A/N - Sorry the last chapter was so short – but here's a nice longer one for you :)

Chapter 8 – Missed Chances

A few days later, and a busy night at R&R.

Ronnie runs in, looking flustered.

Ronnie: Jack?

Jack immediately gets up.

Jack: What? What is it? Are you OK?

Ronnie: No! Jack, just, look can you come now! There's a fight!

Jack: Sure.

Jack runs out of the office behind Ronnie. He forces through the crowd to find two men viciously pushing and punching each other.

Jack pulls them apart, assisted by Ronnie, who – although not yet at full health – calls in a security guard and assists him in barring the man from the club. Soon Jack does the same to the other man and goes to the bar.

Ronnie: Thanks for that.

Jack smiles: Well I'm not just gonna stand there!

Ronnie laughs.

They continue chatting and surveying the club, checking every thing's in order. A few minutes later Ronnie spots a small child on the floor in the corner. A women who looks overly drunk comes over to her with a man who doesn't look much better. The child looks very scared, and as the man grabs her arm she screams out in pain. Ronnie winces, she can't believe someone could do that to a little girl. All she wants to do is help her, save her. The scream doesn't attract much attention as the music is so loud. But Ronnie and Jack notice. Ronnie begins to get up but Jack holds her back.

Ronnie: How'd she even get in here?

Jack: That women was pregnant when she came in.

Ronnie: Pregnant?!? You mean?

Jack: She must have had the child under her coat.

Ronnie: Poor kid.

Jack smiles at Ronnie. Looking into her eyes, he knows she has to help the girl, he looks around and sees the women dancing with two men, one being the man who roughly grabbed the small girl's arm. He nods at Ronnie, taking her hand he whispers to her.

Jack: Help her.

Ronnie smiles and walks over to the little girl who curls away from her, drawing her legs up under her chin and closing her eyes tightly. Up close, Ronnie can see she has cuts on her arms and her face, and a massive bruise on her leg.

Ronnie: What's your name then?

The little girl looks up.

Girl: Emma.

Ronnie: Well that IS a lovely name!

Emma: Please don't hit me.

Ronnie frowns. Suddenly Emma snaps up and turns away.

Ronnie realises what she did.

Ronnie: Hey, are you thirsty? How about some water?

Emma looks up.

Emma: Yes please. Thank you.

Ronnie smiles at the little girl. She takes her hand and stands up, the girl stands up shakily and looks about for the women or man.

Ronnie: Don't worry, nobody will hurt you while I'm here.

Ronnie motions to Jack to follow her and they, along with Emma walk into the office. Ronnie sits the girl down of the sofa and gets her a cup of water from the vender, which Emma drinks rapidly.

Ronnie and Jack move away and talk quietly.

Ronnie: She doesn't look like she's eaten for days!

Jack: Poor thing.

Ronnie: And she has loads of cuts and bruises on her, what are we gonna do?

Jack: I don't know, but I don't like the look of those people with her earlier, I think they hurt her.

Ronnie: I know. Well, I s'pose we could bar them..

Jack buts in

Jack: With a valid reason

Ronnie smiles

Ronnie: Yeah, and then they won't want to leave without her, so they will have to admit they brought her in.

Jack: Which is against the law, so we bar them and kick them out.

Ronnie: But what then?

Jack: Well, I guess we should see how that plan goes first. If it goes.

Ronnie: Hmm...OK.

Ronnie and Jack walk over to Emma and crouch down in front of her.

Ronnie: This is my friend he's very nice.

Jack: Hello there. Now. Those people who were with you earlier. Who are they?

Ronnie smiles.

Ronnie: It's OK you can tell us.

Emma: I...My mummy. An...And...her friend. Mummy has lots of nasty friends. I

don't like mummy any more.

Jack: OK. Now you stay here. Don't leave this room OK?

Emma: OK.

Ronnie: We'll be right back.

Emma: I like your hair. Nice lady.

Ronnie smiles.

Ronnie: Thank you. I like your hair too!

Jack: Ronnie let's go.

Ronnie: We'll be back in a minute.

Ronnie and Jack leave Emma in the office.

Ronnie: You know, we can't just bar them, we have to have a reason.

Jack: Hate to say I told you so!

Ronnie: Jack! Focus. We have to find a reason, where are they?

Jack: Over there.

They look over at them and see the women push another couple away.

Ronnie: Right on time!

They walk over to her and ask her and her companions to leave.

Ronnie: Excuse me madam, could you please leave the premises.

Women: Why? What you got a problem, love?

Jack: I think you should leave.

Women: Yeah but I think your nice. I think you like me, come here lovey.

Jack: No. I think you should leave.

He pulls her and her male companions outside, followed by Ronnie.

Women: Yeah, but I...I left my handbag inside.

Jack smiles at Ronnie.

Ronnie: Off you go then, go and get it.

They follow her inside and she heads straight to the corner where Emma was.

Jack: What's wrong? Can't you find it?

Women: I um...

Ronnie: We know you brought ...

Jack buts in.

Jack: No handbag.

Ronnie scowls at him.

Jack ignores this.

Jack: GO!

Ronnie: You need to go now!

The women storms out of R&R.

Ronnie: Why did you cut me off like that?

Jack: She wouldn't have left if she knew we had Emma.

Ronnie: Your right.

They return to the office.

Ronnie: Hello Emma.

Jack: Now. Do you want to go with your mummy?

Ronnie: Hey. Let's just take this one step at a time yeah?

Jack smiles.

Emma: Can I have some more water?