Chapter 14

Emma woke up in the middle of the night in severe pain, she had rolled onto her bad shoulder and it hurt so bad. She hated waking up her dad or Mallory but they had left their bedroom door open. Her dad woke up first and Mallory who was sleeping on his chest woke up when he started moving around. Emma was crying because of how badly she was hurting and immediately sunk into her dad's open arms. He had pulled her up on his lap and was gently rocking back and forth. Mallory was checking her bandages and getting her some pain medicine. Emma hadn't stopped crying and it was breaking both their hearts.

It took a half hour before they could get her calmed down. She had pulled two of the stitches and Mallory had to fix them which caused more pain and more tears. Mike had held her the entire time up against his bare chest and she finally fell back asleep like that. He could have carried her back to her room. He and Mallory both needed sleep that they wouldn't get with her between them but he just couldn't and Mallory understood it. So they finally settled with Emma still asleep on Mike's chest and Mallory laid on Emma's other side to keep her from rolling back over on the arm. He hadn't even bothered putting a t-shirt on. Generally he didn't let the girls see him without one because he didn't want them to see his assorted scars but he didn't want to disturb her.

Mallory woke up first and decided to leave Mike and Emma sleeping. She knew Mike was very burdened by Emma's pain. Hannah was still soundly asleep and so Mallory walked into her former bedroom to figure out what was needed for the baby and if they ended up taking Anna in, what they would need for her. Emma's room was big enough to fit two beds and they could get matching bedspreads. Mike had told her that Anna and Emma had similar interests but Mallory wanted Anna to feel that she was not just an afterthought. At least she knew now that Mike was supporting and wanting to also take Anna in. It was important to Mallory but she wasn't sure why.

Hannah woke up first and they both went downstairs and started breakfast. Mallory was going to talk to a friend of her's about a diet that Hannah would enjoy better. She seemed a lot happier, and told Mallory that she had enjoyed her time with her dad but didn't want to take time away from Emma.

Mike woke up but Emma was still sound asleep on his chest and decided to just lay still so she could get her sleep out. He was enjoying getting to hold her and knowing that she didn't particularly want to leave. He hated the pain that she was in. It hurt to watch it. Mallory thought that she was crazy for wanting to take Anna in, but it was something he was very drawn to. He loved being a father and would take in a house full of kids besides his own. Being a dad was the greatest thing he had ever done. The first time he held Hannah, meeting Emma when she was four months old and then holding Lucas when he was born were the absolutely some of the best moments of his life. There had been heartbreak along the way but the overwhelming love he felt for his girls, and still felt for Lucas made up for it. He already felt the same for Peanut and if he and Mallory went through with taking Anna in, he knew that he would grow to love her just exactly the same as he did Hannah and Emma.

Emma finally woke up and seemed to be in a lot less pain. She did tell Mike she was hungry and wanted Mallory to wash her hair because she thought she smelled blood in it, due to pulling the stitches. Mallory and Hannah had made a huge breakfast and it was nice to have a nice Sunday morning at home. They generally went to church but Mike liked the time at home too. Emma's birthday was later in the week and so they were making plans. She hadn't made any mention of living elsewhere or "trading places" with Anna. Mike and Mallory had decided to divide the girls up and he would talk to Hannah about them taking Anna in while she gave Emma her bath, that way if Hannah was against the idea, there were no hard feelings between the two girls. Mallory took Emma upstairs while Mike and Hannah cleaned up the kitchen.

"So, I want you to be completely honest with me. Emma is wanting us to take care of Anna, Alex's daughter. Emma's theory is that she and Anna can trade places so that Anna will know that it is like to have a home and family. We obviously would not let Emma live elsewhere if we took Anna in. I want you to tell me what you think, Hannah. There will be a lot of changes in the next coming months, with the new baby, and fostering Anna might be a bit much. If you don't want to do it, than we won't. It's not a for sure thing, I still would need to talk to Alex and there are some logistical things…"

Mike was shocked when Hannah pulled him into a tight hug, it was not the reaction he felt she would have but she had a huge smile on her face. Both his girls tended to be very selfless, it was a trait that he always felt had come from Christine and he was thankful for it.

"She deserves to have a good home and I think you should definitely bring her to live here. I know her dad made some big mess ups but when it counted, he did what was right by Emma. You're an amazing dad and Mallory is so good to us. Anna would be well loved. And I love being a big sister."

She had pulled away from him slightly to look at him in the face but her arms were still around his torso and he was still holding her by the shoulders. He pulled her close and hugged her. They didn't say much else other than exchanging "I love you's." Mike did ask her to not say anything to Emma, they wanted to figure out some of the logistical issues and talk to Alex, Children's Division and the police to make sure fostering Anna wouldn't hamper the investigation. There were recommendation letters to get and so many different things to do but at least Hannah was on board with everything.

The rest of the day they all spent cuddling on the couch. Peanut was particularly active that day and so both girls spent the day with their hands on Mallory's stomach. They were placing bets on it being a boy or girl, names, what the baby would look like and all kinds of things. It was fun to think about. Mike and Mallory didn't really care about looks or even the gender, as long as the baby was healthy.

Everything was going fine until Becky Sheridan showed up unannounced and asked to speak to Mike and Mallory. Hannah took Emma upstairs to give them the space they needed and the adults all went into the office. Mike knew it had to do with Emma's case and was almost sick.

"We still haven't figured out the tie with Renee Mitchell, and now our case is falling apart. Lyle Gregory and a couple other inmates shanked Alex Winters. He didn't survive. I've been on the phone all morning with the prosecutor, and Emma will have to testify. It's the only hope we have now. There is a hearing that she will need to be at tomorrow. You need to prepare her. I know it will be hard, and I want you to know, I did everything possible to keep her from having to testify. Anna Winters is absolutely devastated and that group home is no help. I am so sorry. The jail staff had been instructed to keep them separated but they're understaffed. I am so, so, sorry."

Mallory had pulled Becky into a hug to try and calm her down. Mike could understand how she felt and feared what would happen the next day. Was Emma strong enough? What did he need to do to prepare her? Mallory was asking about Anna and what they could do to help. She had told Becky they were thinking about taking the little girl in.

"Mike, I think I need to go get Anna. She can't stay there tonight, there is no way to hold her or comfort her…"

Mike nodded at Mallory and hugged her. He should technically go with her to sign any paperwork but Becky told him she would go. He needed to begin preparing Emma. The two women left without telling the girls bye, they weren't sure how to explain what was happening. The girls were in their respective rooms and he quietly told Hannah what was happening and that he would need to spend the night getting Emma ready. She told him she would help with Anna.

Emma was in her room looking at some books on the floor and so he sit down next to her. He knew it would hurt his little girl, knowing that because of Alex protecting her, he was now dead and she was going to have to face the two people that had hurt her so badly. He wasn't sure how to explain it to her.

"Emma, I need to talk to you about something. Its hard to hear and understand. Some of the inmates including Lyle, got ahold of Alex and they hurt him. Emma, he died. There is a hearing tomorrow for both Renee and Lyle. Initially you were not going to have to be there since you did such a good job with your statement, but now the judge and the lawyers want you there. They are going to put you on the witness stand and both lawyers are going to talk to you. The judge might also ask you some questions. Renee and Lyle are also going to be there. There is going to be lots of people in between you and them. I'll be there, there will be officers there, Becky will be there. Baby, you are going to have to tell again what happened to you. I know it will be hard and I know you'll be scared, but I want you to focus on me the entire time, don't look at Lyle or Renee. There is something else, Mallory told me about you wanting to "trade places" with Anna. That is not going to happen. I won't let you live at that place, but Mallory and Becky are on their way to go get her. She is going to stay here. I don't know how long but at least for awhile. Do you have any questions?"

Emma shook her head at him, he could see the tears in her eyes but he could also see the amazing strength. He had pulled her onto his lap and was rocking her back and forth. She was a lot stronger than him, and the next thing out of her mouth sort of surprised him but also made him smile.

"You know what might help me? I know you'll be there and that helps. But can Uncle Tom, and maybe some of the other crew be there? Then there will be all kinds of people there. Do you think they would do that for me? It would make me feel even better and I won't be so scared. I know you'll protect me but the more people the better?"

He nodded at her and they immediately started calling the crew. Tom and Sasha would be there, along with Master Chief, Danny, Burke, Wolfe, and several others would be there. Mike was not sure what the judge or lawyers would think but he didn't care. If it made Emma feel better to be surrounded by the crew, than oh well. They all hated the situation that she was in, but was glad there was something that could do. He had spoke with the prosecutor and bluntly told them that Emma had requested it and the prosecutor went along with it, as long as no one was armed.

Emma was happy that Anna was coming to stay with them and helped Mike get the guest room ready. She had already agreed that Anna could stay with her in her room once they got some more furniture for in there and so that Peanut would have "his" own room. Mike hated the idea of Emma having to testify at the hearing but he had a feeling that Emma would get through it just fine. He was proud of her and told her as much. He was extremely worried about Mallory going to the group home but was glad that Becky was with her, and they had caught Kara and Sasha outside, they were also going with. It would be psychologically tough for Mallory though but Mike couldn't be in two places at once.