Hope sat puffing away on a cigarette sitting on the roof of her friend Amanda's apartment building. "I thought you gave those things up." Amanda stated slyly. "I did…I'm only a nervous smoker." Hope replied candidly. "Well…you have nothing to be worried about sweetheart, you're dealing with a pro." "But this isn't just any other car." Hope pointed out. "It has wheels don't it, and an engine, and a nice pair of jumper cables. It's a car, it can be taken." The other teen gave an involuntary shudder.

"I can not believe…" the girl thought to herself, "that I'm about to steal Fin's car."

She lit another cigarette and shook her head.

EARLIER THAT DAY

"HOOPPEE?" Elliot screamed in the all-familiar hunt for his teenage ward.

"ELLIIOT?" Hope replied sarcastically in a hope to not be found.

"We have to talk Hope. I'm going away for the weekend."

A half hour later Hope had been filled in on the plans for Elliot's weekend. He was going to spend some alone time with his kids, since he hadn't seen them in a while. And he wasn't going back on the fact that he wanted Hope to meet them, it was just that this weekend was supposed to be 'family' only. It was apparently "…a chance to rekindle some of what was left of the old relationships."

Hope sat there on the couch watching Elliot rigidly. She nodded curtly and smiled at his mention on his kids.

"Great…family…" she thought to herself. "Come on, think positive. At least I'll get a chance to throw an awesome 'teenage wasteland' kind of party…"

Hope smiled unknowingly at this thought. Elliot interpreted her smile as acceptance.

"I'm glad you're coming around, Hope. I already called Fin and he said you could spend the weekend with him."

"WHAT? Why can't I stay here?"

"Because there is no way I'm leaving you alone."

"You don't trust me! I'm nearly seventeen years old."

"Well, as a matter of fact, I don't trust you. More than that, I don't trust the kind of people that run around this city, waiting for girls like you to be alone."

"Like you know anything, Elliot. I know that part of the world, I know those people, I was one of them, remember?"

"You were never and will never be one of them, Hope! I won't let you speak of yourself this way."

"Whatever," Hope snapped, and murmured something about Elliot being a capitalistic, chauvinistic, sheltered cop-pig.

"Excuse me, young lady? That attitude has to drop now – I could always tell Fin that you're grounded."

Hope shut up. There apparently was a really good drunken-teenage-wasteland party going down tonight. She had all her sights set on going.

LATER THAT DAY AT FIN'S APARTMENT

"Hey kiddo, I'm ordering a pizza. Any particular requests?" Fin smiled down at Hope who had warmed up as soon as she came over.

Hope really liked Fin. He was smart, and kind, and funny. The only time she had seen him get really overprotective was the day he got her off the streets. Hope didn't feel like repeating that again, but either way she loved Fin.

"You know what Fin, I'm okay. I'm actually going out to eat with a bunch of friends."

She immediately noticed the hurt in his eyes. He'd obviously been planning to spend some time with her and now she'd shattered that.

"But I promise we'll do lunch tomorrow…"

"I don't know, I usually don't receive being stood up very well." The man grinned. He reached over to the girl and began to tickle her. They were both laughing within minutes. Hope's phone chirped, and she reached over to answer it.

"You're outside? Okay, I'll be there in a second." Hope grabbed her coat to leave.

"I don't know, Hope. Elliot told me to check and double check every person you went out with…" The detective smiled slyly. He thought Elliot was being slightly overbearing as well.

"Puhlease Uncle Fin," Hope smiled and wrapped her arms around Fin in a big hug. The 'Uncle Fin' line got to him every time.

"Fine," he smiled and kissed her on the forehead. "But you better be home by eleven."

"Eleven? But…"

"NON-NEGOTIABLE. Now get out of here before I change my mind…" Fin growled with his arms folded, and his eyes twinkling.

Hope smiled back at him. Maybe this weekend wouldn't be so bad. She'd still go out, and meet some boys, and drink a little. She just had to be sure not to be too drunk when she got back. It was not fun to be on the receiving end of Fin's bad cop act. Just as she was thinking this her phone rang.

"Hey Hope, it's Amanda. There's been a change of plans. Meet me on my building in 5 minutes."

Before Hope got a chance to talk the call was ended.

ON TOP OF AMANDA'S ROOF

"I don't understand," Hope started, "why do we need a car?"

"Because the party's on the island, and you only have until 11, and we got to pick up shit."

"What kind of shit?"

"Nothing like you used to be into, don't worry. Just some a little booze, some weed, and maybe some coke."

"I don't know…"

"Did living with a cop change you that much?"

"That's not fair. I…I just don't know what Fin, or Elliot, would do if they found out."

"Are you scared?"

"NO!" Hope sat for a second, and lit another cigarette. She nervously bit her lip and tried to decide what to do. If she bailed she was a narc, she was a loser, she was a cop. But if she did it…well it wasn't definite that she'd get caught.

"Fine…I'm in. What car are we taking?"

"I had my sights set on that one…" Amanda said pointing to Fin's car in the lot.