I want to thank Phenoix and Latisha for the great reviews. But I am kind of sad. I know that they are enjoying the story and I really apprecieate their loyal feedback. But I guess I got spoiled by all the reviews I got for Friends. I am feeling let down and thinking maybe this story is not worth my time.

Happy reading.

Early the next morning Nikki and Randy boarded the plane. After settling into their seats Randy turned to the girl beside him.

"You know, I'm not much of a morning person but I can at least carry a conversation. What's your excuse?" He asked her.

"Hmm, oh nothing. Just thinking I guess." She replied looking out the window.

"And what would you be thinking about so hard?" Randy asked teasingly.

"I'm taking you into a potentially threatening situation where you could get hurt. It's not fair to you because you don't have all the information." She told him as she turned to face him.

"What else is there to know? John is being pushed around by a couple of bullies. So we're going to push them back." Randy said confused.

"Don't you think John is more than capable of pushing back on his own if he wanted to? He hasn't because there are certain ….things holding him back." Nikki paused unsure how to continue. Randy remained silent frowning at her.

"This isn't my place to tell you this and I am not going to tell you everything. Just enough to keep you from doing something that could make things worse." Taking a deep breath she continued. "When John was sixteen he started hanging out with this group of kids from the wrong side of the tracks. There were six of them in the main group, three guys and their girls." Nikki smiled as she thought back. "John was going out with Madison. She was really nice. She didn't do any of the heavy drugs. I'm not really sure if she did any drugs at all. She had grown up around the other members of the group so she fit in."

"I already know that Monica is Madison's stepsister. So where are you going with this?" Randy asked interrupting her.

Nikki sent him a glare and continued as if he had not spoken. "They were hot and heavy for two years. The problem was she was younger than he was. Two years younger. It wasn't a problem in the beginning but when he was busted he was eighteen, a legal adult. She was sixteen at the time. Her parents tried to charge him with statutory rape but in order for them to do that he would have to have been four years older. So they dropped it but he wasn't allowed to see her anymore."

Randy remained silent now intrigued in the story.

"Anyway John went his way and Madison went her way. From what I hear she graduated high school and got a decent job. Had a small apartment in a good part of town. But she died last year. A blood clot I think." Nikki paused trying to get her wording right. "That was all just back ground. Five months ago John ran into Monica on the street. Monica had another ….person with her that had a connection with Madison. Even though John had never met this …..person he recognized her. Monica noticed his interest and saw it as something she could use."

"How could she use someone? Why didn't the person object? And do we have a name or do we have to keep saying person?" Randy asked when Nikki paused to take a drink of water.

"Her name is Arianna and she's under the age of eighteen, meaning that Monica has custody of her and is using it to her advantage." Nikki replied carefully.

"So what happened?" Randy inquired.

"Well they had wandered off the main street so they could talk privately. Monica demanded money. John of course refused to pay. Monica told him that if he wanted to keep Arianna from getting hurt then he would pay. She then started slapping the other girl around. John was infuriated but there was nothing he could do except pay her."

"But he didn't pay her last week." Randy pointed out, getting a bad feeling in the pit of his stomach.

"And Arianna paid the price. Yea Monica told our parents but that wasn't too big of a deal. After dinner John went to go see Monica. Arianna was sporting a broken arm and a black eye. And those were the only injuries that John could see. That's why he got so drunk that night. He felt like it was his fault." Nikki informed him turning to look out the window.

After several minutes of cursing Randy turned to look at her. "Surely somebody can do something." He exclaimed.

"John's been in contact with several agencies. DHS had investigated but because this is the first time they have been called in they won't remove her. There reasoning is they have to be sure mistreatment is going on. I think they are all a bunch of blind bats." Nikki said bitterly.

"So how long is this going to go on? Until this girl reaches eighteen?" Randy asked frustrated.

"The case has gone to court. Currently the judge is waiting on some……information. It should be in soon. Until then there is nothing we can do." She told him sadly.

"So what happens to her if the judge rules and she is removed from Monica's custody?" Randy asked not sure he wanted to hear the answer.

"Either John gets custody of her or she goes into foster care until she comes of age." Nikki said softly.

After several minutes of silence Randy looked at Nikki with an intense gaze. "And how long before she becomes of age?"

Nikki looked at him a long time before answering. "About ten and a half years."

John crept around Journey's apartment trying not to wake her. He really needed to go see Monica, without Journey going with him. He knew that if he tried to leave while she was awake and alert they would start arguing again. Coming out of the bathroom he grabbed his shoes, deciding to put them on outside. Walking to the door he pulled up short at the sight of a smug Journey dressed and waiting on him.

"Thought you could sneak out did you?" She asked him, crossing her arms.

"You're not gong with me and that's final." He told her, sitting down to put on his shoes.

"I can either go with you or I can follow you, your choice." She said stubbornly.

"Why do I do this to myself? Why do I put up with you?" John muttered to himself as he staked around the room. Grabbing a bottle of water he stalked out the door. "Let's go." He called back.

Journey hurried to catch up with him as he neared the closest subway station boarding platform.

"I should stop at the nearest police station and request that they lock you up." John glared at her.

Journey remained silent, content to let him get it out of his system. Seeing that he was having no effect on her he moved away a few steps and pulled out a phone. After speaking to the person on the other line for a few minutes he turned back to Journey with a triumph look on his face.

"Dave wants to talk to you." He said holding out the phone.

Journey's eyes opened wide as she stared at John. "That's going below the belt." She hissed taking the phone from him.

"Hello Dave."

"Have you completely lost your senses?" He bellowed back.

"Nice to hear from you. I saw your match last night. Are you sore today?" She continued as if he hadn't spoken.

Dave growled in frustration. "Journey, why are you doing this? Are you trying to prove something?"

"No, I am just trying to look out for my friend." She informed him quietly.

"Well don't you think he can look out for himself? Have you thought that he might be so distracted by you being there and having to watch out for your safety that he puts himself at risk?" Dave asked trying to reason with her.

"I know what I am doing Dave." She said ending the discussion.

"Maybe, but if you get hurt I am going to be continuing this discussion and your 'friend' will be feeling the effects in a much more serious way. By the way where did he stay last night?" Dave asked in his sternest voice.

After several minutes of further conversation Journey hung up the phone and turned smugly to John. "I'm still going with you and you're going to pay for what you just did."

"And how are you planning to do that?" John asked raising his eyebrows.

"Dave wanted to know if we were sleeping together and I told him we were." She was happy to let him know.

John's eyes opened wide and he let his head fall back against the window. "Are you trying to get me killed?"

Journey frowned at him. "You started it by trying to get me in trouble."

"Well obviously it didn't work or you would be getting off at the next stop." John pointed out.

"I am getting off seeing as how this is where we are going." She stated looking at him strangely.

"What?" He exclaimed sitting straight up and looking around. Grabbing her hand he made his way to the exit. Once they were street side he turned to her.

"Try to stay out of sight and don't draw any attention to yourself. Don't talk to them, just pretend like you aren't there."

Journey nodded silently. After making sure she was serious he led her through a series of twists and turns. Eventually they came to a broken down three story apartment building. Walking up a stair case with only half a railing he tapped on the door of 301. When no one answered John pounded harder on the wood trying to be heard about the loud music. After several more minutes the door was jerked open by a tall burly woman in her mid twenty's with black hair pulled into a pony tail. She had an angry scowl on her face.

"What?" She snapped hardly looking at them.

"You requested my presence." John replied quietly.

Monica's head snapped around to them. Narrowing her eyes she asked spitefully. "What's she doing here?"

"By keeping her with me I can be sure that she's safe. I don't trust you." John replied after flashing a warning look at Journey.

"I'm guessing we aren't going to be invited in." John continued when Monica just sneered at him. "So how about we get on with things."

"Fine, I'm willing to give you everything for a one shot deal. Five million. Due by Thursday and it will all be finished." She told him greedily.

"What's changed? Why are you all the sudden willing to give me what I want?" John asked trying not to think about the amount.

"Let's just say that I have some inside information on the results of a certain test and that after Tuesday I won't have a bargaining chip anymore." She said sneering.

"If I get her on Tuesday legally why would I pay you on Thursday?" John asked.

"Let's just say if I don't get my money you will have to pick her up at the hospital." Monica threatened.

Before John would responded a little head popped around the wide girth settled in the doorway. "Hi daddy." She greeted the man she had come to love over the last five months. Pushing a dark brown curl out of her face she dodged the hand Monica aimed at her. Winking at the enraged John she disappeared back inside the dark interior of the apartment.

"If you lay one more hand on her before Thursday I will move her so far away you won't be able to find her and then I'll come back and kill you." John promised aching that he had to leave his daughter in the hands of these monsters.

"I expect you to be here bright and early Thursday." She snapped before slamming the door in his face.

Turning around he reached for Journey only to find her caught in the hands of Jack, Monica's younger brother. Pulling the squirming girl out of the bastard's grasp John aimed his fist for the other man's mouth. Falling back from the force of the blow Jack lost his balance and tumbled down the stairs, landing with his arm bent beneath him. John ran down the stairs to loom over him.

"One broken arm for another's." He spat, thinking of the little girl's fragile bones. Ignoring the couple looking out from the doorway of another apartment John continued. "If you ever put your hands, or even get with in two feet of Journey again I will cut you into little pieces and feed you to my dogs." Kicking the downed man in the ribs he grabbed Journey's wrist and yanked her roughly out of the building.

Once back on the train Journey tried to explain. "He came up the stairs behind me. I didn't hear him."

"Just shut up." John snarled.