AN: I am sorry if there is mistakes here. It is late and I am tired of writing this chapter. It took a long time to write this and I did several revamps so I hope you all like it. I am sorry it took so long it's just that no one wanted to co-operate with me to get it done right. Enjoy.

Disclaimer: Don't anything here because it is every sentient beings right to remain free.


Dani had been at her new home for almost 2 weeks now. Dani liked Craig and Kimber. They cared about her and they were very nice to her. Even though she liked them, she still cried for her family in at the Autobot base.

Kimber and Craig were careful to give Dani her space. They wanted her to come consider them her family. They had plans of adopting her once things settled down. Right now was definitely not the time to bring that up though.

Dani seemed to accept her new family just fine. She talked with them when they were together and she seemed happy when they went on outings together. But she never let Craig or Kimber see her room much less go in there. It was her personal space and she had no intention of sharing it. She felt some satisfaction that something was only hers and she could decide if and when it needed changed. She was careful to never fall asleep unless she was in her bed and she always locked the door if she was in the room. She never allowed it to get too messy because she knew it would give Kimber a reason to enter it. Dani knew that she had some control there as to what was going on and she felt the need to guard that dearly.

Kimber hated that Dani kept her from her room. Mostly because she knew that Dani cried every night and she was not allowed in to comfort her. The first couple nights she had tried unlocking the door to go comfort the girl but that ended up making Dani scream at the top of her lungs. Craig made her stop doing it. He made her see that Dani for some reason needed the room to herself and if it would help her feel better then they needed to give her that space. It did not stop Kimber from sitting right beside the door until Dani stopped crying. That usually meant that Dani had fallen asleep and she was content to leave the hall then.

Kimber also had a hard time with the visits that happened every Saturday. Those days Dani showed a side of herself that Kimber and Craig never saw during the week. There was a shine in her eyes and she smiled, it was smile that filled her whole face. Kimber was not jealous of Dani being happy it was the fact that after those visits Dani cried longer than the other nights. It was a heart-wrenching cry that actually made Kimber cry also. She would have done anything to stop those tears, but she also knew that these guys really cared about Dani so she knew deep down that she could never take away the visits. It still hurt her though to hear the tears.

Today was Saturday and Kimber was sitting on the front porch waiting for the foursome to come back from their day together. It was getting dark and she knew that Dani would be tired when she got home. She decided to go in the house and get snack ready so she could get to bed as soon as possible. Just as she set everything on the table she heard the familiar rumble of the Camaro as it pulled up the driveway. She was at the door just as the guys came up on the porch.

Sean was carrying Dani who was asleep in his arms and he brushed past her as she opened the door without so much as a nod at her. He took Dani up to her room and laid her in bed making sure she was nice and warm. Just as he turned to leave she reached out and grabbed his hand, " Don't go," she whispered sleepily. He sat on the end of the bed not saying a thing but not letting go of her hand until she fell asleep.

Bradley was downstairs talking to Kimber and Craig about Tuesday because Tuesday was Danielle's first day of school and they wanted to be there for it.

"I plan on driving her to and from school everyday." Kimber said. "At least for a while until we know the one involved in her parents murder is caught. I don't want to leave too much to chance yet. So if you guys want to come meet us at the school I would not care at all." She was being truthful about not caring if they came. She knew Danielle was nervous about school and she was even nervous about having to leave her for such a long time so anything that might help make the day go smoother would be better. "Be there by 8:30 am."

Brad and Sydney nodded and Kimber went off to clean snack since Dani had not needed it tonight. Craig was engaged in conversation with the other 2. Kimber was wondering what was taking Sean so long upstairs. She went up to investigate and she saw Sean sitting by Dani holding her hand as she slept. Jealousy leaped into her mind as she watched Sean be able to do what she had longed and tried to do.

"You bastard," she hissed at him and turned from the door but she never got farther than 2 steps before Sean had her by the arm.

"What do you mean by that, woman?"

"You…. You come in here. You act like you own her. All of you. She smiles for you she laughs for you and she lets you comfort her. What am I? Am I Just some piece of furniture to cast aside? No I am her mother not you." She hissed at him as her eyes shot daggers at him. She would have stormed off if he had not still been holding her.

Sean gave her a calculating look as he considered her. "You have got one thing wrong here lady. You are not her mother. You are only her caregiver in my eyes. Your job is to protect her. You make sure she gets to school. If she wants you she will let you know until then you are NOTHING."

"I could tell DCF that you have no business coming anymore."

"You could and I can make your life a living Hell lady. Dani is only here because someone in government says she has to be. Fate has smiled on you to be the lucky ones to get her. Make no mistake about this. I don't like you. You mean nothing to me. If I had my way you would not have Dani Ever." With that Sean stalked off.

Kimber was left upstairs stunned after her confrontation with Sean. The only thing that brought her out of her trance was when Dani called out for Sean. She went to the door of her room and looked in but Dani was still asleep. She watched as Dani fought off her dreams calling for either Bradley, or Sydney or Sean. She almost went in to her room but remembering the screams that would come from Dani if she entered her room she vetoed that thought and went downstairs. Better not incur the wrath of Sean again by making her scream. The Guys were just leaving and Sean was nowhere to be seen when she came running out the door.

"Brad, Sydney, Dani is calling for you in her sleep again. Would you go see if you can get her to calm down?"

Brad turned and was up the stairs before Sydney could get in the door. He scooped Dani up in his arms and held her against his chest and she woke up and clung to him as Sydney came into the room.

Craig walked up to Kimber and put his arm around her because he saw that she was upset. She turned to him and smiled weakly and sighed. "I did something stupid."

"What?" Craig asked cautiously.

"I made Sean mad by accusing him of keeping Dani away from me."

"Oh! That would explain why he stormed out of here and looked like he could shoot lightening from his eyes."

"Do you really think he is safe for Dani? For us?"

"Well I have never seen treat Dani in any way that has given me cause to worry. In fact even though his personality is not that friendly I have never seen him do anything that should give me cause to worry for Dani. Now as far as we go, I just try to keep on his good side. I don't know that he would purposely harm us, but you never know."

"Well shouldn't we tell DCF this?"

"I wish I knew. I am not suicidal but I know it would make Dani draw into herself more if we stopped the visits. We just need to stay out of his way. Bradley and Sydney don't give me any such feelings so as long as they are here I don't think there will be trouble. Just let me know if more stuff happens."

"Ok." replied Kimber. "They are coming to the school on Tuesday to see Dani off on her first day of school."

"Oh, That will make her day."

"Do you think she will ever look to us as parents?" Kimber asked quietly.

"I think it is too soon to rush her. You are getting too anxious for that dear. You have to give it time."

" I know it just made me upset seeing him in there and knowing they are up there doing something I want to do."

"I know," Craig said as he pulled her into his arms and kissed her softly. "Give it lots more time dear. I am sure it will happen."

After Bradley and Sydney got Dani back to sleep, they left never asking about why Sean left.


Tuesday came and Dani was a bundle of nerves. She hardly ate anything. She cried to Kimber that she did not want to go to school and the only way Kimber could get her to clam down was to tell her that Brad, Syd and Sean were going to meet them in the school parking lot. She smiled a little and got dressed but she was so quiet during the ride. They arrived before the busses came rolling in so that they could have a chance to see the classroom together. Dani squealed in delight as she saw Brad, Sydney and Sean waiting for them on the steps of the school building.

Kimber could hardly contain Dani as they crossed the parking lot, but she kept a very tight grasp on her hand so she would not dart out and get hit by an unsuspecting driver. They made it safely to the steps and Dani leaped into Bradley's arms and then was passed to the other guys. They all went into the building. Kimber watched Sean as he observed the security measures that the school took to keep unwanted visitors out of the school. Craig and Kimber had already told the school that Dani was not allowed to leave with anyone but himself or herself, Brad, Sean or Sydney. The five entered Dani's classroom and met the teacher. Dani cried at having to stay so the teacher said Kimber could stay for the day. Dani was ok with Kimber staying. So the Guys said their Goodbyes as they had work to do back on base and they left.

Kimber left Dani for a second promising to come right back. She had to talk to Sean before he left. He had not looked at her the whole time they were in the together and she knew it was not good for Dani to be around animosity so she figured she had to make things right between the two of them. She ran out in to the hall and called for Sean to stop.

He stopped but did not move to look back at her. Sean looked at Brad and Sydney. They knew why he had left the house the other day and they silently sent a message make it right.

So he reluctantly turned as she reached him.

Kimber spoke first not even letting him open his mouth. "Look I know it is not good for us to be upset at each other especially in front of Dani so I will say I am sorry for the mean things I said the other day. But just know, I will always be watching you when you are around her and if you do anything to harm her I will do all in my power to end your visits."

Sean gave Kimber a calculating look and yet there was some admiration there too for not backing down totally. He said, "Ditto, lady" and walked off.

Dani's day went off without a hitch. She found a friend that first day and Kimber had not even stayed the whole day. Soon Dani's days fell into a comfortable routine and she made more friends and her anxiety fell away. Kimber always drove her to school and most days Bradley would pick her up.


What all were totally unaware of was a man watching all these things from a distance. His black hair blowing in the wind while his long black coat whipped around his legs. His red eyes and the scar running down his check were the only things that might give someone near him a reason to be afraid. Otherwise he just watched blending in with his surroundings as only he could. He knew he could not get near the object of his desire but he would someday and when he did all would pay. Until then he could be patient. He would be patient. Somewhere somebody would slip up. He did not care who it was but he would be there when it happened. For now he just watched.