"All right, spill. Why do you both look so sad?" Erin asked as she curled up against him on the sofa.

"This is an awful case, Erin. Dave doesn't want me to talk about it, and I don't blame him. You really do not want to know the details. I just, I didn't realize that this would be the case that would make my heart hurt so much."

Erin nodded and reached her hand out to Penelope. Hesitantly, the younger woman clasped it, letting Erin pull her down onto the sofa. "I've had cases like that. They come few and far between, but when they hit you, they just take the wind from your sails. Is that why you decided to spend the night?"

She nodded and Erin laughed gently. "I just want to be surrounded by people who make me happy. You happen to be one of those people. Dave, though, I'm not too sure about." She looked around Erin and winked at him. "So, did I hear something about making Monday a movie night?"

"Uh huh." Tabitha came in, already in pajamas, her pillow and blanket in hand. "We're watching Calendar Girls. Have you seen it?" Penelope shook her head, and Tabitha grinned. "Great! You'll love it! Especially when Brucie blushes like a little boy at the hint of old lady boobs!"

"Oh, god, Tabby-cat, not that movie again. You know I don't like it."

Bruce came in and plopped down in the recliner, pouting a little, and Dave smiled. "Sometimes, we have to humor the women in our lives, Bruce. God knows anything is worth seeing your mom smile again." Penelope sighed lightly, and he looked at her, grinning at her. "So, do I make you happy now, Kitten?"

"Very much so." They settled in to watch, Karen joining them half way through and sitting in front of her mother, letting Erin braid her hair as the movie played on. Dave found himself relaxing as his family enjoyed the movie, the dreck of the day fading into the background.

By the time the movie had ended, Bruce and Karen were sleeping, Karen's head on Erin's knee. "Should we wake them?" he asked lowly, rubbing Erin's shoulder.

"I'm not sure how much good that would do. Penelope's asleep here, too. It's not going to be the most comfortable night we've spent, but I'm content to just be if you are," she whispered, her hand drawing patterns on his chest.

"I'll go get us blankets and pillows," Tabitha said lowly, getting up off the floor.

While she was gone, Dave used the opportunity to kiss Erin, listening to her intake of breath as the kiss lingered on. "I love you. I am so glad that you are not here for this case, I think it would destroy you." He kissed her once more, only to hear Tabitha lightly cough. "What, I can't kiss my girlfriend now?"

"Well, I don't mind the kisses, but…I noticed something weird on the porch, when I let Mudgie out to do his business."

She looked thoroughly spooked and Dave frowned, gently scooting out from underneath Erin. "I'll be right back, bella."

"I know, honey." She kissed him once more and he followed after Tabitha, wondering what had unsettled her so. He was still getting used to her flightiness, her playfulness, that this side of her surprised him. And then, Tabitha stopped and wrapped her arm around his waist.

"What is it?" he asked soothingly, and she shook her head before burying her head against his shoulder. "Tabby, you can tell me."

"I forgot to let Mudgie back in. What if he ran away? It will be my fault. Mama always tells me that I'm too flighty, too irresponsible. I'll never forgive myself if something happens to him, Papa Dave." She began to cry, and he pulled the fourteen year old close to his chest, letting her sob. He knew that this was still some of the residual emotions from Erin's ordeal, and he wished that he could take away this pain that she carried inside.

"Oh, peanut, he's a good dog, he knows to stick around the house. Don't worry, I'm sure that everything is fine." He kissed the crown of her head and led her over to the door. The moment he opened it, he felt an odd sense of foreboding sweep over him and he disentangled himself from her, stepping out onto the porch. "Mudgie! Here, boy!" he called out, expecting the dog to come up to his side.

"See, I told you…" Tabitha's voice broke off into a startled gasp before she started to scream. Dave's hand instantly went to his gun as he made his way to her side, letting her collapse against him, beating against his chest as she sobbed. Within minutes, the porch light had snapped on and Erin and Penelope were on the porch as well.

"David, what…Mudgie!" Erin hurried over to the dog's side, picking up his head and cradling it in her lap. "What happened?" she asked, her voice husky with tears.

Dave shook his head, trying to take in the carnage. It looked as if someone had attacked his dog, blood was pooling underneath his body, staining Erin's pants a deep red. "I don't know. It looks like he's been stabbed."

Tabitha clung to him even tighter, her cries never lessening. "Why, why would someone kill our dog, Papa Dave? Why didn't I let him back in?"

Her words broke his heart and he rubbed her back gently. "You didn't do this, Tabitha, I promise. Peanut, it's not your fault."

She shook her head. "It is. I was the stupid, flighty, flibbertigibbet, again. If I hadn't been creeped out, I would have called him back in, rather than come to find you. I'm sorry."

Erin looked up at them, her face lined with sorrow. "Tabitha Margaret, this is not your fault. Did you pick up a knife and commit the act?" Her daughter shook her head. "Did you ask someone to do this for you?" Again, she shook her head against his chest, and he sighed, knowing their words weren't sinking in. "Baby, it's not your fault, I promise."

"But who would do this to us?" she whispered quietly, her knees buckling. Dave was quick to catch her, helping her to the porch and holding her close as they rocked back and forth. "Who would want to hurt us?"

"I don't know, peanut."

"Can I sleep with you and Mama tonight? I don't want to be alone."

"Yes, you may, peanut. Come on, let Penelope take you back into the house while your mom and I take care of Mudgie. I love you."

"I love you, too, Papa Dave." She pressed her lips against his cheek in a quick kiss before letting Penelope help her to her feet. When they had entered the house, he made his way over to Erin and wrapped her up in his arms.

"Davie, why does everyone seem intent on hurting us? What have I done to warrant this cruelty?" she whispered as she burrowed close to him, filling the spot Tabitha had so recently left. "I'm so sorry that I've dragged you into the mess that is my life." She began to sob quietly, the muffled cries tugging at his heartstrings and making his own tears flow. "You deserve someone much better for you."

"Hush, Erin Elizabeth. You are what's best for me. You've given me a family, you've given me love. There is nothing more in this world that I could ask for." He kissed her head and then helped her to her feet. "Do you want to help me bury Mudgie? I should take care of that tonight, so that the coyotes don't scavenge."

She looked up at him, her eyes glittering with tears. "All right. There's a flashlight in the garage, right?" He nodded and she drifted off in that direction while he picked up the body of his beloved dog, cradling it to his chest.

"Papa Dave!" He turned his head and saw Tabitha standing in the doorway, and he nodded to her. She rushed out to his side once more. "I want to help, too. Tell me what to do."

"In the garage, there's a shovel. We'll need that." She nodded and ran off and he gave Penelope a helpless look, knowing that she was would understand. Nodding, the other woman moved off, and he knew that Karen and Bruce would join them soon to lay their dog to rest.