Remember that the first page or so is the same set-up, but the rest will be very different. Be sure to read to the end and check out my offer.

Because What You Do Matters

Liam cleared his throat, as he looked out into the auditorium. The audience was slowly filling and he noticed that Ellie, Mandy, and Mandy's new boyfriend Rick, were in the front row, but his dad wasn't. He hopped down and walked over to them. "I'm going last so maybe—maybe everybody will be here."

"I'm sure they will be. But if not, we'll both be recording it." Ellie said looking over at Mandy who had her phone in her lap.

"You know everyone is trying to get here," Mandy encouraged. "You're going to do great!"

Liam nodded and went back up the stage steps and behind the curtain where his teacher breathed a sigh of relief at his reappearance. She had him go further backstage and wait for his turn to read his essay.

The assignment had been to write about sharing. To discourage cheating, the student was only allowed to work on it during school hours. Each grade from fifth to eighth chose the top two essay's submitted and those students were reading their essay tonight at an assembly. Then the essays would be entered into a citywide competition. Liam's was one of those chosen. He had worked so hard on his offering, taking his study time to etch out each paragraph, erase it and start all over again. He was constantly poring over the dictionary and the thesaurus until he found just the right word. And his efforts had produced something worthy of a ribbon and an assembly appearance.

Once it was his turn, Liam only focused on getting the words out in a slow and steady pace. The lights didn't allow him to see much of the audience and for that he was grateful. He cleared his throat and began.

Sharing. We all have different ideas of what we share and how we share it. Some people love to share while others don't. For me I guess it depends what I have to share, because some things are harder to share than others.

I don't have any brothers or sisters, so I don't have to share a room or my stuff or clothes. But I do have to share something. And he is the hardest thing ever for me to share. It's hard, because it's not like sharing a piece of pie, or pizza or something that can be cut up like a loaf of bread.

Most kids just have to share their parent with their other parent or with their siblings, but I have to share my father with the whole city of Chicago. I hate that I have to. I would worry every day that he would get hurt or worse. He's been shot, more than once. He's come home beat up and bruised. He's come home with anger and pain in his eyes. I have to share him with violence and victims. I have to share him with loss and devastation and even occasionally with victory. He has to share so much of his soul and by doing so I have to lose a part of him to the city we both love. But sometimes I would just feel so empty when I was home without him or like now, when once again he isn't here. Sharing is hard and caring is hard. But because my dad does care, I have to share him. But even though it is hard, I do it because I have to.

I know that the world is bigger than just me and just him. It is as big as this room and bigger. It is as big as the street and bigger. It is as big as the city and bigger. And it is full of people, some good, some bad. My dad is one of the good ones and he has to step up to show that goodness still exists. That there are people that will let go of themselves and the ones that they love to help others, to help the greater good.

My mom used to always ask what are you meant for? What are we meant for? What are we meant to do with our lives and why should we do it. Why do they do it? The first responder's get up everyday and fight for what is right. Why? Because it matters. They sacrifice their time working late. Why? Because it matters. They miss those they love. Why? Because it matters. They stay strong when everyone around them falters. Why? Because it matters. They endure pain, fear, discomfort and the unknown. Why? Because it matters. They try and fix what's broken. Why? Because it matters. They risk their lives. They lose their lives. They give until they have nothing left to share. Why? Because it matters. I share my dad. Because it matters. Because what I do matters. Because what he does matters. Because what we all do matters. Because it was what we were meant for.

ORIGINAL ENDING

Jay sat back and smiled. "I remember that night. I drove like a maniac, lights going, to try and get there in time. I was so sure that I had missed it, but I got there just as you took the stage—I wasn't sure if you could see me or not."

"No, not until I was done and stepped to the edge of the stage. The lights made it hard to see. I could see a shape standing there but not much else, but then as I walked forward there you were—and the rest of the team too."

"Yeah, they didn't want to miss it either. We all busted our asses to get there."

"Then I jumped into your arms," Liam said smiling at the memory.

"And I actually caught you," Jay said as he smiled almost feeling the impact of his son's ten year old body.

"That was such a beautiful story. You two had such an amazing relationship. A strong bond." A voice proclaimed from the other room.

"Okay," Jay said putting his hand on Liam's shoulder, "do you know your background info."

"Yes father, this isn't the first time I've been undercover," Liam said, still wearing his smile, but losing it as he thought of the night ahead.

"I know, but I'll be with you and I'm not going down because you forgot what your high school mascot was." Jay said lightheartedly.

"Yeah, yeah. How many set-up's work this perfectly. I mean a father and son team of drug dealers. It was made for us."

Jay looked at his son with pride in his eyes. Liam was a member of the SWAT team and often went undercover and clearly had an affinity for it. He had started right out of the gate barely out of the academy when he began to go undercover in the high schools, his youthful appearance allowing him to fall right into the teen scene without question. Now when he wore occasional facial hair he could actual pass for an actual adult. It was quite clear that the apple did not fall from the tree something Jay had always feared. "How did you get to be twenty-five." Jay asked.

"Same way you got to be fifty. So you ready to do this old man," Liam asked with the same joking tone Jay had used.

Liam had graduated from college and was immediately accepted into the police academy. In-between his uncover assignments he was a patrol officer and enjoyed working the different neighborhoods and forging relationships with its inhabitants. But he went where he was needed, going back to school more times than he cared to remember and eventually moved on to college—again, working all kinds of angles as an undercover officer. SWAT found him to be a great asset, with his intensity and ability to flow with whatever changed around him. They also knew Jay's record and abilities—and no the apple didn't fall from the tree. Now, at twenty-five, Liam was nearly a seasoned veteran with an impressive resume even though he only had three years to his name.

They had gone undercover together twice before. Jay impressed at his son's ability to stay calm, even when a gun was pointed right at him or another person. He never wavered, never missed a beat, never gave into fear. Jay remembered his own first assignments, charades of deception, a game of convincing and conviction. He had thought he was pretty good at, then he witnessed his son and his power to deceive sent a shiver down his spine. He eased into the role as a seasoned actor picked up a script and gave an Oscar winning performance with minimal effort. None of this came a shock, Liam had showed his penchant for deception when he was a child, it had come easy to him then, it seemed to be even easier to him now. It made Jay proud, it also made him terrified.

"Oh, I forgot to tell you that I had lunch with uncle Liam a couple of days ago. He was able to get his work visa renewed. He said he was glad he listened to you and got it done when he did. He was also grateful that he listened to you when you advised him not to hang out at the pub in Dublin." Liam said as he turned towards the other room.

"Yeah, or he would have died with other ninety-nine percent of my family." Emma said with a hint of sadness as she fully entered the room.

"But their deaths brought you back to us," Jay said as he thought of the irony of death giving back life.

"And now I can worry about my husband the detective and my son the undercover SWAT team member."

"I worried for years, all alone," Liam said quietly as he looked at the floor.

"I know, I'm so sorry. I wanted to come back, you know that." Emma said with lament, her eyes filling with moisture.

"Not tonight son," Jay said just as quietly. The past could still be raw for his son just as it could be for him.

"You're right. I'm sorry." Liam whispered the pain evident in his eyes.

Emma had stayed gone for years, out of necessity. She had walked into the ocean with every intent to die, only a child that called out to her had stopped her. She turned to find the source of the questioning shout to see a boy standing on the shore wearing a dragonfly t-shirt. She realized it must have been a sign that she couldn't give up, not then, not ever. It was hard, as life was always somewhere else, but she had to try and make her own wherever she stood.

Years later, she got word that the unheeded advice to her family had caused their deaths. It was reported that a rival family had rushed the pub where her entire family, sans Liam, gathered and mowed them down like fish in a barrel. The night had started with the James family being something to be revered, reviled and exalted. By the end of the night, they were all dead and Emma was free.

"We have to go. We can't be late." Liam proclaimed

"We're drug dealers, they're always late." Jay reminded, but understanding his eagerness, something he had often felt in his early years.

"My men, the drug dealers," Emma said looking at her son. She knew that his love ran deep but so did his feelings of betrayal and rejection and she simply had no answers for him. She loved him so much and he understood that, but getting through each layer of his past that hadn't contained her presence was still difficult for him.

She had come back as soon as possible, but by then, Liam was in college, an adult. He had grown up without her. They could never get the time back. She fully expected Jay to be married, or at the very least in a committed relationship, but he wasn't. He worked too much, took risks in his job that were hard to understand by most civilians and in his spare time worried about their son in a way that only a parent could. She could also tell the frustrations, constant worry had given them a bond that had only strengthened over the years. A love not to be denied or dismissed, a bond forged through her abandonment.

"Well, you can't leave. You haven't opened your birthday presents yet." Emma declared.

"I'll be here for Sunday dinner," Liam promised. It was a day that she cherished. They would often talk about Liam's adventures as a child and Emma could drink in what she had missed.

"Yes you will, but today is your actual birthday and we have something for you," Emma said.

"We have presents," the twins chorused as they charged in, each with a wrapped box.

Liam had saved Jenna and Josh, as they had eventually come to be known, when he had gone undercover nearly a year before to break up a child sex trafficking ring. He had gone in with the intent to meet the players and get an idea of the system they used to procure the children and try to sweep up as many offenders as he could get. By the end of the meeting he had "purchased" a seven year old girl, who was so terrified that she wet herself when they brought her out to him. When her handler smacked her for her lack of bladder control Liam had barely contained himself. He kept up his undercover persona, but told the abuser through gritted teeth, that since she was now his property, if he touched her again, he would kill him, that he liked his merchandise unmarked. Attempting to continue the dialogue to find out more concerning the operation he learned she had a twin brother still housed in the building. It took minimal effort to convince them he had eclectic tastes and would love to "enjoy" a young boy as well. He persuaded them he had more money in his car and as he carried Jenna in one arm, who had gone limp and nearly catatonic and held Josh's hand who, due to abuse he had endured, submitted nearly as easily as his sister had. The escort had allowed Liam to put Jenna in the BMW he had driven to the site since she had been technically paid for. But that left Josh standing between Liam and the bodyguard, his eyes staring into the distant darkness. Liam knew that back-up was still waiting on his safe word but he was too concerned about the kids getting caught up in the crossfire to let go of the situation yet. He opened up the trunk which didn't have any money, but it did have a tire iron that Liam grabbed and as he shoved Josh out of the way he managed to get a good hit to the man's arm sending the gun skittering away. His hand to hand combat training took over and he had the man down in no time. He pulled cuffs from the trunk and locked the man up to the nearby fence post and said the safe word into his wire as he scooped up Josh and shoved him in the car, and took off as fast as the engine would allow.

Liam's mind was racing faster than the car. This was not his first undercover operation, far from it, but this one had been so visceral and gut wrenching that he couldn't quite wrap his head around it. He now understood why his father had become so twisted up when it came to cases that involved children. The vacant eyes his father would bring home would tell Liam all he needed to know about the man's day and now as he glanced in the rearview mirror he saw those same vacant eyes staring back at him, it was almost as if the children were hollowed out shells, and he realized that perhaps they were. Tragedy, and unspeakable acts, often emptied you whether you were the victim or the rescuer.

He kept driving, the darkness surrounding them like a weighted blanket, thick and unyielding. He realized that he was driving too fast and suddenly wasn't sure where he was. He had wanted to drive so fast and so far that somehow he could outrun the kids past, make them forget all that had been done to them. But he pulled over into an empty parking lot by a beat up convenience store. He took a moment to catch his breath. He had called in for back-up at the scene and was supposed to be taking the kids to the hospital to be checked out and have social services get involved, but somehow he just couldn't move. He had been flying to get out of there, but suddenly, he had been enveloped by inertia. He looked back at the kids, the girl staring at nothing while the boy looked at him.

"Where are we?" His small voice asked, his voice trembling.

Liam looked around, uncertain. "I think we're somewhere in Humboldt Park," Liam replied.

"Where is that?"

It was then Liam realized that these kids had no idea where they were, not the state, the city perhaps not even the country. How many times have they been bought and sold? Moved in the pitch of darkness from one set of evil circumstances to another.

"Chicago," Liam said gently. "It's in Illinois. Near Lake Michigan. It has lots of tall buildings, that reach far into the sky. When I was your age, my dad would take me downtown where I could look up and up and try to see the top of them."

"Is it time?" The boy asked as Liam looked at him, his brows furrowed in confusion.

"For what?" But instead of answering the boy began to take his shirt off and Liam realized what the youngster was expecting—waiting to happen. "No, no, keep your shirt on. I'm a police officer, a good guy. I just wanted to get you away from the bad people. I'm going to take you to the hospital and they are going to help you feel better. And then more people are going to talk to you and you can help us."

"Help you?"

"Help us find the bad guys that took you."

"How come you don't have a uniform and a gun?"

"Because it was a secret that I was a policeman. I had to pretend to be like them."

"But you're not? Like them?"

Liam unlocked the glove box and pushed his gun aside and pulled out his badge and turned back and gave it to the boy. "See, it's a star and it says I'm with the police."

"Oh," the boy said quietly as he turned it over in his hands as he recalled seeing something on TV where a man had a gun and a star and put people in jail. "Am I going to jail? They told us we weren't allowed to talk to the police because they would take us to jail."

"No, definitely not. But the men that were mean to you will. I promise you that they will."

"Okay. I'm thirsty." He said seemingly satisfied as he handed Liam his badge back.

Liam looked a bit surprised at the abrupt change in conversation. "Well, we can fix that," he said looking at the convenience store. He looked at the girl with concern, he didn't want to leave the kids in the car, but he was afraid she or both might have a meltdown if he took them inside. "Do you think you can come inside and pick out what you want?" He asked tentatively.

The boy nodded and looked at his sister. "She's wet."

"Yeah. It's okay. Will she be okay if I pick her up and carry her?"

The boy shrugged. "She's checked out. It's what she does, because she had to. But sometimes she cries and hits—some of them like that."

Liam inhaled sharply at what the boy had said. "What's your name?"

"I don't know. I can't remember. I've had lots of names, but—" he said drifting off.

"What would you like it to be?" Liam asked after he choked down that bit of information. The boy only shrugged. "When I was a kid—well even now, my dad calls me bud or buddy sometimes, would that be okay for now?"

"Sure." He agreed.

Liam looked at the boy and couldn't believe how engaging he was—almost normal, while his sister continued to wear nothing but a blank stare. But as he looked closer, he could still see the boys eyes held very little and that the conversation they had had was just on the surface—a survival tactic. He had given up, given in, seemingly accepting the possibility, that Liam, at anytime could turn and do whatever he wanted to this child and there wasn't a damn thing the tiny boy could do about it.

"Are you thirsty?" Liam asked the girl, but she remained mute. "What would you like your name to be?" She didn't even recognize that he had asked her a question. "Okay, I'm going to come around and unbuckle you and carry you inside that building and you can pick out whatever you want to eat or drink. Would that be okay?" But again there was no response. Liam blew out a mouthful of air as his phone rang, showing that his supervisor was calling. He let it go to voicemail as he climbed from the car and let 'Buddy' out, hoping that his presence would help ease what would happen next. He held onto Liam's hand as if a gust wind threatened to rip him away.

They went around to the other side of the car and opened the door where the little girl let Liam take her from the seatbelt and pick her up, not moving or even acknowledging his actions. They went inside where Buddy's hand clenched Liam's even harder. "Are you hungry?" Liam asked as the boy looked around at all the choices.

"Got your hands full," the clerk said.

"Yeah, don't suppose you carry any clothes do you?"

"Some t-shirts, souvenirs, the Willis Tower or The Navy Pier?" He said pointing towards a small rack that held several sizes of shirts from child to adult.

"Thanks," Liam replied as Buddy looked at the junk food and the hotdogs going around and around on the rack.

"What's that?" He asked pointing.

"Hotdogs. You don't want those, they'll make you sick." The clerk initially looked offended, but then seemed to shrug it off. "How about some potato chips and a slushie." Liam offered, knowing he wouldn't be able to tolerate the smell of a greasy hotdog in the car.

"What's a slushie?" He asked.

Liam quickly realized that these kids had been imprisoned so long that they knew next to nothing about the outside world. "It's basically sugar and ice. It's a treat, something you only get on special occasions."

"Like today?"

"Like today," Liam said as he walked over to the t-shirts. "Pick out some snacks for your sister too." In his arms the little girl began to twist in an effort to get down, Liam had no idea what to do, but he let her slip down to the ground, her pink sneakered feet hit the floor and she took a step towards the shirts and touched a pink one that boldly stated Navy Pier with the famous Centennial Wheel plastered on the front. "This one? Do you want to wear this one?"

He took it from the rack and held it up next to her and it went down past her knees. "Dress," she said so quietly, that he barely heard her.

"Yes, it can be a dress for you," he said. But then realized he had no idea how to get her changed.

Her brother sensing something came over with bags of snacks in his arms. "I can help her."

"There's a bathroom in the back, but you can't lock the door." Liam said, but before either one could do anything, the girl started to disrobe right there. "Um, not here sweetie, let's go back to the bathroom." Liam tried.

At first she ignored him, and when he picked her up she stiffened and began to retreat again. "You can be right here," he said putting her into the bathroom after yelling at the attendant for the code. "Do you want your brother to come in?" But instead of answering she just slammed the door behind her nearly taking Liam's foot off as he had stuck in there so she couldn't lock him out.

It took a few minutes of anxious waiting but finally she came out, her shoes untied, her hair in her face, but the shirt over her head and trailing down her thin body. "Dress," she said again.

"You're right, it's a Navy Pier dress. You wear it well." He picked her back up realizing that she must have left her wet clothes in the bathroom, he didn't want to worry about them, but they were evidence and he had to bring them along. "Let's get your old clothes in case you want them again."

"No!" she shrieked so loudly, Liam was surprised his ears didn't bleed. "Okay, okay. Let's pick out your drink then."

Liam was flying by the seat of his pants. He was around Kyle Casey's two daughters quite a bit, enough that they called him Uncle Liam, but they had a strong and loving foundation. He had no idea what to do or how to help these two damaged children.

Several minutes later they were back in the car, complete with two candy bars, two bags of chips, two slushie's and some licorice. Liam paid the clerk extra to get her clothes and put them in a paper bag. He had been forced to shove them in a small popcorn bags as it was the only type of paper they had. But plastic wasn't allowed for evidence as it could alter the results.

As the kids, now plied with edible treasures were distracted, Liam took a moment to call his supervisor and get him up to speed and inform him that they were now on the way to the hospital. His sergeant wasn't particularly happy about the pit-stop, but he did understand it. And once they got to Chicago Med the transition wasn't any easy one, even after he told them that Will was his uncle and would take great care of them.

Jenna, as she eventually decided her name to be, screamed as the medical staff tried to take her, clinging to Liam as if he was a life preserver. Josh, who picked his name the very next week, after his favorite nurse, wouldn't let go of Liam's belt, hanging on to the officer much like his sister did. It took all Liam had not to cry and make promises that he feared he could never be allowed to keep. Later, the psychiatrist stated that their world had been such a mess and so confusing that this was the first black and white event of their life for some time. Liam had taken them from the bad men and the bad place, hurt the bad man, and most of all hadn't touched them or hurt them as so many others had. He had given them the gift of food and drink and demanded nothing in return. This meant he was the good guy. And they weren't going to let him or his protection get away.

Liam struggled to understand the trauma the twins had endured for so long. He talked it out with Dr. Charles, who had retired but told Liam his door was always open for him. Liam learned that sometimes there is no answer to the question of why, and that is hard, but sometimes there are answers to the question of why and that can be even harder. He would have to decide which one this circumstance called for.

When Emma had returned she had gotten back to her world of helping others in need and discovered a foundation for underprivileged children and poured her heart and soul into it. When her work visa was threatened to be discontinued, she and Jay, who had been reconnecting, decided to do what they had been working towards for over twenty years and got married. The love evident in the faces of each other. The bright eyes and the even brighter smiles indicating that their relationship had always been more than was readily admitted to for years. And for the first time ever, they fell into each other's arms and never let go. They found a home within each others arms.

With her service to children evident and her pain at not raising Liam past the age of five, she convinced Jay that they should become foster parents. They were a great team; Jay understanding, but stern when needed, practiced in what to do when life was reduced to tantrums and fits, Emma compassionate, patient and steadfast.

When the twins needed a stable environment once they were evaluated and released after months of inpatient care, it was clear that the Halstead home was the best place for them to recover while attempts to find their parents continued.

It was truly the best they could hope for as Liam would remain in their life but they would be forced to bond with Jay and Emma. All attempts to find their parents had come up empty until two weeks ago, when Liam had been informed that they believed the twins had belonged to a woman named Denise Elliott from a small town in Nebraska. The twins had disappeared from in front of their school where they had been waiting to be picked up. It had been days before they had been reported missing and only because the school had finally gone to the police. Denise died of an overdose over a year ago and it was never known if she was too far gone to realize her kids were missing or if she was the one that had caused their disappearance—selling them for what she had loved more.

The twins original names were Dennis or Denny and Tabitha and they had been five when they disappeared. They had spent over two years being repeatedly traumatized.

With this news the adoption paperwork had already been started. There was a long way to go for these children, but the only chance they had was in this very home, with this very family.

"Presents?" Liam gasped as he looked at the twins. "For me?"

"Yes," Jenna giggled as she climbed in his lap. "Open mine first," she begged.

Liam smiled. Jenna had been doing so much better but she still struggled sharing him with anyone else and he knew extricating himself from the house was going to be hard now that she had latched onto him. More than once he had raced to the house when she simply wouldn't calm down despite the best efforts of his parents.

"Well, let's see what it is," he said as he opened the box to reveal a first edition of Charlotte's Web. "This was my favorite book when I was your age."

"It's an edition," she chorused.

"A first edition," Emma clarified.

"My mom would read this to me all the time," Liam said feeling the binding and carefully opening the book and touching the pages.

"Mine too," Josh stated walking over and leaning against Liam as Jenna pushed him away as if Liam was all hers and her brother posed a danger.

"Of course," Liam said shifting Jenna over. "Hold this for me please. Be very careful with it okay?" He told her, distracting her from having to share him. She nodded taking her job seriously. He took Josh's box and opened it to find a first edition of Alice in Wonderland.

"Wow. Dad and I read this book all the time."

"Every time we'd go down a rabbit hole," Jay mused.

"And that was often." Liam joked. "Thank you so much. I love them."

"Will you read them to me?" Jenna asked.

"Me too," Josh piped in.

"I will. And I'll read you my other favorites too. But right now I have to go to work."

"No," Jenna shrieked just as Liam feared.

"I'll be back on Sunday, I promise."

"You always promise, but sometimes you don't come."

"Sometimes I have to work," Liam explained as Jay's face struggled to remain passive as the memories welled up.

Jenna was already tearing up as Emma reached to take her. "No," she screamed out.

"Look at me," Liam said as he put her on the floor and knelt down. "I'll be back. I'll text you in the morning and I'll send you both a silly selfie. And Dad will be home later tonight. I need you to be a good girl for Mom so I hear a good report in the morning," Liam explained.

Jenna didn't cry, but ran off to her room without saying anything further. Josh looked over and gave a half smile. "Hey buddy. We'll read this weekend and play soccer too." Liam promised.

"Baseball?" He asked.

"Okay, baseball then." Liam agreed.

"Why do you have to go?" Jenna screamed as she reappeared.

"They have to get the bad guys," Josh said. "They have to save more people like us."

"Yes, we have to go get the bad guys," Jay replied as Liam had been struck mute by the emotions Josh's statement had caused.

"It's our job," Liam added, once he had recovered, his smile tight, his eyes fighting to stay dry.

"It's what they were meant for," Emma explained squatting down to his level. "It is what they were meant for." She nodded as she looked back up at her husband and son.

The End

As I said before, I am working on bonus chapters and will upload those in the coming weeks...but my offer to you as a reader is to let me know if you have any suggestions for me on something specific that I didn't cover. It can be anywhere from Jay's childhood to Liam as an adult. I can't guarantee success, but please know that I will consider any and all suggestions. If I can come up with a chapter, you will see it at some point in the future. You will just have to be patient as I only have limited time in which to write.

And again, thank you for reading.

Soundtrack:

Zayde Wolf Heroes

No War Cari Cari

In Darkness we Trust by Deadly Circus Fire

Old Man by Neil Young

Praise you by Hannah Grace