Adam stomped his feet on the rug the store had laid out, the snow had picked up some and had begun to stick to the roads.

He ran his hands through his hair before blowing on them in hopes of warming them up, the temperature had plummeted since leaving Chicago and he feared it was only going to get colder.

Kim had meticulously written out a list with nearly a dozen items on it, what was supposed to have been a diaper and wipes run had turned into something much larger.

He was given strict instructions on what to buy, Kim had added shampoo, conditioner, detangler and a clean pair of pajamas for Harleigh. Kim had asked Harleigh what kind she would like and was met with silence, which led to Kim instructing him to get something girlie but not to girlie, whatever the fuck that meant.

The shopping list for Diesel wasn't any easier. Kim added diaper cream, new bottles, a pacifier, and a pair of pajamas. Thankfully Diesel didn't give two shits, anything would work for him.

Adam pulled the list from his wallet and grabbed a shopping cart from the front of the store, it was pretty busy as people raced to get the staples before the storm really unleashed on them.

Kim wasn't sure how much longer she could stay in the house, it was absolutely had no idea as to what the next step would be and judging by the weather they needed to figure that out as soon as possible. Thankfully she had found a small playpen folded up in the back of the hall closet, there was no way she could leave him alone in his room. The playpen was perfect as she couldn't stand to hold Diesel any longer, the stench of his diaper was vomit inducing. He was oblivious to it and was quite content to lay on his back as he gummed his fist.

Harleigh wasn't as oblivious, she watched Kim like a hawk. Kim searched for something that would give her a clue as to who their parents were. She couldn't wait to get ahold of them, it was unconscionable that they were left alone.

"What's mommy's name?" Kim asked her.

"Mommy." Harleigh replied.

"Yes, but what's her name? My name is Kim, his name is Diesel, and yours is Harleigh. Your mommy has a name, what is it?"

"I don't know. I call her mommy." Harleigh replied. She was annoyed by Kim's line of questioning, she was just a kid how was she supposed to know her mommy's name?

Kim knew she needed a different approach, "What does your daddy call your mommy?"

Harleigh sat on the floor next to Diesel's playpen, "He calls her Babe."

"What does mommy call daddy?" Kim felt her frustration grow by the moment, she had tried to call Voight but was having difficulty getting a signal.

"Babe."

Adam was in over his head.

Way over his head.

He was astonished by the dozens of bottles that were on the shelf, some had straws in them, others claimed to mimic the breast. It was fucking mind boggling, he decided on the least expensive ones. He seriously doubted he'd be reimbursed for any of what he was about purchase.

Adam moved to the next aisle, he was surrounded by diapers, wipes, and diaper rash cream. He had no clue what he was doing, he grabbed his cellphone to look at the picture they had taken of the empty diaper package, he thought this would be easy. He looked for the kind he needed and came up empty, what the fuck was he supposed to do now?

He tried calling Kim.

Adam blew out an exasperated breath when he received the 'all circuits are busy' message. They should've called DFACS immediately upon finding the kids, they were prepared for shit like this.

Adam could talk to kids until he was blue in the face, he could get down on their level and connect with them. He was the one who Voight had always called upon when a kid was involved, but that never required buying diapers.

Clearly his confusion was apparent an employee approached him, "Ah...you're out of your element aren't you?"

Adam chuckled, "Little bit." He shrugged his shoulders, "How'd you know?"

"You've got that new daddy look. Kind of like a deer in the headlights." She rubbed his back.

The simple gesture rattled Adam and he took a step away from her, "Uh..not quite. It's not mine." He wasn't sure how to explain it, "Just need some diapers, but I can't find the right kind." He grabbed his phone, "I'm supposed to get these but I don't see them."

She looked at the photo, "We don't carry them. Follow me." She led him to the end of the aisle, "Boy or girl?"

"Boy. Why? Does it matter?"

"Sort of, some companies make diapers for boys and girls but if you ask me it doesn't make a damn difference. It's just another way to make money. Those ones cost a bit more. Truthfully I'm just curious. I'm a grandma, my sweet grand babies live on the west coast. I miss them dearly." She grabbed a package off the shelf, "these are comparable to the kind in the photo. What size?"

"I don't know."

"Let me see the photo again." She waited for Adam to show her, she then rummaged through the stack before grabbing the correct size "these will be perfect. Can I help you find anything else?"

"Yeah." He showed her his list, "Wipes, diaper cream, formula." He laughed nervously. "I appreciate it."

She grabbed a container of wipes and a tube of diaper cream and dropped it in the cart before turning back to him, "Formula is down this way."

Kim tossed the phone on the counter, her frustrations mounting. She had been unable to get through to Voight and she wasn't sure how much longer she could last in that house. The stench was unbearable, but more than that she feared for their safety.

She couldn't shake the feeling that they had found much more than a stash house. She couldn't worry about that aspect of things right now her first priority has to be the well being of the two children they had discovered.

"All set?" She asked Adam, "I think that's the last of it." She tossed a package of pacifiers in the shopping cart, "the baby doll was a smart purchase."

"I think she'll like it too." He didn't dare tell the woman he was hoping to make inroads with the little girl. Adam nodded his head, "That's everything and then some. Thanks for all your help, I was lost. I would've been here all night looking for that shit."

"Your girlfriend is a lucky lady." She smiled at him. "Dating a single mom isn't easy but it's oh so worth it, my youngest son is dating a single mom. She's got the cutest little baby girl." She pulled her own cellphone out, "This is her. Isn't she sweet?"

Adam glanced at the phone, "She's cute."

"Yes, I think so too. I suppose I should stop flapping my gums so you can get home before this storm gets any worse."

"Thank you for all your help, I really appreciate it." Adam fished his wallet out of his back pocket and made his way to the front of the store. He had been gone far too long and he had an uneasiness beginning to settle in his gut.

Harleigh sat perched on the arm of the couch, completely oblivious to the layer of filth it was covered in, "Bubba is stinky." She pinched her nose, "When is that man gonna be back with diapers? He's taking too long."

Kim nodded her head, "He is taking a long time isn't he? Hey, do you know when your mommy will be home? I need to talk to her."

"I don't know. She's working." Harleigh told her, "I'm hungry."

"Does mommy leave you home alone a lot?"

"I'm not alone, bubba is here. That's not alone, alone means just one" she held up a single finger. "No one else." Harleigh's reply was quick and under different circumstances it might have elicited a laugh from Kim, not now though. It was becoming apparent that this was a common occurrence and it angered her.

"Well yes, that's true. Alone does mean just one person, you and Diesel are alone because there wasn't an adult with you."

"Nuh-uh, you're here. You're an adult."

The kid was quick as a whip, "Yes I am. I'm so happy I'm here but you and Diesel were alone before I found you. You're a smart little girl and brave as can be but you're not old enough to be left alone. It's not safe."

"I hid. That was safe. Mommy says so."

Now they were getting somewhere, "Mommy leaves you alone a lot?"

"Sometimes. When the mans come she needs to go. Daddy too." Harleigh moved from the couch and stood beside Kim, "That's when I hide. Diesel stays in his bed cause he's not big enough to hide."

"What men?" Kim chose her words carefully, she couldn't ask leading questions nor did she want to press to hard.

"Men." Harleigh replied, "I don't know, they're just men."

"They come here?"

Harleigh nodded, "Not inside though. Daddy goes outside when they come and mommy stays inside." She retreated back to the couch, "I don't like the men."

The hair at the nape of Kim's neck stood up on its end, "Why don't you like the men?"

Harleigh wiggled around a bit and opened her mouth to speak when the front door creaked open, "Mommy!" She jumped up and charged to the front of the house, Kim hot on her heels.

Adam shrugged, "Sorry Harleigh, it's just me." His arms filled with shopping bags, "I bought some candy for you and a surprise." He put the bags down and rummaged through them, he found the candy and pulled it out, "Here you go." He found the doll and offered it to her, "I thought you might like this baby doll."

Harleigh's bottom lip quivered a bit and she turned around and retreated back to the couch, leaving without the candy or doll.

Kim rubbed her shoulder as she passed the couch, "I need the diapers. I've got to change Diesel."

"Here." Adam handed her the bag filled with the diaper changing supplies, "You're a brave soul, Burgess. A very brave soul."

Kim looped her arm through the bag and went to Diesel and took him into the nursery to get him cleaned up, leaving Adam and Harleigh alone in the living room.

Adam held the candy bar in front of her, "This is my favorite, you don't like it?" He opened the wrapper and broke off a piece, "it's delicious. You wanna split it with me?"

Harleigh never once looked at him, her eyes focused either on the floor or her folded hands that sat in her lap. She was absolutely terrified in his presence and felt her stomach twist as he spoke to her.

Kim had gagged through the entire process but managed to keep from vomiting, she lifted him off the changing table and held him close.

"I'm sorry you're having to go through this buddy. I will figure this out, okay? You don't have to worry I will find your mommy and daddy, I will look out for you and Harleigh, I will keep you both safe. Adam and I both will." She kissed his head tenderly.

Diesel responded with a grunt, Kim couldn't help but smile at the boy in her arms, his little face scrunched up as gummed the chain the chain her badge hung from.

"The first thing we need to do it get out of this house." Kim looked around the room, it was a disaster and she found it unconscionable that anyone lived in such filth and she couldn't understand how a parent could leave their children home alone.

Diesel brought his chubby hand to Kim's face and patted her cheek lightly, instinctively Kim kissed his hand, "This house is stinky isn't it buddy?" She glanced out the window, the streetlamp illuminating the snow as it fell, "the snow is really picking up, I doubt we will make it back to Chicago. I think a stay at a hotel is in our future. That'll be fun, won't it?"

Diesel gurgled and smiled broadly, Kim was smitten with the little guy, "Let's go back to Harleigh and Adam. We need to get moving."

"I don't like you." Harleigh declared as she sat perched on the arm of the couch, her arms folded across her chest.

"No way, you're kidding me." Adam retorted.

"No. I'm not." Harleigh retorted. "I don't like you." She told him again for good measure.

She wore a scowl unlike anything Adam had seen before, she was clearly pissed off, Adam found it a bit comical. He was in uncharted waters, he wasn't used to a kid not liking him.

"I know. I was being sarcastic." Adam told her, "I think you'll like me soon enough. I can be a lot of fun."

"I don't think so. Where's Kim?" Harleigh asked him, "it's taking too long to change my brother. My mommy is going to be home soon and she is gonna be so pissed off. You'll be in big trouble then." She smirked.

"Somehow I doubt that."