Thanks to Justice237 and x snow-pony x for reviewing.

When we came back to Ashdene Ridge after getting Gabe and MiniMay at the bus station I sent then all away to get dried off and into something warm while I sent Jody back to bed. And made hot chocolate to warm them up.

"Here." When they came into the kitchen like I had asked them to I put three steaming cups with hot chocolate on the table. "Drink, it's warm."

Libby sat down on the edge of the table, MiniMay next to her and Gabe on her other side. None of the kids were silent and seemed shameful where they sat while I sat down on the other side. And Gabe was glaring at me over the edge of his cup as if I had just ruined his whole life.

It was quiet, unnaturally quiet to be the dumping ground. But I knew I couldn't send these three off to bed without saying anything. Even though the paper work and everything would have to wait until in the morning when I could also call back to Sarah and hear what was going on with this guy in Dover.

"Guys." I glanced slowly from one of the kids to the other while they started sipping from their warm drinks. "I get that this is hard. I do get that you have been through things and that it's hard to believe that you can ever trust another adult, or anyone really."

I could see in the children's eyes that they were all listening to me. But nobody said a word and it didn't seem any of them had any intention of doing so either. I had a feeling the best idea would be to send them all off to bed and get back in the morning. But I couldn't give in on this just now.

"I know you already know. But I'm going to say it again. There is a man in Dover who has been searching for his daughter- you, MiniMay. But if this man is mean, or doesn't treat you right in any other way. It is very important that you let us know. You, Gabe. Cannot do what you think is right just like that and take matters into your own hands?"

"Well it wasn't me who pushed anyone out of a car. Was it?"

Silence fell around the table for a split moment. Gabe had taken it too far. To talk about how children had been treated and ended up in care like that was never okay. And I was just about to scold him, calmly. When Libby said something before I had the time. Even though Gabe still ignored her.

"But Gabe. We saw when she was pushed out. The one who pushed her was a woman. So it can't be the same person who is looking for her now. Maybe this person really wants her with him to treat her well. Like a parent should. And not like someone who'd push her out of the car."

"That was mummy."

I froze, and barely even heard what was said when I realized who it was that said it. After all of the silence since even before she came here. Finally she had been speaking, and when I turned to her. After all of that callous that definitely wasn't four year old it had been turned into a trembling bottom lip and tears rising in her eyes.

"What?" I carefully took MiniMay's hand in mine. "What did you say? It's okay MiniMay. You're doing so well."

"Mummy pushed me out of the car. Daddy'd never do that."

MiniMay with two big tears rolling down her cheeks looked far more like any other four year old I had met. Like this was the way she was supposed to be. And even though I couldn't take a chance and send her to her dad right away. I believed every word she said. She wouldn't have had to say anything more. But she did.

"I want daddy and Michael."

"It's the same thing as she said that night when she woke up Gabe." Libby tried. "It's okay MiniMay. I believe you. We all do."

MiniMay wiped the tears with the back of her hand while I tried to understand the meaning of what Libby had just said. Maybe I should have scolded them, if there had been clues of what had happened and where MiniMay came from just as their stories- I would have liked them to tell us. But how could I scold them when I knew they wanted nothing else than to keep each other safe.

"You two." I sighed deeply and turned towards the girls. "Go to bed and get some sleep. And Gabe. You stay here, I need to talk to you alone."

I waited for a few minutes while the girls left the room, MiniMay was supporting on Libby and seemed more asleep than awake. Gabe still hadn't said a word to Libby since she told on them. And I waited until I heard the girls' room door closed behind them until I finally said something to Gabe.

"Look. I get that this is hard for you. All of you. But especially for you since you are trying so hard to protect the girls. But you've got to let us do our jobs. And you cannot take matters into your own hands like you just did. If anything at all that is what will get you in danger."

Gabe stared down into his cup silently. He seemed awkward and silent, and I could see I'd get no more answers for him tonight.

"You go off to bed too. And no more running away."

Gabe didn't let wait for it. He stood up and with his head lowered he walked out of the room and I could hear him continue up the stairs.

Gabe POV

It was with slow and heavy steps I walked up the stairs and into my room I then slumped down on the bed and dropped my backpack before I put my elbows on my knees and wrapped my fingers in my hair.

I must have been sitting like that for at least an hour. Like it would make anything better and make an answer about what I should do pop up in my mind.

At last I tiredly sat up and pulled out something from my backpack. I had put some things that would be wrecked by water in a plastic bag, now opened it and pulled out a photo out of it- or rather, half a photo. The photo had once been of my mum and dad, from a school prom in their teens. But I had ripped away and thrown away half of it, the half that had my mum on it. I didn't need anything of her in my life anyway.

The teen guy in the photo, not many years older than what I was now was smiling brightly towards the camera. And obviously had no idea what this night had turned out to be. Or he probably wouldn't have been smiling.

I had made up my mind one day I would find him. Being here, it probably shouldn't be so hard if I talked to Mike about it or something. But why would I want to anyway? He'd probably push me out of his life and leave, just like everybody else.

And with that I ripped the photo into smaller pieces and threw them on the floor, before I laid down and pulled the covers over my head fighting the tears away as I couldn't fall asleep.

Gabe's mum and dad in the photo are portrayed by Eve Myles and Ben McKenzie.

Random fact

I have had the whole story for MiniMay planned out since I started planning for the story. I also have Gabe and Libby's since long. Chapters might come closer now than earlier when I have most of the rest of the story planned out.