October 1991
The ambulance pulled away and the young girl clutched the teddy bear in her hands. The police officers stood by the wrecked car ten feet away from the small girl. Tears ran down her face as she stared at the wrecked car. "Luckily the little girl was in a car seat, it saved her live." One police officer said to the other.
"What are we doing about her anyways?" The other asked.
"A social worker will be picking her up at the hospital. Will you drive her over and stay with her till then."
The second officer rolled his eyes. "Yeah, I love to baby-sit." He said.
"Murphy lighten up, she's five years old, and just lost both of her parents."
"Alright I will." He said and walked over to the little girl.
He neared the little girl. "Hey little girl, what's your name?" Murphy asked.
She looked up, her blue eyes welling with tears. "Ashley." She said in a soft voice.
"Well Ashley, my name is Murphy. I am going to take you to the hospital. Is that okay?" He asked in a gentle voice.
She nodded slowly and then looked at the bear in her hands. "Can Thor come with us?" She asked.
Murphy smiled. "Of course he can." He said and held out his hand.
An hour later Murphy still sat with the young girl in the hospital waiting room. "So where were you going tonight?" He asked.
"We were going to see my Uncle."
"You're Uncle?" Murphy asked. The sergeant had not said anything about an Uncle. Usually only social workers came to get children with no living relatives.
"Yup he's my daddy's best friend!" She said with a smile. "He beats people up for a living."
Murphy sat confused but did not ask any questions. That is when he saw the social worker, a prim and proper woman with a bald man. The man wore a tank top and cut off shorts. "Steve!" She called and ran over to him. Murphy looked up in surprise; there stood Stone Cold Steve Austin.
"Hey Ash." He said and patted her head.
The social worker smiled sadly. "It's time to tell her sir."
Steve nodded sadly. "Come sit over here Ash." He said and moved towards the waiting chairs. They sat down and Steve smiled at her. "Ash, I have to tell you something very important."
"Ok." She said with a smile.
"Ashley you know how ya'll were in a car wreck?" He asked softly. She nodded. "Well your Mama and your daddy didn't make it sweetie. They are in heaven now."
"Heaven?" She asked quietly. "Like Gran and Papa and Nanny and Grandpa?"
Steven nodded. "Yes like your Grand and Papa." He said.
The tears started to come to her eyes. "I won't ever see them again?" She said her bottom lip beginning to quiver.
Steve nodded. "Yeah Ash." He said. She collapsed into his arm sobbing.