A/N: It has been waaaaaaaay too long. Sorry about the wait, but my computer has a virus and I couldn't even get online for a while. Then, since Tuesday is the last day of school (finally!), we have a lot of homework. No fair for us kids.

Leo found Prue waiting outside the station for him.

"Whatcha need, Prue?"

"Nothing... I just brought Melinda here to see you." Prue smiled.

"Oh?" Melinda ran out from behind Prue and Leo picked her up. "Hey!"

"Are you taking Kia out today?" Melinda asked innocently.

"Yes, I think so." Once a week, Kia got training. Usually it was with Leo, so that they could work together.

"Can I watch?"

"Yes, you can."

"I think I'll stay for this. Keep an eye on Melinda..." Prue said. It was a hobby to watch Leo and Adam work with their dogs. The difference? Adam took Sam home. Leo was waiting to take Kia, but the time wasn't right. Though having the guard dog home now was a good idea...

Prue followed Leo and Melinda, in Leo's arms, around to the back, where Adam already had Sam and Kia out, no leashes. The area was built by the K-9 Unit of the San Francisco 12th Precinct Police Department. Kia, Sam, and three other police dogs were trained for lessons in agility, searching, and attack. Kia and Sam were considered the best, of course, to Adam and Leo, and the dogs often competed.

With a few different quick commands, Leo sent Kia up a wooden ladder that led to a roof. The flat roof was for the dog to run across. She climbed down the other side of it on a steep, nearly vertical ladder.

Next came the A-Frame. She ran up, using the steps to help get a footing, and down. She climbed over a barrel A-Frame after that, and almost slipped. But, Leo gave her the command to keep going, and she finished up, and down. She ran across a teeter-totter with no problems, and across a thin piece of wood about ten feet off the ground. She finished the agility course, jumping through the hoops, over the hurdles, through the tunnels, and between the weaves. She did it all without Leo even having to move.

"Beat her time," Adam told Sam. Kia's time was one minute, thirty seconds. Adam send Sam out after Kia came back in. He completed his time in one minute, thirty-three seconds.

"So...?"

Melinda was busy petting Kia and Sam, and they were liking her face clean. Both Kia and Sam, as well as the other three dogs, loved kids. It was a mandatory skill for the police dogs. Kia and Sam, from the same parents, but different litters, were the perfect breed. Their mother was a German Shepherd, their father a Belgian Malinois, known for its intelligence and speed. Kia and Sam got the best traits of both; strength, loyalty, courage, smarts, and speed.

Prue came up and picked Melinda up. "I think you should come back home now. You look tired," she said.

Leo came over, letting Adam watch the two dogs. "Taking her home?" he asked Prue. It was hard to watch them leave, but Leo was busy.

"Yeah, I think so. I'll see you tonight then?"

"Uh, yeah. I'll be there after dinner."

"K."

"Bye Daddy, I love you."

"Love you, too." Leo kissed the top of Melinda's head, ruffled her hair, and watched them go.

Adam came up, the dogs outside playing. "Now can we have some fun with them?"

Leo turned around to face his friend. "You get Jeff, Tom, and Jo, I'll get the dogs."

"Sounds good."

Since it was mid-spring, cool out, and the ground had dried already so that it wasn't soggy or damp, the dogs got to go to the park once a week to have fun and play together. The five officers in the K-9 Unit knew some of the dogs that are regulars at the Robert A. Stuart park. There were a lot of kids, and when the dogs weren't being taken to schools, they were at the park or working.

Kia, Sam, Shadow, Berry, and Zing were happy to go for a ride, and went into the truck easily. They hopped into the bed of the truck and barked and howled together, jumping around.

Leo drove, with Adam in the cab with him. Jeff, Tom, and Jo sat in the bed of the truck, holding the dogs down. The park wasn't far.

As soon as the dogs saw the park, it took everything Jeff, Tom, and Jo had to hold them down. As soon as the truck stopped, the dogs, who had been leashed on the way, jumped out, pulling the three people with them. Leo took Kia's leash, Adam took Sam's. Jo took her dog, Zing, while Jeff and Tom took their dogs, Shadow and Berry.

The dogs pulled their owners down the path. When the door closed, the dogs' leashes were off, and they shot out across the ten-acre-fenced-in area. The four dogs that were already there greeted them happily. One, a Labrador, jumped over the small Zing, who fell to his side, literally smiling.

Leo walked to one of the tables. One person was already sitting there, watching her two dogs. The other two dog owners were playing with their dogs, the police dogs getting their noses in where they could instead of exploring just yet.

"I didn't know the K-9 Unit brought their dogs out here," the woman said, though she hadn't looked at Leo. She watched her two dogs go out of site, and finally turned to look at him. "Come here often?"

"Every week or so..." Leo looked on as Kia and Berry ran off toward water. "Get back here!" Leo yelled, standing up. He didn't want the dogs in the pond yet. They came back, tails wagging slowly, ears down guiltily. "Stay up here," he told them. They ran off with Zing, Sam, and Shadow. "They're good dogs, whether they know it or not."

"They seem like it."

"Daddy!" the voice yelled.

Leo turned around to see Phoebe, Prue, and Melinda coming up. He met them halfway and walked back to the tables, Melinda in his arms. "How'd you know I'd be here?" Leo asked.

"Because you guys bring the dogs out every week, and this day happened to fall on the week," Phoebe explained.

Leo looked at Melinda, who smiled fiercely. For a moment, Leo got a glimpse of Piper there, and had to close his eyes and catch his breath. It was creepy when that happened, and it happened very often.

"So, Leo, think you'll be home the whole night?" Phoebe asked.

"Yeah, I think so."

"Good," Prue said. "Because I have a date tonight, so I'm dropping your daughter on you."

Leo looked at Melinda and smiled a little. He nodded, and Shadow came up with Jo and Jeff.

"Uncle Jeff!" Melinda squealed. "Aunt Jo!" Jo wasn't really Melinda's aunt, but most of the people at the station knew everybody's family, so Melinda referred to them all as "Aunt" or "Uncle", with, of course, the exception of Tom, Leo, and Gary.

When the dogs were leashed and leaving the park, Melinda reached for Kia's leash from he other side of Leo. He moved the leash to his other hand so that Melinda could hold onto it, too.

When they got to the end of the path, while the others loaded the dogs, Melinda's eyes were on a few kids playing soccer. Kia and Shadow saw them, too, and the others did soon as well.

There were about seven kids playing soccer. Kia, knowing what soccer was, became hard to hold, shoving all of her might into getting away and playing. Leo told her to stop and sit, and she reluctantly did.

The ball rolled in front of her, and Kia couldn't resist. She jumped on it, and it rolled away from her. Leo turned around after lifting Melinda into the car and saw Kia running off. He called her, but Kia was wrapped in the ball. The kids came running for it, and Leo and Jo went after Kia. Zing saw what was going on and followed Jo and Leo. The other dogs and people stayed back. Melinda watched with curious eyes.

Kia reached the kids playing, still with the ball. She'd mastered hitting and batting things around long ago, and soccer was one of her favorite sports to play in her leisurely time.

One of the kids, a boy, looked up at Leo and Jo. They all looked to be about fifteen to seventeen. "He yours?"

"Yeah, sorry." Leo took Kia by the strap on her harness that designated her a police dog. He pulled her back, after some struggle with the strong dog.

"It's a police dog?"

"She. Both of them are," Jo said, noticing Zing. "Zing!" she called. He turned and ran back to her.

Leo commanded Kia to sit and stay, and she did, not wanting to get into trouble after her stunt. "Sorry about her."

"No problem. Never seen any police out here. Bustin' someone?"

Jo looked at the kid who asked the question almost disapprovingly. "They're having fun."

"Oh, well..."

"But they need to get back," she added.

"Hey, they can play with us anytime. So long as they don't cheat."

Leo looked at Jo. "Let Kia play, at least. I've been working her too hard. Zing, too. They're the only ones who know how."

Jo sighed. "Fine..." she said.

"Go," Leo said quietly to Kia, who ran off after the soccer ball.

Jeff ran up. "Leo!"

"What?" Leo turned around.

"We've uh... There's a problem."

"What is it?"

"We just got radioed. Dan uh... Leo... He got let out on a technicality."

"What?"

"Not enough evidence, Leo. Whatever he did, even if he... If he did do something to Piper, he cleaned up after himself all too well."

"What?" Leo asked again.

"We gotta go-- now. Meet him at the station."

"Yeah. Yeah." Leo called Kia and Zing, and ran with Jo back to the truck. The kids left, figuring they were going to bust someone.

"What's wrong, Daddy?" Melinda asked.

Leo looked at his daughter in the middle seat in the truck. He smiled a little. "Nothing for you to worry about, K?"

"K." Melinda smiled.

Jeff took the other side of the truck. Adam loaded the dogs onto the back and he, Jo, and Tom got in the bed. They left and were at the station quickly.

Tom scooped Melinda up and took her into the back with Jo. Adam stopped Leo just before he reached the door. "Don't do anything stupid, got it?"

Leo nodded a little, and Adam followed Tom and Jo into the back. Jeff followed Leo in. Dan was in Cortez's office. Some people were watching the people inside the office, though the blinds were down. They could hear Cortez and another, unrecognizable voice, yelling. Leo and Jeff came up, past the crowding officers, and Leo knocked on the door.

"What?" a voice shot.

"Cortez, it's me."

"Uh... Come in, I guess..."

Leo came in, followed by Jeff. Jeff closed the door, keeping the few peeking people out. Dan was sitting in a chair, accompanied by a lawyer.

"Back to where we were..." the lawyer said like a snob. Leo recognized him as Mike Lowry, one of the lawyers from the street.

"What're you doing here?" Leo asked.

"My client came to me for help. Is that a problem, officer?"

Leo said nothing. Dan was beaming. Soaking up all the glory. Leo watched for a moment, then said, "I'll let you go, Dan."

Dan grinned.

"If you tell me where she is."

The grin faded. "I told you, Wyatt, I didn't do anything to Piper. How could I hurt the woman I love?" he asked mockingly.

Leo grimaced. He knew what Dan was doing, but couldn't stop him. "Where is she? North? East, maybe?"

When Dan had disappeared, it was the same week as Piper. He'd caught a plane to Montana. First class, two people.

"Who went to Montana with you?" Leo asked.

"My sister."

No name was given, since Dan was the one with the tickets. The leads stopped there. Nothing. Nothing was left to prove it was Dan, though everyone knew it was, but there was nothing they could do about it.

"You don't have a sister, Dan."

"You don't know that."

Leo said nothing. "...Where is she?" he asked quietly after a moment.

"I don't know."

Leo left. He couldn't stay in there without having the feeling of killing Dan, and that... That wouldn't be right. Well, it would. But no. No, it wouldn't.

There was nothing he could do, and left it up to Cortez and Jeff. As soon as he left, the yelling resumed. This time, Jeff was in it, and Dan was, too. Leo knew it was Dan-- everyone did. Everyone knew Dan took Piper, but he wouldn't admit it, and could get immunity soon from the DA's office if he went for it.

Outside, Melinda was in Tom's arms, waving goodbye to the dogs. Leo took her from him and put her in the SUV. Unlike the dog, Leo could take the car home. And he had Melinda tonight, much against his will. It wasn't that he didn't love his daughter, because she meant everything to him, but it was hard to see her, because he saw Piper in her so much. But Prue hadn't given him a choice, so he had her for the night.

Leo tucked her into bed and made sure she was asleep before leaving her room, leaving the door open a crack. Melinda said something about liking her bed better, even though she liked staying with Aunt Prue.

At about three in the morning, Leo realized he was still awake. He hadn't been able to sleep at all, thinking. Thinking about Melinda, Dan, Piper... Just thinking. About everything.

"...Daddy?"

Leo looked behind him. The little voice came from the edge of the living room, where Melinda was standing. Leo was sitting on the couch, watching TV. Melinda was standing in her pajamas, clutching the arm of a teddy bear. She'd left it there when she went to Prue's, and was happy to have it back.

"What is it, sweetie?" Leo asked.

Melinda didn't move a muscle. "I can't sleep," she said in her innocent little voice.

"C'mere," Leo groaned, nodding in his direction. He moved over to make room for Melinda on the couch, finding his muscles were stiff from sitting still for so long.

Melinda scurried to the couch quickly. She curled up next to her Daddy. He wrapped one arm around her little body, and she curled up against his chest, holding her teddy bear close.

"Why can't you sleep?" Leo asked the four-year-old.

"I keep thinking about Mommy," Melinda said simply, as if nothing was wrong or sad about that sentence.

Leo drew in a sharp breath and let it out slowly. "...What about her?"

"I wonder where she went."

Leo had to smile a little. "Don't worry about Mommy."

Melinda looked up at Leo with her serious eyes. She poked him in the chest with her pointer finger. "You have to tell me when she comes back," she commanded.

Leo smiled. "I will."

Softer, Melinda asked, "Pwomise?" in her baby voice.

Leo nodded slightly. "Promise."

Melinda curled up and was soon asleep. As soon as Leo knew she was fast asleep, he picked her up and carried her into her room, setting her on her bed gently, and tucked her in.

She didn't stir, which was good. Leo kissed the top of her forehead and went downstairs and outside. He stood on the front porch for a long time, leaning against the railing.

A/N: Okay, if you don't like dogs, then I'm guessing you didn't like this chapter all that much. But I love dogs, and if I could have a dog like Kia or any of the other K-9 dogs to show my little mutt the ropes, I'd be in heaven.

Anyway, hope you liked it. I'm trying to find ways to get more Prue and Phoebe in and I will in the next couple of chapters. By the way, sorry for any spelling/grammar mistakes. I didn't read this chapter over. I know, I know, I should have, but it was either get it up with some mistakes or wait till Wednesday.