12304.14- 14:48 hours- Ravenswood Main house
"Get Robin and Alan up here now," Richard glared at Sam, and pushed his way to his office with Lynn behind him. The door slamming shut.
"What the.." Bea looked back and forth between the locked door and Sam.
"As ordered," Sam stepped away only to run into Daniel and Katie as they came barrelling in from outside.
"Sam!" Katie tried to grab his arm to keep from falling over.
"Katie?" Sam said confused. "What are you doing here?"
"We were with mom and dad when they got the call." Katie indicated Daniel behind her.
Shaking his head, Sam tapped his com badge, "Dad, where are you and mom?"
"Coming up the steps." They all heard Alan's voice come from both the com badge and from outside the house.
A moment later, Robin came in followed by an annoyed Alan.
"Office?" Robin asked as she walked past them.
"Office," Sam pointed, and turned back to his dad. Without a word, Robin entered the closed office.
"Dad, what's.." Sam tried to get out.
"Everyone calm down." Alan tried to reassure everyone. "Take a deep breath and we will try to answer your questions."
"Start with where is Jacob?" Lynn said as she stepped from the office, and marched up to Alan.
"He is safe." Alan stayed still as Lynn glared up at him.
"Chrissy said he was kidnapped," Katie interrupted.
"He is safe, and no harm will come to him." Alan spoke over his shoulder to Katie.
"Where are they Alan?" Lynn growled, and poked Alan in the chest.
Alan rubbed the sore spot, and turned away from Lynn, "Christine is at Star Fleet Medical participating in the Fourth Year medical student trauma exam."
"And Jacob?" Lynn hissed.
"Nova Scotia, near Halafax," Alan responded.
"What the hell is he doing there?" Sam interjected.
"Special Conditions Stress Assessment Training," Alan sigh, crossed his arms, and took a seat on the couch away from the group.
"He is so scr…" Daniel started to say before Bea slapped his arm.
"Brielle and Josh are upstairs, but they can hear you, jerk!"
"Sorry he isn't house trained yet," Katie sighed and took Daniel's arm, "What were you trying to say?"
Daniel looked around at all the faces, "I was just going to ask sir if he is going through. CDIH training?"
"CDIH?" Sam asked confused.
"Cold Day In Hell." Alan explained, not looking at them.
Daniel walked over to stand near Alan, Katie following him. "How many days?"
Alan wiped his face "Seven." Daniel let out a breath, put his hands behind his head, and paced across the living room."
"Care to fill in for those of us who don't know all the acronyms?" Katie growled.
"CDIH tainging is often called Hell week by the trainees." Alan took his glasses off, wiped them, and put them back on, "It is ment to test the fitness and resolve of all who participate."
"You said he wouldn't be hurt, Alan" Lynn put her hands on her hips. "Did you like to us?"
"No, he didn't," Daniel stopped pacing and put himself between Lynn and Alan, "They push you beyond your limits, but they give you good, medical care, and they can leave anytime you want."
"All Jacob has to do is ring a bell to say he can't do it anymore and he can come home." Alan explained, "I doubt he will though."
"Jacob, give up?" Lynn scoffed, "Not going to happen."
Hesitantly Daniel walked up to Lynn, "Captain, when I volunteered for my unit I had to undergo this same test. I will admit it was the hardest days of my life, but I came out of it better on the other side."
Alan raised an eyebrow, impressed, "How many days?"
"Three, it was supposed to be five, but there were only five of us out of fifty left on the third day. Those four other recuits are on my current squad. We go through hell together. I already knew Jacob was a tough guy, but I would gladly have him at my 6-oclock any day."
There was a throat clearing behind them, "I found these two hiding on the stairs." Bea brought over the two scared children. "They heard the shouting and got worried."
"Sorry, kiddos, we didn't mean to scare you." Sam reached down and picked up Josh, while Bea got Brielle. They nodded into their carer's shoulders.
"Did they give a reason why they assigned Christine to this training mission?" Lynn asked trying to keep her tone light.
"If it was me, I'd want to keep the honey badger at bay." Katie walked over to where Bea had Brielle.
"Thowing Chrissy into the middle of a medical disaster, that would do it." Sam admitted. He earned a glare from Lynn.
"Star Fleet loves to make things difficult sometimes," Lynn sighed and went over to brush hair out of Josh's face. "With both of the them out on missions here on Earth there are people who might try to take advantage of it." Lynn smiled and continued to rub her fingers through Josh's hair.
"Don't let her take me, Yin." Josh desperately reached out for Lynn to take him. She wrapped him in her arms, and took him over to a nearby chair so she could hold him properly.
"You don't have to worry about her, sweetie." Lynn rubbed his back. "Your mom can't just come take you from us. We won't let her."
Brielle slipped down from Bea's arms and went over to Josh. "I promised I wouldn't let her take you and I won't."
"He might need a bigger bodyguard than just you Breezer." Bea laid a hand on Brielle's head reasurringly.
Lynn rocked Josh in her arms, and looked to the others in the room. Her eyes flicked to everyone until they landed on Daniel comforting Katie. Lynn's eyes went wide. "Josh, can you stand up, and come with me." With a tearful nod, Josh followed Lynn over to Katie and Daniel.
"Petty Officer!" Lynn snapped in her command voice.
With a jolt Daniel stood at attention, "Yes Captain."
"Your detail is to protect special targets and invidiuals, correct."
"Yes Captain."
"I am temporarily revoking your leave, and assigning you to the Child Welfare Office to protect the grandchildren of Richard Skyler from all who do not have proper legal access to them. Is that understood, Petty Officer?"
"Yes Captain, but I request time to review the safety protocols for the detail."
"Granted," Lynn sighed, and glared at the closed door, "Once Richard and Robin get out of the office."
Brielle tugged on Katie's sleeve, "What did all that mean?" She whispered.
"Daniel is you and Josh's personal body guard until your parents return." Katie gave her a warm smile.
"So, Daniel is going to protect Josh, like he did you?" Brielle asked beging to smile again.
"Yes I am," Daniel knelt down before the two children. "I am to protect you from anyone wanting to take you away from your family. I'm Daniel, Daniel McBride." Daniel offered Josh his hand.
"Josh, Josh Holtz." Josh shook his hand, then tipped his head with a question, "Daniel, you have to protect me, right?"
"Yes," Daniel asked confused. "Can you keep Brielle from stealing my legos?"
The boys comment made everyone laugh, easing the tension in the room.