Last time on 'Abeni Tutuola'. . .

"So, tell me about your daughter. What's she like?"

"Ask her yourself." Then, a pretty, black-haired, brown-eyed, young woman came through the door and smiled. She was about 5'9", wore a scoop-necked, fitted, burgundy shirt, snug blue jeans that flared at the bottom slightly, black boots with small heels, brick-colored lipstick, black square glasses, and brick nail polish.

"Hi, Daddy." John stood and smiled back, hugging her and kissing her on the cheek.

"Hey, Pumpkin. How's it been?"

"Good. Hard right now in Queens, but good nonetheless." Fin stood and reached out to shake her hand.

"Fin Tutuola. I guess I'm your dad's partner."

"Detective Gwendolyn Munch, but call me Gwen. I guess I'm your partner's daughter." They all chuckled and sat down, Gwen on her father's lap, despite her age. She'd always been a daddy's girl. She definitely had Munch's wit and looks. The good looks, anyway. Eyes, hair, and, thankfully, according to John, her mother's perfect nose. Fin marveled at how much alike they looked.

"So, what field are you in?"

"Same as you."

"Oh. Rough, huh?"

"Tell me about it. I still get nightmares about the kids." Gwen shuddered and her father rubbed her back.

"Honey, I was telling Fin about what happened about six or seven years ago. His daughter, Abby, was. . .just raped. She's up in the crib if you want to go talk to her." Gwen stared at John with pain in her eyes and she buried her face in his chest, crying softly into his shirt. "Shh, I know, Sweetie. I know. It's okay. I'm here."

John noticed Fin staring at them and gave him a sad smile. He reached for a pen and piece of paper and wrote on it, 'She's never really gotten over it.' Fin nodded and sighed. When Gwen stopped crying, she pulled back and John wiped her face with a tissue. Normally she'd protest greatly to that. He fixed her running mascara and smiled at her.

"What? I probably look horrible now." John kissed her cheek.

"You look beautiful, Sweetheart. Now, go on. Go talk to Abby."

"Yes, Sir." Gwen went upstairs and the two men could hear their daughters talking.

"Thanks, John. You didn't have to do that."

"Of course I did. You are my best friend, are you not?" Fin smirked and shook his head. The two talked for about an hour while Gwen and Abby occupied themselves until Abby got tired and asked for Fin. Gwen came down and linked her arm through her father's. Her face was blotchy and tear-stained, but she had a small smile on her face. She stuck her hand out and shook Fin's.

"It was nice to meet you, Fin."

"You, too. Hopefully, we'll see more of you around here."

"Maybe. Well, let's go. You owe me dinner." She poked Munch in the chest.

"Since when?"

"Since I decided I was hungry and remembered that I paid for your new DVD Player."

"Oh, all right. See ya later, Fin."

"See ya."

Fin went up to the crib and saw Abby trying to change into her pajamas, but she was having trouble because of her injuries. "You want some help, Sweetie?"

"Yeah." Abby looked down in shame and embarrassment, but let her father help anyway.

"Raise up," he instructed and she lifted her arms with a pained expression on her face. Fin carefully pulled her shirt off and put her pajama shirt on. He unhooked her bra from the back and got it off through the sleeves. When he was helping her with her jeans, she had to lie down on the bed to get them off, but this scared her so bad that she started crying. Fin moved up to sit beside her and stroked her cheek. "It's okay, Baby. I'm just gonna get you into some pajama pants and that'll be it, okay?"

Abby nodded reluctantly and Fin kissed her forehead before quickly, but gently, pulling her jeans off and slipping the cotton pants on.

Thank God she wasn't wearing a thong, he thought and shuddered at the thought of his baby girl even having them. Then he changed into his own cotton pants and t-shirt and slipped into the bed. Abby snuggled down into his arms and curled up against him.

"Night, Daddy," she whispered.

"Night, Honeybee." Notice they didn't say "good". They knew it wouldn't be. Abby woke up every hour, crying from her nightmares. While Fin loved his daughter more than life itself, it did get frustrating, but he showed her all the love he could. He held her, soothed her, rocked her, even whispered a lullaby, from when she was a baby, to her. When none of this worked for the fifth time, Fin just lay back against the pillows with Abby resting her head on his chest as he stroked her hair.

"Try and go to sleep, Honeybee. You need to rest," Fin told her. Abby just shook her head.

"I can't. Every time I close my eyes, I see him. I'm sorry, Daddy." Fin shook his head at her apology, then thought for a while until something in his mind came rushing forward.

"Do you remember the first time I took you to the park?"

"Yeah. I loved it there. Mom and A.J. were with us."

"And that little sheltie that always liked to play with you? You know, we were in there for three hours once because you refused to leave that dog. Your mom never stopped you. Hell, she'd jump in, too."

"Mm hmm. I miss her."

"Yeah, I know, but she's in a better place now. She'll never leave you, though. She's in your heart and she loves you." He was about to go on, but he looked down and saw that she was asleep. He smiled and cuddled her closer. "I love you, Abby."

TBC

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