To my guest, you are my most loyal reviewer. For you, I am uploading a chapter early. :) I don't own ANYTHING except my character and the story. All characters or names used as originals are completely pulled from the air and not intended to represent any real person.

Dinner went good, and she seemed to eat a bit more than she had before. He noticed that she still didn't eat a lot, and had an idea it was because of her stomach.

She watched the couple talking and watched their mannerisms. It was hard to even imagine a relationship like that, much less be able to see it first hand. She'd see people out and about, but no one knew what happened behind closed doors. People didn't love each other like these two seemed to. None of her fosters had, anyway.

She looked so lost in thought. Reaching out gently, touched her hand. "You okay?"

Inhaling sharply, she reached out, nodded her head and grabbed her plate. "Yeah. S...sorry. I was just...never mind. It doesn't matter."

"It's okay, Frankie."

But she didn't respond one way or another. Instead she stared at the kit on the counter after placing her dish in the sink.

"We don't have to do it right away."

Focusing back on what was in front of her, she stopped at the tear making it's way down her cheek. It had to be the exhaustion. Usually she was way more level headed than this. Emotion didn't get to her.

"Frankie..."

"No." she cleared her throat. "Might as well get it out of the way, so you finally know that I'm not your kid."

Definitely wasn't going to admit to anything. And looking at her now, he realized, she was scared to admit that she actually could be a part of a family. That, scared her more than anything. As much as she wanted it, in her eyes, it had damn near destroyed her. Standing, he nodded, clearing his plate, and placing it in the sink near where she was. "Alright. Let's do it."

She followed the instructions to the T. Making damn sure she didn't miss a single step. He watched as her hands shook while she did what she was supposed to. Knowing that all she could do was wait. Watching her he waited as she sat, staring off into oblivion.

Taking a deep breath, he cleared his throat once more. "So, Syd is going to run that to Alex really quickly, how about Beauty and the Beast?"

Not smiling, she nodded and headed for the couch, as he put the DVD into the player and hit play.

"This is the animated version. Figured I'd get you into that one, before we put in the new one."

She stared at him.

Half laughing, he shook his head. "You'll see what I mean."

Falling asleep within a few minutes, as he knew she would, he stared at her. Feeling a hand on his arm, he inhaled sharply. Sydney had just gotten home. "Dammit, Syd. We were close tonight."

"Gage, she's not going to just jump into family."

"I know she's not. And I don't blame her. But she wont even give credence."

"Look at what she's been through. It's barely been two days. Would you?"

"Hell no, I wouldn't. This is why I understand where she's coming from. But, she just...she deserves so much."

"I know she does, Gage." she whispered softly.

Settling in, they finished the movie. He was close to sleep himself, when a whimper broke his slumber. Looking up at Syd, she nodded and he glanced back over to the kid on the couch. Her breath came out labored as she started breathing hard. "How long has she been doing this?"

"She just started."

Standing, he made his way to the couch, sitting. A sweat broke out on her forehead and he knew she was going to come awake. But she didn't. Her back arched off the couch and her body stiffened as she swallowed hard and tears started down her face. A guttural scream came from her mouth and he leaned forward, touching her shoulder, hoping to bring her out of the nightmare.

But instead, her body thrashed. Getting scared, he reached his other hand out, grabbing both of her shoulders, trying to keep her settled a bit. "Frankie? Come on, baby. You're having a nightmare."

Suddenly her eyes shot open and she tried to sit up. But hands were holding her. "Let go of me!" she shouted loudly, and hands were off of her, and she was up and pacing the area. Still breathing hard, tears still streaming, though it took her a moment to realize it.

"Frankie..."

She inhaled sharply. Shaking her head, she continued pacing.

She wasn't running. So there was that. Watching her, though, he knew she needed space, so he didn't step toward her. Taking a breath himself, he stepped back toward Sydney.

She noticed it immediately. Stopping briefly, she looked toward the pair. Damn if she didn't wish she had a family. That thought made her stop, internally. She wouldn't show them. She wouldn't talk to them. Finally calming herself, she finally slowed.

"Frankie?"

"I'm alright. Just...I'm sorry for disturbing your movie."

"Frankie, it's okay."

"That's sweet. But it's really not. We need to figure out DNA quickly. I know I said it earlier, but I meant it. I'm a jinx. And you should run. Run away from me, and don't turn around."

"I could no sooner do that, than I could throw you out in downtown Dallas and send you on your way. That's just not who I am."

"But don't you see?" and then she looked at Sydney. "What are you going to think of me when he dies because of me." then she turned back toward Gage. "Or you? What happens when she gets shot because of me?"

"Frankie…"

"What happens?"

He shrugged and shook his head. "We deal with it."

"And when you realize it's my fault?"

"No! Look, if someone else shoots her, or kills me, heaven forbid, the person that pulls the trigger is responsible. Period! Not you!"

Shaking her head, her eyes diverted. "You're wrong. This is a mistake."

Stepping closer to her, she moved away and he noticed her look at the door. "Frankie...sweetheart, don't run. Give me the chance to make you see that I can protect you."

Taking a deep breath, she met his gaze, tears starting to fall. "I'm going to get you killed."

She sounded utterly desperate. She was completely convinced that she was going to get one, if not both of them, killed. He had to make her see… "And what happens when you walk out that door, with no where to go, and no one to help you? Then, what happens when that test comes back and says that you're my daughter?"

"That test isn't going to come back that I'm you're daughter."

Nodding, he was trying to make her understand. "And you're not going to get us killed."

Turning it right back around on him, she shrugged. "Okay...say for shits and giggles that you're right, I am your daughter. Does that mean then that I'm right and I'm a jinx who's going to wind up being responsible for one of you losing your lives?"

Letting his breath out through his nose, he shook his head. "No...dammit..."

"Look," Sydney started. "Let's get you to bed, and call it a night. It's late, emotions have been going all day, let's just give it a few hours. Okay?"

Closing her eyes in a long blink, she took a deep breath, letting it out shakily. "Please just let me leave. You're really nice people. I can't..."

"Hey." the dark haired woman said, stepping up. "Do you trust me?"

She wouldn't actually say yes or no, but Sydney could tell she did.

"Do you?"

Letting her breath out in a burst, she inhaled once more, choppy.

Holding her hand out to the girl, she smiled, softly. "Come on. Let's get some shut eye. We can talk more about it in the morning. Okay? At least give us until you find out the test results. Then we can make a decision."

Staring at her, she didn't answer right away. Blinking slowly, she took one final deep breath, nodding as she took the woman's hand and let her lead the way toward the bedroom.

Waking, he heard her crying. She hadn't screamed, he was sure of that. But she was definitely crying. Making his way into the living room, he found her on the couch. Keeping her from getting uncomfortable, he made his way into the kitchen, getting a cup of water for himself and his daughter, making sure to make noise along the way.

Handing her the glass, she surprisingly took it, not looking up at him. "You okay?"

Nodding, she didn't answer him, directly. "I'm sorry I woke you." she said softly.

Shaking his head, he waved it off. "Don't worry about it, honey. You want to talk about it?"

Shaking her head this time, she didn't voice her resistance. Only took in a choppy deep breath and wiped the tears that were still rolling.

Dammit he wanted so badly to just hold her. "I know I'm not Syd, but I want you to know that you can talk to me about anything. I'll never judge you."

Half laughing, her head shook this time, in disbelief. "Everybody judges me." Then she shrugged. "Everybody judges and everybody leaves."

"Frank..."

"It's fine. It's just what my life has become. There's no changing it and no way around it."

"That's not true, though. Just because that's how it's been in the past..."

Looking, sad eyes met his. He was trying. She had to give him that. "I wish you'd just understand how much of a danger I am to everyone around me." and she swallowed hard as she looked away. "What if you actually are my father? What then? You'll want me to stick around. And when my luck catches up with me..." and she let her breath out. "...when it catches up..." and she coughed, trying to play off her tears, unsuccessful in hiding her true feelings.

"Frankie you need to understand, that I'm not your regular person. Especially if you are my daughter but even if you're not. Either way, I don't scare. You are not the reason for anyone leaving or passing."

Her eyes closed and she shook her head. "Thank you. You're wrong, but thank you."

Leaning back, he appraised her. He wasn't going to be able to convince her otherwise, he realized sadly. "I'm not giving up on you."

Her eyes met his once more. Tears dripping down. Those six words. Words that no one had ever spoken to her before. Taking a deep breath, she realized it was choppy and must have sounded ridiculous to the man sitting there. Disgusted with herself, she tucked her chin into her chest and curled into herself.

It was tearing him apart to see her this withdrawn. Not pushing it, he didn't intrude any longer but stood slowly. "Would you like some more water?"

Shaking her head, she stood. "I need to get back to bed."

Nodding, he made his way back to his room as well. The next morning, he got a knock on the door. Letting Alex through, he was glad that for all he could tell, Frankie was sleeping in.

"Well," Alex started. "I had to call in some serious favors, but here you go. She's yours. Which is good, because this gives us ability to open her records and see..."

"See just how screwed in the head, I really am?"

His mouth hanging open a moment, he composed himself. "Frankie, this Alex, she's Walker's wife. Alex, this is my daughter, Frankie."

The girls composure was completely emotionless. Smiling softly, trying to regain her own composure, she let her breath out softly. "Hi, Frankie. It's nice to meet you, officially. You were asleep on the couch yesterday when I stopped. I hope the clothes I brought by fit you well."

Nodding, she didn't react outside of that. It made it impossible for people to read her like this, and that is exactly what she had been going for. Making her way through the small room, she went for the coffee pot, catching up with Sydney in there, making herself a cup.

"Morning." she smiled.

Lifting her chin, she gestured in a small nod. Grabbing a mug, she proceeded with fixing herself something to drink, not saying a word one, to a single adult in the room. She was shaking. If she didn't get herself under control she would make him think she was upset. In reality, she was in shock. The man really was her father. She'd heard him talking about what he'd give her and being mad that the woman he called her mother, for robbing him of being a father to her, but...could it be true? Was it real?

Standing, he gave Alex a look and made his way quietly into the kitchen. Sydney had come out and the concern was written all over her face. She was bracing herself against the counter. She was clearly shaken. Though she wouldn't voice it. It took everything he had to keep from running in there and trying to comfort her. She'd never accept it. "Frankie?"

Inhaling sharply, she stood, grabbing the coffee mug as if she hadn't been just gripping the counter as if it was keeping her planted. "I'm fine."

"Sweetheart, you're not. And it's okay."

"But you don't even know me."

"No, but I want to."

"Because I'm you're daughter?"

"Because you deserve to be known."

"You don't know the first thing about me."

"I know more than you give me credit for. And not that I blame you for..."

"You don't blame me for a lot."

Stopping, he folded his arms. "You're right. I don't. Because you've been through the ringer. Am I supposed to not take that into consideration when it comes to you, or anyone else in your position?"

"No? I don't know. Maybe? What do you want from me?"

"Oh my gosh, Frankie. I don't want anything from you! All I've wanted was to keep you safe!"

"And to make me this daughter that you've been searching for."

"No! I didn't even know you existed before a few days ago."

"Did you know that woman was pregnant?"

"What?"

"You heard me. Did you know?"

"No! Good grief, no! I had no clue!"

"You sure? You sure you didn't know and just walked away?"

"I had no..." and he paused. Half laughing, frustrated, he shook his head. "I know what you're doing. And you're not going to do it." and he shook his head once more walking to the dining area. Turning, he looked at the girl in his kitchen. "I'm not throwing you out. Try to piss me off all you want. You will not make me turn my back on you. Accept it or not, that paper proves it. I am your father, and I'm not going to take that lightly."

Biting her lip, he noticed her chin quiver. Damn the man. Why did he have to be so...understanding? Taking a deep breath in and letting it out, she stood there, bracing herself once again against the counter. Sydney stepped up behind her.

The kid stood up straight and inhaled sharply.

"I … I need a moment. I'm going to get a shower."

"Okay?" the dark headed woman said.

"I...I'll be out in a bit." and she disappeared around the corner.

Getting a pit in his stomach, he shook his head. Something was damn wrong. But damn if he was going to deny her a few moments of peace.

Starting the water in the bathroom, she didn't stop herself from losing the contents of her stomach. Grateful she'd always been 'quiet' when retching, she found she'd expelled everything in her being and was now just dry heaving. Tears were streaming down her face as she held herself up against the shower wall, finally sitting down in the end of the tub as the hot water washed over her.

She had to keep herself from full on panicking. But damn if it wasn't hard. The man was her father. He was her flesh and blood father. A real relative. Her world was spinning out of control. The last week had been one thing after another.

Listening closer, Gage could hear her trying to keep quiet. This was killing him. Shaking his head, he sat back down.

"Listen, Gage, there's something else."

His eyes met the blond's. "She may have to come with us for a little while."

"What?"

"We're working on getting you emergency custody for the moment until we can get you full custody, as her parent, but for the moment, she's still ward of the state of Arkansas."

"But we found her in Mississippi."

"I understand that, but the last place she was 'officially', was Arkansas."

"When did she run away?"

"Almost four years ago."

His head was throbbing. "I'm going to keep that under my hat, but let me know if you have to come get her, please. I need to be able to talk to her."

Nodding, she agreed. "Alright, well, I'm going to do some more digging. I can legally take her to the Center, so if they do have to take her, we can put her there. Good luck, and call me if you need me."

Nodding himself, he said okay and showed her out the door.