a second, as I watched in stunned fascination the barrel swing back around towards us and he said "Now where was I?"

All I could think about as I felt the tears running down my face was that this was it, I had failed to keep them safe, and all I could hope was that those in hiding would be okay until Uncle Eric got here cause we weren’t.

---

To Be Continued .....

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Author’s notes

Well here is the beginning of “All Hell Breaks Loose” This chapter brought many things to a close and also new beginnings. Wrapping up Mike and Sammy’s story of how they met and Sammy finally meeting the Trinity has brought that chapter to a close, and yet left some intriguing possibilities. Mike and his family finally made it home, but somehow I don’t think anyone could have foreseen this. The war is just beginning, so make sure you are up to date on everything in the CSU, because I think you’re gonna be in for one hell of a ride. 

I would like to thank ACFan, Jeff, and Roland for their help and characters which are used in this chapter. All of whom belong to their respective authors and are not mine. I also want to take a moment to thank ACFan for inviting me to become a part of the wonderful universe he created and join with such a wonderful family such as he has amassed in that universe, both character wise and author wise. He and Jeff along with Roland helped immeasurably with making this a reality and to them I owe a large debt of gratitude. Please read Memories, Sentenced to Life and The Unit if you are not or haven’t along with the other CSU stories all of which are great.

I must also thank my editors for this chapter, Darryl as usual, who makes this readable and Str8mayb who is taking over temporarily for the much missed TSL who is ill at the moment. Both are fantastic editors as well as writers in their own right. Thanks to Str8mayb for the use of a character from his story Haven located on the Padded Room.