Buckling her sons into their car seats Abby explained to Lucas that she would be with him all afternoon as they delivered the letters but she expected him to ask for a meeting with the appropriate person. She made sure he understood she would be right beside him but this was his responsibility to deal with and that she would not be 'helping' him out of any 'tight' situations.

Lucas closed his eyes and threw his head back against the seat. Maybe his eyelids and head position would keep the tears in that were threatening to spill once again. He couldn't remember the last time he'd cried so much. He didn't respond to his mother's "Do you understand?" and so she repeated it several times before he was capable of a whispered "I understand mommy."

Pulling up to the large police station had Luc's heart in his throat. The building itself was imposing let alone anyone who worked inside it. Abby carried Sam in his car seat as she held her eldest's hand, walking up to the main doors of the station. Both hesitated as the door opened automatically. Abby had to gently pull Lucas inside as his feet had decided that they weren't going to listen to his brains instructions to move forward.

Abby positioned herself behind her son as he very slowly approached the large front desk. He stopped just before the impending wooden structure and looked back at his mother, who simply nodded her encouragement.

"Can" his voice broke as his nervousness took over all aspects of his small 6 year old frame. He started again after swallowing. "Can I please speak to the police chief?" he finally got out at a speed that would rival only his mother's.

"Do you have an appointment?" the very young officer behind the desk asked.

"No, sir" Luc responded looking from the officer to his mother.

"The chief is in a meeting and you need to make an appointment to see him." The officer explained without really looking at the child to whom he was speaking.

"But I need to speak to him. I need…. to… apologize" Luc squeaked out.

The officer was becoming somewhat annoyed by the fact that the kid was being so insistent and his mother was standing there allowing him to continue when it was obvious that he wasn't going to get into see the chief. But in those few seconds where he was actually looking at the child he realized that the face seemed very familiar, yet it took another minute or so before he made the connection. "You're the kid in the amber alert from yesterday, aren't you?" the officer finally inquired.

Lucas was not at all impressed that the policeman remembered him from yesterday. He was really hoping that after all this mail delivery he would get to forget the whole horrible incident. He nodded in the affirmative, taking furtive glances over his shoulder at his mother who seemed unaware of his rising un-comfort. "Well then I might be able to convince the chief to take a break from his meeting to talk with you."

The 6 year old wasn't sure if he was happy about that outcome or worried, none the less the faster he gave the letter to the man the faster he would be back in his car where he would be temporarily safe and secure.

Waiting anxiously the boy shifted his weight from foot to foot fidgeting with the now very crumbled envelope in his hand. When the large, uniformed chief of police approached him he had to keep himself from hiding behind his mother's skirt. He was used to having large men around, all of his 'family' were over 6 feet tall and they all carried a gun, but for some reason this man seemed bigger and scarier. The chief having had 3 boys of his own, although now all were fully grown, understood how his enormous stature as well as his profession could cause anxiety and he knelt down to be closer to Lucas' level.

"My officer here tells me you needed to talk to me" the chief said pointing at his young counterpart behind him.

Swallowing hard and trying to find his words Luc just nodded. After a few seconds and a gentle nudge from his mother Lucas handed the letter over to the man. Taking the envelope and opening it he quickly read the letter.

Dear Sir

I am very sorry that I went missing and didn't follow the rules I am very sorry that you and all your people had to spend all day looking for me and my brother sam I am very sorry I did those things

Lucas James Garret McGee

ps my mom wants me to say that I can take any more punishment that you think I need

The chief looked over the letter several times. The pencil marks smudge in several locations where the boy had erased errors or other words and written over them. The paper so crumbled it was almost ripped. The older man heart was breaking for this little guy. He looked so forelorn, so lost, so repentant. He wanted to scoop him up in a great big hug and tell him he was so happy that it was just that he had run away, that he was so happy that the story had a fairy tale ending. He wanted to tell the child how much he reminded him of his own eldest who had hidden for hours in the back shed because he'd broken his mother's lamp.

Instead the chief looked to the mother, who carried her infant in a car seat, watching her 6 year old with the eyes of a woman who meant business. She was there on a mission and he had to play his allotted role even if he didn't want to.

"Well, young man, it seems that you caused quite a stir yesterday" he put on his best fatherly voice he could.

"Yes, sir. I'm real sorry." Luc answered fighting tears and trying to stay calm.

"You're sorry are you now?" the man continued, looking to the mother and the other officer who had moved out from behind the desk.

"Yes sir" Luc's gaze following the chief's. "Are you going to put me in jail?" Luc asked quietly.

Again the older man guarded his natural response of 'of course not' and instead stated "I don't think that will be necessary do you?" turning the question back to the boy.

"No sir. I won't ever not follow the rules again and go missing" Luc's words falling out of his mouth at break neck speed "I won't ever I promise I really do".

"You promise no more kidnapping, truancy or misleading your care givers?" he asked in a tone that was reminiscent of an interrogation. Luc's eyes got wide and the large tears finally escaped and rolled down his face. "I…. I never kidnapped no one… and I… I won't do those other things ever" Lucas stammered still trying to wrap his mind around the words the man had used.

"Did you or did you not take Sam without his parents' consent?" the chief asked officially. "Did you or did you not cut class all day yesterday? And did you not mislead those who were caring for you about your situation?"

The young boy couldn't even come up with how he was supposed to answer those questions instead he stood staring at his sneakers, tears rolling down is face in such quantity that they were dropping onto the tile floor with small splashes.

No longer able to play 'bad cop' the chief gently lifted the boys chin with his forefinger, smiled a warm caring smile and explained "I think that you have definitely learned your lesson and I don't think you will be going too far from home any time soon. So… I think this letter of apology covers everything and you are free to go."

Luc's sigh of relief was probably heard 10 miles away. He hazarded a quick smile at the man kneeling in front of him and when the man's smile grew even bigger Lucas threw himself at the man and gave him a big hug. "Whoa there little fella, what was that for?"

"For finding us and not putting me in jail." The little boy explained as he took his mother's hand and the family walked back out to the car leaving the chief kneeling in the foyer.