AN: Thank you for all of the reviews you have given this story. Some incidents referred to occurred in my previous story, Mending Fences. I have decided, for the time being, to treat Kara as an only child. While I mentioned her siblings in the last story, they will not be present here. I am bring them back in the future, and I may also include Joy. She would certainly knock Kara off her game! Enjoy!

Somewhere in the early morning hours, David decided to take it upon himself to inform his wife of their child's misdeeds. He figured it would make it easier on Kara to not have to witness her mother's initial reaction which, as he expected, was one of horror, fear, and disappointment. The outrage quickly followed but that first one he would let Erin experience privately, and maybe protect Kara from it as well. Her mother's well-being always caused Kara worry and, as upset as he was with her at this moment, she didn't need that compounding the situation. He also wanted some time alone with his wife to discuss the matter and make sure that they were both on the same page before encountering Kara again. He did not regret the things he said to her only hours earlier, but also realized that there was more at play here then a young adult testing her boundaries and behaving badly. He was leaning against the dresser giving Erin plenty of room as she finished readying herself for the day and venting her feelings about this latest predicament

"This is crazy! Why would she be shoplifting? She has money."

"I don't think it's about the money, Erin."

"I didn't raise her to steal," her volume was increasing as she tried in vain to locate an earring. "She knows better than this. What the hell was she thinking? How many times has this happened?"

"Several is a good guess."

"Unbelievable! I'm going to shake her!"

"Well, I played bad cop last night, so you're going to have to be the good one."

"Oh, I don't think I can do that. Did you at least shake her for me?" She stopped pacing and looked at him, and that was all it took for her resolve to break.

David crossed the room and caught her as her face crumbled. "No, baby, I did not shake your daughter." He held her for a few moments as she sobbed, and didn't let go until she pulled back.

"Why is she doing this?" They both moved to sit on the edge of the bed.

"I think she is using this as a means of escaping her anxiety. She said it started soon after the incident following the party."

That caused Erin to turn intently to her husband. "Are you saying this has to do with the PTSD? Dr. Gorham said she had that."

"Stealing is not a symptom of PTSD, but she could be using it as a way to alleviate the symptoms that are, like the anxiety. Can you call Dr. Gorham today? She needs to continue with her therapy. That is really her best bet."

"I'll call her when I get to work and see how soon she can get Kara in. But Kara's resisting the therapy. Dr. Gorham is trying to get her to relive the trauma, and she refuses."

"OK, well we can add that to the list of things we need to discuss. Reliving the trauma is not fun, but it is the quickest way for her to start to feel better. This is going to be a long road for all of us."

"We should probably get to it then." Erin said rising from the bed. "I have to meet with the director at ten and I need to see Kara first."

David rose and kissed her on the lips before following her down the stairs.

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Kara had taken her cup of coffee to the patio and watched the sun rise. Sleep would not come to her after David had led her back to bed, so she had risen early and tried to physically distance herself from her parents as much as possible without actually leaving the house. The patio was a good spot. Most of the morning she spent praying that David would fill her mother in on the situation before they came downstairs. It wasn't her mother's wrath she was worried about. She could handle that, she had plenty of times. She also knew that she deserved it. Her mother's initial reaction was what she wanted to avoid. The disappointment and the shame. Those were the things she couldn't bear to see in her mother's eyes. Dave usually had the ability to calm her mother when no one else could, so Kara was hopeful that this was the route he would take.

The rest of her early morning hours were spent thinking about what Dave had said. There were so many things she knew he wanted her to be contemplating, but one comment stuck in her mind and she couldn't let go of it. I am not abandoning you. She kept hearing his voice saying those words and she was having difficulty processing them. He wouldn't abandon her. Like everyone else had. Everyone else. Her mother had abandoned her to the alcohol years ago and she lived with that for a long time before the rehab. Her mother would be standing right in front of her, talking to her, but the alcohol had her attention, not Kara. She had been so alone during that time. She had dealt with the feelings of helplessness and loneliness, all while trying to cover up for her mother's drinking. Since her mother's return from rehab, and eventual marriage to Dave, Kara tried not to think about those times, but she was having a hard time separating herself from them this morning.

Then there was her father. She hadn't spoken to him in months. Granted, she refused his calls after making a couple of attempts of her own around the time of the party. But what kind of father allowed his daughter to not take his calls? He should be trying harder to contact her. If he really cared, he would. If he really loved her, if he hadn't abandoned her, he would. She tried to imagine what would happen if she ever refused Dave's calls and she was quite sure he would hunt her down.

But why? Why was this man, who was not her parent vowing never to abandon her? He was head over heels in love with her mother, but didn't need to win any favors with her. Their love was solid, Kara was sure. So why was he sticking by her and why, exactly should she be trusting him?

Kara heard movement coming from the kitchen and schooled her features a bit. Her mother walked in first and, to Kara's surprise, pulled her up and into an embrace. She relaxed in her mother's arms but failed at controlling her emotions.

Erin kissed her daughter and ran her hand down the side of her face, and Kara said, "I'm so sorry, mom."

"I know, honey, but I am really disappointed. We have an awful lot to deal with here. You can never do this again."

"I know. Dave made that pretty clear," she said, wiping the tears that she was so tired of shedding.

"He said he was hard on you." Kara shrugged one shoulder so Erin whispered, "He loves you."

Yeah, I know."

Erin pulled away completely and Dave walked out onto the patio to join them. He kissed Kara dramatically on each cheek in an effort to convey to her that his anger had dissipated and asked her how she was doing. Kara shrugged at him as well and when he asked if she had slept, she shook her head. He removed a new package of index cards from his pocket and slipped them into her hand. She looked up at him sheepishly and muttered a thanks. "Next time, ask."

"I will call Dr. Gorham as soon as I get into work today and see how quickly she can get you in. Be prepared to go whenever she has availability." Kara nodded. "Come by my office at lunch time and we can talk a little then. Maybe I'll be able to make an early day of it. What do you have to do today?"

"I have to meet with this group at ten and then have one class at eleven. I will come by after that."

"I'll be waiting. Kara," she waited for her child to look at her, "it's going to be ok. We'll figure everything out."