A/N: Again, I know that this is a fairly boring and slow chapter, but if you stick with the story, the plot will thicken when Megan has to start school and she meets boys...oh no!! I have said too much!!

Thanx for the peeps who reviewed my story; I truly appreciate it!!

Ranger webb

Donna Lynn

Serene's Magick

Meghan

(You all shall be rewarded your place in heaven!!)

Chapter 2

Megan woke up early the next morning. At first, she thought that she was back in her old bed in her little house behind the train tracks. Then reality hit. She opened her eyes and found herself in a comfortable queen-size bed. Jim had made up the guest room for her to use as her own room.

She could hear Jim in the kitchen making breakfast. She got out of bed and made her way into the kitchen.

"Morning, Jim!"

"Oh. Morning, Megan. How did you sleep?"

"Fine. Are you going to work today?"

"Yeah. Always do. Are you going to be ok here by yourself?"

"I guess so. How long will you be gone?"

"I get off at 5 o'clock today. Breakfast is ready. You do like French Toast, don't you?"

"Yeah. Let's sit down together, I mean, I haven't had a meal with you in seven years!"

They sat down at the same table for the first time in seven years. They ate quietly; they really didn't know where to start. After breakfast, they picked up the dishes and washed them, again, quietly. A short awkward silence ensued, then Jim looked at the clock and said,

"I gotta get going, Megan."

"Ok, hey, can I have your work number?"

"Sure...here you go." He handed her three numbers. "The first one is the police station number, the second is the extension, and the third is my cell phone."

"Well, bye; I guess."

"Bye." Jim gave Megan a hug and then walked out the front door.

Now, all alone again, Megan didn't know what to do. She decided to give her mom a call and see how she was doing.

"...Hello?" Megan's mom picked up after about 5 rings.

"Hi, mom?"

"Hey, Megan. How did your flight go?"

"Oh, the flight was fine. How are you doing?" Megan did not want to upset her mom by telling her that her brother had not picked her up at the airport.

"Oh, not so well, sweetie. Your father is gone. I have no idea where he is. Probably with that terrible Christine..." Megan's mother had accused her father of sleeping with a gas station attendant, named Christine, because he always worked long nights and always went to that gas station only.

Megan knew better. I mean, her parents may not have been the best of friends, but there was this sort of agreement that they had between one another. He never slept with anyone else and she never slept with anyone else. When they were younger, they really were perfect for each other.

But as time pressed on, life became more and more difficult for the two of them. They were happy when Jim was born three months after they were married, but they were not counting on another child 18 years later. Megan was to become a burden to the two of them. And when Jim left the family 8 years after she was born, he became the cause of all their misfortune, according to his father.

Jim had left the family when he was 26. He had been working as a waiter at a local diner since he was sixteen, and was going to night school, because he had always wanted to be on SWAT; it had been his dream. So, when he applied for a position on the LAPD SWAT team, he was no less than thrilled when he received a letter from the LAPD accepting him onto the team.

He packed his bags that night and left the very next morning. Megan was only 8 years old at the time, and she had grown attached to her big brother. She didn't understand why he would leave her; she always had thought that it was because of her. Her parents never really cared for her; I mean, her mother loved her, but she never really cared for her. Megan was lucky when her dad wasn't beating her for something that she didn't even do, like when the stove caught fire; he beat her because she wasn't keeping an eye on it. She was 11 years old for Christ's sake!!

"I am sorry, mom. How is everything going?"

"Well, the papers are being drawn up, if that is what you mean, but I am afraid that it is going to be a long time. I have to go Megan. I will try and call you tomorrow. I love you."

"I love you too, mom. Bye!"

Megan breathed heavily as she hung the phone back on the wall. She could tell that her mother was doing drugs again, she always sounded distracted when she was on something. Megan could tell these things about her parents; just like she could tell her father had been drinking if he had stubble on his face.

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"What?!" Chris exclaimed. Jim had just told his team that his little sister was staying with him. "I didn't even know you had a sister, Jim? What next, you have an evil twin hiding in your closet?"

"No. I didn't even know she was coming. I came home and she was in my house. I mean, I haven't seen her in seven years. My folks are finally splitting up; they never liked each other, I don't even know why they married each other.

"Well, have you put her into a school yet, Jim?" Hondo asked "I mean, she does have to go to school."

"I haven't though that far into the future yet, Hondo. I mean, she just came last night. That is a good idea. I will call some of the public schools and see if she can get into any."

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Megan was at home reading when Jim came home. He had gotten home at around 6 o'clock, which was pretty good with all that LA traffic that he had to face every single day.

"Hey Jim!" Megan said as he walked in the front door.

"Hey, Megan. Listen, we need to talk."

'Oh boy' Megan thought, ' this couldn't be good.'

"Yeah?" She asked hesitantly.

"Sit down. Look, you are going to have to go to school, Megan. It is the middle of the year. I don't know why mom and dad pulled you out, but I called some schools, and I put you in Edgar Jones High."

"Huh??" 'ok, this is so not what I want to hear!! I mean, oh...fudge!'

"Megan, you can't just stay at home, okay. You start Monday."

"Ok. I mean, you are right, I guess. Oh, I called mom today. She seemed...upset."

"How do you mean?"

"I think she is back on drugs again, Jim. She stopped doing them about four months ago, went through rehab and everything; but when she gets stressed, it is just easier for her to forget when she is on drugs."

"Oh. I am sorry, Megan. Well, are you hungry?"

"Yeah. I wanted to wait until you got home to eat."

"Ok, let's go out tonight, what do you say, Megan?"

"Sure."

A/N: Again, sorry for the semi-boringness, but next chapter, Megan starts school, it should be rather...interesting...r&r please!!

Peace