Thunder sounded in her ears as she slammed the door behind her, with shaking fingers she bolted it shut. He was back, Kat's knees felt like limp noodles. Bile burned her throat as she stumbled towards the stairs. Her mind was in an upheaval as she staggered up the stairs to her bedroom. Why was he back? The timing had Kat panicking. There was only one reason she could think of as to why Paul was back… He'd heard about Strip.

She fumbled with the phone and dialed her friends at the local grocery. With a few carefully spoken words they promised to keep an eye on Strip until she could drive into town and pick him up from the store. It was all to keep Strip safe; she couldn't let Paul crush her son's gentle heart.

"He's going to take Strip away." Panic gnawed at her gut. It was the only plausible reason. He wanted his son. Fury and pain rolled throughout her entire being. Not Strip, her baby boy was the center of her world. The threat that Strip would be taken away made her head spin. She had to do something to keep Paul away from Strip. She'd do anything to protect her son, she'd run if she had to. Run? She paused in her bedroom and without taking too much time to think it over she ran to her closet.

Shuffling through her clothes she found a large green suitcase in the back corner behind her shoes. With her heart in her throat she tossed it on her bed and hurriedly began throwing in clothes and other essentials. When she was done gathering things she needed she moved into Strip's room and collected toys, clothes and books for him. She wasn't about to let Paul take away her baby boy. Paul Hudson had made a grave mistake when he left Kat. It was a decision that had hurt those he loved in a way that he never would have suspected.

Kat didn't trust him within a mile of her child, so she'd have to make a run for it. She slammed the suitcase shut and grabbed her keys. Her heart thudded in her ears as she raced down the stairs on shaking legs. She ran out the back door and to her car, she couldn't trust herself to check on Paul. He could lay there for hours for all she cared. With her emotions keeping her moving she pushed herself to her car and threw open the driver's door.

It had been a long day for Smokey. He'd been at work since seven in the morning and he'd stopped by the local grocery to buy a few things only to find Strip waiting for Kat to come pick him up. In his mind there was no reason for Kat to make the trip back to town when he could collect Strip, so he loaded the nine year old into his truck. Smokey adored his godson and no matter how much the child chattered away he couldn't be annoyed with him. So for the entirety of the drive home the mechanic was revelled with stories about Strip's day at school. It made him smile to himself, he was glad to have had a hand in raising Little Hud. That's what Moon called him when he wasn't around Kat.

"Uncle Smoke, whose car is that?"

They were just turning the last curve and the Weathers residence had just come into view. Smokey nearly choked on his tongue, Strip's innocent question combined with the site of the dark blue Hudson Hornet made his gut churn. He knew that car inside in out, a sense of familiarity shot through the mechanic. Hud… that's the only person it could be. Quickly, he swung the truck towards his house and parked in the garage.

"No one in particular Strip." He ruffled his godson's hair fondly before slipping out of the vehicle.

"Can I go look at it?"

"Not right now," He crouched down to look the small nine year old in the eyes. "How about I let you pilfer in the creek behind the house while I talk to your mamma?"

"Alright." Strip bounded out of the garage and disappeared into the woods behind the house.

The sound of a rumbling engine kept Smokey from drifting into deep thought as to why Hud's car was standing in the driveway. He surged towards the door of the garage, he knew that engine, it was Kat's car. Feet crunching on gravel he raced from his house to the Weathers' driveway. She was in her car and Smokey put two and two together. Kat was getting ready to run.

"Kat! Wait!" He raced towards the car. No response from Kat, it made Smokey panic, he had to stop her. He stepped in front of the car worriedly. "Kat, easy, easy."

Fear rippled through Kat and she gripped the wheel tightly and reached to shift the car into reverse. Her skin was whiter than a ghost and Smokey was sure she was going to pass out at any moment.

"Kat, no!" Smokey jerked the driver's door open. "Easy, easy." He spoke as if she was a frightened animal. Ever so carefully he laid a gentle hand on her shoulder and shut the car off. His eyes flitted over a trembling Kat as he pocketed her keys. The redhead lunged forwards for the keys with desperation.

"You, focus on me, alright?" He shoved the keys deep in his pocket and gripped her arms gently. "Focus."

"Strip… STRIP! I have to get to him! We have to go! Now!" Panic rang in her voice.

"Kat, you ain't thinking clearly," He held tightly to her, "Now, you gotta focus on breathing, alright."

"He's back. He's gonna' take S-strip away."

"He's not, Kat. Don't panic." Smokey pulled her out of the car carefully.

"He only," She gasped. "Came back for Strip… I need to get Strip."

"You don't know that, Kat. You don't know that."

"It's been, nine years…and now, after that radio broadcast mentioning a child. It's only about Strip. He can't have him."

"Maybe he came back for Strip. That don't mean he's gonna' take him."

"He left! He was dead." She trembled even more before striking out at Smokey.

"Calm down." The mechanic tugged her along with him and settled down in the grass with her against his chest. She was a shaking, crying mess.

"Let me go!" Her fists flailed against his chest, her anger and confusion evident with every strike. "I hate him! He should have stayed gone!" Soft sobs escaped and tore at Smokey's heart.

"Where is he now?"

"On the porch, I knocked him out with the door." Her voice dropped low.

"He still out?" Smokey glanced at the porch in worry.

"Probably, but his hard head should be fine. I should call the law."

"Why? Did he attack you?"

"He wanted to come inside, but I was through talking to him."

"Then you can call the law, Kat." He sighed. "Go inside, I'll deal with him."

"I don't want him here. At all."

"Go inside, I'll talk with him. He ain't taking Strip away from you."

"Just keep him away." Kat clenched her jaw.

"I will if you sit inside, and get something to drink, alright?"

"Fine, I don't want him near Strip." She stumbled to her feet and into the house leaving a bewildered and worried Smokey in her wake.

He gathered heavy legs beneath him and marched up the steps to the porch. There sprawled on his back lay Hud. Smokey sucked in a deep breath at the sight. Other than the thick mustache on his face, he looked exactly like he had nine years ago. Anger bubbled up in his chest and then a feeling of relief. He was still angry that he'd left without a word, but he was beyond relieved to find that his friend was alive and well. With a heavy sigh Smokey lifted the dead weight of his friend. Time to try and avoid World War III, and in order to do that he had to separate the infamous tempers of Hud and Kat.

"Welcome home Hud." Smokey tossed him onto the couch and settled into a chair nearby. "Welcome Home."