Disclaimer: Same as before. If you recognize them they're not mine. Enjoy please leave a review and let me know what you think. Thanks!

Ranger POV:

I paused again to take a drink and glance quickly at the time. It was nearing midnight and I knew we needed to get to sleep soon. But I wanted to get as much of this out of the way so that Steph had a little more clue as to the bond that Cat and I had growing up.

I glanced down and Steph still leaning against my chest and asked her if she was ok. She replied telling me she was but was trying hard to keep the tears at bay to make this easier on me. That's one of the things I always loved about her. Always thinking of others. Specially during hard times. I nodded to her and told her I would continue a bit more before we needed to try and get some sleep. Tomorrow was sure to be a long day.

"When we got to my house I could see that Cat was scared. I tucked her under my arm and promised her everything would be ok. It seemed as if that was the turning point for her trust in me. She looked up in my eyes searching to see if I was being truthful to her. She must have found what she was looking for because she nodded her head and we walked in. From that point on she always trusted in me. If I told her something would be ok she fully believed me and did it."

"We walked into the house and I sat Cat down on the couch in the living room. I told her everything would be ok, that no one would bother her, and that I needed to go talk to Momma. I pointed to the door I would be thru off the dining room. If she got scared she could either scream for me or run to me but I would be right back. The look in her eyes told me understood and would try to follow as I asked."

"As I walked into the kitchen I called to my Momma. 'Momma where are you? I need to talk to you about something important!' I found her just finishing up the dishes. As she turned towards me wiping her hands on the dish towel she asked ' what is it mi hijo? Are you hurt? Are you alright?' I sat down at the counter and told her I was ok but that I had a friend who was not ok and needs help."

"What kind of help does this friend need mi hijo?"

"She's very young Momma. I met her on my way to the store for you a while back. She has no home or family Momma. She's very scared. We have to help her Momma. I worry about her I don't want to see something happen.' I was almost crying by the end of telling Momma about Cat."

"Where is this friend now mi hijo?"

"Shes in the living room Momma. Shes very scared Momma and doesn't talk. She understands just fine but it is almost like she is afraid to talk. I don't know what happened to her family or to her. But I can't leave her. I had a hard time talking her into coming back here with me. I didn't want her staying in the alley by the store anymore. Its not safe out there for her.' By this point I was openly crying. Momma opened her arms and told me to come to her. She comforted and me told me we would figure everything out. We walked into the living room and Cat was still on the couch where I left her sitting. She looked up at Momma and scooted back a bit and dropped her head in submission. I was sad to see her like this."

"Momma walked over and kneeled in front of her. She started talking to Cat but it was in whispers so I couldn't hear what she had said. Cat just kept nodding or shaking her head yes or no to all the questions that Momma asked her."

"Finally after a few minutes Momma stood up quietly and walked to stand behind me, she pushed me gently towards Cat and told me to go to her. That she trusted me and would need my help to show her out of the dark path that her life has taken her down already. Just as I started over to the couch all of a sudden Cat jumped up and ran right for me. I wasn't sure what was going on until she stopped on top of my feet and wrapped her arms around my waist and started to cry. I lowered us to the ground and just let her cry. Even to this day I've never heard another sound that ripped at my emotions as hard as her crying that afternoon did. She let it all out while holding me as tight as possible. I wasn't sure what exactly to do. I looked over to Momma for help and she told me "just follow your heart mi hijo, its what she needs right now. Your heart is pure and it will tell you exactly what to do." With that she turned and walked back into the kitchen.

"I sat there and rocked back and forth with this tiny little girl in my arms while she cried herself to sleep. Letting go of all the pain and fear she had built up over god only knows how long. Once she finally fell asleep I laid us down on the floor and wrapped myself around her like a protective wall so she could sleep in peace for a bit."

*mi hijo - my son*