Prologue:

The day that Martin walked in to my life, was a day that my life changed forever.

Simon was worried about leaving for college and…well I guess we weren't being very supportive. I believe that he wanted us to be more supportive than we were, make a bigger deal about his going away. We probably should have. But I think we were all just a little too wrapped up in our own lives to notice how badly he wanted us to make a fuss about his going away.

Anyway, that day that we first met Martin, no one really knew who he was. We all just assumed that he was another one of Simon's friends since lots of different people were dropping in all the time. I guess that's the problem with being the daughter of a Reverend; people are always wandering into our house. Anyway, at the time, I didn't even realize what a big part of our lives Martin would become. What a big part of my life he would be….

Part 1

"Ruthie!!"

"Luce-Lucy what is it?" Ruthie asked, running up to the attic.

"Oh Ruthie it-it's awful!"

Ruthie rolled her eyes. Lucy had a tendency to be over dramatic. She stopped just at the top of the stairs. "Lucy, just calm down and tell me what happened. Please?"

"Kevin-Kevin's in the hospital!" Lucy cried.
Ruthie froze then ran over and knelt in front of her sister. "Lucy, are you sure? I mean…."

"AM I SURE?" Lucy screamed, "WHAT DO YOU MEAN RUTHIE? OF COURSE I'M SURE!!!"

Ruthie sat, at a loss with how to deal with her emotional sister. Luckily, she was saved from having to when footsteps were heard on the stairs telling her that help was coming.

"Lucy? Ruthie? What on earth is going on up here?" Annie asked. "Why are you shouting?" Catching a glance of Lucy's face however, Annie gasped. "Lucy, wh-what's the matter?"

"Oh Mom!" Lucy cried, running over to her mother and hugging her. "Mom, Kevin--he's—he's in the hospital!"

Annie held Lucy away at arm's length, looking at her third child. "Lucy, calm down and tell me what happened."

"I-I just got a call from Roxanne saying that they were called to a domestic dispute and Kevin got hurt. She-she called from the hospital and asked me to come down."

"Oh Luce," Annie sighed. "Well, I'm sure that everything is fine. Did Roxanne tell you exactly what was wrong?"

"No."

"Did she say he was seriously injured?" Ruthie put in.

"No," Lucy glared at her sister. "But she was probably just trying to spare my feelings."

Annie smiled a little, but hid it behind her hand. "Well Lucy, I think Roxanne would tell you if there was something seriously wrong."

"Mom, Roxanne wouldn't want to upset me!"

Annie rolled her eyes but managed to keep a straight face. "Lucy, maybe you should just go down there and see what's going on. I think maybe you're making too big a deal out of this."

Lucy glared at her mother and grabbed up her jacket. "Yeah? Well maybe I will! Daaaad!"

A few minutes later, a disheveled Eric parked in the hospital parking lot.

He had barely stopped the car before Lucy jumped out.

"Lucy!!!" Eric called.

Lucy stopped mid-stride, knowing that her father wanted her to wait. Her eyes were frenzied and her hair was flying out in all directions. "Come on Dad. I need to know what's going on. Please!"

Eric rolled his eyes, but took the keys out of the ignition and hurried after his frantic daughter. "Now Lucy," he said, when he caught up her, "You have to calm down. I'm sure that Kevin is all right. Let's go ask at the front desk and see if they have him registered here."

Lucy nodded and ran to the front desk stopping to talk to the woman sitting there.
"Can I help you Miss?" she asked, looking up, her curly black hair bouncing.

"Yes, yes. My name is Lucy-Lucy Kinkirk. My husband is Kevin Kinkirk. He's a police officer? His partner called and said he was admitted?"

The woman nodded. "All right Mrs. Kinkirk just one minute and I'll check my records for you."

"Thank you," Lucy breathed, turning back to her father. "She's checking the records."

Eric nodded. "Yes Lucy, I heard."

"You heard. Of course you heard. Have you found my husband yet?" Lucy asked, turning back to the woman.

She shrugged. "I'm sorry Mrs. Kinkirk, but your husband wasn't admitted here. He probably only had some minor injuries or he hasn't been recorded yet. Why don't you sit down and wait for his doctor to come out. I'll make a call and see if anyone has treated him."

"You mean you don't know where he is?" Lucy's voice rose to an almost hysterical pitch.

She leaned forward and grabbed the woman's hands. "Listen-" she checked the woman's name tag, "Listen Alice. A-are you telling me that you lost my husband? Are you telling me that you LOST MY HUSBAND??" Lucy screamed.

"Lucy!" Eric was shocked. He grabbed his daughter away from the front desk. "I'm sorry," he said to Alice.

The woman shrugged. "Not to worry, I've seen other policemen's wives before."

Eric smiled and led Lucy to a chair. "Now listen to me young lady; you need to calm down. I'm sure that Kevin is just fine."

Lucy rolled her eyes. "Don't you get it, Dad? Kevin may be dying and I'm not with him!" tears filled Lucy's eyes. "I don't know why Roxanne won't tell me more."

Eric put his arm around Lucy's shoulders. "Lucy, Roxanne would have told you if something was really wrong. I'm sure of it."

"Dad, what was she gonna say, 'Your husband's got a bullet hole in his forehead and you can see the sky'? I mean, honestly, he's a policeman! His job is dangerous. I just-I just hope he's—Kevin!!!" Lucy cried, jumping to her feet.

Kevin sighed a little and glared down at his partner. "I told you not to call her," he muttered to Roxanne.

"Awww come on Champ," Roxanne smiled, punching Kevin lightly in the arm. "You just handled an angry woman with a knife, you can handle one hysterical wife."

"I am not hysterical!" Lucy cried as she hugged Kevin, causing him to wince. "Ooops, sorry!" she backed away. "But are you all right? What happened? Who did—a woman??" Roxanne's words seemed to sink in. "A WOMAN did this to you?"

Kevin looked down and nodded. His split lip was swelling a little his black eye was getting blacker by the minute, his shoulder was damn sore and even though the doctor said he was fine, he was sure that a rib or two had been cracked.

"Kevin was taking care of the husband," Roxanne said. "I was…talking to the wife, trying to calm her down. I didn't see the knife," she looked down, shame faced. "I should have watched the wife closer."

"You did a great job," Kevin reassured Roxanne. "How were you supposed to know that the wife was so steamed?"
"That's the point!" Roxanne protested. "It's my JOB to assess a situation. I shouldn't have let her get so close to you or the husband. If it wasn't for you, it would be the husband who was in the hospital. And probably with more injuries."

Lucy cleared her throat. "Well, umm, now that we're sure that you're okay…."

Kevin smiled. "Yeah Lucy, don't you worry, I'm okay. I should probably get back to the station and write up the report."

Lucy nodded. "Okay Kev well, I'm gonna go home now…when will you be home?"

Kevin kissed Lucy on the cheek. "Later. I'm not sure what time. But in time for supper, I promise."

"Well, I'll just take Lucy home then," Eric put in, speaking up for the first time. "I'm glad you're okay, Kevin. Lucy, ready to go?"

"Okay," Lucy smiled. "Thanks for calling me Roxanne. And for staying with Kevin."

"Anytime Luce, anytime."