Another hour or so passed before Melinda and Phil came home. Skye and Donnie ran down the steps to great them. Skye barely waited for Melinda to put down her bags before throwing herself in her arms. Donnie offered a less zealous greeting – smiling and reaching his hand out to shake Phil's hand. But then found himself fully engulfed by a Phil hug and returned it just as eagerly.

"Missed you." Skye said as she grinned at Melinda.

"We missed you both too. Hi Donnie." He grinned and nodded at her.

"You bring us back souvenirs?" Skye was really just kidding. When Melinda nodded, her eyes widened. "Really?"

Phil knelt down and rummaged through a bag, pulling out a bunch of comics which he handed to Donnie.

"Oh wow. So cool. Thanks." Donnie looked at the titles entranced.

Phil handed Melinda another bag. She reached in and pulled out a couple books and one set handing them to Skye.

Skye read off the titles. "'The Secret Language of Color' and 'Star Wars: From A Certain Point of View.'" She smiled at Melinda. Then she looked at the book set. 'Misty of Chincoteague', 'Brighty of the Grand Canyon'," she paused and looked at Melinda. "Wait this was your favorite book, yeah?"

"And author. There are four books there in the set. The books are set at a younger reading level, but I just thought maybe..."

"I love them. Thank you. You're amazing." Skye felt her throat tighten as she felt her eyes water. She hugged Melinda again burying her face in Melinda's shoulder. She got ahold of herself, pulling away and glanced at Donnie sharing a sad look. She pushed aside her worry about her upcoming needed conversation with Melinda and Phil and managed to look upbeat. "So, tell us about your trip."

An hour later, Melinda had unpacked, started a load of laundry in the washer, taken a shower and was now talking about their trip as everyone enjoyed tea or coffee and Vic's muffins.

Vic got up and took some cups and plates to the sink. "Well, it's been fun, but we should get home. We have to all get to work tomorrow and you kids are finally going back to school and should all get to bed at a decent hour."

Melinda stood. "Thanks so much for both of you staying. I know I felt more at ease knowing that you were here, and the kids were not alone."

"Well it was no problem. We were glad to help Mel."

"Yeah, we're fine. Bobbi and Hunter looked exhausted when we relieved them this morning."

Phil laughed. "Wimps."

"Hey before you go, could – could we um – could we – we need to talk to you. All of you."

"Skye. Is something wrong? Are you okay?"

"Yeah. I'm okay. We're all fine. It's just..." She looked at Ryan for help.

"We might have been not completely honest – we didn't mean to..." Ryan started but stopped.

Thomas tried. "We were just trying to figure stuff out. We didn't figure on – on it – on finding – on having to..."

"We probably messed up. Big time. We didn't mean to be..." Ryan added.

Jemma interrupted him. "We may have participated in some bad teen shenanigans. No, actually we definitely did participate in bad teen shenanigans. We are also really sorry we disobeyed you."

"Well Jemma that was terrible. They are all confused and really worried now." Skye looked at her aghast.

"Well you wanted my help. You were stuttering, you all were stuttering all over the place. I think you should just come right out and say it. Rip off the bandaid. "

"I was going to try to soften the blow." Skye whined.

Melinda finally spoke. "Too late. Now speak and tell us what the hell is going on."

Just then the doorbell rang.

"Saved by the bell." Donnie said lightly. He laughed. No one else joined him.

"I'll see who that is." Phil got up and walked out of the kitchen. No one spoke until Melinda said, "We're waiting Skye."

She took a deep breath and was about to tell all, when Phil walked back in the kitchen with a woman. She was dressed in dark clothes. She looked at Skye and the other teens and then spoke.

"I'm Jessica Jones. I'm working with Jeri Hogarth with his case." She pointed at Thomas. "And I got a call from another friend by the name of Matt Murdock who wanted me to look into a couple powerful people in this town. Namely Ian Quinn, Gidian Malick, and Douglas Ward. After investigating for almost a week, there are a few things that are clear. One, the two cases are connected. Two, all your kids make terrible detectives. Not one noticed they were being tailed ever since they showed up downtown."

Skye blinked rapidly as the woman's last words she spoke sunk in. She looked over at Jemma who was nearly panicking, and Thomas who was gaping at the woman. Ryan was the only one who could make his brain work and he spoke.

"You followed us?"

Melinda looked at Skye's ashen face and suddenly put two and two together. "Skye. You want to talk to us?"

Skye stood there with her mouth opened and nodded emphatically. She finally was able to speak. "I was just about to tell you."

"Yeah we were about to come clean and tell you everything and then beg for mercy." Ryan added as he still stared at the stranger.

Thomas then spoke up as well. "See Skye. It is all connected. You were right all along."

"Indeed. There is something very strange going on downtown at that Enlightenment Center and you were right to believe you are in the middle of it, Skye. I think you should tell them about the Hamilton's first." Jemma reached over and grasped Skye's hands which were shaking.

All eyes turned to Skye. Izzy spoke first. "The Hamilton's? Your foster home in Lincoln Park? The people we have no files on that seem to have disappeared?"

"That's them." Ryan answered. "And the son was there too. Right here in Kingston. Right Skye?"

She nodded.

Ryan continued. "I have pictures. Of the Hamilton's. Not the son. But Skye heard him when she and Lincoln broke into the building. But Donnie's mom was there too. And so was Raina. From school Mr. C. She was getting some kind of drug injected into her. And Ian Quinn, and Damian Malick and John Garrett were there too. Tell them Skye. We both saw them, and I took pics of them all. Skye recorded the service. Oh yeah and guess what. Damian and Gidian Malick are my mom's half- brothers. My uncles. Weird right? It's like a huge secret."

"You and Lincoln broke into a building?" Melinda looked at Skye when Ryan stopped talking. "After you snuck out of the house?"

Skye hung her head refusing to look at Melinda. She gave a quick nod. "Sort of." She spoke softly.

"How does one sort of break into a building Skye?"

It wasn't hard to. The back door was just locked with a simple lock. I used a card."

"It took her less than a minute actually." Jemma said as though impressed. Which had her receiving a glare from Vic.

"Me and Lincoln are the only ones who went inside. We were just trying – I was just trying to find out what they did with the people who stayed after the service. There were about thirty people who stayed and went up to the stage. Damian Malick and John Garrett stayed too, and they went onto the stage with the two preachers along with a couple other fancier dressed people. And the people that stayed were dressed like us, mostly younger people."

When Skye stopped talking Ryan added, "all younger as far as I could tell. Our age and a little older. Maybe up to early twenties. Some looked like they might have been homeless."

"It was weird. Like we wanted to stay then to find out what was going on, but we might have been recognized." Skye nodded at Ryan.

"We surely would have been recognized, at least by Garrett."

"We were just going to see if we could hear something from backstage or something. But we never made it that far. When I looked in the one room, I saw a couple teens getting IV injections and one of them was Raina. After that we had to hide in a room and that's when I heard David Hamilton talking to someone, a voice I didn't recognize. After that we just got out as fast as we could and got in the car and drove home."

Melinda shook her head. "Do you realize what would have happened if you had been caught?"

Skye nodded and clenched her fists. "I know. I'm an idiot. It didn't hit me how stupid I was being till I heard his voice. I knew before but I tried to justify what we were doing. It's my fault. Mainly my fault. I talked everyone into all this. So if you all want to be mad at someone make it me. This is all on me."

"Funny, I didn't see the others with you being forced to be there." Jessica Jones spoke up.

"She's right. We all made the choice. We are all at fault." Thomas joined Skye standing next to her.

Ryan nodded. "I had my misgivings. But in the end, it was my choice."

"Yes. I too made the choice. And I should be held as culpable as anyone else." Jemma nodded at Skye. "As did Leo, and Callie, and Lincoln."

"Me too." Donnie spoke up then. "I might not have gone along, but I was in on it, and covering for everyone else. I wanted to go with, but Skye wouldn't let me. And another thing. I'm not really all that sorry about it either. Adults never listen to kids, so who could blame us for trying to find out the truth. Everything is connected. My mom, the Hamilton's, Skye's past and my past. Thomas and that rehab place. Ryan and his family and those teachers and some of the kids at school. It's all connected and it's all about us and we had a right to try to find out what is going on. All Skye was trying to do was get enough evidence to make you adults listen to us."

Melinda looked at Skye who was close to crying. She then looked at Donnie whose chin was stuck out defiantly, and she saw Ryan's unease and Thomas's confidence, and Jemma's loyalty. She saw a group of kids who stuck together and even though what they did had so many flaws, she did understand why. Skye and Donnie had trust issues and their past was jaded with known and unknown horrors. Jemma and Leo were always looking at logic and were loyal to their friends. Thomas and Ryan had been betrayed and worse by their own families. Lincoln was head over heels for Skye, even if both Skye and he did not yet know it, it appeared he was willing to do anything to help her.

"Honestly, I'm impressed with their plan. And watching them carry it out pretty well too. No one there was wise to them. You all might have a couple future spies on your hands." Jessica said with a smirk. "But I think maybe we should see all this evidence so that us adults can do our jobs and let your kids get back to being kids. What do you say kid," she addressed Skye, "how about giving everything you have to us and then sit down with us and explain everything? Maybe your friends can help fill in what they know?"

Phil who had yet to say anything finally spoke. "That is a great idea. But not tonight. Tonight, we need time to take this all in, and talk about it with our kids. It's late anyway and remember some of you are going back to school tomorrow for the first time in quite a while."

"Phil's right of course." Izzy agreed. "Vic and I need to get Jemma and Ryan home and we need to have a few conversations. Also getting to bed at a decent hour is necessary. It's already past eight o'clock."

Vic nodded. "We can digest this for now, sleep on it and Izzy and Clint and few others can gather anything they have on all this at the station. Bobbi can help and she can get the files on the case they investigated at that place. Meanwhile, Skye, you can put together everything you kids have and download everything – pics and stuff you took tonight."

"I'll give Bobbi and Clint calls when we get home." Izzy said. "Then if it works for everyone, we can come back here after dinner and start processing everything."

"I can give you what I have, after I clear it with Jeri and Matt." Jessica added. "And I can be here tomorrow night."

"Okay. That'll work. Right Mel?" Phil asked.

She had remained fairly quiet through the whole reveal. She was intently staring at Skye at the moment. Skye refused to look at her. "Yeah that sounds okay. Except let's meet during dinner. I'll have Bobbi and Hunter pick up some pizzas on the way over."

"I'll mention that when I call them tonight." Izzy nodded at Melinda.

Melinda nodded back. "Thanks. So everyone get her around five or so."

"Okay that's the plan. Jemma and Ryan, go get your stuff and then go out to the truck." Vic's tone bode no arguments. Both moved to do what she said, except on the way Jemma touched Skye's should and squeezed it giving her a sad smile.

"Alright then. It was good meeting you all and I look forward to working with you on this." Jessica lifted her hand to Vic. Vic shook it and nodded. "Thank you. It is actually comforting to know you were there with our adventurous kids."

"Not a problem. Just doing my job. They seem like good kids, just got caught up in something way over their heads."

"Yes thank you." Phil offered his hand as well. "I can walk you out."

The two left and Vic and Izzy followed, so it was just Melinda, Skye, Donnie and Thomas left in the room.

Melinda turned to Thomas. "Please go down to your room and get ready for bed and Phil or I will be down to talk to you later. Are you still okay about going to school tomorrow?"

"Yes. And I am sorry. Not for trying to find out the truth, but for lying and deceiving you. I am truly sorry for that and any worry we put you through."

"Thank you." He walked to the hallway and Melinda heard him going down the steps to the basement. She turned to Donnie. "You do the same."

He nodded at her. "I need to grab a quick shower and finish one school assignment. Unless Skye needs me to stay with her?" He looked over at Skye.

She shook her head. "No, I'll be fine. Do what Melinda says." She spoke quietly.

He nodded and left the room. Phil passed him. I'll be up to talk to you after I look in on Thomas."

"Okay."

Phil came back into the kitchen where it was silent. Both Melinda and Skye were still standing, with Melinda gazing intently at Skye who continued to look anywhere except at Melinda. "I'm going to speak to Thomas first and then go up to Donnie's room."

"Good idea. Donnie is going to take a shower and do schoolwork before bedtime."

"So I take it you're good here. You've got this? He nodded at Skye who was also refusing to look at him.

"I've got this."

He gave her a weak smile and then left, going down to the basement.

Melinda waited a few more minutes before speaking to Skye. "Are you going to look at me?" Skye kept her head down. Melinda sighed. "Do you have any schoolwork to do yet?"

Skye shook her head.

"Your weekend chores are done?"

Skye nodded.

"You need a shower?"

Skye nodded.

"Okay. Go upstairs and take a shower and get ready for bed. I'll be up in half hour to talk."

Skye nodded and turned around and left the room.

Melinda sat down at the table. Her mind was going off in many directions, none of them good. She played out scenarios that could have happened and each one made her shudder and what could have happened to Skye and the others. But mostly Skye. Those thought intermingled with images of Jamey, the accident, and the aftermath. She finally calmed herself down, implementing many of the same techniques to breathe and stay calm she had taught Skye. She stood up and moved into the family room, to a clear space, and began to do her Tai Chi. It helped but it didn't quite stop the anxiety and fear threatening to overwhelm her.

Skye made her way slowly up the steps and into her new room. She closed the door and simply dropped to the floor and leaned against the closed door. She hadn't dared to look at Melinda certain that anger and disappointment would be on her face. Instead, she'd looked anywhere but at Melinda. putting off the inevitable of seeing how much she had screwed up reflected back in the eyes of someone who had trusted her. Because Melinda had trusted her, and she knew she lost that now. She knew their relationship was going to be affected and that was probably the worst thing that had come out of the reveal. She berated herself for being so idiotic and thinking she was making good decisions. They were awful ones and even worse, she had dragged all her friends, all the people she cared about into it. Even Donnie who was really just a kid.

She felt the tears form before the sobs started. She pulled her knees up, grabbed a pillow laying nearby and buried her face into the pillow, wrapping her arms around her legs and stopped trying to fight her emotions. She stayed there until she heard the knock on her door and stood up quickly full of panic. She looked at the door but didn't say or do anything.

There was another knock, and with it, Melinda spoke. "Skye. Open the door please."

After a few moments, Skye took a step forward and turned the doorknob, opening the door.

Melinda stood outside with a tray with mugs on it. She moved into the room and set the tray down on Skye's desk. "I made us some tea." She looked back at Skye noticing her tear-streaked face, and that she was still dressed in the same clothes. "Are you okay?"

Skye's breathing became erratic, and she started shaking. Melinda moved quickly to wrap her arms around Skye and pulled her close. "It's okay. I'm here. We'll work through this. It's going to get better."

"Please don't send me away." Skye's whispered words were barely discernible.

And there it was. Melinda sighed. The thing that Skye was terrified of. The demons that plagued her mind that eventually no one could ever really want her, and everyone would always send her back."

Melinda hugged the girl tighter, rubbing her back as she comforted her. "Skye, you messed up. Badly. But no one is sending you away. You aren't going anywhere. It's okay. We'll figure this all out together. Just take a deep breath, I promise I'm here. I will always be here for you."

Eventually, with Melinda's gentle words and touch, Skye was able to stop sobbing. She calmed down enough to just lay her head on Melinda's shoulder and slow down her breathing. After a few moments Melinda pulled away a bit keeping her arm around Skye but gently guided her to the bed to sit down. Melinda rubbed her hand up and down Skye's back, as she waited for Skye to get calm enough to talk.

"I don't know why you're not angry with me?" Skye finally addressed Melinda.

"Oh no worries Skye. I am angry. But that's not what you need right now. Right now, you need to know that I'm here, that is the most important thing, and I'm not going anywhere, and neither are you."

"I am sorry."

"I appreciate that. Are you okay to talk through this now?"

Skye nodded.

"Good. Because I have a few things to say and I really want you to hear them and try to understand." She paused for a moment gathering her thoughts. "Skye, I'd like for you to look at me please."

Skye kept her head down and crossed her arms. After a beat she spoke. "I don't want to see your disappointment. Pretty much kicking myself here."

Melinda sighed. Gathering all of the patience she could muster she tried again keeping her voice steady and neutral. "Please look at me."

Skye finally looked over and up at Melinda. Melinda reached over to gently pull her chin up till Skye had no choice but to make eye contact.

Melinda spoke. "This is me concerned. And worried. Yes, I am also disappointed. I thought you understood how important it was to make sure you obeyed our instructions, and the number one rule was to not go anywhere without an adult. The second, always implied, was to not put yourself in danger. That would include pretending to be a secret agent." Melinda let go of Skye's chin as she now had her full attention. "I am upset. I am disappointed. Yes, I am even angry. But Skye, mostly I am afraid." She paused to let Skye digest what she'd already said before continuing.

"You. You are so important to me." Melinda softly brushed her hand over Skye's cheek. "I can't protect you, keep you safe if you disobey rules and if I can't trust you. And – uh – I – I need to keep you safe. I can't lose you. You mean the world to me. I love you so much."

Tears started falling down Skye's face. "I'm – I'm so sorry. I love you more than anyone I've – I've never had – I've never had someone before who even cared if I did stupid stuff."

"Well you do now. Skye what you and the other kids did was not just stupid, it was irresponsible. What if you'd have been caught by the people running that place? What if the police had caught you breaking in? What if David Hamilton would have seen you? Raina? Your former foster parents? Your teachers? What if one of them would have hurt you? Or one of the others? But – even beyond that, look what you did. You lied to us."

"Technically no one really lied. We just withheld information."

Melinda glared back at her. Which caused Skye to duck her head.

"Sorry. We lied."

"Lying by omission and breaking promises is still lying Skye."

Skye nodded. "I know."

"Then do not make excuses please."

She nodded again. "I'm sorry. I won't."

"Thank you. You lied. You misled us when you asked if Jemma and Ryan could spend the night. They lied to Vic and Izzy. Thomas and Donnie lied. Lincoln lied. You all concocted a scheme full of lies to accomplish a goal you had no business doing. Donnie is only twelve. You are only fourteen. Even Lincoln is still just a kid in so many ways. Jemma, Leo, Thomas, Ryan and any others who helped you or knew about this are all culpable. You, however, set this in motion, didn't you?"

Skye nodded. "Yes. I am the one who should be punished."

"No. Just the one who needs to understand that being a leader comes with high consequences. And expectations. And that you can easily lose trust by being a bad one. You will all be disciplined of course. Phil and I will discuss that later, since you, Donnie and Thomas are our responsibility. But curiously, what kind of discipline do you think you deserve Skye?"

"I don't know. A severe one?"

"In fact, tell me. Tell me what you would do, what discipline you think is appropriate if you were me."

"Most people would just send me back. See that I'm not worth the trouble. Or beat me. Some would turn me into the police."

"Those are extreme. And punishments, not discipline. Do you understand the difference?"

Skye shook her head. "Not really. I thought they were the same."

"Punishment is negative. It involves a penalty, making one pay for their mistakes. Sometimes it is physical. It is about the punisher controlling the child or trying to control the child's actions through negative feedback. Discipline is positive, wanting a result of compliance by free will not by fear or force."

"Positive?"

"Yes. By allowing the one being disciplined to make the choice to change their behavior because they see the value in it, or by understanding the reasoning why the behavior is being corrected. Like when I helped you cope with your panic attacks, helping you to be able to have a measure of control."

Melinda paused and smiled as she could almost hear Skye's gears turning in her head. She continued. "I know you, Skye. You are all kinds of stubborn and when you get something in your head, you don't give up. The key is to show you that you do have a choice, discipline if you will, how to channel that to the positive and not the negative. To teach you that sometimes that stubbornness and running headlong into things is not the best answer. You already know that lying is always caught, always brought into the open and that the guilt and shame from it can eat you up inside."

"You know you really sound like a Shrink now. Seriously. Although it is spot on. I mean I do tend to run headlong into things before thinking them completely through."

"And you are stubborn. Maybe even more than I am." Melinda laughed. "and that's saying something. But seriously Skye, tell me what you would do to you if you were me. What sort of discipline do you think you deserve?"

Skye pursed her lips together, deep in thought before speaking. "Definitely being grounded. I obviously messed up not going anywhere without an adult. So therefore, I should be limited in where I am allowed to go."

"Makes sense to me. For how long?"

"I'm pretty stubborn so it should probably be a while, yeah?"

Melinda nodded. "I can agree with that. Give me a timeframe."

"The rest of the school year?"

"That's over six months. A bit lengthy."

"I don't know. You tell me."

"Okay. The rest of this year or until I feel you have gained back the trust to let you be on your own. Which means we can revisit this again. After – after a while."

"Okay. That sounds more than fair. But I should also probably lose computer privileges too. Since that's what kinds started all this – started my quest – all the hacking and me wanting to know about my past."

"I agree. No more hacking. No computers unless it is for schoolwork and then only around another adult. As well as knowing all your computer and phone passwords. For now. Till you gain back the trust that comes with the responsibility of owning those things. You can keep your phone for safety reasons and to communicate about school and such. But you are on notice that at any given time – Phil or I will check the content on your phone and your computer."

Skye nodded. "I'm gonna hate that."

"Good. Then that will remind you that you need to be taught to be trustworthy. Since you didn't do it on your own. And you're going to hate this part even more. You need to personally apologize to everyone. Phil. Bobbi. Hunter. Vic and Izzy."

"Yeah that one is going to be painful."

"Good. Oh and I need your word that you will never do anything this stupid again."

"But you don't trust my word. At least not anymore."

"But I want to. I want to, Skye."

"I won't do anything this stupid ever again. At least I'll try not to. I'll try very hard You're really disappointed in me huh?" Skye's last sentence was barely a whisper.

"In your decisions Skye. In your choices." Melinda reached over and brushed Skye's hair with her hand and then pulled her chin up again. "Look at me." When she did Melinda gave her a soft smile. "I'm sad that you hid this. That you didn't feel comfortable coming right to me right away when you started finding this stuff out. But I'm not surprised. Your past tells you not to trust anyone. Not to go to anyone with problems or issues. The pain of rejection and the fear of consequences is still very deeply imbedded in here." She tapped Skye gently on the top of her head. We need to rewire those impulses. We need to get your head and your heart on the same page, so your actions don't hurt you or place you in bad situations when your past tells you to go it alone. Because you are no longer alone."

"It's hard to see that sometimes."

"I know."

"I'll really try to remember that when my stupid brain starts thinking stupid stuff."

"Good. Hopefully next time, one of your friends reminds you that you are not invincible and that you can trust the adults around you. Well, most of them anyway."

"Please don't be too mad at Donnie. He's only twelve. I should never have dragged him into this."

"No, you shouldn't have. But Donnie's a very smart boy. He shouldn't have gone along with it. That's on him not on you." She held her hand up when Skye was about to argue. "But yes, his age is a factor. As is yours. And your backgrounds both are filled with adults who have hurt you and you both have trust issues."

"You have to understand though. His reasons are about his mom. He wants to believe something, or someone made her the way she is. She was in those pictures. And I just want to know where I'm from. More specifically from who. You read the note my mom left with me. You know I have a redacted file and bunch of other missing files, and the hospital files are no where to be found. Why does all this keep connecting to all of us? Well to me, Donnie, Thomas and Ryan?"

"I don't know. But we do intend to find out. But it's getting late now. So why don't you jump in the shower, get ready for bed and call it a night. It's going to be an early morning with everyone going back to school, and now there are five of us doing that in this house. Okay?"

Skye nodded. "Okay."

"I'm going to check on Phil and see about Thomas and Donnie. Then I'll check back in." Melinda patted Skye on the shoulder, took the tray of now cold tea, and got and left the room.

Skye continued to sit alone for a few minutes trying to process everything Melinda had said. Before they had gone on their bad teen shenanigans, which Jemma kept calling it, Skye had known all along that eventually Melinda would find out about her investigation and hacking. Some where in the back of head though she had thought that maybe the going downtown sneaking out part was something they wouldn't have to confess to. But after seeing everything there, and hearing David's voice, she had known that a full disclosure confession would be necessary. What she hadn't counted on was the swirling feelings of guilt, shame and dislike of herself she had been feeling since talking with Lincoln and Jemma yesterday. Nor had she anticipated the overwhelming loathing she was currently feeling for her choices after letting down Melinda so badly.

She had never really cared to much how anyone saw her, nor how they felt about her. Until now. She'd seen a lot of emotions on Melinda's face since she'd met her, but none had made her feel quite so small as the disappointment Melinda couldn't hide. And that she had caused that was eating her up inside. Would Melinda regret teaching her? Taking her in? Would she regret loving her? She already regretted trusting her, that much was evident. Skye knew, no matter what was said, that earning back Melinda's trust would not be easy. She knew that just like her, although not as severe, that Melinda did not trust easily. That Melinda was more disappointed than mad - well that hurt more than any beating or chewing out she'd ever had for doing stupid things. Anger was in passing, and usually resolved rather quickly. Losing the trust of someone – that would be hard to resolve. Especially for me, though Skye. I'm way too impulsive, and stubborn, just like Melinda said.

She stood up then grabbing a pair of pajamas and headed over to the bathroom. While in the shower, she di her breathing exercises and tried to focus on something other than her disappointment in herself. She focused on getting her thoughts about how to present the information they had gathered in some sort of viable order and decided that writing down notes while going over it and looking over the pictures and information she's hacked would be a good idea. So she planned that out in her head figuring to take care of that after school tomorrow, before everyone came over.

When she got back to her room, Melinda was already there She had a tray and offered Skye a mug of tea. "Since the other ones got cold. This should relax you at least a little bit."

"Thanks." Skye sat on the bed sipping her tea. Melinda was seated on her desk chair also drinking her tea.

"Donnie's okay. Phil talked with him. Thomas is good to. Although he kept telling Phil not to blame only you for everything. He said that they all were just as responsible and wanted to make sure you weren't punished more severely. Phil got him settled down as well as Donnie and they both are in bed. Which is where you should be once you finish that."

Skye nodded. "It's good. No caffeine I take it."

"Right. So tomorrow you guys will go to school, come home, do homework if you have any, and then we'll eat and have the meeting tomorrow."

"Okay. I was going to gather everything we have and go through everything in my mind and make some notes after school. Is that okay?"

"Sounds like a good plan. Most likely Izzy and everyone will have questions for you after we look at what you have discovered. Maybe questions for Donnie and Thomas too."

"Yeah, I figured. Maybe Ryan too?"

"Ryan is coming along because of his involvement in this. If we have questions for anyone else, we'll simply call them. Oh, by the way, Rosalind called me while you were in the shower. She's not happy. Not at all. She is going to be here tomorrow too."

"Yeah. Lincoln sent me a short text telling me he wasn't allowed access to his phone after that text. He doesn't know for how long."

"Speaking of phones." She placed her hand out palm up.

Skye reached over and plopped it in Melinda's hand.

"You don't need this at night. You'll get it back before school and then hand it to Phil or me after you get home. Understood?"

Skye nodded.

"It's what Vic and I agreed. You take your phone out with you when you leave the house but hand them over once you return and we will check them."

"Okay. I get it."

"You done with the tea?"

"Yeah." She passed Melinda her empty mug.

Melinda placed it along with hers on the tray and got up. "Okay. Goodnight. Get a good night's sleep Skye. Tomorrow is a busy day." She moved to leave.

"Please don't go."

Melinda turned back to see Skye's eyes pleading with her.

"I know I messed up big time. I know you're mad at me. I just – I don't want – I don't want to be alone."

Melinda set the tray down and sat down on the bed next to Skye.

"I know the last place you want to be is with me, cause you're mad and disappointed. I can't – I don't – I'm afraid you are going to disappear." The last few words were whispered. "I know it's dumb. I'm just being dumb."

Melinda wrapped her arms around Skye and pulled her close. "You're not being dumb. It's okay. I'm here. I will be here. I will always be here for you Skye. I get it sweetie. Everyone else has always left you. I'm not leaving you. You're not going anywhere. I'll keep saying it till you believe it." Melinda held on tightly and spoke soothingly to the girl.

After Skye calmed down some, she pulled away and wiped at her eyes. "I'm sorry. I'm just being a baby. Besides I don't deserve anything from you. Not till I earn it back."

"No Skye. You don't have to earn my love. Or earn me caring about you. I'm sorry if I gave you that impression. I only meant trust. I love you very much. Do you know why I am angry and disappointed?"

"I screwed up."

"Yeah but that's expected. You're just a kid Skye. You are going to make so many mistakes. You will learn from them. I'm upset more from fear than anger. You scared me kid. Terrified may be a more appropriate word. You took so many chances and you could have been hurt. Hurt badly or even – I just – I just can't lose you Skye. I couldn't – I'm not sure I'd be able to come back from that brokenness. Not again. I can't lose another child. I'm still healing from losing my son. I can't lose my daughter too."

Skye looked at Melinda in amazement. "Did you – did – I'm – I'm not..."

"You are. I might not have given birth to you Skye, but in every single way that matters – you are mine. You're my kid."

"I – I don't know what to say."

"You're okay with – it's okay I see you as my kid, right?"

"Okay? I never thought I'd ever be good enough to be anyone's kid. Let alone yours."

"Please stop doing that. Stop putting yourself down and belittling your worth. You are a very special kid. Anyone would be proud to call you theirs. I know I am."

Skye threw herself into Melinda's arms squeezed tightly just hanging on as Melinda rocked her back and forth.

A while later, after hugs and giggles and smiles, Melinda left to wash up and get into her pajamas. Phil entered their bedroom to Melinda singing Elton John. He smiled at her and she gave a huge smile back.

"I guess your tea-time talk went well?"

"Yeah. I'm going to stay with Skye tonight. She asked me to."

"She's scared?"

"She was. I think she's pretty calm now. But she asked. She's still got abandonment issues. She always may have them to some degree."

"Yeah. You made it clear she's not going anywhere, right? I stressed that with Donnie."

"Of course." Melinda grabbed her robe and slippers, carrying them in her arms as she headed to the door. "Oh yeah, and I told Skye she was my kid. Guess we need to start thinking about applying for adoption papers for her. We can for Donnie too. We'll talk about it later." She opened the door and left, smiling at the stupid gobsmacked look on her husband's face as she walked out of the room.

Melinda entered Skye's room seeing that the girl was already in bed and under the covers. She set down the slippers and robe, climbed into the bed and switched off the light. She settled in, and Skye turned to her and snuggled into her side. Skye then said words that Melinda never thought she hear again.

"I love you. Goodnight Mom."