"I still don't feel like this is protecting me from anything, Davie," Erin said as she curled up into David, resting her head on his chest. "Can't we just send them home?"

"That's not how this works, bella. They're going to shadow you until the end of this whole debacle." He pressed his lips to the top of her head as he began to stroke her arm gently. "At least they aren't getting in our way at all. And it's sort of sexy to think that there are two people out there, watching our home, wondering if we're making love right now," he whispered in her ear, enjoying the way she shivered in his arms.

"David, please," she whimpered, snuggling closer to him. "How can you even think of sex at a time like this? The unsub is out there hunting as we speak."

"And the police are watching over the potential victims. But, I understand and will try to keep things a little more family friendly." He kissed her again and reached for the remote. "Now, is there something that you'd like to watch?"

"Could we watch Ever After? I think it's on Netflix."

"Sure." He quickly looked the movie up and started it, letting Erin settle in close to him as she glued her eyes to the screen. The next two hours flew by as he watched her watch the movie. When it was over, the recommendations popped up and she cooed, which told Dave that she had a film in mind. "What's next, bella?"

"Love Actually? Please?"

"Anything to make you happy, Erin." He started the movie, and they had almost made it thirty minutes in before their phone began to ring. "I'll get it."

She nodded absently as he got up and went over to the phone. "Who is it?" she asked as he picked it up.

"Karen. Hello?"

"Papa Dave! You need to come pick us up! Dad hit Tabby, and her mouth is bleeding, really bad. Bruce held him back while we got out of the house, and then he came running after us. We're hiding out in the yard next door, they kept the playhouse, and while it's a tight squeeze, we're all in here. Dad tore out of here about five minutes ago, but I don't know when he'll be back. Come save us, please."

He looked into Erin's face and felt his heart sink into his stomach. "We'll be there as soon as possible, honey. And then we'll go to urgent care." Erin gasped loudly and paused the movie, jumping to her feet and coming over to his side. "I love you."

"I love you, too, Papa Dave. Hurry."

"I will." He hung up and welcomed Erin into his arms. "We're heading over to your ex's house. He hit Tabitha."

"What?" she exclaimed, tears spilling down her cheeks.

"I know, I promised we'd get there as soon as possible. Come on, bella." Gently, he led her over to the door to the garage and she slipped loafers onto her feet before tugging on a coat. He followed suit and then they were getting in the car.

Their protection detail followed them closely, and suddenly, Dave was grateful for their presence, especially if Alan should try to hurt the children once more. "Davie, why would Alan hurt Tabby?"

Her question tugged at his heart. "I don't know, bella. I don't know why he would get angry enough at our little butterfly to hit her. But I do know, as soon as we wrap this case up, we are going back to court and pressing for full custody. I refuse to play nice any longer."

"All right. Thank you. I love you, so much."

"Just as much as I love you." He reached out for her hand, and she clasped it tightly. "I promise that I will always protect you four. You are my life now."

"Just like you are my life." She brought his hand to her lips and kissed it tenderly before releasing it so that he could drive. Finally, they were in front of Alan's house, and he killed the engine, following at Erin's heels. The two agents in the unmarked car soon flanked them, one of them stilling Erin by grabbing her upper arm. "Let go of me, my children are scared and in danger. I'll be fine!"

"You don't have your gun, Ma'am. We need to assess the situation. Do either of you know what's going on?" the slim woman asked, looking to Dave instinctively.

"The children were upset by their father. Karen mentioned something about hiding in the neighbor's playhouse?"

"All right, we'll take the left house first then, and see if there's a playhouse there. Williams will go first, and then Erin, with you flanking her right. I'll bring up the rear." Dave nodded and fell into place, grabbing Erin's hand once more.

"I have you, Erin. I won't let go."

"I know." She gave him a tight, tense, smile and he returned it. "Let's go find our children." They took off slowly, and he was relieved to make out the shadow of a small house in the far left corner of the yard.

"Karen?" he called out, trying not to speak too loudly, just in case Alan was close by.

"Papa Dave!" she cried out, exploding from the small house and barreling into his arms. "You came!"

"Of course I did, precious. Now, let's go get your brother and sister." He slung his free arm around her waist and closed the distance between them and the others. "Hey, is my little butterfly in there?" he asked, peeking his head in the door.

"Papa Dave," Tabby mumbled, not looking up at him. "I think I lost a tooth." She burst into sobs and stepped forward, thunking her head against his chest. "Why did Daddy hurt me?"

"I don't know, my sweet butterfly. But we need to get you to urgent care, and have it checked out. I promise, he won't touch you again." She nodded against his chest and he closed his arms around her in a tight hug. "I love you, Tabby."

"I love you, too, Papa Dave." The children huddled around him and Erin, letting them herd them over to the car. "Can I sit next to Mama?"

"Sure, Tabby-cat," Bruce replied, climbing in the passenger seat, while the women slipped into the back. In the rearview mirror, Dave watched their youngest curl up into Erin, seeming to shrink as she sobbed against her mother's chest.

"Papa Dave, I tried to stop him from hurting her. I wasn't fast enough. Will you teach me how to protect them?"

Bruce looked at him, and for the first time he noticed the boy had his mother's eyes. "Yes. I will do that for you. I know the perfect person to teach you self-defense, if you trust me."

"I do." Bruce nodded at him and Dave nodded back, pressing his foot to the pedal a little harder. It took too long to reach the urgent care facility, and he watched as Erin, Tabitha, and Agent Stephens followed the triage nurse back into an exam room. "What do we do now, Papa Dave?"

"We wait. And talk. What happened to set your father off?"

Karen shrugged. "He went out about five, like he always does on Friday. Usually, he's gone until ten or eleven, but tonight he came home before six, angrier than I've ever seen him." She reached out and clasped his hand, threading their fingers together. "It was like he was a completely different person."

"I am so glad that we have you this coming week," he muttered as he pulled the older girl close to his chest, letting her sob against him. "He will never hurt any of you again."