Inside the Children's home, Samantha has Coraline tied up and bound to a chair.
Samantha has a gun pointed at the woman, "Alright start talking. What did you do to the little girl my friend's found sobbing in the closet?"
"Nothing. I would never hurt her. Like I said, she's my daughter. I was disciplining her, but it's proven very difficult." Coraline explained "She's a strong-willed little girl."
Samantha places her finger on the trigger, "Would you like to try that again? This time with the truth."
Coraline started at Samantha shocked as she gulped and feared for her life, "Look, I did tell you the truth."
"Then why don't I believe you?" Samantha questioned
"Because you have trust issues." Coraline replied being snarky
Samantha shook her head, "I wouldn't be a smartass if I were you. I have a gun pointed to your head."
"Well you wouldn't shoot me, especially with all the kids still left here." Coraline stated confidently
Samantha sighed softly. The woman wasn't wrong. She was here to save the kids, not scare them. She wasn't really going to shoot Coraline.
After their plane landed at JFK airport, John is driving to Harold's when he hears the man's voice on his bluetooth.
"Mr. Reese, are you Miss Shaw and Miss Grooves on your way back with the kids?" Harold wondered
"Um…" John started "Shaw and I are on our way back. Root stayed back to question the lady, and to protect the kids we couldn't bring with us.
Harold took in the information, "Okay. How many kids did you bring with you?"
"Eight." John replied
"Alright. I need you and Miss Shaw to split up. I'll have the Machine provide another car." Harold informed "And hurry back, Mr. Reese."
John sighed, but didn't say a word.
"What's the matter, Captain America?" Sameen wondered from the back row
"Finch needs us to split up." John stated
Ten year old Sarai furrowed her eyebrows, "But we only have one car."
"That's the least of our worries." Sameen assured the girl
"Who are you people?" Fourteen year old Eileen asked worried
John and Sameen both thought about a response, but John replied first, "We're the good guys. We're here to help, because you're all in danger."
"By whom?" Desmond wondered
"We don't know yet, Desmond. Our friend Finch is trying to figure that out." Sameen told the kid
Desmond nodded, but then added, "I don't like to be called Desmond. I prefer Buck."
The car was silent except for two soft 'okays' from John and Sameen.
Back at the Children's home, Samantha is startled by a small pair of arms wrapping themselves around her legs.
"Who is on my legs?" Samantha asked a little annoyed
The little girl, three year old Nola Preskar looked up and giggled, "I Nola. I three."
Samantha looked down and gave a nod as she discretely put her gun away. She reaches down and picks up the little girl, "Do you want to play a game?"
Nola nodded vigorously, "Yes!"
"Alright let's play hide and seek." Samantha told the girl "You hide and I'll find you."
"Okay." Nola replied before Samantha set her back down and then she ran off to hide.
Free of the little toddler, Samantha turned back to Coraline.
"Tell me the truth about your relationship with the girl in the closet." Samantha requested
Coraline took a breath and finally surrendered, "Okay, okay. Her name is Maisie Eden Miller and she's a wonderful little girl."
Samantha looked straight into the woman's eyes like she was looking into her soul. It's spine shuddering to Coraline, and Samantha asked, "Then why is she so scared of you?"
Coraline sighed, "Look it's been tough for Maisie. She's a difficult child. I've been trying to help her and retrain her to trust, but she won't listen. She was brainwashed by her mother."
"Why? Why would a mother brainwash her own child?" Samantha questioned "If any of this is even true."
"Maisie's 'mother', who was killed six months ago, kidnapped Maisie from me." Coraline explained "I was telling the truth when I said Maisie is my daughter. I'm her real, biological mother. The woman who raised her for six and a half years was my older sister who hated me and wanted my daughter to hate me too. She turned our parents against me too."
Samantha pulled her gun and pointed it at Coraline's head again, "Give me a reason not to blow your brains out right now."
"If you untie me, I have something to show you that will prove Maisie is my daughter." Coraline stated "I promise this isn't a trick. I won't hurt you."
Samantha thought for a moment, before speaking into her bluetooth, "Harry, you still there?"
"I'm here, Miss Grooves." Harold spoke up
"What of you know about the Children's home caregiver Miss Coraline?" Samantha inquired "Victim or Perpetrator?"
As Harold types on his computer, "I'm still trying to figure it out. It seems Miss Coraline isn't too fond of social media. She's keeping under the radar."
"Check and see if she had an older sister." Samantha instructed
"I'll add it to my to-do list, Miss Grooves." Harold informed her "I have to go now. I'm getting another call."
Harold clicks on the bluetooth to answer his incoming call, "Hello Miss Shaw, I trust that you and Reese have split up?"
"Yes we did." Sameen responded "I have four kids with me and he has four kids."
"Okay how can I help you, Miss Shaw?" Harold wondered
Sameen took a breath, "What do I need for a fourteen year old girl, a seven year old girl, a five year old boy, and a two year old girl?"
"Well the seven year old needs a booster seat, the five year old and the two year old need carseats. The fourteen year old should know what she needs." Harold explained "And all people need clothes, socks, shoes, etc. The essentials, Miss Shaw."
Sameen shook her head, "Okay, okay, you don't need to treat me like I'm stupid. This is new to me." Then she added, "One more question. Should the two year old be rear facing?"
"Um…yeah I guess." Harold replied
"Thanks Finch." Sameen responded gratefully.
Meanwhile with John, who is at a Target store. He has Mackenzie in the cart and is carrying Symone on his hip, while Sarai and Desmond, aka Buck, walk by his side. His phone buzzes as he is walking through the store, he pulls the cart to the side and reads the text that he just got from Sameen. It was a list of things to get for the four kids she had with her.
"Okay Buck, I want you to take Symone to pick out some clothes, socks, shoes, and a few toys and books. And then pick out some stuff for yourself." John instructed "Do you think you can manage that?"
Desmond nodded as he took Symone from John, "Yes Sir."
"What about me?" Sarai wondered
"You get to stay with me. We'll get you some things and then you can help me pick out stuff for Mack." John explained "Does that sound good?"
Sarai shrugged, "I guess."
John headed to the girls section and let Sarai pick out a few outfits, a couple pajamas, books, a couple toys, shoes and socks. She was quiet the whole time. She didn't speak up until she was done and John was heading to the baby section.
"Um John, where are you taking us?" Sarai asked "Like after we leave the store."
"Somewhere safe." John assured her "We have another friend that Sameen and I mentioned who is going to help us keep you safe."
Sarai gave a nod, "The other lady that was at the Children's with you and Sammy?"
John shook his head, "No. It's a different friend. You'll meet him later."
"Oh okay." Sarai replied
John let Sarai pick out clothes, pajamas, socks, and toys for Mackenzie, while he picked up two rear facing carseats (for Mackenzie and Marielle), two forward facing carseats (for Charlie and Symone), and two booster seats: one backless (for Sarai) and one with the back (for Maisie). Then he picked up a bouncer for Mackenzie and two pack in plays for Marielle and Symone.
In the car with Sameen on the drive to Harold's, the car is quiet until Maisie breaks the silence.
"Sammy?" Maisie called
"What's up, kid?" Sameen wondered
Maisie took a breath, "I like you. You're nice."
Sameen smiled softly, "Thanks kid."
Suddenly Marielle started to cry.
"Sam, Mari is hungry." Eileen announced
"Okay well we are almost to are destination." Sameen assured as she pulled into a place where she could park the car. Then she got out of the car and opened the door for the kids to get out, "Alright we're here. Let's get out of the car. My friend Finch will have food at his house."
Eileen nodded as she carefully got out of the car, "Thank you." Then she whispered to Marielle, "I'll get you food in just a moment, Mari."
Back with John at Target, he's gotten everything he needs for the kids and is in the check out line when Mackenzie starts crying.
John picks Mackenzie up out of the cart, "What's the matter, baby girl? Are you hungry?"
"You're kids are beautiful. You look like a great father." The cashier commented as John is paying for his merchandise
"Thank you." John replied politely
After paying, John and the kids headed to the car. Desmond gets into the back row with Sarai, who places her booster seat down before buckling up. John installs the carseats for Mackenzie and Symone, before buckling Mackenzie into her rear facing carseat and then lifting Symone up to place him into his forward facing carseat and fastening the straps.
Then John loads the stuff from the cart into the trunk of the car, before hopping into the driver seat and driving off.