- Ding dong...
At the sound of the doorbell, Frances got up hurriedly, dropped his pink pastel pencil and coloring book and rushed to the door.
- It's daddy...
At the child's joyful voice, Barek felt her heart clench.
She knew it wasn't Goren.
It was Logan.
He had told her that he would visit them.
Since the tragedy, Goren had not given Francès any sign of life.
And Frances was only waiting for one thing.
To see his father.
Barek already knew that Frances would be disappointed if she thought that her father was standing behind the door.
Not seeing Barek following her, Frances stopped and turned back.
- You're coming, Caro...
Barek nodded, stood up, and followed Francès to the front door.
At the door, Barek opened it, revealing Logan.
The big smile on Frances' face disappeared, his face turned white, and his big hazel eyes became clouded with sadness.
- Where is daddy...
At her words, Barek's heart broke into a thousand pieces.
She looked up at Logan, who was looking down at her.
Barek didn't like the look on his face.
Was there something serious...
Was this why he had come to see them.
But in Logan's hazel eyes, she could also read a little glint of mischief.
As if he was hiding something.
And that this something had to do with Francès.
Logan lowered his gaze to Frances, and gave her a little smile.
- You are not happy to see me...
At her words, Frances' face brightened, and she nodded, looking serious.
- But if I am happy... Mike.
At her words, Logan's heart warmed.
When he had seen the joy of the child that illuminated his face when the door opened.
But two seconds later...
He had seen on her face this immense sadness.
Logan had felt all the sadness of Frances.
He was sure...
That Frances had thought he had…
Hoped it was his daddy.
And having seen him.
All his joy was gone.
Logan could not blame her for reacting like that in front of him.
He knew that since the accident...
Goren hadn't come to see his daughter once.
And he knew from Barek...
That every time he came...
That Frances was unhappy about her father's absence.
How could it be otherwise.
With what had happened...
Francès needed her father's affection.
Let her know that he still loved her.
- You come in... Or you stay out... Logan...
At Barek's mocking words, Logan snapped out of his thoughts, nodded, and entered the apartment, closing the door behind him, but keeping one of his hands behind his back.
He had brought a little surprise for Frances, and he didn't want her to find out right away.
Logan put his second hand behind his back, lowered his gaze to the little girl, and arched an eyebrow.
At this gesture, Frances understood that Logan had something for her.
He always did that when he had a surprise for her.
But this time...
Maybe it would be a gift from her dad.
That's what she wanted so badly.
For him to show her that even when he wasn't there...
He was thinking about her.
Frances looked at him curiously, and noticed that he kept his hands behind his back.
Logan had something on his back...
Something he was hiding from her.
And Frances...
Just like her father...
Was a very curious person.
She tilted her head, her smooth golden hair cascading over her right shoulder, trying to see what he was hiding.
At the little girl's reaction and curiosity, Logan smiled, touched.
Good God...
How he loved this little girl.
She was so adorable.
But his heart tightened.
Francès looked just like her mother.
Could this be the reason why Goren didn't have the courage to see his daughter...
And not only the search for the person responsible for Eames' accident.
This vision of Eames in a smaller size...
Good God...
He had to get his act together.
Otherwise Frances would realize that something was wrong.
- Tadam...
Logan took out what he was hiding from behind his back, holding out his hands to Farnces.
At the vision of the strange teddy bear in a pastel pink ball, the big hazel eyes of the little girl lit up with adoration.
- But it's the teddy bears that Mommy loves...
Logan nodded his head.
Goren, during an investigation, had told him about Eames' strange passion for her funny teddy bears.
And so...
Logan had thought that Frances would probably like to have one of his teddy bears.
And from his reaction...
He was right.
But he had to admit that it was thanks to Goren's description that he had managed to find it.
For goodness sake...
Finding such a teddy bear was downright impossible.
Especially when one knew that the teddy bear in question was of Japanese origin.
He should have known that for Eames...
Goren was willing to travel the world just to buy him a teddy bear.
Fortunately, in New York, there were Japanese corners.
That's where he found it.
- This is for you, Francès.
With joy, Francès took the teddy bear in his arms, and put his chin affectionately on it.
- It's a gift from dad...
At her words, Logan's heart broke into a thousand pieces.
How to tell the little girl that this gift was not from her father...
But from him.
And how to explain to her the decision that her father had taken.
Logan could already see the drama.
A little Frances who was not going to stop crying.
She was a very sensitive child.
And so...
It was difficult to tell him something.
For fear of hurting her.
Barek knew what to do with Francès...
But he didn't know.
He was always afraid to hurt her.
And most of all...
He didn't want to see her cry.
It hurt her too much.
He would have to rely on Barek again.
Thinking about Barek...
Logan looked up at her, his hazel eyes shining with sadness.
He would need her to explain the situation to the little girl.
At the sight of the teddy bear, Caroline had immediately understood that this gift was from Mike.
And not from Goren.
But she knew why he had chosen this strange Japanese teddy bear.
It was the teddy bear that Alex cherished.
And the funny thing was...
Goren had seduced Eames by giving her lots of them, and in many different colors.
She still remembered how much Eames cherished her teddy bears before Francès was born.
And that as soon as Francès was born...
Nothing else existed but her daughter.
So much so...
That Eames had preferred to leave the criminal, to be able to take care of his daughter.
At this memory, the heart of Barek tightened.
She missed Eames very much.
And she knew that Francès missed him too.
This situation was becoming more and more difficult.
Logan crouched down at Frances' level, and brought his hand to the little girl's smooth golden hair, caressing it with infinite softness.
- This is a little gift from me... For my favorite niece...
At his words, the face of Francès became all white, his lips began to tremble, and the tears rose to big hazel eyes, crushing his sight.
- Daddy doesn't love me...
Francès let go of the teddy bear, and ran to Barek's room, where she threw herself on the bed, and burst into tears.
At the sobbing of Frances, Barek felt a violent pain embracing her heart, as if her heart was being torn out and trampled on.
She didn't hesitate for a second, and with quick steps went to her room, where Francès was crying her eyes out.
But she felt large fingers on her wrist, stopping her in her tracks, and preventing her from reaching Francès.
- Wait.
Wait...
No, but Logan wasn't serious.
Didn't he hear Frances crying.
Didn't he care...
In addition...
What good would it do to wait.
It would solve nothing.
Goren had not come.
And Barek knew that until he found the person responsible for Alex's condition...
He would not come to see his daughter.
Frances felt abandoned.
She needed her.
And that's all that mattered to Barek.
Barek couldn't stay there.
Hearing Frese cry.
It broke her heart.
She had to do something.
Ever since his mother's accident...
Frances was totally confused.
She thought she didn't exist in her father's eyes anymore.
That he preferred the bad guys to her.
It was such a hard situation to deal with.
Frances was still too young.
At five years old...
It was normal not to understand the situation.
And Goren who had only one obsession...
To find the person who had put Eames in this state.
Forgetting his daughter.
Who needed him so much.
Barek turned to Logan, shook his head in denial.
- She needs me... To be reassured.
Logan knew very well that a strong bond had been woven between Carolyn and Frances.
That since the accident...
Barek was everything to Francès.
But the situation was serious.
And he couldn't wait to talk to her.
Barek had to talk to Frances before she was forced to part with the child.
Logan tightened his grip on her wrist, refusing to let go.
- I absolutely must talk to you... Logan spoke with gravity, his eyes shining with a strange glow. It's about Frances.
At his words, Barek sensed that something serious was going on, and that she wasn't going to like what Logan was going to say at all.
- Very well... Tell me everything.