Summary: Striker and Maria have a heart-to-heart. Takes place during Vol. 2: Murder Family.
"Maria, what did you think you were doing?" Striker spoke after a tense silence. He sounded surprisingly calm, but Maria could hear the disappointment in his voice. "I told you to stay put, not follow me. You know better that, yet ya went and did it anyway. And what's worse, you almost got yourself killed! What have you got to say for yourself?"
Maria just sat wordlessly on the couch. The events that occurred earlier started coming back to her and she trembled.
"Maria, when I ask you a question, you better-" He stopped when he heard her sniffling. "I-I'm sorry, daddy... I just wanted to help you..."
Striker sighed, "Baby doll, I know ya like to help, but I make these rules for a reason. I don't tell ya this cause I don't trust you, I just..." He kneeled in front of her, lifting her head up to look at him. "I just don't wanna lose you."
"I know..."
"If anything happened to you, I don't know what I'd do." He started to wipe her tears. "Look, it's bold what you were tryin' to do, but this is a dangerous job. Ya can't just go runnin' in expectin' it to just work out, ya never know what'll happen."
"You mean like the dogs?"
"Exactly."
"I... I hadn't thought of that... I-I wish I was brave like you, but I... I didn't mean to be so stupid!"
Maria flung herself into her dad's chest and cried.
"Shh, no sweetie, you're not stupid. Ya just made a stupid choice, that's all." Striker said softly, rubbing her back comfortingly. "What's important is you're safe now. But please, promise me you'll never ever do anything crazy like that again, alright?"
She sniffled. "I promise..."
"Good. But you're grounded for a week. Don't think I'm gonna let ya off that easy, ya still disobeyed me."
Maria nodded silently.
"Hey, don't get too worked up about it, baby doll." Striker smiled wiping some more tears from her eyes. "Ain't nobody gonna hurt ya, not while I'm here."
She finally smiled, just a little. "I'll try..."
He kissed her cheek. "Atta girl."
"You know what?"
"Hmm?"
"I bet those dogs were scared shitless, huh?"
He chuckled and smirked. "That's cause nobody fucks with your dad... C'mere you!" Maria squealed with laughter as Striker tickled her.
