Daisy rolled down her sleeve of her hoodie, and then looked up again staring at these two new people in her life. They seemed really nice. She was still trying to wrap her head around the fact that they were her birth parents. Seeing the pictures had added a whole new dimension to that fact, knowing she had spent the first part of her life with these virtual strangers, and knowing they had not given her up, but that she was taken from them. She supposed that made them all victims and for a moment she contemplated whether or not her father, the man she had thought was her father anyway, was capable of kidnaping a toddler and killing people.

"Daisy."

"Huh.?

"Oh, I just asked you if you had a favorite school subject. I was just trying..."

"She smiled at the man's awkwardness, finding it endearing. "Oh, sorry, I was just thinking. But no, not really. I'm not very fond of school. I'm not really good at any of the subjects. Maybe English class a little. I do like to read."

Melinda smiled. "What kind of books do you like to read?"

Daisy shrugged. "I dunno. I like the Harry Potter books. So like that I guess."

"Ah. Fantasy books. Good choice." Melinda was going to continue talking but was interrupted by a knock on the door and then Mack entering the room.

"Sorry to interrupt, but I just got a call. They were able to put her case on the docket tonight, so we have to get her to the courthouse. You've already been discharged from the hospital. Bobbi you can pick up her things. Elena will escort her to the car."

Elena came in behind him and walked over to Daisy holding a pair of handcuffs. "You have to stand up. Please put your hands behind your back."

Daisy stood, as did everyone else in the room. Daisy moved away from the table and put her arms behind her, which Elena took.

No one noticed the sudden change of expression or dark flashing eyes of Melinda May. As Elena went to cuff Daisy, Melinda moved faster and grabbed the cuffs from her, spinning her around and griping her arms tightly. "Don't touch my daughter."

"Melinda. No. Let her go. They have to do their jobs." Phil frantically looked at Bobbi.

Bobbi moved over to stand behind Elena. "Melinda. Don't. Let Elena go. Please." Bobbi looked at Mack. "Mack, just let her walk out with no cuffs. She's not going to try to get away and she's not dangerous. I'll go with. You can cuff her at the car or courthouse okay? Mack please."

He nodded at her and Elena.

Bobbi spoke to Melinda. "Look we knew this was going to happen. You need to let it happen, and let Victoria do what she does best. It's just an arraignment hearing. Mostly protocol and paperwork. You need to let Elena go and back off. Now."

Melinda released Elena and took two steps back. Her fists clenched and unclenched as Phil placed a hand on her should to calm her. "I'm sorry." She wasn't. But she knew what needed to be said.

Elena nodded at her and turned back to Daisy. I am going to hold onto your arm while we walk out of here and down to the police car. Understood?"

Daisy nodded her eyes still fixed on Melinda.

"I'll go too. Jemma can you get Daisy's things and give them to Melinda to bring to the courthouse. Phil, do you have a way to get there, cause I can call Hunter if you want."

"No. Jane and Don are still here. I'll ask them to bring me and Melinda. We'll meet you there."

"Good. I'll call with the information on courtroom and such, okay?"

He nodded still holding onto Melinda's shoulder.

Elena took hold of Daisy's arm and motioned for her to move. She did, passing by Melinda and Phil. She stopped for a brief moment and grinned at Melinda. Then she walked out the door with Elena and Bobbi, followed by Mack.

Phil chastised Melinda. "You can't do that Mel. They are only doing their job. You put your hands on an officer. They could have arrested you. Then what?"

"Oh please. I barely touched her. You know I could have done much worse."

"Melinda!"

"She doesn't need to be treated like that. She's not a criminal. She's a victim. You read the reports Phil. She was abused by that – that- Gary Wilson. It was supposed to be a safe place, a foster home is not supposed to be a place she needed to run away from. Everything she's done has been because the system failed her."

Jemma walked over to Melinda. "I know seeing that upset you. But now you have to remember that everything you do, may affect Daisy now. You will be investigated. Background checks. If you want to get custody of Daisy, you will want to show the court why they should allow it."

"That's bullshit. We are her parents. We never gave up our rights to be her parents. She was taken from us. Now that she is back, she should be given back to us."

"She will Mel. We just have to be patient. Come on. Let's find Don and Jane so they can drive us to the courthouse. We need to be there to support Sk..Daisy."

"I'm sorry Melinda. But Daisy is a Ward of the State. As of right now, they have legal custody of her. I'm sure that under the circumstances, she will be returned to you. But it has to be done through the law and the right channels. Right now, you need to put Daisy first." Jemma wanted to make sure Melinda understood.

"I will always put her first."

"Okay. Then let's go Melinda. Let's get her stuff and get over there."

Melinda nodded as she bent down to pick up the pictures scattered on the chair. She would return them to Daisy.

Daisy stopped at the police car as Elena opened the back door. "Get in please," Elena said.

"No cuffs?"

"Not now. Don't make me regret that, okay."

"Sure. I'll be good. I promise."

Bobbi smiled at her as she closed to door and got into the front passenger seat. "That would be good Daisy."

The drive to the courthouse was not long but there was plenty of traffic. Daisy sat back and closed her eyes. She was getting a headache and wished for some pain meds. "Hey anyone have Motrin or something. My head hurts."

"Sorry Daisy. I don't."

Elena shook her head. "Me either."

"Maybe someone at the courthouse has some." Bobbi offered.

Daisy nodded and kept her eyes closed. She tried to relax and go through some of her coping skills, since her anxiety was growing. Ah hell, what's the worst they can do, throw me in a juvenile detention place. She'd been in those before. She'd just have to watch her back. Her thoughts drifted to the small woman who had changed into a fierce warrior before her eyes. Daisy smiled. Melinda was strange. She was all quiet and even a bit teary eyed, but full on badass too. Oh no. Daisy sat up quickly.

"My pictures. Bobbi can we go back. Please. I forgot my pictures."

Bobbi turned around to look at the frantic face of the girl. "Hey hey. I'm fairly certain someone will bring them with. In fact, I'll text Phil now. Okay? "

Daisy swallowed hard and nodded. "You think so?"

"Yes. I'll text Phil just to make sure though. It's okay. You'll get them back."

Daisy took a big breath and willed herself to relax. "She carried them with her. All the time."

"She did. Phil has albums of pictures of you. I would guess Melinda does as well. I'm sure they will show them to you."

"You think?"

"Of course Daisy. They are coming over to court now. They are filing all the paperwork so you can live with them. That's something you'd want, isn't it?"

"I hadn't even thought that far ahead."

"Well they are your parents. And you were kidnapped."

"Yeah." She was quiet for a little while. Then she leaned forward more and spoke. "They seem nice."

"They are nice Daisy. I don't know Melinda well, but I do know Phil. He's not only nice, he's kind and warm, and generous and compassionate. He cares about people. He's genuine."

"Tell me more about him. Like what he likes and doesn't like. All I really know is he's a teacher. What does he teach?"

"History. High school level. He loves American History. He likes to watch basketball games. He also coaches at the school and plays pick up games at the gym. He cooks and bakes and likes to do both. His favorite color is red. He is in denial about losing his hair. He helps his students whenever he can. He goes the extra mile, you know? He loves comic books and goes to those nerdy conventions when he can."

"Sounds perfect."

"No Daisy. He's just a good man."

"So he never got married again? Does he date?"

"Actually, he did. He remarried but it was short lived. Lasted around two years, I think. I set him up with a few dates the last couple of years."

"Bet that went over well?"

"Oh no he's stubborn all right. He's very picky. See, not perfect. But you really should talk to him and see for yourself what he is like. Oh good, traffic is getting lighter. We should be there in a few minutes."

Daisy sat back and pondered the information that Bobbi had just disclosed about her birth father. Then her mind wondered to musing about Melinda May. No on seemed to know much about her. So far, she had made quite an impression on Daisy. As Daisy closed her eyes again and rubbed her temples with her fingertips, she wondered how different she would be had she been raised by them instead of her parents.

Daisy sat in chair in a waiting area. Elena said there were six other arraignment cases in front of them. Her lawyer, Victoria had poked her head in the room and told her she would see her at arraignment and was still working on a few things. Bobbi had left the room a few minutes ago. Elena had found some ibuprofen for her and had given her a bottle of water. Her head was just starting to feel little better. The door opened and Bobbi came back in.

"Should only be a few more minutes till we go in front of the judge."

Daisy nodded. She sipped from the bottle of water and tried to squash down her nerves. For all her bravado, she was always wary of these things. Whether it was a judge or caseworker deciding her fate, her future. Usually she ended up in a piss poor place. Like the last one. Gary was not just a drunk, he was a mean drunk. He took pleasure in hitting her. His wife was almost as bad with her constant verbal abuse and screaming. Gary didn't try anything sexual with her, he just would hit her and kick her. She'd only been there two months and the last time he'd beat on her, she thought he might actually kill her. That's when she decided to run, and that's when she decided she was going to do it right. Make money, use the skills Miles taught her, and the ones she taught herself and get the hell away from the area and go make a new life. She was tired of the bad foster homes, and the too crowded group homes, and the bureaucracy that ran her life. She was tired of being afraid, of being beaten, of being used by everyone.

She could count on one hand the good places she had lived since her parents had died. Well not her parents. Not really. They weren't her real parents and that fact was going to take some tiem getting used to. Cal and Jiaying Johnson. Kidnappers. Or baby buyers. Either way that made them terrible people, didn't it? She didn't know who they were anymore, who she was, or how any of this was going to play out. All she did know was she was damn tired or being tired and scared. So maybe this whole weird whacko thing that happened to her in the last six hours or so was a good thing. God, she hoped so. But what if they turned out to be just like everyone else. Nice and calm on the outside in public, and hateful and hurtful when no one was around. She set the bottle down and rubbed her head. She wanted to cry. This was all too much. But she didn't cry anymore. At least not in front of people. That showed weakness and then they would take advantage of that too. Better to pretend nothing mattered and words didn't hurt. Better to let everyone think she was tough an everything rolled off her.

The door opened and Victoria entered with a guard. "It's time."

Daisy got up, as did Bobbi, and the guard escorted her to the courtroom followed by Bobbi and Victoria. She passed by the spectator seats and saw Melinda and Phil sitting there with another couple, and with Hunter, and Elena. Daisy stared straight ahead not looking at either of them. Bobbi moved into the row to sit with them, while she, along with the guard, and Victoria moved to the front. Jemma was standing there and gave her a small smile as she moved over to stand between Jemma and Victoria and the guard moved off to the side.

Daisy's mouth was dry, and she swallowed a few times. Then she bit on her bottom lip as she watched the judge rifling through some papers on her desk. Daisy watched hoping this female judge was one of the empathetic ones and not a hardnosed judge out to prove something. Daisy shuffled her feet and Jemma put a hand on her shoulder.

She leaned over and whispered." Try to speak evenly and calmly and clearly if the judge addresses you, okay?"

Daisy nodded. She looked down at her hands and saw she was clenching and unclenching them and thought of Melinda. She turned her head enough to look back and saw Melinda and Phil with worried expressions. Melinda saw her look and forced a smile and nodded at her. Daisy quickly turned back and folded her hands together and closed her eyes, taking a few deep breaths.

"This is case number 084000. The city of Chicago vs Daisy Johnson. I understand the defendant is a minor, age fifteen and a ward of the State of Illinois. Is that correct?"

"Yes, Your Honor it is. Victoria Hand to represent the defendant and I am also her advocate since she is a minor."

"Very good. I see the city has already dropped several charges against the defendant and the charges are now misdemeanor runaway and truancy, misdemeanor evading police, felony assault, and two counts of misdemeanor theft. Is that correct?"

"Yes, Your Honor. I'm Jennifer Lawrence, the Assistant DA in this matter."

"I see that Ms. Hand has petitioned this court to transfer all proceedings to Family Court. Ms. Lawrence, do you have any objections?'

"No, Your Honor. We concur that would be in the best interest of the defendant."

"I see. What about the assault charge?"

"That stems from Naperville. We believe those charges will be dropped as well."

"Why is that?"

"They were made by Miss Johnson's foster father and we believe it was an attempt to hide his own crimes of assault and physical abuse against Miss Johnson. Also, one of the charges of misdemeanor theft was made by the same accuser and we believe that is also a charge that will be dropped."

"The other misdemeanor theft charge was lowered from a felony charge?"

"Yes, Your Honor. The money stolen was recovered in full."

"Young lady, do you understand the charges against you?"

Daisy nodded her head. "Yes." She cleared her throat. Yes, Your Honor."

"Ms. Hand, is the foster parent going to be charged?"

"Yes. We hope so. We are going to ask the police to investigate him, and provide our information and statements to them, and we hope the Naperville police file charges."

"Miss Johnson, did you run away due to abuse?"

"Yes."

"Ms. Lawrence do you have any issue with the runaway from state care and truancy charges be dropped?"

"No, not at all Your Honor."

"Then we will make it so in the order. I also grant the petition to remove this case to Family Court here in the city of Chicago. I see that this case also involves custody of the minor under very strange circumstances."

"Yes, Your Honor. The defendant is also a victim of a kidnapping that took place over thirteen years ago. Through a series of events, her birth parents she was stolen from have been found and they are seeking custody through Family Court once all the paperwork is filed."

"You know I can't grant them custody today in this courtroom. Not if it is on the docket for Family Court. It is filed already correct?"

"Yes, Your Honor. We have a court date on Friday at ten am. But, the defendant, being a minor would go back into State custody until that court date, but under Regulation 119 of the juvenile system I would like to petition this court for temporary custody placement of a family member. It is an order that you can rule in favor of."

"There is a family member present? Other than the birth parents?"

"Yes, Your Honor. Officer Barbara Morse of the Chicago Police Department is her aunt. She has agreed to honor a temporary custody order until the court hearing date."

"Officer Morse please stand and come front."

Bobbi got up and walked to the front standing next to Victoria.

"You are in agreement with this arrangement?"

"I am Your Honor."

"Ms. Hand you have a psychiatrist here to testify to me about this?"

"I'm Doctor Jemma Simmons, Your Honor."

"You have examined the defendant and you think it is her best interest to stay with Office Morse?"

"Yes, I do."

"Any objections from the State, Ms. Lawrence?"

"No none."

"Okay temporary custody of Daisy Johnson is awarded to Barbara Morse until the court hearing on November fourth. Ms. Hand you have one more request according to my paperwork."

"Yes. According to regulation 765 of social services I would like that a visitation order be allowed for Daisy Johnson's birth parents unconditionally until the custody hearing on November fourth."

"Any objections Ms. Lawrence?"

"No none."

"Granted. Miss Johnson you will remain in the custody of Barbara Morse until your family court hearing. We're done here. Bailiff, call the next case."

Daisy looked up at Victoria hand. "What just happened?"

"You are going home with Bobbi. You can see Melinda and Phil. You have a court date this Friday. And I am going to work on all those charges being dropped by being added to family court to be adjudicated at your hearing Friday."

"So no juvie? No jail?'

"Nope."

Daisy hugged the woman, which caught Vic by surprise. "Oh okay. Look I need to get home so Bobbi, she's all yours."

Bobbi grinned. "Ready to go?"

'Just like that?"

"Yeah."

"Cool."

The four vacated the area, walking down the aisle and were met by the relieved faces of Melinda and Phil.

Daisy sat in the front passenger seat as Bobbi drove Hunter's small Honda. Phil, Melinda and Hunter had squeezed into the back seat amidst Hunter's whining about it being too tight. No one wanted to put Daisy in an awkward position and Melinda's death glare at Hunter quieted his complaining somewhat. Bobbi pulled into a parking lot of a diner. After leaving the courthouse, and saying their goodbyes, with everyone profusely thanking Victoria before she left, everyone remembered none of them had eaten any dinner. Bobbi recommended they go to a diner. Everyone agreed and it was now a little after eight at night. Everyone got out of the car and walked into the small diner. It was busy but not overly so. Bobbi asked for a table for five and everyone waited till Daisy sat down first. Phil and Melinda sat on either side of her while Bobbi and Hunter sat across from the three. Daisy was busy reading over the menu.

She announced loudly, "I'm starving. Everything looks so good."

Melinda smiled. Phil grinned and spoke up. "We come here occasionally. The burgers are great. I'm gonna have a burger."

Daisy nodded and then squealed with excitement. "They serve breakfast all day."

"Well I'm having a burger too, with fries and a milkshake." Hunter added his two cents to the conversation.

"Oooo... they have milkshakes too?" Daisy's eyes grew larger as she looked at him.

"Yep. Good ones too. Lots of flavors."

Daisy turned to the page and looked at the milkshakes offered. "They cost like seven bucks though."

Melinda shook her head. "Don't worry about the cost Daisy. Get what you want."

Phil nodded. "You could get breakfast and a milkshake."

Daisy smiled. "Really?"

"That's what I'm having," said Melinda as she closed the menu. "Maria's special shake and cinnamon raisin french toast with bacon and hash browns."

Daisy looked over at her. "Is that milkshake good."

"I don't know yet. I've never had one."

"What's in that anyway?" Bobbi questioned trying to find it on the menu.

Daisy read it to her. "Sweet cream and ambrosia blended into creamy frozen goodness with vanilla ice cream, creamy peanut butter, bananas and sin-sational chocolate syrup topped with whipped cream and a cherry."

"Hmm... I'm gonna stick with just a strawberry shake," Bobbi responded. "That sounds too sweet."

"It sounds amazing. I'm gonna get that too. With pancakes. Chocolate chip pancakes and bacon." She looked at Melinda. "Is that alright?"

"Of course. That's fine."

"It's not too expensive?"

"Well I do have that twelve thousand dollars back so it's all good." Phil tried to make a joke.

Everyone grew silent and Melinda gave Phil one of her patented dirty looks.

Daisy was quiet for a second but then quipped, "so I can have dessert too?"

Everyone laughed and Phil shot Melinda an apology with his eyes and expression. She communicated back to not do it again. Neither had to say a word. Hunter watched and shook his head. Anyone who could still be on that kind of wavelength should be together. He'd have to mention it to Bobbi later.

The waitress soon came and took all their orders, and soon the food was brought out. Phil, Bobbi and Hunter had opted for various kinds of burgers with fries, while Daisy and Melinda had breakfast orders. Daisy took a sip of the milkshake and grinned.

"Is it good?" Melinda asked her while putting her straw in her own.

"Daisy turned to her, raised her eyebrows up in an exaggerated manner and simply said 'yummmmmm..."

Melinda tasted hers and nodded to Daisy. "I agree. Yummy."

Daisy proceeded to attack her food with gusto, first pouring an insane amount of syrup on her pancakes after smothering them with butter. She grabbed a slice of bacon and stuffed half of it in her mouth and then shoved in a large bite of pancake. Her focus was completely on the food in front of her, and her lack of decorum and quickness of eating her food did not go unnoticed by either Melinda or Phil. Melinda ate much slower and ignored the pile of bacon on her plate, just eating the French toast and potatoes and sipping her shake. Phil also slowly ate his meal and carried on a conversation of random topics with Hunter and Bobbi. Melinda smiled occasionally at the others but barely joined in the conversation. The conversation turned to Tv shows as everyone was trying to keep the atmosphere light and fun.

"I still have no idea how you can still watch cartoons Phil?" Bobbi was teasing her brother now.

Melinda snorted at that. "You mean animated shows Bobbi. Phil thinks if you call them animation instead of cartoons it is more sophisticated. Is he still especially fond of those superhero ones?"

"Oh yeah."

"Hey there's nothing wrong with Spiderman, Bobbi," Hunter defended.

"Spider Gwen is cool." Daisy mumbled around her mouthful of food.

"Into the Spider-Verse." Phil grinned. "You like comics Daisy?"

"I just know Spider Gwen was all badass. I just saw it at the movies. The theater had a matinee special double feature. That was one of the cartoons they played."

Melinda grinned as Phil frowned at the word cartoon that Daisy used. He was such a dork.

Daisy continued. "I mean it was good and all, but manga is where it's at."

Melinda grinned more.

Phil's look on his face was priceless. It showed half betrayal and half outrage. "Manga is- is-well it's ..."

Daisy's smirked. "Don't tell me you are one of those old anime haters? The kind that claims those old cartoons are so much better?"

"Those old cartoons are animated classics. And well for one, with Anime those eyes are too big. And they don't look like real people. Plus they have no lips. And did you just call me old?"

"You are old Phil." Melinda gave him a sweet smile.

"Well then so are you. You're only a year younger than me. Or did you forget in your old age?"

"Haha. Your jokes are even old Phillip."

Daisy laughed at the banter between the two. "You guys are funny but wait. You're only a year younger? Seriously? You look so much – ah – you – um- you..." Daisy stopped speaking and looked nervous as she looked back and forth between them.

Phil's face was a mix of humor and attempting to look hurt. While Melinda's eyes twinkled, and her face held a huge grin.

"It's the receding hairline kid. Makes him look old." Hunter added his two cents then continued to slurp his milkshake.

Bobbi tried to stifle a laugh but couldn't. Soon she and Melinda were giggling while Phil continued to look affronted.

Phil did notice Daisy's discomfort then and decided to join in the fun. "Maybe I should shave it off, then I'd look like Vin Diesel."

Daisy snorted. Then joined in the laughter.

"What? We share the same body type too."

That only brought more laughter from the three ladies as Hunter sat back and smirked at him.

After they had all calmed down, and Bobbi had to wipe her eyes with a napkin from laughing so hard, Daisy spoke up. "No really, how old are you, really?"

"I'm forty- four. She's a year younger."

"And you both were in the Air Force? Is that where you met?"

"Yeah. She threw me to the ground, and we became friends."

"She threw you to the ground?" Bobbi raised her eyebrows at him.

"I was teaching the communications officers how to defend themselves."

"It was a refresher course. I already knew how to defend myself Melinda."

"Not very well apparently since you needed lessons."

"Hey. Some of us didn't have three black belts in various martial arts disciplines when we joined the academy."

Daisy was obviously impressed at that statement. She turned to Melinda. "Three black belts. In Karate? "

"Taekwondo. Hapkido. Jiu-Jitsu."

"So like Karate?"

Melinda smiled. "Yes. Taekwondo is more focused on kicking techniques with straight on focus with some punching, blocking and takedowns, Hapkido is more circular, more sweeping utilizing joint locks, and fighting with hands, feet elbows, and weapons. Jiu-jitsu is more focused on technique, speed, and leverage using punches and kicks and works well for a smaller person to take down larger opponents."

Daisy stared at her with her mouth open.

Bobbi on the other hand although impressed, offered a challenge. "We should go a few rounds."

Melinda looked over at her. "In what?"

"Traditional karate. Black belt. 4th dan level."

"Yodan. Impressive."

Phil shook his head at Bobbi. "Um those three black belts she earned before stepping foot in the Academy. Afterward, she earned more. Black belt in Karate too, right Mel."

"She nodded. I'm only at the nidan level though."

"Oh." Bobbi nodded. "It still might be fun to go a few rounds. I know some Brazilian Jui-jitsu and judo as well."

"Sure."

"So you've kept up Melinda? With training? Even while working in administration at the FBI?" Hunter asked.

"Yes. I have. Why wouldn't I?"

He shrugged. "So four black belts? I do some boxing and judo. Maybe we could go a few rounds too."

Phil smiled. "Hunter remember when I took you down five times?"

"Awe mate, you got lucky."

"Melinda is much, much better."

So you're like a super ninja?" Daisy burst out starring at Melinda in awe.

"I guess. It's just something I've always been good at."

"Cool." Daisy snuck another french fry from Phil's plate, something she had been doing the last ten minutes or so, since she finished off her own meal. Before that she had taken two pieces of bacon from Melinda's plate.

The waitress came to the table "How are you folks doing? How was everything?"

They all nodded and spoke in the affirmative.

She smiled and spoke again. "Anyone having dessert."

Phil answered as he pointed to Daisy. "She is for sure. What do you have?"

The waitress listed off the vast array of dessert options.

Hunter ordered a piece of the chocolate diva cake, chocolate cake with chocolate syrup and a scoop of chocolate ice cream. Bobbi ordered banana cream pie, while Phil ordered a slice of strawberry pie. The three also ordered coffee.

"Can I have the caramel apple cobbler?" Daisy looked to Melinda for confirmation.

"Of course, Daisy." Melinda nodded at the waitress. "I'll just have a cup of green tea please."

The waitress wrote down the orders and walked away. The group continued their conversation, debating the merits of various Martial Arts disciplines. Daisy didn't have anything to add but listened attentively. Soon their desserts were brought out and everyone was fairly quiet while they ate. Daisy ate about three quarters of hers and then groaned and pushed the plate a few inches away from her.

Melinda leaned over with her spoon, "May I?"

Daisy nodded and watched as Melinda ate a few spoonsful of the dessert. "It's good huh?"

"It is. One of my favorites along with peach crisp. My father makes them both and they are delicious."

"So your father can bake but you can't?" Daisy questioned.

"No I choose not to because I don't like to."

"You choose not to Mel, cause it's safer for the world."

Melinda just rolled her eyes. The others laughed. The group finished up and Phil took the check to pay the bill. Bobbi left the tip and soon they were all piling back into the car. Phil got in the back followed by Melinda, and Hunter hesitated and started complaining. Daisy pushed by him and climbed in the back seat sitting down next to Melinda. The seat was on the small side, so Daisy was leaning into Melinda which she didn't seem to mind. Hunter shrugged and got in the front with Bobbi. Melinda smiled as the girl settled back in the seat and groaned about how full she was.

Melinda dug around in her purse as Bobbi pulled onto the road from the parking lot. She handed the pictures to Daisy. "Oh here. I grabbed these from the chair."

Daisy took them and nodded. "I left them by mistake. Are you sure I can have them?"

"Positive. They're yours now. Oh yeah, I have your backpack and bag in the back. You can put them in there once we get to Bobbi's place."

Daisy nodded. "Thanks."

Melinda gave her a smile and watched as Daisy looked through the pictures, this time spending a very long time looking at each of them. Phil placed his hand over Melinda's, and she took it and entwined their fingers together. The reminder of the ride remained quiet in the back while Bobbi and Hunter bickered back and forth in the front of the small car.

Daisy followed everyone into the house. The house was a small ranch house. Bobbi led them all through the living room and into the hall.

"We have four bedrooms, but one is used as our workout room. Another is my office. Of course, we stay the master bedroom which is there off to the right at the end of the hallway with its own bathroom. This door here is the other bathroom, of course Phil you know where everything is. This room just next to the bathroom actually has a daybed. Daisy you can stay there, so if you want to drop your stuff off in the room, you can. I need to get sheets and blankets and stuff."

Daisy nodded and moved into the room. It was small but did have a daybed, a desk, a nightstand with a lamp, and a dresser.

Bobbi followed her in while Phil and Melinda waited in the doorway. "Phil actually stayed here for two weeks when he moved because his apartment wasn't ready when he started his teaching job."

"Yeah that was five years ago. The school I teach at is near here actually."

"Lincoln Park High School."

"That's right Daisy. How did you know?"

She gave him a lopsided grin.

"Oh yeah. That's how you found me to steal my money."

"Yeah. Schools have terrible cyber security."

"Well to be far, most schools don't anticipate fifteen-year-old hackers trying to steal personal information from their files," Melinda added.

"True. But seriously schools are some of the easiest to hack. I can't tell you how many times I changed a grade so I wouldn't..." She trailed off as the adults all gave her chastising looks. "Anyway, this is great Bobbi. Could I take a shower?"

"Sure. Towels and such are in the bathroom closet, and there should be shampoo and soap and stuff there as well. Feel free to use whatever you need. Meanwhile I'll make up your bed."

"Cool. Thanks." Melinda and Phil moved out of her way as Daisy walked to the bathroom.

Bobbi moved to the hall closet and got down sheets and blankets taking them to the spare room and dropping them on the daybed. "So I guess you guys will wait to say goodbye to Daisy and then head out."

"No."

Both Bobbi and Phil turned to Melinda.

"I'd like to stay."

"I don't have another bedroom or bed."

"You have a sofa. It's all I need. I can take one of those blankets in the closet."

"Melinda. You have no change of clothes. Nothing to sleep in. We should go home, and we can come back in the morning, right Bobbi?"

Bobbi stared at Melinda. "You'll just stay here, outside if you have to, won't you?"

"If I have to."

Bobbi walked back to the closet and grabbed a blanket, pillow and sheets. She handed them to Melinda. "I get it."

"Thanks."

"Phil you can stay too. We have an air mattress. I'll have Hunter get it ready. Here." She handed him a sheet, pillow and blanket as well. "You'll have to stay in the living room too. It's the only big enough space besides the garage and it's darn cold out there."

"Okay that's fine. You don't mind Mel?"

"Nope."

"You can have the air mattress Mel, if you want."

"The sofa's fine Phil."

Well I'm gonna make up Daisy's bed. You guys should make yours too."

"Yeah I have to call in for a sub for tomorrow first. Maybe I'll ask Don to drop off some clothes for me on his way to work. They only live a few minutes from my apartment."

"I have to call in too and leave a message that I'm taking emergency personal days."

"Okay." Bobbi went to the spare room and Melinda and Phil moved to the living room both getting out their phones.

Daisy finished showering and wrapped a towel around her hair stepping out onto the rug. She grabbed another towel and dried off. She dropped the towel next to her dirty clothes on the floor and looked in the mirror. Most of the bruising had gotten lighter and was fading. The ones on her left shoulder and upper arm were the worst, where mark had repeatedly kicked her as she laid curled up in a ball protecting her stomach and head. She stretched her left arm and felt some aching but most of the real pain was gone. She turned around and checked her back and saw a pretty ugly mark still there on her lower left side of her back and yet another by her hip. Compared to how black and blue they were, and how much they hurt before though, this was pretty much nothing.

That doctor had taken pictures of her injuries and wrote a lot down in her chart. She had been relived that the doctor said she had no broken ribs and no internal injuries. The beating had gone on for a at least a few minutes before his wife had screamed at Gary that they'd get in trouble if he broke anything. Daisy might hate her more than Gary, although Diane never touched her, she also never protected her. In fact, sometimes Diane encouraged Gary to hit her telling him she deserved it. Daisy turned around and stared back at her body in the mirror. She was on the thin side currently, only recently putting back on a few pounds since she'd run away. Diane liked to withhold food if the house wasn't clean well enough or Daisy broke anything. Or more like if Gary broke anything in anger, Diane blamed her. That food tonight was amazingly good. She was still wondering what they'd make her do to pay them back but figured maybe it was just cleaning which she was actually good at. Everything cost something.

She pulled her clean clothes from the backpack and started putting them on. She had no pajamas but figured a pair of sweets and T-shirt would work just like it had for her at the hostel. Her mind wandered to Phil and Melinda, and she wondered if they were still around. It was pretty late after all.. Daisy found a hair dryer in cabinet under the sink and dried her hair. When it was reasonably dry, she put the dryer back, hung up her towels and washcloth and rolled her dirty clothes into a ball, grabbed her backpack and sneakers and walked out of the bathroom and into the spare room. The daybed was made up and no one was around. She dropped her stuff on the top of the dresser, and then walked out and down the hallway. She stopped at the living room seeing Phil putting a sheet on an air mattress and saw the sofa was also made up with a sheet and blanket.

"Hey."

He looked up and smiled. "All done?"

"Yeah. I was looking for Bobbi to say goodnight. It's pretty late."

"Yeah it's nearly eleven. Bobbi's in the kitchen with Melinda."

"So you're staying here?"

"Yeah. So is Melinda."

Daisy nodded and turned to go into the kitchen. Why were they staying? Did they think she's run away again? She entered the kitchen and saw Melinda and Bobbi sitting at the table.

Melinda smiled. "Daisy, do you want some tea?"

Daisy walked over to the table. "Nah I'm not big on tea."

"You want something else? Juice, milk, water?' Bobbi offered.

"Maybe a glass of milk. You don't have chocolate do ya?"

"Sorry, no. But I can get some."

"You don't have to do that." Daisy accepted the glass of milk Bobbi offered. "Is it okay if I take this to the room. I'm pretty tired."

"Of course."

"Thanks. For everything." Daisy looked at both women.

"No problem." Bobbi gave her a smile.

"You 're welcome Daisy. Good night. Phil and I are staying so we will be here in the morning."

"Yeah I saw him in the other room." She walked out of the room. Passing by the living room she spoke to Phil "Goodnight."

"Good night Daisy. Sleep well."

Daisy closed the door to the spare room and searched for the lock. Finding one she clicked it and sat down on the bed drinking the milk pondering the day's crazy events.